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Caboose29

Choosing a K-1 Fiance or CR-1 Spouse Visa in 2021

By Caboose29 in What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration

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Orangesapples Proficient

Orangesapples   1,954

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33 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

Mexico does require a blood test and a few other things.

Serbia? I'd like to look into that one. Thanks! :)

Blood tests seem like not that big of a deal. Much easier than other red tape. 

 

I'm another K1 that doesn't recommend a K1. It was hard for me and back in the days, it only took 4 months for me to get my EAD. But if you can't find a way to get married easily, a K1 might be the more practical approach. 

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Crazy Cat
Crazy Cat

Just as a reminder as to why I think a CR-1 is superior for many couples.   Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

DaveAndAnastasia
DaveAndAnastasia

The biggest downside to doing a CR-1 with a Russian fiancé(e) even in normal times is that marrying a foreigner in Russia is a pain and your fiancée almost certainly can't get a tourist visa for the U

SalishSea
SalishSea

Neither option is fast.....

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Caboose29 Enthusiast

Caboose29   172

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9 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

https://rs.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/marriage/

😁I was just reading that webpage!! LOL

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millefleur Veteran

millefleur   5,035

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21 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Blood tests seem like not that big of a deal. Much easier than other red tape. 

I agree, unless there is some difficulty in getting a blood test now with Covid, does not seem like that big of a deal.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview ⌛

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

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Sierra TC Contributor

Sierra TC   26

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I am in the process of a K-1 visa, and we wish we went the CR-1 route for several reasons. Among all the already listed reasons, I currently rent and I'm finding that most rental agencies can not process applications without a SSN. Also, my fiance will be unable to travel back to visit his family for a long time. We will find a way to manage, but I believe it's definitely more inconvenient than a CR-1.

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yvonme Enthusiast

yvonme   124

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3 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Neither option is fast.....

This. 
 

For me. I personally didn’t want to have a ceremony then say goodbye. For an unknown amount of time. The variables other members mentioned such as money, less fees, AOS timing etc weren’t enough to win me over. Personal decision.

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Chauncey Enthusiast

Chauncey   138

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Country: Russia
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5 minutes ago, RainyJupiter said:

I am in the process of a K-1 visa, and we wish we went the CR-1 route for several reasons. Among all the already listed reasons, I currently rent and I'm finding that most rental agencies can not process applications without a SSN. Also, my fiance will be unable to travel back to visit his family for a long time. We will find a way to manage, but I believe it's definitely more inconvenient than a CR-1.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I believe you can apply for a social security number and receive one within a couple of weeks of arriving to the US, and after that happens you can just add your SO to the rental contract.

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JonSeattle Enthusiast

JonSeattle   201

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I did a K-1 because it got my fiance out of a bad situation as soon as possible. She was interviewed a couple days before the embassy stopped interviewing, and the situation is very different now for other people. We have encountered no problems yet because of the lack of a SSN, and her not working has been fine for us.

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Chauncey Enthusiast

Chauncey   138

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1 minute ago, yvonme said:

This. 
 

For me. I personally didn’t want to have a ceremony then say goodbye. For an unknown amount of time. The variables other members mentioned such as money, less fees, AOS timing etc weren’t enough to win me over. Personal decision.

Same here

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Strawberrymermaid Collaborator

Strawberrymermaid   346

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So I have a wedding planned in Cancun, Mexico in February, God willing we are going to get married and start over with the spousal process!

Found love, thought I wanted this path, two years later realized my partner was not worth all the stress 😁

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Caboose29 Enthusiast

Caboose29   172

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4 minutes ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

So I have a wedding planned in Cancun, Mexico in February, God willing we are going to get married and start over with the spousal process!

REALLY?!?!?  What changed your mind??

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Sierra TC Contributor

Sierra TC   26

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Mexico
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9 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I believe you can apply for a social security number and receive one within a couple of weeks of arriving to the US, and after that happens you can just add your SO to the rental contract.

Is that so? It would save me a lot of stress for the living situation.

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Strawberrymermaid Collaborator

Strawberrymermaid   346

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Just now, Caboose29 said:

REALLY?!?!?  What changed your mind??

Been back and forth a lot but we are ready to be married, I can actually visit Russia as his spouse, and our I-129F isn't that strong. I submitted it when we had met one time by accident on a cruise ship, we had 0 pics together. We have obviously gotten more now that we have met up again but it seems to be a more solid choice for us overall!!

Found love, thought I wanted this path, two years later realized my partner was not worth all the stress 😁

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Chauncey Enthusiast

Chauncey   138

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Country: Russia
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1 minute ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

Been back and forth a lot but we are ready to be married, I can actually visit Russia as his spouse, and our I-129F isn't that strong. I submitted it when we had met one time by accident on a cruise ship, we had 0 pics together. We have obviously gotten more now that we have met up again but it seems to be a more solid choice for us overall!!

What are the requirements that you've found for the marriage in mexico?

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Caboose29 Enthusiast

Caboose29   172

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
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1 minute ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

Been back and forth a lot but we are ready to be married, I can actually visit Russia as his spouse, and our I-129F isn't that strong. I submitted it when we had met one time by accident on a cruise ship, we had 0 pics together. We have obviously gotten more now that we have met up again but it seems to be a more solid choice for us overall!!

Sounds like a very prudent choice.  Congratulations on your soon to have wedding!  Will you need a different type of visa to visit him in Russia?  Will a valid tourist visa work?

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