hi vjs
my fiancé is a USC and we are getting married in december so now we are just busy planning for everything and studying the visas guidelines to choose the best one for us, at first we decided to take the k-3 road as it seemed to take less time than IR-1/CR-1, but when we compared vjs members timelines for both visas we got confused as we noticed that sometimes the IR-1/CR-1 took almost the same processing time as k-3 if not less and the advantage with IR-1/CR-1 is that i can get my greencard upon arrival to USA not like k-3 who needs more time and processing
so now we want to know what do you think is the best way to take and what are the documents that we should submit first, cause when we've read the guideline for IR-1/CR1 we found that only I-130 and G-325A should be submitted but when we checked for IR-1/CR-1 members timelines we found that some sent I-130 and I-129F together when they started their petition and others who sent I-129 later and others who didn't sent I-129 at all
we are really confused, please try to explain us the process step by step in your own words and from your own experiences, we have read all the guidelines in VJ so no need to send us links
thanks for you help

everyone advised us cr1 at the time, then vermont came to a stop so ours has been awhile, sometimes quikest is not always best, you need consider time and money before arrival or money and more processing after but actually here. (all this you already knew) so just up to you in the end but i would say (my opinion) cr1

My husband and I are pursuing the IR-1/CR-1 path because it is cheaper in the long run and will allow him to work, drive, and go to school sooner then the K-3. I was very tempted to apply for the K3 if it got my husband here even one month faster. I miss him so much, but I thought about it and realized that while it would reunite us quicker it would prolong the visa process and would delay him going to work or school when he comes here. So I decided to suck it up and apply for the IR-1/CR-1. Overall, it is the better visa. When we submitted our I-130 packet we included the following:

Cover letter stating what we were applying for
I-130 form
His and my G-325a
passport photos of us both
Copy of my birth certificate and passport (only one is necessary though)
3 affidavits from people who have seen us both together
Translated copy of our marriage certificate
affidavit from me stating we did not marry for immigration purposes
copies of some emails, phone records, chat records, plane tickets from my trip to peru
Pictures of us together
some western union receipts

Most people would say you only need to send the I-130, G-325a, passport photos, the US citizens birth certificate, and marriage certificate, but personally I prefer to send to much then to send to little I recommend that you triple check everything and not rush to send the paper work out as well as to keep records of everything. Overall, try to remain patient this is a long and very difficult process. If you are unfortunate enough to have to send your paperwork to Vermont prepare yourself for a long wait, there are some VJers who have been waiting at Vermont for over 6 months.

Best of luck to you. If you have enough more questions you can send me a message. I am stuck in Vermont so I am not that much farther ahead in this process, but will try to help in any way possible.

IR-1/CR-1 is less headic it might take little longer time then K3 and it might take the same time, but IR-1/CR-1 it pays off when your spouse gets to the USA they will have a GC and SS,with K3 you have to file for Adjusment of Status before your 90 days and that is another headic more money and more wait. At the end all depaneds on luck, how good are you at not making mistakes with your petition and folwonig the right directions,because the more RFE you get the longer your time line will be.

thankyou guys for your help, i think i have to learn more and more
but one last question do we have to submit I-129F if we are going through CR-1 path ??????

no