K1 vs CR-1

[MrsLopez 6]

Hi VJ Family!

My fiance and I are madly in love and we are ready to be married now! Before I ship our paperwork off, I was wondering if one process is shorter or easier than another, K1 vs. CR-1. Either way it goes we are planning 2 weddings one in Dominican Republic and one in Florida for our family and friends that are not able to travel abroad. We are ready to be married now but we wanted to get the opinion of our VJ Family if it would matter if we were married first in Dominican Republic or here in Florida. We don't want to delay the process of being together later simply because we are so anxious now. What was the average length of time for your process K1 or CR-1?

Thanks for your input. Our days are getting longer and longer without each other.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

By asking this question I assume you haven't read the guides

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

The guide compares each of the visas. Since you could technically file the K-1 today (vs. the Cr1 would would require you to wait, get married and then file) the K-1 is clearly faster.

Good luck

[GodsGift225 54]

Hey FutureMrsLopez,

How are you? Hope all it's well...

Well in MY opinion, and after researching on K-1 V CR-1/IR-1 we are really looking at the same processing time, Which is the 5-6 month, But as seen lately most of the service center seem to be backed up, on processing this petition, and from my knowledge before a marriage petition use to take years before getting an approval notice, and not it take several months. So comparing the processing time on both you are looking at about the same time (5-6 months) depending on the service center they send it to. Now if you're looking at coast, K-1 will be a little be more costly because the step are fairly different then the CR-1/IR-1 will there isn't so much filing because everything is all together filing wise that is. As suppose to k-1 you filing document after you guys have married within the 90 days. as for CR-1/IR-1 all you will have to do is wait on the GC and SSN and your spouse will enter the USA as a Legal Residence as suppose to K-1.

Really is all up to you on how you want to go about it, I personally chose the marriage way because it was less filing and it was just "easier". And mostly b/c that what we (my husband and I) decide to do because we both wanted our family to attend the wedding. being that is process you do spend a lots of money so we choice what was best for us.

Hope this help on your decision and good luck with which every choice you pick!!! the faster you think the quicker you will have your husband/fiance waiting in line with the rest of us in getting his petition approve!!!!!

[StephanieM 60]

Processing times are about the same. The BIG difference is, if you marry in DR and file CR-1 you WILL SAVE MONEY during the process!!

This and the fact that your husband will be able to work LEGALLY within weeks of arriving in USA. I think this is especially important to you because I know you plan on bringing his other children from USA, which is going to be very expensive. Additionally, I think this is great because he will not have to sit at home bored to death while you work. The adjustement to a new country is hard, but imagine how much harder it is if the only thing you can do is sit and home and not work. With CR-1 after he arrives in USA you will not have to go through AOS (which I heard is a pain) and won't have to worry about immigration for 2 years when you will lift conditions.

I personally think CR-1 is the better choice by far, but everyone has different circumstances so you know what is best for you. If you plan on doing two weddings regardless of visa choice, then I would do CR-1. I may be being a bit biased but I am all for CR-1. LOL.

[V & A 0]

Processing times are about the same. The BIG difference is, if you marry in DR and file CR-1 you WILL SAVE MONEY during the process!!

This and the fact that your husband will be able to work LEGALLY within weeks of arriving in USA. I think this is especially important to you because I know you plan on bringing his other children from USA, which is going to be very expensive. Additionally, I think this is great because he will not have to sit at home bored to death while you work. The adjustement to a new country is hard, but imagine how much harder it is if the only thing you can do is sit and home and not work. With CR-1 after he arrives in USA you will not have to go through AOS (which I heard is a pain) and won't have to worry about immigration for 2 years when you will lift conditions.

I personally think CR-1 is the better choice by far, but everyone has different circumstances so you know what is best for you. If you plan on doing two weddings regardless of visa choice, then I would do CR-1. I may be being a bit biased but I am all for CR-1. LOL.

I agree with Steph! TEAM CR-1 all the way LOL...

Edited June 26, 2012 by V & A

[MarielManuel 0]

Processing times are about the same. The BIG difference is, if you marry in DR and file CR-1 you WILL SAVE MONEY during the process!!

This and the fact that your husband will be able to work LEGALLY within weeks of arriving in USA. I think this is especially important to you because I know you plan on bringing his other children from USA, which is going to be very expensive. Additionally, I think this is great because he will not have to sit at home bored to death while you work. The adjustement to a new country is hard, but imagine how much harder it is if the only thing you can do is sit and home and not work. With CR-1 after he arrives in USA you will not have to go through AOS (which I heard is a pain) and won't have to worry about immigration for 2 years when you will lift conditions.

