K1 versus CR1 visa

[NikLR 13,227]

A joint sponsor can be any USC or LPR who makes over the poverty guidelines and is domiciled in the USA. You do not have to be friends or family.

12-14 months is a typical time. 8 months is quite fast. Sometimes things you cannot control slow you down and sometimes things you can, do as well.

[jg121783 3,909]

A joint sponsor can be any USC or LPR who makes over the poverty guidelines and is domiciled in the USA. You do not have to be friends or family.

12-14 months is a typical time. 8 months is quite fast. Sometimes things you cannot control slow you down and sometimes things you can, do as well.

Does that mean if we went for the CR1 visa and I lived in the Philippines part or all of the time we are waiting and I couldn't meet the poverty guidelines as a result it would be okay to use a friend as a joint sponsor or am I missing something here? I have a friend who makes well over the poverty guidelines who said he would be a joint sponsor. I was also wondering if a DCF would be a viable option if I lived in the Philippines long enough? What about a K3 visa? Does that process an faster than a CR1 visa?

[Brassballs 47]

I'll continue to throw my $0.02 at this discussion. Take it for what its worth and understand that this is only one individuals viewpoint and the decision is ultimately yours. In no specific order.

I cannot address the co-sponsor issue. Definitely was not an issue in our case. Please understand I am not trying to preach to you and I certainly don't know the specifics of your case. Marriage is a life changing event. To be successful it takes work and commitment from both parties. As you may have heard upto 50% fail in the US. Might be a valid # maybe not. And for young couples (which I am presuming for no good reason) you are, financial stability seems to be a driving force, more so when you marrying into an instant family. Add to your US financial responsibilities the possible desire / requirements to assist (I don't use 'support') her immediate family, and again this may not apply to your situation, there is even more stress on a budding relationship. I guess what I am driving at is that if co-sponsorship is even in your deck of cards, you and your fiancé should seriously discuss your current financial status, your more than just survival needs in the US, and her expectations. Best to get everything out on the table now so there will be fewer misunderstandings in the future. And for all I know your future asawa may be able to bring into the family as much or more than you do so all the above is really moot. Just something to think about. Her and her son moving to a foreign country 12000 miles away from her family will be stressful enough even without worrying about financial stability.

Marriage should be a serious event, not something that should be 'worked' to suit your convenience. In the Philippines you have 2 choices, church or civil. Depending on how 'Catholic' your fiancé's family is, a civil ceremony may seem an affront. My son recently married in Davao, church wedding, and he was only in country for a total of 4 weeks. All of the pre-cana stuff that typically takes months to complete, they did in a very long 1 day. Most priests or churches will try to accommodate a foreigner spouse. If you elect to go the civil route with a 'pastor' or mayor officiating, be advised that the marriage will eventually be recorded at the NSO (they got a new name last month but I forget what it is, everyone still refers to the NSO [National Statistics Office].

If you apply for K1 one of the documents you will eventually have to provide to the USEM is a CENOMAR (CErtificate of NO MARriage) on NSO safety paper. There is no way to be kinda married in the Philippines. I would highly recommend against trying to find a guy with a black shirt and white collar to read some sentences out of a book. Your really want to experience the complete marriage ceremony and customs, including veil, cord, perras, and candle. It will bring tears to your eyes, at least it did for me.

About the wait and being separated for some period of time; you residing in the Phils during the visa process.... If your relationship cannot survive this really in the big picture short time, is it the right relationship for both of you? Reading through other areas of VJ you will see couples that have endured 5 or more years of separation. Now that's commitment

