www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Keep in mind I DID go to meet the family. I needed to know if I was dealing with a greedy bunch. I thought that due to her status as a single mom, they would be glad to be rid of her and the K*D. But I found the opposite. They were much against the plan, and flatly refused to allow the Ch*ld to leave, until she has been there, and decided that it is best for her and the baby.

I respect her family, and I will do what I can to stay connected to them. They are really good people. I honestly wish I could pack up and move there now. I know I'd be happier than I am here. But ...

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

another thing. The school I chose told me that in the past hundred or so I-20's they made, only 2 failed to get the visa. So we shall see.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

You should adopt the K*D too. Why not dive from the high dive if you are gonna do it????? GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!


Moderation is for cowards........





the DR

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“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

Good luck man. Sounds like an uphill battle but I hope it works out for you.

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Bashful...dude... you type fast.

Thanks for the info and best of luck in this.

BD, As a man of many foolish decisions, who am I to challenge you on this adventure, (or misadventure) I assume BangBang couldn't talk you out of this ???

Actually, I have a friend in the USA who has a successful marriage to an ex worker, she's young, sweet and beautiful, brought 2 K*ds, his greatest pleasure was his ex wife seeing her at their son's college graduation...priceless like the AMX commercials.

I know 4 guys, ex pats living in CR who have done the same, all successful.

I know 3 guys who got extremely burned, two ex pats who lived in CR and had to flee CR or suffer dangerous repercussions (false accusations of physical abuse, etc.) The other one found out she was seeing her boyfriend in the home he bought down here when he was back in the states, even having the CR b/f stay for days, a decent CR neighbor informed him.

These are not stupid guys, one is a successful millionaire business owner, another a financial whiz, MBA. Guy #2 just came back from a solo where he stayed at SL, it was almost 10 years since his then 20 year old CR wife pulled this craziness on him, to his shock and amazement, there she was, pushing 30 still working the SL. He's now older with previously black hair now grey, 20 plus more pounds. She kept staring at him, he enjoyed a little private chuckle to himself as he kept ignoring her and turning his head when he caught her staring, she never approached him or vice versa...it might have been hilarious and mind blowing if he got her in his room and then announced, "by the way...I'm your ex husband !!!!!"

Roll the dice, you may have a 50% chance at marital bliss and true love, or a 50% chance of 50% of your assets and future income taken from you. You like to do research, check into whether you risk having Ch*ld support issues the rest of your life, I heard gringos can be forced to pay Ch*ld support for the chicas Ch*ldren even if they are not their K*ds real easily....

Good luck my friend, I advise against it but I haven't met her, I've been cautious with most of my CR chicas, but I've always made irresponsible decisions on USA "sugar Babi*s" who I "adopted" so I can't throw the first stone at your decision...

By the way, I'm finally once again employed with what appears to be a good company and a good opportunity to earn a decent check, settled in here in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale, will give you a buzz and would like to hook up for lunch or a dinner, maybe get PR to join in, looks like both you guys are headed in similar directions...

Me ? For financial reasons looks like I'm postponing my CR retirement to 4 years instead of the original 2 years from now that I had planned, so I may go down there then, monger for a while and then get bitten by the "Find me somebody to love" bug.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj69iA_goIk

And my personal theme song, feel free to adopt it as well....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAK5Ids7l5g

Peace, out

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

There hasn't been a Thread like this in years. A heart-felt but fact-filled discussion of a topic usually only fantasized about. I applaud you Mr. BashfulDwarf for putting yourself out there. I also applaud the thoughtful, civil comments made by the Bros.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Like some guy who took a few skiing lessons and is killig the bunny slopes.... then thinks Phuck it im going double diamond... WTF

For the sake of accuracy, I will correct the info in your responses because somebody is giving you bad info. I have gone through the K-1 process, adjustment of status, removal of conditions on greencard, and citizenship, so I have a good idea of what I'm talking about.

I think you mean that she could file for a greencard under VAWA, meaning that she would alledge abuse by you against her. If she has evidence of it, she could be granted a greencard. But she would not file charges against you, meaning there is nothing that would/could happen to you. The only way that a K-1 can file for a greencard this way is if you marry. (Btw-If you marry an F-1, she can do the exact same thing.) Getting a greencard under VAWA is not as simple as her accusing you. She needs police reports, medical records, affidavits, etc, showing the abuse. Not as easy as it sounds. As for filing charges against you, any woman (no matter what visa she entered on) can call the cops and accuse you of domestic violence.

