Expat, and fiance' is in different country, and I need to figure out which visa to apply for to get permanent residency....

[Sjohn511 0]

HI, I am a US citizen currently engaged to a Sierra Leonen national. I want to figure out the quickest way for him to come to the USA as well as him becoming a permanent resident. I work as an expat currently in Lebanon and would like to put his application together for him to apply with USCIS. Would you recommend us going the K-1 visa route or (get married) and apply for the spouse (i think it's the I-130, or is there another option you would suggest? I want him to become a permanent resident fastest way possible because I work as an expat overseas so it will be best so we can travel together. I am currently stationed in Lebanon for a year.

[Kastrs 723]

I would suggest you read the guides on here, from a computer, to get a sense of the process for a K1 vs CR1

The fastest to get him to the US would be a K1 in general, but the fastest to permanent residency is a CR1

A couple of things to consider:

You have met in person during the past 2 years?

You have someone lined up to be your cosponsor for the financial portion of the process?

[Jawaree 717]

K1= fiancé will move a bit faster than spousal visa (by mths) however

he can gain employment as a spouse while a fiance has to wait a few

mths.The petition can be file by you however a definitive US address

must be used to keep abreast of the application, I think your B/F traveling

back with you is cutting it close even on a K1...applications can be viewed

and downloaded on line

[Sjohn511 0]

Yes we have met in the last two years, and I have a financial sponsor. My only hang up with the K-1 visa is that if I went that route and he was approved...I am not finished in Lebanon until a year from now and he has no family in the US, and from what I understand he would have to be in the US for the whole process, where for the CR 1 we can apply from abroad for him...

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

K-1 is the fastest to get him in the States but more processes follow after he gets here and it is cheaper upfront but the remainder processes all will cost you money.

CR-1 is longer but most of the processes will be done before he gets here and it is more expensive upfront.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Ayisi&Phyllis