Iranian applying for K-1 Visa

[Lovelise26 51]

My fiancé is in Iran. There is no US Embassy there so he will have to go to UAE. Does he apply for the K-1 visa until we receive the NOA2 or is it possible for him to start his process as of now? We submitted the petition and I already received the NOA1. 

 

Anyone here from Iran? What was your experience with the K-1 process? 

[EandH0904 1,184]

There should be a portal for you where you can connect with other members from Iran, see timelines and posts from people with significant others in Iran. 

After you get your NOA1 you can get your material together for the next phase, but until you get the NOA2 there is nothing specific you need to do but wait - what are you asking specifically when you say "is it possible for him to start his process" - do you mean the medical, etc? The medical expires after 6 months, so it is best to wait until closer to your interview date. Some locations wont even do them until a week or two before your interview (they ask for proof of interview time). Some places also have an expiration date on things like the police background and the birth certificate. 

 

If he has lived 6 months or more in any other countries he would have to get police background certificates from those, so that is perhaps something he can do. 

 

Here is a link to the specific Iran portal as well as the Middle East group. 

Iran --> http://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Iran

MENA forum --> http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/97-middle-east-and-north-africa/

 

[EandH0904 1,184]

In briefly looking at the Iran portal, it appears that long administrative processing is routinely given to Iranians unfortunately - so mentally prepare yourself that it may be a really long wait. Try to have as many visits as you can. 

 

It also appears that the embassy in Turkmenistan and Islamabad are options for you. 

 

[Coco8 1,039]

You might want to marry and do a spousal visa. It has a lot of advantages. The main one for you is that if the visa gets denied for whatever reason, it will go back to USCIS who can reaffirm the case and send it back to the consulate, and the consulate has to go over the application. In K1, if the petition gets denied, it expired before USCIS has a chance to do anything, so people have to do spousal visas and start over.

 

It'd go with the spousal visa because it is the least risky option. Also, if you guys get a long administrative processing, you qualify for the visa that is after 2 years of marriage, which gives your spousal a 10 year green card. You won't get the temporary green card, avoid ROC, etc. The spousal visa takes 14 months so if you have AP, you will likely get to the 2 year mark. 

 

Just some advice to think about. Most people go for K1 because it takes less time but I don't think in your case it will have a time advantage and it might be harder to get.

 

 

[Lovelise26 51]

22 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

There should be a portal for you where you can connect with other members from Iran, see timelines and posts from people with significant others in Iran. 

After you get your NOA1 you can get your material together for the next phase, but until you get the NOA2 there is nothing specific you need to do but wait - what are you asking specifically when you say "is it possible for him to start his process" - do you mean the medical, etc? The medical expires after 6 months, so it is best to wait until closer to your interview date. Some locations wont even do them until a week or two before your interview (they ask for proof of interview time). Some places also have an expiration date on things like the police background and the birth certificate. 

 

If he has lived 6 months or more in any other countries he would have to get police background certificates from those, so that is perhaps something he can do. 

 

Here is a link to the specific Iran portal as well as the Middle East group. 

Iran --> http://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Iran

MENA forum --> http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/97-middle-east-and-north-africa/

 

Thank you! I will look into these groups. 

 

Also, yes he was just wondering if he needed to get any of those steps out of the way before getting the approval, but as you mention and I had mentioned to him, he doesn't need to do anything right now until we receive the NOA2.

 

19 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

In briefly looking at the Iran portal, it appears that long administrative processing is routinely given to Iranians unfortunately - so mentally prepare yourself that it may be a really long wait. Try to have as many visits as you can. 

 

It also appears that the embassy in Turkmenistan and Islamabad are options for you. 

 

Honestly pray this isn't always the case . Thank you for your replies! Greatly appreciated. 

[EandH0904 1,184]

4 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

You might want to marry and do a spousal visa. It has a lot of advantages. The main one for you is that if the visa gets denied for whatever reason, it will go back to USCIS who can reaffirm the case and send it back to the consulate, and the consulate has to go over the application. In K1, if the petition gets denied, it expired before USCIS has a chance to do anything, so people have to do spousal visas and start over.

Yes - I wish I would have known this before. The Moroccan embassy is difficult too and we got a long AP (well, 14 weeks - long to us) and then it was returned to USCIS. Now we are going to get married and do CR1, which is what I would have done the first time due to the fact there is an appeals process and it doesn't expire -- neither of which are applicable on the K1.

[BenjaminKeating 114]

As above, I'd go a head and do the spousal visa.

 

America's relationship with Iran has gotten even worse in the last few days too.

[fatima85556 0]

Can anyone tell me which Irani birth certificate they accept in usconsulate when u apply for ur spouse?

[SalishSea 16,978]

On 9/20/2017 at 12:43 PM, Lovelise26 said:

Does he apply for the K-1 visa until we receive the NOA2 or is it possible for him to start his process as of now?

He cannot apply for the visa until the petition is approved.

 

K-1 approvals for Iran are currently tricky with the travel ban.  There is at least one very long thread here on VJ dedicated to this.