New To The Process

[sewilliams 1]

Hello Everyone,

I have some questions and I am new to how the Visa/immigration process works. I am an American citizen moving from Atlanta GA back to my home in Seattle Wa. Currently I am engaged to my future husband who lives in Lagos, Nigeria. We have not met each other yet. However we are planning to marry and would like to know how to begin the process. Is it easier for me to go to Lagos and marry him then request that he receive a visa to come to the United States or do I apply for a fiancé visa and request for him to come as my fiancé and then we marry in the United States? Hope I have given enough information. Thank you for any help you are able to offer for my concerns. It is greatly appreciated.

[tomyka81 95]

personally I think the K-1 is easier. I went that route.Good luck either way.

[chillin4me 15]

you need to meet in person first before filing a fiance visa..fiance visa is fast, and when he arrive in the US you only have 90 days to get married.

or

you can go to Nigeria and marry him and once you go back to US then file for CR1 petition.. it can take up to 1 yr..this is an immigrant visa

Edited September 7, 2015 by chillin4me

[I & K 9]

I will advice to visit Nigeria first and meet him, then allow him propose to you in person. Then when you come back home you can file for k1 visa k1 visa is faster and less stressful than getting married in Nigeria and filling for Cr1. But which ever you choose will work for you according to your faith good luck

[sewilliams 1]

I will advice to visit Nigeria first and meet him, then allow him propose to you in person. Then when you come back home you can file for k1 visa k1 visa is faster and less stressful than getting married in Nigeria and filling for Cr1. But which ever you choose will work for you according to your faith good luck

Thank you so much..Yes Faith has placed us together. I appreciate your response.

[sewilliams 1]

you need to meet in person first before filing a fiance visa..fiance visa is fast, and when he arrive in the US you only have 90 days to get married.

or

you can go to Nigeria and marry him and once you go back to US then file for CR1 petition.. it can take up to 1 yr..this is an immigrant visa

Ok. I was not aware of the difference in the process. I do prefer a shorter wait time and then request to change his status when he arrives to the US. Thanks for the input.

personally I think the K-1 is easier. I went that route.Good luck either way.

After applying for the K-1, how long did you wait for your husband to join you in the US? Thank you very much.

[tomyka81 95]

Ok. I was not aware of the difference in the process. I do prefer a shorter wait time and then request to change his status when he arrives to the US. Thanks for the input.

After applying for the K-1, how long did you wait for your husband to join you in the US? Thank you very much.

We are still in that process. He has his interview in two weeks. So far the entire process is from April 2015 until now.

[sewilliams 1]

We are still in that process. He has his interview in two weeks. So far the entire process is from April 2015 until now.

Ok. Praying with you that your husband will be home very soon. This site I see will help me alot in our journey.

[Uneks 13]

We went through the k1 route also and my visa was approved in July. It's easier and faster. Like they have all said visit Nigeria and get engaged(keep the receipt of the ring). Start gathering as much evidence as you can now. Take lots of pictures with him also family and friends,phone records,Hotels receipt etc.

You however have to be very patient. It's can be a long journey sometimes. Good luck

[sewilliams 1]

We went through the k1 route also and my visa was approved in July. It's easier and faster. Like they have all said visit Nigeria and get engaged(keep the receipt of the ring). Start gathering as much evidence as you can now. Take lots of pictures with him also family and friends,phone records,Hotels receipt etc.

You however have to be very patient. It's can be a long journey sometimes. Good luck

This is very helpful. Thank you so much for the information. Everything is working in our favor. We will gather all the information to help in our process.

[Shauneg 763]

Ok. Praying with you that your husband will be home very soon. This site I see will help me alot in our journey.

Maybe it's semantics or you don't understand but to clarify a K1 is fiancee, he is not yet her husband. You could just be calling him that, but I just want to make sure you understand.

As stated earlier as far as you applying for a K1 one of the requirements is you meet face first, you cannot file without meeting face to face within the past two years....

[sewilliams 1]

Hello,

I do understand he is not her husband yet but this is their goal to become husband and wife. There is no offense here.

[caly 48]

Ok. I was not aware of the difference in the process. I do prefer a shorter wait time and then request to change his status when he arrives to the US. Thanks for the input.

Just wanted to point out that with the K-1 Fiance Visa, the beneficiary will not be able to work or leave the US for several months after entering the US. This makes a difference to some people. Just wanted to point that out so you and your fiance are aware of it.

Good luck!

[DEAbara 9]

My husband and I tried the K1 fiance' visa and were denied due to not enough proof of relationship. We stayed together as a couple continuing to communicate on the phone and through IM. I visited him and his family 3 times before we married in Lagos. If you haven't met him in person, I would suggest doing that, most definitely. You must do it for any visa process, but even beyond that... you need to do that.

He did all of the planning for the wedding in Lagos and it was beautiful. I wouldn't change anything at all. We waited even a year after we married to start our K3 visa process. I went back again in October last year and got even more pictures. It has been a long process... difficult... but it has been worth it. We had many many pictures and e mails and IM conversations to prove our relationship. I can say that I believe because we were patient and did it this way we have had no problems at all. We are waiting for our interview now and I hope he is able to be here in the US with me by end of the year.

This may not have been what you wanted to hear but I would ask you to really consider everything. If you meet once in Nigeria and then immediately apply for the visa you may get denied. All of the money and time and stress would be wasted. The fast way is not always the best. Allow the relationship to bloom and go to Nigeria and enjoy yourself. It is a great place. Take your time. I can say from experience, if your love is real it will stand the test of time.

[DEAbara 9]

_{I forgot to also say that in our experience when we were denied the K1 visa the interview was much more difficult than we anticipated. From what I am hearing from others who were approved after the K3 visa, the interview had fewer questions and was much easier. You can try it but don't be surprised if you are denied. They will ask how long you have known each other and how many times you have been to Nigeria.}