What's next?

[santo]

So for you guys that did not follow some of my last posts, I met my girl on EM, we Skyped for a few months, then I travelled to the country where she is living.  I am here now and everything is working out perfect.  I will post a trip report when I get back.  My question is what do I do next?  We want to be together.  I live in the us and she is Russian.  What is the best visa for us to apply for?

[Muzh]

Click on the link and download this one. Follow the instructions. Very easy to fill out. Any questions, holler.
 
http://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

[Patagonie]

All is totally perfect since .... fill the blank .......  how many days ?

[Faux Pas]

So for you guys that did not follow some of my last posts, I met my girl on EM, we Skyped for a few months, then I travelled to the country where she is living.  I am here now and everything is working out perfect.  I will post a trip report when I get back.  My question is what do I do next?  We want to be together.  I live in the us and she is Russian.  What is the best visa for us to apply for?

My straight from the hip advice is don't put the cart before the horse. Many times the first trip works out wonderfully as do the subsequent trips. However, sometimes they don't. What's next is the same steps you took with your last relationship. Get to know her better. Nurture, foster and allow the relationship to grow. Plan a couple more trips and spend as much time as possible with her. When you feel you are both ready to move forward and plan a life together and planning to marry, most of your visa info can be found here. http://www.visajourney.com/  I'd advise you to start reading up on it now just so you know but, I would caution you to take some time before pulling the trigger.

Good luck

[Hammer2722]

I most definitely agree with the others here. Don't be so hasty to get those visa documents going after one trip. Your next step should be to visit her again. Its great that you 2 hit it off at first meeting. Now you need to visit her again and within a decent time frame. Say 2-4 months to let your relationship grow.

[Daveman]

Congrats on the happy meeting.

I gotta go with the 'make at least another trip'  option.  You are most likely in a state of euphoria and really shouldn't be making life altering decision based on how wonderful you feel at this moment.  It's like being on drugs.  IMO, you don't really begin to settle in well enough to understand compatibility until the second visit.

The goal of the first visit should be to be in an mutually interested enough situation to plan the second -- not to plan the wedding.

If she's never been married, the best visa would be the CR-1, which would mean, you marry her over there.  That way she gets to have her wedding with family and friends present, have her day as the Princess Bride, celebrate her traditions, party all day and night the the shouts of "gor-ka gor-ka gor-ka".

[Wayne]

There is no such thing as a "best visa". We would need much more information to make a suggestion.
 
Are you planning to get married? If so, would you marry in Russia? Are there children involved?

[Chicagoguy]

Our second date was out of Russia and to Turkey. Not too expensive on charters from there. Used local Russian travel agency. Sort of a "fish out of water" thing to see if my first impressions of her were correct in a different setting. It went perfect. Then we got married !

[Turboguy]

Let me start by answering your question.   You have four options.   The two most common are,
K-1 Visa,  Also called a fiancée visa.  This is supposed to be for those who know they want to marry to allow her to come here for 90 days during which you either must marry or she must return to her country.  This is the most common and allows you to spend some time together and see what your life is like before really being locked into marriage.   Typical time to process is 7- 9 months.  After marriage you apply for Adjustment of status which gives her a two year green card.  After that you apply for removal of conditions which gives her a 10 year green card.
The second main option is an IR-1 / CR-1 (formerly a K-3) also called a spousal visa. With this one you get married there where her friends and family can attend the wedding then apply for the visa.  She will have the two year green card when she arrives unless you have been married for 3 years then she will get the 10 year green card.   Typical time to process is about the same.  Both the K-1 and IR-1 have a high rate of approval, maybe 98% (my guess)
The other options would be a tourist visa which is usually a two year multi-entry, sometimes for the first time a one year.  Cost is low and processing time is around 6 weeks.   Approval rate is low, maybe 20% depending on her ties to home and other factors. 
The last option would be a student visa.  She could enroll in a school here and get a visa to attend.  This may not be applicable to her but it is an option.  Approval rate is fairly high, maybe 80% (my guess)
I would strongly agree that at least one more trip would be a good thing.  I can recall with my first fiancée on my first trip she was the most amazing and wonderful person you could ever dream of finding.  On my second trip Dr Ms Jeckel disappeared and the evil Ms Hyde was spending time with me.   That sweet caring wonderful girl had become a total beach, complaining about everything and happy about nothing.  A second trip is cheaper than a divorce or any kind of mistake.
 

