K3 best way to go?

[♥Stiggy♥ 0]

Hi there everyone,

I am trying to soak in all this information, on how to get to the US as fast as possible to be with my fiance.

He is an American citizen, living in Florida, and Im a Canadian citizen up here in Canada.

We want to be able to continue to fly to see eachother as much as possible, with him coming up here, and me flying down south to see him too. With his work, its me mostly flying down there so he doesn't miss too much of it.

Is there any other way other than the K1 and K3 for myself?

Are people actually waiting since March to have their K3's approved from the VSC? Or is that a time line from applying for the K3 to visa in hand?

Were still trying to debate if the K1 or K3 option is faster, but also which would work out better in terms of me flying down there to still be with him when I get a few days off work here and there. I have two children who I have primary custody of, who will remain here in Canada with their father and come visit me during the summers and any other breaks from school since their Dad wont let them leave the country. So I hope that since I have primary custody, if we went the K1 route and if I tried crossing to visit, showing I have custody and children to come home to, and a job back home to come home to, hopefully they will let me pass through without problems with a K1 processing.

Or if it would just be easier to get married first and cross through with a K3.

Any advice?

[Dakine 26]

Hi there everyone,

I am trying to soak in all this information, on how to get to the US as fast as possible to be with my fiance.

He is an American citizen, living in Florida, and Im a Canadian citizen up here in Canada.

We want to be able to continue to fly to see eachother as much as possible, with him coming up here, and me flying down south to see him too. With his work, its me mostly flying down there so he doesn't miss too much of it.

Is there any other way other than the K1 and K3 for myself?

Are people actually waiting since March to have their K3's approved from the VSC? Or is that a time line from applying for the K3 to visa in hand?

Were still trying to debate if the K1 or K3 option is faster, but also which would work out better in terms of me flying down there to still be with him when I get a few days off work here and there. I have two children who I have primary custody of, who will remain here in Canada with their father and come visit me during the summers and any other breaks from school since their Dad wont let them leave the country. So I hope that since I have primary custody, if we went the K1 route and if I tried crossing to visit, showing I have custody and children to come home to, and a job back home to come home to, hopefully they will let me pass through without problems with a K1 processing.

Or if it would just be easier to get married first and cross through with a K3.

Any advice?

\

CR-1

[daboyz 36]

Hi there everyone,

I am trying to soak in all this information, on how to get to the US as fast as possible to be with my fiance.

He is an American citizen, living in Florida, and Im a Canadian citizen up here in Canada.

We want to be able to continue to fly to see eachother as much as possible, with him coming up here, and me flying down south to see him too. With his work, its me mostly flying down there so he doesn't miss too much of it.

Is there any other way other than the K1 and K3 for myself?

Are people actually waiting since March to have their K3's approved from the VSC? Or is that a time line from applying for the K3 to visa in hand?

Were still trying to debate if the K1 or K3 option is faster, but also which would work out better in terms of me flying down there to still be with him when I get a few days off work here and there. I have two children who I have primary custody of, who will remain here in Canada with their father and come visit me during the summers and any other breaks from school since their Dad wont let them leave the country. So I hope that since I have primary custody, if we went the K1 route and if I tried crossing to visit, showing I have custody and children to come home to, and a job back home to come home to, hopefully they will let me pass through without problems with a K1 processing.

Or if it would just be easier to get married first and cross through with a K3.

Any advice?

\

CR-1

[♥Stiggy♥ 0]

Im upto my ears trying to figure out this Cr1 thing.. Ive never heard it until you guys just posted it. Help a newbie out lol.

[canadian_wife 1,827]

There is a link at the top that says 'guides'. Check them out and they will help you make up your mind. Basically the CR-1 is a visa you apply for by having the USC fill out the I-130. After approval you are granted a temporary, 2 year green card (something NOT offered by the K-1 or the K3). It is about half the price of the other 2 and it will allow you to work, travel, etc as soon as you enter into the US.

Good luck

[♥Stiggy♥ 0]

So if we go that route, after we were to elope down there, I have to come back and wait for that in order to come back and be able to work, right?

[Svetlana 0]

Im upto my ears trying to figure out this Cr1 thing.. Ive never heard it until you guys just posted it. Help a newbie out lol.

