Marriage or Fiancé visa???

[SySmiles]

Hello All,

My name is Syara, I am new here to immi and I am a US Citizen (natural born if it matters). My Fiancé is from Ghana, West Africa. I have been told by several different people that one way is quicker and less stressful then the other. I would like to know which is faster in getting my Fiancé home with me. Is it better if we file a Fiancé Visa or a Spouse Visa?

I am leaving for Ghana on May 2nd and we are planning on getting married at the court house so we will have a legal document. I have been told to not register this wedding license and just file a Fiancé Visa. Please anyone who has been through this process what do you feel is the best process and why?

Thank you in advanced for you help and advice and I pray for everyone who is undergoing this horribly stressful process. Love should be simple, universal and not stressed by such a process!

Stressed,
Syara

[foreverafl]

Hi Syara,

In my opinion, a fiance visa is much quicker, approx 5-6 months. I do not recommend getting married legally and then applying. This would be considered fraudulent if applying for a fiance visa. Its best to always be honest. I have a friend who got married while waiting for her fiance visa to be approved and somehow the embassy found out and they banned him for 10 years from entering the U.S.

Just look at the pros and cons of a fiance and marriage visa and see what works best for your situation. If you are stressed and need to be with your fiance in the quickest time possible, apply for a fiance visa. Good Luck!!

[Bernie31]

My 2 cents.

We got married in her country. We then filed I-130 and once that was in, and acknowledged, we filed I-129F. Both were adjudicated in our favor in 2.5 months. We then got her K3 visa (off the I-129F app) issued and just today filed for AOS here in the US.

if my then attorney's office had not screwed up, my wife would have been here on a K3 in about 4 months.

[SySmiles]

thank you

foreverafl, thank you for your imput, I do appricate it.

Syara

[SySmiles]

Bernie31,
Ohh thank you for a time line. I have heard everything from 4-6 months to 1-2 years and was really getting frightened about the prospective of waiting for 2 more years!!!

May I ask what is and AOS? Is your wife here with you now in the states?

thank you again,
Syara

[Bernie31]

AOS = Adjustment of Status to Legal Permanent Resident. You file I-485 amongst other forms.

Yes, she is here with me. Once she got here, we kinda took it slow to get our stuff in order to file for AOS