Marriage questions

G

GlobalTraveller

Registered Users (C)
I am a UK citizen, my fiancee is a US citizen. As of yet we have not filed any applications for visas and I am not currently residing in the US due to work commitments. We are planning on getting married, maybe in Panama, in March 2009.

What are the implications of marrying a US citizen outside of the US instead of inside the US? Obviously we know we will face certain questions at the interview stage and naturally don't want to cause any more problems for ourselves than necessary.

Does it make a difference if we apply for a Fiancee visa and then get married, or just get married and then apply for a Spouse visa? Ideally I would like to stay in the US as of the wedding date in March, be it Panama or otherwise.

Also, does anybody know of any restrictions or difficulties that apply directly to Panama as a marriage destination?

Any suggestions as to the best route through this would be more than welcome.

Many thanks
 
There is a different process for marriage outside the US vs. within the US.

If you get married in the US, you are allowed to stay here legally while filing for adjustment of status (AOS.) You should receive your work authorisation within 90 days and complete the process and get the green card between 6 months and 1 year. With conditions, you can get approval for travel outside the US with advanced parole.

If you marry outside the US, you must first apply for a K-3 visa at a CIS office or consulate/embassy in your home country. You will receive a package with lists of required documents for your visa interview, like medical exams, passports, police clearances, etc, and biographical information for USCIS. You will generally get the interview and visa within 3-6 months and can then enter the US to continue the process. You should not try to enter the US on a nonimmigrant/non K-3 visa after marriage... they will most likely bar you from entry as an intending immigrant.

Essentially, if you marry outside the US it will take 3-6 months on average to get you back into the US.

I'm not big on fiancee visas, so I will leave that to the people who know...
 
See "Comparison of Marriage-based immigration choices" at the bottom of this page.

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

This page has the best marriage-based immigration how-to's that I've seen anywhere on the internet. I followed these steps through my entire immigration process, and had no problems whatsoever.

-ML

K1 -> I-485 -> I-751 -> N-400

Now filing I-130/I-485 for parent...
 
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