Spousal Visa(CR1/IR1) vs Fiance visa(K1) - We would have filed differently if we had known all of this!

[jamiealderson 0]

So I just wanted to post a comparison between the CR1 vs the K1 visas. My fiance and I filed for the K1 visa back in January. We are close to getting our interview scheduled, and thankfully everything has been moving along very quickly for us. BUT! Unfortunately we didn't do enough research before making the decsion to file the K1 and knowing what I know now, we would have filed for the CR1 instead.

When we decided to get married and move to the states(We both live in Ireland), we were open to going both routes. We plan to just have a civil ceremony initlally(planning a big wedding for late 2014) and it didn't matter if that happened in the states or in Ireland. We did do a bit of research and found that in Ireland you have to wait 3 months before getting married. So when we were starting the process of filing for a visa, we didn't want to have to wait 3 months before sending off the I-130 petition. So we decided to go the K1 route and sent out I-129f straight away.

So here are my reasons I regret our decision:

1. The CR1/IR1 is cheaper. From filing the petiton(I129f or I130) through citizenship, these are the costs:

K1 is $2920 (I-129F petition fee: $340, Visa processing fee: $240, Adjustment of Status fee: $1070, Removal of Conditions fee: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

CR1 is $2183 (I-130 petition fee: $420, Affidavit of support: $88, IV application: $230, New Immigrant Fee - $165, Removal of Conditions: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

One thing to consider here is the cost for getting married in either the US or the beneficiary's country. For us, it's a difference of either $177 for getting married in California or 220Euro for getting married in Ireland, not a huge difference. Both processes require a medical exam, so that would cost the same(price depends on what country the beneficiary lives in) for each route.

So the CR1 route is about $700 cheaper overall(TOTALLY APPROX)

2. If we had gone the CR1 route, my fiance would have been able to start working as soon as we moved to California. Now instead with the K1 he will have to wait 2-3 months after we file the AOS/AP/EAD for him to recieve his employment authorization.

So overall, for us perconally, the CR1 would have taken a little bit longer because we would have had to wait 3 months before we could get married and file the I-130, but overall it would have been cheaper and would have allowed my fiance to work in California sooner. You live and you learn, hopefully some of you will now have a clearer picture before starting this process.

And please, if I got any of this information wrong, please don't go attacking me! This is just my interpretation of the whole process, please provide any corrections if needed!

[kzielu 1,149]

Well, that's why everybody is advised to read guides http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides first, specifically this one : http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

No need to re-invent the wheel.... Sorry...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

So I just wanted to post a comparison between the CR1 vs the K1 visas. My fiance and I filed for the K1 visa back in January. We are close to getting our interview scheduled, and thankfully everything has been moving along very quickly for us. BUT! Unfortunately we didn't do enough research before making the decsion to file the K1 and knowing what I know now, we would have filed for the CR1 instead.

When we decided to get married and move to the states(We both live in Ireland), we were open to going both routes. We plan to just have a civil ceremony initlally(planning a big wedding for late 2014) and it didn't matter if that happened in the states or in Ireland. We did do a bit of research and found that in Ireland you have to wait 3 months before getting married. So when we were starting the process of filing for a visa, we didn't want to have to wait 3 months before sending off the I-130 petition. So we decided to go the K1 route and sent out I-129f straight away.

So here are my reasons I regret our decision:

1. The CR1/IR1 is cheaper. From filing the petiton(I129f or I130) through citizenship, these are the costs:

K1 is $2920 (I-129F petition fee: $340, Visa processing fee: $240, Adjustment of Status fee: $1070, Removal of Conditions fee: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

CR1 is $2183 (I-130 petition fee: $420, Affidavit of support: $88, IV application: $230, New Immigrant Fee - $165, Removal of Conditions: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

One thing to consider here is the cost for getting married in either the US or the beneficiary's country. For us, it's a difference of either $177 for getting married in California or 220Euro for getting married in Ireland, not a huge difference. Both processes require a medical exam, so that would cost the same(price depends on what country the beneficiary lives in) for each route.

So the CR1 route is about $700 cheaper overall(TOTALLY APPROX)

2. If we had gone the CR1 route, my fiance would have been able to start working as soon as we moved to California. Now instead with the K1 he will have to wait 2-3 months after we file the AOS/AP/EAD for him to recieve his employment authorization.

So overall, for us perconally, the CR1 would have taken a little bit longer because we would have had to wait 3 months before we could get married and file the I-130, but overall it would have been cheaper and would have allowed my fiance to work in California sooner. You live and you learn, hopefully some of you will now have a clearer picture before starting this process.

And please, if I got any of this information wrong, please don't go attacking me! This is just my interpretation of the whole process, please provide any corrections if needed!

You are 100% correct!

[jamiealderson 0]

Well, that's why everybody is advised to read guides http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides first, specifically this one : http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

No need to re-invent the wheel.... Sorry...

