Does anyone know if this is legal and what is required? Also, would the marriage then be legal in the US? Would the US citizen then be required to live in Jamaica? Can the Jamaican citizen come to the US?
Any information much appreciated!
Thanks!!
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Does anyone know if this is legal and what is required? Also, would the marriage then be legal in the US? Would the US citizen then be required to live in Jamaica? Can the Jamaican citizen come to the US?
Any information much appreciated!
Thanks!!
Wow..you are starting from scratch, Stacey ! There are some experienced ppl here tho who will be able to provide you with some useful information. Good luck
There is a site visajourney.com I suggest you post your question there. They are devoted to stuff like that. I also know that if a US citizen marry a jamaican citizen in Jamaica they have to go through the legal channel of applying for spouse to live in the USA.
Thanks Ackee! Yea definitely starting from scratch with this question. I'm pretty knowledgeable about the laws/visa's/ marriage requirements,etc when it comes to the Jamaican citizen coming to the US. But, I'm flat out clueless about doing it the opposite way:) It's hard to find much info on the internet about this scenario - so definitely hoping to get some good info here on Negril.com. Thanks again
Thank you Summer - I will definitely check out that site. Appreciate your response:)
that site will be helpful Stacey. K1 is the fiance visa (JA fiance to foreign then marry within 90 days) but the other is a "spousal" visa which I am not familiar with but I believe its the same basic process and takes about as long. I just completed the K1 process if you have questions on that you can PM me.
You would likely have to prove the marraige, prove you can support $$ the immigrant until they have filed for and received employment authorization (there is a salary calculation), lots of documents and fees and about a year of processing time.
More info at Dept of State http://www.state.gov/
Best of luck if you are beginning this journey.
The K1 Visa is the best route and a long process and takes a lot of time and money and the majority of marriages don't work out.
Had a friend who went thru this....Make copies of every for use during this process...Yes you can marry a Jamaican in Jamaica! You'll need your Passport/Certified copy of Birth Certificate and have to be in Jamaica for at least 24 hrs. before...You must pre-apply for a marriage license thru the Jamaican Ministry Of Justice, if ya try the 24 hour arrival before thing... Once you are married, go to the U.S. Embassy/mission and have them authenticate your marriage certificate, which is a step but does not guarantee it's recognized in your U.S. State...You must contact your states Attorney General's office then for state specific rules... The U.S. citizen is not "required" to live in Jamaica.... For the Jamaican Citizen to come to the U.S., you must go thru the process of acquiring a "Green Card" for them. It could take 6 Months to 2 years..Check with the office you are filing in Once they are approved, they'll get a 2 year kinda temporary residency status and the U.S. Gov. will review that in two years...I am no expert for sure and there are other ins and outs, I'm sure...Hope this helps some....Good luck in following your heart!
of course.......but it's not the easiest route to get a spouse to the USA........
interesting subject for sure in the past on here.........so mi keeping this light.......
but if you do get married in Jamaica there is absolutely no guarantee they will be able to come to the USA.......
especially if they have had children with a different spouse/person.....a lot of times they get declined....
the easiest way is the K-1 Visa and it gives the couple 90 days to get married once on US soil.........
so if the spouse doesn't like the USA/spouse/family for whatever reason they can return to Jamaica.......
though if they do return to Jamaica their chances become quite less on trying for re-entry to the USA with someone else.....
of course if they try for a K-1 Visa and they have had children with someone else their chances aren't very good.......
the US government goes to great lengths to protect itself from spouses and dependents becoming wards of the state.....
the US paperwork can become taxing and it takes a lot of patience to go thru this process that really takes a total of about 5 years for the T's and I's to be crossed and dotted........
of course it takes money.......and the more you have the easier it can be......
but just remember it's a very long process that at times seems never ending.........
but good luck to those that go for it........nice to follow your heart.......mi did......
but please don't PM mi on this subject...mi no expert and best left to those that are...and there are plenty on the net
Cool Runnings, Marko
Twenty-four hours? I've been married twice in Jamaica within that time span, ha ha ....Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokin Kevan
I have several friends that have applied for a K1 and CR1(if you get married there)..Some of them were approved within the same time. Some people like to do the K1 cause the process moves a little quicker and per some of my friends those that filed a Cr1 moved faster...Even with doing a K1 there is no gurantee it will get approved...If they have kids with some one else that does not lessen there chance at all..Actually it makes it better for the kids cause they can file the kids as well at the same time and if they do not they have up until one year to do so...With doing a K1 they can not work right away and there is a possiblity that you will all will have to go through an entire interview all over again some couples do some do not. When friend did the K1 they had to go through an interview and they were asked about 80+ questions...If you decide to do the CR1 (get married there) once he has the interview and gets approved as soon as your spouse gets here he can get his social security and look for a job and start work...
