Venezuelan WIfe

[Scott Rusticus 12]

Why do you suggest the CR1 over the K1? Are you saying there is not a huge support group if I do the K1? I just want to get her here as quickly as possible, ya know?  

[Scott Rusticus 12]

Does either one have more likelihood than the other?

[RJandHamid 1,133]

I only suggest CR1 if you want to do the wedding this February in Aruba. Otherwise if you just go to meet her there, no wedding, then come back and file for a K1 visa that would be fine as well. 

 

K1 processing times are currently around 7-9 months, so either way you'll have a bit of a wait ahead of you. 

[Unlockable 7,314]

Which ever visa you choose there is absolutely no way you can get around waiting several months before she enters the US.

 

Trust us, we have been through it.

 

CR1 is better because she can immediately start working when she enters. With the K1 she won't have any status until after you marry her and file Adjust of Status. that takes an extras 3 - 4 months of waiting plus an extra $1,200. Without Adjustment of Status (or EAD/AP) she won't be able to work, is she leaves the country she won't be able to reenter the US, and possibly won't even be able to obtain a driver's license. Basicall with the K1 she will be sitting in limbo for 3 - 4 months doing nothing.

[Crazy Cat 41,857]

32 minutes ago, Scott Rusticus said:

What if I get married there but do not say I am married when I apply?  How would they know if the marriage is in Aruba? We have not yet met. We have talked for a long time but this will be our first face to face due to the current situation in Venezuela and my and her inability to get a tourist visa.

I would advise you to analyze both the K-1 visa and the CR-1 visa, decide which one best fits your situation, then apply.  You should be completely truthful  I'm sorry, but trying to "game" the system will result in more problems.

 

My personal opinion:

The K-1  only faster (and not much faster at all) until both people are together in the US.  From every other aspect, the K-1 is much slower....and MUCH more expensive.

 

K-1

Ability to travel outside the US after marriage- restricted until A/P is APPROVED- about 4 months or longer after applying for AOS/AP/EAD.

Ability to work after marriage- restricted until EAD is APPROVED- 4 months or longer

Green Card in hand after marriage- about a year....after applying for AOS.

Must apply for AOS to receive Green Card and obtain legal status in US

 

 

CR-1

Immigrant is free to travel outside US immediately upon arrival in US

Immigrant is free to work immediately upon arrival in US

Green Card is hand within 2 or 3 weeks (in many cases) after entry into US.

No need to AOS.  

 

All things considered, I think the CR-1 is superior.  But only you know your own situation.

 

Best of luck.

[javadown2 308]

2 minutes ago, missileman said:

I would advise you to analyze both the K-1 visa and the CR-1 visa, decide which one best fits your situation, then apply.  You should be completely truthful  I'm sorry, but trying to "game" the system will result in more problems.

 

My personal opinion:

The K-1  only faster (and not much faster at all) until both people are together in the US.  From every other aspect, the K-1 is much slower....and MUCH more expensive.

 

K-1

Ability to travel outside the US after marriage- restricted until A/P is APPROVED- about 4 months or longer after applying for AOS/AP/EAD.

Ability to work after marriage- restricted until EAD is APPROVED- 4 months or longer

Green Card in hand after marriage- about a year....after applying for AOS.

Must apply for AOS to receive Green Card and obtain legal status in US

 

 

CR-1

Immigrant is free to travel outside US immediately upon arrival in US

Immigrant is free to work immediately upon arrival in US

Green Card is hand within 2 or 3 weeks (in many cases) after entry into US.

No need to AOS.  

 

All things considered, I think the CR-1 is superior.  But only you know your own situation.

 

Best of luck.

After having completed my wifes K-1 visa and AOS I would say to do the CR-1, yes with the K-1 you will be together faster (ours took about 4 months from filing to her being in the US), then another 5-6 months to finish AOS. 

 

And besides you haven't  even met yet, so with that said you can't start the K-1 until you have at least met once in the past 2 years. 

[AshMarty 360]

50 minutes ago, Scott Rusticus said:

What if I get married there but do not say I am married when I apply?  How would they know if the marriage is in Aruba? We have not yet met. We have talked for a long time but this will be our first face to face due to the current situation in Venezuela and my and her inability to get a tourist visa.

They would know once you supply the marriage certificate that you lied because the marriage date would be before you K1 visa, then you would just be denied.

[usmsbow 801]

7 minutes ago, javadown2 said:

After having completed my wifes K-1 visa and AOS I would say to do the CR-1, yes with the K-1 you will be together faster (ours took about 4 months from filing to her being in the US), then another 5-6 months to finish AOS. 

 

And besides you haven't  even met yet, so with that said you can't start the K-1 until you have at least met once in the past 2 years. 

 

You were fortunate in sending in your application right before the K-1 visa process started to slow down. It's more like 5+ months now for NOA2, then another month or two until the K-1 visa is issued. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

1 hour ago, Scott Rusticus said:

What if I get married there but do not say I am married when I apply?  How would they know if the marriage is in Aruba? We have not yet met. We have talked for a long time but this will be our first face to face due to the current situation in Venezuela and my and her inability to get a tourist visa.

That’s a great way of getting an immigrant to America: lying to USCIS. Man, just do it the right way. No lying. Everyone is. What makes you so special? We all have been waiting months, some years, to be with our loved ones, you will not be the exception. It will take as long as it takes. Work out the pros and cons of each type of visa and go from there. But expect a long wait and no ways of bending around the rules. 

Edited December 20, 2017 by TNJ17

[Boiler 45,516]

Committing Immigration fraud is probably not the best way to start married life and is anyway against the VJ ToS.

 

My Bible, should be yours.

[TNJ17 1,329]

14 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

 

You were fortunate in sending in your application right before the K-1 visa process started to slow down. It's more like 5+ months now for NOA2, then another month or two until the K-1 visa is issued. 

It’s actually taking longer. Most NOA2’s now are taking over 6 months and NVC is taking about 2 months plus however long it takes for the embassy at whatever country people apply to schedule an interview and get visa on passport. 

[Scott Rusticus 12]

I am definitely not going to lie. Yes am going to suggest to her that we do the K1 route because we want to be together as quickly as possible. The additional money is not an issue, nor is her having to wait to work. 

[Daniela M_______ 410]

Support is the same for all visas.

 

K1 only applies if you are planning to get married at the US.

CR1 only applies if you are already married or got married before filling the application.

 

Everyone is waiting the sames times, it's a long process no matter which option you choose, you can save some money and opting for CR1 but it takes longer than K1.

 

No, you shouldn't lie to the USCIS because they'll find out and you'll get the visa denied and nobody wants that after being waiting for almost a year and all the money you have to pay in fees.

[dawning 212]

I don't know that the current situation in Venezuela will have much impact on the likelihood that the  US government will issue her the visa, unless perhaps they are considering Venezuela to have a higher potential for fraud as more Venezuelans decide to leave. 

It could however be a reason to opt for the fiancee visa as a quicker path for her to relocate, regardless of other inconveniences of the K-1.  People commenting that CR-1 is superior may not realize how quickly circumstance in Venezuela are deteriorating.

 

Good luck!

[Scott Rusticus 12]

Thank you!!! This is exactly what I was thinking.