K1, K3, IR-1/CR-1 ? ? ? Which one to choose?

[stvil62948 0]

I thought I understood it all. Maybe not all, but enough to know the K-1 was the fastest route to see my loved one (Russian) face-to-face in the US. We are traveling to the Dominican Republic for our first personal meeting next week 6/6/09. Today she asked about the possibility of marrying in the DR during our meeting. I certainly was happy to hear this, but it was difficult for me to explain that the K-1 was the fastest choice. She told me that her friend arrived in the US in 2006 as a spouse, and the process was only 4 months! I don't know the type of application they used (direct consular filing?).

Am I missing something???? I don't have any special circumstances that would allow a direct consular filing, as I understand it. What is the present waiting time for the K-1, K-3, and IR-1/CR-1? I have to admit that I can't remember ever reading about the IR-1/CR-1 until tonight.

I'd appreciate any opinions or advice ASAP! As I said earlier, we're going to have our personal meeting in less than 1 week.

Thanks much for any help!

[TimandJoyce 1]

Well, I'm certainly no expert, so keep reading the guides as they are quite helpful.

K-1 is for fiance/fiancee ONLY! You cannot be married to file this. It is a petition sent to either Vermont or California (depending on where you live). Read the guides as to what it entails. After USCIS approves the petition, it is moved to NVC and then the Consulate in her country where she will go for a medical, and interview. Again read the guides so she knows what to expect. Very hard to say what the time line is, but you can check out the Immigration timelines for her country and through the Service centre you would be using. This is the route I'm taking. When the visa is approved and received, she'll have up to 6 months to cross into US, and once she crosses, 90 days to get married. Once married she needs to stay in the US, and adjust status for permanent residency until she gets AP/ or GC to let her travel.

K-3, IR-1/CR-1 is for married couples. I've read that drop the K-3 and go directly for CR-1. One big reason..cheaper!! and on approval, she gets her GC as soon as she moves to the US. I really don't know too much about it, but again read the guides, and read some of the threads from that forum. It might take a little longer to process, but at least you don't need to adjust status.

Best wishes for what ever you decided and have fun on your trip!

[Anh map 2,098]

Triple Post.

[Bern. 3]

Triple Poster!

All I can say is, do not marry during your first meeting. It's not very logical.

In all honesty, I advise you to meet your loved one and see how it goes and then if you decide that she is who you truly want to marry, then you can apply for the K-1. You're looking at about 6+ months average wait, but trust me, the wait is worth it (most of the time.) Plus you'd have covered the face-to-face requirement. Mind you, you have to see each other within 2 years of filing. So takes tons of pictures and try and get her to fill out her K-1 forms, such as G-325A etc. smile.gif

[brnidokiegurl 0]

you havent even met and she is asking you about ways to marry etc? As others said depends if you do marry there (cr1) or she comes here to marry (k1) but you do need to start with the meeting requirements etc. Basically dont marry on the first trip (some do) and are fine but i would spend some time to get to know first.

[Marina-Del 10]

I agree with the other posters...meet her first, meet her again, and again and THEN talk about marriage. I know every couple is different and there are certainly some very very successful couples here on VJ who only met one time before popping the question (several people come to mind), but I can think of MANY more posters that have failed marriages because they simply didn't know each other well enough. Also, remember that she is the one that mentioned marriage and she hasn't even met you yet. Just a red flag that you would be smart to take notice of.

I've had internet relationships before and I've had more traditional relationships before. My husband-to-be was a traditional relationship but the K-1 visa I applied for before (see signature below) started as an internet relationship. We talked online everyday for like 10 hours for about 6 months until we finally saw each other again (we originally met in a third country for about 6 hours before we exchanged emails). I thought I knew him very very well....but I didn't. And he didn't know me. After 2 years together (about half of that time spent in person) we realized it wasn't going to work. We both spent TONS of money on the K-1 visa (which he was approved for) and our wedding (which we canceled 30 days before I was set to walk down the aisle)!!

Point is, take it slow! In the example above we lived together for almost 6 months straight and it still didn't work out!! Our relationship was AMAZING online, everything I could have asked for...but in person, it just wasn't good. Again, I'm not saying that online things never work out (VJ shows us everyday that they do!!), but take it slow!

As for the visas, if you want to get her here faster, go the K-1. DO NOT get married next week. You can even meet her next week, file the K-1 the week after and visit her in Russia (or in a third country) throughout the roughly 6-8 months that it will take to get the visa. Not recommended from me, but good luck to you anyway!