Silly question

[SoCalMan 1]

Hi everyone,

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer all questions. 

 

Ive been thinking about filing for the CR-1 in the future but I'm unsure on one step. When the time comes for my German girlfriend to travel to the US to marry (I'm assuming on the vwp?) what does she say to the CBP? Simply "I'm visiting my bf?" And not "I'm marrying my bf and then flying back in 2 weeks"?

 

Sorry for the question, I could not find an answer in the search feature. Take care 

Edited May 21, 2017 by SoCalMan

[NikLR 13,227]

She can tell the truth, she's visiting her fiance, she's getting married... etc... No need to babble on and on about it, but having proof of her ties to Germany and evidence of a return flight would be good. 

[Boiler 45,489]

Have you looked at the K1?

[SoCalMan 1]

14 hours ago, Boiler said:

Have you looked at the K1?

Yes, it's the first one I looked at. I'm still unsure which visa to petition. Do you think that would be better?

Edited May 21, 2017 by SoCalMan

[Karim mohamed 0]

Looking forward k1 visa

[Leafsfan 54]

There's no clear cut winner on which visa to go with, it all depends on your situation and values.

K1: is a little bit faster to go through processing, so you won't be apart quite as long (it's still 6+ months). You still have lots to do afterwards though: get married within 90 days, adjustment of status, and your fiance still cannot work until after the AOS is done. This route costs about twice as much as a CR1

CR1: Longer wait (usually, mine was still 6 months from Canada), but everything is done when your spouse is approved to come. They get their social and green card mailed out as soon as they make legal entry and activate the visa, and can seek work immediately. Costs about half in filing fees what a K1 does.

 

As far as her coming, I declared I was entering with the intent to marry my fiance and return to Canada afterward. They might approve the visit, they might not. Your fiance would have to prove intent to move home; in my case, I had work obligations, a mortgage, and made a land crossing in my vehicle which I could not import to the USA at the time.

[SoCalMan 1]

1 hour ago, Leafsfan said:

There's no clear cut winner on which visa to go with, it all depends on your situation and values.

K1: is a little bit faster to go through processing, so you won't be apart quite as long (it's still 6+ months). You still have lots to do afterwards though: get married within 90 days, adjustment of status, and your fiance still cannot work until after the AOS is done. This route costs about twice as much as a CR1

CR1: Longer wait (usually, mine was still 6 months from Canada), but everything is done when your spouse is approved to come. They get their social and green card mailed out as soon as they make legal entry and activate the visa, and can seek work immediately. Costs about half in filing fees what a K1 does.

 

As far as her coming, I declared I was entering with the intent to marry my fiance and return to Canada afterward. They might approve the visit, they might not. Your fiance would have to prove intent to move home; in my case, I had work obligations, a mortgage, and made a land crossing in my vehicle which I could not import to the USA at the time.

What does one do if they don't approve the visit even with all proof of ties to the country? There's no plan B?

[Boiler 45,489]

Other than the obvious?

[Leafsfan 54]

14 minutes ago, SoCalMan said:

What does one do if they don't approve the visit even with all proof of ties to the country? There's no plan B?

Plan B would be getting married in Germany.

 

It's no different then her coming to the USA at any point previously. There's always a chance someone could be found inadmissible for really any reason at any time.. if you're an upstanding citizen and have everything in order it's not likely, but it's never 100%.

[SoCalMan 1]

1 hour ago, Leafsfan said:

There's no clear cut winner on which visa to go with, it all depends on your situation and values.

K1: is a little bit faster to go through processing, so you won't be apart quite as long (it's still 6+ months). You still have lots to do afterwards though: get married within 90 days, adjustment of status, and your fiance still cannot work until after the AOS is done. This route costs about twice as much as a CR1

CR1: Longer wait (usually, mine was still 6 months from Canada), but everything is done when your spouse is approved to come. They get their social and green card mailed out as soon as they make legal entry and activate the visa, and can seek work immediately. Costs about half in filing fees what a K1 does.

