Travel outside of the states while applying for a CR1 for my Spouse

[wildflower. 0]

Hi,

 

My fiancé and I are trying to decide if we should apply for a K1 or CR1 visa. One of the downsides of applying for a CR1, I have noticed people mention in threads is that it will take longer to be together. This has led me to a bit of confusion. As a US citizen, will I be able to travel to see him while we are applying for our visa? Or will I be tied down to the states during the time our application is processing?

[geowrian 22,337]

You can go wherever you want while the case processes just as you would before filing the I-130. There are no new restrictions in place by filing. And it's very helpful to have more and recent time spent together during the process.

[deafguy72 99]

Either is fine for the travel while its on processing and go back on the job if you work. K1 is much faster of course.  

[EandH0904 1,184]

1 hour ago, deafguy72 said:

Either is fine for the travel while its on processing and go back on the job if you work. K1 is much faster of course.  

I dont know when you applied for K1 but its no longer "much faster" back in 2016 and before it was roughly 4 months start to finish, now it's 10-12 months. The CR1 is a far superior visa,with total start to end of 12-14 months so the difference isn't much. 

 

And yes you're free to travel anywhere. 

[pushbrk 12,975]

Umm, unless you are already married, a CR1 visa is not an option, UNTIL you make another trip and get married.  If you have met in person, you can start a K-1 visa process now.  A CR1 visa process cannot be started until you are married.  So, from now until together might be MUCH longer for a CR1.  How much longer depends on how long it will take for you to make another trip and actually get married.

[deafguy72 99]

1 hour ago, EandH0904 said:

I dont know when you applied for K1 but its no longer "much faster" back in 2016 and before it was roughly 4 months start to finish, now it's 10-12 months. The CR1 is a far superior visa,with total start to end of 12-14 months so the difference isn't much. 

 

And yes you're free to travel anywhere. 

FYI, the AVERAGE for K1 isn't 10-12 months or even 12-14 months for CR1. Maybe that was from your experience so that is right not much difference anyways. Thank you for the input

[EandH0904 1,184]

1 hour ago, deafguy72 said:

FYI, the AVERAGE for K1 isn't 10-12 months or even 12-14 months for CR1. Maybe that was from your experience so that is right not much difference anyways. Thank you for the input

Currently noa2 is taking 6-8 months to be approved. Add the nvc/interview and it puts you at 10-12. 

 

Same w CR1. I'm talking start to finish. Not till NOA2 

[Ryan H 3,812]

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

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

First of all K1 is taking almost as long now as CR1

but if first trip to Morocco do not marry

and from Morocco you will not get a tourist visa to visit the US especially when you tell them it is to visit your bf or husband/ they assume you will stay and adjust to live here without going thru the normal process

the USC can visit you in Morocco several times and that is highly recommended as Casa likes to see quality time to know the person

in 2016 only 14 K1's were approved for Morocco / i have not checked the 2017 records yet but they are available online 

It is best to meet at least once and then fly to Morocco to marry

 

red flags for morocco are as follows:

big age differences

religious differences

female is over age to conceive

can not meet required income gidelines (100% if K1 and 125% of poverty guidelines if CR1 and later AOS after marriage of K1 visa)

only 1 visit to meet Moroccan

family disappoves