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mexigrl

K1 vs CR-1

By mexigrl in What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration

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mexigrl Rookie

mexigrl   2

Posted
Filed: H-2B Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

Hi

 

We are at the beginning of this process.  It's already frustrating because we have to wait a YEAR for a FOIA request just to get his previous immigration records (he is from Mexico).  At any rate, we are trying to decide which option is best.  My bottom line is if one way is more likely to be approved than the other, also if things have changed at all with this "administration".

 

His divorce will be final in January (hopefully) and it is uncontested so we should be able to marry in 2018.  If you were starting this process and had the option which visa path would you take?

 

I appreciate any assistance and ideas from those of you with experience.  Thank you so much!

 

Barri

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JFH Grand Master

JFH   12,189

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

*~*~* over from "K-1 fiancé visa process and procedures" to "what visa to I need" as OP is considering the options*~*~*

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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Dashinka Grand Master

Dashinka   23,242

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I am not really sure you can predict which one is more likely to be approved.  If I were to do it all over again, I would probably choose to get married then file for the CR1.  It is much less expensive and eliminates the need to AOS after a K1 marriage.

 

Good Luck!

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

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MrHanky Proficient

MrHanky   1,377

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

Advice from someone who went through the same decision as you one year prior.

 

It really comes down to these factors.

 

With K1, will you be ok not being able to work for 3 months when you arrive?

Also the adjustment of status mentioned above

 

With CR1 you'll be ready to go with everything once arriving.

 

 

CR-1 Visa

Service Center: Nebraska    Consulate: Mexico

Marriage: 12/9/2016    I-130 Sent: 12/10/2016    I-130 NOA1: 12/13/2016

Notice from USCIS: 8/23/2017

USCIS Approval Date: 8/21/2017

NOA2 issued date: 8/18/2017   NOA2 hardcopy received: 8/25/2017

Notice from USCIS Sent to NVC: 9/1/2017    NVC received: 9/8/2017

Received case and invoice numbers: 9/12/2017

Choice of Agent DS-261: 9/12/2017

Welcome Letter: 9/15/2017

Received and Paid AOS: 9/15/2017    AOS payment cleared my bank: 9/19/2017 (still shows In Process on CEAC)

Received and paid IV bill: 9/19/2017    IV bill cleared bank: 9/21/2017

Requested Expedite: 9/20/2017

AOS and IV show as paid: 9/23/2017

DS260 unlocked: 9/23/2017

Partial Expedite Approved at Counselor Level: 9/25/2017 (Must still wait out NVC)

Scan Date: 10/2/2017    Case Complete: 11/15/2017 (6 weeks 2 days!)

Case sent to consulate: 11/20/2017     Received by consulate: 11/21/2017 (11/20 was a holiday in Mexico)

Interview Scheduled: Jan 2nd - I managed to get someones canceled appointment the very same day my case status turned to Ready.

Biometrics: Mexico City Dec 27th Medical: Mexico City Dec 28th

Case says READY but consulate says case is not in system, I jumped the gun and booked an interview but they say its invalid until I receive the letter so I might have to cancel it.

Appointment Letter: Flew to Juarez just to get this, its actually 2 letters you need.

Interview Day: Jan 2nd   Interview Result: APPROVED

Tracking Number Received: Via email notice and website the afternoon of Jan 4th    Visa Delivered: Friday Jan 5th Mexico City

USCIS Notice - Green Card mailed: 3/28/18

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mexigrl Rookie

mexigrl   2

Posted
Filed: H-2B Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
43 minutes ago, MrHanky said:

Advice from someone who went through the same decision as you one year prior.

 

It really comes down to these factors.

 

With K1, will you be ok not being able to work for 3 months when you arrive?

Also the adjustment of status mentioned above

 

With CR1 you'll be ready to go with everything once arriving.

 

 

He would be OK without working, he could do some work for friends etc (plumbing, electric) as he has skills.  AOS doesn't seem to matter but I don't know if that is a problem or not.  It would seem being married already and filing for CR1 might be best.  Of course, waiting a year for the FOIA info so we know exactly what is in his file really makes this process much longer.

Appreciate the thoughts!

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MrHanky Proficient

MrHanky   1,377

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted
22 minutes ago, mexigrl said:

He would be OK without working, he could do some work for friends etc (plumbing, electric) as he has skills.  AOS doesn't seem to matter but I don't know if that is a problem or not.  It would seem being married already and filing for CR1 might be best.  Of course, waiting a year for the FOIA info so we know exactly what is in his file really makes this process much longer.

Appreciate the thoughts!

The weird thing for us is we're married, but it doesn't feel like it, and we're still doing a big ceremony for the whole family.

We'll actually just be getting the visa a month before.

