K1, K3 or CR1? Which one to apply for?

[gpluss 1]

Hi,

I am looking for suggestions on which route to take. I am from Canada, and have been in a long distance relationship with my bf for 4 years. He is a US citizen. We filed for a K1 visa in 2011 but we did not continued with the process because I decided to stay in Canada to finish my schooling.

We are ready to start our lives together now but I don't know if we should apply for K1, K3 or IR1/CR1.

If I apply for K1 again, will my application be impacted since I didn't complete my 1st K1 application in 2011?

I have been looking at forums and timelines, and found that K3 visa are rare?? And as for CR1, I feel that it might take at least 1 year to process??

Can someone please provide some suggestions?

Thanks

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to What Visa Do I Need - OP choosing visa path | 3 duplicate topics removed ~

[Ryan E 10]

Take a look at this guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Keep in mind that current processing time for the K1 is about 6 months, CR1 is 12+.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

It really depends.

Where in Canada are you? K1 visa applicants may interview in either Vancouver or Montreal, depending on location. Cr1 visas interview in Montreal only. So if you are on the west coast, I suggest you file the K-1

Also, your marriage certificate, if married in Canada, may take up to 8 weeks to obtain which can slow down the ability to even petition when you can actually file a K1 now.

Good luck

[baron555 934]

Hi,

I am looking for suggestions on which route to take. I am from Canada, and have been in a long distance relationship with my bf for 4 years. He is a US citizen. We filed for a K1 visa in 2011 but we did not continued with the process because I decided to stay in Canada to finish my schooling.

We are ready to start our lives together now but I don't know if we should apply for K1, K3 or IR1/CR1.

If I apply for K1 again, will my application be impacted since I didn't complete my 1st K1 application in 2011?

No

I have been looking at forums and timelines, and found that K3 visa are rare?? And as for CR1, I feel that it might take at least 1 year to process??

Can someone please provide some suggestions?

Thanks

[gwenstar 66]

Take a look at this guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Keep in mind that current processing time for the K1 is about 6 months, CR1 is 12+.

K-1 goes through the process faster, but once you move here you can not work right away so it takes a few more steps and is a little bit more $.

CR-1 takes (much) longer - but once you are here you can start working. When we applied, the timeline seemed faster for CR-1 but that quickly changed. Sometimes I wish we would have just waited to get married and tried the K-1, but at the same time, it would have been really stressful to have my husband here and him not be able to work. I think he would go stir crazy!

K-3 seems to be rare - I know there are some people on VJ who filed CR-1 as well as K-3 hoping that one would go faster. I think once you get an NOA2 from USCIS on either of those it cancels out the other petition. Not totally sure on that one....but I know you could search for others who have gone that route.

Research the link above - there are benefits and downfalls to each, just find the one that fits your situation the best.

Also, you can get married in the states and go back to Canada and file the CR-1 petition. We did that for several reasons -but one of them is that it was easier to get married here and we could get the license faster.

Your petition in 2011 should not effect a new petition as long as you cancelled it properly and explain to them the circumstances.

Best wishes

Edited March 6, 2014 by gwenstar

[gpluss 1]

Thanks for everyone's input! Sounds like K1 visa might be a better option.