Getting a K-1 Visa fastest?

[TempunAlex 7]

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Incorrect  You have 60 days.  You are confusing visitors with new residents (like you).

Please read again, the state law says that any foreigner on a visa (not permanent residen status, you are a visa holder while on a K-1 until you get your greencard) is allowed to drive lawfully with their legally obtrained foreign driver's license for up to 1 whole year upon entering the US.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

2 minutes ago, TempunAlex said:

Please read again, the state law says that any foreigner on a visa (not permanent residen status, you are a visa holder while on a K-1 until you get your greencard) is allowed to drive lawfully with their legally obtrained foreign driver's license for up to 1 whole year upon entering the US.

Nope.  You are a new resident when you move there and take actions to live there.....

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

International Driver’s Licenses : New Jersey Traffic Law Center

 

"If a person is licensed outside of the United States, and if he/she becomes a resident of the New Jersey then the rules are different. People who become residents of New Jersey from other states may continue to drive under a license granted by their former states for a period of 60 days. Thereafter, they must apply for a New Jersey license."

[Unlockable 7,314]

*** One post removed for instructing fraud. Do not make post advocating or advising to fraud immigration.

 

VJ Moderation 

[Scandi 4,166]

2 hours ago, TempunAlex said:

Please read again, the state law says that any foreigner on a visa (not permanent residen status, you are a visa holder while on a K-1 until you get your greencard) is allowed to drive lawfully with their legally obtrained foreign driver's license for up to 1 whole year upon entering the US.

Nah, once you enter with your K-1 visa you have a status for only 90 days (i-94), thereafter you don't have any status in the US until you have successfully adjusted your status to being a permanent resident. Not having any status means not being able to do anything. You need to get a US driver license which can prove to be very difficult or even impossible depending on the state, many DMVs only issue a DL for as long as you have valid status, which means a DL would only be valid for those 90 days that you actually have a status.

That's why the spousal visa is by far the superior visa, you have status in the US from day 1 and won't have any of these head aches.

I too thought "being together fast" was the most important thing so I chose the K-1 visa, which I obviously regretted afterwards going through the whole AOS ordeal - if I were doing it all over again I would TOTALLY have chosen the CR-1 with an additional 4-6 month wait (which it was back then, that wait means nothing when you're finally together and your life gets so much easier being an LPR immediately). I too didn't need to work or drive or anything like that, and YET it was the suckiest experience ever not having any status and not being able to do anything while waiting for the greencard. And this was back when a greencard was issued in just 7 months here in Los Angeles (yes I had an interview). I can only imagine going through that process now.. 

But you have clearly already made up your mind so I'm not sure why the thread was started in the first place. 💁‍♀️

Edited July 19, 2022 by Scandi

[h02ejmajja 57]

3 hours ago, TempunAlex said:

 

 

I am aware I cannot work nor do I need to, even if I had to wait 2-5 years I would be more than okay with my foreign company earnings.

But if you are making money.....isn't that considered.....working? Or are you just sitting aside and the money comes to you?  

[Boiler 45,451]

As long as it is passive, like dividends and you are not involved in running the company it is  ok

[SteveInBostonI130 3,432]

4 hours ago, TempunAlex said:

Please read again, the state law says that any foreigner on a visa (not permanent residen status, you are a visa holder while on a K-1 until you get your greencard) is allowed to drive lawfully with their legally obtrained foreign driver's license for up to 1 whole year upon entering the US.

 

K1 visa expires the day you enter the US.  It is single entry only.  You get 90 days of authorized stay on your I-94.

[WaterLeaf 200]

Hi. I'm the US Citizen who petitioned for my Husband as he is also from Uruguay for K1.

 

We went this expensive and time consuming route because we could. We aren't trying to rush anything other than being accurate with our case. I went with it because it help him learn more about the local information, laws, and other things for the area he plan to stay in Tennessee. Once the time is up we also went ahead and worked on filing out the other papers and have everything ready before sending them out on the day he could send them and reviewing everything like a few days later for fresh eyes and make sure we aren't missing anything. Yes, it take time but we were managing well. We did nothing to engage in illegal activity.

So I feel like I need to tell you again, nothing about getting someone into the US is fast. Even in Uruguay they have their own time frame and it can depends. Also, it take both of you to do this completely.

