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Posted (edited)

Hi, everyone I am pretty much brand new in this whole process and hope you can help me out on what to do.

 

I am an US citizen who is been in LDR with my GF for about 2+ years, I want to bring her to live with me. We have only met 3 times physically in our relationship. The last time I was there was the longest which was about 2 months, back in Jan-Feb this year, the previous times were for about 1mo or less stays. We have been in the talks of marrying in the last couple of months, in fact I already proposed to her the last time I was there. So everything points out for a K1 fiancee visa, however we're interested in marrying, having the wedding and everything there in her home country, I read one of the few differences between the K1 and CR1 is whether we're marrying overseas or not. We don't mind the extra processing time for a CR1 too. but I am curious if we still met the requirement for a CR1 for being separated for so much time before marrying. Like, given our situation can I just go there, marry there, do the wedding and as soon as I come back file all what is needed to petition for her? even if we just have met 3 times and have lived physically together for that short period of time? or after I marry I must have to stay there with her during the petition process?

 

Also, I personally need to stay here as I work here, so come back and file for her and stay here while petition is in process?

As for other requirements like financial support, or proof of ongoing relationship I (or we) do met them completely fine, as we keep daily and continuous communication each day via chat or video calls as well as that I make above the poverty guidelines for a spousal visa. Any information you can give is appreciated. Thank you!

Edited by Justinsmob
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
Timeline
Posted

The requirement for CR-1 is marriage......the requirement for K-1 is met in person in the last 2 years...

 

You can get married, return home , file I-130 and travel back and forth until approval.....you don't have to live there

CR-1 Visa

USCIS

7/27/15 Sent I-130 package to Chicago Lock box

7/29/15 NOA1, TSC

10/7/15 Entered USA for three weeks to close escrow and pack house

12/5/15 Entered USA for 90 days to visit

12/7/15 I-130 approved,NOA2

NVC

12/23/15 NVC received package

1/5/2016 Called NVC

1/7/2016 Called NVC, assigned case # and IIN #

1/7/2016 Assigned choice of agent

1/7/2016 Paid AOS fees

1/21/2016 Paid packet IV fees

2/20/2016 Filed DS-260

3/30/2016 Sent NVC package

4/5/2016 NVC received package

5/5/2016 Email from NVC...case complete with interview date 6/17

6/10/2016 Medical

6/17/2016 Interview - Approved :)

Posted

Yes, basically the biggest difference is that K-1 takes 6-8 months and IR-1/CR-2 takes 12-14 months. 

 

If you want to be together faster, you can do a K-1 and after marrying in the US and doing the paperwork (3-4 months), you can go to DR and do another ceremony. 

 

For either visa you will have to put together a packet with evidence of your relationship. In addition to trips, you can put logs of how much you talk on the phone or text, etc. etc.

 

If you do the spousal visa, you don't need to live together after marriage. Most people cannot do that because the US citizen is in the US and the other person is in another country. 

Posted

There are quite some big differences between the K-1 and CR-1 route. You got to both figure out which one of the two will suit the best.

K-1 is relatively faster but more expensive due the fact your girlfriend has to adjust status after marriage. She can not work or drive (drive = depending on the state) until she has adjusted her status and received either her employment authorization card or green card. You both have to be ok with that scenario. Adjusting from the K-1 visa can take up to a year. Receiving the employment card takes about 3-4 months but she cannot travel outside the US without having either of the cards in hands. Re-enter will not be allowed and the I-485 petition is considered abandoned. 

CR-1 is taking about twice as long but is cheaper and she will be a lawful permanent resident upon arrival in the US, meaning she can work and drive etc. 

For both visas the beneficiary resides in her home country, awaiting the medical exam and interview at the embassy. Visiting in between is possible. 

01/13/2016: I-129F filed  07/15/2016: K-1 visa in hand
10/13/2016: Filed AOS + EAD/AP.   07/07/2017: Permanent resident (Conditional)
04/16/2019: Filed ROC  11/17/2020: Approved. (10 yr GC)

 

Naturalization                                                        
09/02/2020: Filed (Online)    09/08/2020: NOA1: (NBC
10/22/2020: Biometrics Reuse Notice.  12/22/2020: Online Status Changed to Interview Was Scheduled.  
01/29/2021: N-400 Interview - PASSED! 01/29/2021: Same-day oath ceremony.  

'Merica. 

Filed: Other Country: China
Timeline
Posted

If the priority is marriage anywhere but the USA, then the Fiancee visa is out of the question, making all other related decisions pretty much moot points.

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Posted

If you are still currently living in the DR and you plan to marry in the DR, check and see if you can do "Direct Consular Filing" at the US Embassy in the DR. It would be a CR-1 but you would go through the Embassy instead of the NVC. It is MUCH MUCH quicker. I don't know if it is in every country though.

