K1 or CR1

[SalishSea 17,801]

1 minute ago, Suncheer said:

Thank you for clarifying that, I was told NYC based applications would go to Vermont, but based on your clarification it sounds like its more so randomized/unknown. 

 

Right, the battle is either we want to do ~two years apart (CR1) or ~one year apart (K1) and then the remaining process for K1 I’d be there with my partner. 

One year?  Where are you getting that timeline?  I believe the petition processing time for the I-129F is still 15 months, is it not?

[OldUser 6,608]

2 minutes ago, Suncheer said:

Thank you for clarifying that, I was told NYC based applications would go to Vermont, but based on your clarification it sounds like its more so randomized/unknown. 

 

Right, the battle is either we want to do ~two years apart (CR1) or ~one year apart (K1) and then the remaining process for K1 I’d be there with my partner. 

I don't believe you would spend less time waiting for K1 outside of the US than you would spend waiting for CR1. It used to be faster, but I heard it's no longer the case.

[Suncheer 4]

5 minutes ago, OldUser said:

You cannot work legally as a Canadian in the US without work authorization. Even for remote work.

Thank you for clarifying that!

[SalishSea 17,801]

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

[Crazy Cat 41,811]

22 minutes ago, Suncheer said:

the battle is either we want to do ~two years apart (CR1) or ~one year apart (K1) and then the remaining process for K1 I’d be there with my partner. 

I'm not sure where you got those times, but they are not accurate.  Both the K-1 and CR-1 will take close to 18 months before entry into the US. Per other members the average times from filing to interview are:

 

From initial filing to Interview 

575 days for K-1

619 days for CR-1

Edited January 22 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,811]

USCIS Immigration Processing Times - VisaJourney

 

 

[SalishSea 17,801]

OP, have you read the guides?   The petition processing time is only one part of the overall process.

[widude 38]

 Toronto & NY?? You’re so close, it’s like being just down the street. At least you can see each other often with minimal effort, likely the same time zone to boot. 

[MissLadyRea 206]

1 hour ago, Suncheer said:

Hi there,

 

I am new here so apologies if this is the wrong forum to post this question. However, I am turning to the community to help us decide on the best options for our situation, considering there’s a lot of different information out there, and I am slowly losing my mind. I am a Canadian citizen based in Toronto, and my partner is a USC based in New York. As everyone here, we want to close the long distance gap asap, and are exploring the two options - K1 or CR1. I understand the benefits of CR1, however, we want to go with the process that would get me there the fastest. If we were to go through the K1 we’re financially capable of surviving for 12-15 months without a work authorization (given it takes that long for me to get one). We also want to start a family and would not want to do that with the distance. So there is a lot to consider. Additionally, I work from home full-time so I can travel and work from anywhere. 

 

Giving our circumstance, would the K1 or CR1 be there better and fastest option? Or are the timelines the same for both process?

 

Thank you so in advance for all your inputs!

Cheers!

In the end, it's up to you if just a few months potentially faster is worth so many sacrifices. You may say you're cool with them now, but keep in mind it's significantly easier to say "I'm cool with this!" when it's not actually about to happen yet. I thought the same, that the stress others had wouldn't be my experience. I'm a homebody, I never go out so surely it would be fine.. right?

In reality, it was one of the hardest times I ended up facing. For many, it causes significant damage to their marriage to begin it with such a scary power-dynamic. For me, I was living in consistent fear and stress to the extent where I was barely able to think or do fun stuff for myself, it was just all focused on the situation. I was very fortunate my husband took no issue in the fact that for the first 6 months he had a wife that was just so out of it. A common thought I had was "If one of my family or friends got hospitalized and are in critical condition tomorrow, what would I do? (or even my family pet)" Do you stay and risk never seeing them again, or do you go back and restart EVERYTHING. Sure, you can try to expedite I-131 under the right conditions, but you cannot guarantee that the expedite will be processed in time.

The limbo stage doesn't just mean being stuck around bored, it's a dynamic where you CANT do the things you want to do. Can't travel out of country, cant work, in some cases drive. Very different than simply choosing to do that. 

