Jump to content
Narakmak

Fiance' Visa vs Spouse Visa

By Narakmak in What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration

 Share

5 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Narakmak Newbie

Narakmak   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
 Timeline
Posted

Looking down the road to possibly marrying my Girlfriend and am unsure about which option is better/faster.

Get a K1 and get married in the USA or get married abroad and apply for a spouse visa.

Background: I'm US Military, She is Thai. Currently living in Bahrain.

I don't know if any of that is relevant, but including it in case it is

Penguin_ie Grand Master

Penguin_ie   5,997

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ireland
 Timeline
Posted

K1 fiancee visa is faster.

CR-1 spousal visa has the advantage that she can work and travel right away once she enters the USA, it is also cheaper.

But there are other considerations, too. For example, her family and friends are unlikely to be able to travel to the US for a wedding, and may not get tourist visas anyways, so having the wedding in Thailand may be better- and cheaper.

Bye: Penguin

Me: Irish/ Swiss citizen, and now naturalised US citizen. Husband: USC; twin babies born Feb 08 in Ireland and a daughter in Feb 2010 in Arkansas who are all joint Irish/ USC. Did DCF (IR1) in 6 weeks via the Dublin, Ireland embassy and now living in Arkansas.

mod penguin.jpg

Stressed Out Rising Star

Stressed Out   81

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Germany
 Timeline
Posted

Well as far as faster goes, most on here swear that the K-1 is often half the wait getting the visa issued. That's getting her to the US, but then she has to apply for Adjustment of Status after you're married so she can get her work authorization - she'd also need to apply for advanced parole if she wants to travel outside the US before getting her green card.

CR-1 spousal visa takes longer, but saves you some money and a good bit of stress since it's a combo deal and comes with a work permit/she's allowed to travel outside the country. A CR-1 stands for Conditional Residency meaning it'll be valid for only 2 years and recquires you to file for Removal of Conditions before the 2 years are up; the CR-1 is issued to a spouse married to a USC for less than 2 years. (an IR-1 is Immediate Residency for 10 years and no ROC recquired; for couples married over 2 years)

Myself: US citizen; Husband: German citizen

TransferWise Invitation Link: (first wire transfer is free) https://transferwise.com/u/eec50

(B-2 Journey):

 

 

-(then fiance) H-2B work visa application terminated due to qualification difficulties in Aug. 2010.

-(then fiance) B-2 tourist visa denied due to lack of strong ties to Germany in Sept. 2010.
-Third ESTA denied due to his suspiscious visa status on Oct. 15, 2012.
-B-2 tourist visa approved on Nov. 16, 2012!

 

(IR-1 Journey):

 

 

-Extended German residence permit obtained Aug. 23, 2014. (to qualify for DCF)

-Husband's new German passport picked up Aug. 28, 2014. (Old one expires 2015)

-I-130 packet sent to Frankfurt (DCF) Aug. 29, 2014!

-NOA1 issued Sept. 9, 2014 (received Sept.13)

-RFE regarding evidence of bona fide marriage received along with NOA1

-RFE reply packet sent to Frankfurt Sept. 30, 2014

-E-mail response (NOA2) received by USCIS Frankfurt on Oct. 23, 2014 (Petition APPROVED Oct. 20!!!) :dancing:

-Paper NOA2 received in the mail Oct. 29, 2014

-Case number assigned by IV unit Oct. 30, 2014 (Received by email Nov. 3)

-Paper "Packet 3" arrived in mail Nov. 4, 2014

-DS-260 and Document Delivery Registration submitted to Frankfurt Nov. 4, 2014

-Mailed in priority date request found on Packet 3 to IV Unit Nov. 5, 2014

-IV ("Packet 3") package sent to Frankfurt Nov. 17, 2014

-Medical completed by Frankfurt panel physician Nov. 17, 2014

-Received "Packet 4" via e-mail Nov. 20, 2014

-Interview booked for Dec. 3, 2014 (booked Nov. 21, 2014 after email authorization received)
-Visa approved, issued AND picked up by the courier all within 7 hours, Dec. 3, 2014 :dance:

-Visa packet arrived in the mail Dec. 4, 2014

-Visa packet had to be returned to Frankfurt for correction on Immigrant Data Summary sheet (wrong birthplace listed) Dec. 5, 2014

-Corrected visa packet received in the mail Dec. 11, 2014

-$165 Immigrant fee paid Dec. 11, 2014

-POE (through Dublin, Ireland) Jan. 18, 2015

-Registered manually for social security Jan. 27, 2015

-Social security card arrived within 2 weeks after applying in person/green card arrived within 30 days after entering U.S.

kXYGp1.png

canadian_wife Grand Master

canadian_wife   1,829

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Looking down the road to possibly marrying my Girlfriend and am unsure about which option is better/faster.

Get a K1 and get married in the USA or get married abroad and apply for a spouse visa.

Background: I'm US Military, She is Thai. Currently living in Bahrain.

I don't know if any of that is relevant, but including it in case it is

If only there was a guide, something for you to look at and compare the visas

oh wait, found one :)

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

good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1

NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC

Medical
May 4, 2009

Interview
May, 26, 2009

POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

Ning Experienced

Ning   619

Posted
Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Thailand
 Timeline
Posted

Looking down the road to possibly marrying my Girlfriend and am unsure about which option is better/faster.

Get a K1 and get married in the USA or get married abroad and apply for a spouse visa.

Background: I'm US Military, She is Thai. Currently living in Bahrain.

I don't know if any of that is relevant, but including it in case it is

Make the trip easier on both of you by buying two copies of Thailand Fever found on Amazon.

Which way to go? Depends on where you are, where she is, your relationship status. There is a lot to consider that isn't known before a visa decision can be made.

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...