This is my suggested scenario again for what it's worth. Get married in the Philippines, church or civil, all above board and fully legal. Take a good laptop to leave with her and set her up with a reliable (HAHAHAHAHAHA) high speed wifi connection and show her how to use Skype. My wife and I have been using this mode of communicating since we met. An hour in the morning and again an hour at night. We never seem to have nothing to talk about. Come back to the US and start the Visa Journey. 8, 10, 12, 14 months will fly by, trust me. Unless your attorney is a friend working pro-bono or you have already retained him, part ways and get your information and support here. Ask many questions and will get good guidance. And there are all kinds of 'thingies' here to help you along the way. Fill out the I-130, send money and supporting documents (some you will want to print and have your complete while in the Phils) and you are on your way. Work on establishing a financially stable home here in the US. Plan for the following monetary outlays: I-130 (USCIS), $420 x 2; AOS (NVC), $120 x 1; IV (NVC), $325 x 2; IV (USCIS), $165 x 2; RT tickets for you, $1200(approx.) x 2; one way (wife and child), $1800 x 1; Wedding, reception, fees, copies, transport, etc, $1500(?????????)

This has been kind of long but I wanted to give you one man's perspective on the events and journey you are embarking on. Others comments and views would be most welcome. Good luck on whatever route you ultimately take.

[NikLR 13,227]

This is very good advice.

[Darnell 8,478]

k-3? restudy current info here at VJ. Thanks so much, and Thanks in advance !

however - if i were in your exact shoes, i'd study first, to learn if the auto-expedite for The Philipenes (sp?) is still in effect at USCIS or no.

Edited July 12, 2015 by Darnell

[j&ana 363]

If you plan on going there in October. You will have some time to decide and research the visa that you want to do. I believed the cr-1 visa is the better visa .It cost less. Your wife will be an LPR as soon as she is in America, She can work right away. As mention if you happen to need a joint sponsor the embassy will usually accept anyone to be a joint sponsor. You can use one for the K-1 visa but it is a lot harder to get the embassy there to accept one. If it is just a friend that will be your joint sponsor most likely they will not for the K-1 fiancée visa for the CR-1 spouse visa they will

I do not know if they are still auto expediting petitions from there ( they was because of the big Typhoon in 2013) or not now, but a lot of visas there are process faster from that country anyway. That does not necessary mean your case will be process fast as each case is different. However there are things you can do to help with the process. Research and ask question on here at each stage of the process, stay on top of things. My wife visa only took 8 months and it was because I found a lot of helpful and useful info on this site and some time saving tips. This is a very good site if you look at the guides and do some searching. If you just get on the site occasionally to ask a question or two then you probably will not learn much from this site

As mention marriage is a life time commitment. The reasons of where or when should be a want not a need. I got marry in the Philippines so that my wife family could be at the wedding. We got married at her parents house, in Pres Garcia Bohol the mayor officiated wedding. We also had a small reception. The reason I did that wasn't because I needed her family to see her wedding or I felt the visa was better. It was because I wanted to do that for my wife

You mention doing a pretend wedding in the Philippines I will also advise against that, if immigration thinks in any way that is a real wedding then it could hurt your chances. There have been others on here that has been denied a k-1 visa because they did that. You also mention a k-3 visa. While a k-3 visa is still available it is rarely giving out. If you research on here you will understand why

Yes you could live there for a while and go the DCF (direct consul filing) route. It the fastest way to get a spousal visa. However it is only a lot faster for couples already together in a another country as most countries require you to be a resident there for a certain amount of time. The Philippines it is a 6 months requirement and if you will have to make sure you still have domicile in the USA.I do not seeing it saving a lot of time for you maybe a little. Since you will have to live there for 6 months before you could file. You could file from the USA and still stay in the Philippines for a while as long as you have an address that you could use for corresponding from the USCIS. Again what you decide should be a want not a need

If you do decide to marry there then you should research requirement for marrying there. It is not hard to get marry there, but there are some requirement needed. The main one is Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. If you use the embassy in Manila, you will need to make an appointment online at the embassy website. I could be wrong but I think for the one in Cebu you do not need to make an appointment you can just go there

Good luck on whatever way you decide

Edited July 12, 2015 by j&ana

[jg121783 3,909]

I'll continue to throw my $0.02 at this discussion. Take it for what its worth and understand that this is only one individuals viewpoint and the decision is ultimately yours. In no specific order.

