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Posted
17 minutes ago, mikefromNJ said:

yes, i can be in ukraine as a tourist , for 3 years, if i have more than one passport.

Are you a citizen of Ukraine as well as US?

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: South Africa
Timeline
Posted

I'd be curious about this too. I've been "living" in South Africa as a tourist for 2 years. I keep going in and out every 3 months. We have a baby together. Except I am the US citizen as the female and my partner is a male South African. 

 

I sent my i129F from South Africa, got my NOA1 Aug 13. Flew back to the US Sep3. I am going back to South Africa Dec1 where I plan to stay for 5 months with a visa extension application. We hope to have the interview by then.

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: South Africa
Timeline
Posted
4 minutes ago, JFH said:

This is another case where the K-1 makes no sense at all. 

It does for us because we want to get out of South Africa as soon as possible. We have been victims of crime and don't feel safe but want to stay together. Why would I choose a visa that would take a year and a half at best (spousal) rather than 10months (k1)? 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

Time lines are not that far apart.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: South Africa
Timeline
Posted
9 hours ago, Boiler said:

Time lines are not that far apart.

What are they then? 

 

Another reason is we want to get married in the US with my family. We have no family here. 

 

Is there a reason we would be prohibited from doing a k1?

 

I don't understand why eveyone here is so against it in my case.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted (edited)

I didn't see "everyone" against it (well, only saw one person question the decision, it seems). 

 

Marriage can take place anywhere---doesn't have to be in the US.  Many couples have "second weddings" to satisfy the friends/family component.  A CR-1 doesn't automatically mean the marriage cannot take place inside the States, either (while on tourist visa), only that the foreign spouse would have to return to the home country to wait out processing rather than remain in the States.

 

Lots more pros to a CR-1 than a K-1.  If I were your the same boat, from what you've said the CR-1 makes a ton more sense.  Of course, to each their own....it's your visa journey.

Edited by Going through

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: South Africa
Timeline
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Going through said:

I didn't see "everyone" against it (well, only saw one person question the decision, it seems). 

 

Marriage can take place anywhere---doesn't have to be in the US.  Many couples have "second weddings" to satisfy the friends/family component.  A CR-1 doesn't automatically mean the marriage cannot take place inside the States, either (while on tourist visa), only that the foreign spouse would have to return to the home country to wait out processing rather than remain in the States.

 

Lots more pros to a CR-1 than a K-1.  If I were your the same boat, from what you've said the CR-1 makes a ton more sense.  Of course, to each their own....it's your visa journey.

Spousal visa is cheaper and you get PR (and thus citizenship) much quicker.  Those are definitely bonuses for many people. Are there others I forgot to mention? Please feel free to state them for any reader who may be considering between the two visas.

 

After considering those details, my fiance and I prefer the short timeline of k1, and the ability to have our actual wedding date amongst family, not just a celebration. My fiance was unable to get a tourist visa after two attempts so that isn't an option for us either. To each their own, I agree.  That's why I don't get why shame my choice of visa and that of the OP.

Edited by Henry&Eliana
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

We get many many posts on here from people who went the K1 route and then realise that there are many factors that they did not think about that become significant to them, working, driving, travelling seem the most common.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted (edited)
16 minutes ago, Boiler said:

We get many many posts on here from people who went the K1 route and then realise that there are many factors that they did not think about that become significant to them, working, driving, travelling seem the most common.

Agreed.  Lots of "I arrived on a K1, got married---when can I work???"  And never realized there will be a period of financial struggle because of the wait time.

 

And the common "I need to go back to my home country for an emergency" soon after the marriage and then find out they cannot travel right away (well, at least not unless starting over, in many cases).

Edited by Going through

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency - 96 Days To Complete Citizenship!

July 14, 2017 (Day 00) -  Submitted N400 Application, filed online

July 21, 2017 (Day 07) -  NOA Receipt received in the mail

July 22, 2017 (Day 08) - Biometrics appointment scheduled online, letter mailed out

July 25, 2017 (Day 11) - Biometrics PDF posted online

July 28, 2017 (Day 14) - Biometrics letter received in the mail, appointment for 08/08/17

Aug 08, 2017 (Day 24) - Biometrics (fingerprinting) completed

Aug 14, 2017 (Day 30) - Online EGOV status shows "Interview Scheduled, will mail appointment letter"

Aug 16, 2017 (Day 32) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Interview Scheduled, read the letter we mailed you..."

Aug 17, 2017 (Day 33) - Interview Appointment Letter PDF posted online---GOT AN INTERVIEW DATE!!!

Aug 21, 2017 (Day 37) - Interview Appointment Letter received in the mail, appointment for 09/27/17

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Naturalization Interview--- read my experience here

Sep. 27, 2017 (Day 74) - Online MYUSCIS status shows "Oath Ceremony Notice mailed"

Sep. 28, 2017 (Day 75) - Oath Ceremony Letter PDF posted online--Ceremony for 10/19/17

Oct. 02, 2017 (Day 79) -  Oath Ceremony Letter received in the mail

Oct. 19, 2017 (Day 96) -  Oath Ceremony-- read my experience here

 

 

 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

Which is why I always say in most cases, there are exceptions.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted (edited)
18 hours ago, Boiler said:

Time lines are not that far apart.

The current VJ average for NOA1 to interview for IR-1/CR-1 is 428 days. For a K-1 it's 230 days.

 

There are a lot of downsides to a K-1, particularly if your local field office for AOS is on the slow side and we might very well have gone the other way if we had it to do over again even though Anastasia's handled the period where she can't work or drive better than most (I think) and San Diego is not on the slow side (AOS interview is in a couple weeks).

 

But over six months is not "not that far apart" when a K-1 is typically less than 8 months from NOA1 to interview now (and if you're not living together overseas, a literal cross-border couple, or able to travel on very short notice, you can probably add at least another month to the difference in time because you have to actually get married to start a CR-1).

Edited by DaveAndAnastasia
K-1                             AOS                            
NOA1 Notice Date: 2018-05-31    NOA1 Notice Date: 2019-04-11   
NOA2 Date: 2018-11-16           Biometrics Date: 2019-05-10    
Arrived at NVC:  2018-12-03     EAD/AP In Hand: 2019-09-16     
Arrived in Moscow: 2018-12-28   GC Interview Date: 2019-09-25      
Interview date: 2019-02-14      GC In Hand: 2019-10-02
Visa issued: 2019-02-28
POE: 2019-03-11
Wedding: 2019-03-14

ROC                             Naturalization
NOA1 Notice Date: 2021-07-16    Applied Online: 2022-07-09 (biometrics waived)
Approval Date: 2022-04-06       Interview was Scheduled: 2023-01-06
10-year GC In Hand: 2022-04-14  Interview date: 2023-02-13 (passed)
                            	Oath: 2023-02-13

 

  • 3 months later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: South Africa
Timeline
Posted
On 9/10/2019 at 3:13 PM, Henry&Eliana said:

Spousal visa is cheaper and you get PR (and thus citizenship) much quicker.  Those are definitely bonuses for many people. Are there others I forgot to mention? Please feel free to state them for any reader who may be considering between the two visas.

 

After considering those details, my fiance and I prefer the short timeline of k1, and the ability to have our actual wedding date amongst family, not just a celebration. My fiance was unable to get a tourist visa after two attempts so that isn't an option for us either. To each their own, I agree.  That's why I don't get why shame my choice of visa and that of the OP.

I had also applied for a tourist visa and was denied. 

Didn't try a second time. 

Been really concerned the denial was going to affect the K1 visa 

 
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