Why did you choose K Visa or IR/CR Visa?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

I'll never ask a question that I won't first answer myself so here goes:

My decision had nothing to do with the difference in processing times even though we were aware of it and didn't think 1 month was that big of a difference (especially with the added benefits of not having to AOS and getting SSN immediately with IR/CR).

My decision was entirely about my wife. She had been hurt really bad in a couple of previous relationships. I understood that the gesture of marrying her in the PH under PH laws would give her additional comfort regarding my commitment to being with her. I also knew that being already married as we waited for the slow government gears to turn would reassure her that I really was here to stay.

[RVIANE♛ 5]

in my case my husband didn't think about filling for K1 visa he said since hes an active duty and have orders for deployment we can expedite our papers and we know that we cant do the AOS stuff if we go to K1

some people think that K1 is the most cheaper one but it is more expensive than CR1/IR1

[Scott and Mhay 57]

We went for the CR-1 because it was important to have the wedding for us in the PI. My wife's dream was to have a nice church wedding with family and friends around. I really wanted to have a nice wedding too. I know I couldnt have that in the US. Also, just like you said, it gives her more sense of security and commitment being married already and there not being divorce in the philippines. As far as processing times...that never really meant anything because I had already done the research on the visa process and i could tell the CR-1 would be the better one to go with.

[andrea4prez 1]

agree!

my petition for my hubby's cr-1 visa took 4months and 2 weeks, almost same timeline as the K visa.. the good thing about it is that when he gets here, there's no more need for adjustment of status and waiting for EAD. he can get green card and we just spent: $355 - I130, 70 - affidavit of support, $400 - immigrant visa application/greencard.... compared to K visa where the fees are way more...

just my opinion!

We went for the CR-1 because it was important to have the wedding for us in the PI. My wife's dream was to have a nice church wedding with family and friends around. I really wanted to have a nice wedding too. I know I couldnt have that in the US. Also, just like you said, it gives her more sense of security and commitment being married already and there not being divorce in the philippines. As far as processing times...that never really meant anything because I had already done the research on the visa process and i could tell the CR-1 would be the better one to go with.

[lbounds 16]

I chose K1 because it seemed like K1 processing is faster. I really would like to marry my wife asap but I thought K1 would be the better way to go as far as us being together in the same place sooner.

Cost had nothing at all to do with my decision. I was only concerned about being together asap.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

fill you your timeline. I bet it wont be too much faster for the K-1 vs the CR-1. Shoot if i wouldnt have screwed up and send the wrong copy of my divorce decree my case would have been in the NVC already, but i put the wrong copy in the package...it didnt have the court stamp on the back saying it was filed with the court. I just filed in november. Granted...i was able to expedite the case, but now I have to wait and hope they will accept my divorce decree as it will get there after the deadline most likely. I went the K-1 before with my ex and it took about 8 months.

Anyway, granted mine will actually cost more since I paid for the wedding in the philippines, but it was worth it to be married with Mhay's family and friends there.

Edited December 18, 2009 by Scott and Mhay

[rheanick 42]

I'll never ask a question that I won't first answer myself so here goes:

My decision had nothing to do with the difference in processing times even though we were aware of it and didn't think 1 month was that big of a difference (especially with the added benefits of not having to AOS and getting SSN immediately with IR/CR).

My decision was entirely about my wife. She had been hurt really bad in a couple of previous relationships. I understood that the gesture of marrying her in the PH under PH laws would give her additional comfort regarding my commitment to being with her. I also knew that being already married as we waited for the slow government gears to turn would reassure her that I really was here to stay.

Marrying in the philippines is NOT an option. My husband (then fiance) and I are too busy to deal with the PH government paperworks and waiting time.

Edited December 18, 2009 by rheanick

[sachinky 465]

Because we're gluttons for punishment.

Yes, you read that right. We could have done AOS.

[pasaway na angel 2]

We chose the K-1 route because it will let us be together quicker. And it has nothing to do with the processing time, rather it is due to my mother being in Canada. As she is in a work contract, she couldn't go home to the Philippines until early 2010. And, of course, I want my mother in my wedding.

