Which visa is faster spousal visa or fiance visa? K1 or C1?

[mehia 0]

Hello everyone, 

I’m in Canada  with worker visa and my boy friend is in US. We want to get married and get visa for US, but we have doubt on which way is the faster way s should we apply for spousal visa or fiance visa? Can anyone help regarding this?

and what is the difference and cost?

 

Thanks

[Crazy Cat 41,922]

***Moved to What Visa Do I Need?***

 

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 3-6 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 3-6 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 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.
  Once an I-129F has been approved, delaying the case is difficult to impossible if the need arises.

CR-1/IR-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.
  A CR-1/IR-1 case can be delayed indefinitely at NVC if the need arises. 
   

 

[mehia 0]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

***Moved to What Visa Do I Need?***

 

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 3-6 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 3-6 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 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.
  Once an I-129F has been approved, delaying the case is difficult to impossible if the need arises.

CR-1/IR-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.
  A CR-1/IR-1 case can be delayed indefinitely at NVC if the need arises. 
   

 

thank you so much,

so one question, i heard that C1 is %100 to get the visa approval but for K1 is like %50,  is this correct?   

[Crazy Cat 41,922]

1 minute ago, mehia said:

thank you so much,

so one question, i heard that C1 is %100 to get the visa approval but for K1 is like %50,  is this correct?   

No.  If a couple meets the lawful requirements, submits the required documentation, and a Consulate Officer believes a relationship is bona fide, visas are issued....regardless of whether it is a K-1 or spousal visa.

[mehia 0]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

No.  If a couple meets the lawful requirements, submits the required documentation, and a Consulate Officer believes a relationship is bona fide, visas are issued....regardless of whether it is a K-1 or spousal visa.

Got it, thank you

[powerpuff 6,715]

There are many other factors besides speed. I’ve done the fiancé visa route and I would recommend spousal visa instead. The fees have risen significantly too for adjustment of status once in the US for K1s. They’re also nowhere near as fast as they used to be ~6 years ago. 

[mehia 0]

1 hour ago, powerpuff said:

There are many other factors besides speed. I’ve done the fiancé visa route and I would recommend spousal visa instead. The fees have risen significantly too for adjustment of status once in the US for K1s. They’re also nowhere near as fast as they used to be ~6 years ago. 

how long did taje for you? And what is the cost now? Do you know that?

[SalishSea 17,873]

11 minutes ago, mehia said:

how long did taje for you? And what is the cost now? Do you know that?

It takes up to two years total.  You should familiarize yourself with the forms and current fees.      Everything is available on USCIS.gov.   If you’re looking at K-1, you also need to learn about adjustment of status and the fees for that.   Be proactive.

[Crazy Cat 41,922]

6 minutes ago, mehia said:

And what is the cost now?

The cost for a K-1 petition, adjustment of status, Work authorization, and advance parole is at least $3,490 now. To that, you must add medical exam, travel expenses, etc.

[mam521 2,069]

15 minutes ago, mehia said:

how long did taje for you? And what is the cost now? Do you know that?

You can check the fees here.  It would seem you need to do more research on what it's going to take to actually come to the US.  Fiancé visas require the initial filing, the adjustment of status and then the removal of conditions.  A marriage visa will require the initial filing and then the removal of conditions if you enter the US before your 2nd wedding anniversary.  

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees

 

Immigration is never cheap, easy or fast.  Keep that in mind.  Another factor potentially is what country you're originally from.    

Edited April 18 by mam521

[mehia 0]

1 minute ago, mam521 said:

You can check the fees here.  It would seem you need to do more research on what it's going to take to actually come to the US.  Fiancé visas require the initial filing, the adjustment of status and then the removal of conditions.  A marriage visa will require the initial filing and then the removal of conditions if you enter the US before your 2nd wedding anniversary.  

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees

 

Immigration is never cheap, easy or fast.  Keep that in mind.  Another factor potentially is what country you're originally from.    

Thanks, I’m from Iran and now I’m working in Canada under work visa.

If we get married in Canada do we need to wait for at least a year to apply? Or immediatly we can apply for the visa?

[Crazy Cat 41,922]

9 minutes ago, mehia said:

If we get married in Canada do we need to wait for at least a year to apply? Or immediatly we can apply for the visa?

After marriage, the US citizen can start the spousal visa process by submitting an I-130 to USCIS.

[mam521 2,069]

23 minutes ago, mehia said:

If we get married in Canada do we need to wait for at least a year to apply? Or immediatly we can apply for the visa?

As stated previously, your new husband can apply immediately.  

[carmel34 3,638]

1 hour ago, mehia said:

Thanks, I’m from Iran and now I’m working in Canada under work visa.

This will likely add more time to the process for the background checks regardless of K-1 or CR-1.  Both take 1-2 years, but in your case, it may be longer.

[Redro 4,611]

2 hours ago, mehia said:

Thanks, I’m from Iran and now I’m working in Canada under work visa.

If we get married in Canada do we need to wait for at least a year to apply? Or immediatly we can apply for the visa?

Many people from 3rd countries interviewing in Montreal encounter the DS5535 which significantly increases the waiting time. In your case, I would highly recommend the spousal visa over K1  but of course it is your decision.