help! whats faster? Fiance or spouse visa? :)

[GeraldT 0]

hello everyone ! Thank you for reading this! I hope someone can help me out.. My question is simple: My fiance is in mexico, and i want to bring her asap... I was set on tryin to bring her in as my fiance and marrying here... But then someone mentioned that it may be worth it to look into the possibility of me going to mexico, marrying her there and then try to get her papers as my spouse... Does anyone know which one is faster and/or easier?? Any insight on this would be greately appreciated!

thank you!

[mave1104 1]

Id say fiance visa is less stressful to complete but the waiting process are thesame...

[PatrickAndJess 14]

The fiance visa (k-1) will allow her to join you in the States faster (my guess is it she might be there 2 months faster barring any issues with the approval process), but will cost you roughly double the cost of spouse visa (k-3), about $2,300 vs. $1,100. The overall process is pretty similar, the differences being that on a K-3 she will have her greencard upon entering the States with the approved Visa. With a fiance visa, the visa is approved and then when she enters the States, you must get married within 90 days and file for an adjustment of status for her to receive her greencard.

[Xanax 349]

You also have to consider with a spousal visa you have to orgainise to get married first, add that cost and time to your estimates.

[X Factor 1,111]

I agree fiancee visa is quicker with less hassle but more costly.

[Pitaya 2,577]

hello everyone ! Thank you for reading this! I hope someone can help me out.. My question is simple: My fiance is in mexico, and i want to bring her asap... I was set on tryin to bring her in as my fiance and marrying here... But then someone mentioned that it may be worth it to look into the possibility of me going to mexico, marrying her there and then try to get her papers as my spouse... Does anyone know which one is faster and/or easier?? Any insight on this would be greately appreciated!

thank you!

Welcome to the forum.

Refer to the informative VJ Guides Visa Comparison. A review of other members timelines would reveal a lot of variables that can affect the time frames of the respective visas.

Good luck on your visa journey.

[bigdog 376]

We did k1, but would have gotten married first now.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

hello everyone ! Thank you for reading this! I hope someone can help me out.. My question is simple: My fiance is in mexico, and i want to bring her asap... I was set on tryin to bring her in as my fiance and marrying here... But then someone mentioned that it may be worth it to look into the possibility of me going to mexico, marrying her there and then try to get her papers as my spouse... Does anyone know which one is faster and/or easier?? Any insight on this would be greately appreciated!

thank you!

It would most likely be slightly faster to go for the K-1 visa. You would need to go to Mexico with all the documents you need to marry there, deal with submitting paperwork to get permission, translations, the medical tests you need done there, and then the few days wait for getting the license and proceeding onto the ceremony. There are fees for all of that as well. If you are divorced, it must be at least 1 year from the date of your divorce before you can marry in Mexico. Each state has different requirements, so do research on what is required for the state you would be marrying in there.

However, if you were to get married and then file for the spousal visa, your wife would be able to receive her green card upon entering the US and you would not have to worry about filing for adjustment of status which is a large fee of $1070 and takes about 3 months for her to be able to work or travel and around 4-6 months to get a green card.

So, fiance(e) visa is most likely a little faster, but spousal visa is cheaper in the long run.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

[TBoneTX 44,691]

There are many variables that are specific to the beneficiary's country (as the poster above has stated), to the consulate in that country, and to the specific petition and visa application themselves. Accordingly, generic, estimated "timelines" can go straight out the window.

[Dan C. 18]

It absolutely depends on your individual situation.

My wife and I went the CR-1 route, for a few reasons:

- We wanted to have our wedding in Mexico (not possible with a K-1)

- My wife already had a border-crossing card / B2 tourist visa

- We didn't want to deal with the extra expense / travel restrictions of adjusting status

If any of those apply to you—especially if your wife has a tourist visa—look into the CR-1. Realistically, it doesn't take much longer than the K-1, and you do not have to have cohabited with your spouse -- i.e. you can get married today and apply for the CR-1 tomorrow.

Another benefit—for now, at least: the CR-1 process is eligible for electronic processing at the NVC and the consulate in Juarez, meaning that there's less physical paperwork moving about. You can scan and email documents to the NVC, so they get them quickly and easily. As far as I know, the K-1 is still paper-based at this time.

It was still a lot of forms and information-gathering — but really, as long as you're organized, I doubt it's any more difficult than the K-1.

In addition, if your fiancee has a tourist visa, you can get married in the US (provided she returns home afterwards, at which point you can file for the CR-1). My wife lived along the border, so we just crossed over, got married, and she returned to Mexico and we applied for the CR-1. So, we got to skip a lot of the paperwork that comes with a US Citizen trying to marry a Mexican citizen in Mexico—plus we got a marriage certificate in English. Another plus for the CR-1.

Look into all your options. If your wife lives along the border and has a visa already, the CR-1 may make more sense.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

There are many variables that are specific to the beneficiary's country (as the poster above has stated), to the consulate in that country, and to the specific petition and visa application themselves. Accordingly, generic, estimated "timelines" can go straight out the window.

Review all of them, decide what is BEST for you. There are advantages and disadvatages of each that depend on your situation. Deciding by which is FASTER alone is very poor planning in and of itself. The time difference seems to be evaporating but still favors the K-1 but she cannot work when she arrives until after the AOS so the time from petition to GREEN CARD is the same or favors the CR-1. If her being able to work is an issue then the CR-1 is the only way to go. If she has children between the ages of 18-20 that she wants to bring the K-1 is the ONLY way to go. If there is a possibility she could have to leave the country shortly after arriving (questionable health of parents for example) then the CR-1 is the best route.

[GeraldT 0]

awesome! I really appreciate all of your inputs. It's nice to hear from people who have already been thru this process (or similar). I think ill go with bringing her as my fiance even if it is a little more pricey.

thanks again everyone!

[Laure&Colin 557]

The fiance visa (k-1) will allow her to join you in the States faster (my guess is it she might be there 2 months faster barring any issues with the approval process), but will cost you roughly double the cost of spouse visa (k-3), about $2,300 vs. $1,100. The overall process is pretty similar, the differences being that on a K-3 she will have her greencard upon entering the States with the approved Visa. With a fiance visa, the visa is approved and then when she enters the States, you must get married within 90 days and file for an adjustment of status for her to receive her greencard.

You're mistaken, the K3 was a non-immigrant visa and holders had to file for AOS just like a K1. Anyway, it is obsolete.

The only viable spousal visa nowadays is IR1/CR1.

Faster as less time apart? Then the K1 (fiancée), by a couple months.

Faster as the fastest way for her to become a lawful permanent resident? Then the CR1 (spousal), by at least 6 months, and a lot less trouble, since everything is over by the time she gets her visa (whereas K1 holders must file AOS once in the US).