There should be a VIP line for K1 processing

[Krikit 1,164]

Illegal Immigrants, or a citizen of a country that is participating in the Visa Waiver Program (currently 37 countries + Canada).

Canada is not a part of the VWP.

I suspect this thread is a troll, but:

There is already a fast track system for people who pay more. Its called "getting a good attorney".

I think it is a matter of opinion if it really helps. Of course the lawyers think so :-)

Scott

That would be the slow track.

Of course celebrities and politicians get special treatment. I mean, I doubt John Lennon and Yoko Ono went to a marriage interview.

High Ranking Elected Government people get Pasports titled "Special Passports". You think that's just for fun? No, it's for special treatment.

Also, think of all the Canadian Musicians and Celebrities that become popular and just magically end up in the USA for the rest of their lives. They don't even marry Americans. Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morrissette, (okay, I know this list of Canadian Celebs is embarrassing) Bryan Adams, Wayne Gretsky,Tom Green. None of them even live in Canada anymore.

It's not a conspiracy theory, it's just the way things work. I doubt Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie did much "Visa Journeying" to adopt their 1,369 children from every area of earth as we know it.

Completely different visas and processes (not to mention countries) for your last two paragraphs. As for John and Yoko.... COMPLETELY different era.

[Bayareaguy 156]

If people could pay for"priority" processing, then a great majority of people would jump on that, therefore still creating a lineup. But then what about those who can't pay? The process would suddenly become even longer as everyone would be jumping ahead in front of them

Again, the idea is the money used would be used for extra funding to accomplish the expedited handling. The normal processing is unchanged. However as I mentioned before, this would likely not work in practice as they would just appropriate the money for other purposes than filing, like what is happening to the current "normal" process K1s at CSC.

[GandD 5,966]

This line is really funny

And in 5-8 months, they'll be the same people posting "Just got married, WHAT NOW?!" threads. Guaranteed.

I also like the questions about whether "mental stress" or "financial hardship" are grounds for an expedite when beneficiary is not in a war torn country.

[madtownguy 164]

I agree VIP! But it is also who you know... so I'm sure there's people who get rushed through. What really needs to happen is stop this dream act stupidness, it only affects all the people who are doing things legally. They should charge them a ton to afford a whole new division. Obama prefers foreigners to citizens.

[Mrs. Childs 11]

Not only I do not agree with you on this one, as I believe the K-1 process should be longer, more demanding and require far more scrutiny. You need not look much farther than this forum to find out countless reports of those who were scammed by foreign fiances/fiancees.

The question I ask you in return is, how can you not envisage spending a few months away from the very person with whom you will swear to spend the rest of your life?

Totally right in this one... the time apart, on a k1 or a cr1 visa will make a couple stronger... or fall apart. That is the whole point of this long process if you ask me. I believe they could have made this process shorter but they want to see which couples are truthful and which ones are not!

[GandD 5,966]

Illegal Immigrants, or a citizen of a country that is participating in the Visa Waiver Program (currently 37 countries + Canada).

My understanding is a national of any of these countries will enter the USA without a visa, and if gets married to a USC, will apply for adjustment of status. He/she will need to leave the country to receive the actual immigrant visa from outside the US, but he/she is living with his USC husband/wife while waiting.

So? if you want to avoid the long processing time of K-1, fall in love with someone from one of these 38 countries.

From http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

"Nationals of VWP countries* must meet the guidelines listed in the section above in order to seek admission to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Travelers who do not meet these guidelines must apply for a visa.

A visa must be requested if the traveler:

Wants to remain in the United States for longer than 90 days, or envisions that they may wish to change their status (from tourism to student, etc.) once in the United States;"

So, VWP, in my understanding, wouldn't apply to people wanting to remain with their loved one through their K-1 or IR/CR process. Realistically, you would have to not "envision" coming to the states with the intention of being married and immigrating. There's a lot more reasons why VWP would not be applicable but this seemed the most relevant to what you mentioned.

Canada is not a part of the VWP.

Correct and thanks

[EmberEmpress 8]

My fiance' and I are in the process of the K1 visa now. The only thing that has made me a bit irked is that I have a dear friend that had her boyfriend visiting from the UK last fall. They contacted an immigration lawyer to ask questions about the Fiance' Visa process and the lawyer asked "How long has your boyfriend been visiting?" It happened to be 63 days and at the end of his 90 day visa he'd return. She told them to just go get married. They got to SKIP this whole process! He had no reason to return to his country and they got to save over $1000 by skipping the K1 visa. I'm very happy for them but if if anyone got a VIP treatment - it was them.

[JohnR! 5,495]

If you and your fiancee enjoy the separation as way to confirm the strength of the relationship then maybe it works for you.

However I would never ever leave my fiancee alone. Which means I have to spend time abroad costing me tens of thousands in expenses in a foreign country and business loss at home. An expedite fee of any order pales against that. Additionally the money would be kept in US.

I believe I may have expressed myself incorrectly.

Neither one of us enjoyed the separation but both understood it was part of a process and a journey we both decided to undertake, with the knowledge that it would involve a waiting period, during which we had to exercise patience. My point remains that if your relationship is such that is cannot survive this initial separation you should question the very nature and strength of your commitment to each other. Married life will surely bring on far more taxing challenges.

I can see how in some cultures leaving a fiancee alone might not be desirable but for the very same reasons there should be no VIP line which would surely create an impact on all other couples who can't afford for the privilege.

