We screwed up and filed for a K1 instead of DCF CR-1...

[tayae 10]

I am so distraught right now. We are 7 months into the K1 process and only just realised that we could've done DCF for a CR-1 because I have been living in the UK for 4 years. At the beginning of the process we looked into CR-1's but saw that the usual processing time is 12-14 months and didn't see anything about direct consular filing, and we liked the idea of getting married in the US. Anyone else gotten themselves into this ordeal? The thought of those thousands of dollars going down the drain is nearly bringing me to tears...Can't believe we screwed up this badly...Getting married in US is not worth that amount of loss... 😞😰

[Roel 7,192]

You didn't screw up anything.

Your K1 seems to be almost done, you'll move to the US soon and that should be the most important thing for you - not the money.

 

And it's hardly "thousands of dollars". AOS from K1 visa is just 1.225$ (I think)

 

I mean, you can always cancel it and do the DCF but that just sounds like a waste of time you already spend waiting.

[Perfect two 💑 1,147]

2 minutes ago, tayae said:

I am so distraught right now. We are 7 months into the K1 process and only just realised that we could've done DCF for a CR-1 because I have been living in the UK for 4 years. At the beginning of the process we looked into CR-1's but saw that the usual processing time is 12-14 months and didn't see anything about direct consular filing, and we liked the idea of getting married in the US. Anyone else gotten themselves into this ordeal? The thought of those thousands of dollars going down the drain is nearly bringing me to tears...Can't believe we screwed up this badly...Getting married in US is not worth that amount of loss... 😞😰

I never experienced that before. However, you should stop thinking about it. The more you think about it, the more frustrated you will be. 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

3 minutes ago, Roel said:

You didn't screw up anything.

Your K1 seems to be almost done, you'll move to the US soon and that should be the most important thing for you - not the money.

 

And it's hardly "thousands of dollars". AOS from K1 visa is just 1.225$ (I think)

 

I mean, you can always cancel it and do the DCF but that just sounds like a waste of time you already spend waiting.

Yeah that's the right cost for AOS.

But I do agree, it would make more sense to finish up with the K1.

[tayae 10]

1 minute ago, Roel said:

You didn't screw up anything.

Your K1 seems to be almost done, you'll move to the US soon and that should be the most important thing for you - not the money.

 

And it's hardly "thousands of dollars". AOS from K1 visa is just 1.225$ (I think)

 

I mean, you can always cancel it and do the DCF but that just sounds like a waste of time you already spend waiting.

It is definitely the most important thing but we are both very poor just finished students so the whole K1 process has really financially hurt us. As far as I can tell the K1 process and AOS is gonna cost us around $3,000 total...

 

Is there still AOS fee with a CR-1? The estimates I see for CR-1 fees is $1,200, if there's an adjustment of status fee on top of that I'll definitely feel better about it.

 

You're all right and I just need to be happy we have gotten this far. It's just a nightmare realising how much money and time we could've saved!

[mushroomspore 3,044]

Eh? You didn't screw anything up. You chose K1 and now it's almost done. You also would have to have gotten married first before filing any papers for CR1. You said yourself you liked the idea of getting married inside the US and it was a reason for choosing the K1 route. Both K1 and CR1 involve fees. Both involve separation time. Both involve periods of frustration with aforementioned separation time and the bureaucracy. Both involve entering the US and being with your loved one. You're still getting what you want out of this process, so no use crying over spilled milk.

[Roel 7,192]

There is no AOS fee from CR1, but in both cases (CR1 and K1) you still need to do ROC two years after acquiring the green card, and that's another 600$.

 

And this point, crying about it makes no sense. If you're both very poor then maybe you should have waited with immigration until you have more money saved up. IT IS expensive process = visa fees, aos, plane tickets.. And of course you won't be able to work until AOS is filled and you have work permit in hand. Hope you're aware of that and that people are currently waiting up to 6 months just for work/travel permission.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

My husband always says - money can always be made. The rest is what matters. 5 years from now, you won't care so much about the money you spent. Does it suck? Absolutely. We've spent more on things during our process than we'd have liked. But what I CAN guarantee you, is that once you are together for good, everything you've done will be worth it. Just hang in there - you don't have much longer to go with your K1.

[mushroomspore 3,044]

4 minutes ago, tayae said:

It is definitely the most important thing but we are both very poor just finished students so the whole K1 process has really financially hurt us. As far as I can tell the K1 process and AOS is gonna cost us around $3,000 total...

 

Is there still AOS fee with a CR-1? The estimates I see for CR-1 fees is $1,200, if there's an adjustment of status fee on top of that I'll definitely feel better about it.

 

You're all right and I just need to be happy we have gotten this far. It's just a nightmare realising how much money and time we could've saved!

No AoS with CR1, but again, that's moot because you guys didn't choose that route.

 

I understand fretting over the money and time. I made zero money over the past five years because I was in the US as a grad student at an expensive school and couldn't work. I'm a writer too and that's a difficult profession to get a job in. I can tell you that I have spent LOTS of energy wishing and wishing I had been more prudent with my money back home in Canada before I moved to the US. However, before I moved, I was still young, freshly single and all I wanted to do was spend my money on going out with my buddies and myself. Any money I could have saved would probably be already spent away at this point anyways. I FINALLY got the EAD/AP this year and am slowly making money again. It's not much, but it's being made. You guys will make that money back and that won't even be the best part about it. The best part will be that you guys will be permanently together in the US. Don't beat yourself up. You didn't make the "wrong" choice at all.

