fiancé Starting this process, getting basic information...

[HalAndOlive 5]

Hello All,

 

As you can see from the user name this thread is about Hal and Olive.  We are both very new to this subject and interested in posting and reading to get information on what we will have to do, what hurdles will will have to jump and what processes we will have to complete and when.

 

I am hoping right now to get any general information from the forum members and delve deeper as I (we) learn more.  So with that said, perhaps I should start with the basics.

I Hal, am an American Citizen - born here in the US.  I am 60 years old.  I was a professional most of my life and I retired 6 years ago.  About 9 months ago, I met Olive online through a dating site.  She is 54, a Singaporean Citizen and also a professional, still working, and we have decided to marry and live here in America.  So the first question is...

Is there any known general governmental impediment that will keep US from marrying and living in the US?

Olive is still working in Singapore and will officially retire when she comes to marry and live with me.  She will never have worked in the US so I am guessing that she will not be entitled to any US retirement program except as a surviving spouse through my Social Security if I were to pass.  But this is OK because she has her own retirement plan in Singapore.  T

he question here is how do I find out what programs she may be able or required to join?  How do we find out about those?

Another huge question is this, there is no mandate to have health care insurance in my state "South Carolina" but of course, I think it would be very unwise to go without.  So, can anyone suggest - or point out a place where I can investigate the cost of a health care plan for my Olive?  Of course I can check with Blue Cross and other providers, I was just hoping to pick up a clue or two if there is a "best way" to go about this.

So, those are the basics Regarding Hal And Olive.  Any suggesting guidance will be most welcome. 

 

Thanks,

Hal

[payxibka 10,044]

Have you met face to face?

[Crazy Cat 39,362]

***Topic moved to What Visa Do I Need?********

[Crazy Cat 39,362]

You might want to read the guides section of this web site to get some knowledge concerning how US citizens bring fiances and spouses to the US.

https://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/    I would check out the What Visa Do I Need area first.

[Lil bear 3,840]

40 minutes ago, HalAndOlive said:

Hello All,

 

As you can see from the user name this thread is about Hal and Olive.  We are both very new to this subject and interested in posting and reading to get information on what we will have to do, what hurdles will will have to jump and what processes we will have to complete and when.

 

I am hoping right now to get any general information from the forum members and delve deeper as I (we) learn more.  So with that said, perhaps I should start with the basics.

 

 

 

 

I Hal, am an American Citizen - born here in the US.  I am 60 years old.  I was a professional most of my life and I retired 6 years ago.  About 9 months ago, I met Olive online through a dating site.  She is 54, a Singaporean Citizen and also a professional, still working, and we have decided to marry and live here in America.  So the first question is...

Is there any known general governmental impediment that will keep US from marrying and living in the US?

 

 

Olive is still working in Singapore and will officially retire when she comes to marry and live with me.  She will never have worked in the US so I am guessing that she will not be entitled to any US retirement program except as a surviving spouse through my Social Security if I were to pass.  But this is OK because she has her own retirement plan in Singapore.  T

he question here is how do I find out what programs she may be able or required to join?  How do we find out about those?

 

 

Another huge question is this, there is no mandate to have health care insurance in my state "South Carolina" but of course, I think it would be very unwise to go without.  So, can anyone suggest - or point out a place where I can investigate the cost of a health care plan for my Olive?  Of course I can check with Blue Cross and other providers, I was just hoping to pick up a clue or two if there is a "best way" to go about this.

 

 

 

 

So, those are the basics Regarding Hal And Olive.  Any suggesting guidance will be most welcome. 

 

Thanks,

Hal

https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoptions

 

https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/bringing-spouses-live-united-states-permanent-residents

Edited August 2, 2019 by Lil bear

[HalAndOlive 5]

1 hour ago, payxibka said:

Have you met face to face?

No.  Not yet.

When we first started writing it was very casual.  And so did not plan the F-F until the next coming January when I travel to Singapore.  Our plan then was to have her come to America and stay for about a month in June.

 

Since those initial plans were laid, we have accelerated our relationship.  I will still travel in January, but now our desire is to have her come to the US for the month of March.

Edited August 2, 2019 by HalAndOlive

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, HalAndOlive said:

No.  Not yet.

