Which to choose, K-3 vs IR-1/CR-1?

[SqdnGuns 21]

My wife arrived in the US in June 2008 on a K-1 and we married the following August. In September of 2008 we learned we were having a baby, YAY!! Unfortunately, I was laid off of my job the following month. I was out of work until I took a job in Florida in February 2009.

Because of the lose of my job, we did not file for her AOS when we wanted, money was tight as you could expect. It took every penny we had to make the move out to Florida and with the baby coming the budget was even tighter.

The end of September 2009, the company I was working for decided to close up shop. What luck......................I am now working again, since January, and feeling pretty secure at the moment, knock on wood.

My wife is a little homesick and her parents are not in the best health so we decided that she would go back to Thailand so her family can see our son. We will take care of her immigrating back to the States while she is there.

My question what is the best route for us to take?

Which to choose, K-3 vs IR-1/CR-1?

She will be leaving for Thailand March 24th and will be in Bangkok for a few days before heading home to her village. I'd like to get all the paperwork in order before she leaves.

I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have.

Thanks!

[Christi and Ian 24]

My wife arrived in the US in June 2008 on a K-1 and we married the following August. In September of 2008 we learned we were having a baby, YAY!! Unfortunately, I was laid off of my job the following month. I was out of work until I took a job in Florida in February 2009.

Because of the lose of my job, we did not file for her AOS when we wanted, money was tight as you could expect. It took every penny we had to make the move out to Florida and with the baby coming the budget was even tighter.

The end of September 2009, the company I was working for decided to close up shop. What luck......................I am now working again, since January, and feeling pretty secure at the moment, knock on wood.

My wife is a little homesick and her parents are not in the best health so we decided that she would go back to Thailand so her family can see our son. We will take care of her immigrating back to the States while she is there.

My question what is the best route for us to take?

Which to choose, K-3 vs IR-1/CR-1?

She will be leaving for Thailand March 24th and will be in Bangkok for a few days before heading home to her village. I'd like to get all the paperwork in order before she leaves.

I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have.

Thanks!

k-3 became virtually obsolete on February 1st - Go CR-1

[SqdnGuns 21]

k-3 became virtually obsolete on February 1st - Go CR-1

Is that good or bad? If I recall, K-3 was quicker than CR-1.

Off to catch up on the guides........................not looking forward to all this paperwork again. On the bright side, I think it should be pretty damn easy for her approval. She's been here for 1 1/2 years and we have a 9 month old now.

[Christi and Ian 24]

Is that good or bad? If I recall, K-3 was quicker than CR-1.

Off to catch up on the guides........................not looking forward to all this paperwork again. On the bright side, I think it should be pretty damn easy for her approval. She's been here for 1 1/2 years and we have a 9 month old now.

Actually, I think it's a good thing. CR-1 is processing in about the same time as the K-3 was. CR-1 is less expensive, as you don't have to pay the $1010 processing fee for AOS once she arrives, and she'll have a green card, so she'll be able to work right away if she'd like.

I wish we had gone CR-1, but hindsight is 20/20...

Edited February 28, 2010 by Christi and Ian

[Anh map 2,098]

The medical exam in Thailand will be less that it would be here. So it's probably a wash or slight savings in expenses for the CR1 process vs. doing the AOS here.

Start with filing the I-130 and G325a

[christeen 966]

Actually, I think it's a good thing. CR-1 is processing in about the same time as the K-3 was. CR-1 is less expensive, as you don't have to pay the $1010 processing fee for AOS once she arrives, and she'll have a green card, so she'll be able to work right away if she'd like.

I wish we had gone CR-1, but hindsight is 20/20...

Christi/Ian; Glad to see you embraced the CR1 way of thinking... Not like we had to hit you over the head with it

To OP... only CR/IR so the choice is easy... CR1s are processing in just about the same time anyway....

[mrs. wife! 3]

You could file for AOS and when she receives her advance parole she could go visit her family.

It's up to you, if you chose to apply for an immigrant visa while she is overseas, go with CR1.

Good luck and congrats on your baby!

[SqdnGuns 21]

Thanks for the input. If I file for the CR-1, I understand that I have to send it in to the Chicago lockbox. Correct? If so, what service center will handle it? Is Vermont still the nightmare it was a few years back?

[pushbrk 12,569]

Thanks for the input. If I file for the CR-1, I understand that I have to send it in to the Chicago lockbox. Correct? If so, what service center will handle it? Is Vermont still the nightmare it was a few years back?

Yes, you file the I-130 petition with the Chicago lock box but nearly all of them are getting sent on to California now. The nightmare shifts between CA and VT.

[Christi and Ian 24]

Christi/Ian; Glad to see you embraced the CR1 way of thinking... Not like we had to hit you over the head with it

Yes, I was one of those kids who had to touch the stove so I could see first hand that it was hot!

[rin and john 71]

My wife arrived in the US in June 2008 on a K-1 and we married the following August. In September of 2008 we learned we were having a baby, YAY!! Unfortunately, I was laid off of my job the following month. I was out of work until I took a job in Florida in February 2009.

Because of the lose of my job, we did not file for her AOS when we wanted, money was tight as you could expect. It took every penny we had to make the move out to Florida and with the baby coming the budget was even tighter.

The end of September 2009, the company I was working for decided to close up shop. What luck......................I am now working again, since January, and feeling pretty secure at the moment, knock on wood.

My wife is a little homesick and her parents are not in the best health so we decided that she would go back to Thailand so her family can see our son. We will take care of her immigrating back to the States while she is there.

My question what is the best route for us to take?

Which to choose, K-3 vs IR-1/CR-1?

She will be leaving for Thailand March 24th and will be in Bangkok for a few days before heading home to her village. I'd like to get all the paperwork in order before she leaves.

I'd appreciate any recommendations you may have.

Thanks!

Just curious if any one knows...Would she now have accrued 'unlawful' presence from September 2008 to March 2010 that might effect the issuance of a CR1/IR1 visa (i.e. a 10 yr ban)? If so, filing AOS and requesting AP within the US (where unlawful presence would likely be forgiven) would be a much better option.

[rin and john 71]

Read post 12 and 13 of this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=241608

and this one:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=237125

I would excercise extreme caution in your if I were in your shoes.