I always was thinking that CR-1 it's for already married people

[Dakine 26]

There is a link at the top that says 'guides'. Check them out and they will help you make up your mind. Basically the CR-1 is a visa you apply for by having the USC fill out the I-130. After approval you are granted a temporary, 2 year green card (something NOT offered by the K-1 or the K3). It is about half the price of the other 2 and it will allow you to work, travel, etc as soon as you enter into the US.

Good luck

May take a little longer but the CR-1 is a MUCH better visa in the long run. No need to go thru the hassels, stress and cost of adjusting status.

CR-1 is a immigrant visa . K visas non immigrant.

[pushbrk 13,068]

So if we go that route, after we were to elope down there, I have to come back and wait for that in order to come back and be able to work, right?

Yes, and to bring your children they need their step-father to file an I-130 for each of them as well. They would receive CR2 visas. Custody and parental consent issues will need to be dealt with as well.

Im upto my ears trying to figure out this Cr1 thing.. Ive never heard it until you guys just posted it. Help a newbie out lol.

I always was thinking that CR-1 it's for already married people

It is. The OP and her fiance haven't decided whether to marry before filing or not. The suggestion for CR1 includes marrying first.

[YuAndDan 153]

K-3 is NOT the best way to go, K-3 is NOT work authorized, so when you enter the USA, you get to sit around for 90 days or LONGER waiting for things like EAD or Green-card, before you can do anything.

Also: if considering K-3, do the CR-1 visa you will be much more happy for it because of the INSTANT GREEN-CARD.

For the most part CR-1 tends to take a bit longer than K-3 to get if you prepare for NVC when they request I-864 fee, and Visa fee, as well as documents requested by NVC. In many cases the CR-1 petition reaches the consulate just before K-3 interview, which causes K-3 to get dropped and the interview becomes a CR-1 visa interview.

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

AOS: $1010

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

I see many posts from K-3 holders stating, "Wow this sucks, I am stuck at home because I don't have EAD, DL, etc, or I am having hard time getting added to bank accounts because of NO SSN." K-3 has a 90 day or longer period of limbo while waiting for EAD or Green-card.

K-3 was developed at a time when CR-1 was taking much longer that today, NVC has greatly streamlined the CR-1 process to the point where K-3 becomes irrelevant.

If children are immigrating then this save even more $$$ if filing an additional I-130 for child.

Edited December 7, 2008 by YuAndDan

[daboyz 36]

K-3 is NOT the best way to go, K-3 is NOT work authorized, so when you enter the USA, you get to sit around for 90 days or LONGER waiting for things like EAD or Green-card, before you can do anything.

Also: if considering K-3, do the CR-1 visa you will be much more happy for it because of the INSTANT GREEN-CARD.

For the most part CR-1 tends to take a bit longer than K-3 to get if you prepare for NVC when they request I-864 fee, and Visa fee, as well as documents requested by NVC. In many cases the CR-1 petition reaches the consulate just before K-3 interview, which causes K-3 to get dropped and the interview becomes a CR-1 visa interview.

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

AOS: $1010

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

I see many posts from K-3 holders stating, "Wow this sucks, I am stuck at home because I don't have EAD, DL, etc, or I am having hard time getting added to bank accounts because of NO SSN." K-3 has a 90 day or longer period of limbo while waiting for EAD or Green-card.

K-3 was developed at a time when CR-1 was taking much longer that today, NVC has greatly streamlined the CR-1 process to the point where K-3 becomes irrelevant.

Thanks. Sorry for the PM. I just couldn't find it.

[carslo 0]

Welcome VJ,

The most cost effective way to be with your partner is to get married and then apply for the CR-1 visa, the waiting is the hardest part, but the sooner you are married the faster it will go. The fastest way is the K1 - the fiance visa. CR-1 are only processed in Montreal, but the K1, and K3 are done in Vancouver if you live west of Winnipeg. Any path that you chose has both benefits and disadvantages. Remember it takes awhile to get things in order for any of the visas. ie: copies of long birth certificates, marriage/divorce certificates both parties, depending on any custody arrangements -the ability to take your children to another country. Many of these things you can start with right on Monday - (long birth certificates).

Good luck and stop by for frequent doses of cheering up!

Janet

[birch- phuk_beer 0]

Here we go again......full of opinions and less of facts.

