A Few Questions

[Wezard 0]

Hello! I was pointed towards this site via a friend who used it in the past for a different visa than myself however after reading through a few guides can see it will definitely help me.

The reason for the thread is to ask a few basic questions just so I have a complete understanding as there is a fair few forms and this needs to go right.

 

Currently I live in the UK and my fiance lives in the US, we are now at the stage of planning the permanent move of myself to the US. We do plan to marry in the US.

I do plan on living in the US fully and also working there.

 

1. Which forms do I exactly need to fill out, so far I can see the I-129F but after this or even before this is there anything?

2. If I want to work in the US I know I need a green card, can I apply for this as soon as we are married or before?

     2a. Does my fiance have to show she can support me while I wait for the green card and can the sponsors be parents if so?

3. Is it a good idea to seek out a lawyer who will be able to assist? I've looked in the UK for a few local and found nothing, wondering if its more a thing my fiance would need to do in the US?

4. What is the general time frame for the fiance visa and green card, i've seen a few different time frames from 6-9 months to 10-12?

 

I may have a few more questions depending on answers received.

Really appreciate any help!

 

Thank you!

 

[Naes 12,205]

12 minutes ago, Wezard said:

Hello! I was pointed towards this site via a friend who used it in the past for a different visa than myself however after reading through a few guides can see it will definitely help me.

The reason for the thread is to ask a few basic questions just so I have a complete understanding as there is a fair few forms and this needs to go right.

 

Currently I live in the UK and my fiance lives in the US, we are now at the stage of planning the permanent move of myself to the US. We do plan to marry in the US.

I do plan on living in the US fully and also working there.

 

1. Which forms do I exactly need to fill out, so far I can see the I-129F but after this or even before this is there anything?

2. If I want to work in the US I know I need a green card, can I apply for this as soon as we are married or before?

     2a. Does my fiance have to show she can support me while I wait for the green card and can the sponsors be parents if so?

3. Is it a good idea to seek out a lawyer who will be able to assist? I've looked in the UK for a few local and found nothing, wondering if its more a thing my fiance would need to do in the US?

4. What is the general time frame for the fiance visa and green card, i've seen a few different time frames from 6-9 months to 10-12?

 

I may have a few more questions depending on answers received.

Really appreciate any help!

 

Thank you!

 

1. That's the petition form to start with, I would strongly recommend reading the guides for k1 at the top of the page. 

 After that there will be the affidavit of support but that's at the interview level.

2. You can only apply your green card through adjustment of status of your k1 after you got married. Work authorization can be applied at the same time and it takes around 4 months right now for that. 

3. If your case is not too complicated (criminal background etc.) I don't think you would need a lawyer for this. But that depends on the person. We have lots of bad reviews on lawyers, and sometimes good reviews but overall it is DIY here.

4. Ar this moment it takes 10-12 months for k1 fiancé visa from start till visa on hand.

 If you want to work sooner and get your green card sooner I would suggest a cr1 spouse visa. It takes a little longer (I believe around 14 months at least) but you would have your green card and can work right away. Also it's way cheaper. Basically it is superior especially at the moment.

 Again compare to whichever suits you  

 

hope this helps 

good luck 

 

Important note though, you are a beneficiary I assume as you said your fiancé is in US, the US citizen starts this, and files the petition as the petitioner not you. Your fiancé needs to gather the information and fill that form and file it with the evidence in order to get approved so that you can apply for the visa.

Edited January 19, 2018 by Naes

[Wezard 0]

9 minutes ago, Naes said:

1. That's the petition form to start with, I would strongly recommend reading the guides for k1 at the top of the page. 

 After that there will be the affidavit of support but that's at the interview level.

2. You can only apply your green card through adjustment of status of your k1 after you got married. Work authorization can be applied at the same time and it takes around 4 months right now for that. 

3. If your case is not too complicated (criminal background etc.) I don't think you would need a lawyer for this. But that depends on the person. We have lots of bad reviews on lawyers, and sometimes good reviews but overall it is DIY here.

