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mr smith

Information CR1 vs K1

By mr smith in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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mr smith Rookie

mr smith   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
Posted

Hi Fellow VJers,

I have been a silent follower of the forum and the impact of this forum is priceless.

Now I am gathering information as I intend to start paper work gathering to enable my now Fiancee' join me here in the USA (she is Nigerian).

To this end can someone please help me with some information on which pathway is best for me and my wife to be? i have read on ths forum that K3 is obsolete as it were and that K1 and CR1 take about the same time to process. As many people in Love would say...our most preferred option would be the one that offers us the fastest rout to her joining me here. We are not married yet. but this is no issue. we are planning this anyways...thinking sometime in the summer or even before. Also, if anyone has been through this before kindly chip in. Your help is sincerely appreciated.

Thanks you for your help. :D

Smith

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Ryan H Grand Master

Ryan H   3,812

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion; OP is asking about two different processes.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Highyella72 Enthusiast

Highyella72   11

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
Posted

Getting married in the summer or even before is not likely if you go a K1 route. It takes months for the petition to be approved on the USCIS level, then it has to be sent to Nigeria where she will interview which could be a couple of months longer. I understand you two wanting to be together and wish you the best of luck whichever route you choose. Myself and my husband went the K1 route first after myself being there 2 times and were denied for "Immigration Purposes Only", I arrived later the afternoon after his denial and we married instead and had to start the process all over. We are now awaiting an interview for his marriage visa......

Once again Goodluck!!!

Hi Fellow VJers,

I have been a silent follower of the forum and the impact of this forum is priceless.

Now I am gathering information as I intend to start paper work gathering to enable my now Fiancee' join me here in the USA (she is Nigerian).

To this end can someone please help me with some information on which pathway is best for me and my wife to be? i have read on ths forum that K3 is obsolete as it were and that K1 and CR1 take about the same time to process. As many people in Love would say...our most preferred option would be the one that offers us the fastest rout to her joining me here. We are not married yet. but this is no issue. we are planning this anyways...thinking sometime in the summer or even before. Also, if anyone has been through this before kindly chip in. Your help is sincerely appreciated.

Thanks you for your help. :D

Smith

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Kazulie Proficient

Kazulie   132

Posted
Filed: Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
Posted

Thanks Highyella,

On the average, what is the time difference between the two options?

Thanks

ssmith.

There really isn't a time difference between the two. K1 used to be much faster, not anymore. you can expect to wait 8-10 months either way.

K1: If you met in real life within the past 2 years, you can file right away. As far as money for immigration fees, the K1 is more expensive because once your fiance gets here, the process continues with Adjustment of Status. It will also take her longer to get her working authorization and green card if you go the K1 route.

IR-1/CR-1: You would not be able to file until you get down there and marry her. This could eat up some time. This route is cheaper as once she gets into the States, the next immigration process she will have to go through is Removal of Conditions which starts 90 days before her 2 year anniversary of getting her green card. She will get her green card rather quickly after entering the States and also will be able to work rather quickly.

It is my opinion that K1s are more risky as I see a lot of denials out of nigeria for K1s. Sure there are a lot of IR-1/CR-1 denials as well, but if your K1 gets denied, you will spend another year(ish) going down to marry and then refile which you could have just done in the first place. If you aren't going to be able to get down there anytime soon to marry her, though, you may want to try your luck with the K1. It's really a toss up!

GOOD LUCK!

HUSBAND'S CASE

9/17/2011 - sent I-13

09/19/2011 - noa1 received

3/16/2012 - case sent to my local USCIS office for additional processing

4/21/2012 - AP. If we haven't heard from them in SIX MONTHS (omg) we can feel free to call them!!! Thanks!

9/20/2012 - Interview scheduled - October 3!!!!

10/3/2012 - Interview went well but she must look at his A-file more before decision.

10/12/2012 - I-130 APPROVED! APPROVED! APPROVED!

KIDS' CASES

04/20/2012: NOA107/20/2012: instead of an approval, we got thrown into AP. sigh

11/01/2012: Boys' I-130 interview set for November 28, 2012.

11/28/2012: I-130s APPROVED! APPROVED! APPROVED!

