K1 or CR1 with pandemic situation

[seanpham 0]

I am a US citizen. I want to sponsor my Vietnamese girlfriend.

My situation is I can't travel to Vietnam because of the pandemic. She can't travel to other countries (she can go, but when she comes back, she will be put on a 6 months waitlist and air ticket plus quarantine cost around 6000USD). The 2 years rule for In-person Meeting will expire this June. Vaccine Passport failed. Vietnam won't open the border until they reach Herd Immunity (expected at the end of 2022).

Should I go with K1 now or wait 1.5 more years to go with CR1? is waiting 1.5 years outweigh the hassle from K1 visa?

 

Sorry for my bad English. Any advice would be appreciated greatly.

[Dashinka 24,589]

Overall, the CR1 is a more superior visa, but of course there is the challenge of getting somewhere where you can both get married.  Generally, I would recommend finding a way to work out the spousal visa (CR1), but with your two years of in person meeting coming close to an end, I would suggest filing the I129F as soon as you can.  If things change, you can always make changes yourself.

 

Good Luck! 

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

2 hours ago, seanpham said:

I am a US citizen. I want to sponsor my Vietnamese girlfriend.

My situation is I can't travel to Vietnam because of the pandemic. She can't travel to other countries (she can go, but when she comes back, she will be put on a 6 months waitlist and air ticket plus quarantine cost around 6000USD). The 2 years rule for In-person Meeting will expire this June. Vaccine Passport failed. Vietnam won't open the border until they reach Herd Immunity (expected at the end of 2022).

Should I go with K1 now or wait 1.5 more years to go with CR1? is waiting 1.5 years outweigh the hassle from K1 visa?

 

Sorry for my bad English. Any advice would be appreciated greatly.

If I could go back and do the CR with my wife I would but, every couple's situation and desires are different.  Is there a neighbor country if Vietnam that both of you can travel to and get married if you decided to go the CR1 route?  

 

As mentioned before with your 2 year meeting requirement coming real close, you could file now and should if you decide that route. 

[Adventine 3,201]

Ordinarily I would advise doing all you can to meet up in a third country, get married there, then file for the spousal visa, but it's not worth it if there is a high chance that your fiancee could be stranded abroad indefinitely at great expense.

 

A K1 may make more sense in your situation.