I cannot address the co-sponsor issue. Definitely was not an issue in our case. Please understand I am not trying to preach to you and I certainly don't know the specifics of your case. Marriage is a life changing event. To be successful it takes work and commitment from both parties. As you may have heard upto 50% fail in the US. Might be a valid # maybe not. And for young couples (which I am presuming for no good reason) you are, financial stability seems to be a driving force, more so when you marrying into an instant family. Add to your US financial responsibilities the possible desire / requirements to assist (I don't use 'support') her immediate family, and again this may not apply to your situation, there is even more stress on a budding relationship. I guess what I am driving at is that if co-sponsorship is even in your deck of cards, you and your fiancé should seriously discuss your current financial status, your more than just survival needs in the US, and her expectations. Best to get everything out on the table now so there will be fewer misunderstandings in the future. And for all I know your future asawa may be able to bring into the family as much or more than you do so all the above is really moot. Just something to think about. Her and her son moving to a foreign country 12000 miles away from her family will be stressful enough even without worrying about financial stability.

All good advice. A couple things here. We are both 31 years old so I don't know if you could call us a "young couple" or not. I guess that depends on your point of view lol. As far as financial stability goes that is not an issue because I work in a high demand field where if I lost my job today I could find a new one tomorrow and I am about to complete a diploma in this field so my earning potential will be even higher. The reason I was even discussing a co-sponsor was if I decided to live in the Philippines for an extended period of time I might not meet the poverty level requirement for that period of time. Nothing is set in stone here yet. I am simply trying to look at all the options. Realistically I think what will happen is we will get married in January and use a CR1 visa and wait however long it takes while taking a couple trips over there to visit her in the meantime. She has her heart set on getting married in January with her family there and I want to make her happy so that is what we will likely do.

Marriage should be a serious event, not something that should be 'worked' to suit your convenience. In the Philippines you have 2 choices, church or civil. Depending on how 'Catholic' your fiancé's family is, a civil ceremony may seem an affront. My son recently married in Davao, church wedding, and he was only in country for a total of 4 weeks. All of the pre-cana stuff that typically takes months to complete, they did in a very long 1 day. Most priests or churches will try to accommodate a foreigner spouse. If you elect to go the civil route with a 'pastor' or mayor officiating, be advised that the marriage will eventually be recorded at the NSO (they got a new name last month but I forget what it is, everyone still refers to the NSO [National Statistics Office].

If you apply for K1 one of the documents you will eventually have to provide to the USEM is a CENOMAR (CErtificate of NO MARriage) on NSO safety paper. There is no way to be kinda married in the Philippines. I would highly recommend against trying to find a guy with a black shirt and white collar to read some sentences out of a book. Your really want to experience the complete marriage ceremony and customs, including veil, cord, perras, and candle. It will bring tears to your eyes, at least it did for me.

Her parents are Catholic but they don't have a problem with us having a civil wedding. Her mother keeps telling her she isn't getting an younger and she should marry me as soon as possible lol. She did tell me she is okay with us having a non legally binding wedding but she doesn't want her parents to know its not binding. I have thought about it and I don't feel confortable lying to her parents so I think we will just get married for real and deal with the wait time for the CR1 visa. Besides I don't want to take a chance of having a K1 visa denied and wasting extra time. Since you mentioned all the requirements for a church wedding can be met in 1 long day maybe I will have to look into it more because I know a church wedding is what she really wants.

About the wait and being separated for some period of time; you residing in the Phils during the visa process.... If your relationship cannot survive this really in the big picture short time, is it the right relationship for both of you? Reading through other areas of VJ you will see couples that have endured 5 or more years of separation. Now that's commitment

It's not that our relationship can't survive us being apart. It is just that I think every option for shortening that period of time we are apart is worth looking at.

