What are the difficulties of obtaining a k-1 visa? Finnish fiancé and US citizen.

[Richarder 0]

Hi! I’m a girl from Finland and my boyfriend is American. We’ve been together for 1.5 year now and ready to start a life together. We’ve decided that we would be having a life in the States. We've been looking through the process of me getting a fiancé visa (k-1 visa). We’ve read a few stories about it online. It seems it could be really difficult. Does anyone know how long it could take for me to get a k-1 visa? I’ve read Sweden or Finland isn’t known for being a fraud country. Will it make it easier for me? I don’t have any criminal background and no medical problems. Let’s say if I’m completely clean. Would it guarantee me getting a k-1 visa? Me and my boyfriend are truly in love. My parents here in Finland own quite a few properties and have a decent income. There would be no other reasons than love for us to be together. My income and assets are more than my boyfriend's, theres no other reason for me to be there, but him and our love. How do we prove the relationship is real? My boyfriend has visited me and my family twice and I’ve been there once meeting him and his family. We basically talk everyday for many hours. We got many pictures of us and our family (everytime we're together) and hundreds of thousands of messages too. Would this be enough proof that this relationship is real? Also, What forms are necessary for starting the k-1 visa process? My boyfriend and i have looked online and there seems to be answers here and there. He has called the uscis and they’re not very helpful with their answers at all and don’t seem to want to provide much answers, they were very short. We read on their website that even if the foreign fiancé receives a k-1 visa, there is possibility that they may still be denied entrance at the port of entry by a cbp officer. My boyfriend has called the us cbp office and asked them for the reasons why a person may be denied at the port of entry. They did not give any clear reasons and seemed like they didnt want to provide any answers. It's unbelievable how someone can receive a k-1 visa after all the process they went including the criminal and health background checks so why would they be denied at the port of entry (given they have no restricted items in their travel)?

[Crazy Cat 42,212]

If you can visit during the process, I strongly urge you to consider the CR-1 instead of a K-1.

 K-1

    More expensive than CR-1

    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)

    Spouse can not leave the US until she receives approved Advance Parole (approx 3-4 months)

    Spouse can not work until she receives EAD (approx 3-4 months)

    some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period .

    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

CR-1

    Less expensive than K-1

    No AOS required.

    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US

    Spouse can start work if desired

    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card withing 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US

    Spouse  has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US. 

 

All-in-all, the CR-1 is superior to the K-1 imo. 

[Roel 7,193]

K1 takes about 7 to 10 months. Then of course come AOS taking about a year. And be aware you cant work or travel for a long period of time before you apply for work and travel permits. 

 

It's not a difficult process. Just read a guide. 

 

I think you're overreacting too much. Don't call uscis or cbp because it's not their job to tell you how to file paperwork. 

 

All available answers are on USCIS  websites, form instructions and here in guide section. Make sure your boyfriend makes enough income to be able to sponsor you, safe up about 1200$ for your future AOS (if you go k1 route). 90% people do their visa paperwork by themselves and it's pretty straightforward. 

Edited August 5, 2018 by Roel

[TNJ17 1,329]

There is absolutely no way that any of this would be a 100% certaintity. You just have to apply and see. If you have no issues that make you ineligible for an immigrant visa then you have nothing to worry about. The only people who have 100% entry guarantee are US citizens. But if you got no issues you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. And if you end up having one, you cross that bridge when you get to it. I recommend you filing for whatever visa you want ASAP as processing times for all visas are getting longer and longer each time. Pick what’s best for you and get going ASAP. Good luck. 

[Richarder 0]

8 hours ago, missileman said:

If you can visit during the process, I strongly urge you to consider the CR-1 instead of a K-1.

 K-1

    More expensive than CR-1

    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)

    Spouse can not leave the US until she receives approved Advance Parole (approx 3-4 months)

    Spouse can not work until she receives EAD (approx 3-4 months)

    some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period .

    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

CR-1

    Less expensive than K-1

    No AOS required.

    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US

    Spouse can start work if desired

    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card withing 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US

    Spouse  has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US. 

 

All-in-all, the CR-1 is superior to the K-1 imo. 

Can you explain the CR-1 process? Ill do the research myself but id like a summary of the overall procedures from you. You sound very knowledgeful. Would i need a marriage license in order to apply for the CR-1 visa?

Edited August 6, 2018 by Richarder

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,096]

To apply for a CR-1 you need to actually be married (and so have a marriage certificate or the equivalent from wherever you got married), not just have a marriage license.

You can marry in the US, Finland, or a third country.

[Crazy Cat 42,212]

9 hours ago, Richarder said:

Can you explain the CR-1 process? Ill do the research myself but id like a summary of the overall procedures from you. You sound very knowledgeful. Would i need a marriage license in order to apply for the CR-1 visa?

This is the VJ guide for CR-1 visas: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

[Cata&Ben 199]

On 8/5/2018 at 9:27 PM, Richarder said:

On 8/5/2018 at 12:34 PM, Richarder said:

We’ve been together for 1.5 year now and ready to start a life together. We’ve decided that we would be having a life in the States. We've been looking through the process of me getting a fiancé visa (k-1 visa). We’ve read a few stories about it online. It seems it could be really difficult.

Moi!!! 

 

I dont think you will have a problem getting a K1 Visa.

 

Your country is the best country to live in this planet !!!!

 

My advice: Get the opinion of an american lawyer. He might advice a third option which can be cheaper, faster and more convinient for you, besides the K1 or the CR1....If you are convinced that you both want to marry.

 

Good luck

 

 

 

 

 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

From what you have said, there should be no issues. the process, both CR1and K1 are not hard, but is time consuming and there are advantages and disadvantages to both, depending on your personal situation and needs.

 

I've never seen a case of a k1 beneficiary being turned away at the border, but it could happen.  most likely if they opened their sealed package or have some other MAJOR issue going on.  Seriously MAJOR issue.

 

read the guides. read the forums. research. dont rush. make the decision together which would be the best way to go. my fiance is in canada (another very low fraud country and he certainly is financially better off there than here lolol)  and we spent well over a year researching, reading, and deciding together how the best approach would be for us.

[geowrian 22,338]

4 hours ago, debbiedoo said:

I've never seen a case of a k1 beneficiary being turned away at the border, but it could happen

I have, although yes, it is extremely uncommon. The last time I saw it was last year where the beneficiary was asked when they plan to marry and he replied that "maybe we will (marry), maybe we won't".

 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

35 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I have, although yes, it is extremely uncommon. The last time I saw it was last year where the beneficiary was asked when they plan to marry and he replied that "maybe we will (marry), maybe we won't".

 

he was asking for it, in that case .....