K-1 or K-3 IR1/CR1 Visa

[JayMain626 21]

Thank you so much I was getting a little overwhelmed with all the information that is flying around, knowing I would still be able to travel during the process is a great relief.

[JayMain626 21]

It is a good idea to bring proof of your ties to your country such as a letter from your employer stating when you are due back (letter from your CO would suffice, most likely saying you're British Army with your ID would work as well) as well as any leases, bills, etc... things the average human being doesn't just up and leave behind. Also pack appropriately for your trip. And always be honest, friendly, and polite.

Many people file the petition right away. You still need to send some proof of relationship, but as you're from the UK, the bar isn't very high. This is a basic fast guide (with some incorrect forms due at the NVC due to some new changes in the process) but there is a great list at the bottom of ideas for proving a genuine relationship: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/EZGuideSpouse

Would you recommend using one of the many company's that are out there to help with the process?

[enlijoe 20]

Thank you so much for the advice, I understand the issue with travelling to get married. I there is surely no reason to not accept you into the country if you have a return ticket what other proof would they require?

I also would suggest a signed letter stating you intent and that you understand to stay in the US would cause you more problems latter and that you are going to follow the proper procedure.

[NikLR 13,227]

Would you recommend using one of the many company's that are out there to help with the process?

Not unless:

1) neither party has the time for the paperwork,

2) both of you don't understand the paperwork or have comprehension problems

3) the beneficiary has a bans or needs a waiver

5) beneficiary has a criminal convictions

7) history of petitioning multiple people for spousal or k1 visas

6) petitioner has a criminal conviction that goes against the Adam Walsh Act

I'm going to bet you have none of that and can probably do all of this on your own. No one else will look after your case like you will, and all those companies do is fill out the forms with the information you give them. You can do that! I wouldn't spend the money unless you have some serious red flags and then you'd best get a good immigration lawyer.

My husband told me he wanted to pay a lawyer about 3k to do everything and I ixnayed that. I did most of the paperwork and research, and he paid all the bills as well as got the paperwork I needed from him. The process is expensive enough without adding extra costs. A lawyer or visa help company will not make it faster.

[JayMain626 21]

Having gone through the K1 process I now think I ought to have gone the other way. It would have been better to get married in the UK then file for a spousal visa then come to the US when it's all done and get a GC straightway. Pretty sure it's cheaper that way too.

It may take a year for a spouse visa but it took 9 months for a K1 anyway and I am still waiting for EAD and AP although it's been approved I just do not have the bit of paper yet.

My opinion only.

Plus i work offshore and was doing month on month off so we just travelled to see each other every month or so, most people cannot do that.

But yes it is OK to travel on an ESTA while your petition is going through, they know at CBP and it was mentioned to me by the officer once but it was no problem.

Thanks Why would you have gone the other way? Just so you could plan the wedding how you wanted it? Or just the fact you can go straight to work and don't have to adjust your status?

[JayMain626 21]

Not unless:

1) neither party has the time for the paperwork,

2) both of you don't understand the paperwork or have comprehension problems

3) the beneficiary has a bans or needs a waiver

5) beneficiary has a criminal convictions

7) history of petitioning multiple people for spousal or k1 visas

6) petitioner has a criminal conviction that goes against the Adam Walsh Act

I'm going to bet you have none of that and can probably do all of this on your own. No one else will look after your case like you will, and all those companies do is fill out the forms with the information you give them. You can do that! I wouldn't spend the money unless you have some serious red flags and then you'd best get a good immigration lawyer.

My husband told me he wanted to pay a lawyer about 3k to do everything and I ixnayed that. I did most of the paperwork and research, and he paid all the bills as well as got the paperwork I needed from him. The process is expensive enough without adding extra costs. A lawyer or visa help company will not make it faster.

Thank you again I really appreciate it. Do you have a rough guide to total cost? Sorry to keep bothering you.

[NikLR 13,227]

Not including medical or travel fees, the CR1 is $903 for the immigration fees from start to green card. The K1 is $1630 (I believe) for the same thing. CR1 is generally quicker to green card and K1 is generally quicker to be together.

Edited January 6, 2014 by NLR

[knighta 2]

K1 is extremely quick at least in my case it was.

Your I-129f was approved in 28 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 91 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

The interview will be in 16 days from now.

[JayMain626 21]

K1 is extremely quick at least in my case it was.

Your I-129f was approved in 28 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 91 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

The interview will be in 16 days from now.

How are you doing with planning the wedding on that time frame?

[lost_at_sea 995]

How are you doing with planning the wedding on that time frame?

It really depends on what you want for a wedding. My husband and I planned and had our wedding in the space of 3 weeks, but we didn't want much more than a party and we had no family attend.

It *is* very difficult to plan a wedding where you want a lot of family to make it, since you can't give them much notice. A way around that might be to have a small, private official wedding ASAP in that 90 day window, then plan a second, larger, family wedding for a more convenient time down the road. That's a pretty common thing for K1s to do.

[JayMain626 21]

Yeah that was one of our ideas. Thank you

[milimelo 4,477]

I say go for CR-1 - you're an LPR from the moment you are processed at POE. You're done with USCIS until 2 yrs minus 90 days when it's time to remove conditions (if given conditional residency= married under 2 yrs at time of entering on POE with an immigrant visa).

On the other hand, while K-1 seems fast to get into the US, it does not seem to be faster to get the green card/residency - in some cases it takes well over 10-12 months and you're only resident after the AOS is approved so you lose those months and have to wait longer to file for Removal of conditions and Naturalization.

[NikLR 13,227]

My journey last year for CR1 took 9 months from filing to green card in hand. It was just under 8 months from filing to visa in hand. But this year seems a lot slower for CR1

[NikLR 13,227]

I agree it can be slower from petition to green card for k1 than cr1.

[JayMain626 21]

How long after the issue of green card do you have to travel is it 6 months like the K-1?