 

If you want to marry in the DR then you have to do a CR-1. My wife and I were in a similar situation. We could have chosen between the K-1/CR-1 routes and we ended up with CR-1 because it was important for her to married in a CoE Church.

Posted
3 minutes ago, bcking said:

If you are still currently living in the DR and you plan to marry in the DR, check and see if you can do "Direct Consular Filing" at the US Embassy in the DR. It would be a CR-1 but you would go through the Embassy instead of the NVC. It is MUCH MUCH quicker. I don't know if it is in every country though.

 

If you want to marry in the DR then you have to do a CR-1. My wife and I were in a similar situation. We could have chosen between the K-1/CR-1 routes and we ended up with CR-1 because it was important for her to married in a CoE Church.

 

He should find out what the requirements are to be able to do that. He seems not to reside in DR. OP, send them an email to find out before making any decisions. Some UCSIS offices require 6 months residence in the country, others are not that strict.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/dominican-republic-uscis-santo-domingo-field-office

 

 

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

 

He should find out what the requirements are to be able to do that. He seems not to reside in DR. OP, send them an email to find out before making any decisions. Some UCSIS offices require 6 months residence in the country, others are not that strict.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/dominican-republic-uscis-santo-domingo-field-office

 

 

 

Yes on rereading I guess he doesn't I was getting confused with the word "here" in different places. It wasn't clear what the location "here" referred to at times. I guess if they lived in the DR they would have spent more than a few months together. Silly me :P

Posted

*~*~*moved from "IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures" to "what visa do I need?" as OP is still researching his options*~*~*

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

Posted

Thank you so much guys for your helpful information. I am really so sorry it took me so long to respond. I had almost forgotten I had these question here.

 

One more question, if you guys still can respond. I am in the US and like I said we only have met physically 3 times and for a total period of time of less than 4mo physically, as far as proof of relationship we have is photos together, plane tickets, chat logs and video call, and obviously we would have wedding photos. But nothing like joint properties and bank accounts, or things that normally married couples have. Would what I have count as proof of relationship or marriage in our case?

 

Thank you.

Posted
On 7/7/2017 at 11:56 AM, bcking said:

If you are still currently living in the DR and you plan to marry in the DR, check and see if you can do "Direct Consular Filing" at the US Embassy in the DR. It would be a CR-1 but you would go through the Embassy instead of the NVC. It is MUCH MUCH quicker. I don't know if it is in every country though.

 

If you want to marry in the DR then you have to do a CR-1. My wife and I were in a similar situation. We could have chosen between the K-1/CR-1 routes and we ended up with CR-1 because it was important for her to married in a CoE Church.

Appreciate that but I am in the US right now.

Posted
1 hour ago, Justinsmob said:

Thank you so much guys for your helpful information. I am really so sorry it took me so long to respond. I had almost forgotten I had these question here.

 

One more question, if you guys still can respond. I am in the US and like I said we only have met physically 3 times and for a total period of time of less than 4mo physically, as far as proof of relationship we have is photos together, plane tickets, chat logs and video call, and obviously we would have wedding photos. But nothing like joint properties and bank accounts, or things that normally married couples have. Would what I have count as proof of relationship or marriage in our case?

 

Thank you.

Most couples here are in the same situation. Living in 2 different countries - on different continents - makes sharing finances and so on almost impossible. We had no joint accounts or property when we did my paperwork. We did add each other as beneficiaries for company life insurances abs I also sent medical records that show my husband as my emergency contact and where the doctor had made notes about speaking to my husband on the phone regarding a surgery I was due to have. We sent photos, travel history, cards addressed to the two of us from various family members from both sides, his father's obituary from the newspaper which listed me as my husband's wife and daughter-in-law of the deceased man. We also sent snippets of messages between us - not just "I love you" type messages but ones where we talked about day to day things like married couples do - work, money, where to spend thanksgiving this year, what to buy my mother for her birthday, my sister's pregnancy, whether to replace the carpet in the living room, etc. 

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

Posted
On 7/14/2017 at 0:46 AM, JFH said:

Most couples here are in the same situation. Living in 2 different countries - on different continents - makes sharing finances and so on almost impossible. We had no joint accounts or property when we did my paperwork. We did add each other as beneficiaries for company life insurances abs I also sent medical records that show my husband as my emergency contact and where the doctor had made notes about speaking to my husband on the phone regarding a surgery I was due to have. We sent photos, travel history, cards addressed to the two of us from various family members from both sides, his father's obituary from the newspaper which listed me as my husband's wife and daughter-in-law of the deceased man. We also sent snippets of messages between us - not just "I love you" type messages but ones where we talked about day to day things like married couples do - work, money, where to spend thanksgiving this year, what to buy my mother for her birthday, my sister's pregnancy, whether to replace the carpet in the living room, etc. 

Appreciate your response and time! That is all I need for now. Very helpful you guys!

 
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