I don't really feel like this comment was productive, I felt the need to share my experience, so I did. Not really reinventing the wheel. Maybe there are others who are deciding between K1 and CR1 who haven't come across the comparison you posted. In fact, I have been a frequent reader on VisaJourney(forums and guides) now since January and that's the first I've seen of that comparison. So I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[stevie b 141]

I don't really feel like this comment was productive, I felt the need to share my experience, so I did. Not really reinventing the wheel. Maybe there are others who are deciding between K1 and CR1 who haven't come across the comparison you posted. In fact, I have been a frequent reader on VisaJourney(forums and guides) now since January and that's the first I've seen of that comparison. So I'm sure I'm not the only one.

ahhhh .. hence the word "guides" on the top tabs

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to General Immigration-Related Discussion- topic about comparing visas ~

[goodlucklife 44]

So I just wanted to post a comparison between the CR1 vs the K1 visas. My fiance and I filed for the K1 visa back in January. We are close to getting our interview scheduled, and thankfully everything has been moving along very quickly for us. BUT! Unfortunately we didn't do enough research before making the decsion to file the K1 and knowing what I know now, we would have filed for the CR1 instead.

When we decided to get married and move to the states(We both live in Ireland), we were open to going both routes. We plan to just have a civil ceremony initlally(planning a big wedding for late 2014) and it didn't matter if that happened in the states or in Ireland. We did do a bit of research and found that in Ireland you have to wait 3 months before getting married. So when we were starting the process of filing for a visa, we didn't want to have to wait 3 months before sending off the I-130 petition. So we decided to go the K1 route and sent out I-129f straight away.

So here are my reasons I regret our decision:

1. The CR1/IR1 is cheaper. From filing the petiton(I129f or I130) through citizenship, these are the costs:

K1 is $2920 (I-129F petition fee: $340, Visa processing fee: $240, Adjustment of Status fee: $1070, Removal of Conditions fee: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

CR1 is $2183 (I-130 petition fee: $420, Affidavit of support: $88, IV application: $230, New Immigrant Fee - $165, Removal of Conditions: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

One thing to consider here is the cost for getting married in either the US or the beneficiary's country. For us, it's a difference of either $177 for getting married in California or 220Euro for getting married in Ireland, not a huge difference. Both processes require a medical exam, so that would cost the same(price depends on what country the beneficiary lives in) for each route.

So the CR1 route is about $700 cheaper overall(TOTALLY APPROX)

2. If we had gone the CR1 route, my fiance would have been able to start working as soon as we moved to California. Now instead with the K1 he will have to wait 2-3 months after we file the AOS/AP/EAD for him to recieve his employment authorization.

So overall, for us perconally, the CR1 would have taken a little bit longer because we would have had to wait 3 months before we could get married and file the I-130, but overall it would have been cheaper and would have allowed my fiance to work in California sooner. You live and you learn, hopefully some of you will now have a clearer picture before starting this process.

And please, if I got any of this information wrong, please don't go attacking me! This is just my interpretation of the whole process, please provide any corrections if needed!

Found this very helpful... Even though we are approved with the fiancé visa and waiting for case number at the nvc... You echoed feelings I have had through the 129 f process.... It's one thing to read them on a link here but another to hear a real person share the experience. You also shared the next step after we get the interviewing visa so that is helpful too

Thank you

[jamiealderson 0]

ahhhh .. hence the word "guides" on the top tabs

Wish I could just post about my personal experience and not be hassled about not having seen a specific guide on this website. I thought this was a community for helping each other and advice, not for criticizing each other.

Found this very helpful... Even though we are approved with the fiancé visa and waiting for case number at the nvc... You echoed feelings I have had through the 129 f process.... It's one thing to read them on a link here but another to hear a real person share the experience. You also shared the next step after we get the interviewing visa so that is helpful too

Thank you

This is what I mean, I knew I wasn't alone! Glad to help!

[stevie b 141]

Wish I could just post about my personal experience and not be hassled about not having seen a specific guide on this website. I thought this was a community for helping each other and advice, not for criticizing each other.

actually I understand what you are trying to say and hats off to you.. and yes there are guides

your synopsis is like others said 100% spot on.. yes

the only problem with a post like this.. is that after a month it is so buried in the forum that nobody will be able to find it.

your attention to detail and pursuit for accuracy will be rewarded with your own knowledge of the process and the feedback you can provide others who need it.. and really.. telling someone there is a guide for that isn't really criticizing.. there was no attack here, it was just pointing out the way the site works

[Ivy. 113]

Yeah, this is why I often advise CR-1/IR-1 visas if the couple can do it.

We discussed this after we got engaged, but since I wanted a wedding in my home country, K-1 was not an option for us anyway. Even if I was not keen on a wedding with my family, I would have preferred this route because I'd like to be able to work ASAP. No AOS, being able to find a job right away or use my passport stamp as 1-year green card so I can travel seems like a good selling point, even if you don't mind the price difference.

Actually, I am very happy our plans have me moving there on IR-1 so I will automatically get a 10-year GC. The less hassle, the better.

[NikLR 13,232]

I see the biggest reason why people do the K1 over the CR1 is because they don't want to be separated after marriage.

