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Advantage or Disadvantage? Marry in her country or your own?
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Posted by: Longfellow

I'm asking prematurely... no plans or fiance... but what is the considered opinion the consequence of where the legal rite occurs?
What are the advantages? What are the pitfalls? What are the differences of legal ramifications?
To my situation, there is little family who would have investment in a wedding here though I'm sure many would participate to my happiness of marriage.. For myself the act speaks for itself, no matter where.
Somehow I believe that for the fiance and her family, it would be a meaningful symbolic act to share, even though she has had the big wedding before with ex - not just "Hello ZAGS". Maybe I am wrong and transferring wishes to the east.
I. of course, would want to do what makes my woman happy, and her parents.
My question is more to the legal ramifications, challenges and status given a marriage occurring there (Russia, Ukraine) vs. here (USA). Ease vs. difficulty of K1 vs K3 visa, etc.
It is all new to me and I like to be objectively informed.
Any opinions?

Posted by: joelunchbox

What I understand is basically, the only time you should get married there is when you are living there. i.e. military There is an option that theoritically is the fastest route-direct application at the embassy. But...if you fail at that, and it is not a given, it then takes much longer to apply. It is the hail mary of fiance visas...can be a lot of running for nothing or can be a touchdown. K-1 is the safest/quickest way to go. 6 months give or take. If you go prepared -see my other posts- you can shave one or two months off the time it takes you to a complete the package.
I will be visiting again in October so I am curious about this also...

Posted by: j_c

I appreciate that you are looking at this from a legal point of view, but I should just like to make one point about why we got married in Russia - it was a lot easier for my family to travel there than for her family to travel to the UK, from a finacial and visa point of view.

Regards

JC

Posted by: GoingToRussia

I was married in Russia and I see no disadvantage ... except she divored me and never signed the K-3. Actually this was good because I would have been stuck supporting her when she arrived to my country.

First of all, weddings are for women ... sorry if this sounds shovenist. It should be up to the woman where she want to get married. Next, it is much cheaper to be married in the FSU. I think the main advantage is that when she arrives she will get a status adjusted sooner because it is part of the K-3. Once her staus is adjusted, she can leave the USA and return with no problems. With a K-1, she can't leave the USA until her status is adjusted which is filed when she first arrives and takes 6 to 12 months.

This wedding is also legal in the USA after you register with your state.

I see only advantages.

Posted by: j_c

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

First of all, weddings are for women ... sorry if this sounds shovenist. It should be up to the woman where she want to get married. Next, it is much cheaper to be married in the FSU.

Totally agree, I cannot remember even discussing with Irina where it would be , I think from day one we always knew if we got married it would be in Russia, and so when we finally agreed to get married it was not an issue for us.

I remember my family where so happy, and where all quite happy to travel to russia, quite a slog to tie up all the flights visas etc,

With regards to the wedding , Irina and her mother organised everything...we just had to be there.

JC

Posted by: joelunchbox

I read the questions as: what is faster? K-1, K-3? Who has personal experience with timeframes on these?

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelunchbox

I read the questions as: what is faster? K-1, K-3? Who has personal experience with timeframes on these?

K-3s are suppose to faster but they are not. The fast part of a K-3 happens after she arrives. Her status changes after 2-3 months instead of 6 to 12 months with a K-1. The paperwork processing and visa approval take the same amount of time.

Posted by: Jerico

Well having done the K1 route it when I applied for this visa it was approved in 18 days so it can be fast. In fact it was so fast that we actually waited so she could get some things in order before she left. i also heard you have to wait 6 months but it was extremely fast for some reason. Maybe because I do favors for our government sometimes

J/K
Jerry

Posted by: freebird

Where to get married? Well the difference all depends on where you live. The U.S. has the best system IMO, because the K - 1 (fiancee) visa is fairly easy and quick to get. The main advantage is that the girl can come over for 90 days to see her new country BEFORE deciding about marriage. If they find that it is not a good match, or she doesn't like the country, she can return home and it is not a huge problem.

I think that you in the UK have a similar policy as in Canada, it was difficult for me to get a visitors visa for her, so since we both knew we were serious we decided to get legally married and then apply for a spouse Visa. Maybe some of the Brit's on the forum can comment on your options?

Posted by: goforit

I'm going to marry overseas and then apply for a K-3.

Posted by: redhawk

let me give you my k-1 timeline-corresponded jan 2007,met in april 2007 in russia,had to wait for divorce to be final(mine)august.07. sent k-1 to lawyer in oct,they sent in nov,didnt get noa1 from vsc until jan8,08,(bogged down from fees increase)still waiting for noa2. maybe,i should have done a k-3 instead,except they are taking even longer than before also.
the whole process sucks,and its not uscis fault,its policy.
we should be able to go to any us embassy,anywhere in the world with our chosen,show id,get computer backgrounds done,and then be married 3 days later or on our way to US.
just my opinion and sorry for ranting.

Posted by: goforit

No I'm with you on that. Rant appreciated.

Posted by: redhawk

18 days??? jerico,are you serious? holy garbanza beans man! when was that exactly? that is an incredibly fast time. that was back when we had 4 processing centers too ill bet,and plenty of employees. now for fiancee visa,i beleive there are only 2 centers,california, and vermont. bigger country,more people, LESS CENTERS! MAKES SENSE DOESNT IT!-- california-
(news out about it,cal-if-ornia..news out about it.)sorry, couldnt resist,old ybor city rap music.

Posted by: goforit

18 days. Wow! Now I'm reading it can take up to a year!