This is my suggested scenario again for what it's worth. Get married in the Philippines, church or civil, all above board and fully legal. Take a good laptop to leave with her and set her up with a reliable (HAHAHAHAHAHA) high speed wifi connection and show her how to use Skype. My wife and I have been using this mode of communicating since we met. An hour in the morning and again an hour at night. We never seem to have nothing to talk about. Come back to the US and start the Visa Journey. 8, 10, 12, 14 months will fly by, trust me. Unless your attorney is a friend working pro-bono or you have already retained him, part ways and get your information and support here. Ask many questions and will get good guidance. And there are all kinds of 'thingies' here to help you along the way. Fill out the I-130, send money and supporting documents (some you will want to print and have your complete while in the Phils) and you are on your way. Work on establishing a financially stable home here in the US. Plan for the following monetary outlays: I-130 (USCIS), $420 x 2; AOS (NVC), $120 x 1; IV (NVC), $325 x 2; IV (USCIS), $165 x 2; RT tickets for you, $1200(approx.) x 2; one way (wife and child), $1800 x 1; Wedding, reception, fees, copies, transport, etc, $1500(?????????)

Here is how we currently communicate. She has a Globe mobile cell phone with data that she sometimes uses to go on skype with me. The data connection is very poor and rarely we are lucky enough to get an hour or so on video skype but most times just a few minutes if that. For months we have been looking at different internet options such as dsl or LTE. Unfortunately where she lives there is no coverage for any of these services. She applied for internet service through Globe mobile about a month ago and about a week ago out of no where someone from Globe mobile showed up at her house to test the connection and see if they could hook it up. They told her they could and she paid for the first months service and they said they would be back in a week or so to hook it up. We are still waiting lol. It certainly isn't like it is here in the US where they schedule a day and time to connect your internet service. Mostly we talk on the phone. We have talked for at least an hour every day since we met and some days (when I don't have to work) it can be 6-8 hours in a day on the phone with her. Good thing I found a way to make unlimited calls to Globe customers for $10 a month or it would cost me a fortune lol.

This has been kind of long but I wanted to give you one man's perspective on the events and journey you are embarking on. Others comments and views would be most welcome. Good luck on whatever route you ultimately take.

Thanks for taking the time to write such a long post and I appreciate all the advice I can get from people who have experienced what I am about to go through.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Me and my girlfriend were planning on obtaining a K1 visa and getting married in the US. Now after discussing it more we want to get married in the Philippines and apply for a CR1 visa so her family can be there for our wedding. I spoke to an immigration attorney who said a CR1 visa takes twice as long as a K1 visa (he said it could be over a year). Is this correct? As I understand it the CR1 visa has the advantage of getting a green card right away though and it's cheaper than the K1 and AOS. Is this also correct? If we apply for a CR1 visa do I have to live in the US while we wait or can I live in the Philippines at least part of the time? Also are the income requirements the same? One ore thing I was wondering. Are there going to be any complications with the way the Philippines marriage laws are? Neither one of us have ever been married so that's not an issue.

You have it about right, being you have to obtain the NSO marriage certificate to file your I-130 so a year is pretty close.

Now I have a question and a suggestion? Want to cut about 6 months off that time? You mentioned living in the Phils while waiting, if you can live there, my suggestion is to get your butt over there, get married and once you have 6 months in country to file a DFA (Direct Consulate Filing) for the IR/CR-1, the process takes about 60 days on the long side. Up to four months of your waiting to complete the 6 month requirement would be waiting time anyway for NSO to have the marriage certificate recorded.

If I had it to do over, I would of stayed for the 6 months and got married in the Phils.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Hank_

[Zanby 1]

To the OP...

I am in a very similar boat... Here is my findings sofar...