NVC

12/14/2012: NVC Received

12/31/2012: Case number/IIN

12/31/2012: DS-3032 sent

01/08/2013: DS-3032 accepted

01/02/2013: AOS bill0

1/03/2013: AOS bill shows PAID

01/04/2013: AOS package sent

01/09/2013: IV bill

01/10/2013: IV bill shows PAID

01/11/2013: IV package sent

01/23/2013: Case complete

02/01/2013: Interview scheduled

US Embassy Lagos

02/22/2013: Embassy received

03/01/2013: Medical

03/20/2013: Interview - was told the boys would have been approved on the spot if they had pics! Errrr :-(

04/15/2013: DNA test

05/15/2013: Emailed embassy BEGGING them to let boys drop off passports for visa insertion. IT WORKED!!!

05/31/2013: Visa in hand

06/02/2013: POE JFK!!!!!!

5spxll0m6aa.png

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NigeriaorBust Grand Master

NigeriaorBust   4,087

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
Posted

Either way it is about a year from filing to getting approved if you get there first time. Nigeria is known for first round failures.

A K1 could be started right away assuming you have met once. However you would have to stay single until the visa is granted. A CR1 can't be started until after you are married. How many red flags do you have ?

This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this.

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mr smith Rookie

mr smith   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks everyone for your responses.

As far as red flags I do not think I have one. I am Nigerian by birth. I met my fiance before I came to the USA in 2008 via visa lottery. But we were just acquaintances back then.

We started our relationship in 2010. And I have been to Nigeria to meet her parents in 2011. Wanted to get married last year but I told her it would be better to wait a little more so I can get my naturalization over. Now that's done and I just want the fastest route for us. Either way we are going to get married...I just thought it would be wise to seek out the fastest route/ way to ensure we are together with the shorter option . Plus the wait is not in any way palatable to say the least.

Thanks for ur help.

Smith.

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Aya820 Proficient

Aya820   33

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Nigeria
 Timeline
Posted

Thanks everyone for your responses.

As far as red flags I do not think I have one. I am Nigerian by birth. I met my fiance before I came to the USA in 2008 via visa lottery. But we were just acquaintances back then.

We started our relationship in 2010. And I have been to Nigeria to meet her parents in 2011. Wanted to get married last year but I told her it would be better to wait a little more so I can get my naturalization over. Now that's done and I just want the fastest route for us. Either way we are going to get married...I just thought it would be wise to seek out the fastest route/ way to ensure we are together with the shorter option . Plus the wait is not in any way palatable to say the least.

Thanks for ur help.

Smith.

Sounds like if you make the K-1 choice you will have to file soon as your last visit (?) was in 2011, and depending what month, the 2 year criteria will expire soon.

You can also look at this Comparison Guide, if you have not viewed it before, and maybe it can help you to decide as well.

COMPARISON GUIDE

Toni

 

07/17/2008.......WEDDING DAY!!!!
USCIS STAGE (for me):
06/09/2010.......SENT I-130 TO USCIS
06/15/2010.......NOA1 & RECEIPT DATE (CSC)
11/03/2010.......NOA2 Email received-APPROVED!!-141 days
NVC STAGE (for him):
11/08/2010.......NVC Case # Assigned
11/19/2010.......DS-3032 received via email
07/02/2011.......IV (DS-230) Package mailed//NVC Received-7/5/2011
07/14/2011........CASE COMPLETE!!!
07/15/2011........SIF!!!
EMBASSY STAGE (for us):
8/23/2011.........Medical-Part 1
8/24/2011.........Medical-Part 2(Completed!)
9/12/2011.........INTERVIEW @ 10:00AM - APPROVED!! (IR-1 Visa)
POE: DECEMBER 3rd, Washington, D.C. (IAD)!!!
1/10/2012........Green Card in Hand!
02/07/2012........Rec'd. Social Security Card

Naturalization Journey:

09-27-2016................Mailed N-400

11-03-2016................Biometrics

Notified 2/13/2017........2-8-2017.....Case Is In Line For An Interview

3/23/2017 @ 9AM......Interview

4/13/2017...................OATH CEREMONY!!

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