As for your financial responsibility... When you apply for K-1, yes you must sign a I-134 Affidavit of Support. However, that document is not a legal contract. It's not enforceable. The only time you are responsible for her financially is when she applies for a greencard, and you sponsor her by signing an I-864 form. This is a legal contract with the US government stating that you agree to repay the gov't for any means-tested benefits she receives (food stamps, welfare, medicaid, etc). However, the government hardly ever enforces it. The gov't is too big for somebody to actually be responsible for connecting the immigration case to the welfare system. And if she applies for a greencard based on VAWA, she would not have a signed I-864 from you, so why would you care? You wouldn't be responsible.

Non-immigrants CAN'T simply apply for immigrant status whenever they want to (valid reason or not). The only way a visitor on a non-immigrant visa can adjust their status to permanent resident is if they marry a US citizen. But I would not say that the process can be done "easily" under any circumstances. It will only be approved if they can convince the immigration officer who will interview them that the visitor entered the US with the intent to leave at the end of the term of the visa. If immigration determines that the non-immigrant entered with intent to stay, they will deny the adjustment of status, and ban the applicant for life (usually) for visa fraud.

Are you saying that you can file and get a K-1 approved without her going home? Yeah, that's wrong. Yes, it's filed in the US by the petitioner (you) but she has to attend an interview in her home country in order for the K-1 visa to be issued. They don't issue K-1's in the US.

You are right that an F-1 is a multiple entry visa where as the K-1 is a single entry visa. Once used, it become void. K-1 has to marry, apply for a greencard, and receive a travel allowance document before they can travel outside the US and be allowed to re-enter. It takes 60-90 days after applying for the greencard to receive the work authorization (EAD) and advance parole (travel doc).

Also, for some reason you are not recognizing or realizing it, but you are freely (and somewhat non-chalantly) admitting to helping an foreigner commit visa fraud by entering the US on a non-immigrant visa under false pretenses for the ultimate purpose of adjusting status to remain in country. This is no joke. If I were you, I would seriously think about your future decisions. If they break her and she tells them your plan, you could be in an situation.

BD

I wish you nothing but the best with the choices that you are making.

My concern is with the young Ch*ld. This young person will grow up, in the formative years, to get to know you as DAD. This is very important time in a very young persons psyche. In a number of years, should it happen, you separate from the young lady, you two will go on. Are you willing to remain in this young persons life forever? That would be the right thing to do.

Think about how your decisions will effect this young Ch*ld in the future. A young persons psyche is not something to be toyed with.

IMO, no one can tell how this will work out, but if you choose this course, you should be ready to be in this young persons life forever.

Health & happiness

Steve

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

I'll take my attorney's word for it, bud. Anyone can APPLY for immigrant status. Case-by-case. There are several reasons for acceptance, including childbirth (or adoption), business (B) visas can convert, marriage, certain types of advanced study (F & J)can convert, etc.

My attorney has done K visas for non-immigrants residing in my state. They are handled as if he/she was still in the home country. Provided they can secure the needed documents from afar, they do NOT have to return to their home country for interview.

I respect that you have done the K1 by yourself. That does not make you an immigration attorney any more than my experiences make me one. I am reciting what I have been advised as potential options by a practicing attorney in my city. We used him to secure a visa for my mother-in-law from Russia several years ago. He knows what he's doing, and he will keep me safe(ish).

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

You really are the big man's brother, aren't you?

The son is my top concern. I have a 12 year old, so I know exactly what you mean. I went to meet the family and experience him. He is ... awesome. I am committed to him, even if it would just be a benevolent uncle living in the US. (And keep in mind my goal is to retire to CR, so I'll still be close to him and the family.)

But this isn't a standout thing. I have another friend in CR that just had a K*D, and I am willing to help her out if she needs it (I haven't seen the baby, she is simply a close friend). There is also an MP chica that I am close to, and I am covering her caja costs while she goes through some scary medical stuff.

In the worst of all cases (she turns ravenous gringa that takes me for everything I have), I would not hold the Ch*ld accountable, and would try to remain on good terms with him and the family (unless they've declared me the anti-christ or something of that magnitude).