[Faux Pas]

Let me start by answering your question.   You have four options.   The two most common are,
K-1 Visa,  Also called a fiancée visa.  This is supposed to be for those who know they want to marry to allow her to come here for 90 days during which you either must marry or she must return to her country.  This is the most common and allows you to spend some time together and see what your life is like before really being locked into marriage.   Typical time to process is 7- 9 months.  After marriage you apply for Adjustment of status which gives her a two year green card.  After that you apply for removal of conditions which gives her a 10 year green card.
The second main option is an IR-1 / CR-1 (formerly a K-3) also called a spousal visa. With this one you get married there where her friends and family can attend the wedding then apply for the visa.  She will have the two year green card when she arrives unless you have been married for 3 years then she will get the 10 year green card.   Typical time to process is about the same.  Both the K-1 and IR-1 have a high rate of approval, maybe 98% (my guess)
The other options would be a tourist visa which is usually a two year multi-entry, sometimes for the first time a one year.  Cost is low and processing time is around 6 weeks.   Approval rate is low, maybe 20% depending on her ties to home and other factors. 
The last option would be a student visa.  She could enroll in a school here and get a visa to attend.  This may not be applicable to her but it is an option.  Approval rate is fairly high, maybe 80% (my guess)
I would strongly agree that at least one more trip would be a good thing.  I can recall with my first fiancée on my first trip she was the most amazing and wonderful person you could ever dream of finding.  On my second trip Dr Ms Jeckel disappeared and the evil Ms Hyde was spending time with me.   That sweet caring wonderful girl had become a total beach, complaining about everything and happy about nothing.  A second trip is cheaper than a divorce or any kind of mistake.

Well stated and in need of emphasis

[Turboguy]

Two other things.   Do not use a lawyer.  It will be slower and far more expensive and you won't have much of an idea what is happening.
Do it yourself and use VisaJourney,com as Faux Pas recommended.  It is easy to do yourself and the guidelines, links and forum on VisaJourney will give you all you need.
 

[fathertime]

So for you guys that did not follow some of my last posts, I met my girl on EM, we Skyped for a few months, then I travelled to the country where she is living.  I am here now and everything is working out perfect.  I will post a trip report when I get back.  My question is what do I do next?  We want to be together.  I live in the us and she is Russian. 

Well if it were me, i'd probably give it a little more time...One more trip at least...if you feel everything checks out and want to take a chance then, it is your choice.  Women and men can play along and be nice for a while, but with more time you will know if she was just playing along or actually is the way she appears now...You got plenty of time...  For your sake, hopefully your current gut feelings are right.


Good luck,

Fathertime!   

[santo]

Hey thanks for the adivice!  We have been video chatting since September. She is living in a country close by, not Russia, so it's easy to visit.  I am planning many visits soon to get all of this sorted out, but just wanted to start exploring my options.  The tourist visa sounds the best. I just wonder how much risk of not getting the visa if she does tourist visa first then k1 if things work out.

[santo]

If the tourist visa gets turned down is it automatically six months before she can apply for any visa?  That sounds like the best option.

[Daveman]

Hey thanks for the adivice!  We have been video chatting since September. She is living in a country close by, not Russia, so it's easy to visit.  I am planning many visits soon to get all of this sorted out, but just wanted to start exploring my options.  The tourist visa sounds the best. I just wonder how much risk of not getting the visa if she does tourist visa first then k1 if things work out.

From which country is she?  Good idea on the multiple trips. 

If she gets the tourist visa, there are ways to marry her then and allow her to stay, though in that case it is best to seek the advice of an immigration attorney.   I know a couple who were able to do this but I don't know any specifics other than they met locally and married while she was here on a tourist visa. 

But I still think you should marry her over there... chicken!!! bak bak bak

[Faux Pas]

From which country is she?  Good idea on the multiple trips. 

If she gets the tourist visa, there are ways to marry her then and allow her to stay, though in that case it is best to seek the advice of an immigration attorney.   I know a couple who were able to do this but I don't know any specifics other than they met locally and married while she was here on a tourist visa. 

But I still think you should marry her over there... chicken!!! bak bak bak

Well if it's close, the options are pretty limited 

santos
If she is in Canada or Mexico and has a travel history, the chances of a tourist visa are quite good, easier to obtain and takes nothing from you.

[Daveman]

Well if it's close, the options are pretty limited 

santos
If she is in Canada or Mexico and has a travel history, the chances of a tourist visa are quite good, easier to obtain and takes nothing from you.

Hah! I thought he meant "close by" to Russia.  Nevermind...

[mendeleyev]

I'd second the multiple trips advice and take it slow. Not saying that this is a factor buy every man should be aware that there is nothing like the threat of someday having to return to Russia that makes a woman fall in "love" with a guy who can provide permanent residence.

