want to marry in the DR but will live in U.S.

[MarieG]

Ok so I have read all of the info about having to get married within 90 days after entering the U.S. when receiving a fiance visa. But what if we wanted to get married in the DR? ( I have always wanted a destination wedding anyways) and also that way his family could be there too. So I guess my question is, is that if we get married in the DR will he be able to come back to the U.S. after the wedding. I just don't want to get married and then have my husband live in another country for 4 months, 1 year, 2 years who knows how long right? Would I still apply for a fiance visa and if and when it gets approved would he be able to come to the U.S. for a bit to see where he might live and then return to the DR to get married. What is the best way to go about this? Hope this was not too confusing.

Thanks for all the help
MarieG

 

[wuarhat]

Ok so I have read all of the info about having to get married within 90 days after entering the U.S. when receiving a fiance visa. But what if we wanted to get married in the DR? ( I have always wanted a destination wedding anyways) and also that way his family could be there too. So I guess my question is, is that if we get married in the DR will he be able to come back to the U.S. after the wedding.

No.

I just don't want to get married and then have my husband live in another country for 4 months, 1 year, 2 years who knows how long right?

One and a half years if you do everything right the first time and at the earliest possible moment. More likely two.

Would I still apply for a fiance visa and if and when it gets approved would he be able to come to the U.S. for a bit to see where he might live and then return to the DR to get married.

No. The minimum damage that would do to your plans is to start the clock on your spousal visa at that point (the wedding day). It's possible that it might be considered a reason for increased scrutiny of your application by immigration.

What is the best way to go about this? Hope this was not too confusing.

Thanks for all the help
MarieG

I've been told that the fiance visa takes just as long as a spousal visa, but there are no residency priiviledges. After the wedding you still have to apply and get approved for residency. The whole process of getting the fiance visa, getting married and getting residence takes about twice as long and costs $740 more ($1565 as opposed to $825). Residency comes with a spousal visa (ten year residency if the marriage is two years old when the visa is issued and two years for a newer marriage). It's your decision which is best.

 

[MarieG]

Ok I guess I am confused with the answers. So I should not get married in the Dominican? I should just wait until everything goes through with the fiance visa, have him come to the U.S. and get married within 90 days? Ok now I don't understand this spousal visa. You say it takes less time and costs less but that would mean we would be living apart until we received that type of visa? Right. Sorry all this is very new to me.

 

[AnnaC]

Both spousal and fianc? visa won't get him to the US any faster but there are different benefits to one over the other.

Read the post above again.

Unless you move to the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC you'll be apart for a year to a year and half if all goes well.

You may also want to check out this site http://dominicanstotheusa.com

 

[MarieG]

Thanks for your response. So no matter what even if we get married in the U.S. within that 90 days he will still have to go back for at least 1yr.

 

[AnnaC]

Thanks for your response. So no matter what even if we get married in the U.S. within that 90 days he will still have to go back for at least 1yr.

You need to understand this 90 day thing. If you go for the fianc?e visa ( K1 visa ) it will take 1 to 1 1/2years to get him approved and then when he arrives in the US you have 90 days to get married.

If you get married in the DR and then apply for a spousal visa ( K3 visa) it will take over a year as well for him to get to the US.

He will not be arriving in the US unless he already has a visa to travel.

Please check out the website I posted

 

[MarieG]

Ok I understand now. And I am currently looking at that web site. Thanks for the helpful info.

 

[wuarhat]

Ok I guess I am confused with the answers. So I should not get married in the Dominican? I should just wait until everything goes through with the fiance visa, have him come to the U.S. and get married within 90 days?

It?s not my nature to tell someone whether or not to get married, but if you have decided to get married doing it in the Dominican Republic seems to be the better of the two options, for several reasons.

1. Being married your relationship has attained legal status, and the burden of proof is now on them. They have to prove that either your marriage is a sham or your spouse is a criminal to deny your application.
2. The end result that you are looking for (legal residence for your spouse in the US) will arrive sooner and will cost about half as much.
3. At one time the fianc? visa allowed for a quicker arrival of your loved one in the United States, but this has passed because the US Consulate in the Dominican Republic is taking much longer to investigate each case. I think they believe that this procedure has been fraudulently abused in the past.

Ok now I don't understand this spousal visa. You say it takes less time and costs less but that would mean we would be living apart until we received that type of visa? Right. .

That is correct, but the same is true for the other case of obtaining a fianc? visa.

Sorry all this is very new to me.

You need to understand this 90 day thing. If you go for the fianc?e visa ( K1 visa ) it will take 1 to 1 1/2years to get him approved and then when he arrives in the US you have 90 days to get married.

If you get married in the DR and then apply for a spousal visa ( K3 visa) it will take over a year as well for him to get to the US.

This is true.

He will not be arriving in the US unless he already has a visa to travel.

I?m not sure of that. Until now all of the information I?ve given in this thread was from a professional immigration counselor here in the United States. The following is not: I?ve read in other threads in DR1 that when you apply for a spousal or fianc? visa any other visas the individual has are revoked.

 

[AnnaC]

I’m not sure of that. Until now all of the information I’ve given in this thread was from a professional immigration counselor here in the United States. The following is not: I’ve read in other threads in DR1 that when you apply for a spousal or fianc? visa any other visas the individual has are revoked.

Thank you for that info.

 

[MarieG]

Wuarhat, I understand that it may cost less if I get married in the DR but we would have to live apart for a year or two so in my mind I'm thinking how does that make any difference in waiting a year or two to get married when he gets his fiance visa? I would absolutely love to marry him in the Dominican so that his family could be there too since mine has no problem getting there. I do appreciate all of this advise you have given me. I guess the more info I gather the better I will understand what option is the best one for us to take. It is so nice to be able to talk with others who have gone through or are currently going through the same things we are. Thanks again.

 

[wuarhat]

Wuarhat, I understand that it may cost less if I get married in the DR but we would have to live apart for a year or two so in my mind I'm thinking how does that make any difference in waiting a year or two to get married when he gets his fiance visa? I would absolutely love to marry him in the Dominican so that his family could be there too since mine has no problem getting there. I do appreciate all of this advise you have given me. I guess the more info I gather the better I will understand what option is the best one for us to take. It is so nice to be able to talk with others who have gone through or are currently going through the same things we are. Thanks again.

You are going to live apart for a year or two regardless of whether you apply for a fianc? visa or spouse visa. The only difference there will be your marital status. The real difference is with a fianc? visa, after the year or two is up and you are married with your spouse in the US you still have a year or two of bureaucratic BS and $750 more in fees to get your spouse's legal residence status. If you don?t he will be in limbo the rest of his time here, and if he ever visits his home again he won?t be able to return here.

 

[wuarhat]

Thank you for that info.

You are welcome.

 

[MarieG]

Ok wow that really make a difference. I guess I did not realize he would not be allowed to travel home until he had his residency. This makes the decision easy then. He has a daughter and I would never want him to be away from her for that long. He would be beside himself if he was not able to see her for that long. Very helpful thank you again.

 

[MarieG]

Thanks for the info. I will check out your web site. Thanks