wedding advice

[remiel6]

So I thought I'd come here and ask some questions. First I will say that it would be really cool if all the websites I visited linked here before I started looking. Second of all, I started writing to a woman about nine months ago. I went to visit her in person in December, had a great time. Now I am preparing to go back in april. I had a question about weddings, as this is something we have talked about. Is it better to get married here or over there. As I am in law school I really don't have time to spend a month in the ukraine to prepare for a wedding so I was wondering if she wanted to get married there how long did I have to spend there before it could be done? She is in the ukraine by the way. Any advice on the k-1 vs. k-3 visa would be appreciated too. thanks for the great site
steve

[GoodBrew]

Steve,

VisaJourney has a decent comparison of the different visa types.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=compare

Will this be your first time tying the knot?     

[remiel6]

Yes. I have never been married before. I've been engaged twice, to american girls both times.

[GoodBrew]

For marriage in Ukraine you will need an apostilled document stating that you have never been married, your passport of course, and a document from an employer stating that you will be in country for a short amount of time.  All will have to be translated into Ukrainian.  I have been told that the document processing and marriage can be expedited for a higher fee, or you can do all the official things during one visit and schedule the wedding for later.

[remiel6]

thanks for the good advice

[Tamara]

Steve,

I guess the main question here is: Are you guys ready to get married?  I am sure your sweetheart would love to have a wedding in Ukraine with all of her relatives and friends there.  Later you can have one here as well.  If you bring all the necessary documents along with you to Ukraine, you can get married fast, just pay a higher fee.  IMHO, getting married in Ukraine has a number of advantages for both of you: your spouse will be allowed to enter the country even before CR-1 visa is issued as the main idea now for the US government is to reunite the family.  And she can start working immediately, as well as traveling outside of the US.  Best of luck!

Tamara

[remiel6]

I had thought about having a wedding there and another wedding here. I think that would be really nice for both of us. I was under the impression that if we got married there I would then have to come back here and file for a K-3 visa. Is there a faster way? I am not familiar with the CR-1 so if someone could explain the difference between this and the K-3 that would be really helpful. Thanks again

[Admin]

I had thought about having a wedding there and another wedding here. I think that would be really nice for both of us. I was under the impression that if we got married there I would then have to come back here and file for a K-3 visa. Is there a faster way? I am not familiar with the CR-1 so if someone could explain the difference between this and the K-3 that would be really helpful. Thanks again

Steve,

Here is a flowchart we developed a short time back to help give an idea of the differences -- http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=9067.0

The IR-1/CR-1 and the K-3 are used if you choose to marry abroad before coming to the US.

The K-3 was developed at a time when the IR-1/CR-1 process was requiring years for completion, and was one of Bush's initiatives just prior to 9/11 with his announcement of the Family LIFE Act.

Since then, the IR-1/CR-1 process has been improved and the time differences between it, and the K-3, are now nominal. There may be a slight advantage to the timing of a K-3, but you are now talking weeks not months - or years, as was the case when the K-3 was created.

The big advantage of the IR-1/CR-1, is your wife will enter the US with full work and travel privileges.

- Dan

[remiel6]

wow thats a nice flow chart thanks for pointing me to it

[philb]

My experience is 3 years old.  My wife and I got married in Ukraine.  It was a great experience and very important to my wife.  All of her family and friends were able to be there and we were able to have a religious ceremony performed in the Orthodox Church. 

We did it over two trips, but, as some of the other posters have mentioned, it could be done in a single trip. 

Some of my friends and family were even able to attend.  Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions.

[bgreed]

What you will need is an apostilled document stating that you have never been married this you will tae to the U.S. consulate who will issue you a certificate of no impediment. 

You will take this to the Ministry of foregin affairs who will issue you the certificae allowing you to get married. you have to have filed for this document before noon and you will be able to pick it up after 4:00pm that afternoon.

This document you will take to RAGS along with your passport and an apostilled copy of your birth certificate.  There you will get to fill out some more forms.

The usual waiting time to get married is 30 days from the time you file to get married.  However for a "nice gift" this process can be shortened to just a few days. (ask me how I know)

You can file for a K-3 or a CR-1 we chose the CR-1 route and my wife had her social security number within two weks after arrival and her two year green card within 30 days. 90 days before the card expires we will file for a lifting of conditions which when approved she will receive her 10year green card.

Time from application to arrival almost exactly 11 months and that's with a couple of glitches where extra paperwork was requested. By the way did all the paperwork myself.

One thing to note she will not be able to come to the U.S. until the embassy issues her visa.  So plan on at least a couple of trips in between.

[Thomcat]

I was reading these threads and was curious what is the wait time after a marriage with a K-1 before travel restrictions and a green card is issued. I've linked to the flowchart and I see what forms are to be filed but I am just wanting to know the wait time.

[mendeleyev]

Get yourself educated on wedding traditions and customs too.  Blindly going over and expecting weddings to be the same all over the world can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. There are some things you may wish to prepare before you go.

[Admin]

I was reading these threads and was curious what is the wait time after a marriage with a K-1 before travel restrictions and a green card is issued. I've linked to the flowchart and I see what forms are to be filed but I am just wanting to know the wait time.

To re-frame your questions, I think they are these:

K-1 - time from marriage to green card, and

K-1 - time from marriage to travel restrictions lifted.

Feel free to correct if I mis-stated your questions. If correct, those are application forms I-485 and I-131, respectively.

