> I am engaged to a British citizen. He is living in Wales, and I am
> living in Maine. We have not picked a date for the wedding because we
> want to sort out the visas first.
>
> I have spoken to several lawyers. I am looking for someone who has
> gone though this and knows the correct answers because I keep getting
> different ones.
>
> It was my understanding that I needed to file the K-3 fiance visa
> (I-129F) application first. Once approved my fiance could come over
> to the US and get married within the 90 day window allotted. Once
> over I would file the I-130 and the I-485 together (including with
> those the G-325A; I-864; I-864A; I-765) then after the two year
> probation period, 90 days before the annaversary of the I-130 I would
> send in I-751.
>
> I was just informed by someone that I need to file the I-130 first and
> then apply for the I-129F fiance visa, but dosen't that only apply if
> you are living in the Us and already married? I was going to apply
> for the K-3 first and then send in the proof that we are legally
> married with the I-130 forms.
>
> I guess I am just checking on the order of the forms. I believe my
> understand is correct and the person who told me to file the I-130
> first is wrong.
>
> Does anyone know which is the correct order?
>
> Thanks for your help!
> ~Kate
Hi Kate,
You have things completely mixed up. First of all, how do you want to
bring him to the USA....as a fiance or a spouse? You have to decide
this first.
Assuming you want to bring him as your fiance and then marry in the USA
and have him remain in the USA permanently after marriage, you are
looking at a K-1 visa (not a K-3...that's a spouse visa).
For the K-1 fiance visa, you (the USC) will submit an I-129F here in the
USA at your service center. After it's approved, the file will be
transferred to London, where your fiance will receive his visa
application paperwork. He will get a police report, medical, and return
a checklist to the embassy when he has all the paperwork ready. He will
attend a visa interview and receive his K-1 visa.
He uses the K-1 visa to enter the USA, and must marry you within 90
days. After you marry, you will apply for his adjustment of status
(AOS). This includes filing form I-485, I-864, I-765 for work
authorization, and I-131 for travel purposes (optional). You don't need
to file an I-130 at any time during the K-1 or AOS process. Once this
is all filed, you sit back and wait for an AOS interview. At the
interview, if everything looks good and security checks are done, he'll
be approved and will receive a green card.
If your marriage is less than 2 years old at the time of AOS approval,
he will receive a 2-year conditional card (then you will file I-751 to
remove conditions in 2 years). If the marriage is more than 2 years old
at the time of AOS approval, he will receive the 10-year green card and
you do nothing more until or unless he wants to become a USC later.
See here for more info on the K-1 process:
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/K1
Best Wishes,
Rene