Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mpls_Korean · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul, Korea

I'm a Korean-American male marrying a Korean woman and I am wondering if anyone knows the specifics about what needs to happen before and after a marriage to make it legal for my fiance to get a US Visa. I have heard many rumors about immigration visas taking more than a year to receive. Is this true? Please help, I am getting married in 2 weeks!

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Well, I almost married a filipina 5 years ago, and I think it's the same or harder than it was then... I know people from other countries, like Korea, followed the same rules back then.

To go through all of the paperwork for her to get a "fiance visa" so you can get married in the USA used to take 4 to 5 months. Not sure if it will be longer, faster, or same now.

BUT

If you married anywhere else but the USA, you had to wait in entire year to get the full visa... sometimes 1 1/2. There are various reason why it takes so much longer, but I"ve heard it is a sort of "penalty" to keep people from just marrying someone and bringing them over to the USA (somewhat eliminating snap-judgements and advantageous outsiders trying to marry to get in).

There are a number of great websites where discussions about this very situation are held, complete with timelines and other stuff from people who went through both processes. Do a Google search and find out. Either route involves a lot of mailing back and forth, etc.

If I were you, I'd go down to the US Embassy and ask. But don't tell them you are planning to marry right now.

You konw, in Korea, you can also marry, but not list it with the government. That is the current trick many couples do these days -- Korean to Korean -- for various reasons. Then, if they want to divorce in a few years, they don't have to bother with the endless gov't details. If you go that route, then you can do the "fiance visa" thing and get there quicker, I'd bet. But technically, it would be illegal, I think. But who would know?

Since 9/11, the game has changed a bit, so check out those other sites and start reading!

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

A guy I know got hitched to a Korean and they got her visa in five weeks from start to finish. This was less than one year ago. Check out the embassy's website for the most up to date info.

mercury · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Pusan

Are you an idiot? YOU are getting married in TWO WEEKS? And you have not even researched this? Now I hate to be telling you this, but something looks mighty fishy here. Marriage is the most important decision you can make, I wonder if the the big head is thinking or the little one. Well, anyways, remember this, after you are married the chemicals wear off real fast! Take your time, make sure she is the right one dude.

Konundrum · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Boston

I was married in Korea and went through the immigration process last year. (I am Canadian)
It ended up taking almost 10 months, but most of it was our own fault or the RCMP's fault.

1) First off, once we filed the initial petition, we had to wait for then embassy to get back to us with an approval. They said it may take from 3 to 6 months...so three months later we called and inquired as to what was going on. They said we had been approved for an interview about 2 and a half months previous and asked if we didn't get the reply in the mail. We hadn't. So, we waited an extra 2 and a half months there.

2)Next, fulfilling all the requirements for paperwork- your American spouse's last 3 years tax returns (if they haven't been done, might as well do them now.. I know Americans don't have to pay taxes, but they're still supposed to file every year).
- I had to get a police background check from every country I've lived in (this took for-effing-ever thanks to the RCMP and their website, which tells you the exact opposite of the best way to do it)...The Korean one was easy though.
-getting a physical and all your vaccinations
-if you or your spouse don't have a job waiting for you in America,or don't have $80 000 in the bank right now, you will need a sponsor in the US (someone who earns 10% over the poverty line for their household INCLUDING you and your spouse)

Bottom line is, if you have all your ducks in a row, and the lines at the Embassy are short, it could probably be done in 2 or 3 months....if not it could take a year or more. Ours didn't exactly go smoothly and it took about 10 months, but granted, almost none of it was the embassy's fault.

poddubny · Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Location: i have NO avatar privileges!

jaykimf · Joined: 24 Apr 2004

jaykimf · Joined: 24 Apr 2004

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

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

mercury · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Pusan

Why do you think it is appropiate to be rude? Are you an Idiot?
Are you assuming that because he is only now researching the immigration process , he must be rushing into a marriage unprepared? Non sequitor. It is common knowledge that an American citizen can sponsor their spouse for immigration. As to the exact details of how to go about that, there really is no need to do that before the wedding because nothing can be done before the wedding. (Unless you want to go the Fiance route and have the wedding in the U.S.) In my case I knew my wife 5 years before we got married. We were married more than 4 years before we got around to filing the immigration petition and it will be another year before we file the immigrant visa application.

Wow, Mr. Kim....are you guys twin "idiot" brothers. Must be. Idiots, idiots, idiots. Maybe you guys are related, long lost relatives with genetic traits of indolence.

jaykimf · Joined: 24 Apr 2004