how long do i have to wait for my IR-1/CR-1 visa to be approved?

[Hank_ 9,174]

my american boyfriend and i are planning to get married next year, i'm just wondering about the steps on how to apply for the visa and how long i will have to wait for the visa to be approved, thanks :3

K-3 really isn't used, most that start a K-3 are converted to the IR/CR-1. Would be simpler to file the I-130 petition for spousal visa.

So you are going to get married in the Phils then start the visa process? After you get married make sure to get everything registered and sent into NSO as it takes a little time for NSO to get documents updated and recorded.

K3 = http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/types/family/spouse-citizen.html

[doug/sherry 26]

my american boyfriend and i are planning to get married in the Philippines (where i live) next year. im just wondering how long am i going to wait till i get my visa. and is it ok to go the US with him after the marriage even if i dont have visa yet. thanks

Mistypink,

You can get married in the philippines but he will have to petition for you to come to the states

and this process could take longer than if he files for a fiance visa and brings you back to

the states to get married. Getting married in the philippines in my opinion is somewhat risky.

Because both processes require approvals in both the USA and at the American consulate

in Manila. Go to the US embessay in manila on the internet and read the requirements for

both processes. Good Luck!

[aaron2020 11,651]

Mod - please merge the OP's multiple threads on the same subject.

Ok, it seems that your boyfriend has not filed for anything.

Here are your two choices.

K-1 fiancée visa. Boyfriend files now. In 6-12 months, you get a K-1 spousal visa. You come to the US and marry and file to get a green card. You must get marry in the US. Using a K-1 visa after marriage in the PI is immigration fraud.

CR-1 spousal visa. Can only be filed after wedding. You marry next year. After that he files. You wait 12-18!months for a visa to immigrate to the US.

There are no other choices.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

You could of course (legally) apply for a K1/Fiance' visa which also requires that you submit the I-130 Petition which has been moving much more quickly for K1 visas,

You mean the I-129F

[JA_Martinez 81]

sorry Mistypink....people on here who have been waiting for a long time tend to drift off on their own tangent and rant a bit, which is good that we have this place to go for that. Sorry you got hammered for simply asking a question. Not sure that calling you "clueless" was a nice thing to say, my apologies for those who blasted back at you. Also, there are responses on here that have NO reason to be here as they don't apply to your simple question.

there is alot of very valuable information here on VJ, but there is ALOT to go through to find what you're looking for. the USCIS website is very specific. I personally purchased "immigration guidebooks" from book stores here so I could study the process on my own, so that helped alot. i didn't join VJ until after we filed our first petition. Again, there is a ton of information and experiences here that have been extremely helpful, but you will have to get tough skinned so you can get what you need from here while other people are venting their frustration. Don't give up on asking questions....if the USCIS website isn't clear enough, VJ is good at helping decipher, but follow the USCIS directions.

there is alot of paperwork you have to do now and in the future so and your spouse should study study study all of the phases and stages of this process so you know what's ahead and what kind of documents you have to collect to send in to the government. the Philippine govt requires that every legal civil document has the NSO red ribbon certified cover letter which sometimes takes time to get each one of them.

do your homework before you start the process; stay organized, be PATIENT. this takes alot of time and energy and is a painful process. just study alot!

[JbTin 51]

Im sorry but a lot of people have been approved without the red ribbon. I dont think it is necessary, as long as the document is from NSO and is in security paper. It is not even stated in the nvc website nor in manila.usembassy.gov.. what it says there is just NSO original copy. No red ribbon.

[aaron2020 11,651]

sorry Mistypink....people on here who have been waiting for a long time tend to drift off on their own tangent and rant a bit, which is good that we have this place to go for that. Sorry you got hammered for simply asking a question. Not sure that calling you "clueless" was a nice thing to say, my apologies for those who blasted back at you. Also, there are responses on here that have NO reason to be here as they don't apply to your simple question.

there is alot of very valuable information here on VJ, but there is ALOT to go through to find what you're looking for. the USCIS website is very specific. I personally purchased "immigration guidebooks" from book stores here so I could study the process on my own, so that helped alot. i didn't join VJ until after we filed our first petition. Again, there is a ton of information and experiences here that have been extremely helpful, but you will have to get tough skinned so you can get what you need from here while other people are venting their frustration. Don't give up on asking questions....if the USCIS website isn't clear enough, VJ is good at helping decipher, but follow the USCIS directions.

there is alot of paperwork you have to do now and in the future so and your spouse should study study study all of the phases and stages of this process so you know what's ahead and what kind of documents you have to collect to send in to the government. the Philippine govt requires that every legal civil document has the NSO red ribbon certified cover letter which sometimes takes time to get each one of them.

do your homework before you start the process; stay organized, be PATIENT. this takes alot of time and energy and is a painful process. just study alot!

Clueless does not mean stupid. Clueless is a state of ignorance or not knowing which can be cured with some research. Look up the word in a dictionary.

What would you call it someone though it's okay to move to the US based on marriage to a USC and no visa?

Also, was what I told the OP wrong? Were those her only options. Didn't I answer her questions when others didn't?

All you posted is that there is lots of paperwork without giving any solution.

