Getting married - Visa?

[annacloud 0]

Options:

- K1 Fiancé Visa

- CR1 (over seas)

- Adjustment of status (get married on visa waiver/Scandinavia and then change status)

As for many others here we wish for the best and fastest less straining way apart, if there is one...

If I'd known about all the time-consuming straining waiting from the beginning we had started earlier (2 years relationship).

Heard that its not that much difference in the time it will take between K1 and CR1 (2 months?) but that K1 is a little bit faster.

K1 will take 6-8 months, or?? Can I visit the US under that time or not?

It feels like K-1 maybe is the way. But also heard that it's a twisty road, a lot of work and then you have to do it all over again

when when it comes to time to apply for green card.

Then we have the the third option.

Appreciate some advice/experience…

[Merrytooth 5,748]

As for many others here we wish for the best and fastest less straining way apart, if there is one...

Just for a laugh, execute it at your own risk

I don't often smuggle my wife into the country in the suitcase

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/border-agents-find-woman-hidden-in-suitcase/

But when I do, I save a bundle of money and save time over dealing with USCIS

On the serious note, see this guide for comparison

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

And yes, you can visit US while the petition is being processed.

[Lainie B 465]

The third option is not legal.

[agrabs 241]

If I had to do it all over again, I would go the CR1 route. At the time we were going thru the visa process, I underestimated the value of getting the greencard upon entry into the country with the CR1. I thought it would be no big deal for my husband to hang out and get acclimated to his new home while waiting for the EAD. What I didn't realize was that until his EAD was approved, he would not be able to get a driver's license in the state we live. Since there is no widespread public transportation available where we are, he was pretty much stuck at home all day while I was working. He was here about 6 weeks before we got married, then the EAD took 90 days, so he was not able to work or drive for over 5 months.... sounds like no big deal, but being in a new county, stuck in the house with no where to go all day, and not knowing anyone other than me, it made the transition to a new life a little harder.

With the K1 you feel this great relief once the visa is issued, but the break from the stress of having an application at USCIS is short lived, as you go thru it again during AOS. While the AOS process wasn't as stressful because we were together, it took almost a year to get our greencard (no rfe, no interview), I just wanted the stress of it to be over.

I'm not trying to sound like K1 is bad, both achieve the same results - Good luck with whatever you choose!

[NikLR 13,231]

Options:

- K1 Fiancé Visa

- CR1 (over seas)

- Adjustment of status (get married on visa waiver/Scandinavia and then change status)

As for many others here we wish for the best and fastest less straining way apart, if there is one...

If I'd known about all the time-consuming straining waiting from the beginning we had started earlier (2 years relationship).

Heard that its not that much difference in the time it will take between K1 and CR1 (2 months?) but that K1 is a little bit faster.

K1 will take 6-8 months, or?? Can I visit the US under that time or not?

It feels like K-1 maybe is the way. But also heard that it's a twisty road, a lot of work and then you have to do it all over again

when when it comes to time to apply for green card.

Then we have the the third option.

Appreciate some advice/experience…

Your third option is not legal so forget about it. If you're caught, you'll be banned from the USA forever.

You can certainly visit with the VWP on either the K1 or the CR1. Right now the K1 is a quite a bit faster, but it's $1630 vs $903 for immigration fees. In there is an adjustment of status where you cannot travel or work for about 3 months. CR1 takes longer (you need a marriage certificate to apply whereas with the K1 you just need to prove you've met in the last 2 years) but you end up with a green card upon arrival. With both you'll have to remove conditions. With the k1 you must get married in the USA within 90 days of arrival. However you can always have another big ceremony for friends and family later on.

[NikLR 13,231]

I chose the CR1 because I wanted to be able to travel (it was non-negotiable really) and work right away. I didn't end up working for about 2 months but collected Canadian unemployment during that time. But I was BORED. I even can use my Canadian driver's license here for up to 4 months (30 days to resident + 90 days to get the driver's license) but I was still bored.

[annacloud 0]

Its definitely stressful so thanks for good information!

CR1 or K1. Maybe a longer road in total, but thinking of K1 on the grounds that it might be less stressful if its faster and apply for AOS together (stepwise process).

If you choose K1 is it mostly paperwork for the later application with AOS and not another interview in the US? Is it the interview "only" that you implement in your home country/embassy associated for approved K1?

Good thoughts about driving license. If you have one (swedish), does anyone know how it works, can you use that as "International" or do I need a new one?

[NikLR 13,231]

You can be interviewed for the adjustment of status from the K1 visa as well as having the interview in your country to get the visa to begin with.

Each state has rules on licenses, you'd have to look up what you need for the individual state. However if you're visiting, it doesn't matter, just when you become a resident it matters.