Edited July 20, 2022 by WaterLeaf

[BLC 112]

On 7/18/2022 at 10:03 AM, TempunAlex said:

The last time was this past February, however there's a lot of time constraints we're trying to see if we can beat like wanting to be there for our son's (I consider him my own) 8th grade graduation and many other things. That's the only reason I asked. The amount of people that apply here for K-1 and CR-1 is very low because most people usually go to America first, get married there and apply for both I-130 and I-485 consequently so it avoids the needs to come back here to the embassy (I know at least 15 people that have gone down this route).  The reason I don't do that is because I've been denied a B1/B2 since I have a pending I-130 through my father (He is a permanent resident and my whole family is in the US so no family here back in Uruguay) which has been a priority date of late 2017. Even if they were to ever get there and approve me I'd have another 2-3 year wait with the NVC so my fiance whom I've been for a couple of years now and I decided we'd go down the K-1 route. 

 

I know the CR1 could be faster or the same amount of time but like I said she is a single mother and there's a lot of things that play against her like:

1. Her ex not wanting to give permission for the kids to fly internationally all the time1

2. Her job having long hours and odd schedules 

3. Her already having had taken all her vacation days for this year in February. 

 

For those of you that say "You'll be disappointed" I know I won't because trust me, I've been waiting for an approval for almost 5 whole years on an I-130 F2B

 

Thank you for your inputs!

It sort of seems like you came on here asking these questions and for input, but have already made a decision for yourself. You are defending the K1 every time, so I think you have your answer!

If you do more research and end up changing your mind about the CR1, you can always marry online and then meet for a quick visit in a third country to consummate.
 

My husband and I went CR1/IR1 way, not because of any of the usual logical reasons as to why the CR1 is superior to K1.. but solely because we knew immigration takes a long time..and we prefer to wait that out as husband and wife, rather than being “legally single”. There has been a lot of comfort in that for us, anyway. 

Best of luck! Whichever way you choose! 

[K1visaHopeful 2,810]

On 7/17/2022 at 11:47 PM, TempunAlex said:

We want to be together as quickly as possible and the financial aspect would not be a factor for me since I own a company here in South America and make passive income.

I would be easily able to support and maintain us for 2 whole years if needed.

The AOS applicant (ie. Foreigner K1 beneficiary) cannot work while waiting for EAD/AOS process regardless of where the work takes place. You would have to stop running your business abroad while you wait. 

How would they find out. You'd have to file taxes including your world wide income the first year your arrived and got married. 

 

Quote

 

I also know that if I bring my driver's license I can trade it in for an international driver's license once within the US so driving is not another issue for me. 

 

Driver's license laws vary by state. 

Tourists are allowed to drive in the US with IDLs.

Those who entered as immigrant K1 Visas cannot drive with IDLs in most states. 

Edited July 25, 2022 by K1visaHopeful

[Ximena Anna 7]

I'm in Australia and my fiance and I got our NOA1 16th November 2021. When we first filed the processing time from USCIS made us believe we would be married by now. Now I'm lucky If we'll be married this time next year.

[SandyR 142]

On 7/18/2022 at 12:15 AM, TempunAlex said:

I am the beneficiary and I explained above the reason we cannot do that. What is the difference between IR-1 and CR-1?

If you are saying getting married is not possible then you have no choice but to file for the K-1. Things change all the time so the K-1 could end up being faster. In the end it is usually case by case so you never know. Just apply and be ready to wait. You might get lucky and have Approval in nine months.Approval in nine months.

[Just Paul 4,595]

Every case is different.  You can use USCIS and the timelines on this site as reference points.  We got to the US in 103 days in 2018 as a CR-1.

 

Since you are going down the K1 route you need to be aware that driving will depend on where you live.  You can't work until you get an EAD. You can't travel internationally with out AP.  Get a SSN as soon as you can when entering the US.  The whole AOS process doesn't even start until after you get married.

[Palawan 131]

On 7/17/2022 at 10:53 PM, Jorgedig said:

It is no longer "fastest" overall, and the AOS process for K-1s is a big negative.

 

Most of us who did a K-1 even when the petition process was only 6 months (vs current 13 months) would have chosen a CR-1 in retrospect.

 

 

I found a AOS to be a piece of cake and easy, I saw nothing negative with it.

 

I did a K1,  no way would of chosen a CR-1.  I was approved in less than 30 days and had interview in less than 30 days from there.