Thanks so much for all the feedback I really really appreciate it. I probably should have elaborated a little more when first posting my question...meaning give a little more background about my situation - for example I should mention neither of us have ever been married and neither of us have any children.
At this point I am really just trying to get educated about the options so we can do what works best for our individual situation. I've explored the K1 visa option extensively and I think I fully understand that process. Now I'm checking out the other option. I realize either option takes time and of course money money money! Wish it could all fall into place tomorrow, but I have my patience hat on....not gonna jump into applying for this or that without all the facts.
A couple other questions crossed my mind while thinking about all this.....
- If US citizen marries a Jamaican in Jamaica does that change the length of time the US citizen is allowed to stay in Jamaica, beyond the current 6 month limit?
- If US citizen marries a Jamaican in Jamaica does that allow the US citizen to legally work and/or open a business in JA?
- If the couple decides they want to live in the USA is there any limit of time, after marrying, in which to file for the spouse visa(CR-1)?
- If the couple decides to reside in Jamaica does the US citizen have to obtain Jamaican citizenship and if so, how would that affect their US citizenship?
Thanks again everyone!! :)
boy I wish you were right but..........Quote:
Originally Posted by Sexybutterflyatl
I have had two good acquaintances who got married in Jamaica and the spouses both had a child that wasn't from them.......
and the guys tried like heck to get the spouses and the kids into the USA for (3 years for one and 2 years for the other guy) and they both always got denied.......
and one of the guys tried another route afterwards and he's still paying for it today........
and the biggest problem is the affidavit of support.......you need a sizeable net worth to make it happen when children are involved....
an affidavit of support is legally enforceable; the sponsor's responsibility usually lasts until the main family member can be credited with 40 quarters of work (usually 10 years).
so you are on the hook for ten years if things don't work out......it can become quite costly if it doesn't work out plus going to court etc is no fun.....quite a mess
there is no holdup on working for my spouse when wi did the K1.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Sexybutterflyatl
the US government must like them working right off cause it's more tax revenue.......lol
there is just as much work for a CR1 if not more than a K-1 on the US end.........Quote:
Originally Posted by Sexybutterflyatl
the K-1 is the streamlined process and that is why we and most people take that route.....it's less work....
as mi said......mi have been der and done that......and it's not for the light hearted......
Cool Runnings, Marko
these questions are great for someone on the Jamaican end of things.......Quote:
Originally Posted by Stacey
most on here will be experiences from the American end of things......
unfortunately you get a lot of people giving advice that have never been thru the process thus you get a lot of bad info.....
best to consulate an immigration attorney........be money well spent.......
Cool Runnings, Marko
LOL Gerryg123! And here I was thinkin one time wasn't even a possibility :)
gerry123456789 gets married every reach..........lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Stacey
Cool Runnings, Marko
Ha Ha Ha ....Too Funny!! Come to think of it, maybe I was better off clueless :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marko
gerryg123...gerryg123...gerryg123!!!! Twice???? Myyyy brotha!
I know of three couples where the man had kids buy other women and did not get denied at all and they filed for there kids and brought there kids to the states....Also to each is own i know a few couples that stated they wished that would have did the CR1 instead of the K1...For my family members that did the K1 there spouse could not work right away not until they got there social security card...No one stated it was less work!!!..I stated that i have know people state the time frame from start to finish was different..
(Ms. soon to be Mrs.) Sweetness is probably your best resource in this as she has been thru the whole process. However, I have been told it is actually faster to get the K-1 Fiancee visa than to apply for a spouse. It would probably not be good to marry someone only to find you can't get them home with you or if you do, to find that they just can't make the change. The K-1 lets you explore all of those options safely. Long distance romance is never easy but it's not impossible either.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU! May Love conquer all obstacles for you. :)
please consult the government websites and visajourney.com. All answers are there. And real time experiences as recent as last week. Best wishes.