 

As far as her coming, I declared I was entering with the intent to marry my fiance and return to Canada afterward. They might approve the visit, they might not. Your fiance would have to prove intent to move home; in my case, I had work obligations, a mortgage, and made a land crossing in my vehicle which I could not import to the USA at the time.

What does one do if they don't approve the visit even with all proof of ties to the country? There's no plan B?

[Leafsfan 54]

17 minutes ago, SoCalMan said:

What does one do if they don't approve the visit even with all proof of ties to the country? There's no plan B?

Each CBP agent is King of their particular hill so to speak. You're only guaranteed admission as a citizen.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

2 hours ago, Leafsfan said:

You still have lots to do afterwards though: get married within 90 days, adjustment of status, and your fiance still cannot work until after the AOS is done. This route costs about twice as much as a CR1

No, it's roughly $1300 for CR1 and  $1800 for K1 + AOS/EAD/AP

 

Also a K1 does not need to wait for AOS to be finished, just for the EAD to process which is currently around 90-120 days after filling. 

I had my GC less than 1 year after the initial filing of the i129f and that's with waiting 1 month after K1 issued to travel and 1 month after arriving to file AOS.

 

It was tough not being able to work for the time of waiting however.

 

[jakelake 222]

41 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

No, it's roughly $1300 for CR1 and  $1800 for K1 + AOS/EAD/AP

Indirectly, the CR1 is more expensive for some people.

While waiting for spouse to be approved, money sometimes have to be sent to support him or her. Over the course of several months, the amount of money sent would probably surpass the difference in costs between the CR1 and K-1 visas.

[SoCalMan 1]

Thanks everyone. I'm still unsure which visa I should use. I'll have to give it some time. And that's correct, the prices do not concern me. I'm more concerned about what evidence one must provide and what to say to the CBP/POE. This is what worries me the most.

 

For those that successfully went through the CR-1 process, did you still have to provide proof from the past 2 years before submitting the form like the K1? I do know you have to show proof of marriage.

 

Thanks again everyone!

[NikLR 13,227]

 

59 minutes ago, SoCalMan said:

Thanks everyone. I'm still unsure which visa I should use. I'll have to give it some time. And that's correct, the prices do not concern me. I'm more concerned about what evidence one must provide and what to say to the CBP/POE. This is what worries me the most.

 

For those that successfully went through the CR-1 process, did you still have to provide proof from the past 2 years before submitting the form like the K1? I do know you have to show proof of marriage.

 

Thanks again everyone!

For the CR1 you need to show a genuine relationship but for neither visa do you need to show a relationship for the past 2 years.  For the K1 you must simply have MET in the last 2 years.  For the CR1 you need to show a little more in the way of a marital relationship, but the USCIS and DOS know that couples who have never lived together may not have things like joint bank accounts. But you can get wills, make someone the beneficiary on life insurance, show regular communication and visits, photos etc... There are good many benefits to a CR1.  For some of us, a little longer apart means that you have a better life together.  As my cousin once told me, what's a year in a lifetime? 

 

13 minutes ago, jakelake said:

Again, remember that I used the word "some".

How a spouse supported him or herself prior to marriage is irrelevant. Once two people are married, both tend to count on each other for a little more.

Some people do come from countries where the standard of living is far below that of the US, Europe and Canada. There are cases where the spouse, prior to marriage, lived with family members and depended on them. There are cases where the spouse lived on meager wages.

Still there are cases where the wife becomes pregnant or even gives birth while waiting for approval. Would it not be reasonable to send money?

If those were the cases and you were waiting to enter a husband or wife, would you not provide some additional assistance?

If you don't consider these things, then that would show that you are inconsiderate and your marriage would likely be short-lived.

 

You can tell how long I've been happily married on my timeline.  Beyond this we're talking about the OP's girlfriend in GERMANY not some 3rd world country.  Your point that you're trying to make is just talking to talk.  This isn't about you FYI.