[Andie 147]

Seriously, can we please stop judging whether someone's opinion is valuable based on how long they ended up waiting? It's ridiculous. Everyone here has the right to feel however they feel whether they waited 3 months or 8.

... it is not a personal attack .. the point is each person's own wait time is obviously going to alter their own perspective....

seeya

[Allanah and Chris 8]

Not only I do not agree with you on this one, as I believe the K-1 process should be longer, more demanding and require far more scrutiny. You need not look much farther than this forum to find out countless reports of those who were scammed by foreign fiances/fiancees.

I want to agree...except when your fiance/fiancee is Canadian, which you can hardly call Foreign. Pretty ridiculous that you even have to show a passport at the US/Canadian border, let alone petition the government for the opportunity to bring a spouse/Fiance/Fiancee US. Waiting 6-9 months merely because someone was born in the 51st State is bizarre (apologies, 11th Province? 4th Territory?), which I still struggle to figure out exactly how it is different after visiting all 50 States and 8 of the 13 Provinces/Territories (we'll ignore the Quebecois).

Unfortunately, as you note, the one-size-fits-all approach probably has to be taken because of citizens (of many countries) who seek to abuse the system. Therefore an expedite fee would not be a reasonable addition.

[Bayareaguy 156]

I want to agree...except when your fiance/fiancee is Canadian, which you can hardly call Foreign. Pretty ridiculous that you even have to show a passport at the US/Canadian border, let alone petition the government for the opportunity to bring a spouse/Fiance/Fiancee US. Waiting 6-9 months merely because someone was born in the 51st State is bizarre (apologies, 11th Province? 4th Territory?), which I still struggle to figure out exactly how it is different after visiting all 50 States and 8 of the 13 Provinces/Territories (we'll ignore the .....

Do you also think the "52nd state" to the south should be as easy?

Edited February 27, 2013 by Bayareaguy

[Allanah and Chris 8]

Do you also think the "52nd state" to the south should be as easy?

We can waste money fighting reality or realize that we're pretty connected. At some point the US has to grow up.

[moemac59 192]

My fiance' and I are in the process of the K1 visa now. The only thing that has made me a bit irked is that I have a dear friend that had her boyfriend visiting from the UK last fall. They contacted an immigration lawyer to ask questions about the Fiance' Visa process and the lawyer asked "How long has your boyfriend been visiting?" It happened to be 63 days and at the end of his 90 day visa he'd return. She told them to just go get married. They got to SKIP this whole process! He had no reason to return to his country and they got to save over $1000 by skipping the K1 visa. I'm very happy for them but if if anyone got a VIP treatment - it was them.

I had a girlfriend in Arizona who did the exact same thing. She didn't want to wait it out for the K1 Visa. She went to AZ on the pretext of "visiting family". Her lawyer advised her to do this and then get married. She did that and got her conditional GC 6 months after the lawyer filed. By the way, the lawyer that she had was used to teach immigration law in Phoenix.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I want to agree...except when your fiance/fiancee is Canadian, which you can hardly call Foreign. Pretty ridiculous that you even have to show a passport at the US/Canadian border, let alone petition the government for the opportunity to bring a spouse/Fiance/Fiancee US. Waiting 6-9 months merely because someone was born in the 51st State is bizarre (apologies, 11th Province? 4th Territory?), which I still struggle to figure out exactly how it is different after visiting all 50 States and 8 of the 13 Provinces/Territories (we'll ignore the Quebecois).

Unfortunately, as you note, the one-size-fits-all approach probably has to be taken because of citizens (of many countries) who seek to abuse the system. Therefore an expedite fee would not be a reasonable addition.

LOL. I remember a time when the CBP officers would wave you thorough the Canadian border without checking any documents but unfortunately for all of us, that is a world which no longer exists.

I don't want to turn this into a referendum, but I have always looked at Canada as a foreign country, as a sign of respect for their identity and national sovereignty. We may share the same language, geography and cultural traits, amongst other things, but I never wanted this familiarity to translate into a misconstrued and unwarranted notion for which we Americans are infamous. So, I have always deferred that opinion to Canadians, rather than making it mine.

Having said that, I do understand how you feel and I can see your POV.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Gegel

[akihon 129]

"get everything right the first time"? What are you talking about? We are waiting for someone to even look at our cases. That someone should have to wait 8 or 9 months to be told something is wrong with the application is completely wrong. Period. They should be told as soon as is humanly possible so that it can be rectified. Other government agencies have mandated timelines they MUST achieve. Why does USCIS not have the same requirement? We are talking about families here.

Well that's presumptuous... are you saying that anyone with a long wait is responsible for the timeframe because of their own errors - sometimes, not always - I don't know how long you waited but every story is different. I have respect for other peoples circumstances and expect that people are going to be frustrated at long delays when there is no apparent reason. No one wants to spend their life complaining - I think they just want to get on with their lives.

I didn't go through K-1 nor CR-1.

I didn't presume that everybody makes errors. I said that to mean that there are a lot of people who complain about how long it takes even after getting an RFE. Well, if you didn't get the RFE, your processing time would have been shorter!

Otherwise, it really is just bad luck (like I said in the parentheses). I don't know why everybody gets all up in arms about government agencies being so slow. WELCOME TO LIFE PEOPLE, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE ALWAYS SLOW.

Your family isn't more important than other people's families. You're all in the same boat. Quit the complaining, honestly. EVERYBODY goes through it.

On one hand, people want things to go faster through USCIS. On the other hand, nobody wants to pay more taxes. Decide.

Edited February 27, 2013 by akihon