CR-1 or K1

[Oz&Esh 0]

Hey peeps!!

So i've been a big reader of the forum for a while now but always from afar. However, it seems I must enter the fray. So just to give u guys a little background. I'm a Pakistani from Karachi.

I am hoping to get married to my love who lives in Los Angeles, CA. Shes 28 I'm 30. She is an attorney in the USA. currently practicing in Los Angeles. We come from SEA but she has never been to Pakistan. We have met twice in the last year for a total period of around a month combined. But frankly, we dont have the luxury of meeting much now because we informed her parents about the relationship. And in our culture its generally not okay for the couple to be hanging around alone unless they are married. We did meet in Thailand iniitially on a night out in Phuket when i was there for a trip and she was too just by coincidence. Anyway we met on a drunken night out and things took of from there. The next time we met was just me and her alone for a couple of weeks so that was pretty amazing. So now its been around a year and we want to take the next step. 

 

Now there are a couple of things which we are concerned about: 

1. Did my Commercial Pilot Lisence in Melbourne, Australia from 2009-2013. (Did not finish it however)

2. The obvious Im a Pakistani.

3. I was married before to a white girl from England/Spain. Between 2013-2015. 1.5 years and then we got divorced. We were living in Dubai. We werent interested in going to the UK or Spain (since she grew up there) because frankly the job situation in both countries was bleak around then. Dubai was decent. Anyway we got divroced because of multiple reasons. 

 

My concerns are how will USCIS view these issues? and also which visa would be better? CR-1 or K1? we are open to both. as if we go the CR1 route we dont mind waiting longer as long as we can be together in the end FOREVER!!!!! But we also have the luxury of her coming over every few months while we wait on the CR-1. If we did CR-1 she would come here and get married to me around Jan-Feb stay here for a month with me. And then go back and apply. Or we do the K1 and wait 8-9 months? So, yeah. I dont know what USCIS will think about my flying stuff either as I never got to complete it neither did I ever pursue it in a professional sense. Once i left Australia I was into Business Development in Dubai for 3 years and now Im in Finance in Paksitan. So, Yeah... But considering I'm brown and from Pakistan I reckon its not gonna look great...  LOL.

 

Anyway guys any feedback and questions let me know... Basically just need to know the better route, And some insight into current processing times and stuff.

 

THANKSGUYS

[Dashinka 24,521]

From a visa standpoint, the CR1 is generally considered superior in that the spouse enters with with a GC in hand, it is overall cheaper, and it eliminates the AOS stage in immigration.  The K1 is just a little bit shorter in processing.  

 

As to how USCIS or a consulate officer will look at you personally, I am not sure anyone can answer that.

 

Good Luck!

 

P.S.  you may want to hit the report button on your OP and ask a moderator to move this thread to the Which Visa Do I Need forum to get more answers.

Edited December 12, 2017 by Bill & Katya

[EandH0904 1,184]

Unfortunately, Pakistan is a tough embassy to get a visa from. With only two shorter trips and none for a year my first thought is to spend more time together to increase your chances. 

 

Your pilot license and your divorce are non-issues. One thing that may be problematic for you is you will need police clearance of every place you've lived at for 6 months or longer. It sounds like that's a lot of places for you. 

 

You can pick whichever visa you like but remember the pros and cons of each. A CR1 may be better for you considering the difficulty of the process for those from Pakistan as well as your not spending much time together. 

 

[Boiler 45,567]

CR 1 seems the obvious one.

[Kastrs 723]

I would encourage you to get married and file for a CR1

and as for get married, do a full celebration

[Kastrs 723]

1 hour ago, EandH0904 said:

Unfortunately, Pakistan is a tough embassy to get a visa from. With only two shorter trips and none for a year my first thought is to spend more time together to increase your chances. 

 

Your pilot license and your divorce are non-issues. One thing that may be problematic for you is you will need police clearance of every place you've lived at for 6 months or longer. It sounds like that's a lot of places for you. 

 

You can pick whichever visa you like but remember the pros and cons of each. A CR1 may be better for you considering the difficulty of the process for those from Pakistan as well as your not spending much time together. 

 

I would disagree, through Islamabad, a pilot license and divorce could potentially be issues

anything that is not culturally normal can be an issue

[Oz&Esh 0]

3 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

From a visa standpoint, the CR1 is generally considered superior in that the spouse enters with with a GC in hand, it is overall cheaper, and it eliminates the AOS stage in immigration.  The K1 is just a little bit shorter in processing.  

 

As to how USCIS or a consulate officer will look at you personally, I am not sure anyone can answer that.

 

Good Luck!

Thanks for the feedback!! Much appreciated. Yeah, Ive been leaning towards the CR-1 all along. Makes the most sense. I dont expect things to be straightforward though... Thanks for the update about the police certs. should be okay considering Australian Federal Police issue it online for a fee. Dubai im not sure about but I hear its doable. So current CR-1's are taking around 1.5 years? if im correct? The AOS shouldnt be an issue as thankfully my partner is working as an attorney but I suppose its good as its one less step in the process.. . Not sure how pilots lisences have anything to do with culture? but anyway... We are hopeful and will defo try and share my timeline once it starts. My partner is planning to make around 3-4 trips during the spouse visa application period. and one for the interview so she can be with me. Would that help? would she be allowed in? Also do I have to apply through Islamabad? or do they process in Karachi too?

 

Thanks guys!!!

3 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

 

P.S.  you may want to hit the report button on your OP and ask a moderator to move this thread to the Which Visa Do I Need forum to get more answers.

 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

 

Fees may be more since they have increased but general info is good

 

[Kastrs 723]

11 minutes ago, Oz&Esh said:

Thanks for the feedback!! Much appreciated. Yeah, Ive been leaning towards the CR-1 all along. Makes the most sense. I dont expect things to be straightforward though... Thanks for the update about the police certs. should be okay considering Australian Federal Police issue it online for a fee. Dubai im not sure about but I hear its doable. So current CR-1's are taking around 1.5 years? if im correct? The AOS shouldnt be an issue as thankfully my partner is working as an attorney but I suppose its good as its one less step in the process.. . Not sure how pilots lisences have anything to do with culture? but anyway... We are hopeful and will defo try and share my timeline once it starts. My partner is planning to make around 3-4 trips during the spouse visa application period. and one for the interview so she can be with me. Would that help? would she be allowed in? Also do I have to apply through Islamabad? or do they process in Karachi too?

 

Thanks guys!!!

 

a pilot license has nothing to do with Pakistani culture, but could be something the embassy considers worth investigating

CR1 timelines can fluctuate quite a bit, allotting 1.5 years for the process should generally be considered safe

there is no AoS, adjustment of status, in the CR1 process, there is AoS affidavit of support which is provided at the NVC stage

 

Yes your petitioner can attend the interview with you, it never hurts and I would encourage it if able, and yes you will need to go to Islamabad for your visa

 

The application however is done via the lockbox in the USA

 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures. to What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration forum.