4. Ar this moment it takes 10-12 months for k1 fiancé visa from start till visa on hand.

 If you want to work sooner and get your green card sooner I would suggest a cr1 spouse visa. It takes a little longer (I believe around 14 months at least) but you would have your green card and can work right away. Also it's way cheaper. Basically it is superior especially at the moment.

 Again compare to whichever suits you  

 

hope this helps 

good luck 

 

Thankyou!

 

I don't have any criminal background or anything at all so I feel this would be possible to do alone as long as I can get my head around it  

 

If I were to go for a CR1 spouse visa would this be just a single form as although it takes longer this might be a much better way of doing things as working straight away would be ideal!

Reading the guide it looks fairly complicated.

Edited January 19, 2018 by Wezard
words

[Naes 12,205]

9 minutes ago, Wezard said:

Thankyou!

 

I don't have any criminal background or anything at all so I feel this would be possible to do alone as long as I can get my head around it  

 

If I were to go for a CR1 spouse visa would this be just a single form as although it takes longer this might be a much better way of doing things as working straight away would be ideal!

Reading the guide it looks fairly complicated.

Let me add, this needs to be checked a few times to not make mistakes so if you or your fiancé don't have enough time or patience using some services can be helpful. Which I'm sure someone who used it will chime in.

 

for cr1 it is not 1 single form, your fiancé still needs to petition and so on i am not that confident on giving info on cr1 however for that there should be another guide in the cr1 topic (this is only the k1). However at least you won't have to again file another form when you arrive in US for adjustment of status (I think you meant this by saying 1 form?) 

 

i would definitely  research and compre these two.

Edited January 19, 2018 by Naes

[Wezard 0]

18 minutes ago, Naes said:

Let me add, this needs to be checked a few times to not make mistakes so if you or your fiancé don't have enough time or patience using some services can be helpful. Which I'm sure someone who used it will chime in.

 

for cr1 it is not 1 single form, your fiancé still needs to petition and so on i am not that confident on giving info on cr1 however for that there should be another guide in the cr1 topic (this is only the k1). However at least you won't have to again file another form when you arrive in US for adjustment of status (I think you meant this by saying 1 form?) 

 

i would definitely  research and compre these two.

I'm definitely going to research them both.

That was what I meant by one form, my only worry would be it looks a lot more complicated which is why I guess you said to get it checked a few times.

 

Hopefully someone who has used CR1 will chime in like you say as that does sound like a promising way of doing things that I didn't even think of.

[Naes 12,205]

7 minutes ago, Wezard said:

I'm definitely going to research them both.

That was what I meant by one form, my only worry would be it looks a lot more complicated which is why I guess you said to get it checked a few times.

 

Hopefully someone who has used CR1 will chime in like you say as that does sound like a promising way of doing things that I didn't even think of.

I'm sure they will

 

to give a simple flow

K1

1)Us citizen petitions

2)petition approved 

3)apply for visa in the embassy (beneficiary)

4) enter US and get married in 90 days

5) apply for adjustment of status (another application costs around I believe 1200$ and authorization for work at the same time

6)get authorization to work

7)get greencard 

 

Now in CR1 you won't do 5/6 because you will be directly applying to a visa that gets a green card in the end

 

And this is cr1 guides btw if you're interested (stared to feel like I'm trying to sell cr1  )

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

 

also if you google "visa journey k1 cr1" I believe you would get some similar questions on which one is better or the differences. 

[Wezard 0]

23 minutes ago, Naes said:

I'm sure they will

 

to give a simple flow

K1

1)Us citizen petitions

2)petition approved 

3)apply for visa in the embassy (beneficiary)

4) enter US and get married in 90 days

5) apply for adjustment of status (another application costs around I believe 1200$ and authorization for work at the same time

6)get authorization to work

7)get greencard 

 

Now in CR1 you won't do 5/6 because you will be directly applying to a visa that gets a green card in the end

 

And this is cr1 guides btw if you're interested (stared to feel like I'm trying to sell cr1  )

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

 

also if you google "visa journey k1 cr1" I believe you would get some similar questions on which one is better or the differences. 

