Immigrant Visa for a Spouse or Fiancé(e) of a U.S. Citizen

[SoulsUnited]

Dear all,

I stumbled upon on this forum while searching for help on above topic and found it really helpful. Your help will be highly appreciated.

My details
Age :28 years male
Nationality: Pakistani
Last Location : London, UK ( June 2006 to June 2012) overstayed my visa for 6 months
Current Location : Pakistan

My Girlfriend's details
Age : 20 years
occupation: Student
Nationality : American (born and raised in USA)
Current Location : Pittsburgh, USA

My Case
I will keep it short so I met my girlfriend through internet, we had too much in common and eventually fell in love. She visited me in London last month and stayed for about 42 days with me (best time of my life). We decided to get married as we can't live without each other and now I need help as I'm not very familiar with US Immigration system. Could you please advise me on step by step process which I need to follow to get the Immigrant visa. Apparently I was setting up a business here in Pakistan but I want to move to USA as soon as possible because my GF cries everyday and it's very hard for me to see this happening.

My Questions:
1. Which visa should I apply ? K1, K3 or CR1/IR1
2. Will my overstayed status in UK matter ?
3. She doesn't have a job, does she need a job ? OR
4. Can I support myself as I have about $ 25K in my bank account, will it help ?
5. How long does it take to process the application ?
6. Do we need to hire a lawyer?
7. What documents we require?

I'd really appreciate your help.

[Lexus]

I would like to inform you that the K-1 visa is for those who are not yet married but intend to immediately marry their U.S. citizen fiancé once inside the United States. The K-1 process is among the most extensive and expensive immigration processes in the United States due to the fact that the visa has been historically abused to earn visas on sham marriages. The process for a K-1 visa begins with the filing of I-129F on behalf of the alien fiancé, followed by an in-depth application appointment and interview during which the fiancé must be able to prove the validity of their engagement. Once the K-1 visa is granted, the visa holder must get married to their fiancé within 90 days after entering the United States and file Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence.

[LegalMan]

Lexus is correct and spot on concerning the K-1 visa. I would recommend having an attorney guide you through the process. If you don't currently have access to on-going legal representation, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to show you how my service can be of help.

Good luck and God Bless.

[SoulsUnited]

Originally Posted by Lexus I would like to inform you that the K-1 visa is for those who are not yet married but intend to immediately marry their U.S. citizen fiancé once inside the United States. The K-1 process is among the most extensive and expensive immigration processes in the United States due to the fact that the visa has been historically abused to earn visas on sham marriages. The process for a K-1 visa begins with the filing of I-129F on behalf of the alien fiancé, followed by an in-depth application appointment and interview during which the fiancé must be able to prove the validity of their engagement. Once the K-1 visa is granted, the visa holder must get married to their fiancé within 90 days after entering the United States and file Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence.

Thanks Lexus for your help but could you please advise me on question 2,3 and 4 also.
Regards,

[SoulsUnited]

Originally Posted by LegalMan Lexus is correct and spot on concerning the K-1 visa. I would recommend having an attorney guide you through the process. If you don't currently have access to on-going legal representation, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to show you how my service can be of help. Good luck and God Bless.

Thanks for your response, could you please update me on fee and procedures.
Regards,