Guys, I returned from my trip to see a lady , she lives in Siberia. We had a very good time and the trip was good. I have thought much about the K-1 Visa process and how much paperwork, hours of time, money, and the wait that it takes to go through this entire process, and with no gauranteee they will approve the lady to come to American. Now for the twist. My lady has a girlfriend that came from FSU about 5 years ago. The girlfriend is able to make her a work visa with her travel agency. I have my doubts if this will work, but if it does, all the documents , time to prepare them and such will be done my my lady and her girlfriend. If she does make it to America, her intentions are to live with me and to get married. We will see , I have thought about what if it is just a way to come to America and once she gets here to live with girlfriend? Then I thought so what if this does happen they did all the work and I was out nothing. Now for a minute lets say this does work and her intentions are good, and we wish to married, what then, she will be here on a work visa, what legally is the correct thing thing to do. I have a comment for anyone new traveling to Russia. If you are taking American currency with you ,please make sure the dollar bills are new , and have no writing on them, small rips or old. They will not give you full price in exchage for them. Someone is making money off this little deal. Thanks Bob
It is far better to go with the K-1 than attempt to circumnavigate the system. Think about some of the liabilities?
1. A work visa takes about a year and some serious proof.
2. Will you and your lady be at the mercy of an unknown?
3. You still will have to reapply for citizen visa when you get married.
4. Will the visit you just made show up in the Visa investigation?
Think long and hard about trying to skirt the system. You must remember that due to the past problems in the FSU the people think about how to beat the system first. It is a natural progression of survival there. The K-1 is not as bad as you might think and when she finaly arrives you will be secure.
With the homeland security act the government does not put up with much BS right now.
i am filling out the paperwork on a k-1 visa now with a lawyer it is expensive but i am going about this the right way you can do the paperwork yourself but myself im using a lawyer and things should work out fine they are telling me 3-4 months total just depends on how quick they goverment looks at the paperwork good luck hammer
rr. Listen to my advise if you have ears. Don't go for this work visa. This smells bad. 95% guarantee that she won't get it. You will pay for the process, then she will be refused, her "girlfriend" will get money and you will have nothing else to complain of than your own naivness.
Why I say this, I give you my head that NOT A SINGLE company(tour, employment or the kind) does not have any influence on the US embassy, they will treat your girl just like all the rest, and all the rest are not getting visas to the USA.
There is one exception... If your girl is a top-class system administrator, a programmer or a nuclear physisist then she will get a working visa easily, but in this case she won't need you in the sates as she will earn several times more than you!:-)))
I have had close and personal dealingsa with the American immigration authorities. They still lock me up everytime I enter the country for gods sake!! It has been 6 years since I have been a citizen!!
Do not screw with these people. Do not get cute.
IF and I stress IF she can get here on a work visa make sure that you develop a documented relationship with a nice gap betwen the time she arrives and the time your 'relationship' starts.
You must prove that the 2 events are completely unrelated.
If you do not they will ask very pointed questions at the change of status hearing.
Nowadays the laws have changed. Just marrying a US citizen is not a automatic ticket. Actually it never was I had to work for mine buddy. A full dog and pony show with clowns and a band.
The change of status hearing is the key to this whole thing. You must totally separate this thing out and timewise prove it.
Here is the trick. If she is considered to be raudulent in any way she is gone forever. I am a Brit and I got a 10 year ban!! We are considered the USA's buddies. So I agree with UB get a K1 it is a lot less stress.