Where to begin?

[ajaav 0]

In June of 2014, I met this awesome guy on a blogging site and we started talking and eventually became a couple after a month of talking. I live in the Philippines and he lives in Texas, USA. We are both currently unemployed but he's looking for a job now and I am too. We have been dating for over a year now and I couldn't be happier to have him in my life. We are definitely in love and want to start a life together and I mean, get married and live in Texas.

The thing is we don't know where to start this whole process. We haven't met yet and we plan to in the near future. Should I go visit him or should he go visit me? And we would like to get married in the US. What visa should I apply for? We honestly don't know what to do? Please help us. Thank you!

[VOL 425]

You need to apply for a Tourist Visa to get married here in Texas, Only cost $160.

If you two ever do meet, then he can apply for a K1 Visa, and if approved you can get married in Texas.

I suggest you two meet first in person and spend some time together, and then consider marriage after that.......

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Well, before you can start the visa process you do need to meet. Where that is does not matte,r but it is likely easier for him to travel to you than for you to get a tourist visa to travel to him.

[ajaav 0]

You need to apply for a Tourist Visa to get married here in Texas, Only cost $160.

If you two ever do meet, then he can apply for a K1 Visa, and if approved you can get married in Texas.

I suggest you two meet first in person and spend some time together, and then consider marriage after that.......

I read somewhere that in order for the k1 visa to be approved we need to prove that we have met more than once. Is that true? Or can he apply for a k1 visa after his first visit?

Well, before you can start the visa process you do need to meet. Where that is does not matte,r but it is likely easier for him to travel to you than for you to get a tourist visa to travel to him.

Yes, I think him visiting me is the best way to go. But what are the things that we need to consider before he applies for a k1 visa? and will that cost a lot money?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Some consulates want to see more than one visit but at least one is the standard. The entire process from k1 to stateside adjustment of status is roughly $2500 not including travel.

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

You can apply after having met once (be sure to have proof- passport stamps, hotel receipts, photos etc), but chances of approval are higher the longer you have spent together (several visits, longer visits), and meeting eachother's family is a good idea too.

We have a Guide here that explains the process: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Yes, the process is costly- there are fees for the petition and visa, for the medical you will need,, for translating documents for travelling to Manila for those things,m and of course travel to the USA. and then in the USA, more paperwork and fees for AOS (Adjustment of Status, to get the greencard), and 3+ months where you cannot work. It also takes time; you are looking at 7+ months from the time you file to interview, and it could easily be a year if you make a mistake and need to correct it/send in more paperwork.

[ajaav 0]

You can apply after having met once (be sure to have proof- passport stamps, hotel receipts, photos etc), but chances of approval are higher the longer you have spent together (several visits, longer visits), and meeting eachother's family is a good idea too.

We have a Guide here that explains the process: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Yes, the process is costly- there are fees for the petition and visa, for the medical you will need,, for translating documents for travelling to Manila for those things,m and of course travel to the USA. and then in the USA, more paperwork and fees for AOS (Adjustment of Status, to get the greencard), and 3+ months where you cannot work. It also takes time; you are looking at 7+ months from the time you file to interview, and it could easily be a year if you make a mistake and need to correct it/send in more paperwork.

Another question, I have 2 kids from a previous relationship but the father and i were never married. Will this affect my chances of getting a k1 visa? Also, does he need to have a high paying job to prove that he can financially support me while i live with him and im jobless?

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

It won;t affect your chances to get the visa, but it will make it more costly (assuming the kids will come with you).

He needs a decent paying job, but doesn't need to be a CEO of a company or anything. Assuming he has no other dependants (minor kids even if they do not live with him, elderly relatives claimed on tax return), and lives in mainland USA, he would need to make just over $30'000 minimum, or have a co-sponsor who can stand guarantor for you.

[Unidentified 2,930]

You need to apply for a Tourist Visa to get married here in Texas, Only cost $160.

If you two ever do meet, then he can apply for a K1 Visa, and if approved you can get married in Texas.

I suggest you two meet first in person and spend some time together, and then consider marriage after that.......

NO. It is not okay to go to the US on a tourist visa with the intent to marry. That is visa fraud.

OP, I suspect the easiest would be for him to go visit you, spend some time together and gather evidence of ongoing relationship (boarding passes, reciepts, photos etc) and then file for a fiance visa (K1). I am not familiar with how hard it is for people from the Philippines to be able to go visit the US otherwise you could come and visit as well. Meeting is one of the requirements for the K1 visa and it's also good for the two of you as well to actually meet in person and spend time with each other.

[Zedayn 485]

I read somewhere that in order for the k1 visa to be approved we need to prove that we have met more than once. Is that true? Or can he apply for a k1 visa after his first visit?

