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I agree about speed is not the most important factor. What each other are comfortable with is the main factor. I just wanted to know so I am informed on which might be faster, than of course education on the differences, requirements, etc is needed which I am learning about. Its just trying to get all the info possible to make informed choices. But again I agree speed is not the most important factor.

Sorry sometimes one cannot write all the details, try to keep messages a bit short, so sorry the full details were not there. But yes I agree with what you said about perhaps applying for certificate while there if CR-1 is decided on. Its something to think about for sure. Being prepared for options is important.

Her friend did a PH catholic church wedding. There were hurdles they had to overcome and her friend provided her with a checklist to try and help prevent any issues they had. I agree she needs to research requirements and I am trying to do so as well, but I really cannot verify if what I find is accurate to where she is. Her friend did not get married quickly, I do not believe I mentioned that, but the actual paperwork part did not take 3 weeks, they did the paperwork, than about 4 months later he returned for marriage. But still they had issues and hurdles with requirements, her friend is trying to advice her of this so the same mistakes are not made. Because of her faith she is set on marriage in PH, Me I like the K1 route better, gives a bit more time to be together, plan, etc. The end result still is marriage. But when I bring up K1 she just does not like that idea.

I do appreciate your help and believe me I take the help in and process it, but also when you have various other info coming at you often its difficult to decipher which way things are. But I appreciate your help because its part of the process to get educated so I can try and decipher things. She did sent me a checklist from her recent friends wedding to a foreigner, that gave me some insight and she also talked about the delays and mistakes her friend made which costs them time. I like the idea you suggested of her going to her Municipal/LCR and get the facts on what she needs to marry a foreigner, me having that info is very important to me understanding this. That is if the CR1 is the way in which things will go. K1 to me seems a better option.

She has not mentioned a 2 week wait time, she just had a friend do this process with a foreigner and there was not such a wait time, maybe a wait time to receive it, but a wedding would not take place until months of planning later so waiting for the document is not an issue. I also have learned about some of the counseling churches require, but I have also learned they can be done virtually and its a very common practice to attend them virtually.

She has not mentioned a 2 week wait time, she just had a friend do this process with a foreigner and there was not such a wait time, maybe a wait time to receive it, but a wedding would not take place until months of planning later so waiting for the document is not an issue. Google is sometimes not your friend, lots of conflicting info, old info, confusing info, info that is always changing. So sometimes its difficult to learn things through doing searches.

Oh no I am not marring on first visit, thats not part of any idea we have. Just preparing and thinking about future things. Maybe propose, but no intention of marrying on first visit.

Not same. We do want religious ceremony with her family. We have been very upfront about our long term goals, who we seek, what we want, what we expect out of a partner. Its nice to be able to express these things and be on the same page. I agree we need to figure out whats best for use and some of these conversations are very serious ones but they need to happen and she welcomes those serious conversations. I am hoping 4-6 months. Working with travel agent now to help figure out best, quickest flights from my location as it can be a bit tricky.

Sounds like after the wedding it would take a bit of time to get the certificate to even file for the CR-1. It does sound like its been decided if we do marry, and I say if because of course we are still getting to know each other that we would do the CR-1. This is just thinking of things if things keep going great, but reality is yes we have to meet and wait and see, but a bit of thinking about future is ok, especially in this case where the government controls the timeline and being prepared is very important to save time or at least be the best prepared.

Why a 3 week trip. I knew of someone who married there and they were there just less than 2 weeks. Of course they had all the paperwork, wedding was planned, etc. They had the wedding and a small vacation afterwards.

Of course we will be meeting in person, but we do have a great connection going and we are just trying to be proactive and plan because given the process if we connect in person we would want to keep moving forward and be prepared. Its all just planning of course, ideas, etc, because we certainly need to meet in person and spend time together to see if that connection remains. But a bit of preparation and knowing how the process goes can save us alot of time as well.

Yes I agree being proactive is the way to go, and as detailed as possible because after all the government is standing in the way of us being together and we don't want any increased time. It does appear we have decided against the K1 and for the CR-1, just a what each other was comfortable with thing, being we want church wedding, and our religious beliefs and such. Thanks for the advise on the professional agency, yes there is lots of confusion on the internet and I don't want to make mistakes which will only cost us more time. I had heard lawyers are very expensive, but for 600.00 as you mentioned its best to deal with less headaches and guessing and hoping your filling things out right.

