Does anyone have experience with a successful CR-1 expedite? How long did your process take from the time of expedite request to when your spouse could enter the USA?

[RobynAndBradley 2]

Hi everyone, I have a definite grounds and all proper documentation to get an expedite, I was just wondering if anyone has experience with this and how much faster the expedite made the whole process? From what I understand the CR-1 is taking about 10-12+ months right now. Will an expedite make it much quicker than this?

 

My spouse is from Canada, not sure if that changes processing times or not, I know how busy they are or how many expedite requests are in front of us can change things. Thanks for feedback! 

[Crazy Cat 39,233]

21 minutes ago, Robynski said:

From what I understand the CR-1 is taking about 10-12+ months right now.

Do you have any stats to back this up?  I think that is conservative.

[Crazy Cat 39,233]

According to other VJ members, the average time from NAO1 to Interview is about 15 months:

[Boiler 43,434]

Agree it is a long time since we have seen processing that quick.

[geowrian 22,335]

Where are you in the process?

An approved expedite at the I-130 stage will generally result in an RFE, approval, or denial within a few days after the expedite is approved.

Then expect a week to couple weeks to get to NVC.

Then you submit your documents. (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process)

Then you have to expedite again at the NVC/embassy stage.

If approved, then the limiting factor is when Montreal has an interview slot and NVC gets the case to Montreal.

There's no expedite after the interview. There's no way to bypass the medical, in case something comes up.

Overall, expect at least a month, if not 2 or 3, depending on how things go.

[kris&me 572]

your last post asks if K1 or CR1 is faster as you will deploy (posted 13 hours ago)

have you married and even started the CR1?

you would need to start with a marriage 

Edited March 11, 2019 by kris&me

[John & Rose 7,237]

I sent an email for an NVC expedite yesterday.  It doesn't hurt to try and school for the kids is listed as a potential reason.  Our NOA2 came in just 4 months but that is as far as we have gotten so far.  It does seem quicker than the K-1 where it was 10 months to NOA2.  Right now we are still in a waiting pattern.

[RobynAndBradley 2]

1 hour ago, kris&me said:

your last post asks if K1 or CR1 is faster as you will deploy (posted 13 hours ago)

have you married and even started the CR1?

you would need to start with a marriage 

Lol we realize that, and I am fully aware of when I made my last post, thank you. This is a simple request for more information on experiences witch the cr-1 expedite process, hence the new post in a different thread. 

[Crazy Cat 39,233]

15 minutes ago, Robynski said:

Lol we realize that, and I am fully aware of when I made my last post, thank you. This is a simple request for more information on experiences witch the cr-1 expedite process, hence the new post in a different thread. 

You might want to try the search function of this web site using "CR-1" and "expedite".

[RobynAndBradley 2]

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

Where are you in the process?

An approved expedite at the I-130 stage will generally result in an RFE, approval, or denial within a few days after the expedite is approved.

Then expect a week to couple weeks to get to NVC.

Then you submit your documents. (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process)

Then you have to expedite again at the NVC/embassy stage.

If approved, then the limiting factor is when Montreal has an interview slot and NVC gets the case to Montreal.

There's no expedite after the interview. There's no way to bypass the medical, in case something comes up.

Overall, expect at least a month, if not 2 or 3, depending on how things go.

Hi, thank you so much for the relevant information. We are just beginning the process, we have been trying to decide between the k1 and cr-1 and just recently decided on the cr-1. Planning on having a quick ceremony this week so we can get the ball rolling! 

 

We have all of our documents in order and just need a marriage certificate now to complete the cr-1 application. We appreciate you response, we weren’t sure if or how the process for expedite differed for the I-130 vs I-129f, so the informarjon you provided is certainly very helpful  thanks again! 

 

[RobynAndBradley 2]

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

I sent an email for an NVC expedite yesterday.  It doesn't hurt to try and school for the kids is listed as a potential reason.  Our NOA2 came in just 4 months but that is as far as we have gotten so far.  It does seem quicker than the K-1 where it was 10 months to NOA2.  Right now we are still in a waiting pattern.

 

Thanks so much for sharing. Good luck you two! I hope your expedite gets approved  

Edited March 11, 2019 by Robynski
Spelling

[John & Rose 7,237]

Expedites at NVC for CR-1 are generally easier to get than expedites at USCIS for K-1.  The K-1 is quicker and more expensive to POE.  The CR-1 is quicker to green cards and legal employment.

[RobynAndBradley 2]

3 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

Expedites at NVC for CR-1 are generally easier to get than expedites at USCIS for K-1.  The K-1 is quicker and more expensive to POE.  The CR-1 is quicker to green cards and legal employment.

That is great to hear! We were very close to going with the K-1 route, so thank you for the information on the CR-1 as we are not as familiar with it yet.  I am deploying later this year so time is not on our side unfortunately, but from the sounds of it CR-1 is the way to go for us. Thanks again

[Crazy Cat 39,233]

2 minutes ago, Robynski said:

That is great to hear! We were very close to going with the K-1 route, so thank you for the information on the CR-1 as we are not as familiar with it yet.  I am deploying later this year so time is not on our side unfortunately, but from the sounds of it CR-1 is the way to go for us. Thanks again

The CR-1 is a much better option, imo.

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.

[John & Rose 7,237]

7 minutes ago, Robynski said:

That is great to hear! We were very close to going with the K-1 route, so thank you for the information on the CR-1 as we are not as familiar with it yet.  I am deploying later this year so time is not on our side unfortunately, but from the sounds of it CR-1 is the way to go for us. Thanks again

Active deployment is one of the acceptable USCIS expedite reasons, just to make this more complicated.  LOL

 

K-1 vs CR-1 Full Analysis

 

K-1

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 (about 5-6 months)    

Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (about 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 10 to 12 months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

Estimated timeline is approximately 8 to 10 months (NOA1 to Interview)  This is officially quoted as 6 to 12 months.

 

K-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$265 per person - DS-160 (Visa Application)

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$1,225 per person - AOS Fee (Includes EAD/AP if filed together)

$750 per child under 14

$680 per person - ROC Fee

$640 per person Naturalization Fee

$85 per person Biometric Fee for Naturalization

 

 

$3,430 plus medical (K-1)

$2,895 plus medical (K-2 over 14 years old)

$2,420 plus medical (K-2 14 years old and younger)

 

 

CR-1    

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 (LPR) status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to the United States

Estimated timeline is 10 to 12 months (NOA1 to Interview) This is officially quoted at 12 to 14 months.

 

CR-1 Fees

$535 - USCIS Filing Fee

$120 - Affidavit of Support Fee

$325 - DS-260 (Visa Application)

$200 to $400 - Medical Fee

$220 - USCIS Immigrant Fee

$680 - ROC (if married less than 2 years at POE)

$640 per person Naturalization Fee

$85 per person Biometric Fee for Naturalization

 

$2,605 plus medical (per person if married less than 2 years at POE)

$1,925 plus medical (per person if married more than 2 years when filing)

 

 

A K-1 is more likely to be ultimately denied than a CR-1.

A refused K-1 with the petition being sent back will sit and die.

A refused CR-1/IR-1 with the petition being sent back can be reaffirmed and not refused again for the same reason if based upon the same evidence.

If concerned about the CO's evaluation of the relationship, then a spousal visa would be an optimal path.

 

Also, certain crimes can be an issue with an I-129F, but only very few crimes are an issue for an I-130 (e.g. AWA).