k1, k3 or something else?

C

confidenceman

New Member
Hello all. My fiance is here in the US but is leaving for Turkey next month. We originally wanted to apply for advance parole but realized it was too late. Does it make more sense (i.e. faster) to get married here and apply for the K3, or apply for the K1? I am also planning on hopefully travelling there at the end of summer so we could get married in Turkey. Any ideas on current processing time for these or other options? thanks, dan.
 
K1 is the much quicker process (though the length of the process depends upon the service centre in the US where you will be filing- Vermont is significantly quicker than California....also, how quick the Embassy in Turkey issues interviews). In general though, K1 'typically' takes 6-8 months, though each case can differ wildly from another. It has been seen though that K1s have been getting approved a lot quicker since Christmas. This is due to the filing fee increase at the end of July. Initially this caused a huge back log as many filers rushed to get their applications in before the hike, but recently it seems as though the service centers have now got on top of things and have now reduced the average approval time.
 
Backlogs on adjudicating visa petitions filed by United States citizens for their immediate relatives can exceed a year and half at the USCIS Service Centers, and immigrant visa issuance by a U. S. embassy or consulate can routinely take another six months.

The K-3 visa, intended to improve the speed with which a family can be united in the United States, can substantially shorten that lengthy waiting period for U.S. citizen spouses to enter the U.S. Also see http://www.greencardfamily.com/k3visa/k3visa_benefit.htm
 
It appears that one needs a recent (less than 30 day old) picture of the 2 people for a K1 visa application. Is that true? The last time I saw my girlfriend was in May of this year. Is the picture we took too old? We've decided to get married, but it appears that it would take a long time before she can get her after we're married.
 
"It appears that one needs a recent (less than 30 day old) picture of the 2 people for a K1 visa application. Is that true? "

No. Not true. The requirement for a K1 visa is that you must have physically met in the last 2 years. Having last met in May and having pictures of this encounter is therefore fine.
 
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