US television has lead us to believe that all one must to do to immigrate to the US is find a nice US citizen, marry them then without a blink of the eye an immigrant is now a US citizen with the rights and abilities of any other native born US citizen. NOT!
I don't claim to be an expert on anything, so, maybe there was a time in US history where being married was all one had to do in order to gain the right to live a happily ever after life with their loved one in the US. Let me just say that if you are a person who is intimidated by the process of preparing your tax returns each year, even if you are behind a few years, you have not experienced a thing until you become the person in the relationship responsible for preparing the paperwork for a US Visa. On this comparison I am coming from experience in both filing tax returns (even late ones) and preparing visa paperwork for not one, but two processes - the K1 Fiance Visa and the CR1 Spousal Visa. My purpose in blogging on this topic is to demystify the process for those who will probably never do it, but, have an opinion about it; educate those who are considering it; and to honor those of us who have already either begun or completed this daunting challenge in the name of love. If you think being separated for years is not for the "faint of heart" - just keep reading this topic.
Fiance Visa versus Spousal Visa or To marry today or marry tomorrow - that is the question
Not yet married? For a total fee of approximately $1945, going through processes through 3 different US agencies (the USCIS, the NVC, and US Embassy located in immigrating fiance's country) after waiting for almost 1 year or longer, your fiance' can enter the US on a K1 Fiance Visa. Once your fiance enters the US, you have 90 days to get married or your fiance must leave the US. They still can't work yet (at least not legally). After getting married you wait about 60 days to receive the EAD - Employment Authorization Document. 2 years later pay some more money and apply for the famous the Green Card - Permanent Residency Card.
Married? For a total fee of approximately $1056, going through processes through 3 different US agencies (the USCIS, the NVC, and US Embassy located in immigrating spouse's country) after waiting for almost 2 year (only for Ghana - other countries get through the process in about 1 year), your spouse can enter the US and within about 60 days they have their social security card and Green Card - ready to work.
The above is the short story of the visa process. What it doesn't describe is the tedious and time consuming process involved with preparing paperwork for all three government agencies. If one i isn't dotted or one t isn't crossed you will find yourself in the land of RFE - Request for Evidence or AP - Administrative Processing. Either one could drag out your process for months.
As for the paperwork, OMG, whatever your write is subject to investigation and verification. If you miss just one box at the first stage of the process, you might find your entire package returned with your check. Package? Yes, I said package. It is not just a few forms, there is the evidence you have to provide proving that your relationship is legitimate. Copies of birth certificates, original birth certificates, copies of passports, copies of travel documents, copies of marriage license, original marriage license, notarized letters from friends, letters from your employer, copies of tax transcripts for 3 years, bank statements, copies of pictures of you and your loved one, copies of phone bills, chats, emails, cards, love letters, evidence of money exchanges, evidence of joint liabilities, etc., etc., etc. All of this is done before you get an interview in many cases. Then when your loved one goes for an interview they better bring a copy of everything you have ever sent in for the process along with updated evidence of financial support and evidence of an on going relationship - oh yeah, I forgot about their police reports and medical reports. WHEW!
Oh there's more - mo' money, mo' money, mo' money spent to have regular communications between the two of you - don't forget this needs to be proven as a part of the process - and besides, you just might want to stay in contact since you are in a relationship - wink wink. The stress that comes with the differences in time - he's asleep or ready to sleep when you are awake or vice versa. I don't know about other countries, but, the internet link in Ghana sometimes just sucks! You are chatting and then there is no more chatting - both of you are sitting there saying hello are you there! Calls get dropped or are full of static depending on your method of calling - which better be quick because we have to watch our credits on our calling card or minutes on our phones. A power outage in Ghana (which happens frequently) can just totally kill your communications. The loneliness of separation. If you are lucky, the two of you are able to raise the funds needed for a visit to Ghana. A round trip plane ticket to Ghana can be as low as about $1100 with the sky being the limit on how high a ticket fee could be - I'm praying for Libya, but, dang - the gas prices! Of course you need money in your pocket when you get there and you want to bring gifts for everyone. WHEW! WHEW!
The next time somebody says to you "that before you know your loved one will be here" - give them a copy of this discussion.
The next time your loved one abroad seems like they don't appreciate you - give them a copy of this discussion.
When the time comes that you and your loved one are finally together under one roof, print out this discussion, enlarge it, and hang on the ceiling over your bed so that when you begin to get frustrated through daily living together remember what life was like when you were not together - then roll over kiss your spouse, talk through whatever you were arguing about, and go to sleep (maybe get a little before you go to sleep -lol).
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