K1 to Spousal Visa

[JL_Cristina 2]

Hello everybody! I'm a newbie and I need help. Last year my childhood sweetheart found me on Facebook after 20 years of no contact and got engaged when I went to visit him in the Philippines for the first time after 20 long years. I sent out our K1 file on January 16, 2013 and were hoping to get approved before June and have my fiance with me for my Graduation and have our wedding on June 25 but reading everybody's comments it seems like it is not going to happen. My question is would it be faster to go get married in the Philippines, cancel the K1 and apply for the spousal visa or to just wait. Any opinions and information will be greatly appreciated for we are so eager to be together.

[X Factor 1,110]

When did you apply for K-1

[JL_Cristina 2]

When did you apply for K-1

I sent it on January 16 and got my NOA1 on January 31.

[wilfon 30]

They are processing around the same time, I would just keep your K1 application, but that is just my opinion. I think it will be really dificult to expect to have either one done by June or July. You never know, you may get really lucky. Good luck to you guys.

[BaBamSam 239]

I sent it on January 16 and got my NOA1 on January 31.

Hi there. There is almost no way that you will have your visa by June 25. Right now the California center is taking 7-8 months to process, plus you have 2-3 months after USCIS approves you to have the interview and actually get the visa. It is best to plan to not have your visa until the October-November.

If you switch to the CR-1, it will still be until the end of the year, best case, until you would get that so it's probably best to just wait with the K-1.

[JL_Cristina 2]

Oh great! I did my research before sending the petition and I was under the impression that K1 was a faster process. My fiance is currently in New Zealand aboard a cruise ship and will be going home to the Philippines the end of this month and he was thinking of just getting married in there.

[BaBamSam 239]

Oh great! I did my research before sending the petition and I was under the impression that K1 was a faster process. My fiance is currently in New Zealand aboard a cruise ship and will be going home to the Philippines the end of this month and he was thinking of just getting married in there.

Technically, the K-1 is slightly faster. It used to be a bigger difference. If you were to get married there, it would just mean restarting the process for the CR-1 and prolonging the wait, sadly. All of us waiting on the K-1 are just as bummed about the wait as you are, but this is a great community full of people ready to support you guys in the process.

[JL_Cristina 2]

It's a very helpful site, full of information and just knowing that I'm not the only one frustrated about the wait, it's comforting. I wish they just work faster. They were so quick to cash our check so we expected a faster approval.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

You're already almost 2 months ahead with K1 petition. If you'll get married, depending on how soon you could fly to the Philippines to get license, arrange the marriage, wait for the marriage certificate and register at NSO. With I-130, you'll pay another fee and you'll start from day one.

Good luck!

[JL_Cristina 2]

You're already almost 2 months ahead with K1 petition. If you'll get married, depending on how soon you could fly to the Philippines to get license, arrange the marriage, wait for the marriage certificate and register at NSO. With I-130, you'll pay another fee and you'll start from day one.

Good luck!

I was thinking of taking a week off and just take the trip but I'm not sure if a week is enough to do everything plus the wedding.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

I was thinking of taking a week off and just take the trip but I'm not sure if a week is enough to do everything plus the wedding.

You will need at least 10 working days already just to get a license. Unless you know someone who knows someone

[JL_Cristina 2]

You will need at least 10 working days already just to get a license. Unless you know someone who knows someone

I know some people but just the travel will take couple of days.

[X Factor 1,110]

You're already almost 2 months ahead with K1 petition. If you'll get married, depending on how soon you could fly to the Philippines to get license, arrange the marriage, wait for the marriage certificate and register at NSO. With I-130, you'll pay another fee and you'll start from day one.

Good luck!

Exactly. By the time the wedding is done and you file you will have had 5 months from the end of January. So stick to the K-1 at this point if you want your loved one to be over here expediently.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello everybody! I'm a newbie and I need help. Last year my childhood sweetheart found me on Facebook after 20 years of no contact and got engaged when I went to visit him in the Philippines for the first time after 20 long years. I sent out our K1 file on January 16, 2013 and were hoping to get approved before June and have my fiance with me for my Graduation and have our wedding on June 25 but reading everybody's comments it seems like it is not going to happen. My question is would it be faster to go get married in the Philippines, cancel the K1 and apply for the spousal visa or to just wait. Any opinions and information will be greatly appreciated for we are so eager to be together.

NO. You would have to get married first, THEN withdraw the fiancee petition and file a new I-130 and start over.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I know some people but just the travel will take couple of days.

Great. So you will only have to wait about 10-12 months after filing the I-130 to get the CR-1 visa in your hand. Check timelines for CR-1s. You would be starting at the back of that line.

Decide BEFORE you file a petition. Once you decide, stick with it.