K1 or CR1 visa?

[Crazy Cat 41,761]

37 minutes ago, alliejourney said:

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. 

Thanks.  Nothing speaks louder than personal experience.

[Brooke and Bruno 5]

Thanks everyone!! We decided on the CR1 route!

[powerpuff 6,667]

2 hours ago, alliejourney said:

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. 

Well said, I feel the same way. I was fortunate that I was able to get a DL pretty soon after entry (NY), otherwise it would have been very difficult mentally to be stuck home, literally. 

[appleblossom 2,420]

3 hours 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.

 

As has been mentioned before, the service centre is now the same, the state isn't relevant either. All I-129f's take the same amount of time. The only differential depending on the consulate is the interview wait, but that would be the case for either a K1 or a CR1. 

[appleblossom 2,420]

3 hours ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

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.

 

CR1 could be done after one trip too, but either way most people would want to do more than one visit during the time it takes, and it would be advised as well before interview. But they're the same in terms of only one in person meeting together actually being required for either route. 

 

13 minutes ago, Brooke and Bruno said:

Thanks everyone!! We decided on the CR1 route!

 

Congrats in advance on the wedding! If you decide to do the Utah marriage route, there is a ton of info about it on the forum. 

 

Best of luck. 

Edited November 9 by appleblossom

[DELTAFOXTROT 47]

On 11/9/2024 at 8:45 AM, appleblossom said:

 

As has been mentioned before, the service centre is now the same, the state isn't relevant either. All I-129f's take the same amount of time. The only differential depending on the consulate is the interview wait, but that would be the case for either a K1 or a CR1. 

Does not matter, before there was two service centers based upon your home state, and K1 visa for Philippines moved much faster than others.

 

One Service Center or 3 Service Centers the facts and history proves K1 moves faster from Philippines compared to other countries.

[appleblossom 2,420]

8 minutes ago, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Does not matter, before there was two service centers based upon your home state, and K1 visa for Philippines moved much faster than others.

 

One Service Center or 3 Service Centers the facts and history proves K1 moves faster from Philippines compared to other countries.

 

Perhaps it was different 10 years ago, but it's certainly not the case now, as has been explained to you previously. 

 

Now the consulate stage is the only variable, the I-129f processing time isn't anything to do with the country of the applicant and all are processed alongside each other. There are numerous threads grouped by month (not country) in the K-1 forum if you wanted to have a read and see how things are done now. 

 

In any event, the OP has decided on the CR1 visa, which everybody seems to agree is the most sensible choice for his/her situation.

Edited Tuesday at 02:34 PM by appleblossom

[Marieke H 2,495]

On 11/9/2024 at 4:14 AM, DELTAFOXTROT said:

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

If you had paid attention, you would have known that the OP is currently living with her partner in Brazil, so this does not apply to their situation at all.

 

On 11/9/2024 at 4:16 AM, DELTAFOXTROT said:

Philippines K1 Visa processing as a general rule move pretty fast. 

Also not relevant for the OP, as they are in Brazil.

 

Your personal experience from a decade ago in the Philippines really does not add any value to OP's questions.

 

OP, glad you decided to go the CR-1 route! Good luck!