Military Woman Fallin' 4 Indonesian Nationality Need Help

[I_Am_The_Sky]

I'm a military woman stationed in GUAM,US.
I met my boyfriend when I was on vacation on a cruise ship. He was Indonesian photographer who work on cruise ship. It's been 4 months now and we still communicate every single day. I'm a single mom with 4 yr daughter and he been divorce for 1 year. we plan on getting married. but I don't know how to start the document, since I was in the military. he now in Jakarta - Indonesia.
Question:
-Should we married 1st and apply for the document?
-Is there any member that work as military?
-He want to enter Guam with a tourist visa and get married here, is it?

I really don't want to jeopardy my career, but I love him so damn much and he willing to do anything to make this happen.


Thank you

Sky

[IBMMuseum]

I'm a military woman stationed in GUAM,US.
I met my boyfriend when I was on vacation on a cruise ship. He was Indonesian photographer who work on cruise ship. It's been 4 months now and we still communicate every single day. I'm a single mom with 4 yr daughter and he been divorce for 1 year. we plan on getting married. but I don't know how to start the document, since I was in the military. he now in Jakarta - Indonesia.
Question:
-Should we married 1st and apply for the document?
-Is there any member that work as military?
-He want to enter Guam with a tourist visa and get married here, is it?

I really don't want to jeopardy my career, but I love him so damn much and he willing to do anything to make this happen.

I am in the Reserves currently, and have been Active Duty before. Having military status as a sponsor won't actually help very much unless it comes to you being deployed. Many times the K1 visa is the quickest way to go about things from where you are now (you get engaged, file the I-129F, after it is approved he is able to be admitted and you marry within 90 days).

He cannot have intent to marry if he applies for a B2 (tourist) visa because that means he wants to immigrate on the wrong visa type...

He needs to have the document for his divorce among the other requirements for the I-129F. Ask here for any help filling it out (since you are military you would submit a G-325B for yourself instead of the G-325A, but file them both, as I did). One thing worth mentioning is that you can have all Indonesian documents translated to English for free by MilitaryOneSource; Contact me for further details.

[angela256z]

I am the Sky - Welcome. I am not Military, but I thought I would add that you can look under the I-601 area and resource area for more resources. I work for a cruise line and a lot of our staff is Philipino. I have known a couple of them to have married a US citizen. File your I-129F as soon as possible. Be prepared the fees increase next Tuesday so be prepared to pay a larger fee than what shows on the documents at this time. Once the I-129F is approved then you will work from there. You then will get married and go on from there. From what I understand is the MIltary has a good legal system so take advantage of that. My friend is a LPR from Ecuador and her husband has been depolyed to Iraq. Upon his return the Military is going to help make her a citizen.

[I_Am_The_Sky]

Thank you for the reply, I really appriciated.
since I read in the forum that we have to proof that we know each other for 2 years.
I only know him for 3 months now, he will be arrived in Guam before this year end, he want to visit me.

But I need more suggestion:
-Is it true that we must wait 2 years to get married?
-Should we wait for 2 years?
-What would you girls do if you in my position?

again,thanks 4 everything....


Regards,


Sky

[IBMMuseum]

Thank you for the reply, I really appriciated.
since I read in the forum that we have to proof that we know each other for 2 years. I only know him for 3 months now, he will be arrived in Guam before this year end, he want to visit me.
But I need more suggestion:
-Is it true that we must wait 2 years to get married?
-Should we wait for 2 years?

No, you have to have met at least once in person (which you have already done). Any photos from the cruise (preferably film camera that puts a date on the photo)? You are right on track for a K1, just don't marry before it would be approved (file before the end of the month and it will be $170, with up to several months processing time).

-What would you girls do if you in my position?


Well, I am a man. My wife and I first did a K1 petition, and had we not wanted to move on quicker with our lives (we married in the time it was pending) we would have stayed on that route. As is commonly quoted, it's whether you want the separation while engaged (a K-1 fiance(e) visa) or married (an I-130 immigrant petition, with possible K-3 to have him admitted slightly sooner). Either way it will most likely be a wait of at least a few to several months.

In my book it is better to be separated while engaged...

If you go the K-1 route, don't get married before the petition is approved (you have to start over on the I-130 route)...

He might be able to get a B2 tourist visa, however it would be better to stay engaged rather than to marry if that is possible...

[I_Am_The_Sky]

Thank again IBMMuseum...It really help. I will talkabout this to him. Basically, he really doesn't want me to have trouble with the military, that's why he try to do it step by step.
and for me, I will ask for more information about the military procedure, some say that it will be some "red tape" and some security clearance. It sound kinda scary.
What happen to you when you apply it? maybe you could share some of your experiences with me.
It will good for my references, since you are in military too.

Regards,

Sky

[IBMMuseum]

...Basically, he really doesn't want me to have trouble with the military, that's why he try to do it step by step. and for me, I will ask for more information about the military procedure, some say that it will be some "red tape" and some security clearance. It sound kinda scary. What happen to you when you apply it? maybe you could share some of your experiences with me. It will good for my references, since you are in military too.