I agree its not very comparable. I do agree alot to learn about the culture. We are of same religion so our values aline alot. I like the culture, the family aspect of the culture there. So I welcome getting to know the culture, the family, etc.

I guess everyone has a different amount of time needed, same here in USA many get married soon and others take a long time. I think its all about how you feel, right now we are still building that foundation, but we are also trying to prepare for future also if things continue to go well, esp after meeting. We both are not getting any younger, we both are older and want to be able to enjoy being together. We both know what we want.

Yes I agree we will have to discuss our priorities, wants, needs, etc. But this gives me some info to present and than opens up the communication. Feels weird to have to plan things out like this, but than again overseas is not a normal relationship process and I am learning to adapt to how its very different.

We both want a church wedding, because of our religions. So as much as we do want to find the fastest process which will result in marriage either way, we also need to be patient as well with whatever visa we choose and also follow our own wants and wishes as well. We mainly will spend time together, verifying what we feel for one another, than plan another trip for marriage, unless the K1 becomes an option we choose.

Yes the searches on google come up with many results and alot of conflicting and confusing info. Even when I set the timeline on google to only current info like a month ago it still results in so many results and conflicting and confusing info. That is why I figured I better ask the question here to get some real life data and current data. Its helped to get an idea of a timeline. Wish the timelines where not so long for either, the end result is to be together married, just 2 ways to go about it and sounds like both are now about the same time frame, just one a bit quicker, but not by that much. It gives us something to discuss as we plan. Its to bad we have to plan things and discuss things like this in a relationship, talking about how to go about waiting for the government to decide on our being together timeline. But it is the way it is, but being prepared should help hopefully with a smooth as possible process.

Have not met in person yet, have that planned. So cannot file the K1 yet. But we are just thinking what is best if all goes well when we meet, would K1 be better or return for marriage and than file spousal. Just kicking around ideas and thoughts, trying to be proactive and all, both of us are trying to be proactive.

Time to visa, basically the time to actually being together in person, whether thats already married, or from 0-90 days in that time frame. Its tough being apart and trying to enjoy lifes events while apart so time to visa and actually being together is important.

Yes I agree with this. Your already married and it should be prioritized and also not take long at all to process, I mean come on your already married, why the long wait to approve anything.

I don't trust the other sites? Not sure why you would think I trusted the other sites, hence why I posted the question here to get some actual results and feedback. I never asked on other sites, these were search results in google from a variety of sites including law firms, other visa information sites, etc, a wide variety of sites, hence why I did not trust the information as being current and accurate. I am not sure you read into things each time I ask a question and go WAY OFF in left field when nothing in my question or responses suggests what you are referring to. I do appreciate any and all advise or info. Thanks Crazy Cat you helped me out alot with the chart and also the added info. Thanks again.

Thanks for all your help and the screen shots of the results with just PH, I did see these tables but some was just confusing. So thank you again for a bit of clarification and pointing out things. So the one column to interview is that a good estimate on time or is there sometime after the interview also in which they need to decide? I did see some high 300s on those results and that would be nice to be in that time frame instead of the 500s or 600s. I know this is a loaded question with perhaps unknown answers but I wonder why the difference in times from couple to couple is, what makes for a shorter time? I agree every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation. I am trying to gather all the info to have a conversation about. Again thanks for your help, many sites say K1 is much quicker, and other sites say CR-1/IR-1 is quicker, so its very difficult to really know. From the tables it does appear they are very close to amount of time and CR-1/IR-1 being quicker with better situation when arriving as you had listed. Its just strange how things flipped around where CR-1/IR-1 is now quicker than K1.

I will have to try that again and see, it just gets confusing on there, was hoping for some reason world experiences from recently and currently. Its just when you read things and search for things you get so many results and information, some sources say K1 is quicker while other sources say spousal. Some say due to covid spousal has flipped to being the quicker option, while others still say K1 still is.

I sort of have but it can get a bit confusing. I did see there are a few links to data on here, but again sometimes a bit difficult to decipher. I am mainly interested in of course PH to USA and also the end amount of time, the total amount of time. Some real world data, experiences also helps.

I know there is debate about this and everyone has had past and current experiences. But I am asking about currently which is a quicker method to actually being able to be together in the United States. I know covid thru everything off, extended the process time for both K1 and spousal visas. Does anyone have any factual data on current amount of time for each type of Visa?