You can check the processing times at the USCIS site, found here -- http://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp

Select the Service Center (or Field Office) that will handle your application, and check the processing times for the particular form you are filing.

For example, the I-485 apps in Atlanta, GA Field Office are running almost 7 months for disposition - and the I-131 apps filed with the Texas Service Center show 3 months for disposition.

I hope this helps.

- Dan

[Faux Pas]

To re-frame your questions, I think they are these:

K-1 - time from marriage to green card, and

K-1 - time from marriage to travel restrictions lifted.

Feel free to correct if I mis-stated your questions. If correct, those are application forms I-485 and I-131, respectively.

You can check the processing times at the USCIS site, found here -- http://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp

Select the Service Center (or Field Office) that will handle your application, and check the processing times for the particular form you are filing.

For example, the I-485 apps in Atlanta, GA Field Office are running almost 7 months for disposition - and the I-131 apps filed with the Texas Service Center show 3 months for disposition.

I hope this helps.

- Dan

I'm not convinced the time frames on the uscis website is correct. I say this because dispozo filed almost a month before me on a K-1 which was in August 2008 and has an interview. The website states they are processing March 2008. I have yet to hear any word other than NOA1. Any idea on what gives?

[Admin]

I'm not convinced the time frames on the uscis website is correct. I say this because dispozo filed almost a month before me on a K-1 which was in August 2008 and has an interview. The website states they are processing March 2008. I have yet to hear any word other than NOA1. Any idea on what gives?

Which Service Center is handling your app? BTW, I presume you mean the filing of an I-129F (K-1) application?

From what I can see, it looks like California is reporting a 6-month period to disposition the I-129F (K-1) - whereas the Vermont center is reporting a bit more than 7.5 months.

If it is taking longer than the specified processing times, there is a published number where you can call and inquire.

I did not see a reference to a March 2008 date for processing. Vermont indicated their processing date as of 12/31/2008 was May 12, 2008 - which is where my 7.5 month time period comes from.

Interestingly, the sites claim they update the processing times monthly, but since this is now March, and they are BOTH providing status as of 12/31/2008, they are failing to fulfill the objectives stated on their site. It seems nothing changes - as that was a problem when I was processing the K-1 for Olya back in 2001.

I hope this helps (but I doubt it - sorry).

- Dan

[Turboguy]

I was reading these threads and was curious what is the wait time after a marriage with a K-1 before travel restrictions and a green card is issued. I've linked to the flowchart and I see what forms are to be filed but I am just wanting to know the wait time.

Tomcat, if it helps you here is my timeline.

12/15/07 We are married. One year and a day after filling original K-1
12/27/07 Filed for AOS, EAD & AP
1/3/08 Received all three NOA-1's
1/22/08 Biometrics
2/27/08 EAD & AP received
4/12/08 Interview
5/19/08 RFE for physical that she should not have needed. 5/28 New physical ($ 250.00 wasted)
6/23/08 Green Card received

Something I didn't notice anyone mentioning in this thread is that the green card will be issued faster and her family and friends can attend.  The advantage of getting married here is you have 90 days to get married and she gets to see what your life is like here and you get to spend more time together and make sure you are mot making a mistake. 

[Faux Pas]

Which Service Center is handling your app? BTW, I presume you mean the filing of an I-129F (K-1) application?

From what I can see, it looks like California is reporting a 6-month period to disposition the I-129F (K-1) - whereas the Vermont center is reporting a bit more than 7.5 months.

If it is taking longer than the specified processing times, there is a published number where you can call and inquire.

I did not see a reference to a March 2008 date for processing. Vermont indicated their processing date as of 12/31/2008 was May 12, 2008 - which is where my 7.5 month time period comes from.

Interestingly, the sites claim they update the processing times monthly, but since this is now March, and they are BOTH providing status as of 12/31/2008, they are failing to fulfill the objectives stated on their site. It seems nothing changes - as that was a problem when I was processing the K-1 for Olya back in 2001.

I hope this helps (but I doubt it - sorry).

- Dan

Vermont and it is the I 129F. Maybe I looked at the wrong one yesterday (which is entirely possible) I read it as March which didn't make sense because I knew dispozo filed in August. Unless I am mistaken he also filed the I129F. The wait is a killer but the lack of information is worse.

[remiel6]

wow, thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I live in michigan so I am not sure which agency ie california, vermont, would process the application. Where can I get good information on wedding customs. I am sure there is a link to it somewhere. How was the interview, I imagine it was stressful. I thought about the advantages of the K-1 in regards to getting a chance to live together before you get married. I wil have to ask her and see what she thinks about that.

[Thomcat]

Thank you all for your information. To apply for a K-3 does the marriage have to take place in her country. I guess what I am asking is can a couple marry in the United States then apply for a K-3 after she returns to her home country?

[Marc@LTP]

My advice is first look at what will happen if the marriage dose not work out?

First as a law school student you should look at the law's once you get married you filed to support her for 10 years. Second Divorce court and INS law are two different things. In other words if things don't work out you will be fighting all kinds legal crap were she will have most of the rights in Divorce court?

I will say I have seen many marriage work out, but there are many more that did not work out.

Many will not like what I am about to say, but only fool's rush in be smart All bet you worked your back side off to become a Lawyer know use your skill's and just make sheer that this is what you want

I would say 100% use the 90 day visa!!! this is based on my 15 years working with AM & RW's

Good luck, and I wish the best for you and your RW