Jump to content
ako_c_bayee

FIANCE VISA OR SPOUSE VISA??

 Share

25 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

A Filipina with an american boyfriend here. Currently working in Singapore, living independently. Boyfriend is currently pursuing his master's degree and currently has no source of income. He's using his savings and plans to take on loan for his tuition and all. Might finish school early 2020 and hope to find a job right away.

 

Question, which would be the better option for us to be able to live together the soonest?

 

Get married outside US and apply for spouse visa?

 

Or apply for fiance visa?

 

Appreciate all your replies. Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Australia
Timeline

The K1 visa is generally quicker but only by a few months, and in some cases they are taking the same amount of time as a CR1. If you both are wanting to marry now and then file for CR1 you will be able to work as soon as you get to the US and you won't need to go through AOS. It's dependent on your own situation, with a K1 you won't be able to work until you get EAD which can take up to 7 months. Just by the sounds of your situation, a CR1 may be more beneficial due to finances. 

 

If your fiance doesn't meet the income requirements you will need a co-sponsor.

K1 Visa Timeline [Approved]

Spoiler

07/23/2018    I-129F sent

07/25/2018    NOA1 email notification

07/30/2018    NOA1 hard copy

12/21/2018    NOA2 hard copy

01/10/2019    NVC Case # assigned

01/22/2019    Left NVC

01/29/2019    Embassy received

01/29/2019    Pkt 3 sent

02/01/2019    Pkt 4 received

02/13/2019    Medical

03/00/2019    Interview approved!

04/01/2019    Visa issued

04/02/2019    Visa received in mail

04/06/2019    POE

05/04/2019    Wedding

 

 

Adjustment Of Status Timeline [Approved]

Spoiler

 

05/31/2019    I-485, I-131 and I-765 sent

06/10/2019    NOA1 (electronic) & check cashed

06/11/2019    NOA1 hard copies

07/05/2019    Biometrics walk-in

09/30/2019    Interview scheduled (electronic notification)

10/23/2019    EAD/AP approved

11/00/2019    AOS Interview approved!

11/08/2019    Green card is being produced

11/16/2019    Green card in hand

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Poland
Timeline

If you use K-1 you will live with him sooner but you will be unemployed minimum 6 months till you get your work permit, also unable to leave US. Considering he has no income I wouldn’t recommend it. K-1 is a little bit faster than spousal visa and exept  waiting time is more troublesome (waiting for work permit/travel permit and another huge waiting time for green card).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ako_c_bayee said:

A Filipina with an american boyfriend here. Currently working in Singapore, living independently. Boyfriend is currently pursuing his master's degree and currently has no source of income. He's using his savings and plans to take on loan for his tuition and all. Might finish school early 2020 and hope to find a job right away.

Question, which would be the better option for us to be able to live together the soonest?

Get married outside US and apply for spouse visa?

Or apply for fiance visa?

Appreciate all your replies. Thanks in advance.

I brought my wife on a K1 visa and honestly if we had to do it over again I would go the Spouse(CR1) route. That way you do not have to do AOS and you can work right away once getting to the USA. My asawa had to wait months on the couch watching TFC and she hated it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US (currently about 3 months sooner)    
    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/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 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
    Slightly slower arrival in the US (currently about 3 months later)

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

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


 

Edited by missileman

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
Timeline

I suggest going with the CR1 visa. It's less hassle and also money wise. As what was brought out earlier,it will help you get a job earlier and get a driver's license.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, TabeaK said:

I did K1. Because it was a few months faster. Would never do it again. For me, the immigrant, who has always lived independently & supported herself, the first few months in the US without were the 7th circle of hell due to the adjustment of status process. And it has only gotten a longer wait since I immigrated in late 2015.

What happened exactly? If u wont mind sharing the experience..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

I brought my wife on a K1 visa and honestly if we had to do it over again I would go the Spouse(CR1) route. That way you do not have to do AOS and you can work right away once getting to the USA. My asawa had to wait months on the couch watching TFC and she hated it. 

Haha! Thanks for the helpful info! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

K1 is best if you have children who would otherwise age out.  

1 hour ago, missileman said:

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US (currently about 3 months sooner)    
    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/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 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
    Slightly slower arrival in the US (currently about 3 months later)

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

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


 

 

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, ako_c_bayee said:

I see...We're both single with no kids.

Unless there's some underlying moral or personal reason (some people choose the K1 merely because they don't want to live apart after marriage) or unless you can't find a place to get married or don't want to wait to file, then the CR1 is, IMO, a better choice.  

 

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
Timeline

We went for the K-1 Visa in 2016 because it was faster back then and because we didn't like the thought of being separated after the wedding, we wanted to start our life together immediately after the wedding.

 

If I were to go through a US immigration process today? I would put my "feelers" aside and go for what would make the most sense practically speaking - I would choose the CR-1 visa.

 

I have to say though, unlike the other K-1ers in this thread I absolutely LOVED not working for months. But that's just me being all lazy and sh#t.

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...