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

But here's the sweet spot..... Under either a Fiance' VISA or Marital VISA you as her sponsor have to agree to be financially responsible for her (and Babi*s) for 5 years even if she leaves you during the first month in the US. However, for the Student VISA you are only financially responsible for one year, AND she can travel back and forth to Costa Rica during the year. Plus, she can get a green card in the second year of her Student VISA. If you and she choose to marry in the US, then you can apply for a Marital VISA while she is in the US under the Student VISA.


Unless the affidavit of support has changed since I phucked up and signed 1 there are 4 things that relieve me of responsibility
1) I die
2) She dies (one would say that's not a bad choice, but our daughter does love her mom, but not as much as dad)
3) She becomes a US Citizen (there are rules for that, another topic)
4) """"" She works 40 quarters or 10 years of social security level income above the poverty leve """""
IE the boyfriend she's been living with for a tad over 3 years and her can get married and she can go on welfare and the government can come after me.

I went the K-1 route with my Colombian wife... started the ball rolling about 6 years ago. The paperwork was pretty straight forward, and the visa fee itself was only a couple hundred dollars. However, the trip to Bogota for the consular interview, medical exams, vaccinations, lab tests, hotel room and plane ticket set us back about another $800. My wife said only about half of the applicants in her interview group were granted a visa. She returned to the States with me, and we married in beautiful South Jersey a few days later. About 3 weeks after the honeymoon), we submitted the Adjustment of Status paperwork (more money) for the two-year Green card... then the Lifting of Restrictions for permanent residency (even more money) for the 10-year green card two years later. Knock on wood... no glitches or issues throughout the entire process. Not even a "couples interview" with USCIS which many candidates have to go through.

I personally know two women, who arrived in the US on marriage-based visas, but ended up getting green cards through the violence against women provisions. The first one is a paisa who married a US citizen, then applied for a CR-1 after they married in Colombia. She arrived in the US only to be pressed into hard labor at her husband's pizza shop in western PA. He got into the habit of smacking her around for "disobedience and slacking." The final straw was when he smacked her in front of some customers. They called the cops. She left the guy, ended up in a battered womens' shelter which took good care of her. Much to her credit, she parlayed the benefits she received through social services (a room, a stipend, a part time job and training). She is now married to a well-off older gringo, living comfortably in North Carolina and finishing up her psychology degree at a local university. Last year, a womens' magazine even did a feature article on her. Last year, she came back to Medellin and paid us a visit with her new husband. She looked stunning and vibrant... a far cry from the underweight, battered woman we visited in Pennsylvania 5 years ago.

The second amiga hails from Barranquilla, Colombia. My wife had met her while going through the visa process in Bogota. She came to the States on a K-1 fiancée visa with intentions of marrying a guy from California. At the time she was 28 years old... the guy in his 40s. She had known him for several years, apparently he treated her well (when in Colombia), said and did all the right things, and finally asked her to marry him. She accepted. When she arrived in California to be with her husband-to-be, she had no idea of what was in store for her. The guy had told her he had a house out in the desert. When she got there, there was a house... but it was shared with 3 other men. Basically, her home was now a bedroom with kitchen privileges. She knew almost no English, had no money, and was basically dependent on a guy who was living off permanent disability. When it became apparent that the guy really had no intention of marrying her... she wanted to leave, but had nowhere to go. When she started complaining to him and pleading for a return ticket, things started getting physical. He took her passport and kept her confined to the house. On several occasions, he pulled a knife on her to shut her up. One night, her "fiancé" passed out after indulging in drugs and alcohol. She seized the opportunity to leave with only the clothes on her back. The cops spotted her roaming the streets in the wee hours of the morning. Fortunately, one of the cops spoke Spanish, and she told her story. The cops paid her "fiancé" a visit and arrested the guy. They returned to her the passport and her personal belongings before taking her to a shelter for battered women. Once again, social services came through and helped another would-be immigrant fiancée. With the help of a church group, she was granted a green card through special circumstances, even though she never married her sponsor. Today, she is still living in California with her novio, and works in a clothing store. She was able to obtain a residency visa for her young son in Barranquilla as well. He is now living with her in the States.

very cute, but this isn't mongering (to which I am a moderately experienced skier as you say), this is about visa applications, which is hardly the 'double diamond'.

Taking a girl home isn't the pinnacle of mongerhood as you suggest. It's a side venture. Consider it rollerblading ... which I suck at as well.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!