IMMIGRATION/VISA

Dear D.R. One, or others out there. Can someone out there explain what the proceedure is for geting someone out of the Dominican AFTER you are legally married. As an American legally married in the D.R. I was told by no less than two lawyers that after the marrage you file for a permanent visa.

We made the decissiion to get married there and we did have a wonderful and beautiful ceremony.

After the wedding we werer off to the consolates office in Santo Domingo. They obviously turned us down, stating that AFTER a marrage had taken place then you apply for residency in the U.S. "We don'tgive permanent visas AFTER a marry. But we had already been turned down before, because we really wanted to get married in the U.S.

Is there someone who can help me sort this out.

Thanks, PM

Hi,
the fact that you married in the DR means it is going to take about twice as long for your spouse to enter the US... you need to file an I-130 with the INS here in the US.. I'll put a couple of links at the bottom of this email to get you started.. if you would have waited to marry here, you could have used an I-129F also known as the K1 fiance visa and would have taken 3-7 months, sorry to give you bad news, but since you are now married it will take 10-14 months or longer to complete the process... it is a 2 part process.. first part is completed with immigration here in the US, 2nd part is completed at the US Embassy in Santo Domingo... Good luck
the newsgroup alt.visa.us.marriage-based has tons of info and links.
Also, see the link below, has tons of info and more links..

There are some possible changes being made in your favor. But it may take a little time. One is the new LIFE Act. Another is a bill supported by Pres. Bush that will insure that "immigrant families will stay together while waiting for their green card. Another is a bill to allow spouses of US citizens and permanent residents to enter US on s student or visitor visa while waiting for green card. And then there is the new K-3 Visa! I am hoping that I can get the K-3.
"A new temporary "K" visa status(called K-3) will be available to spouses of U.S. citizens (and their children) living abroad. The current K visa is only available to fiancées of U.S. citizens who are coming to the United States to get married within 90 days of arrival."
H.R.1028
Sponsor: Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. (introduced 3/14/2001)
Latest Major Action: 3/14/2001 Referred to House committee
Title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit the admission to the United States of nonimmigrant students and visitors who are the spouses and children of United States permanent resident aliens, and for other purposes.
Check out govt. link- http://thomas.loc.gov/

Why did the Consulate turn you down the first time?