US Born Sponsor & Canadian Citizen Beneficiary

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

5 minutes ago, NAIndians2020 said:

It's not pre-covid anymore is it? so 24 months sounds appropriate, no?

I don't know what the new timeline will look like after the consulates open up again.   I have heard that some consulates are classifying CR-1 visas a higher priority.  Only you and your fiance can determine your own priorities.  I am just providing information.  I do know that I see many, many posters here who regretted the K-1 due tot the hardships of adjustment of status.

Edited July 7, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[NAIndians2020 0]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Could be more, could be less.  It depends on when the consulate resumes normal visa processing    Another item to consider is that spousal visas are deemed "mission critical " and k1s are not.  So in the event the consulate doesn't resume normal Visa processing but only mission critical processing it could have a significant impact.   Nobody knows for sure.   Pick your poison and roll the dice. 

To avoid any uncertainty, when you say "spousal visa" you mean CR-1 applications are deemed "mission critical?"

[payxibka 10,044]

Adjustment of status is not a hardship if your eyes ARE WIDE OPEN.  If you caught with your pants down, it most likely will be. 

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

5 hours ago, NAIndians2020 said:

Well she's the one that suggested it. You're acting like I made this decision. We want to start a family now, so this whole thing is annoying to say the least.

Yes, this immigration process requires a great deal of KNOWLEDGE, PLANNING, time, patience, and some money.  

Edited July 7, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

Just now, NAIndians2020 said:

To avoid any uncertainty, when you say "spousal visa" you mean CR-1 applications are deemed "mission critical?"

CR-1 is a spousal visa......

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, NAIndians2020 said:

To avoid any uncertainty, when you say "spousal visa" you mean CR-1 applications are deemed "mission critical?"

Or IR1, both are for spouses of USCs

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

True....Knowledge and planning are important.

[Henry357 70]

People on here are really negative on K1 right now because of the Executive Order that came out recently. 
 

Canadians only have special processes when applying for most non-immigrate visas, not for Immigrant Visas.

[payxibka 10,044]

2 minutes ago, Henry357 said:

People on here are really negative on K1 right now because of the Executive Order that came out recently. 
 

Canadians only have special processes when applying for most non-immigrate visas, not for Immigrant Visas.

What recent EO was this?

[Canerican 242]

54 minutes ago, NAIndians2020 said:

Well she's the one that suggested it. You're acting like I made this decision. We want to start a family now, so this whole thing is annoying to say the least.

If you want to start a family I would suggest making decisions together and owning them together. You both should discuss the pros and cons of the K-1 and CR-1 and make a decision together. Trust me when I say, having one person make a decision is not good. Also, if you are passive like I have been and have her make decisions most of the time this will not be good for your marriage. This will really affect you if you want children. You do not want to have two different parenting styles that clash. 
 

Concerning immigration, you will go through a lot of annoying, stressful, and frustrating times. This will affect your marriage if you let it take over. At this moment and through out this process things are out of your control. 
 

Concerning K-1 vs CR-1, I would suggest getting married and filing for CR-1. The reason being that there is a proposed hike in fees so you may save money if you go CR-1 route. The proposed fee changes for Adjustment of Status (AOS/I-485), Work Authorization (EAD/I-765) and Advance Parole (AP/I-131) are going to be $2750. Right now the cost for the above is $1760. Right now going the CR-1 route saves people $560 dollars but will save them $1550 if the new fees are approved. 
 

Again, the decision is up to you and your fiancee and you both have to decide whether having a family now or saving money is more important. 
 

Good luck. 

[Marieke H 2,314]

24 minutes ago, Henry357 said:

People on here are really negative on K1 right now because of the Executive Order that came out recently.

I'm not negative about the K1 because of any EO, but because I went through the process and it was very hard.

 

I was naive, had not done enough research, and we (or mostly my husband) thought that being together as soon as possible was the most important thing to consider. So we did the K1 and I was miserable for 6 months, sitting at home, no social network, no license, my husband at work all day. In hindsight, doing the CR1 and being able to work, drive, travel, etc immediately would have definitely been worth the extra wait.

[carmel34 3,531]

1 hour ago, NAIndians2020 said:

We want to start a family now, so this whole thing is annoying to say the least.

Either option will be a long wait, especially with COVID-19 and all the uncertainty surrounding potential timelines, backlogs for petition adjudications, USCIS furloughs, backlogs for an interview in Montreal, consulate re-opening, etc.  Yes, it's annoying but it's mostly out of your control, that's the way it works with cross-border relationships.  Good luck whatever you decide!

Edited July 7, 2020 by carmel34

[Henry357 70]

15 minutes ago, Marieke H said:

I'm not negative about the K1 because of any EO, but because I went through the process and it was very hard.

 

I was naive, had not done enough research, and we (or mostly my husband) thought that being together as soon as possible was the most important thing to consider. So we did the K1 and I was miserable for 6 months, sitting at home, no social network, no license, my husband at work all day. In hindsight, doing the CR1 and being able to work, drive, travel, etc immediately would have definitely been worth the extra wait.

I agree, People assume that oh since I’m engaged I should get a K1 without thinking strategical. 
 

 

[NAIndians2020 0]

1 hour ago, CDN(ON)-USA(VT) said:

If you want to start a family I would suggest making decisions together and owning them together. You both should discuss the pros and cons of the K-1 and CR-1 and make a decision together. Trust me when I say, having one person make a decision is not good. Also, if you are passive like I have been and have her make decisions most of the time this will not be good for your marriage. This will really affect you if you want children. You do not want to have two different parenting styles that clash. 
 

Concerning immigration, you will go through a lot of annoying, stressful, and frustrating times. This will affect your marriage if you let it take over. At this moment and through out this process things are out of your control. 
 

Concerning K-1 vs CR-1, I would suggest getting married and filing for CR-1. The reason being that there is a proposed hike in fees so you may save money if you go CR-1 route. The proposed fee changes for Adjustment of Status (AOS/I-485), Work Authorization (EAD/I-765) and Advance Parole (AP/I-131) are going to be $2750. Right now the cost for the above is $1760. Right now going the CR-1 route saves people $560 dollars but will save them $1550 if the new fees are approved. 
 

Again, the decision is up to you and your fiancee and you both have to decide whether having a family now or saving money is more important. 
 

Good luck. 

I've done months of research. Both K-1 & CR-1 have their benefits. Not that worried about money. Everyone's worried about my fiancee sitting around and going crazy with idle time waiting for work authorization and green card etc, but like I said we want to start a family. She'd just be going on maternity leave anyway so they point start that by the time she comes.

 

Either way, I searched many forums in the past and other sites about both options. I decided to make an account because we are concerned about timing and want a little bit of closure on timing which I think we can safely say will be a year +/- a month or if we're lucky two.

[Sparkle Sparkle 913]

Actually with what is happening with immigration, I will chose CR1 over K1....Yes it takes longer time but at least I can take advantage of the waiting period