K Visa American Military to marry Philippine girl

[sabra]

My son is in the Navy. He met a Philippine girl while based in Okinawa - she was there on a work program. He has returned to the US and she will return to the Philippines in July. They want to get married. What is the best, easiest or quickest way for them to proceed with their marriage? Also, how long will the steps take and what are they? Thank you!

 

[NYClex]

They basically have three possibilities to bring her to the US:

1. They apply for a K-1 Visa for her, after she receives the Visa she comes to the US and they marry within 90 days. Then they file the paperwork for her green card.

You never know for sure how long things take with the USCIS, but usually a K-1 Visa is issued within 3 months and with that she can enter the U.S. The Green Card then will take up to 2 years.


2. They marry outside the U.S. Then they apply for a K-3 Visa which also takes probably around 3 months to get and she enters the country with this visa, once in the country she files for a green card, which again will take between one and two years to get.

In both versions she is allowed to stay in the country and even to work after she received an employment authorization which she should get withn 2 months of her application for a green card.


3. They marry outside the U.S. and apply there for an immigration visa (Green Card). She has to stay outside the U.S. until she receives the visa, which can take any time from 6 months to 2 years, depending on where she files and her own case.


Usually 1 or 2 are much faster ways to get an alien into the U.S.

You will find more information at the USCIS website: www.immigration.gov

 

[sabra]

Visa

Thank you very much for your help! Take care, Sabra

They basically have three possibilities to bring her to the US:

1. They apply for a K-1 Visa for her, after she receives the Visa she comes to the US and they marry within 90 days. Then they file the paperwork for her green card.

You never know for sure how long things take with the USCIS, but usually a K-1 Visa is issued within 3 months and with that she can enter the U.S. The Green Card then will take up to 2 years.


2. They marry outside the U.S. Then they apply for a K-3 Visa which also takes probably around 3 months to get and she enters the country with this visa, once in the country she files for a green card, which again will take between one and two years to get.

In both versions she is allowed to stay in the country and even to work after she received an employment authorization which she should get withn 2 months of her application for a green card.


3. They marry outside the U.S. and apply there for an immigration visa (Green Card). She has to stay outside the U.S. until she receives the visa, which can take any time from 6 months to 2 years, depending on where she files and her own case.


Usually 1 or 2 are much faster ways to get an alien into the U.S.

You will find more information at the USCIS website: www.immigration.gov