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K1 Visa Cambodia

Cambodia is becoming one of the more widely discussed tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. In relatively recent years, the Kingdom of Cambodia has been the victim of extreme political and social unrest, but the country has been recovering to the point that it currently boasts of some of the most attractive vacation locales on the planet.

Those travelers stopping off in Cambodia are often surprised to discover the beauties of the Kingdom as well as the reasonable prices of the accommodations, food, and entertainment. In recent years, more and more Americans have visited Cambodia. Some of these travelers have made Cambodia their home while others have met their soul mate in this Kingdom once known as Kampuchea. For those with a Cambodian fiancee a popular travel document is the K1 visa. For those who are unaware, the K1 visa is a fiance visa designed to allow a foreign national to come to the United States for the sole purpose of marrying their American Citizen loved one and applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence.

In order to obtain a K1 visa the Petitioner must first receive preliminary approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Upon approval, the case gets forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) and from there it is sent to the appropriate US Embassy or US Consulate. Generally, visa cases in Cambodia are adjudicated by the Consular Officers at the US Embassy in Phnom Phen.

For the most part, those with a Cambodian loved one choose to retain an Immigration lawyer in order to assist with paperwork and provide insight into usage of proper forms. An added bonus in retaining a firm based in Southeast Asia is the proximity to the relevant Embassy or Consulate as well as an understanding of the relevant identity documentation in the region.

An often dreaded phase of the K1 visa process is the visa interview. Many Khmer fiancees get nervous at the thought of interviewing in English with an American officer. Fortunately, with the assistance of an American attorney, such fears can be put to rest. An American Immigration lawyer can provide advice and counsel regarding the visa interview and help a Cambodian loved one explain their intentions clearly, concisely, and honestly.

Since the tragedy of 9/11, the US Immigration process seems to have gotten increasingly complex as security concerns must be addressed and this usually results in a longer processing time. That said, in many cases an experienced Immigration lawyer can provide assistance in streamlining the overall process and helping obtain important and often necessary documentation.         

Those seeking a K1 visa for a Cambodian fiance are well advised to speak with an attorney prior to making any irrevocable decisions as some mistakes can lead to delays in processing.

For further information regarding Consular Processing at the US Embassy Cambodia please see: US Embassy Phnom Phen