But the thing is, just assuming how you'll feel about it now is not possible. It is such a major deal that those emotions are something that becomes real, when the moment comes. Even with a remote job in Canada, you cannot continue to do that work in the USA. 

You don't know how you'll feel, the logistics of it being possible does not mean it is something that wont cause you significant distress. And I cant stress enough; its one of those things you cant predict how you'll handle it.
 

Edited January 22 by MissLadyRea

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

1 hour ago, Suncheer said:

Hi there,

 

I am new here so apologies if this is the wrong forum to post this question. However, I am turning to the community to help us decide on the best options for our situation, considering there’s a lot of different information out there, and I am slowly losing my mind. I am a Canadian citizen based in Toronto, and my partner is a USC based in New York. As everyone here, we want to close the long distance gap asap, and are exploring the two options - K1 or CR1. I understand the benefits of CR1, however, we want to go with the process that would get me there the fastest. If we were to go through the K1 we’re financially capable of surviving for 12-15 months without a work authorization (given it takes that long for me to get one). We also wo start a family and would not want to do that with the distance. So there is a lot to consider. Additionally, I work from home full-time so I can travel and work from anywhere. 

 

Giving our circumstance, would the K1 or CR1 be there better and fastest option? Or are the timelines the same for both process?

 

Thank you so in advance for all your inputs!

Cheers!

You can not work even remotely on the K1

How does USCIS know?  u have to file US taxes on income earned in the US and not filing is  a IRS problem

you don't need issues with either IRS or USCIS 

[Amunah 62]

I am from NY our service center was Nebraska. My friend’s ( also from NY) service center was Texas. It’s internal and cannot be predicted. My cousin filed for his fiance K1 NOA1 was January 1st, 2022, she arrived On October 27th 2023. Our CR1 NOA1 was May 24th 2022, my husband arrived on Dec 8th 2023. The difference? He got his ssn the following week and 10 year green card 2 weeks ago. They just filed week ago, from the beginning. They regret big time not going cr1 route. And the fees keep going up. Look at the timelines, facts, this whole site is based on someone’s experience and potential pitfalls and hurdles that can be avoided. 

Edited January 22 by Amunah

[JKLSemicolon 411]

2 hours ago, Gary Rich said:

Crazy Kat.. Here is Virginia it's not that much of a worry for a (K1)  I regularly talk to a person at the bank I'm with. she tells me. ( that an immigrant arriving here would need their visa, passport, and ID ) I'm not sure about other states.

 

Different state, but we found having a Social Security number (which is faster via the CR1 route) makes so many things easier.

[Boiler 45,445]

Just now, JKLSemicolon said:

 

Different state, but we found having a Social Security number (which is faster via the CR1 route) makes so many things easier.

 

I got my SSN in a week, anyway CR1 is the way to go.

 

All the times mentioned are looking backwards and you want to know how long your case will be and none can do that.

 

My guess would be 18 months CR1 or K1.

 

All I do know is that the sooner you file the sooner it will happen.

[JKLSemicolon 411]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

 

I got my SSN in a week, anyway CR1 is the way to go.

 

All the times mentioned are looking backwards and you want to know how long your case will be and none can do that.

 

My guess would be 18 months CR1 or K1.

 

All I do know is that the sooner you file the sooner it will happen.

Ah right, disregard the SSN comment. I was remembering the difficulty of getting the SSN on a K1 during the pandemic in 2020 which was a unique mess that fortunately no longer applies.

 

OP, we did both the K1 and CR1 process (see my profile/timeline) and I came away feeling, as most here do, that the CR1 is far superior.

Edited January 22 by JKLSemicolon

[SteveInBostonI130 3,432]

2 hours ago, Suncheer said:

 

Thank you so much for your help. I’ve been looking at some timelines, but I’ve been focusing on both the petitioner and beneficiary location. Assuming New York is the Vermont location and Toronto is Montreal. I’ll look more into my consulate timeline

 

All of Canada is Montreal for K1 or CR1, regardless of province or city.

 

All of US is a variety of several Service Centers, regardless of state or city.  USCIS sends the I-130 to whichever service center is designated for that day/week/month.