K-3 and Cr-1 are BOTH for married.....they both have their advantages and disadvantages. read the guides and make you own INFORMED decision.

K-3 is NOT the best way to go, K-3 is NOT work authorized, so when you enter the USA, you get to sit around for 90 days or LONGER waiting for things like EAD or Green-card, before you can do anything.

so I guess in my own case, not filing the 130 as an after thought (and for good reason which is KOYDB), for my stepdaughter and using the K-2 to so she can get the visa isnt the right way to go? You can get EAD after the arrival and doesnt take that long.

I always was thinking that CR-1 it's for already married people

so is the K-3

After approval you are granted a temporary, 2 year green card (something NOT offered by the K-1 or the K3).

total B.S.

K-1 you get a temp 2 year card, then 8 year.

Same thing with K-3, if married less than 2 years.

Cr-1 gets an auto 10 year card if you've been married OVER 2 years.

[Dakine 26]

Here we go again......full of opinions and less of facts.

K-3 and Cr-1 are BOTH for married.....they both have their advantages and disadvantages. read the guides and make you own INFORMED decision.

K-3 is NOT the best way to go, K-3 is NOT work authorized, so when you enter the USA, you get to sit around for 90 days or LONGER waiting for things like EAD or Green-card, before you can do anything.

so I guess in my own case, not filing the 130 as an after thought (and for good reason which is KOYDB), for my stepdaughter and using the K-2 to so she can get the visa isnt the right way to go? You can get EAD after the arrival and doesnt take that long.

I always was thinking that CR-1 it's for already married people

so is the K-3

After approval you are granted a temporary, 2 year green card (something NOT offered by the K-1 or the K3).

total B.S.

K-1 you get a temp 2 year card, then 8 year.

Same thing with K-3, if married less than 2 years.

Cr-1 gets an auto 10 year card if you've been married OVER 2 years.

More TOTAL BS

then 8 year.

Same thing with K-3, if married less than 2 years.

Cr-1 gets an auto 10 year card if you've been married OVER 2 years.

Married more than 2 years is a IR-1> Not CR-1

[YuAndDan 153]

Here we go again......full of opinions and less of facts.

K-3 and Cr-1 are BOTH for married.....they both have their advantages and disadvantages. read the guides and make you own INFORMED decision.

K-3 is NOT the best way to go, K-3 is NOT work authorized, so when you enter the USA, you get to sit around for 90 days or LONGER waiting for things like EAD or Green-card, before you can do anything.

so I guess in my own case, not filing the 130 as an after thought (and for good reason which is KOYDB), for my stepdaughter and using the K-2 to so she can get the visa isnt the right way to go? You can get EAD after the arrival and doesnt take that long.

I always was thinking that CR-1 it's for already married people

so is the K-3

After approval you are granted a temporary, 2 year green card (something NOT offered by the K-1 or the K3).

total B.S.

K-1 you get a temp 2 year card, then 8 year.

Same thing with K-3, if married less than 2 years.

Cr-1 gets an auto 10 year card if you've been married OVER 2 years.

NOT K-2 it is K-4 for child of a K-3. K-2 is child of a K-1 fiancee.

Adjusting status from a K-4 involves filing I-130 ($355) + Additional $600 if child is under age 14 and AOS is being filed with parent's (K-3) AOS.

K-1 only gets a "CONDITIONAL" 2 year green-card after AOS is approved, the status is still "PERMANENT" not "Temp", just with the condition that is still in a bonafide marital relationship after 2 years of conditional residency. If and When removal of the conditions is approved the resulting Residence card will be 10 years NOT 8.

CR-1 does not get an auto 10 year card at 2 years of marriage, they too need to file I-751 to remove conditions after 2 years of residency. (You may be thinking if the CR-1 visa is used to enter the USA after 2 years of marriage (IF 2 years of marriage happens before the visa expires) then the resulting green-card will be the 10 year Un-conditional kind. CR-1 gets treated like an IR-1 if used after 2years of marriage.)

And my statement that you quoted above is based on fact, K-3 is NOT work authorized, so cannot do things like work, or acquire SSN until after they apply for and receive EAD or green-card, and all the statistics show EAD taking 2-3 months to process. CR-1 IS work-authorized due to the visa holder getting I-551 stamp upon entry to the USA, essentially an INSTANT green-card.