Deciding between visa options

[Sirupy Tuna 0]

Hi, I am new to this forum and very happy to have come across it! I was not entirely sure where to post this question, but I hope I got it right.

I am wondering whether any of you can help me and my fiancé figure out the best (read: easiest/fastest/cheapest) way for me to immigrate to the US. I am from Denmark and my fiancé is from Wisconsin. We have known each other since 2004, and we have both travelled between our countries several times since then. As I see it, our options are either a K-1 or we can marry in Denmark and then apply for IR1/CR1 (not sure about the difference of the later two). Both directions have several and costly steps, some of which are not all that apparent. Can anyone here advise us in our desicion? We are hoping to be together in the US next summer after I finish my studies, and seeing that I am currently a student and my fiancé is planning to go back to school as soon as possible, money is very much an issue for us!

Thank you in advance,

Annika

[Oksana & Max 94]

Hi, I am new to this forum and very happy to have come across it! I was not entirely sure where to post this question, but I hope I got it right.

I am wondering whether any of you can help me and my fiancé figure out the best (read: easiest/fastest/cheapest) way for me to immigrate to the US. I am from Denmark and my fiancé is from Wisconsin. We have known each other since 2004, and we have both travelled between our countries several times since then. As I see it, our options are either a K-1 or we can marry in Denmark and then apply for IR1/CR1 (not sure about the difference of the later two). Both directions have several and costly steps, some of which are not all that apparent. Can anyone here advise us in our desicion? We are hoping to be together in the US next summer after I finish my studies, and seeing that I am currently a student and my fiancé is planning to go back to school as soon as possible, money is very much an issue for us!

Thank you in advance,

Annika

Annika,

There are differences between K-1 and CR1 visa. CR1 visa is an immigrant Visa and requires additional processing which takes additional time to process. However the overall cost is cheaper and you get green card almost upon arrival. While K-1 is non-immigrant visa that allows fiancee to eneter the country for 90 days and get married here. And then apply for AOS. Usually K-1 process is faster about 7 month, however the overall cost is extra couple thousands. Also you mentioned that you are boths students, both visas requires sponsorship to meet the poverty guidelines. By being a student most likely there is no sufficient income, this way you would also need to think about getting a co-sponsor.

Hope this clears some of your questions.

Good luck in your journey

[kzielu 1,149]

How about taking quick look at the guides ? Everything is in there...

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

[Sirupy Tuna 0]

My fiancée is currently working and will remain so for as long as necessary for sponsorship. I believe that we can meet the poverty guidelines as required, but we are certainly interested in keeping the expenses low, so that he may eventually afford his studies. I have a trip to the US planned come Christmas. Would it be and option to marry in the US then, and apply for CR1 after I return home? How long is the general processing time for such an application?

[Sirupy Tuna 0]

How about taking quick look at the guides ? Everything is in there...

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

Very helpful. Thank you!

[canadian_wife 1,829]

My fiancée is currently working and will remain so for as long as necessary for sponsorship. I believe that we can meet the poverty guidelines as required, but we are certainly interested in keeping the expenses low, so that he may eventually afford his studies. I have a trip to the US planned come Christmas. Would it be and option to marry in the US then, and apply for CR1 after I return home? How long is the general processing time for such an application?

Yes, you can marry in the US and then depart - and petition for the spousal visa can begin after marriage

This process is many things, but fast and cheap it is not. Sorry

Look at 8-12 months from start to finish

Good luck

[Sirupy Tuna 0]

Yes, you can marry in the US and then depart - and petition for the spousal visa can begin after marriage

This process is many things, but fast and cheap it is not. Sorry

8-12 months is acceptable. If there is a faster AND cheaper option out there, let me know :-S

[canadian_wife 1,829]

8-12 months is acceptable. If there is a faster AND cheaper option out there, let me know :-S

If there was, don't you think we'd all do it? Dont' you think we'd already tell you about it?

Good luck

[yash0500 5]

Better to marry in Denmark and apply CR-1. Its the fastest and cheapest as per my personal experience. If every thing goes fine , you may get your Immigrant visa in hand in 3 or 4 months. But again it varies a lot depending upon your personal circumstances and how fast you are while coordinating with the embassy.Have a good weekend

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Better to marry in Denmark and apply CR-1. Its the fastest and cheapest as per my personal experience. If every thing goes fine , you may get your Immigrant visa in hand in 3 or 4 months. But again it varies a lot depending upon your personal circumstances and how fast you are while coordinating with the embassy.Have a good weekend

In your case, a petition was submitted through Direct Consular Filing (DCF). Unless the US citizen petitioner actually lives in the foreign country (Denmark, in this case) then DCF is not possible. Also, as of August 15, 2011, Direct Consulate Filing is no longer available in countries that do not have a USCIS field office. Denmark does not have a USCIS field office, so consular filing is no longer possible there.

The OP's fiance/spouse will have to file with USCIS in the United States, and it will likely take considerably longer than 3 or 4 months total.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The fastest way would be to visit your fiance in the US, get married in the spur of the moment, then file for AoS. It would cut your waiting time in half. But since it would be against the rules to plan something like that beforehand -- traveling to the U.S. on a VWP with the intent to get married and to adjust status afterward -- it's not really something you would want to do as an upstanding and law-abiding person of society, although thousands of people do it every year.

I'm just bringing it up because somebody else would anyway.