There should be a VIP line for K1 processing

[pachacuti 154]

So over 75% of family based immigration occurs via VWP (or other entries) followed by marriage and AOS (suggesting K visas are not the most common route to AOS).

So, we get screwed for following the rules. Wonderful.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

In 2007, 274,000 spouses of USC received greencards (Table 2). An additional 103,000 children of USC (must be stepchildren to have filed AOS) also received greencards.

In 2007, 38,500 fiance(e)s and children entered the USA on K-1/K-2 visas. Another 18,500 entered on K-3/K-4 visas. (Table 1).

So 57,000 entered as K-1 to K-4 and 377,000 adjusted status as a spouse or child of a USC. That's only 15% of all spouses/children entering on a K-1 to K-4 visa. Certainly there are a number of individuals that are CR-1/IR-1 and DCF, but if VJ is any indication, that number is fairly low.

So over 75% of family based immigration occurs via VWP (or other entries) followed by marriage and AOS (suggesting K visas are not the most common route to AOS).

Your math is flawed. It completely discounts spousal visas, which is a LOT of people. (you say it's hardly anyone... ha!) Your links are dead, too.

And to whoever else, John and Yoko had to go to immigration court, a bit worse than a "marriage" interview. The rules were totally different then, but they did fight deportation for years.

[moemac59 192]

So many people focus on the damn wait and do nothing else. Look how many people post "k1 approved, got married, what now??!"

Do your research. Prepare for the next steps.

Evylin, I have to agree with you on this. After I did my research and filed all of the K1 paperwork, I then proceeded to move on and started researching what was required for AOS/EAD/AP (cost of this application, paperwork required, etc)cost of moving all of my belongings from Canada and the paperwork for that, POE, SSN, Driver's License, banking and taxes . The AOS process is far more difficult then the K1 process and you are right about the whole K1 approved, got married what now??. Doing all of this research while waiting for K1 approval really helped prepare me to file the AOS. While waiting for my AOS to be approved, I then started researching the next step of ROC and what the cost would be for that as well as naturalization.

Doing this stopped me from being impatient with the wait.

Edited February 27, 2013 by moemac59

[pachacuti 154]

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!

Under this logic, only real couples would crack. All the fake couples would sail right on through. Only couples get stronger or fall apart. For fake couples this is just part of the process.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Under this logic, only real couples would crack. All the fake couples would sail right on through. Only couples get stronger or fall apart. For fake couples this is just part of the process.

I would disagree. I don't see why anyone would want to rush into a lifetime commitment with someone who is unable to withstand the slightest shake in the ground.

[pachacuti 154]

Evylin, I have to agree with you on this. After I did my research and filed all of the K1 paperwork, I then proceeded to move on and started researching what was required for AOS/EAD/AP (cost of this application, paperwork required, etc)cost of moving all of my belongings from Canada and the paperwork for that, POE, SSN, Driver's License, banking and taxes . The AOS process is far more difficult then the K1 process and you are right about the whole K1 approved, got married what now??. Doing all of this research while waiting for K1 approval really helped prepare me to file the AOS. While waiting for my AOS to be approved, I then started researching the next step of ROC and what the cost would be for that as well as naturalization.

Doing this stopped me from being impatient with the wait.

But it does NOT require 8, 9, 10 months to prepare. This argument is flawed.

And as difficult as AOS might be, who cares??? You are together at that point. You are doing it together. Apples and oranges.

[Krikit 1,164]

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).

Canadians are not American. Are you for real?

[pachacuti 154]

I would disagree. I don't see why anyone would want to rush into a lifetime commitment with someone who is unable to withstand the slightest shake in the ground.

You are missing my point. The stress of the wait only affects people who want to make it work (whether they are lovestruck dreamers or committed life partners). For those people who are just doing K1 or CR1 or whatever to get into the country, the wait is just part of the process. There is no relationship stress whatsoever.

Look, my partner and I feel a lot of stress due to this process. Are we going to break over it? I doubt it very seriously. But the stress is there, and it is unnecessary in my opinion. This stress is being applied on my relationship arbitrarily because I chose to fall in love with someone who did not meet the geographic requirements of an easy relationship.

