Working after getting K1

[JenMYoung 0]

I have not filed for K1 as of now. I was recently told it was better to get married out of US and file for K3 because it takes so long for the non US citizen to work. Does anyone have any information and how they feel about it?

[debbiedoo 2,339]

k3 is obsolete essentially. CR1 is what is used now.

 

as far as what is the better option, it depends on your circumstances. Overall a CR1 is better (cheaper, ability to work and travel immediately, etc) but for others, a K1 is the better option. K1 is slightly faster (by a few months). it really depends on your personal circumstances.

[Dashinka 24,513]

You mean the CR1, not the K3.  The simple fact is that the CR1 allows the foreign spouse to enter the US and work immediately, whereas the K1 beneficiary has to file for adjustment of status and employment authorization which seems to be taking 4-6 months now.

 

Overall, the CR1 is the superior visa, but there are still instances where the K1 may be the preferred option.

 

[geowrian 22,337]

Yup, K-3 is obsolete. Only barely over a dozen were issued all last year, versus hundreds of thousands of CR-1/IR-1 visas.

 

If you go K-1, don't expect to work until you have entered, married, and filed for AOS, then ~4-6 months afterwards.

CR-1 takes a few months longer to obtain (and you must marry first), but lets you work right away and otherwise is superior in every way.

[BananaButton5 175]

I really wish we had done CR1. We did k1, and it will be a year or more by the time he gets here, which is almost the same time as the CR1. People used to prefer k1 because it was faster to be together, but it's not worth it because then they can't work right away. Do CR1. 

[kris&me 572]

also helps us to know what foreign embassy you will be dealing with

for example high fraud countries do not approve of many K1's

but they also do not like the USC to marry on the first meeting

CR1 is cheaper becuse there is no AOS ($1225 fee) after marriage in the USA  and now the K1 is taking almost as long 

but to get approved from a hugh fraud country you may need to make several trips and show quality face time so figure in the travel costs 

these are the high fraud countries according to immigraiton

 

http://mypathtocitizenship.com/which-countries-are-on-the-uscis-high-fraud-list/

 

our green card came in little over 3 weeks of his arrival

Edited September 26, 2018 by kris&me

[Sunnyland 639]

If working is more important for you then don't do the K1 because you won't be able to work until you do all the following steps... Arrive to the US (after K1 visa in passport), marry your USC  fiance/fiancee, file for AOS (filing the proper forms for the EAD and AP), do the biometrics and then wait from 3 to 6 months ish for the EAD/AP combo card approval.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from K1 Progress Reports to What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration forum.

[Alabamak1 688]

it depends on your circumstances....you want to be together fast(er) k-1 and the above mentioned problems with high fraud countries. Some K-1 from June  2018 AOS filers already have GC. He/she is from sweden and didnt even wait 3 months in Charleston SC. Less than the wait for CR-1!!! it is really a luck thing in some cases. They had a total wait time of 9 month is not mistaken from filing I-129F to GC

Edited September 30, 2018 by Alabamak1