1- Don't do the "Pretense and non-binding Marriage" then apply for a visa which assumes your are still Finaces (K1). I read that it was denied coz some Indian couple did it (in India) and were rejected. In short, play by the rules or risk it!

2- If you can live in PI for 6 months to satisfy the DCF requirements. Get married then apply for DCF there and just chug it Hey, first it's cheaper then second it might be longer by few moths? So, what?

3- You are an American Citizen. Which means, you can travel any where freely? So, nobody is going to question your travels??

4- Since you have a US base and SHE's going to live there... your 'Domicile' is US but you live outside when you filed?

My problem is, I've been living with her as bf/gf here for over a year so, I don't have the domicile but have to prove that I intend to!! I am still researching ...

[jg121783 3,909]

I am wondering with the DCF if you were unable to meet the poverty guidelines because you lived in the Phiippines for 6 months if a co-sponsor who met the requirements would be acceptable.

[VOL 425]

I am wondering with the DCF if you were unable to meet the poverty guidelines because you lived in the Phiippines for 6 months if a co-sponsor who met the requirements would be acceptable.

They have to accept a co sponsor if you are married.........

[VOL 425]

After reading your post let me offer some suggestion.

Your gf wants to do a fake wedding and then tell her family she is legally married, Not cool in my books.

You are only 31 which is quite young, I would suggest finding a person younger than you. By 31 females are set in their way, You are going to Philippines and it is quite normal for guys to date younger woman. Remember you are in Philippines not the USA

If I had to do all over, I would go spend a few months in PHilippines. I would enjoy the sites and date many. I would just hop on a plane and spend a few weeks like in Davao, Then Cebu, and then Manila, and then check out other cities.

What I was doing was just staying with the girls in the parents house, If they didnt' have aircon in their room I would buy one and install it, much cheaper than hotels. Make sure the girls you date are not dirt poor. It nice to stay at nice houses with a couple helpers, that way you can get room service when you stay at your gf houses.

Also I suggest to buy yourself a motorbike and that way you are not trapped at anyone place, A Honda Motorbike brand new is cheap, like $1,600 USD and they sip the gas.

Just giving you another option, Whatever path you choose I offer you good luck........

[Zanby 1]

VOL is trying to help. Don't take his suggestion lghtly You are 31 and not in the US

Damn... I am 60

After reading your post let me offer some suggestion.

Your gf wants to do a fake wedding and then tell her family she is legally married, Not cool in my books.

You are only 31 which is quite young, I would suggest finding a person younger than you. By 31 females are set in their way, You are going to Philippines and it is quite normal for guys to date younger woman. Remember you are in Philippines not the USA

If I had to do all over, I would go spend a few months in PHilippines. I would enjoy the sites and date many. I would just hop on a plane and spend a few weeks like in Davao, Then Cebu, and then Manila, and then check out other cities.

What I was doing was just staying with the girls in the parents house, If they didnt' have aircon in their room I would buy one and install it, much cheaper than hotels. Make sure the girls you date are not dirt poor. It nice to stay at nice houses with a couple helpers, that way you can get room service when you stay at your gf houses.

Also I suggest to buy yourself a motorbike and that way you are not trapped at anyone place, A Honda Motorbike brand new is cheap, like $1,600 USD and they sip the gas.

Just giving you another option, Whatever path you choose I offer you good luck........

[NikLR 13,227]

I read this suggestion as this "hey, your fiancé is too old and you can't train her. Date some younger girls and then decide which one you like but make sure she's not too poor."

Really? Occasionally people still amaze me, and not in a good way.

[jg121783 3,909]

I read this suggestion as this "hey, your fiancé is too old and you can't train her. Date some younger girls and then decide which one you like but make sure she's not too poor."

Really? Occasionally people still amaze me, and not in a good way.

I don't know how it is in the Phiippines but generally speaking in the US younger women are inmature and I prefer a woman closer to my age. But everyone has their own preferences I guess. To each their own.