K1 or CR1 visa?

[Bunninuts 27]

I wish I had gone the CR1 route. I am already deep into the K-1 and wish I could switch but time is already invested. There isn't a reason to do the K-1 when you both live in Brazil. The CR1 is a better avenue as you both are living together currently. Thoroughly read what is necessary paperwork wise for the CR1 and have a translator chosen to translate any documents into english. There are some online translators that are inexpensive and all electronic. The timeline someone else gave regarding the K-1 isn't reasonable. All have to have an embassy interview before coming to the US. I'm 4 months into a K-1 without the first approval. There are multiple approvals with the K-1 and touches many hands before they are given the ability to come to the US. A couple on here that I follow their timeline because they too are going through Panama, had their K-1 approved 2.5 months ago and the NVC only just now received it. They are suppose to receive the file within approx 2 weeks. That isn't happening. The wait times are getting longer every day and the backlog is growing exponentially as they have more requests submitted than they process. This couple will have to wait for the NVC to transfer the file to the Panamanian Embassy where they will then review and schedule an interview with the beneficiary. This process can take months if not longer.

Side note: The process may change after the US President changes in Jan. This may alter how the process is completed and what is necessary document wise. It can also make the processing times longer. Consider if it would be possible and in your situations best interest to get the request filed before Jan 1. 

Best wishes to you and your partner 💜

[carmel34 3,635]

22 hours ago, Brooke and Bruno said:

The case would be processed at the Rio de Janeiro Consulate and we both live together in Brazil

A Utah Zoom marriage and then file an I-130 petition, first step for a CR-1 spousal visa, is the best option for you in my opinion.  Our case went through the Rio consulate.  Utah Zoom marriage wasn't a thing back in 2018, so we got married in Brazil, which was a very big hassle with my US civil documents having to be apostilled then translated into Portuguese by a certified Brazilian translator (very expensive per page rate), and then an application for marriage with all of the documents submitted, followed by a waiting period of 30 days for public notices before the marriage could be performed.  We chose CR-1 because my spouse wanted to be able to work and get a driver's license the day he arrived in the USA, and the total processing time for K-1 vs CR-1 wasn't much less.

Edited November 7 by carmel34

[DELTAFOXTROT 52]

On 11/7/2024 at 8:07 AM, Crazy Cat said:

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

 

I had to slow down my process, I could of had my fiance in the USA from Philippines in about 2 months.

 

I had to deal with flying over there, getting my affairs in order since I wanted to spend the 30 days length my US Passport allowed in Philippines, her doing medical and CFO, and scheduling the interview.

 

I can only use real time results from my case, not projections

 

I suspect processing times is about to speed up alot due to all the Sanctuary stuff is about to be shelved and processing times will start flying.

 

[DELTAFOXTROT 52]

19 hours ago, SalishSea said:

Not only that, but in OP's case, they already live together.

Some countries won't accept Utah online marraige for immigration purpose.  

[Boiler 45,549]

10 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

I had to slow down my process, I could of had my fiance in the USA from Philippines in about 2 months.

 

I had to deal with flying over there, getting my affairs in order since I wanted to spend the 30 days length my US Passport allowed in Philippines, her doing medical and CFO, and scheduling the interview.

 

I can only use real time results from my case, not projections

 

I suspect processing times is about to speed up alot due to all the Sanctuary stuff is about to be shelved and processing times will start flying.

 

My case took 13 months

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

***One comment not applicable to OP's particular question removed***Please keep the discussion limited to the OP's situation and question***

Edited November 8 by Crazy Cat

[OldUser 6,714]

29 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Some countries won't accept Utah online marraige for immigration purpose.  

I thought we're talking about US immigration here? US will accept Utah online marriage if it was consumated.

[SalishSea 17,839]

58 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Some countries won't accept Utah online marraige for immigration purpose.  

Luckily this website is about US immigration only, and Utah online marriage is most definitely accepted.

[appleblossom 2,564]

Just now, DELTAFOXTROT said:

I can only use real time results from my case, not projections

 

Your case was a decade ago though. Quoting those timescales really aren't helpful to anybody, it's not going to be anywhere close to that now. 

[DELTAFOXTROT 52]

On 11/7/2024 at 11:54 AM, TexasRafael said:

Given a choice the CR1 is far cheaper than the K1, if money is not an issue then it's up to you.

Time is money. You would have to make probably at least 2 trips to do a CR1 Visa, so being cheaper isn't true.

 

K1 go make a visit one time for a few weeks and boom your done and approved and your fiance is in the USA much much faster.

[DELTAFOXTROT 52]

19 hours ago, Boiler said:

My case took 13 months

Philippines K1 Visa processing as a general rule move pretty fast.  Immigration isn't fair, many factors decide how fast or how slow the process moves. Sounds like you got a the slow trian. 

[Boiler 45,549]

That was normal at the time.

[DELTAFOXTROT 52]

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

That was normal at the time.

Normal time depends on many factors, Including at the time which service center, which state you filed from, which embassy your interivew would take place, etc.

 

You timeline isn't filled out so nobody knows.

[Boiler 45,549]

8 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Normal time depends on many factors, Including at the time which service center, which state you filed from, which embassy your interivew would take place, etc.

 

You timeline isn't filled out so nobody knows.

I just told you how long it took

[alliejourney 61]

OP, I just went through the K1 process, filed in November 2022 and finally had my now-husband moved here and married this summer, 2024. If I could go back knowing then what I know now, I would choose CR-1. While K1 did have some benefits - specifically for us, we didn't like the idea of being separated after marriage - I can imagine how much easier life would be if he had arrived here with his green card and the ability to work. Doing simple things like obtaining a driver's license and opening a US bank account has been a pain for us. We're lucky that we're in a financial situation where we can afford for him not to be working, but that would definitely be a major issue for some people. Plus, the entire adjustment phase that we're going through now is an extra layer of anxiety that we wouldn't have had to worry about had we done CR-1.

 

I wouldn't say I necessarily regret the K1 path because ultimately things have worked out the way they were meant to, but I do think it would have been cheaper and less stressful to go through CR-1.