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

[Orangesapples 1,954]

8 minutes ago, RainyJupiter said:

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

Yes, I had my SSN within two weeks I think. I'm not sure how it works now with the covid, I had to wait for a few hours, the line started an hour before they open. 

[Chauncey 138]

13 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

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?

Only family members or spouses of Russian citizens can visit and you have to contact the embassy to obtain a private visa for this with proof of your marriage certificate

[Chauncey 138]

11 minutes ago, Orangesapples said:

Yes, I had my SSN within two weeks I think. I'm not sure how it works now with the covid, I had to wait for a few hours, the line started an hour before they open. 

Thank you! Did you just go within a couple of days of arriving?

[Caboose29 172]

2 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

Only family members or spouses of Russian citizens can visit and you have to contact the embassy to obtain a private visa for this with proof of your marriage certificate

The Russian embassy in the US?

[Chauncey 138]

Just now, Caboose29 said:

The Russian embassy in the US?

Yes

[Orangesapples 1,954]

2 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

Thank you! Did you just go within a couple of days of arriving?

Yes, basically on the first day that I was able to, I think even before we got married. My husband dropped me off in the morning on his way to work and I spent a few hours there waiting. The card arrived a week or two later, I don't remember now. 

[millefleur 5,038]

23 minutes 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!!

That's great that you figured out how to do a marriage in Mexico! Wishing you the best, you won't regret opting for the CR-1 route. I hope the wedding in Mexico goes well and you can have some peace of mind, as CR-1's are almost always approved without issue at the Moscow Embassy.

[Caboose29 172]

Those that got CR1s, what documentation did you use for Evidence of a Bona Fide Marriage?

[millefleur 5,038]

30 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

Those that got CR1s, what documentation did you use for Evidence of a Bona Fide Marriage?

CR-1's usually expect most of the evidence to be wedding related if the wedding was recent. So you can submit anything and everything related to the wedding, such as receipts for anything purchased for it or relating to the planning of the wedding, in addition to the obvious photos and "congrats" cards from family members, etc.

[millefleur 5,038]

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VJ Moderation

[top_secret 2,071]

My wife, (Filipina) and I (USC) actually did marry in Costa Rica last month and I will be filing an I-130 just as soon as I have all the papers.  Our motivations for pursuing a CR-1 vs a K-1 are pretty much all that has been mentioned above.  Particularly because while the wait may be long whatever way we went, apparently like Russia(?), the Philippines may grant a visa to a family member of a Filipino Citizen but not to a Fiancé.  This means I could visit there while we wait.  Plus meeting each other for visits in third countries, if a visa is required for a Filipina, as a husband I could generally sponsor her for a tourist visa for most countries.  Whereas most countries would not accept a foreign sponsor that is unrelated on a tourist visa application.

 

Costa Rica must rank high on the list of countries where one could marry because there basically you just pay lawyer/notary, get married.  All foreigners really need to marry there are passports.  The only downside I can see is you do not get an official marriage certificate immediately as Costa Rican bureaucracy by all accounts takes a month or so to process the paperwork before issuing a marriage certificate.  COVID related travel restrictions for Costa Rica are simply that you must buy travel insurance that covers COVID for the duration of your stay.  No test or quarantine restrictions.  'Most' nationalities don’t require visas for Costa Rica.

[GringoHombre 3]

Why would someone choose the K-1 over the CR-1?  It seems like historically the CR-1 took longer which is why we chose the K-1, but starting to wonder if that was the right choice.  I guess hindsight is 20/20 and we are far enough into the process for it not to matter.

 

Also, would like to thank everyone for posting here and sharing their stories.  It has helped us greatly.

[Crazy Cat 39,374]

1 minute ago, GringoHombre said:

Why would someone choose the K-1 over the CR-1?

Same sex marriage in some countries......

Some cases which involve children 

[GringoHombre 3]

1 minute ago, Lucky Cat said:

Same sex marriage in some countries......

Some cases which involve children 

lol I shouldn't have asked, now I regret not having gone that route

 

To be fair, expediency of getting her into the US is probably the biggest consideration for us, the rest doesn't matter so much.  I appreciate the quick response Lucky Cat!

 

 

[Juniber 4]

3 hours ago, Caboose29 said:

 

Apparently with conditions now as they are, it is not feasible at all....

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Caboose29 said:

I'm half wishing we would have gotten married last month when she and I were in Istanbul for 2 weeks.  

Turkey checks all those boxes.

 

Arranging a legal "JP" equivalent ceremony only requires 2-3 days lead time in Turkey.  Russians can travel there with NO visa requirements.  I think if we'd had the forethought to bring our divorce decrees we could have just done it while we were there last month.

My LPR son and his wife got married in the Country of Georgia in October 2019.    This was before Covid, but the process is very American and Russian friendly.  They both flew separately into Tbillsi and took train together to Batumi for wedding and honeymoon.  Extremely affordable, great beer and very beautiful mountains by the sea.  The Georgian Administrative Office took care of the marriage, then did the Georgian Marriage Certificate with Apostille and also did a Certified English Translation Marriage Certificate with its own Apostille.  Used both documents with Apostille for the I-130 petition and wife used Georgian document with Apostille for getting new Russian International Passport with married surname.   Did not read all posts, but offering this experience.

Edited January 5, 2021 by Juniber