[calmissile]

If the tourist visa gets turned down is it automatically six months before she can apply for any visa?  That sounds like the best option.

I don't know from what country your gal is citizen of.

It is not correct that you have to wait 6 months to reapply for a visa.  My wife did it 3 times within a few months.  Once before we were married and twice, in rapid succession after we were married.  You can do it as often as you want to contribute to the US treasury with the application fees.   

You might want to read the beginning of the thread I posted about our experience (limited to Ukraine/USA)

http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=16766.0

[Shadow]

Forget the guys who wish you to keep her on a leash for a year or so.
If it feels right, you are supposed to move forward and go for the idea to be together as soon as possible.
That means learning which documents to apply for and start filing them.
To get the documents done will take time. Use that time to have as much contact as possible, and if you can, visit often.
Should during these visits something happen, it is always possible to stop the procedure.

You are the one who should know. If you find yourself making excuases for things you do not like, take more time as it means there are red lights. If you know it is right without any doubt, it probably is.

[calmissile]

Forget the guys who wish you to keep her on a leash for a year or so.
If it feels right, you are supposed to move forward and go for the idea to be together as soon as possible.That means learning which documents to apply for and start filing them.
To get the documents done will take time. Use that time to have as much contact as possible, and if you can, visit often.
Should during these visits something happen, it is always possible to stop the procedure.

You are the one who should know. If you find yourself making excuases for things you do not like, take more time as it means there are red lights. If you know it is right without any doubt, it probably is.

Agree!

Only the guy knows if he feels he knows his potential partner well enough to make a commitment.

Keep this in mind.... It's either Gator or ML that says "Don't put up with any bad behavior or blame it on cultural differences".    I learned this lesson the hard way!   

[Turboguy]

Applying for a tourist visa is cheap and quick.  If she is living somewhere other than Russia the odds of getting a tourist visa is better.  It won't affect a K-1 if you go that route.

If you get the tourist visa and marry here it is possible for her to stay and not have to go back to do a K-1.  I usually don't recommend using an attorney but if you go that route it is one of the times that it might be best. 

[calmissile]

Applying for a tourist visa is cheap and quick.  If she is living somewhere other than Russia the odds of getting a tourist visa is better.  It won't affect a K-1 if you go that route.

If you get the tourist visa and marry here it is possible for her to stay and not have to go back to do a K-1.  I usually don't recommend using an attorney but if you go that route it is one of the times that it might be best.

From what I hear, tourist visas from Russia actually have a higher approval rate than Ukraine.

When discussing tourist visas with the embassy staff as well as my congressman's staff, they brought up the topic of someone getting a tourist visa and then applying for AOS once arriving in the US.  In fact it was one of the excuses used to explain why it is so difficult to get tourist visas for single women in the first place.

The whole thing is very murky in my opinion, but in any case I would not want to give immigration an excuse to deny a fiance or spousal visa based on trying to convert a tourist visit to an AOS.

Although my wife is currently visiting me on a tourist visa and could apply for an AOS while she is here, I am not about to jeopardize her getting a green card.  In fact, one of the stipulations we made to the embassy was that she specifically is not going to do a conversion. 

She is going home next week and we will proceed with the CR1/CR2 spousal visa as planned.

[Daveman]

Although my wife is currently visiting me on a tourist visa and could apply for an AOS while she is here, I am not about to jeopardize her getting a green card.  In fact, one of the stipulations we made to the embassy was that she specifically is not going to do a conversion. 

She is going home next week and we will proceed with the CR1/CR2 spousal visa as planned.

I would definitely say that THAT is the most reasonable, safe, LEGAL, and prudent course.  There are reasons an attorney should get involved in those "stay and play" scenarios.

I agree with turboguy. Visa paperwork and supporting documentation is something one can easily do without an attorney.  The only reason that I can think of to recommend going with an attorney for a visa is if there is something very unusual about your situation, e.g., one of you has something on your criminal record, etc.

yes, move the relationship forward.  I wouldn't focus on anything other than the relationship and next visit.  Start to gather what you need, but I certainly wouldn't file anything until after at least another visit.  And yes, visit as much as you can during the process.  There's no substitute for real face time.

[santo]

Thanks for the info.  Every helpful.

She is Russian and living in Mexico with a temporary Mexican resident card.  She has a job in Mexico but earns very little.  She is concerned that she does not have enough income to prove to us immigration that she will be able to travel in the us as a tourist.

I plan to visit her next month.  Its easy for me to travel there because of my work situation and I also speak Spanish. I know this k1 process takes up to 9 months so I am thinking of starting It ASAP and just visiting her while we wait for the process. If things go wrong I can cancel it.