cr1 Overseas foreign fiance to be married, want to bring her in. a few questions.

[mushroomspore 3,043]

9 minutes ago, chris12345 said:

Guys certainly a great advice and yes it seems the best way other than the longer waiting time. Another question: I checked the statistics of people who apply for K1/CR1, and the vast majority still chooses K1 over CR1. Why does this happen?

Also because people are impatient and too preoccupied with simply bringing their loved one over ASAP, even if it's only by a few months.

[geowrian 22,335]

31 minutes ago, chris12345 said:

I checked the statistics of people who apply for K1/CR1, and the vast majority still chooses K1 over CR1. Why does this happen?

They don't:

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2017AnnualReport/FY17AnnualReport-TableVIII.pdf

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2017AnnualReport/FY17AnnualReport-TableXVIB.pdf

K-1 (fiance of a USC) visas issued in FY17: 34,797

CR-1 + IR-1 (spouse of a USC) visas issued in FY17: 70,809 + 41,822 = 112,631

[TM92 527]

2 hours ago, chris12345 said:

2. Can a person in K1 visa attend university? (I already read that can't work)

In which state(s) are the schools she wants to attend? State residency laws for tuition purposes vary wildly. Even with CR-1 some states, like Wisconsin for example, have laws that presume all students are non-residents for tuition purposes until sufficient information is provided to overturn that decision (some states have specific exemptions; like California). And its not as easy as saying "my primary reason to live in this state is not education, it's to live with my fiance/husband."

[Ash.1101 1,755]

9 hours ago, Boiler said:

Total tosh as anybody half familiar with the process would instantly recognise.

Right?! This part had me rolling.

"Under Obama, the immigrant didn’t even face an overseas interview to see if the relationship was real. That has changed, wrote North for CIS."

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,079]

8 hours ago, geowrian said:

They don't:

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2017AnnualReport/FY17AnnualReport-TableVIII.pdf

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2017AnnualReport/FY17AnnualReport-TableXVIB.pdf

K-1 (fiance of a USC) visas issued in FY17: 34,797

CR-1 + IR-1 (spouse of a USC) visas issued in FY17: 70,809 + 41,822 = 112,631

Though that's not directly comparable, I think. I'd guess virtually all IR1s and non-trivial percentage of CR-1s were living together abroad without immediate plans to immigrate when they got married (even if they expected to eventually).

[martinzl 91]

Most likely, the K-1 visa will get her into the US faster.  But then you will need to file for adjustment of status (AOS) to get a green card so the total time may be less for the spousal visa. So what is your priority? If you want to be together go for the K-1 but if you need her to have a green card upon arrival then spousal may be the way.  Also note that pending the green card she can get temporary work authorization after filing for AOS so she can work before having the green card in hand.  It took my wife 5 months to get employment authorization and another 4 months before green card interview.

[Dashinka 23,247]

To the OP, the simple fact is that if you and your fiancé have decided to get married, take the CR1 route.  The K1 has its purpose, but the CR1 is definitely a much more superior and less costly visa.  If my wife and I had the choice all over again, we would have gone the CR1 route.  There are a lot of stats, and mis-information out there, but if you are in a committed relationship, just move forward and ignore them.

 

Good Luck!

[payxibka 10,044]

12 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

To the OP, the simple fact is that if you and your fiancé have decided to get married, take the CR1 route.  The K1 has its purpose, but the CR1 is definitely a much more superior and less costly visa.  If my wife and I had the choice all over again, we would have gone the CR1 route.  There are a lot of stats, and mis-information out there, but if you are in a committed relationship, just move forward and ignore them.

 

Good Luck!

Definition of superior is subjective.   In my case the k-1 was a superior choice 

[chris12345 0]

11 hours ago, TM92 said:

In which state(s) are the schools she wants to attend? State residency laws for tuition purposes vary wildly. Even with CR-1 some states, like Wisconsin for example, have laws that presume all students are non-residents for tuition purposes until sufficient information is provided to overturn that decision (some states have specific exemptions; like California). And its not as easy as saying "my primary reason to live in this state is not education, it's to live with my fiance/husband."

Louisiana

[chris12345 0]

 

30 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Definition of superior is subjective.   In my case the k-1 was a superior choice 

Can you please explain why? Thanks!

44 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

To the OP, the simple fact is that if you and your fiancé have decided to get married, take the CR1 route.  The K1 has its purpose, but the CR1 is definitely a much more superior and less costly visa.  If my wife and I had the choice all over again, we would have gone the CR1 route.  There are a lot of stats, and mis-information out there, but if you are in a committed relationship, just move forward and ignore them.

 

Good Luck!

Thank you!

[payxibka 10,044]

4 minutes ago, chris12345 said:

 

Can you please explain why? Thanks!

Thank you!

Because my fiancee didn't want to get married until 2019.  If we went spouse visa, we would be waiting until 2020 for her to arrive in the USA.  Superiority is a personal decision based on your own facts and circumstances,  not other posters facts and circumstances 

Edited November 5, 2018 by payxibka

[Boiler 43,437]

Not sure Louisiana is that Progressive.

[Umka36 781]

12 hours ago, chris12345 said:

Guys: For the K1 scenario, let's say everything goes well and fiance comes in with this visa and lets say marriage takes place asap. Does that mean that we can apply for adjustment right away? Does that mean that after this application she can work/attend university? Or not? If not, what she is supposed to do? Looking at the house walls?

My wife got here in late August, got married at the end of September and filed the AOS right afterward. She was able to go to school right away (for her it was ESL) before filing the AOS. You will need to check the school as each one will differ on requirements. My wife had to wait a year in order to be considered a resident student at a State school.

 

What is she supposed to do, well that needs to be discussed in advance with her. If the CR1 is not an issue for the two of you, then go that route instead of the K1. We chose the K1 as it was the best option for us. I took 2 weeks off work to help with my wife's adjustment when she first got here, and I spent ever time I could to be with her as she transition to her new home country.

 

We are also lucky that we are either within walking or mass transit to the shopping/library/college. My wife befriended a few ESL students and they are still friends to this day (over 7 years ago). It's going to be hard on the immigrant no matter what. I think it is a cake walk when I look back at it now (I imagine my wife as well) compared to raising our two little boys.

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 to What Visa Do I need? - Where similar posts are discussed

[geowrian 22,335]

3 hours ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

Though that's not directly comparable, I think. I'd guess virtually all IR1s and non-trivial percentage of CR-1s were living together abroad without immediate plans to immigrate when they got married (even if they expected to eventually).

You would be surprised. It's anecdotal, but most cases seen here on VJ for marriage visas (not AOS) tend to be couples living apart. This in no way validates the larger set of cases VJ does not see - and the cases seen here do tend to be more difficult ones compared to the norm IMO - I'd argue that the reference stats are a fairly good starting point for comparison.