Edited February 21, 2014 by aaron2020

[Cathi 5,740]

wow...lots of bickering going on and the OP disappeared. What Aaron stated is exactly what you need to do. There is no use in studying anything until you know the actual process and starting point

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Aaron was correct. I've been studied the whole process for the US immigration more than 2 years before my fiance filed I-129F and we were in 5 years relationship after filed it. I learned the process from I-129F until (if) I want to get my citizenship. It is not an easy road. You have to spend time hours reading, understanding, and see other options if the main road you choose will make you failed.

I'm not an English native speaker so sometimes there are many terms of the US immigration just out of my understanding. So I gave a lot headache to my fiance and Google was my friend and still, . There are a lot information on VJ and internet that will help you through your journey. My best advise is, don't be shy to ask but don't expect people will answer what you want. People only hear what they want to hear and this attitude won't help you anyway.

Just keep reading and see what is the best option for both of you regarding circumstance what you do have now. Best of luck!

Edited February 21, 2014 by Girl from Celebes

[No name 88 48]

OP this depends a lot on what you want to do. If your heart is set on marriage before coming to the US than get married. The CR1/IR1 is currently taking 7-8 months for approval if you apply now and seems to be getting faster. You'll have another 2-8 weeks to get threw the NVC. Some people on the ball can get threw the NVC in 2 weeks; the NVC depends on how quick you can get a case # and if you've done your research. The consular interview will take 1-3 months to schedule. So it will be about 1 year before you can travel.

It is important to note that not all K-1 visa's are approved. The approval rates are higher for the CR1/IR1 especially in high fraud countries.

You can travel to the US married with a B2 visa with an I-130 filed. Many will tell you it's impossible to get the B2 in this case but I ignored them applied for it and got it so a B2 is possible but there is no guarantee you will get the B2 if you do apply.

[raven52 233]

Some people on this thread seem to have lost the ""INITIAL QUESTION"", as some of these posts have nothing to do with the orginal, question.

My wife, (now) and I came through a similar situation, Filipino, and K-1, vs. CR-1.,., (I-130) when it came down to what mattered the most to us, was me and my wife.,.,"""BEING TOGETHER""".,., and as much as a beautiful wedding in the Philippines, in front of family and friends, would have been wonderful, THEN we would face the I-130.,.,.,which many posters here have told you, is at least, at 12-14 (maybe more) month process!

Please, heed my words, unless there is a reason that your wedding has to be in the Phils..,., DO NOT DO IT!

File a K-1, and be approved, (if your paperwork is submitted correctly) in 3-5 months, a few weeks at NVC, (we were at NVC 2 days, then you willl get your MNL hardcopy, and you can take your medical, and schedule your interview.

When you would enter the USA on a K-1, you will have to go through AOS (Adjustment of Status).,. which way too many people on this site make too much of, as me and my wife sailed through the process in a few months, your paper work just has to be correct.

This is just my opinion.,.,. PLEASE, consider the K-1 first, I have given you the reasons, havee some kind of celebration there in the Phils..,., (just NO TYPE OF CEREMONY).,, as it could cause you problems, with someone saying you had a marriage ceremony, just a party, celebrating your marriage, ""TO COME IN THE USA) in 1/2 of the time of a marriage in the Phils..,., and thne a 1 and 1/2 year wait for a visa to come to the USA, when you could be here in 1/2 the time! Think hard, do you want to be with your husband, or waiting for USCIS.,,. to approve an I-130?????????????? Read our time line.,.,and we had a 3 month delay because of a chest X-Ray.,.,(which is common at St. Luke's) but many escape the FIASCO, called "Sputum".,.,.

Think what is BEST for you and your future husband, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GET MARRIED, AND WAIT OVER A YEAR TO COME TO THE USA?

[mistypink 0]

so k-1 visa is much easier, simpler, no headaches..... but i really wanna marry here

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration; OP is not yet married which means there are two paths currently available to immigrate (fiancee or spouse). Additionally, several posts that have nothing to do with the OP's question have been removed; either address the OP or do not post. Any additional off-topic posts will result in a thread ban for the poster.***

[NikLR 13,227]

There are plenty of headaches to go along with the K1 visa.

1) must marry in the USA within 90 days of arrival (whenever that is!)

2) cannot leave the USA for about 90 days after filing for the AOS as long as you remembered to file also for advance parole

3) cannot work for 90 days (see above)

4) cannot get a driver's license for 90 days (see above)

I don't know about you, but I'd be bored out of my TREE if I could only sit around the house for 3 months and clean. Granted my house would sparkle and every meal would be home cooked, but unless you have a good bus system, you can't even get to the grocery store without help from your spouse.

[aaron2020 11,651]

so k-1 visa is much easier, simpler, no headaches..... but i really wanna marry here

No, the K-1 is not much easier, simpler, and no headaches. There is the requirement to be single when you enter the US with a K-1. You must marry in the US within 90 days. Your husband has the discretion to file or not for you to adjust. If he does not file, then you become a visa overstay who can't work or legally live in the US (this happens to people - not saying it will happen to you, but it is a risk of the K-1 that the USC will not file to adjust the new foreign spouse). If he files, then it takes about 2-3 months before you can legally work waiting for EAD and 2-3 months for AP before you can leave the US without abandoning the entire process.

If you really wanna marry in the PI, then you can make the choice to do that knowing he cannot file anything for you until after you get marry. You would need a spousal visa which takes 12-18 months after you get marry.

What's more important? Being together as quick as possible with the K1 and marriage in the US or marriage in the PI and endure spending the first 12-18 months of your marriage apart? You decide.