How are ya'll feeling?

[KSVJ 216]

Hey Everyone,

I just recently submitted my I-129F - preparing for the long wait ahead. As we know, London isn't doing routine K-1 interviews yet and I imagine there's quite the backlog from interviews not being done for over a year now. I just wanted to see how everyone is doing...depends on the day for me. Feel free to vent or share some hope!

Edited April 7, 2021 by KSVJ

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

Good luck, I hope the backlog clears and the embassy is back to normal operation by the time your petition is approved.

 

However..I do not understand why ppl from Canada, UK, Europe, and any other VWP country go for K1.

 

My wife's case is different because in her country it is difficult for singles to get visitor visas. It would have been great if my wife could have visited me to see if she could adjust to life in America, but we ended up using the K1 for that purpose.  We had to start over with a CR1 because she had to return due to a family emergency, but that's another story. 

 

I know last year was ####### for travelling and visiting due to the pandemic, but for UK and EU countries the lifestyles are similar to the US.  There definitely are differences, but not to the degrees for various other countries.  I would have recommended you guys to get married and go for CR1.  I believe Gibraltar was a good 3rd country destination for quick marriages.  

 

While CR1 was longer pre-pandemic, it was faster during due to the embassies not processing K1.  Even for pre-pandemic, CR1 was just as fast or faster from start to greencard (no AOS required).  And visits are allowed while CR1 is processing (at the discretion of CBP).

 

I guess it is because K1 is better known due to 90 day fiance and social media, but I wish people consider CR1 before making a choice.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

27 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

However..I do not understand why ppl from Canada, UK, Europe, and any other VWP country go for K1.

You make some very valid points. With the UK, once the K1s, tourist, work visas open with a year backlog, it’s likely to take a long time. Then with the K1, the additional already long wait for adjusting status or even getting work and travel authorization. A marriage visa recipient hits the ground running as soon as they enter the US...get a greencard, can work, get a driver license. I think some K1s may not realize the extra three applications and wait time before they can get to that point. Not sure what it is now, but approaching another year??

Edited April 7, 2021 by Wuozopo

[DesiJase 52]

On 4/7/2021 at 9:24 AM, Wuozopo said:

You make some very valid points. With the UK, once the K1s, tourist, work visas open with a year backlog, it’s likely to take a long time. Then with the K1, the additional already long wait for adjusting status or even getting work and travel authorization. A marriage visa recipient hits the ground running as soon as they enter the US...get a greencard, can work, get a driver license. I think some K1s may not realize the extra three applications and wait time before they can get to that point. Not sure what it is now, but approaching another year??

I think it's because it used to be advertised that the K-1 was faster to get them home. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

58 minutes ago, DesiJase said:

I think it's because it used to be advertised that the K-1 was faster to get them home. 

It was pretty fast. I had my K1 in hand about 4 months from filing the petition. EAD/AP less than 2 months. AOS 5 months. And we thought it was so slow. 

[yuna628 9,676]

On 4/7/2021 at 10:03 AM, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Good luck, I hope the backlog clears and the embassy is back to normal operation by the time your petition is approved.

 

However..I do not understand why ppl from Canada, UK, Europe, and any other VWP country go for K1.

 

My wife's case is different because in her country it is difficult for singles to get visitor visas. It would have been great if my wife could have visited me to see if she could adjust to life in America, but we ended up using the K1 for that purpose.  We had to start over with a CR1 because she had to return due to a family emergency, but that's another story. 

 

I know last year was ####### for travelling and visiting due to the pandemic, but for UK and EU countries the lifestyles are similar to the US.  There definitely are differences, but not to the degrees for various other countries.  I would have recommended you guys to get married and go for CR1.  I believe Gibraltar was a good 3rd country destination for quick marriages.  

 

While CR1 was longer pre-pandemic, it was faster during due to the embassies not processing K1.  Even for pre-pandemic, CR1 was just as fast or faster from start to greencard (no AOS required).  And visits are allowed while CR1 is processing (at the discretion of CBP).

 

I guess it is because K1 is better known due to 90 day fiance and social media, but I wish people consider CR1 before making a choice.

We went the K1 route because there was no other alternative that seemed viable. Obtaining a visa from the UK was not an option for us, and it's not an option for many. Marrying in the US was appropriate in our circumstances, but it's certainly not for everyone. It gave us time to wait and plan and save. It wasn't a fast process for us at the time because of the backlog going on.

[wbeem 568]

On 4/8/2021 at 11:11 AM, yuna628 said:

We went the K1 route because there was no other alternative that seemed viable. Obtaining a visa from the UK was not an option for us, and it's not an option for many. Marrying in the US was appropriate in our circumstances, but it's certainly not for everyone. It gave us time to wait and plan and save. It wasn't a fast process for us at the time because of the backlog going on.

Similar experience (and about the same timeframe - I know we remember each other from 2014 on lol). 

The travel ban has made things difficult for CR1. Outside of that our only regret is that we didn't do a CR1 instead of a K1. It took almost a year from filing to visa in hand and was much more expensive and frustrating. Outside of special circumstances making it impossible to get married prior to applying, I don't think I would ever recommend a K1 to anyone. We were told it was the 'quicker' and preferred way to go.  Our experience was the opposite. 

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

On 4/7/2021 at 7:03 AM, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Good luck, I hope the backlog clears and the embassy is back to normal operation by the time your petition is approved.

 

However..I do not understand why ppl from Canada, UK, Europe, and any other VWP country go for K1.

 

My wife's case is different because in her country it is difficult for singles to get visitor visas. It would have been great if my wife could have visited me to see if she could adjust to life in America, but we ended up using the K1 for that purpose.  We had to start over with a CR1 because she had to return due to a family emergency, but that's another story. 

 

I know last year was ####### for travelling and visiting due to the pandemic, but for UK and EU countries the lifestyles are similar to the US.  There definitely are differences, but not to the degrees for various other countries.  I would have recommended you guys to get married and go for CR1.  I believe Gibraltar was a good 3rd country destination for quick marriages.  

 

While CR1 was longer pre-pandemic, it was faster during due to the embassies not processing K1.  Even for pre-pandemic, CR1 was just as fast or faster from start to greencard (no AOS required).  And visits are allowed while CR1 is processing (at the discretion of CBP).

 

I guess it is because K1 is better known due to 90 day fiance and social media, but I wish people consider CR1 before making a choice.

My husband and I did a K1, because we specifically wanted to get married in LA, with all our friends there. 

 

It's definitely down to the individual. Me not being able to work or travel for longer wasn't an issue - and costing more wasn't an issue either.

 

And visits are allowed whilst you await a K1 one also, so no difference there.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

On 4/7/2021 at 9:03 AM, SteveInBostonI130 said:

However..I do not understand why ppl from Canada, UK, Europe, and any other VWP country go for K1.

K1 worked for us because we could start the petition immediately without any delay to marry first. We hadn’t told our families/friends, so used the wait time to break the news to them that we planned to marry. I also wasn’t looking for a job  having already put in 30 years in the U.K. The wife didn’t work, so there were no months stuck at home alone that many can’t cope with.  K1 fit our situation, but I agree that CR1 is a better choice for most of those starting right now.