I-129F petition
Russian Fiance Visas Preparation Support
Expert Tip # 10
If possible, accompany your Fiancée to her interview at the consulate. Attending the interview clearly confirms you in the role of a sincere and concerned future husband. And if the visa is approved shortly thereafter you can accompany your future bride on the trip to the U.S.
More Expert Fiancee Visa Tips
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Please note that your fiancee may enter the United States only one time with a fiancee visa. If your fiancee
leaves the country before you are married, your fiancee may not be allowed back into the United States without
a new visa.
If your new spouse will apply to become a legal permanent resident while in the U.S. but also plans to travel
outside the U.S. while the application is pending, see Have a Pending Immigration Application?.Beware of Foreign
Travel.
After arriving in the United States, your fiancee will be eligible to apply for a work permit. (You should note
that USCIS might not be able to process the work permit within the 90-day time limit for your marriage to take
place.) Your fiancee should use Form I-765 to apply for a work permit. Please see Obtaining a Work Permit for
more information. If your fiancee applies for adjustment to permanent resident status after the wedding, your
fiancee must re-apply for a new work permit.
To bring your Russia fiancee to the USA you will need a fiancee visa (K1 visa). There is NO OTHER AMERICAN VISA available for marrying in the U.S.
Other types of visas for a Russian fiancee such as tourist, student or business visas are not suitable if your intention is marriage. If you marry your girlfriend visiting you on one of those visas, her legal status in the USA will be questionable, and she may be refused permanent resident status on the basis of visa fraud if the USCIS (former INS) believes her aim of visiting United States was simply for marrying a US Citizen. Once a violation of visa regulation is recorded, it will be difficult if not impossible for the person to ever receive a K-1 visa or any other type of visa to the USA.
Deciding whether to hire an immigration attorney is an important decision. Some immigration matters can be relatively straightforward. Many times, however, it is useful to hire an immigration attorney--for three reasons. First, immigration law is one of the most complicated areas of U.S. law (second only to tax law). Second, U.S. immigration law is changing all the time, and it is hard to keep up, even for many immigration lawyers. Third, immigration lawyers can help make sure that your application goes through the immigration bureaucracy smoothly and quickly. However, inquire with the residency program you are joining about the possibility of someone from the system handling immigration for you (big hospitals and universities often have such offices).
If you decide you want to hire an immigration attorney, there are many ways to find a good one. You should do research. Ask your colleagues from the program (they went through the same process just last year or two years ago) about good immigration lawyers (they do not need to be located in the area in which you will be working). Your employer may know of a good immigration lawyer. Many immigration lawyers are members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). You can find out whether there are any AILA immigration attorneys in your area