My issue is that USCIS should NOT be imposing this wait on anyone. So, if I had the opportunity to forgo the wait, I would. There is a lot of precedent for providing expedited services for additional fees (see my previous passport example). Just because some on this forum feel that it would be unfair to those who cannot pay, that is not how things work. Are you also going to say it is unfair because some of us have enough money to visit more often than others? And I want to reiterate that I feel the expedite fees would (could) benefit everyone, even those who don't pay. But I am probably just flogging a dead horse now.

Canadians are not American. Are you for real?

I also agree with the sentiment, however, that there should be free movement between Canada and the US. I think our two countries missed the boat when we didn't make that happen.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

You are missing my point. The stress of the wait only affects people who want to make it work (whether they are lovestruck dreamers or committed life partners). For those people who are just doing K1 or CR1 or whatever to get into the country, the wait is just part of the process. There is no relationship stress whatsoever.

Look, my partner and I feel a lot of stress due to this process. Are we going to break over it? I doubt it very seriously. But the stress is there, and it is unnecessary in my opinion. This stress is being applied on my relationship arbitrarily because I chose to fall in love with someone who did not meet the geographic requirements of an easy relationship.

My issue is that USCIS should NOT be imposing this wait on anyone. So, if I had the opportunity to forgo the wait, I would. There is a lot of precedent for providing expedited services for additional fees (see my previous passport example). Just because some on this forum feel that it would be unfair to those who cannot pay, that is not how things work. Are you also going to say it is unfair because some of us have enough money to visit more often than others? And I want to reiterate that I feel the expedite fees would (could) benefit everyone, even those who don't pay. But I am probably just flogging a dead horse now.

Heck, we have a lot of stress about the whole process and we are living together. The not knowing when we'll be moving and trying to coordinate everything is stressful. An expedite fee is probably not the answer, though. Allowing everyone to AOS would make a million times more sense, no? Then there will be a lot less stress for everyone.

[JohnR! 5,495]

The stress of the wait only affects people who want to make it work (whether they are lovestruck dreamers or committed life partners). For those people who are just doing K1 or CR1 or whatever to get into the country, the wait is just part of the process. There is no relationship stress whatsoever.

Look, my partner and I feel a lot of stress due to this process. Are we going to break over it? I doubt it very seriously. But the stress is there, and it is unnecessary in my opinion. This stress is being applied on my relationship arbitrarily because I chose to fall in love with someone who did not meet the geographic requirements of an easy relationship.

The stress is part of the process. Those who can't handle it should never consider marrying a foreigner or should instead move to the country of residence of their loved ones. I don't mean it callously. IMHO people need to understand, evaluate and ponder the consequences of their decisions before they make them. Those whom the stress of the wait is enough to break up a relationship should never consider marrying a foreigner.

[Krikit 1,164]

I also agree with the sentiment, however, that there should be free movement between Canada and the US. I think our two countries missed the boat when we didn't make that happen.

How would you differentiate between people who are not from Canada and the US, then? Or is it okay if people from other countries also have free movement?

[Bayareaguy 156]

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

Many people's beef currently is that the times are becoming longer because they are not processing the applications at the rate at which they are receiving them (CSC K1s in particular) .

And we have payed for the processing with the application fees, not taxes. Get it? Payed fees to cover processing. CSC sitting on applications, only processing a portion of them (and a lot of those are faster than the many still waiting). Not getting what we payed for.

[moemac59 192]

But it does NOT require 8, 9, 10 months to prepare. This argument is flawed.

And as difficult as AOS might be, who cares??? You are together at that point. You are doing it together. Apples and oranges.

I only stated that is what I did. This may not be for everyone. I know during this time that it helped me get ready for my next step.

[samy + janet aly 9]

I think there should be a VIP K1 processing where they can process your K1 within a month for an extra fee. I am sure a lot of us would gladly pay more rather then just wait Obviously the name would not be VIP but you get my point.

Don't you guys agree?

Totally disagree with you.

some people spend their saving going thru this and some have spouses and family members too and they feel they should have 1st dibs on everything.

the only thing i see is the DV LOTTERY should be on the list last behind family related visa's.

so my dear stand in line...first come first serve they say.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

so my dear stand in line...first come first serve they say.

If it only actually worked like this that would be great.