Paging Mrs. Mac !!!!!!!!!

This sounds like you need to talk to an immigration attorney.

My friend (slovak) married a US man and they got a courthouse marriage in Slovakia 9 mo. Before the ceremony to get the visa process going for her. It took just over 1 year from the point of applying for her visa for her to actually get it. They lived in Slovakia together during that time or they would have had to live apart as well. They had to be really proactive and stay on top of the agency and call frequently to inquire about updates. Best of luck!

Here's some insight. Contact a professional, not a wedding forum.

I agree. People can only tell you what they think. Get an expert's advice only to ensure no valuable time is wasted.

Maybe edit your title to include "Paging Mrs. Mac"- I'm pretty sure she went through something similar with her husband.

Also calling the relevant offices and speaking to an attorney may be the best way to be sure of the info you're getting.

I worked in HR for a cruise line and we had to handle visa's for all of our international employees. Every single situation is different and I would recommend speaking with an Immigration Attorney (what everyone else has suggested). I wouldn't assume based on someone else's situation because there are SO many factors that go into applying for visa's and the application process/ timeline. You won't know until they actually look at your situation.

I would fill right away as you want him to get a job in the sates right?

Thanks- yes, I do plan on hiring an immigration attorney after we're married ; we cannot fill any paperwork till then. I was just curious about other people's experience.

@Mac Just went through this. I'll try to get her on this thread. The only insight I have is to apply for a K1 Visa. One of our family friends just went through that process. You have 90 days to get married.

Please work with an immigration attorney for this, and consider all your options. A fiancé visa sounds like it may be a better match for your situation, though I am not up to date on current filing timelines. I did this for my ex-H (who was from Scotland) in 2008 and handled everything for him up through getting his permanent residency and then eventually removing the conditions of such once enough time had passed. Your lawyer can walk you through this.

Honestly my FH sister just moved here and she married her long time boyfriend, and she filed right away!! The best thing is all the proofs you can get that your relationship is real because they have so much doubts and questions in the system and I would get a lawyer too. FH sister got a lawyer right away, she got married in the 90 days she lived here, she will soon get her paperwork! Congrats

Speak with an immigration attorney.

We recently learned of the k-1 visa after we were done planning our wedding overseas, we did not look at all our options beforehand. Everything is paid for already -- airline tickets are already bought.

Definitely speak to an attorney who specializes in immigration. It's an incredibly complex area of law. I would take other people's personal experiences with a grain of salt because the immigration system is so vast that it's different for every person. I wouldn't be concerned with optics; I would worry about getting all of the ducks in a row and filing everything in a timely manner and then taking it a day at a time from there.

I just started the massive paperwork process as well. *sigh*.

I would file right away. With the results of the election this week, things could change next year for how quickly and easily you can have the visa paperwork approved.

What @Kelli said about prior proof of the relationship is very important. I see that your wedding is planned for overseas, but talk to a lawyer and find out whether it will be better to get legally married overseas or just throw a non-legal wedding celebration and bring him over on a fiance visa.

If it turns out one will be easier than the other--do it.

FMG-- Truth be told I started to panic after the elections results yesterday. Good luck !

Thank you all for your opinion.