[tayae 10]

8 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

My husband always says - money can always be made. The rest is what matters. 5 years from now, you won't care so much about the money you spent. Does it suck? Absolutely. We've spent more on things during our process than we'd have liked. But what I CAN guarantee you, is that once you are together for good, everything you've done will be worth it. Just hang in there - you don't have much longer to go with your K1.

 

2 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

No AoS with CR1, but again, that's moot because you guys didn't choose that route.

 

I understand fretting over the money and time. I made zero money over the past five years because I was in the US as a grad student at an expensive school and couldn't work. I'm a writer too and that's a difficult profession to get a job in. I can tell you that I have spent LOTS of energy wishing and wishing I had been more prudent with my money back home in Canada before I moved to the US. However, before I moved, I was still young, freshly single and all I wanted to do was spend my money on going out with my buddies and myself. Any money I could have saved would probably be already spent away at this point anyways. I FINALLY got the EAD/AP this year and am slowly making money again. It's not much, but it's being made. You guys will make that money back and that won't even be the best part about it. The best part will be that you guys will be permanently together in the US. Don't beat yourself up. You didn't make the "wrong" choice at all.

 

I think it's so easy to beat yourself up over any little mistake in this horrific process you have to go through just to be with your partner. But you're both right, what's done is done and it's just money and we'll make it back, it's just SO hard to remember that. I know people are in much worse situations and we're lucky really. Thank you for your comforting words while I have my little panic 😬

[geowrian 22,337]

You've taken a less-than-optimal path, but besides paying a bit more and waiting longer...sunk costs already...you've taken a perfectly valid path. Don't beat yourself up over the past.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

9 minutes ago, tayae said:

 

 

I think it's so easy to beat yourself up over any little mistake in this horrific process you have to go through just to be with your partner. But you're both right, what's done is done and it's just money and we'll make it back, it's just SO hard to remember that. I know people are in much worse situations and we're lucky really. Thank you for your comforting words while I have my little panic 😬

You are not alone there, believe me! I have had my fair share of panics along the way. I think almost anyone has. Looking back, we weren't well versed on any of this at all in the beginning, and we wish we'd done a CR1 instead of a K1. But we had to let that go and remind ourselves it is fortunate to reach the finish line, no matter how you get there! Just focus on the destination, and not so much the journey.

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

My UK fee list. I haven't checked lately for increases, but I think it's close to accurate.

 

K1 fiancé basic fees

$535 Fiancé Petition (USCIS)

£45 police certificate (ACRO)

£330 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)

 

IR1/CR1 spouse basic fees

$535 Spouse Petition (USCIS)

$325 visa fee (NVC)

$120 affidavit of support review (NVC). No fee if DCF

£45 police certificate (ACRO)

£330 medical (Knightsbridge) pay at the appointment

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

$220 Immigrant fee after you get the visa (USCIS ELIS)

 

The paperwork cost difference is $825  more for a fiancé visa/greencard over spouse visa and $945 more than a DCF spouse visa.  

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

London DCF graduate here (allllll the way back in 2007!). If it were me, and money and the possibility to start work ASAP were really important to me, I'd get married stat, cancel the K1 and refile via DCF, as long as I was able to sit tight in the UK for another 6 months. Why? Several reasons. First, DCF processing times in London have historically taken 4-6 months at most over the 11+ years I have been monitoring timelines. Yes, you're 7 months in and your K1 is likely to be granted sooner than a CR1 via DCF will be. But not that much longer -- maybe 3 months? Second, unless I am horribly mistaken, the cost of a CR1 processed via the consulate is still less than AOS once you're over in the States on a K1. You have to spend money anyway -- why not on a visa that will allow you to work, get a licence, etc. as soon as possible? Finally, the CR1 is just a better visa, full stop, in my opinion. Not only is it cheaper, not only are you afforded all the rights and privileges of a green card holder upon entry to the States, the clock starts ticking immediately on your ability to remove conditions on the green card, which in turn shortens the amount of time needed to wait to apply for citizenship, if so desired.

 

So ask yourself: am I willing to get married soon and can I sit tight in the UK for a little while longer? It's a horses for courses situation -- you might want to be over in the States faster. Good luck!

 

 

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

4 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

My UK fee list. I haven't checked lately for increases, but I think it's close to accurate.

 

K1 fiancé basic fees

$535 Fiancé Petition (USCIS)

£45 police certificate (ACRO)

£330 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)

 

IR1/CR1 spouse basic fees

$535 Spouse Petition (USCIS)

$325 visa fee (NVC)

$120 affidavit of support review (NVC). No fee if DCF

£45 police certificate (ACRO)

£330 medical (Knightsbridge) pay at the appointment

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

$220 Immigrant fee after you get the visa (USCIS ELIS)

 

The paperwork cost difference is $825  more for a fiancé visa/greencard over spouse visa and $945 more than a DCF spouse visa.  

What he said!