My fiance moves back to her home country in 11 months... So when to apply?

[Sarah&Facundo 576]

I did two of the things you are asking about.

 

We applied for the K1 and it was approved unexpectedly very quickly. My fiance and I put off our interview for about 8 months because we were traveling the world (New zealand, Japan, etc.) and did not want to commit to living in the US yet knowing he could not leave. Yes, it really stinks when the beneficiary can't work/travel/do anything. It was tough for my husband, but you can do it. My husband got his greencard and we are out traveling. We have been backpacking Europe all summer, so there definitely is a light at the end of the tunnel!

 

Regarding college, yes she can enroll. It depends on the school regarding in-state tuition. My husband was allowed to pay in-state tuition before he even had his EAD card, just two months after he arrived. He began at a community college to ease the transition and he is doing really well! SO I would check in with a specific college before deciding you would need to pay higher tuition. This really helped him during that time he wasn't allowed to work. It made him feel like he was doing something and it force him to have to meet others in the community.

[wingman23 140]

k1 vs cr1

our main decision was based on the time it will take me to be with my wonderful fiancee in the states. k1 was faster compared to cr1. i can probably do something else while waiting for my papers to be filed and received. hey, i got a personal driver while in the states! that's a perk! lol

 

NBI
i asked my brother to help me in getting my NBI from the Philippines. i just have to prepare and gather the documents here in the toronto-phil consulate so he can show it at the NBI main office. if you have an old NBI cert (issued 2014), you can renew it online and does not need any appearance or fingerprints. it took me about 2 - 3 weeks to do this (get docs from the phil consulate - send docs to my brother - go to the NBI - and send the cert back here in TO).