Marry in US vs. Colombia????

Michael_B says on Sep 15, 2005, 19:03:

You are right It has been covered a million times.......try the Search box in the top right......I bet you will find it there....

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bracopimpo24 says on Sep 16, 2005, 06:24:

Getting Married? where? I heard from my family (Cuz I have some cousins that got married in colombia) that its 10 times faster if u get married in Colombia to get her papers (Residence).
Check it out, before making any final moves.

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Sonny says on Sep 18, 2005, 07:27:

bracopimpo24 10 times faster?????? Wake up your dreaming. The process does not change. K-1 is still a bit faster although the K-3 is moving along very well right now but not 10 times faster

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want2gringo says on Sep 19, 2005, 12:19:

Thanks, but... I have done more research and have found the K-1 route to be fastest, as well as less hassle. (If there is such a thing?) I also spoke with finaceevisas.com, there are quite helpful and appear to be rather experienced. In addition, they are AFFORDABLE. There is a good chance I will be using them, as they guarantee an approval with their reasonable fee. Thanks for the responses!!

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 20, 2005, 07:20:

Why does it always come down to faster? I think there are other considerations such as the fact that if you get married in the US almost none of her friends and family will be able to be there for the wedding. Also you can have a wedding in Colombia for a tenth of the cost of a comparable wedding in the US. For us these factors were far more important than speed.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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want2gringo says on Sep 20, 2005, 09:47:

Faster? Better? Good point! However, speed is a factor when you and the person you love are apart from each other for long periods of time. I think by the time you have decided to enter into matramony with a person from another country, you understand ALL of the circumstances. We are planning to have a ceremony in Colombia, so her friends and family will be there, followed by a private ceremony in the US. We weren't really considering cost in the equation...it's just not that important! What is important is that we are together ASAP, because we miss each other!!!

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 20, 2005, 11:23:

Be very careful with the ceremony that you have in Colombia so that it can in no way be construed as a legal wedding in the US. If she tries to enter with a K-1 and they ascertain that she is already married, she will be denied entry.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Lilly says on Sep 20, 2005, 13:31:

Marry in U.S. First off I have to say that there is no such thing as a guaranteed approval from anyone. They are jerking you around if they tell you anything is guaranteed with the INS. Everything is subject to change.
Next, just from my previous work experience I would say that you should get married in the U.S. If you have not begun the K visa route then I would suggest you look in to having your girlfriend/ fiance enter as a tourist. She can always extend her stay but the most important part is as soon as she enters and you marry, you put in her permanent residency papers. Make sure she (and you) has all original divorce decrees and birth certificates with certified translations. You can always extend her tourist visa but I would say marry here and avoid all additional hang-ups abraod. It's all timing and the more efficient you are the better the outcome. Just my two cents.

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want2gringo says on Sep 20, 2005, 13:39:

I understand nothing is a gurantee with the INS. I also understand that for a 24 year old, single, poor Paisa to get a tourist Visa is nearly impossible? I think it's about a 5% chance of getting approved? Ideally, I want her to come over on a tourist Visa, but I just don't think it's realistic. I have done extensive research and agree that marrying in the US is the way to go! Thanks for your two cents, it is totally appreciated!! :)

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utopiacowboy says on Sep 20, 2005, 16:00:

There is one other thing that Lilly is conveniently omitting. What she is suggesting is illegal. Entering the US as a tourist with the PRECONCEIVED intent of marrying and staying here is illegal. This is not to say that plenty of people do not do it, of course they do but it doesn't change the fact that it is illegal. If the USCIS finds out about it, either at the POE or later at the AOS interview, you will be in some deep mierda and wish that you had done things properly. Also, speaking as someone who did get married in Colombia, it's not that much hassle, believe me and a Colombian wedding beats most American weddings that I've been to.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Gator says on Sep 20, 2005, 18:55:

You Need to Change that... to almost 0% chance. As your Tio UtopiaCowboy said it is no longer a simple process to adjust status through marriage after entering on a tourist visa. If she enters the US on a visa waiver or a tourist visa and misrepresent her intentions verbally or in writing to a US official it will cause you/she no end of problems.

If she comes with the intention of marrying but manages to enter the US without being questioned closely on her intentions then you MAY be able to adjust her status without further problems. There are many schools of thought on this. There are a ton of opinions on this subject. Look at them then the choice is yours to make. If it fails you are looking at a three to ten year ban on her reentry. Play it straight and go the k_1 route..

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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alcpa says on Sep 22, 2005, 10:21:

Colombia Is The Way to Go I dd alot of research in this area before I got married in Colombia. It was better for my bride because her very large family attended. It was better for my wallet, because the cost was maybe one-tenth of what I would have paid in the States for the same function, and so far, everything is on track for my bride to come here within 6 months. If that is too long a period, then you guys shouldn't be married in the first place.

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boomer says on Sep 22, 2005, 10:53:

I agree with UT& alcpa.................................... Marriage in Colombia is the way to go!!! It'll save you a lot of grief in the future if you get married in Colombia with your family to be. The actual wedding is a big thing to the women, and only a formality to the men. Do you wife-to-be a big favor and marry her in her country, with her family. It'll make the adjustment easier when she relocates with you. You'll be the hero, going to Colombia to become part of her family instead of the bum who stole their daughter.

Wish you all the best!!

http://mysite.verizon.net/resw3ap5/orgullo_de_colombia/

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want2gringo says on Sep 23, 2005, 10:38:

Really? UTC, alcpa + Boomer are all telling me to marry in Colombia? All sound advice, but I think the K-1 route is still the best? Her family has already given their blessing, but "I" wanted to do a ceremony for them in Colombia. They want her to marry in the US legally, as they also understand that is the best way to go. We will be careful to not have the ceremony in be recognized as anything leagal and therefore avoid and legal problems. I agree, waiting 6,8, or 12 months is a monetary amount of time when you are going to spend a lifetime with the person you love. Thanks for all of the responses and I will let you know what happens! Stay tuned...

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lpdiver says on Oct 6, 2005, 10:46:

You have not... given enough information to answer the question intelligently. There are a lot of variables. Where does the U.S. citizen reside (file immigrations paper work), job status, extended travel possibilities...etc

Tony

"cook some rice!"

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