CR1 or K1?

[AAF95 2]

Could someone advice which is better the K1 or the CR1 ? I knew my gf a year now and she only met my family but I have not met hers .. would that be a problem for the process ? we are also a 9 years age difference . Should the marriage in MOROCCO include the whole family and friends or just the parents and close friends ?

[Crazy Cat 39,206]

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 
    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 

    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.
  �

 

[Crazy Cat 39,206]

5 minutes ago, AAF95 said:

Could someone advice which is better the K1 or the CR1 ? I knew my gf a year now and she only met my family but I have not met hers .. would that be a problem for the process ? we are also a 9 years age difference . Should the marriage in MOROCCO include the whole family and friends or just the parents and close friends ?

With a K-1, the legal marriage must take place in the US.....

[AAF95 2]

3 minutes ago, missileman said:

4 minutes 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 
    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 

    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.
  �

 

 

5 minutes 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 
    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 

    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.
  �

 

With a K-1, the legal marriage must take place in the US.....

So do you mean that K1 is faster than CR1 ?

[JeanneAdil 6,190]

23 minutes ago, AAF95 said:

So do you mean that K1 is faster than CR1 ?

it use to be but for Morocco a  K1 is taking almost as long as the CR1 

in 2009 we applied in July and interview was in November

now it takes a year and a lot of wait time /   even after the case goes to NVC (after the USCIS process of 6 months or more)  it is 5 months to get the interview and then several months in AP (around a year for Morocco applications )

the CR1 is about the same time and as missileman shows above post ,  it is cheaper and allows the immigrant to work as soon as he/she is in the US

BTW i should say many K1's are denied by the Casa embassy (usually because the 2 people have not spent enough time together) and you end up doing the CR1

 

[Crazy Cat 39,206]

57 minutes ago, AAF95 said:

So do you mean that K1 is faster than CR1 ?

The K-1 May be faster to US, but much, much slower to having a green card in hand and being able to work in the US.

Edited January 19, 2020 by missileman

[AAF95 2]

25 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

it use to be but for Morocco a  K1 is taking almost as long as the CR1 

in 2009 we applied in July and interview was in November

now it takes a year and a lot of wait time /   even after the case goes to NVC (after the USCIS process of 6 months or more)  it is 5 months to get the interview and then several months in AP (around a year for Morocco applications )

the CR1 is about the same time and as missileman shows above post ,  it is cheaper and allows the immigrant to work as soon as he/she is in the US

BTW i should say many K1's are denied by the Casa embassy (usually because the 2 people have not spent enough time together) and you end up doing the CR1

 

Thanks a lot for the info . Do you have any idea about whether the applicant parents should attend the wedding or not ?

[JeanneAdil 6,190]

35 minutes ago, AAF95 said:

Thanks a lot for the info . Do you have any idea about whether the applicant parents should attend the wedding or not ?

whether parents attend or not is private decision

my mom could not come to Morocco as she had arthritis and everything hurt

It is more important that the morocco family get to celebrate / they love it and hate being left out

but if you marry in the US after a K1,  it can be a large affair or just a quiet ceremony / let the girl decide

[AAF95 2]

17 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

whether parents attend or not is private decision

my mom could not come to Morocco as she had arthritis and everything hurt

It is more important that the morocco family get to celebrate / they love it and hate being left out

but if you marry in the US after a K1,  it can be a large affair or just a quiet ceremony / let the girl decide

I see ..thanks again for the info . it such relief to think that there is always support from people like you guys .

[carmel34 3,529]

For Morocco and a 9 year age difference, CR-1 is more likely to be successful.  Make sure you have evidence of many visits in person to submit with the petition.  Don't get married after only one or two visits.  And for CR-1 you will also need evidence of financial co-mingling.  Your US girlfriend needs to research everything, maybe she should get her own VJ account and ask questions since she files the petition, whichever way you go.  Good luck!

[AAF95 2]

32 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

For Morocco and a 9 year age difference, CR-1 is more likely to be successful.  Make sure you have evidence of many visits in person to submit with the petition.  Don't get married after only one or two visits.  And for CR-1 you will also need evidence of financial co-mingling.  Your US girlfriend needs to research everything, maybe she should get her own VJ account and ask questions since she files the petition, whichever way you go.  Good luck!

Thanks ! I really apprecite your help

 

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration forum.