So my then-fiance talked to my father and mother about it and we all agreed that K-1 would be easier for us. Turned out for the better because my mother's employer nominated her for LPR Status in Canada and she would have to wait the process out before she can go home. And that might take until the end of 2010.

We'll start planning on a Philippine wedding just as soon as my mother's papers in Canada are all done.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'll never ask a question that I won't first answer myself so here goes:

My decision had nothing to do with the difference in processing times even though we were aware of it and didn't think 1 month was that big of a difference (especially with the added benefits of not having to AOS and getting SSN immediately with IR/CR).

My decision was entirely about my wife. She had been hurt really bad in a couple of previous relationships. I understood that the gesture of marrying her in the PH under PH laws would give her additional comfort regarding my commitment to being with her. I also knew that being already married as we waited for the slow government gears to turn would reassure her that I really was here to stay.

That's a noble reason.

We chose the K-1 because I wanted to make sure the adjustment to living in the U.S. would be ok. I'll be perfectly honest - it was a tough adjustment and times where she contemplated going back, but a big part of that is that she left all her friends, family, and career behind. That's not an easy thing to, no matter how romantic it sounds....when reality sets in, it can really shake a person's faith. We got married about a month from her POE and I'm glad that we went the K-1 route.

[chinese_mutt 11]

CR1: coz my parents would never have agreed to ship me out to US without the benefit of marriage! hehe. Benefits are much more, less cost too.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I'll never ask a question that I won't first answer myself so here goes:

My decision had nothing to do with the difference in processing times even though we were aware of it and didn't think 1 month was that big of a difference (especially with the added benefits of not having to AOS and getting SSN immediately with IR/CR).

My decision was entirely about my wife. She had been hurt really bad in a couple of previous relationships. I understood that the gesture of marrying her in the PH under PH laws would give her additional comfort regarding my commitment to being with her. I also knew that being already married as we waited for the slow government gears to turn would reassure her that I really was here to stay.

Marrying in the philippines is NOT an option. My husband (then fiance) and I are too busy to deal with the PH government paperworks and waiting time.

This really resonates with me. Not only did I NOT want to deal with Phil Gov't, but also K1 gives you 90 days to decide if you really want to get married.

[sachinky 465]

Hopp--I have a question and I'm not trying to be flippant here. Isn't getting engaged supposed to mean that you have already come to the decision that you really do want to get married?

Or do you mean that you've not known your fiancee for too long or it's been mostly an online/LDR and you would like to spend some time living together before marriage to iron out any possible wrinkles and then decide if marriage is, in fact, the right choice for the both of you. In that case, I'd like to applaud your decision to be smart.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Hopp--I have a question and I'm not trying to be flippant here. Isn't getting engaged supposed to mean that you have already come to the decision that you really do want to get married?

Or do you mean that you've not known your fiancee for too long or it's been mostly an online/LDR and you would like to spend some time living together before marriage to iron out any possible wrinkles and then decide if marriage is, in fact, the right choice for the both of you. In that case, I'd like to applaud your decision to be smart.

Great question, and not flippant at all. It's just that going K1 gives you one more 90 day adjustment period to confirm what you feel in your heart--that she is truly the one for you. Having 2 or 3 visits with her is just not enough to see true colors. Plus, you get married under American laws with the K1, and not foreign bureaucracies. Best wishes to you.

[adiiann 163]

I'll never ask a question that I won't first answer myself so here goes:

My decision had nothing to do with the difference in processing times even though we were aware of it and didn't think 1 month was that big of a difference (especially with the added benefits of not having to AOS and getting SSN immediately with IR/CR).

My decision was entirely about my wife. She had been hurt really bad in a couple of previous relationships. I understood that the gesture of marrying her in the PH under PH laws would give her additional comfort regarding my commitment to being with her. I also knew that being already married as we waited for the slow government gears to turn would reassure her that I really was here to stay.

My husband's reason for having K1-visa instead.... he doesn't want to get married, then need to be far away from me even temporary. It's our both first marriage (hopefully our last too). He wanted to be with me from the moment we become husband and wife, and never be away from each other for such a very long time.