IMHO, and probably not other's but in mine, being engaged is like being married without the paperwork. You should be ready to marry that person the next day. An engagement is time to plan a wedding. It is just has hard to have a LDR with a fiancé as it is a spouse.

Apparently it's faster to get the K1 visa, sometimes, BUT it's not faster to the green card overall. Granted we're not marrying for a green card and many people that move to the USA are never planning to work either so having to wait to do so is no consequence to them. But if work or travel to family is important, it's good to really delve into the differences. Just because it's "fastest" doesn't mean it's best. Find out what is BEST overall for you and your significant other.

[Ivy. 113]

I see the biggest reason why people do the K1 over the CR1 is because they don't want to be separated after marriage.

I can understand this.

I had such a hard time leaving the first time after the wedding. I was done with my BA, with plans for Grad School but not actually enrolled yet, with him in the US and crying several nights before my flight because I did not want to go back home. It was worse than before. I don't know if it was because we were married or because I had grown tired of Goodbyes or because I had no good reason to go back home (who says I need Grad School?)... I don't know.

I was effing crazy and depressed for weeks when I got home, too. It got better when I enrolled and started school and my last trip was okay. Normal amount of crying I guess, but I knew I was going back to finish school, not start it, so that helped.

The wedding did not change our relationship (except we get a kick out of calling each other husband and wife), but I understand how this could be an important point for some people. I just had not thought of it. Thanks.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

I had a bad first marriage. It took me a long time to feel secure and get to a place where I was completely comfortable with the idea of getting married again. My husband and I were together for 8 years before he asked me to marry him, and it was a year and half after that before I filed the I-129F petition. Being engaged is a promise and agreement between two people to wed. It does not mean you need to be able run out and get married the next day just because you get engaged.

I got married at a courthouse the first time I got married. My husband knew I wanted an actual ceremony this time around with him. We waited until the time was right for us. We had been apart so long we had no intentions of getting married only to be separated some more. That is not how we wanted to start off our marriage. The marriage was the start of our lives living together in person as husband and wife from then on. We have been a couple for 13 1/2 years now and married for the last 2 1/2 of those. The K-1 costs more. I was okay with that in order to not be separated any longer. What is right for one couple may not be right for another. It is up to each couple to decide that for themselves.

Edited July 2, 2013 by Jay-Kay

[kitthekat 1,317]

We are deciding between K1 and CR1 and this was very useful. Thank you!

[rin and john 71]

So I just wanted to post a comparison between the CR1 vs the K1 visas. My fiance and I filed for the K1 visa back in January. We are close to getting our interview scheduled, and thankfully everything has been moving along very quickly for us. BUT! Unfortunately we didn't do enough research before making the decsion to file the K1 and knowing what I know now, we would have filed for the CR1 instead.

When we decided to get married and move to the states(We both live in Ireland), we were open to going both routes. We plan to just have a civil ceremony initlally(planning a big wedding for late 2014) and it didn't matter if that happened in the states or in Ireland. We did do a bit of research and found that in Ireland you have to wait 3 months before getting married. So when we were starting the process of filing for a visa, we didn't want to have to wait 3 months before sending off the I-130 petition. So we decided to go the K1 route and sent out I-129f straight away.

So here are my reasons I regret our decision:

1. The CR1/IR1 is cheaper. From filing the petiton(I129f or I130) through citizenship, these are the costs:

K1 is $2920 (I-129F petition fee: $340, Visa processing fee: $240, Adjustment of Status fee: $1070, Removal of Conditions fee: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

CR1 is $2183 (I-130 petition fee: $420, Affidavit of support: $88, IV application: $230, New Immigrant Fee - $165, Removal of Conditions: $590, Naturalization fee: $680)

One thing to consider here is the cost for getting married in either the US or the beneficiary's country. For us, it's a difference of either $177 for getting married in California or 220Euro for getting married in Ireland, not a huge difference. Both processes require a medical exam, so that would cost the same(price depends on what country the beneficiary lives in) for each route.

So the CR1 route is about $700 cheaper overall(TOTALLY APPROX)

2. If we had gone the CR1 route, my fiance would have been able to start working as soon as we moved to California. Now instead with the K1 he will have to wait 2-3 months after we file the AOS/AP/EAD for him to recieve his employment authorization.

So overall, for us perconally, the CR1 would have taken a little bit longer because we would have had to wait 3 months before we could get married and file the I-130, but overall it would have been cheaper and would have allowed my fiance to work in California sooner. You live and you learn, hopefully some of you will now have a clearer picture before starting this process.

And please, if I got any of this information wrong, please don't go attacking me! This is just my interpretation of the whole process, please provide any corrections if needed!

One other financial consideration is the tax consequence. For anyone making the decision right now, a K1 would have you getting married in 2014 (since it is unlikely you would be approved and in the US by the end of 2013). Getting married overseas, you have the ability to file as married filing jointly versus single. Rin and I married in 2006 and she arrived in April 2007, but we were able to file MFJ for the 2006 tax year, thus saving almost $5,000 in taxes; enough to cover the cost of the whole process. Everyone's tax situation will be different based on the foreign spouse's income, but it can make a huge difference.