When we first started writing it was very casual.  And so did not plan the F-F until the next coming January when I travel to Singapore.  Our plan then was to have her come to America and stay for about a month in June.

 

Since those initial plans were laid, we have accelerated our relationship.  I will still travel in January, but now our desire is to have her come to the US for the month of March.

Until you meet face to face there is no visa option for her other than tourist 

[HalAndOlive 5]

9 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Until you meet face to face there is no visa option for her other than tourist 

OK, If that's the way it is... I am also reading that a K1 can take 10 months. Do most people wait until after the F-F to apply, or do they jump the gun - so to speak and if so, is there a danger of getting rejected because the F-F has not happened yet?

 

EDIT:

OK... Nevermind... I see that Meeting in person is a requirement of the Ki. so I cannot "short-cut" that process.

Edited August 2, 2019 by HalAndOlive

[payxibka 10,044]

Just now, HalAndOlive said:

OK, If that's the way it is... I am also reading that a K1 can take 10 months. Do most people wait until after the F-F to apply, or do they jump the gun - so to speak and if so, is there a danger of getting rejected because the F-F has not happened yet?

Absolute danger.  Guaranteed denial.  Read the requirements of the i129f.   You are not eligible to petition unless you have had a previous face to face meeting within the previous two years 

[HalAndOlive 5]

4 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Absolute danger.  Guaranteed denial.  Read the requirements of the i129f.   You are not eligible to petition unless you have had a previous face to face meeting within the previous two years 

Yes, thank you... I have read that now.  OK. So, I will have to complete the F-F meet in January and then hope the process does not take too long.

 

Thanks for the input.

[SalishSea 16,810]

You need to read and research as much as possible. US immigration is complex, expensive, and not fast.  

[Cheschirecat 176]

15 hours ago, HalAndOlive said:

OK, If that's the way it is... I am also reading that a K1 can take 10 months. Do most people wait until after the F-F to apply, or do they jump the gun - so to speak and if so, is there a danger of getting rejected because the F-F has not happened yet?

 

EDIT:

OK... Nevermind... I see that Meeting in person is a requirement of the Ki. so I cannot "short-cut" that process.

There is no true shortcut in this process.. 

[Crazy Cat 39,362]

15 hours ago, HalAndOlive said:

Yes, thank you... I have read that now.  OK. So, I will have to complete the F-F meet in January and then hope the process does not take too long.

 

Thanks for the input.

Have you considered a CR-1 spousal visa?  or is your sole priority the speed?

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
     
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

  

CR-1
    

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  �

 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

15 hours ago, HalAndOlive said:

OK, If that's the way it is... I am also reading that a K1 can take 10 months. Do most people wait until after the F-F to apply, or do they jump the gun - so to speak and if so, is there a danger of getting rejected because the F-F has not happened yet?

 

EDIT:

OK... Nevermind... I see that Meeting in person is a requirement of the Ki. so I cannot "short-cut" that process.

No, unfortunately not.  Both petitioner (you) and beneficiary (her) have to demonstrate hard evidence of an ongoing, legitimate relationship to sponsor and obtain an immigrant visa.

Hard evidence of meeting in person is a basic requirement.

[carmel34 3,531]

If you have not yet met each other, take things slowly.  Marriage is a big commitment and a K-1 or CR-1 petition and visa application is a long and frustrating process.  Evidence of multiple meetings and lots of time face to face increases your chances of approval and also gives you more time to get to know each other and decide if the relationship is going to work out.  Text messages and video calls are not the same as spending time together, so that is the best advice you have received here.  If the relationship develops further after a few visits to be together, then talk about the immigration options and do more research on the process.  It will be about a year, maybe longer, either way you go.  CR-1 is so much better for a lot of reasons.

 

As for your question about whether the visa can be denied, there are many reasons it can be denied depending on the specifics of your situation, and your friend's situation.  Things like past criminal records, previous US visa applications, overstays in the US, illegal presence, and of course things like insufficient income to sponsor someone and a lack of evidence of a bona fide relationship.

 

Start with spending more time together.  Do multiple visits to be with each other.  Collect evidence of these visits such as photos, boarding passes, hotel receipts, passport stamps.  Then if you decide to get married later, do more research on the options, discuss the CR-1 vs K-1 and start the process knowing that it will take a long time, you will be apart during the process, and it will cost a lot of money.    Good luck!