FIANCE VISA OR SPOUSE VISA??

[ako_c_bayee 0]

A Filipina with an american boyfriend here. Currently working in Singapore, living independently. Boyfriend is currently pursuing his master's degree and currently has no source of income. He's using his savings and plans to take on loan for his tuition and all. Might finish school early 2020 and hope to find a job right away.

 

Question, which would be the better option for us to be able to live together the soonest?

 

Get married outside US and apply for spouse visa?

 

Or apply for fiance visa?

 

Appreciate all your replies. Thanks in advance.

[EandS2019 390]

The K1 visa is generally quicker but only by a few months, and in some cases they are taking the same amount of time as a CR1. If you both are wanting to marry now and then file for CR1 you will be able to work as soon as you get to the US and you won't need to go through AOS. It's dependent on your own situation, with a K1 you won't be able to work until you get EAD which can take up to 7 months. Just by the sounds of your situation, a CR1 may be more beneficial due to finances. 

 

If your fiance doesn't meet the income requirements you will need a co-sponsor.

[Marcelina 246]

If you use K-1 you will live with him sooner but you will be unemployed minimum 6 months till you get your work permit, also unable to leave US. Considering he has no income I wouldn’t recommend it. K-1 is a little bit faster than spousal visa and exept  waiting time is more troublesome (waiting for work permit/travel permit and another huge waiting time for green card).

[TabeaK 517]

I did K1. Because it was a few months faster. Would never do it again. For me, the immigrant, who has always lived independently & supported herself, the first few months in the US without were the 7th circle of hell due to the adjustment of status process. And it has only gotten a longer wait since I immigrated in late 2015.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, ako_c_bayee said:

A Filipina with an american boyfriend here. Currently working in Singapore, living independently. Boyfriend is currently pursuing his master's degree and currently has no source of income. He's using his savings and plans to take on loan for his tuition and all. Might finish school early 2020 and hope to find a job right away.

Question, which would be the better option for us to be able to live together the soonest?

Get married outside US and apply for spouse visa?

Or apply for fiance visa?

Appreciate all your replies. Thanks in advance.

I brought my wife on a K1 visa and honestly if we had to do it over again I would go the Spouse(CR1) route. That way you do not have to do AOS and you can work right away once getting to the USA. My asawa had to wait months on the couch watching TFC and she hated it. 

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US (currently about 3 months sooner)    
    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 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 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
    Slightly slower arrival in the US (currently about 3 months later)

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

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

 

Edited January 7, 2019 by missileman

[NovaDC 270]

I suggest going with the CR1 visa. It's less hassle and also money wise. As what was brought out earlier,it will help you get a job earlier and get a driver's license.

[ako_c_bayee 0]

1 hour ago, TabeaK said:

I did K1. Because it was a few months faster. Would never do it again. For me, the immigrant, who has always lived independently & supported herself, the first few months in the US without were the 7th circle of hell due to the adjustment of status process. And it has only gotten a longer wait since I immigrated in late 2015.

What happened exactly? If u wont mind sharing the experience..

[ako_c_bayee 0]

1 hour ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

I brought my wife on a K1 visa and honestly if we had to do it over again I would go the Spouse(CR1) route. That way you do not have to do AOS and you can work right away once getting to the USA. My asawa had to wait months on the couch watching TFC and she hated it. 

Haha! Thanks for the helpful info! 

[NikLR 13,227]

K1 is best if you have children who would otherwise age out.  

1 hour ago, missileman said:

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US (currently about 3 months sooner)    
    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 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 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
    Slightly slower arrival in the US (currently about 3 months later)

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

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

 

 

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 to What visa do I need? - Where similar posts are discussed

[ako_c_bayee 0]

17 minutes ago, NikLR said:

K1 is best if you have children who would otherwise age 

I see...We're both single with no kids.

[NikLR 13,227]

1 minute ago, ako_c_bayee said:

I see...We're both single with no kids.

Unless there's some underlying moral or personal reason (some people choose the K1 merely because they don't want to live apart after marriage) or unless you can't find a place to get married or don't want to wait to file, then the CR1 is, IMO, a better choice.  

 

[little immigrant 801]

CR1 is the way to go It's only a couple months longer but allows the immigrant to receive a SSN and work right away 

3 hours ago, ako_c_bayee said:

I see...We're both single with no kids.

 

[Scandi 4,166]

We went for the K-1 Visa in 2016 because it was faster back then and because we didn't like the thought of being separated after the wedding, we wanted to start our life together immediately after the wedding.

 

If I were to go through a US immigration process today? I would put my "feelers" aside and go for what would make the most sense practically speaking - I would choose the CR-1 visa.

 

I have to say though, unlike the other K-1ers in this thread I absolutely LOVED not working for months. But that's just me being all lazy and sh#t.