I've heard that Active Duty personnel should actually notify their Commander/Chain of Command that they intend to marry (but this is supposed to be true even if marrying another U.S. citizen). It can't hurt, at least to let all involved parties aware of events. Since I was a Reservist when I married my situation would be slightly different.

As for security clearances, I don't want to speak too specifically, but it should not be a problem. Someone in my CoC married an immigrant Filipina (on a K-1 actually) without it affecting his high-level security clearance in any way. Just like before, I would notify your "Security Manager" in case they want to update your information on the e-Qip site (more so than the general USCIS process, you also want to be extremely truthful when talking to any of the security clearance personnel).

With the I-129F packet send in the four G-325A forms for yourself, along with his four pages of G-325A, but I would also fill out a G-325B (that is the specific substitute that military personnel should use instead of the G-325A) and send it to the address in the instructions. There is a particular Army investigative unit that looks up military records and then pass on the information to USCIS. In this case it is not your good marks, but rather that you don't have any bad marks (it would have to be something that would have given you a bad conduct discharge already, or made it so you wouldn't have any level of security clearance anyway) against your service record.

[aussiewench]

Thank you for the reply, I really appriciated.
since I read in the forum that we have to proof that we know each other for 2 years.
I only know him for 3 months now, he will be arrived in Guam before this year end, he want to visit me.

But I need more suggestion:
-Is it true that we must wait 2 years to get married?
-Should we wait for 2 years?
-What would you girls do if you in my position?

again,thanks 4 everything....


Regards,


Sky
As IBMMuseum stated, you must have met within the two years prior to the filing of the petition, not that you have to of known each other for two years. You need to submit evidence with the I-129F petition for a fiance if you decide to go that route.

As for evidence, you could supply evidence of your cruise i.e. a copy of the ticket you purchased, anything that proves you were on that cruise. Also evidence that your fiance worked as a photographer on that same cruise. Evidence that shows you were in the same place at the same time.

Tip:
Use Q18 of the I-129F petition to describe in some detail of how you met in the required 2 year period that established the relationship. The evidence you then submit should support those details. Boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel/credit card receipts, rental receipts if ever lived together etc etc are primary evidence. Photos are secondary which support the primary evidence. What one should be aiming for is creating an image in the minds eye of the adjudicator......a complete picture. Look outside the box for evidence that shows you both in the same place at the same time. Each case is different and one should submit evidence accordingly, not just rely on the standard unofficial list.

Whilst evidence of an ongoing relationship is not a requirement at the initial filing stage, it can be beneficial to those from high fraud countries (eg the philippines) to do so, or if there is anything that could be a red flag that may cause issues at interview stage. This evidence should always be very carefully scrutinized especially emails & chat, to make sure there is nothing mentioned that may be construed in a different way then it is meant. Also make sure that any photo evidence submitted of any ceremony cannot be mistaken for a marriage ceremony which has in the past caused issues and denials.

Have a read of Guide to Filing the I-129F Fiancé(e) Petition (http://www.familybasedimmigration.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13). They also have a guide to filing the I-130 and I-129F for a spouse, if you decide to go that route.

[I_Am_The_Sky]

Thanks for all the information, I will do that.
The suggestion is very helpful.
If there any info that I should know, please don't hesitate to advise me.
I always need some advise.
Thank you all.

Sky

[IBMMuseum]

Thanks for all the information, I will do that.
The suggestion is very helpful.
If there any info that I should know, please don't hesitate to advise me.
I always need some advise.

And you might be very happy with the additional information I have found. It turns out there is a "Guam Visa Waiver Program" that is run independantly from the main VWP. Among the countries listed is Indonesia!

It allows visits for up to 15 days, as long as a valid passport and round-trip tickets (from a defined carrier) are held. No extensions or further travel to the United States is authorized. I didn't see how often the trips can be made, but certainly visits up to 15 days while you wait is a blessing!

http://www.visitguam.org/airtravel/?pg=entry

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-waiver.html#guam

[I_Am_The_Sky]

Hoo Ra....I don't know this if you don't tell me...that is good news...again thank you IBMMuseum...you're such a big help.

Thanks Again.

ps: he say thanks too 4 the info. he say, if you need some advise in video or photography stuff, it will be his pleasure to help you. (I don't think you need it,right?) anyway...he just want to say thanks, I guess.


Regards,


Sky

[IBMMuseum]

Hoo Ra....I don't know this if you don't tell me...that is good news...again thank you IBMMuseum...you're such a big help.

Thanks Again.

ps: he say thanks too 4 the info. he say, if you need some advise in video or photography stuff, it will be his pleasure to help you. (I don't think you need it,right?) anyway...he just want to say thanks, I guess.

Happy to help, and even happier that there is a particular program you can use for visits. As said, the best possible way in my mind is for the K-1 visa, just don't marry until after it is approved, and don't let him overstay the GVWP. You can search more or ask questions on the aspect of the VWP, but I think you will be fine as an engaged couple using it for visits.

P.S.: It is time for him to also get a cheap datestamp camera, to use for photographs of you together. Save *all* of the trip documents too. We've got all of our photography needs covered for now (well, maybe a couple of "passport" photos for my stepdaughter's EAD).