You've done a good job at the sales part

 

Thank you so much for the info, time to research!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

K1 fiancé basic fees

$535 Fiancé Petition (USCIS)

£45 police certificate (ACRO)

£300 medical (Knightsbridge) pay at the appointment

$265 visa fee (Dept of State/Embassy) pay online 

$30 or $0 (Courier) home delivery or pick up at depot

-Enter USA and marry-

$1225 AOS/EAD/AP (USCIS) Greencard/employment authorization/ travel authorization 

 

IR1/CR1 spouse basic fees

$535 Spouse Petition (USCIS)

$325 visa fee (NVC)

$120 affidavit of support review (NVC)

£45 police certificate (ACRO)

£300 medical (Knightsbridge) pay at the appointment

$30 or $0 (Courier) home delivery or pick up at depot

$165 Immigrant fee (USCIS ELIS)

 

The cost difference is $880 more for a fiancé visa.

 

All visas are complicated multi-form and multi-step processes while you wait with no idea how long each step will take. 

 

For a fiance visa (K1) you can start the clock now by the American filing the petition packet asap.

For a spouse visa, you have to arrange to get married first and get your marriage certificate registered and sent to you before you can start. 

 

The spouse visa takes longer because you are basically applying for the greencard requirements at the same time, so maybe an extra four months before you go to the US. When you arrive, you have greencard status but it will take a while for them to mail the actual card to you. You have a stamp in your passport as proof of your status until the card arrives.

 

With the fiancé visa, you start sooner and the process may be four months shorter to move to the US. When you arrive you don't have any work status or resident status. You wait four months to get the EAD card that allows you to work. Pros-you get to be with your new spouse while you wait. Cons-many get bored while their spouse is at work. You wait even longer to get the actual greencard but once you get the EAD work card, you pretty much have all the privileges to work, drive, travel out of the country etc. 

[bakphx1 789]

10 hours ago, Wezard said:

I'm definitely going to research them both.

That was what I meant by one form, my only worry would be it looks a lot more complicated which is why I guess you said to get it checked a few times.

 

Hopefully someone who has used CR1 will chime in like you say as that does sound like a promising way of doing things that I didn't even think of.

I originally planned to go for the K1, but an attorney talked me out of it. I did a CR1 and would never consider a K1 in retrospect.

 

Aside from the money, and the fact it's not much faster these days.  People really underestimate the toll it takes to live here from 3-6 months in limbo.  It's hard to tell people in love who are apart (myself included at one time) that sooner is not better, but the reality of a second person with no income, nothing to do, far from their family and friends becomes depressing more quickly than you think. It's one thing to miss someone, but talk to them online when you want to and can.  It's far different when they are in your house 24/7.   No matter how much you love each other.  I also see many people posting questions about ending their relationships during this time.

 

My husband came in, got everything he needed documentwise in three weeks.  

 

[Irisandjoel 52]

9 minutes ago, bakphx1@aol.com said:

I originally planned to go for the K1, but an attorney talked me out of it. I did a CR1 and would never consider a K1 in retrospect.

 

Aside from the money, and the fact it's not much faster these days.  People really underestimate the toll it takes to live here from 3-6 months in limbo.  It's hard to tell people in love who are apart (myself included at one time) that sooner is not better, but the reality of a second person with no income, nothing to do, far from their family and friends becomes depressing more quickly than you think. It's one thing to miss someone, but talk to them online when you want to and can.  It's far different when they are in your house 24/7.   No matter how much you love each other.  I also see many people posting questions about ending their relationships during this time.

 

My husband came in, got everything he needed documentwise in three weeks.  

 

Yeah you make a good point. I am here on a K1 visa and still waiting for EAD and AOS and sitting around doing nothing, being dependent on my husband is not easy, I hate it and I am borderline depressed for the past few months. And on top of that we live with his parents for now until we can afford our own place. So yeah, it 's a lot of stress and it's definitely gonna test your relationship right away!