K1 visa

[Rachel Becker 2]

Has anyone used a lawyer or an online service to help them with the K1 visa application? Looking for a recommendation. 

[PeterMalek 2]

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Edited August 6, 2019 by PeterMalek

[PeterMalek 2]

25 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Has anyone used a lawyer or an online service to help them with the K1 visa application? Looking for a recommendation. 

I did my application on my own and no attorney was really needed but you can gather all the documents and review it with an attorney before submitting to be confident and they should charge very cheap to review your case. $100-200 

I hope this will help and GOOD LUCK!

[JFH 12,189]

Are you both still living in Israel? If so, you might want to ask yourself whether the K-1 is really the best choice. Research all the pros and cons - not just the part about it being faster, pay attention to the first 4 months or so of married life where your spouse will be unable to work, possibly unable to drive, unable to leave the country (which limits your honeymoon options if nothing else). 

 

Why not get married (in Israel or anywhere else of your choosing) and file for the spousal visa? 

 

Most cases can be completed without the assistance of a lawyer. Lawyers can slow cases down due to the extra steps back and forth with the paperwork and the fact that the lawyer has no emotional involvement in the case and no personal need for the case to move fast. If you think you need a lawyer, or would just feel more confident with a lawyer, that’s your choice. But don’t engage one because you believe it’s a requirement. That’s an Internet myth. 

[Unlockable 7,306]

48 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Has anyone used a lawyer or an online service to help them with the K1 visa application? Looking for a recommendation. 

Will be tough to find what you are looking for here. VisaJourney is a do-it-yourself forum. Majority of the people here did things themselves instead of a lawyer or service. If you have a straight forward case a lawyer or visa service is not needed at all. It will save you tons of money. Everything you need to file can be found here or on the US immigration sites. If you have any questions then you are free to ask.

 

Good luck.

[payxibka 10,044]

I think the overwhelming majority of people here will give names of attorneys NOT to use

[Jmeleecur 347]

I think most of us are here because we've done it on our own, and use this as resource for advise and guidance. it's 100% possible to complete these applications on your own, and I've read multiple times, adding a third party into the process seems to only hinder and slow the process. No one will put the time, attention & detail into your application like you.

Edited August 6, 2019 by Jmeleecur

[Rachel Becker 2]

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any advice about getting “married” in Israel before getting the K1 visa? My finance and I were planning on getting married without the rabbinut (not legally) and then getting legally married in the US when he gets the visa. I know someone who did this. However, I’ve seen other posts on visa journey that warned against doing this. Any advice? 

[aaron2020 11,651]

16 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any advice about getting “married” in Israel before getting the K1 visa? My finance and I were planning on getting married without the rabbinut (not legally) and then getting legally married in the US when he gets the visa. I know someone who did this. However, I’ve seen other posts on visa journey that warned against doing this. Any advice? 

Don't do it.  The risks that your K-1 visa, AOS, etc. will be denied is not worth it.  You would be hiding this "marriage" from the US Government.  

 

Just become someone you know got away with circumventing the rules, it doesn't mean it was legal or acceptable.  

Edited August 6, 2019 by aaron2020

[Crazy Cat 39,215]

19 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any advice about getting “married” in Israel before getting the K1 visa? My finance and I were planning on getting married without the rabbinut (not legally) and then getting legally married in the US when he gets the visa. I know someone who did this. However, I’ve seen other posts on visa journey that warned against doing this. Any advice? 

I would advise against any ceremony which could be seen as a marriage before applying for a K-1.  Many have regretted doing that when it resulted in a denial..........best to either marry legally there and apply for a spousal visa or marry in the US via a K-1, then return there for a celebration ceremony..........

and just to give you a short analysis of the benefits of a CR-1 vs a K-1, I offer the following:

 

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.
  �

 

Edited August 6, 2019 by missileman

[Dashinka 23,236]

23 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any advice about getting “married” in Israel before getting the K1 visa? My finance and I were planning on getting married without the rabbinut (not legally) and then getting legally married in the US when he gets the visa. I know someone who did this. However, I’ve seen other posts on visa journey that warned against doing this. Any advice? 

Unfortunately, the "someone else did it" doesn't work with consulate officers.  That being said, why not pursue the spousal visa, it is far superior and cheaper as @missileman so succinctly shows.

 

Good Luck!

[Hank_ 9,173]

25 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any advice about getting “married” in Israel before getting the K1 visa? My finance and I were planning on getting married without the rabbinut (not legally) and then getting legally married in the US when he gets the visa. I know someone who did this. However, I’ve seen other posts on visa journey that warned against doing this. Any advice? 

The embassy may very well interpret "married" as being married for real and deny a K-1 visa.

 

If having a ceremony in Israel is important ... get married for real, then complete the CR-1 visa process .. overall it is cheaper and when your spouse arrives in the USA their green card will arrive shortly after.   

[Unlockable 7,306]

28 minutes ago, Rachel Becker said:

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any advice about getting “married” in Israel before getting the K1 visa? My finance and I were planning on getting married without the rabbinut (not legally) and then getting legally married in the US when he gets the visa. I know someone who did this. However, I’ve seen other posts on visa journey that warned against doing this. Any advice? 

Even if it is not "legal" as you say you can still get denied. Because if it looks and smells like a wedding, how do you prove it is not. So the best security is to deny if there is a presumption of marriage before a K1. The key word is presumption. It doesn't have to be legal or real, all it has to do is looks like a wedding.

 

Don't do it.

[carmel34 3,529]

Definitely do it yourself.  Stay far away from attorneys and "rapid" visa services.  All they do is take your money and then make mistakes or slow the process down.  You have to get all the documents, gather the evidence, etc. anyway.  Attorneys do not even fill out forms or submit them for you, they hire staff to do everything and sometimes those people are less educated about the process than you might think.  An attorney is only needed when you have an unusual problem like deportation in the past, criminal record, etc.  The spousal visa is far superior to K-1 mainly because of the long frustrating wait of 6 months for work authorization and ability to travel outside the US that many who have gone through it call the K-1 hell.  Ask your fiance if he is okay with a six month period of not being able to work, no travel outside the US, in many states not able to get a driver's license.  Do more research on the adjustment of status process after arrival in the US on a K-1.  We see many examples here on VJ of K-1 couples who post questions expressing surprise that the alien spouse cannot work, cannot drive, and cannot leave the US for so many months.  Some experience financial hardship, emotional stress, and this can negatively affect their relationship.  Good luck with whatever path you choose!

[vistawateraz 27]

10 hours ago, Rachel Becker said:

Has anyone used a lawyer or an online service to help them with the K1 visa application? Looking for a recommendation. 

We used RapidVisa. Worth every penny.