Which is a better route the CR-VISA or K-1 VISA ?

[Love-always 1]

8 minutes ago, Love-always said:

Thank you  is it ok my Dad is my joint sponsor ? What’s USC or LPR ? 

Thanks so much for your help . I appreciate all your valuable information. I don’t think we can afford a lawyer so we will try to do it ourselves but I will definitely be coming here for help  

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

I agree with other who think the CR-1 is generally the better option:

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/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 3-4 months)

    Spouse can not work until she/he 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 is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.

    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. 

[ThomasNC1988 762]

k-1 definitely not the best option for you if working is important as he would have to stay many months in the US without being able to work. If he is here now you are permitted to get married and file the I-130 and AOS together and can file for EAD and he could stay forever but would not be allowed to work until he received EAD in 6 months or so. If working the whole time is important 100 percent go cr-1 as he could still visit you as long as he doesn't get turned away by CBP for some reason.

[Jaquelly 1,647]

36 minutes ago, missileman said:

I agree with other who think the CR-1 is generally the better option:

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/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 3-4 months)

    Spouse can not work until she/he 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 is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.

    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. 

 

Seconded. There may be a long wait, but there is MUCH less headache.

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

12 minutes ago, Jaquelly said:

 

Seconded. There may be a long wait, but there is MUCH less headache.

and wait is not much different between K-1 and CR-1 these days....the CR-1 is becoming more and more sensible for many couples....

Edited October 22, 2018 by missileman

[valentinasc 330]

At the end of the day you have to get married in both visas and even if the K-1 is “faster” it’s actually not that much faster lately. Also if you go with the K-1 route your fiancé will come to the US and wait quite a bit to be able to work and receive GC. But if you go with the CR-1 route it’s 11+ Months wait but at least as soon as your spouse steps into the US he’ll be a resident and will have SS card and GC mailed to your address quite fast 

 

Good luck on your journey, don’t forget to have lots of patience  

Edited October 22, 2018 by valentinasc

[Gama 475]

Without a Doubt the CR1 is the best route.  We went with the K1 visa hoping and being told it would be around about 6 months.  10 months later we got approved.

 

Fast forward to today..  Now after arriving in the US and Marrying I have to wait another potentially 3-6 months for the EAD / AP so i can even work.  Not only that your status does not exist so literally you cannot do anything. Yes you read that Nothing.. You cant travel outside the USA as you will be considered abandoning your status, No visiting family or anything. Its basically like being forced to do jail time.. 

 

Then if you want to drive around to get out the house think again.. Your foreign license will only be valid for up to 30-60 days after entering the USA (Depending on which state)  then after that you have to pass the driving test in your state. 

 

I have passed my Driving license in NC but to give you an idea of how painful it is. They only allow you to get your license up till when your I-94 expires so (90 days) after arriving in the USA. After that you are left in a grey area you cannot renew it because you need a status.  So you have to wait till your EAD comes so you can renew it even then your EAD has an expiry.

 

Go the CR1 route so when you arrive you can legally work and the CR1 timelines are pretty much the same as the K1 and the CR1 is cheaper.

 

 

 

[paki2 6]

with no doubts and questions CR-1 is better option 

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

Right now, according to other VJ members, average time from NAO1 to interview for a K-1 is 9.4 months......average.....

Right now, according to other VJ members, average time from NAO1 to interview for a CR-1 is 13.0 months.....average.

All in all, the advantages of a CR-1 are huge, imo.

 

If you look at time from NAO1 to Green Card in hand, it becomes much more obvious.....K-1 spouse receives a Green Card a year or more after entering the US.  A CR-1 spouse receives a Green Card at the border when entering the US.

Edited October 22, 2018 by missileman

[kris&me 572]

the way i read it children are hers (USC) not immigrating

and no one has mentioned they can marry here and AOS to stay?

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

2 minutes ago, kris&me said:

the way i read it children are hers (USC) not immigrating

and no one has mentioned they can marry here and AOS to stay?

How can they marry here and AOS to stay?  The fiance lives abroad.

[Boiler 45,532]

47 minutes ago, missileman said:

How can they marry here and AOS to stay?  The fiance lives abroad.

That is how I read it, and that the children are hers. No mention of him having children.

[Umka36 781]

Sounds like the CR1 is the best option for you OP. It's not complicated to complete the forms yourself, but you will have to make this call on this.

 

FWIW, we went the K1 route with no regrets as it fit your needs (we didn't do the K1 because it was quicker). My wife still does not work, waiting another 2 years before our youngest son goes to all day kindergarten.

[lierre 224]

CR-1.

 

and also you can do all this yourself. I did everything myself. CR1–> Removal of Conditions —> N-400

 

You just have to be meticulous. And make copies of everything you send.

[Love-always 1]

4 hours ago, valentinasc said:

At the end of the day you have to get married in both visas and even if the K-1 is “faster” it’s actually not that much faster lately. Also if you go with the K-1 route your fiancé will come to the US and wait quite a bit to be able to work and receive GC. But if you go with the CR-1 route it’s 11+ Months wait but at least as soon as your spouse steps into the US he’ll be a resident and will have SS card and GC mailed to your address quite fast 

 

Good luck on your journey, don’t forget to have lots of patience  

Thank you so much everyone for your help  I think we need a lot of patience and to stay positive is the key