British Expatriate Network

I have recently become engaged to my American girlfriend and although I am still in the UK at the moment, we are planing to marry next year. The plan is to marry in the US where we will continue to live.

As I understand it she will have to petition for the K-Visa on my behalf initally. The question I have surrounds timeframes and how long the process can take - I assume it would be unwise to set any wedding dates until the process is complete? Is the only option to plan a wedding within the 90 days allotted? Once the visa is approved does the 90 countdown begin? Or does the 90 days begin on entry into the US?

Finally is it recommended to use immigration lawyer for this type of application? Any tips or hints on the process and estimate of costs would be most welcome!

90 days from date of entry into the USA.

If you do choose to use a lawyer, ask around and get a recomendation - their are a lot of lawyers out there who claim to do this stuff but know very little about it and others who will overcharge you because they can.

I went the same route without a lawyer and it was fine. The paperwork was a pain in the oraface and it cost a few hundred bucks after all the hassles are over but it's worth it in the end.
As far as time frames go, it can vary a lot depending on which office you're dealing with and how many other people happen to be getting visas at that time.

Thanks, I guess I'll give it a shot myself then. A few hundred dollars isn't so bad I guess. I'll be moving to New Jersey so not exactly expecting things to be whizzed through...

I set a wedding date before I got approved. Our wedding date was about a year and two month from when we started the process. The length of the process really depends on where your fiance lives. I know I got my 2 year residency quicker in Michigan compared to a guy in Florida. He got married 2 weeks after me and got his residency card over a year after me. The 90 days is from when you enter the country not from when you get approved.

My fiance called a lawyer and the lawyer said the main purpose was for those who having issues or with language difficults. I think the prcess is expensive enough without paying a lawyer.

I did all my own paperwork, no lawyer, and it went through in about 9 months (started September - approved April - arrived May.
Clock starts from the date you enter, and beware that initially you may be permitted to work, but once you get hitched and file (I285??) then you may not be able to work until that paperwork is apoproved, and that, in my case, took almost 3 months!!.

Best wishes and good luck.