k1 or CR1 visa??

[Emmah1979 3]

hi all, i would like to ask a general question, my fiance and i have just got engaged he is anerican and i am from the uk, i would like to know if there is anyone out there who have been through this on here. we want to start planning our wedding but before we do i am not sure if to marry first and then apply for the CR1 visa or go through the whole K1 visa fiance visa and then marry. i was advised the CR1 is quicker and has a higher priroty than the K1 and then i read other things  i am getting rather confused.com! we are waiting for lawyers to get back to us but are  little slow!

 

so any helop and advice would be much appriciated and sharing with me your journeys to 

 

thanks

emma

 

[JB209 60]

K1 is quicker in order to get to the US but more expensive and once you arrive to the US, you would need to adjust status (more paperwork and time) to be able to work.

 

CR1 is cheaper but takes longer. However, with CR1 once you arrive to the US you are already a Lawful Permanent Resident and can work immediately.

[Crazy Cat 41,884]

14 minutes ago, Emmah1979 said:

hi all, i would like to ask a general question, my fiance and i have just got engaged he is anerican and i am from the uk, i would like to know if there is anyone out there who have been through this on here. we want to start planning our wedding but before we do i am not sure if to marry first and then apply for the CR1 visa or go through the whole K1 visa fiance visa and then marry. i was advised the CR1 is quicker and has a higher priroty than the K1 and then i read other things  i am getting rather confused.com! we are waiting for lawyers to get back to us but are  little slow!

 

so any helop and advice would be much appriciated and sharing with me your journeys to 

 

thanks

emma

 

CR-1 takes about a year.  But once you enter the US, you can immediately work, and you don't have to worry about all that AOS stuff.  You would then receive your GC in about 3 weeks.

Edited August 2, 2017 by missileman

[Coco8 1,042]

I'd like to add that, because you are from a visa waiver country, you can visit your fiance/husband in the US while everything is being processed (I'm assuming he is living in the US now). So even though a spousal visa takes longer, you can visit. Spousal visa has a lot of advantages, like the ones mentioned above.

 

Also, if you want to plan a wedding, you can easily do that. With the K-1 it can be tricky because it is hard to estimate when you'll get the visa and then you have to marry in 90 days once you arrive to the US.

 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

17 minutes ago, Emmah1979 said:

 i was advised the CR1 is quicker and has a higher priroty than the K1 and then i read other things

You were advised backwards or confused what was said. Also, there is no "priority" for either a CR-1 or K-1.

 

K-1 is faster. That is the only advantage of a K-1 over a CR-1. ETA: 6-8 months on average.

With a K-1, you have to file for AOS after entering the US. It's more expensive. You cannot work until you either get the green card or get an approved EAD (3-4 months after filing with AOS). You cannot travel abroad until you get an approved AP (also 3-4 months). AOS itself takes anywhere from several months to over a year.

 

CR-1 takes about 12-14 months. You can work and travel immediately after entry.