Best method for applying for green card / marriage to a US citizen

[Jan-J]

Hello everybody,

Here's my situation: I am a citizen and resident of the Netherlands, which is a VWP country. A few months ago, I met an American citizen while she was touring the Netherlands, and we are now thinking of getting married. She is back in the US, I'm still here in the Netherlands. From what I understand, there are three ways to go about getting married and applying for a green card for me:

1. I fly to the US (on VWP), we get married there, and we file concurrent I-130/I-485.

2. She comes here, we get married here, she goes back, files I-130, and then I go through consular processing for an immigrant visa.

3. She files I-129F, I go through consular processing for a K visa, we get married in the US, and then and I file I-485.

Option (1) seems quickest and easiest, but I understand that it is a bit risky. Options (2) and (3) seem slower, more bureaucratic, and more expensive, but less likely to trigger suspicion or cause problems with the USCIS.

Do you have any recommendations as to which would be the best option for us? I really want to get this done as quickly and affordably as possible, but I don't want to risk problems with USCIS.

Your feedback and advice are greatly appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jan

[rayb]

Immigration staff are becoming more aggressive at Ports of Entry when questioning visitor visa arrivals about their intentions. If responses seem questionable they will sometimes go through your personal belongings and documents to find contradictions about any denials you have made regarding a fiancee or marriage prospects.

That having been said, I would recommend your gal petition you as a fiancee, assuming she has evidence of meeting you in person. Standard processing tome for a fiancee visa (from submittal of paperwork to interview) is about 7-9 months.

--Ray B

Hello everybody,

Here's my situation: I am a citizen and resident of the Netherlands, which is a VWP country. A few months ago, I met an American citizen while she was touring the Netherlands, and we are now thinking of getting married. She is back in the US, I'm still here in the Netherlands. From what I understand, there are three ways to go about getting married and applying for a green card for me:

1. I fly to the US (on VWP), we get married there, and we file concurrent I-130/I-485.

2. She comes here, we get married here, she goes back, files I-130, and then I go through consular processing for an immigrant visa.

3. She files I-129F, I go through consular processing for a K visa, we get married in the US, and then and I file I-485.

Option (1) seems quickest and easiest, but I understand that it is a bit risky. Options (2) and (3) seem slower, more bureaucratic, and more expensive, but less likely to trigger suspicion or cause problems with the USCIS.

Do you have any recommendations as to which would be the best option for us? I really want to get this done as quickly and affordably as possible, but I don't want to risk problems with USCIS.

Your feedback and advice are greatly appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jan