Do I NEED to attend the interview process?

[Tennille 0]

Hello there! My fiance and I were planning on filing for a K1 visa and then decided we might want to get married before hand and then file for a CR-1 visa instead. I am not sure which way is a better route to take. I have seen some posts on here stating that both the USC and the spouse were attending the interview, would that be necessary for me if we do file for the CR-1 visa? I am not sure I will be able to go to London where the interview will be held. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks Again !!

[IndigoSkies 168]

You don't have to be at the interview.

It's totally optional. If you can go to the interview, I would certainly suggest you go.

[Married2009 32]

Some embassies will deny the visa if the petitioner isn't at the interview. I don't think that UK is one of those. Best place to post this question would be in the regional forums that deal with the UK.

[ScottThuy 140]

Going to the interview and being able to attend it are two seperate things... You can go to the consulate,but many times only the beneficiary is allowed in as they dont like to manage two people at the same time....

The bigger question would be if you would be allowed into the specific UK consulate..

[Tennille 0]

Thanks for the input! This isn't the place to ask this question I am sure but does anyone have an opinion on which visa would be better to apply for? K1 vs. CR-1 ??

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Thanks for the input! This isn't the place to ask this question I am sure but does anyone have an opinion on which visa would be better to apply for? K1 vs. CR-1 ??

The spouse (or fiance) definitely doesn't need to attend in the UK. Which visa is better depends on what you want, and where you want to get married. Assuming you have met within the last 2 years in person, you could file for the K1 today, so it can be significantly faster than organising a wedding, waiting for the marriage cert, then apply. But a CR-1 means when the foregin spouse arrives, they get a greencard right away and can work, get a DL etc. Then there are issues around the wedding; does either part of the couple have a large family or older family members that could not travel to the other country to get married? Do you have a specific church you'd like to get married in?

[ScottThuy 140]

better?

They are for specific circumstances..one if you are married, the other if you are planning to marry... if you are married,you cant file K1.. the CR1 is easier after POE than K1...

[Tennille 0]

The spouse (or fiance) definitely doesn't need to attend in the UK. Which visa is better depends on what you want, and where you want to get married. Assuming you have met within the last 2 years in person, you could file for the K1 today, so it can be significantly faster than organising a wedding, waiting for the marriage cert, then apply. But a CR-1 means when the foregin spouse arrives, they get a greencard right away and can work, get a DL etc. Then there are issues around the wedding; does either part of the couple have a large family or older family members that could not travel to the other country to get married? Do you have a specific church you'd like to get married in?

No specifics set yet. We just know that we want to get married and wasn't sure if we should wait due to the visa. I found that the CR-1 is a little more timely but better in the long run like you had mentioned about the green card and such. It seems to be less expensive as well from what I have found. I don't see his family coming here from the UK for the wedding and we didn't plan on anything big. So if I am right he can come here from the UK, we can get married and start filing the CR-1 but we need to make sure he is home for the interview and medical exam ..... correct ???

[*Snowdrop* 604]

No specifics set yet. We just know that we want to get married and wasn't sure if we should wait due to the visa. I found that the CR-1 is a little more timely but better in the long run like you had mentioned about the green card and such. It seems to be less expensive as well from what I have found. I don't see his family coming here from the UK for the wedding and we didn't plan on anything big. So if I am right he can come here from the UK, we can get married and start filing the CR-1 but we need to make sure he is home for the interview and medical exam ..... correct ???

He can some over to the US and get married and you can start the CR1 process - if he travels under the VWP then he will have to go home before the end of the 90 days allowed - so he will probably definitely be home for the interview and medical exam as it's unlikely to happen in under three months.