Married in neutral country, US citizen and Russian citizen. What now?

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

I really urge you to slow down. As just about everyone here will tell you, this is a long process. Do it right. Visit her a couple of times. By doing so, you will both feel more confident in the relationship. Then when you're ready and you've saved enough money, travel to Russia or a 3rd country to marry. After that, plan on at least a year to obtain a CR-1 visa. Best of luck to both of you.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

My question is that if you don't have enough money for a K-1 then how would you have enough money for a CR1 visa?

[Hairball 11]

www.asaptickets.com $475 RT Moscow

Go meet her...

Edited June 24, 2015 by Hairball

[mlh 93]

Not true. A whole lot of countries fail to recognize any kind of gay marriage from another country. However, upon further reading, this is a bit not relevant, sorry, it's a personal sore spot.

OP, K1 fiance visa is normally *much* quicker than CR visa. Especially now that they are still processing all K1s in California. So if you goal is to be with your partner and her kids in US ASAP, I suggest visiting her once to get the proof and applying for K1 fiance visa the second you get back.

If you are willing to put up with multiple connections or longer overlays, you can get airplane tickets under 1000$. Yeah, I know, it's a lot. The only way around the "meet in person" requirement is either faith-based ("cannot see each other prior to getting married") or health-based wavier. Being short of cash is not going to cut it for USCIS.

Sorry, you are right, I just didn't think I needed to qualify that point in this thread for the OP and his wife...

[StarGirl 13]

there is the requirement to wait 30 days before the marriage after applying for "marriage license" - not that there is such a thing in RU, but it's similar. Nevertheless, ZAGS can grant you the permission to get married in shorter period of time if you are able to provide reasons backed up by some documents. If you want to consider getting married in Russia, I would def ask your fiancee to give local ZAGS a call and find out what they would consider a valid excuse. It'll help tremendously if she's got friends or relatives working in the department. It'll surely speed things up. Good luck!

[David & Diana R 1,005]

If we were to get married in one of those countries. Would the US recognize the marriage. YES

I will return to the US and she will return to Russia to wait the 6 months or so for a CR1 visa. I WOULD BET 100 DOLLARS THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN 6 MONTHS, UNFORTUNATELY.

Is there any way that she could come straight to the US after we are married and wait the 6 months there. NO

God Bless you both

[David & Diana R 1,005]

You married on first meeting?

You married on first meeting?

My wife and I married on our first meeting in Philippines. 7 days into my visit. But of course I visited her 2 more times before taking her to the US Embassy Manila for the interview. I also attended the interview with her and am convinced that me being there helped.

Edited June 24, 2015 by David & Zoila

[Hairball 11]

You can get the time waived at ZAGS.....Just show plane ticket and tell the ZAGS lady that you have to return home before the 30 day wait period.....It can and has been done before

Take American cigarettes and candies for gift.....the women smoke ultra lights.......and maybe pass her a thank you card with a 20 spot in it....

This is the FSU......a "gift will get you anything"

[cancerDrGeorge 0]

hi the way i understand the rules (I am a legal resident of Ukraine and married to a Ukrainian girl)- IS: her interview MUST be in the country you got married...

ZAKS in Ukraine... at least the main one in cether on 4 Richelskaya- candy or cigarettes of cash AINT GONNA work... so forget it THERE... there are 3 other zaks in Odessa as far as i know.... to get permission (they tell me the letter of Non impediment to marriage is not needed as of April 01, 2015... BUT they were all too happy to accept mine when i presented it, looked at it CLOSELY as they did ALL my other documents and accepted it on about April 4, 2015... maybe info filtering down slowly- getting back... the first office on Staritskogo st. said there are 3 situations that CAN allow for marriage faster with the soon upcoming death being one of them.... the other 2- i think one was pregnancy- ZAKS on Richel. said NOPE about this...the other one she didnt care about either... and honestly being a legal resident in Ukraine- it was kind of nice to see the 'PODOROK' system was 100 % refused= good for Ukraine

I can ONLY say if $ is a problem filing back in the states while you are working generating income... well that is what I would do.... depending on where you live in the states- you CAN have her go to a country where she does NOT need a visa such as Mexico or Dominican republic and meet which she stays there for some time... DR is not really very expensive at all (from my POV).

to David and Zolla..... ummmmm good luck- as far as i know USCIS ASSUMES ALL IN PHIL. IS FRAUD... and that is a tough one to get past... especially IF you got married in the first meeting after a week or so.... think about it- IF you were the USCIS and looked at this- wouldnt it seem EXTREMELY suspect- as in your Wife would do anything to get to the states.... time will tell but i thought the time line in these circumstances are closer to 2 years... i hope i am wrong

hi the way i understand the rules (I am a legal resident of Ukraine and married to a Ukrainian girl)- IS: her interview MUST be in the country you got married...

ZAKS in Ukraine... at least the main one in cether on 4 Richelskaya- candy or cigarettes of cash AINT GONNA work... so forget it THERE... there are 3 other zaks in Odessa as far as i know.... to get permission (they tell me the letter of Non impediment to marriage is not needed as of April 01, 2015... BUT they were all too happy to accept mine when i presented it, looked at it CLOSELY as they did ALL my other documents and accepted it on about April 4, 2015... maybe info filtering down slowly- getting back... the first office on Staritskogo st. said there are 3 situations that CAN allow for marriage faster with the soon upcoming death being one of them.... the other 2- i think one was pregnancy- ZAKS on Richel. said NOPE about this...the other one she didnt care about either... and honestly being a legal resident in Ukraine- it was kind of nice to see the 'PODOROK' system was 100 % refused= good for Ukraine

I can ONLY say if $ is a problem filing back in the states while you are working generating income... well that is what I would do.... depending on where you live in the states- you CAN have her go to a country where she does NOT need a visa such as Mexico or Dominican republic and meet which she stays there for some time... DR is not really very expensive at all (from my POV).

to David and Zolla..... ummmmm good luck- as far as i know USCIS ASSUMES ALL IN PHIL. IS FRAUD... and that is a tough one to get past... especially IF you got married in the first meeting after a week or so.... think about it- IF you were the USCIS and looked at this- wouldnt it seem EXTREMELY suspect- as in your Wife would do anything to get to the states.... time will tell but i thought the time line in these circumstances are closer to 2 years... i hope i am wrong

[Ryan H 3,790]

hi the way i understand the rules (I am a legal resident of Ukraine and married to a Ukrainian girl)- IS: her interview MUST be in the country you got married...

For a K3 visa, the interview must take place in the country where the marriage occurred. For an IR-1 or CR-1 visa, the beneficiary can interview in the country in which they legally reside regardless of what country they married in.

[cancerDrGeorge 0]

seems impossible... to keep up with all these changes they make... and add onto this the lag sometimes of years they take to update info on their (uscis and so on websites)... Ryan where can i find the info you posted? and i THOUGHT K 3 s were sort of a thing in the past? (to quote an immigration attorney in the USA)

For a K3 visa, the interview must take place in the country where the marriage occurred. For an IR-1 or CR-1 visa, the beneficiary can interview in the country in which they legally reside regardless of what country they married in.

seems impossible... to keep up with all these changes they make... and add onto this the lag sometimes of years they take to update info on their (uscis and so on websites)... Ryan where can i find the info you posted? and i THOUGHT K 3 s were sort of a thing in the past? (to quote an immigration attorney in the USA)

[belinda63 2,981]

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you marry you will have to file separate petitions for the wife and each child. With the K-1 the children are included in the mother's petition.

Also make sure you meet the poverty requirements for the entire household. If you plan on bringing the two children that will be a household of 4.