General Questions - K1 vs CR1

[love_knot 0]

Hello to Everyone,

I've just joined the forum and it may well be that my questions have been asked so many times, there's a sticky out there that I've just overlooked. If that's the case, I'm going to beg your indulgence and forgiveness right from the start.

Just a little bit about me, I'm a 49 yr old US citizen and blushing (in dumbfounded awe) bride-to-be. I live in Virginia and will be sponsoring my British fiance's immigration to the US, just as soon as we can get our arms around the best way to do this.

We haven't decided yet if it's best to apply for the K1 visa or whether we should go ahead and get married and apply for the IR (or is it CR)1 visa. The following are the questions we're hung up on and any knowledgeable answers, or even really good guesses will be greatly appreciated. I'm just going to go ahead and list out the questions:

• If we decide to go for the I/CR-1 by getting married first, must we marry in a foreign country? (He will stay in the UK until the visa is approved, so if we do it in the US, he'll go back to the UK to wait within a week or so of the wedding.)
  
• If we are granted the I/CR-1 visa, how long after his arrival will he realistically be able to seek employment?
  
• If we instead go for the K-1 visa, will he have to wait until after we are married and a status change is approved before he can seek/accept employment in the US?
  
• We know about the filing fees and they seem fairly nominal. Will there be additional fees? If yes, is there an overall, ballpark figure for the total?
  
• If we are granted the I/CR-1 visa, once he arrives in the US, will he be allowed to travel right away, if necessary? (I'm thinking for work, family needs, and the like.)
  
• How many days will he have, once a visa is granted, to leave the UK before it expires?
  

Okay, that's my list for now, but I'd also like to add that I'm delighted by - and grateful to the creator of - this forum. It's not only a wonderful way to get some basic information, but it's a terrific opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges. Long distance relationships sure aren't for the weak-hearted, are they?

[love_knot 0]

Updating my post above - I've found the guides. They've answered a lot of my questions.

I think the biggest question still remaining then is - can he come to the US on a travel visa, get married here in the states, go on back to the UK and then we'll file for an immigrant visa for him? Or is it best for us to get married in any country but the US?

Thanks!

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Yes he can come and get married here- lots of people do, think Las Vegas! As long as he doesn;t intent to stay here after marriage, there is no problem.

[elkhris 7]

Updating my post above - I've found the guides. They've answered a lot of my questions.

I think the biggest question still remaining then is - can he come to the US on a travel visa, get married here in the states, go on back to the UK and then we'll file for an immigrant visa for him? Or is it best for us to get married in any country but the US?

Thanks!

He can definitely do that, It doesn't really matters where you get married as long as you ARE married.

[bigdog 376]

Married is the key, we chose K1, according to Congressman representative it is about the same time, you will have to leave any way. Best of Luck, personally rather be engaged than married, this is stressful enough without the marriage and apart stuff.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

He can also fly over and visit for the holidays, or birthdays, or whenever. He isn't forced to remain in the UK the whole wait just because you filed a petition.