K1 or CR1 visa?

[Brooke and Bruno 5]

Hi!

 

We're trying to decide which visa is the best for us: K1 or CR1.

According to my research the K1 process is taking from 6 to 8 months from the initial filing to interview, is that right? While the CR1 takes at least a year (+ we gotta wait until we get married to start the process).

The case would be processed at the Rio de Janeiro Consulate and we both live together in Brazil, does anyone went through the visa process while together in another country? I just know that we need a joint sponsor cause I (the beneficiary) don't earn any income in the US.

 

Well,

Thank you all in advance!!

Edited November 6 by Brooke and Bruno

[appleblossom 2,466]

@Crazy Cat Could you share your excellent comparison?

 

If you're already living together, I'd say CR1 would be a much better idea personally. Good luck.

Edited November 6 by appleblossom

[DELTAFOXTROT 48]

13 hours ago, Brooke and Bruno said:

Hi!

 

We're trying to decide which visa is the best for us: K1 or CR1.

According to my research the K1 process is taking from 6 to 8 months from the initial filing to interview, is that right? While the CR1 takes at least a year (+ we gotta wait until we get married to start the process).

The case would be processed at the Rio de Janeiro Consulate and we both live together in Brazil, does anyone went through the visa process while together in another country? I just know that we need a joint sponsor cause I (the beneficiary) don't earn any income in the US.

 

Well,

Thank you all in advance!!

I don't like the CR1 Visa personally, I always suggest doing  a K1. But that also depends on your country and what kind of hoops you have to jump thru to do a K1 or a CR1 visa.  Having to travel to get married is another barrier I don't want to deal with, and all the hoops you have to jump thru for that in some countries.

 

I have found the K1 Visa moves much faster than a CR1 visa.  My K1 took like one month to get approved and fiance was with me in USA after 3 months

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

16 hours ago, Brooke and Bruno said:

Hi!

 

We're trying to decide which visa is the best for us: K1 or CR1.

According to my research the K1 process is taking from 6 to 8 months from the initial filing to interview, is that right? While the CR1 takes at least a year (+ we gotta wait until we get married to start the process).

The case would be processed at the Rio de Janeiro Consulate and we both live together in Brazil, does anyone went through the visa process while together in another country? I just know that we need a joint sponsor cause I (the beneficiary) don't earn any income in the US.

 

Well,

Thank you all in advance!!

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. 
   

 

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

2 hours ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

  My K1 took like one month to get approved and fiance was with me in USA after 3 months

Not applicable to the current, real world.  I wouldn't start implying that K-1 journeys are that short now.

 

Edited November 7 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

2 hours ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Having to travel to get married is another barrier I don't want to deal with, and all the hoops you have to jump thru for that in some countries.

That is no longer a barrier. The Utah online marriage eliminates those hoops.

Edited November 7 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

16 hours ago, appleblossom said:

If you're already living together, I'd say CR1 would be a much better idea personally.

That's where I lean, too. 

[DELTAFOXTROT 48]

16 hours ago, Brooke and Bruno said:

Hi!

 

We're trying to decide which visa is the best for us: K1 or CR1.

According to my research the K1 process is taking from 6 to 8 months from the initial filing to interview, is that right? While the CR1 takes at least a year (+ we gotta wait until we get married to start the process).

The case would be processed at the Rio de Janeiro Consulate and we both live together in Brazil, does anyone went through the visa process while together in another country? I just know that we need a joint sponsor cause I (the beneficiary) don't earn any income in the US.

 

Well,

Thank you all in advance!!

Do the US Citizen need to fly to the local US Embassy to get any type of paperwork (to fulfill requirements) to marry in your country?

Edited November 7 by DELTAFOXTROT

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

2 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Do the US Citzen need to fly to the local US Embassy to get any type of paperwork to marry in your country?

The OP stated "and we both live together in Brazil,".  In Brazil, I know of no problems with a Utah online marriage.

Edited November 7 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

In some cases, marriage and Direct Consular Processing would be a pretty fast route, too.

[DELTAFOXTROT 48]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

The OP stated "and we both live together in Brazil,". 

Exactly, they both live together in Brazil.

 

That is why I asked if the US Citizens needs fly to the US Embassy in Brazil to get any type of paperwork to get married in Brazil, you are not aware that countries outside of the US can require some kind of document from a US Embassy stating the US Citizen is free to marry?

 

 

[DELTAFOXTROT 48]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

In some cases, marriage and Direct Consular Processing would be a pretty fast route, too.

I think Brazil only allows Emergency DCF, last I checked

[Crazy Cat 41,823]

1 minute ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

you are not aware that countries outside of the US can require some kind of document from a US Embassy stating the US Citizen is free to marry?

Completely aware.  I obtained one from a foreign consulate.

[DELTAFOXTROT 48]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Completely aware.  I obtained one from a foreign consulate.

Just another hoop you have to jump thru

 

Some countries want you to take marriage classes before they will let you get married, another hoop to jump thru.

 

Then you have the Parental Consent form for some countries, Example age 18 to 21 must have written consent from parents/gaurdians. Age 21 to 25 must have Parental Advice.  That is another hoop to jump thru.

 

 

[Boiler 45,462]

I went the K1 route, if I had my time over not something I would do again.

 

Mine took 13 months. Not that it is relevant to your situation.

 

No one knows how long it will take, you can look ro see how long people being interviewed now at your Consulate have taken.