I personally think CR-1 is the better choice by far, but everyone has different circumstances so you know what is best for you. If you plan on doing two weddings regardless of visa choice, then I would do CR-1. I may be being a bit biased but I am all for CR-1. LOL.

yup yup long run CR1 is a better option and cheaper

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

**** Moving from AOS to General Immigration forum ***

[MrTee12 64]

If you are ready to get married DO IT. CR1 is best option if you want to get married right away. I went through the K1 and its a longer process and more costly. It really depends on your situation.

[Xanax 349]

Processing times are about the same. The BIG difference is, if you marry in DR and file CR-1 you WILL SAVE MONEY during the process!!

This and the fact that your husband will be able to work LEGALLY within weeks of arriving in USA. I think this is especially important to you because I know you plan on bringing his other children from USA, which is going to be very expensive. Additionally, I think this is great because he will not have to sit at home bored to death while you work. The adjustement to a new country is hard, but imagine how much harder it is if the only thing you can do is sit and home and not work. With CR-1 after he arrives in USA you will not have to go through AOS (which I heard is a pain) and won't have to worry about immigration for 2 years when you will lift conditions.

I personally think CR-1 is the better choice by far, but everyone has different circumstances so you know what is best for you. If you plan on doing two weddings regardless of visa choice, then I would do CR-1. I may be being a bit biased but I am all for CR-1. LOL.

Don't forget with CR-1 you will be APART after marriage K-1 you won't!!

That was the most important thing to my fiance and I.

[MrsLopez 6]

Hi Beautiful!

Thanks for the input. You are the best. All the info you shared was extremely helpful and yes, we are so ready to be in line with the rest of you and together here in Florida!

Im so excited about your jOURney and I can't wait until you have your interview.

Love and Blessings,

Keisha

Hey FutureMrsLopez,

How are you? Hope all it's well...

Well in MY opinion, and after researching on K-1 V CR-1/IR-1 we are really looking at the same processing time, Which is the 5-6 month, But as seen lately most of the service center seem to be backed up, on processing this petition, and from my knowledge before a marriage petition use to take years before getting an approval notice, and not it take several months. So comparing the processing time on both you are looking at about the same time (5-6 months) depending on the service center they send it to. Now if you're looking at coast, K-1 will be a little be more costly because the step are fairly different then the CR-1/IR-1 will there isn't so much filing because everything is all together filing wise that is. As suppose to k-1 you filing document after you guys have married within the 90 days. as for CR-1/IR-1 all you will have to do is wait on the GC and SSN and your spouse will enter the USA as a Legal Residence as suppose to K-1.

Really is all up to you on how you want to go about it, I personally chose the marriage way because it was less filing and it was just "easier". And mostly b/c that what we (my husband and I) decide to do because we both wanted our family to attend the wedding. being that is process you do spend a lots of money so we choice what was best for us.

Hope this help on your decision and good luck with which every choice you pick!!! the faster you think the quicker you will have your husband/fiance waiting in line with the rest of us in getting his petition approve!!!!!

[MrsLopez 6]

Hi Mami

You speak my language when you talk about saving money Thanks for the input, I am so excited. We will be just like you and your hubby very soon. I get butterflies just thinking about it.

Love and Blessings,

Keisha

Processing times are about the same. The BIG difference is, if you marry in DR and file CR-1 you WILL SAVE MONEY during the process!!

This and the fact that your husband will be able to work LEGALLY within weeks of arriving in USA. I think this is especially important to you because I know you plan on bringing his other children from USA, which is going to be very expensive. Additionally, I think this is great because he will not have to sit at home bored to death while you work. The adjustement to a new country is hard, but imagine how much harder it is if the only thing you can do is sit and home and not work. With CR-1 after he arrives in USA you will not have to go through AOS (which I heard is a pain) and won't have to worry about immigration for 2 years when you will lift conditions.

I personally think CR-1 is the better choice by far, but everyone has different circumstances so you know what is best for you. If you plan on doing two weddings regardless of visa choice, then I would do CR-1. I may be being a bit biased but I am all for CR-1. LOL.

[BocaChicaBabe 6]

Don't forget with CR-1 you will be APART after marriage K-1 you won't!!

That was the most important thing to my fiance and I.

I never understood why so many people use this as an argument against getting married prior to petitioning, because I don't see much of a difference between either situation. Whether the couple is engaged or married, they're still in a long distance relationship and living separately until they've made it successfully through the visa process. There is a much more noticeable difference, however, between the benefits that come with each visa option. I completely agree with everyone who already mentioned the CR1 is the better choice. If you're POSITIVE you're ready to get married, then do it. The average processing time for a CR1 is not that much longer than the K1. It took us 7 months to get through the process. And we actually got through it before some K1s got through theirs, so it all depends on the case. In my opinion, it's better to place yourself in a position where in the end things will be much easier/better for both you and your husband.

