Which is the best way?

[Dimsa 0]

Hello I'm Dimitar from Macedonia and I wanna ask you something about the K-1 visas...
Last summer I was in Alaska and I met my girlfriend which is from there (USA). This summer I didn't get a visa soo because we wanna be together we plan to figure out something for being together.

She is coming over (in my country) in August and she'll be here for two months. I don't know what we should do. Which is the best and faster way? To get married here (in my country) or to start K-1 visa process?
If we get married here (in my country), what is the next step? For which kind of visa I should apply? How is the process?

Sincerely,

Dimitar

[aaron2020 11,651]

Both take about the same amount of time to come to the US.

The CR-1 spousal visa leads to an immediate green card when you enter the US. You get immediate work authorization an the ability to leave and reenter the US.

The K-1 non-immigrant visa requires you to marry in the US before you can file to adjust your status for a green card. This can take 6 months. Uring that time, you will be waiting about 2-3 months for your EAD/AP card. You need the EAD to legally work; so for 2-3 months you will not be able to work. You need AP to leave the US without abandoning the entire process; so for 2-3 months, you cannot leave the US without abandoning the process. This process also requires another set of fees.

Go with the CR-1 visa if you can.

Edited June 19, 2013 by aaron2020

[florida4life 29]

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

YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THIS GUIDE TO SEE THE COMPARISON

[Dimsa 0]

Soo if I'm just engaged I can start for K-1 visa process. If I'm married with her I should start other kind of visa process.

Thank you

Edited June 19, 2013 by dimitar

[NikLR 13,227]

*** OP is discussing visa paths - moved to general immigration discussion. ***