CR-1 or K1 During COVID Which is Quicker?

[Afrim G 1]

Hi Everyone,

 

My question is regarding what is the quickest turnaround time from start to finish for bringing your girlfriend/spouse to the States? I am a US Citizen and my girlfriend is in Europe, we have the option of doing the Fiance Visa and then Adjusting Status in the US with I-485 or getting married in Europe and going thru the IR/CR1 with I-130 I am just not sure which way to proceed? 

During these COVID Times it seems the applications are backlogged and I wanted to ask you guys what is the quickest and best solution for now? I checked few sites and it seems doing the Fiance Visa is taking as much time as the I-130 plus adding the I-485 adjustment which seems to be over a year in New York it turns out to be longer with fiance visa than marriage? 

 

Sorry if im posting in the wrong place 

Thank you very much for your help, I am awaiting your response. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

8 minutes ago, Afrim G said:

Hi Everyone,

 

My question is regarding what is the quickest turnaround time from start to finish for bringing your girlfriend/spouse to the States? I am a US Citizen and my girlfriend is in Europe, we have the option of doing the Fiance Visa and then Adjusting Status in the US with I-485 or getting married in Europe and going thru the IR/CR1 with I-130 I am just not sure which way to proceed? 

During these COVID Times it seems the applications are backlogged and I wanted to ask you guys what is the quickest and best solution for now? I checked few sites and it seems doing the Fiance Visa is taking as much time as the I-130 plus adding the I-485 adjustment which seems to be over a year in New York it turns out to be longer with fiance visa than marriage? 

 

Sorry if im posting in the wrong place 

Thank you very much for your help, I am awaiting your response. 

Nobody knows when the consulates will start interviewing en masse again  for K1 or if COVID will force another shutdown.  One thing that is for certain is that spousal visa interviews were rescheduled faster.

 

And part of the equation is where your fiance will interview.

Edited September 30, 2020 by Paul & Mary

[Ontarkie 14,369]

~~Duplicate thread removed. Thread moved to What Visa Do I Need, from K1 P&P - the OP is exploring options.~~

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,096]

It's really hard to say, and quite complicated.

 

They aren't doing K-1 interviews right now in most countries, but by the time your petition is approved (which won't be for 5-7 months at minimum) that could easily change. Of course, there may very well be a significant backlog of cases once normal visa processing resumes.

 

On the other hand, to do a CR-1 you have to get married first (obviously), and many countries in Europe aren't allowing American tourists right now (and in many countries, even in Europe, marrying a foreigner or two foreigners marrying takes a lot of paperwork and time). So you may have to set up a third-country meeting to get married before you can even start the process. And in normal times CR-1s take longer from petition to POE (though you don't have to AOS when your spouse gets here).

[Marieke H 2,521]

10 minutes ago, Afrim G said:

what is the quickest and best solution for now?

The quickest is not necessarily the best solution. The K1 is a bit faster (if consulates start processing them), but overall more expensive and the immigrant will not be allowed to work for many months after entry. 

[Crazy Cat 42,033]

17 minutes ago, Afrim G said:

Hi Everyone,

 

My question is regarding what is the quickest turnaround time from start to finish for bringing your girlfriend/spouse to the States? I am a US Citizen and my girlfriend is in Europe, we have the option of doing the Fiance Visa and then Adjusting Status in the US with I-485 or getting married in Europe and going thru the IR/CR1 with I-130 I am just not sure which way to proceed? 

During these COVID Times it seems the applications are backlogged and I wanted to ask you guys what is the quickest and best solution for now? I checked few sites and it seems doing the Fiance Visa is taking as much time as the I-130 plus adding the I-485 adjustment which seems to be over a year in New York it turns out to be longer with fiance visa than marriage? 

 

Sorry if im posting in the wrong place 

Thank you very much for your help, I am awaiting your response. 

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

K-1
    Maybe Slightly faster arrival in the US  
    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.
    A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  

CR-1
    Maybe Slightly slower arrival in the US 

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765, I-944) 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.
  �

 

[Knicks 21]

My wife and I used the K-1 back in 2017 and the process for us took less than 6 months. Knowing what we know now, we would have gone the CR-1 route. She was bored at home for 6 months until she was allowed to work. 

[SalishSea 18,064]

Neither option will be 'fast.'  COVID has put a new spin on everything.  Even if a K-1 petition (I-129F) is approved in the usual 5-7 months, approved petitions are simply sitting at NVC since consulates are not doing interviews.  Work authorization is taking ~ 8 months, and green cards have been averaging one year for interviews for awhile.

 

Another disadvantage to K-1 is that if she's from a Schengen country, she wouldn't be exempt for travel to the US, like a spouse would.

 

I think you're looking at  12-18 months for either option.  

[JFH 12,191]

Where do you propose to get married in Europe? That could be your biggest hurdle as a USC - most European countries are not permitting many nationalities to enter, including USCs. 

[Cathi 5,782]

The far superior visa is the CR-1. 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

If your only reasoning for choosing a specific visa is based on how fast it will be - you are going to be disappointed with your choice.