K1 vs CR1

[izzy777 0]

I applied for my girlfriend K1 visa 4 months ago no updates wondering if it would be faster to get married and do CR1.

[Mike E 11,739]

As of today, VJ members report 594 days to get to a K-1 interview vs 526 days to get to a CR-1 / IR-1 interview.

 

So switching to CR-1 will cost on average 120 - (594 - 526)  52 more days. 

 

[Boiler 45,451]

Did you not get a receipt.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

33 minutes ago, izzy777 said:

if it would be faster to get married and do CR1.

Faster for the visa?  Probably not.  Faster to a Green card.....yes.

 

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

K-1 
  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 6-8 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 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 K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
  In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice 
  A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  K-1 entrant cannot file for citizenship until after having Green Card for 3 years.

CR-1
  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.
  The clock for citizenship filing starts immediately upon entry to the US.
   

 

Edited July 15, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[powerpuff 6,689]

The days of fast K1 processing are long gone. It takes 18+ months to get a K1 visa. CR1 takes 18-24 months but it’s an infinitely better choice considering it’s practically the same wait time. And I did a K1 a few years ago

[izzy777 0]

ok will try for CR1 seems like the better choice less pain in paper work thanks all

[Redro 4,611]

10 minutes ago, izzy777 said:

ok will try for CR1 seems like the better choice less pain in paper work thanks all

Which country is your fiancé from? 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

12 minutes ago, izzy777 said:

ok will try for CR1 seems like the better choice less pain in paper work thanks all

If you choose to do that remember:

1.  You must be together either during or after the ceremony before you can file the I-130.  You also must have your marriage certificate to file the I-130.

2.  You can send a letter to withdraw the I-129F along with the I-130.

 

 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

On 7/15/2023 at 7:07 AM, Mike E said:

As of today, VJ members report 594 days to get to a K-1 interview vs 526 days to get to a CR-1 / IR-1 interview.

 

So switching to CR-1 will cost on average 120 - (594 - 526)  52 more days. 

 

... well, 52 days plus however long it takes to get married as far as USCIS is concerned (aka legally married and have been together in-person while married) and have sufficient documentation of this to file the forms.

 

With the possible exceptions of

• people in a literal cross-border romance with someone who either has a US tourist visa or doesn't need one
• people currently living together outside the US in a country where they can legally marry quickly
• people able to take international trips on very short notice (aka they have both the money and time for this)

... that's going to be a non-trivial amount of time.

[Mike E 11,739]

13 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

that's going to be a non-trivial amount of time.

7 days with an online Utah County marriage service. At under 2 percent of the total time, that is trivial to me.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

Just now, Mike E said:

7 days with an online Utah County marriage service. At under 2 percent of the total time, that is trivial to me.

That works for "getting married". Doesn't help with the "being in the same place at the same time while married".

[Mike E 11,739]

3 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

That works for "getting married". Doesn't help with the "being in the same place at the same time while married".

Why can’t all that be done in 7 days or less?

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

Why can’t all that be done in 7 days or less?

It can in theory, but for most people it cannot in practice because short-notice international travel is in fact very expensive, and most employers frown on taking non-emergency time off on very short notice.

[izzy777 0]

Yes I was looking into the Utah proxy marriage I will be going to my fiancé country Philippines in a month but we don't have enough time to complete all requirements (in the Philippines) to get married and the waiting period before I have to return to work and might not return to her for a few months is it easy for proxy will do online together in Philippines but not sure if proxy will cause issues. we will get married in Philippines later but want to do this now so less delays for CR1 I appreciate all the responses thank you all very much

Edited July 18, 2023 by izzy777

[Dashinka 24,483]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:33 AM, izzy777 said:

Yes I was looking into the Utah proxy marriage I will be going to my fiancé country Philippines in a month but we don't have enough time to complete all requirements (in the Philippines) to get married and the waiting period before I have to return to work and might not return to her for a few months is it easy for proxy will do online together in Philippines but not sure if proxy will cause issues. we will get married in Philippines later but want to do this now so less delays for CR1 I appreciate all the responses thank you all very much

First of all, the Utah Zoom Online Marriage is not a proxy marriage.  It is in fact a legal US marriage ceremony with a valid marriage certificate.  The only issue it causes with respect to immigration is that the couple being married must be physically present together either during or at some point after the ceremony before you can submit the I130.  If you are together during the ceremony, you can file the I130 as soon as you get the marriage certificate via email.  You can also get married as soon as you can set it up while you are in the US and she is in the Philippines, and then when you go to visit next you can file the I130 immediately when you are together.  I tend toward being together for the ceremony, but that is up to you.