CR1 means you may wait a month or so longer during the process, but he can work, drive, and travel after entering the US with no other forms to file and no additional money to pay. He will want to work and you will want him to work. I'm not hurting for money, but trust me when I tell you that I was happy to see my husband getting paid because he felt better about himself. He was happy to have a job to help pay bills and he was tired of sitting at home bored. You will also want him to have a license. I can't wait until we knock that one out because I've had enough of driving him to work and English class on my days off when I just want to relax and be lazy. You will both want him to be independent and doing his own thing sooner rather than later, and with the CR1 that's possible.

K1 means he can sit around and be very dependent on you until his green card arrives, which doesn't look like it's happening in a very timely manner according to people's status updates. From what I noticed, it seemed a lot of people opted for the K1 mainly because it was supposed to be faster and/or they didn't want to be married and living separately. Since it's no longer faster and either way you're going to be living apart, I can't see how it's an advantageous choice.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Don't forget with CR-1 you will be APART after marriage K-1 you won't!!

That was the most important thing to my fiance and I.

My husband and I were more practical, it was important for us that I be able to work (I would have seriously lost my mind if I came here unable to work for 90 days), travel (what if there was an emergency?), get a driver's licence, upon entry to the US.

People have different "most importants". I think the OP needs to find theirs and go with the visa that best suits them.

Good luck

[StephanieM 60]

I never understood why so many people use this as an argument against getting married prior to petitioning, because I don't see much of a difference between either situation. Whether the couple is engaged or married, they're still in a long distance relationship and living separately until they've made it successfully through the visa process. There is a much more noticeable difference, however, between the benefits that come with each visa option. I completely agree with everyone who already mentioned the CR1 is the better choice. If you're POSITIVE you're ready to get married, then do it. The average processing time for a CR1 is not that much longer than the K1. It took us 7 months to get through the process. And we actually got through it before some K1s got through theirs, so it all depends on the case. In my opinion, it's better to place yourself in a position where in the end things will be much easier/better for both you and your husband.

CR1 means you may wait a month or so longer during the process, but he can work, drive, and travel after entering the US with no other forms to file and no additional money to pay. He will want to work and you will want him to work. I'm not hurting for money, but trust me when I tell you that I was happy to see my husband getting paid because he felt better about himself. He was happy to have a job to help pay bills and he was tired of sitting at home bored. You will also want him to have a license. I can't wait until we knock that one out because I've had enough of driving him to work and English class on my days off when I just want to relax and be lazy. You will both want him to be independent and doing his own thing sooner rather than later, and with the CR1 that's possible.

K1 means he can sit around and be very dependent on you until his green card arrives, which doesn't look like it's happening in a very timely manner according to people's status updates. From what I noticed, it seemed a lot of people opted for the K1 mainly because it was supposed to be faster and/or they didn't want to be married and living separately. Since it's no longer faster and either way you're going to be living apart, I can't see how it's an advantageous choice.

:thumbs: 100% in agreement with EVERYTHING you said!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The processing times are roughly the same.

The ability to file the K1 now means the waiting time to get together again is shorter - and depending on how long it takes you to be together to get married, it could be a significant time difference.

CR-1 from start to finish is more expensive if you are not currently together because you have to pay for an extra flight to be together to get married. Flights for me cost at LEAST $1500. That is more than AOS cost me. So bear that in mind when considering costs.

The K1 means not being able to work, or leave the US until after you have filed AOS (which means MORE paperwork after you arrive) and received the work and travel permit, or GC. This takes 60-90 days from filing.

The CR-1 means being able to work/travel immediately (and get a drivers licence) BUT it is not a promise to get a job. I know people that have had some really serious problems finding work, one who has been unemployed for almost his entire 2 years here. So this is good for some, useless for others.

K1 means being apart as fiance/fiancee. CR-1 means being apart as spouse. Marriage is important enough to me to I didn't want to have to leave my new husband and live apart for a lengthy period of time waiting for the processing.

As Tony was able to financially support us without me working, as I am able to entertain myself (I'm not a child, I can find stuff to keep me busy most of the time), as i didn't want to be apart from my husband almost immediately after marriage for the better part of the first year of marriage, K1 was the route for us.

The CR-1 however is not without it's advantages. Being able to have a GC quicker means you're able to feel more normal quicker - and that's not a bad thing.

You just need to decide what is important to you. It's basically:

K1: File now, be together sooner, more steps to the process, higher processing fees, unable to work/travel for 60-90 days from filing.

CR1: Get married when you can, be apart from your spouse while processing the visa, file later, be together later, less steps to the process, higher overall fees due to extra flight if not together, able to work travel/immediately

Edited July 2, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony