Fiancee vs Spouse visa

[millefleur 5,047]

28 minutes ago, v_world said:

That's what I have been founding as well. I don't have a valid tourist visa for the U.S. but I do have a valid schengen visa. I'm seeing a couple of recommendations of getting married in Europe instead.

Good call. It will be very difficult (almost impossible) to get a tourist visa with an American fiancé. Research and see what might be the easiest country for 2 foreigners to get married in.

Edited February 13, 2019 by millefleur

[Loren Y 2,756]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

Just FYI:  neither visa process is fast, cheap or easy.

Exactly this. Just because there is no AOS with the Spousal visa, doesn't mean you won't be nickled and dimed to the tune of an extra 1225 anyway. Yes, on the fee sides of things it is cheaper, but I have found it isn't the fees that are the issue, its all the other expenses ( Too Many to List), but since you have been apart back and forth since 2012, the CR1 isn't going to be a big difference for you as you are not in a hurry to be with each other. I went the K1 route because I wanted to get my fiancee here faster, and the being able to work right away isn't an issue because she is currently in 5 months of schooling anyway to get licensed for work here in Nevada. and had the ss card 2 weeks after landing so bank accounts, insurance, everything was easy anyway. And travel was no big deal because well, she is in a 20 week school program anyway. You have to pick what works the best for your situation. So far everything has been good, and I feel I made the right choice, but everyone is different.

[millefleur 5,047]

4 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Exactly this. Just because there is no AOS with the Spousal visa, doesn't mean you won't be nickled and dimed to the tune of an extra 1225 anyway. Yes, on the fee sides of things it is cheaper, but I have found it isn't the fees that are the issue, its all the other expenses ( Too Many to List), but since you have been apart back and forth since 2012, the CR1 isn't going to be a big difference for you as you are not in a hurry to be with each other. I went the K1 route because I wanted to get my fiancee here faster, and the being able to work right away isn't an issue because she is currently in 5 months of schooling anyway to get licensed for work here in Nevada. and had the ss card 2 weeks after landing so bank accounts, insurance, everything was easy anyway. And travel was no big deal because well, she is in a 20 week school program anyway. You have to pick what works the best for your situation. So far everything has been good, and I feel I made the right choice, but everyone is different.

I think for a lot of folks what it boils down to is: how soon can I work after entering the US? If both people will be needed to pay bills, CR-1 just makes more sense. Sounds like the OP has already completed schooling and was looking for work in the US (mentioned applying for H1B). If that is the case, the CR-1 makes more sense in my opinion.

Edited February 14, 2019 by millefleur

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,096]

We did a K-1 mostly because getting married in Russia seemed pretty complicated and didn't want to plan our next meeting around where two foreigners could marry quickly.

 

Granted, we're a bit older (I'm in my early 40s; she's in her early 30s), and I'm confident I can support her pretty easily. She still wants to work eventually, though.

[PeruvyandGringa 25]

Marry in Stockholm at the City Hall.

[AstroCanada 206]

7 hours 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.
   

 

@missileman This is generally a great summary of the difference; however, 3 months is way, way slower than most couples get a CR-1.  Even the first phase for the !-130 petition is running over 6 months, before NVC and the embassy stages.   1 year is a more realistic timeframe for a CR-1 to enter the US.

[LilyJ 1,258]

1 minute ago, AstroCanada said:

@missileman This is generally a great summary of the difference; however, 3 months is way, way slower than most couples get a CR-1.  Even the first phase for the !-130 petition is running over 6 months, before NVC and the embassy stages.   1 year is a more realistic timeframe for a CR-1 to enter the US.

He meant that it takes 3 months longer than a K1; Not that the whole process took 3 months

[Crazy Cat 42,214]

1 hour ago, AstroCanada said:

@missileman This is generally a great summary of the difference; however, 3 months is way, way slower than most couples get a CR-1.  Even the first phase for the !-130 petition is running over 6 months, before NVC and the embassy stages.   1 year is a more realistic timeframe for a CR-1 to enter the US.

I think you misread it.  The 3 moths mentioned is the difference in the time from filing to arrival in the US,  not the total processing time......but you are correct in that a CR-1 takes 12-14 months on average from start to having the visa in hand....Thanks.

I will also add that are cases in which a K-1 is a better choice depending on the situation (such as children who will also immigrate).

[AstroCanada 206]

40 minutes ago, missileman said:

I think you misread it.  The 3 moths mentioned is the difference in the time from filing to arrival in the US,  not the total processing time......but you are correct in that a CR-1 takes 12-14 months on average from start to having the visa in hand....Thanks.

I will also add that are cases in which a K-1 is a better choice depending on the situation (such as children who will also immigrate).

You're totally right.  I misread!   Thanks for so much helpful info.

[v_world 2]

Thank you all for the great input. I think many of you are right in suggesting that CR-1 seems to be a better option, for the following reasons:

 

— Since we are currently away from each other, it almost doesn't matter whether I m able to move there 10 months from now or 12-14 months from now. We are making efforts to travel and see each other in third countries. Also, we are both working full-time which allows for time to pass a bit faster.

— I would love to be able to work right away. I have an American bachelor's degree, and I also have an employer who is interesting in hiring me full time as soon as things settle. 

— Though I understand that we would have to spend a lot of money on either option, it seems that CR-1 is a bit more reasonable, however, the marriage itself will require some finances.

 

I guess the path from  now on is to figure out what country would be best for this marriage, and work on that.

[v_world 2]

7 hours ago, millefleur said:

Good call. It will be very difficult (almost impossible) to get a tourist visa with an American fiancé. Research and see what might be the easiest country for 2 foreigners to get married in.

In your brief journey overview I see that you applied for SSN once you arrived to the U.S.

I already have a SSN from when I went to college. Would I need to issue a new one? OR this one stays with me? 

 

Also, I see that had to complete a medical exam - can you please tell me about that? Or maybe direct me to where I can read about it? 

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, v_world said:

In your brief journey overview I see that you applied for SSN once you arrived to the U.S.

I already have a SSN from when I went to college. Would I need to issue a new one? OR this one stays with me? 

 

Also, I see that had to complete a medical exam - can you please tell me about that? Or maybe direct me to where I can read about it? 

Oh, if you already have an SSN, that's even better. You can just skip that step and select the option that you will not need one once you get to the DS-260 (application for the visa, comes later after the I-130 is approved). So that's great...one less thing you need to wait for! The same number will stay will you forever...if you change your name via marriage, you can always apply for a new card but the number won't change.

 

Regarding the medical exam, you will find the Russia, Ukraine and Belarus subform here on VJ useful for info and discussion about that. The medical is one of the very last things you'll need to do, so don't worry about it too much now....but it has to be done in Moscow, everything in this process will be done in Moscow, so just keep that in mind if you are in a different part of Russia.

[v_world 2]

2 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Oh, if you already have an SSN, that's even better. You can just skip that step and select the option that you will not need one once you get to the DS-260 (application for the visa, comes later after the I-130 is approved). So that's great...one less thing you need to wait for! The same number will stay will you forever...if you change your name via marriage, you can always apply for a new card but the number won't change.

 

Regarding the medical exam, you will find the Russia, Ukraine and Belarus subform here on VJ useful for info and discussion about that. The medical is one of the very last things you'll need to do, so don't worry about it too much now....but it has to be done in Moscow, everything in this process will be done in Moscow, so just keep that in mind if you are in a different part of Russia.

Luckily I live in Tver, which is a 2-hour train ride away. It should not be a problem. thank you so much!

I just read your interview story, and it seems that you and your husband attended the interview in Moscow together. Is that necessary? Would my fiancee need to travel here in order to attend? 

[millefleur 5,047]

4 minutes ago, v_world said:

Luckily I live in Tver, which is a 2-hour train ride away. It should not be a problem. thank you so much!

I just read your interview story, and it seems that you and your husband attended the interview in Moscow together. Is that necessary? Would my fiancee need to travel here in order to attend? 

Not necessary at all. Most applicants do the interview alone without their spouse present. I was living together with my husband at the time in Russia, so it wasn't the normal situation where the USC is the States and the spouse is in their country. Most CR-1/IR-1 and probably even most K-1 applicants do the interview without their spouse.

Edited February 14, 2019 by millefleur

[v_world 2]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

Not necessary at all. Most applicants do the interview alone without their spouse present. I was living together with my husband at the time in Russia, so it wasn't the normal situation where the USC is the States and the spouse is in their country. Most CR-1/IR-1 applicants do the interview without their spouse.

Gotcha! Thank you for all the input! 

Since I came to this forum things have become so much clearer!