CR-1 Visa

Service Center: Nebraska    Consulate: Mexico

Marriage: 12/9/2016    I-130 Sent: 12/10/2016    I-130 NOA1: 12/13/2016

Notice from USCIS: 8/23/2017

USCIS Approval Date: 8/21/2017

NOA2 issued date: 8/18/2017   NOA2 hardcopy received: 8/25/2017

Notice from USCIS Sent to NVC: 9/1/2017    NVC received: 9/8/2017

Received case and invoice numbers: 9/12/2017

Choice of Agent DS-261: 9/12/2017

Welcome Letter: 9/15/2017

Received and Paid AOS: 9/15/2017    AOS payment cleared my bank: 9/19/2017 (still shows In Process on CEAC)

Received and paid IV bill: 9/19/2017    IV bill cleared bank: 9/21/2017

Requested Expedite: 9/20/2017

AOS and IV show as paid: 9/23/2017

DS260 unlocked: 9/23/2017

Partial Expedite Approved at Counselor Level: 9/25/2017 (Must still wait out NVC)

Scan Date: 10/2/2017    Case Complete: 11/15/2017 (6 weeks 2 days!)

Case sent to consulate: 11/20/2017     Received by consulate: 11/21/2017 (11/20 was a holiday in Mexico)

Interview Scheduled: Jan 2nd - I managed to get someones canceled appointment the very same day my case status turned to Ready.

Biometrics: Mexico City Dec 27th Medical: Mexico City Dec 28th

Case says READY but consulate says case is not in system, I jumped the gun and booked an interview but they say its invalid until I receive the letter so I might have to cancel it.

Appointment Letter: Flew to Juarez just to get this, its actually 2 letters you need.

Interview Day: Jan 2nd   Interview Result: APPROVED

Tracking Number Received: Via email notice and website the afternoon of Jan 4th    Visa Delivered: Friday Jan 5th Mexico City

USCIS Notice - Green Card mailed: 3/28/18

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mexigrl Rookie

mexigrl   2

Posted
Filed: H-2B Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
2 hours ago, MrHanky said:

The weird thing for us is we're married, but it doesn't feel like it, and we're still doing a big ceremony for the whole family.

We'll actually just be getting the visa a month before.

There are a lot of "strange" feelings with this whole process I think.  It just seems as if I should be able to marry who I want and they should be able to live with me or vice versa (assuming they don't have a record of felony etc).  My concern now with Trump is if Mexicans are being treated differently.  There is so much hate out there and it seems that Immigration is really focused on Mexico.  Even if he gets a fair shake we may still have issues since he was deported (voluntary return) coming over the border 20 years ago.  I don't really know where this will end up.  I'm happy that you were able to make things work, even if it has been a journey!

 

 

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MrHanky Proficient

MrHanky   1,377

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted
35 minutes ago, mexigrl said:

There are a lot of "strange" feelings with this whole process I think.  It just seems as if I should be able to marry who I want and they should be able to live with me or vice versa (assuming they don't have a record of felony etc).  My concern now with Trump is if Mexicans are being treated differently.  There is so much hate out there and it seems that Immigration is really focused on Mexico.  Even if he gets a fair shake we may still have issues since he was deported (voluntary return) coming over the border 20 years ago.  I don't really know where this will end up.  I'm happy that you were able to make things work, even if it has been a journey!

 

 

I think the legal route has been mostly unphased, but situations like yours are a bigger unknown now.

The whole system in general is so disorganized and decades behind where it should be, that's why things take so long.

CR-1 Visa

Service Center: Nebraska    Consulate: Mexico

Marriage: 12/9/2016    I-130 Sent: 12/10/2016    I-130 NOA1: 12/13/2016

Notice from USCIS: 8/23/2017

USCIS Approval Date: 8/21/2017

NOA2 issued date: 8/18/2017   NOA2 hardcopy received: 8/25/2017

Notice from USCIS Sent to NVC: 9/1/2017    NVC received: 9/8/2017

Received case and invoice numbers: 9/12/2017

Choice of Agent DS-261: 9/12/2017

Welcome Letter: 9/15/2017

Received and Paid AOS: 9/15/2017    AOS payment cleared my bank: 9/19/2017 (still shows In Process on CEAC)

Received and paid IV bill: 9/19/2017    IV bill cleared bank: 9/21/2017

Requested Expedite: 9/20/2017

AOS and IV show as paid: 9/23/2017

DS260 unlocked: 9/23/2017

Partial Expedite Approved at Counselor Level: 9/25/2017 (Must still wait out NVC)

Scan Date: 10/2/2017    Case Complete: 11/15/2017 (6 weeks 2 days!)

Case sent to consulate: 11/20/2017     Received by consulate: 11/21/2017 (11/20 was a holiday in Mexico)

Interview Scheduled: Jan 2nd - I managed to get someones canceled appointment the very same day my case status turned to Ready.

Biometrics: Mexico City Dec 27th Medical: Mexico City Dec 28th

Case says READY but consulate says case is not in system, I jumped the gun and booked an interview but they say its invalid until I receive the letter so I might have to cancel it.

Appointment Letter: Flew to Juarez just to get this, its actually 2 letters you need.

Interview Day: Jan 2nd   Interview Result: APPROVED

Tracking Number Received: Via email notice and website the afternoon of Jan 4th    Visa Delivered: Friday Jan 5th Mexico City

USCIS Notice - Green Card mailed: 3/28/18

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