Why did you pick K1 vs CR1? (for Canadian beneficiaries)

[NikLR 13,220]

So I was thinking today - there are a number of new members who I noticed are doing the K1 visa and not the CR1. Granted they aren't married YET so that's the option for them. BUT, I'm wondering if anyone did consider the CR1 route vs the K1?

So what was your reasoning for choosing the visa route that you did?

[Flames9_RN 358]

We had time on our side, even though back in 2004 the CR-1 took around the same time as the k1, maybe just a tad longer. When you sat down and compared them, just sort of made more sense to go the CR-1 route. Why give the gov't more $$ than you have to,lol And it for us it didn't really matter being married and separated--going to be separated anyways,lol

[The Mean Lady 604]

Because we were already married. hah.

But looking back to years ago, the CBP agents suggested we get married and file a K3 visa.

No one ever mentioned K1.

[Marilyn. 340]

we picked Cr1 because we thought we had a kind of tricky situation and we figured a CR1 visa would be easier to get. We had already been in an LDR for about 2 years so we figured a few extra months would be ok..

[dukeandduchess 141]

I picked K1 because it seemed easier at the time. I didn't want to try to prove "co-mingling of assets" and "real marriage" etc. when we hadn't even lived together before.

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't remember having to prove co-mingling of assets. And we didn't really offer much proof of a real marriage. I think a few pictures and cards.. plus the marriage certificate of course

[NikLR 13,220]

We personally picked the CR1 because I wanted to be able to work and travel right away. Being stuck in the USA for any period of time was not okay with me. We contemplated the costs of both as well before we were married. Either way I would have had flights, a medical and travel costs. Either way I would have had moving costs. So they were moot. It may have been cheaper to be in Vancouver for less time, but then AOS costs more than cancelled that out.

Also as my husband wasn't working at the time we were engaged and then married, and I was, plus we didn't know when that would change for him, it would have been easier for either of us (in our opinion) to immigrate either to Canada or the USA if we were already married. Had he not gotten a job when he did, he'd be in Canada right now vs me being in the USA. He was able to put me on his bank account fairly easily. Honestly how easy it was for me to make an RBC USA account, I could have him put on that while I had been in Canada too. Added me to car insurance and that's all we did to show co-mingling of finances. Otherwise we had maybe 6 pictures, some plane ticket stubs and 2 affidavits.

[canada_socks 97]

We basically didn't want to spend the first year of our marriage apart. It also seemed like the easier option, for the same reasons that Marilyn posted about co mingling of assets and such. It wasn't important for me to work right away.

[dukeandduchess 141]

I don't remember having to prove co-mingling of assets. And we didn't really offer much proof of a real marriage. I think a few pictures and cards.. plus the marriage certificate of course

I didn't really understand everything at that point and I thought it was going to be more difficult to prove. So lack of understanding and worrying about proving everything played a big part of it. If I could go into it knowing what I know now I probably would have done CR1 as well!

[HeatDeath 430]

We picked K1 primarily because we didn't want to be separated after the wedding. One additional advantage with the K1 for us was that the K1 let us go through Vancouver, which was noticeably quicker and easier than Montreal at the time.

[VeeNDee 44]

We picked K1 for several reasons but the main one was that we didn't want to have to live separately after the wedding once we were married. It was also helpful that I lived in BC so had the option of going to the Vancouver embassy for the interview instead of flying to Montreal/staying there (so saved money wise).

[awkwardsoul 20]

Another vote for K-1 - I was based in Vancouver, and didn't want to fly out the Montreal for the interview. Just seemed like a pain in the butt and costly (though, I didn't run the numbers if a lack of AOS > going to Montreal costs).

Also, while in the K-1 process, it was hella annoying of having to explain everyone "I don't know when I'm getting married, whenever my case is processed" vs. I can see being more annoying explaining why one isn't living with their wife/husband. Twice now, my husband has met people are in LD relationships, and they think simply getting married gives you an instant greencard without paperwork, fees and wait time.

[HeatDeath 430]

My trip to Vancouver was $1200 all in for consulate fees, medical fees, flights, hotel and food, although part of that is that I was able to find a very cheap hotel next door to the location of the former medical clinic, and I was able to fit everything into 2 days.

It's probably a win, particularly if you factor in inconvenience and time off work.

Edited June 18, 2013 by HeatDeath

[Stubby and Rio 4]

We went the CR1 route because we looked at it as the one stop shop; may have taken longer but in the end I am able to work immediately....we both live in border towns so seeing each other every weekend was easy up to my husbands approval to stay in Canada with me on a TRP...

[Texas22 50]

We chose the K1 for two reasons.

One, we didn't want to be separated after our marriage. We wanted to start our married life together.

Two, at the time we looked at both options, the K1 was quicker (7 months) as opposed to the C1 (1 year).

As it turns out our K1 took a year for approval and it was actually 16 months from petition to POE. It seems

as soon as we filed, everything slowed down.

I didn't need to work right away either, plus I have two children that came with me.

We just filed for AOS last week. (Very costly and triple the paperwork if you are bringing your kids).

But totally worth it!!