Hi guys,

I am a British Citizen living in NZ and engaged to a USC. Myself and my fiance want to settle in her home state and she i not in love with NZ so we are hoping to get over there in the next two years.

We are recently engaged and aware that our only real options are Fiance or Marriage visas. As we have family around the world, we aren't in a position to have a big wedding ceremony with all the people that we would want there. So I have been leaning to the Fiance visa and essentially getting married legally on arrival. However, I wanted to see if anyone has any advice or experience with legally getting married abroad without a big to do and how that would effect the chances of suspicion during a marriage visa application?

Any early advice would be fantastic!

Cheers,
Jono

The size of wedding has no bearing on either visa.

If I were you, I'd get married in NZ and do the spouse immigrant visa, rather than the K-1 fiance visa. That way you become a US PR immediately upon arrival in the USA, with full right to live and work in the USA from Day 1.

I don't know if the I-130 can be filed directly to a USCIS field office in NZ, but something to look into.

Rene

You didn't specifically say, but I assume the USC is currently living in NZ?

Rene

Hi Rene,

Thanks for your reply!

That is good to know. Becoming a PR on arrival is ideal. Yes, the USC currently lives in NZ.

I believe submissions in NZ go through the embassy due to the lack of field office over here.

Cheers,
Jono

You'll need to make sure you have a way of meeting the I-864 Affidavit of Support financial requirements. Www.uscis.gov has information on that.

Not all countries accept I-130s directly. You'll need to find out if NZ does or not. If not, the I-130 will need to be sent to the USA.

Rene

Looks like the I-130 has to go to Chicago, except under special circumstances:

https://nz.usembassy.gov/visas/immig...circumstances/

Therefore, you should allow about 12 to 18 months for processing from start to finish.

Rene

As Rene has correctly pointed out, this isn't the case, Your case will have to processed by USCIS in the US as you cannot DCF from New Zealand, so it will be mailed to the appropriate lock box.

FYI, DCF stands for direct consular filing. Since you are unfamiliar with the USCIS and visa processing thought the abbreviation might throw you.

Although you and your wife would file the I-130 and assortment of other paperwork in the US, you will ultimately do the final interview for the visa at the US Consulate/Embassy in NZ.

There is a pro and con sheet for the two visas so you can see side by side what the advantages/disadvantages are.

https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Compa...ge-based_visas_

Out of curiosity, why USA over NZ? I've travelled extensively in NZ and live in USA. My best friend lives near Wellington and has an envious lifestyle. I'd pick NZ if I could. Where in NZ do you live and which US state are you returning to?