Korean Job Discussion Forums

Joseph Fitzgerald · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I am planning on marrying a korean woman, and I would like to know how long t takes to get a spouse visa for the US?
ALSO
If you are engaged and plan on marrying in the US, how long does it take
to get a fiance visa?

Will the US embassy mail me the documents I need, or do I need to go there and pick them up?

any help would be appreciated.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

To get a spouse visa from the U.S. Embassy will take months! Even a year. They are not to keen on single korean women going to the U.S.; the majority do not return. And that's a fact. I would suggest flying to Guam, (Guam is U.S.), getting married and then applying for a visa. She'll have better luck in Guam. She can fly to Guam and stay 2 weeks. She needs a round trip ticket also. Once in Guam, marry. If you marry in korea, the idiots make you both jump through hundreds of hoops first! Once you marry in Guam, she can apply to remain in Guam until the visa is issued for the mainland. She'll have to remain in Guam for at least one year first. No problem. She be able to get a job and you also are working saving money! Guam is WARM, friendly and not many koreas so it's a great place!
If she leaves Guam during the visa processing period, she'll forfeit the visa process and have to start all over again. Another option is going to Canada and marry and then apply for a visa. Or marry in Guam and fly to Canada and apply. Many different ways. But the least is applying in korea.
The U.S. Embassy pencils pushers are REAL idiots here! They think they are God and what little power they have it goes to their head. If you wind up with an korean American interviewer, forget it! You WON'T get the visa! The koreans working at the Embassy have a high reject rate towards other koreans. You have to get past the interviewer first. If you lose, you can appeal BUT, the original interviewer will slow your paperwork down. You won't win. Just bypass the idiots at the Embassy, go to Guam. They, (embassy) don't have the brains God gave goldfish. Expect to be racked through the coals and jump through hoops! Back and forth, back and forth. Now, if you are rejected, contact your Senator or Congressperson; they WILL help you.

Dan · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Sunny Glendale, CA

if guam is not an option, expect to take up to a year, and expect to pay at least $500 in fees. And God help you if your financial background isn't sound :/

mra · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Sinchon, Seoul

I hate to say the obvious, but have you considered a visit to the US Embassy in Korea?

Alan

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

my buddy's russian girlfriend of 3 years just got her fiancee visa...it took 9 months (with the aid of a lawyer) and a whole lot of trouble to get her visa (it's even worse for russians)...but you can do it!! it is so much easier to marry here and then move....that was his advice to me, and the advice from several other married couples i know here in korea....

Joseph Fitzgerald · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Well, we finally got my wifes visa. It took a 6 months and a few weeks. One thing that I had to do was get a notarized job offer back home, and I did. So, I will have a job home waiting for me. We are leaving in a few weeks, and I am soooo ready to leave here. Laughing

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

I have a question. My boyfriend and I are seriously thinking of doing the cheesy vegas wedding thing. He is Korean. We were talking about doing it over vacation.(summer). I am going to come back as I have a pretty sweet deal here for the time being. How hard is this going to be?

Jade

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 1:37 am Post subject:

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 1:48 am Post subject:

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 6:37 am Post subject:

Oh, and my advice is that (unless you live in Cheju or are dumb as balls, lazy, or has dosh to throw about) do NOT go through a lawyer or what-not.

You can do everything by yourself, and what you can't you'll have to visit that lawyer regardless...so you're gonna spend an additional 400,000-500,000 for piss-ass work....you'll still have to supply EVERYTHING, you still have to write out EVERYTHING, and YOU'LL still have to visit the US Embassy.

Do you own legwork..the immigration lawyers are usually around US military installations....for a reason, neither participant in the marriage can tie thier shoes.

Shoosh,

Ryst

Is that more useful?

denz · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 7:42 am Post subject:

Joseph Fitzgerald · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

My wife and I are thinking of returning to Korea for another year. We have been in the states for 8 months now. How will this affect her immigrant status in the US if we go back to Korea for a year? Will she have to turn in her Resident Alien Card when she leaves the US?
When we get ready to return to the US after a year in Korea will she have to reapply for a visa?

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

The rules are ALWAYS changing. No one can tell you exactly EXCEPT the folks at the immigration office. You need to ask them. What happens to one person in your situation does not mean it could happen to you as each case is different.