This is an interesting and somewhat complicated problem that I really need some advice on.
I am an American and I live and work in Russia.
I am engaged to be married to a Belarusain citizen this coming summer.
We will be married twice. Once in June in Belarus officially. Then a church ceremony in my home state, Vermont, in the USA in August. Then we will both live together in Russia for several years.
Here is the problem:
She needs the means to attend our wedding in the USA in August. To my mind, to begin the immigration process is not appropriate at this point. And the time between the weddings is too short for her to gain permission to enter the States as an immigrant.
Furthermore, a tourist visa would be difficult because I would have to convince the US Embassy that she does not intend to stay in the USA.
What do you suggest we do? The US Embassy in Belarus suggested the K-3 Visa... but my research, correct me if I'm wrong, proves that we can only begin the application for this AFTER we wed - June will be too late to start this process.
I am open to hiring a lawyer to help us with these matters if he/she is familiar with Belarusian immigration issues.
Thanks!
I am an American and I live and work in Russia.
I am engaged to be married to a Belarusain citizen this coming summer.
We will be married twice. Once in June in Belarus officially. Then a church ceremony in my home state, Vermont, in the USA in August. Then we will both live together in Russia for several years.
Here is the problem:
She needs the means to attend our wedding in the USA in August. To my mind, to begin the immigration process is not appropriate at this point. And the time between the weddings is too short for her to gain permission to enter the States as an immigrant.
Furthermore, a tourist visa would be difficult because I would have to convince the US Embassy that she does not intend to stay in the USA.
What do you suggest we do? The US Embassy in Belarus suggested the K-3 Visa... but my research, correct me if I'm wrong, proves that we can only begin the application for this AFTER we wed - June will be too late to start this process.
I am open to hiring a lawyer to help us with these matters if he/she is familiar with Belarusian immigration issues.
Thanks!
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