Fastest Way

[Chris009 0]

Hi everyone, 
This is a very broad question, but we need a good direction to get started and this website seems to be filled with answers. So any help would be greatly appreciated. 
My girlfriend and I, after being together in Sweden for three years, have decided to move back to my home state and we are wondering what is the fastest and most guaranteed way of obtaining a green card for her. Sponsorship through a job seems to be very difficult, so it feels like we are left with three options. The first would be applying for a fiance visa. And the other two would be through marriage, either here in Sweden or in the states. We want to move back to the US as soon as possible, so what is our smartest option? Fiance, Marriage in Sweden, Marriage in US, or some mystery choice?. 
Thanks in advance for any advice. 
Cheers

[geowrian 22,335]

No path is guaranteed, but family-based immigration (especially from a low-fraud country like Sweden) would likely be the best way to go.

 

Since DCF is generally not available in Sweden, a K-1 (fiance) would be the fastest. ETA: ~8-10 months on average right now.

With the K-1 option, there's a period of ~4-6 months where you can't work or travel abroad....which is a killer for some people. It's also more expensive.

 

If you're willing to wait a few months longer, getting married and doing the CR-1 (spousal) visa would be better. It lets you travel abroad, work, etc. right away since you get permanent residency at entry. Where you marry doesn't matter...that's a personal choice. Doing it in the US or not won't make it go any faster.

Edited April 17, 2018 by geowrian

[Marzena & Stephen 544]

Personally if I had to redo this ..i would have gotten married first. because i came to the usa and couldn't work etc. You may be out of the usa for a while longer but it's not that much longer than the k1 process at the end of the day.  Good luck 

Edited April 17, 2018 by Marzena & Stephen

[Crazy Cat 39,207]

Only you and your fiance can decide which route is better for you.  This is my comparative analysis.

K-1: 8-10 months

    More expensive than CR-1

    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)

    Spouse can not leave the US until she receives approved Advance Parole (approx 3-4 months)

    Spouse can not work until she receives EAD (approx 3-4 months)

    some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period .

    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

CR-1: 12-14 months

    Less expensive than K-1

    No AOS required.

    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US

    Spouse can start work if desired

    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card withing 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US

    Spouse  has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.

 

All-in-all, the CR-1 is superior to the K-1 imo.

[Boiler 43,425]

K1 means not working for a long time, is that a deal breaker?

[ms_bobdog 501]

When my husband and I were contemplating between K-1 and CR-1, my primary concerns were money. Considering that K-1 is more expensive and that I would not be able to work for a few months, it made no sense to go that route when I could continue making money back home while waiting out the immigration process. The other thing is that being from a VWP country, going over to see him during the wait, if so desired, wasn't going to be a huge problem. I have always felt that the K-1 visa might be more suitable for those who find it hard to obtain tourist visas to visit, as it allows the couple to be together sooner. So at the end of the day, it depends on what is important to both of you.

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*moved Fromm "IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures" to "what visa do I need" as OP is still considering the options*~*~*

[Nevad@ 26]

How much does AOS cost in total?

[NikLR 13,220]

4 hours ago, Nevad@ said:

How much does AOS cost in total?

$1225 for a k1 AOS.  K1 Visa is $800 plus medical and police certificates and travel. So $2025.

CR1 is $1240 plus medical, police certs and travel.

[Nevad@ 26]

46 minutes ago, NikLR said:

$1225 for a k1 AOS.  K1 Visa is $800 plus medical and police certificates and travel. So $2025.

CR1 is $1240 plus medical, police certs and travel.

Thank you so much for details. Yes, not so cheap  

Are GC and SSN obtained for some fee as well? 

[NikLR 13,220]

Ssn is free.  Gc is included in the price I quoted for cr1

[Kyle&Ana 718]

now i feel like we should go for the CR1 way, but we already have a NOA1 from k1 process, we choose K1 because we wanna be together as soon as possible... and K1 was the fastest way, like i will just sell all my stuff and will help with money during the time i cant work...

 

But after reading all these things CR1 make sense ... more than K1... but naahhh regrets for later... Good luck guys

[TexasHeartsIndia 371]

For us, a major deciding factor was where we wanted to get married. It was more important to both of us that my parents be able to attend the wedding than it was for his mom to attend (neither of our parents were able to travel to the other country). If family/friends being able to attend or not matters to you or your fiance, that might be a consideration as well as financial. 

[Unlockable 7,306]

1 hour ago, Kyle&Ana said:

now i feel like we should go for the CR1 way, but we already have a NOA1 from k1 process, we choose K1 because we wanna be together as soon as possible... and K1 was the fastest way, like i will just sell all my stuff and will help with money during the time i cant work...

 

But after reading all these things CR1 make sense ... more than K1... but naahhh regrets for later... Good luck guys

Yeah, there are many many members on VJ that had the same sentiments as you. Including my wife and I now that we look back. The first few months of her here not being able to work was kind of rough. Not financially, but she was in a bad place. She was away from family and had nothing (like a job) to take her mind away from that. 

 

Too many people gravitate to the K1 visa because of the premise that you will be together sooner. But when you look at the complete picture and with the current delay in timelines, it really isn't worth it. 

Edited April 18, 2018 by NuestraUnion

[Kyle&Ana 718]

OMG 3 months! and i work since i was 17 years old and i really love to do it... I'm already like trying to figure out if i can study, volunteer, make over to our future apartment... but Def, not just at home with netflix all day :/

maybe trying to be Optimistic would be like a time for learn how to make new things! i hope i don't get crazy! 

18 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

Yeah, there are many many members on VJ that had the same sentiments as you. Including my wife and I now that we look back. The first few months of her here not being able to work was kind of rough. Not financially but she was in a bad place. She was away from family and had nothing (like a job) to take her mind away from that. 

 

Too many people gravitate to the K1 visa because of the premise that you will be together sooner. But when you look at the complete picture and with the current delay in timelines, it really isn't worth it. 

 

Edited April 18, 2018 by Kyle&Ana