Yes, I think him visiting me is the best way to go. But what are the things that we need to consider before he applies for a k1 visa? and will that cost a lot money?

You only need to meet one time. I went to Philippines only once for about 2 weeks to meet my wife before I filed my petition. I went back a second time for her visa interview. There was no issue at all.

The only things your fiancé needs from you, is a signed letter of intent, signed G-325A biographical form, and a 2x2 picture of you. He will also need to keep all receipts, boarding passes, tickets, etc. as well as take a lot of pictures when he goes to visit you. He can use this as evidence of meeting you. The largest cost right now, besides his plane ticket and travel money, will be the petition fee. The fee is $340 to file.

Another question, I have 2 kids from a previous relationship but the father and i were never married. Will this affect my chances of getting a k1 visa? Also, does he need to have a high paying job to prove that he can financially support me while i live with him and im jobless?

Your chances of getting the K-1 visa are the same whether or not you have kids. As long as your fiancé makes at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for his household size, you will be OK. Also assuming your kids will be coming with, his household size would be at least 4: him, you, your 2 kids. For this, he needs to make at least $30, 312. So no he doesn't need a high paying job at all.

[Zedayn 485]

NO. It is not okay to go to the US on a tourist visa with the intent to marry. That is visa fraud.

Wrong.

It is perfectly fine to go to the US on a tourist visa with the intent to marry. Nothing wrong with that.

It is not okay to go to the US on a tourist visa with the intent to adjust status after marriage. It is the intent to stay in the US on a tourist visa that is visa fraud.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Zedayn

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

I read somewhere that in order for the k1 visa to be approved we need to prove that we have met more than once. Is that true? Or can he apply for a k1 visa after his first visit?

Yes, I think him visiting me is the best way to go. But what are the things that we need to consider before he applies for a k1 visa? and will that cost a lot money?

Yes, you only have to meet once. My wife and I dated online close to 2 years before I made a trip to see her. We decided to rather than meet in the Philippines, to meet in a place we both have never been and make it a nice adventurous vacation! We chose to spend 15 days in Singapore, and had a great time. There's lots to do there, including Universal Studios and it's "Westernized" enough so that your fiance will feel very at home there, and "Asian" enough to give yourself some familiar comforts.

Some things you need to consider before filing the K-1 are:

1. He needs at least 1 year of tax returns, or else he'll need a sponsor. That said, The Filipino Consulate in Manila very rarely accepts sponsors.

2. All fees from K-1 to Adjustment of Status costs between $2500.00 - $3000.00, and that is if you "Do It Yourself." It can cost more if you hire a "visa service" like rapidvisa or easyfiancevisa ($800 - $1600) or a Lawyer ($1500 - $3000).

3. Consider saving everything now for your evidence. That means every text, every skype, every email, every receipt, every plane ticket stub, passpport stamp etc.

Another question, I have 2 kids from a previous relationship but the father and i were never married. Will this affect my chances of getting a k1 visa? Also, does he need to have a high paying job to prove that he can financially support me while i live with him and im jobless?

There is an additional fee for each child. If you plan on bringing both, your fiance must prove he can support a household of 4 by making at least $24,250 annually. Yo be safe, I would have him seek a job that makes $30,000 or more. As I said, the Manila Embassy rarely takes sponsors, so proving this annual income is a must. See here: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/15poverty.cfm#thresholds Please note that $24,250 is a poverty threshhold for a family of four, and translates to "enough money to live on." So where by $24,250 may be an okay salary to live on in Florida, living in a more expensive region like New Jersey, you would probably be living in the poorest conditions in a bad neighborhood or trailer park.

Edited July 24, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Wrong.

It is perfectly fine to go to the US on a tourist visa with the intent to marry. Nothing wrong with that.

It is not okay to go to the US on a tourist visa with the intent to adjust status after marriage. It is the intent to stay in the US on a tourist visa that is visa fraud.

[janet&adonis 57]

Hello

I am from Texas, what town is he from? I live near Houston.

Its only been a month, definitely apply for a tourist visa and plan to meet him in person. Or once he has employment, he can save up some money to come visit you. To start a K-1, you have to provide evidence of meeting each other at least one time within a two year period.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

Seriously???

most countries want to see you have a job before you can get a visa to travel here

morocco says $18000 in bank account, to pay for travel in US, own an apartment of house in Morocco, and have a job you will return to

even then my gf in Brazil who had family to visit here and her husband and 2 sons at home, is a school teacher, owned her home and only wanted 10 day trip, was denied

I wrote to embassy guaranteed I would pick her up, house and feed her and return her to the airport for travel home and they said NO