Noorah101

I haven't looked at the link yet, but the K-3 process is as follows:
1. Go to Russia, get married.
2. You return to the USA and file I-130.
3. When you get NOA from I-130, you file I-129F.
4. Eventually the case will get transferred to Russia.
5. She will be sent K-3 visa forms to apply for visa.
6. She will go to interview in Russia, receive K-3, and come to the USA.

This whole process, from the time you file the I-130 to the time she gets her K-3 visa, can take 6 to 12 months. Same as the I-130 leading to the Immigrant Visa. The K-3 is a little outdated now, because I-130 processing has sped up recently, so that it no longer takes years for the I-130 to process (the K-3 allowed the immigrant to "wait" in the USA until the I-130 was approved).

You can go this route if you want to, but unless you want to wait in Russia with her, after you file the I-129F, you will still have a period of separation.

Rene

ian-mstm

The information is accurate, but you are confusing two distinct and separate processes - applying for the visa, and getting the visa. You must *apply* for the visa in the US. When the paperwork (I-130,I-129f) is approved, the visa is *issued* in Russia.

Ian

Noorah101

To be even more precise, the OP will *petition* for his spouse by filing the I-130/I-129F in the USA. The his spouse will *apply* for the visa in Russia. The visa isn't actually applied for in the USA.

Rene

violator_dm

I am not sure about the DCF anymore, but it was the route we took back in 2004.

Noorah101

I believe the USC must be resident in Russia for 6+ months in order to be considered for DCF there. If the OP can swing it, maybe that's the way to go. He could definitely look into it.

Rene

meauxna

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...2&postcount=14

violator_dm

It was the case back then as well. But if the poster is willing to wait 6 months in Russia to be eligible to apply, his wife will get an immigrant visa three months after they apply. That's how long it took us from the day we applied to the day DHL delivered my brown envelope.

Ivanov Andrei

On May 9, 6:04 pm, violator_dm <[email protected]>
wrote:
> >http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...832&postcount
>
> It was the case back then as well. But if the poster is willing to wait
> 6 months in Russia to be eligible to apply, his wife will get an
> immigrant visa three months after they apply. That's how long it took us
> from the day we applied to the day DHL delivered my brown envelope.
>
> --
> regards
> Posted viahttp://britishexpats.com


Thank you all for answers, even though I'm not really thrilled about
them....that's life.
Regarding K-1 visa....well, here's a thing.
Her sister lives in the US, married to USC. They're in the process of
applying for a visitor visa for her mom to come and stay in the US for
a few months.
Assuming mom gets the visitor visa:
1. Could my gf then get a K-1 visa? Basically it'll look like both mom
and gf will be in the US around the same time.
2. Would it be better to wait until mom arrives in the US to try and
apply for K-1?
3. Can mom's visa be approved and then when we apply for K-1, be taken
away?

Just trying to see if it's possible to have her mom at the wedding..
Thanks,
Andrei

Noorah101

Yes, your gf can still get the K-1 visa, even if mom gets a visitor visa. Their applications are totally independent of one another. If they happen to arrive in the USA around the same time, so be it.

I don't think there's any reason to wait until mom arrives to start the K-1 process....mom probably can only stay 6 months and it will take longer than that to do the K-1 process.

Your K-1 process will not affect mom's visa, no. Once mom gets a visitor visa, you going through the K-1 process will not revoke it.

If your fiancee comes to the USA while her mom is still here on her visitor visa, and it works out that they are in the USA at the same time, that would be great. Be prepared in case it doesn't work out that way, though. It's two separate processes and you can't really plan for it to happen at the same time. Hopefully it would, that would be nice....but if not, don't be disappointed.

Rene