K1 Visa or Spouse Visa Quicker

[smore 19]

I know there is debate about this and everyone has had past and current experiences. But I am asking about currently which is a quicker method to actually being able to be together in the United States. I know covid thru everything off, extended the process time for both K1 and spousal visas. Does anyone have any factual data on current amount of time for each type of Visa?

[IWander 581]

22 minutes ago, smore said:

I know there is debate about this and everyone has had past and current experiences. But I am asking about currently which is a quicker method to actually being able to be together in the United States. I know covid thru everything off, extended the process time for both K1 and spousal visas. Does anyone have any factual data on current amount of time for each type of Visa?

Have you looked at the USCIS case processing times?

[smore 19]

3 minutes ago, IWander said:

Have you looked at the USCIS case processing times?

I sort of have but it can get a bit confusing. I did see there are a few links to data on here, but again sometimes a bit difficult to decipher. I am mainly interested in of course PH to USA and also the end amount of time, the total amount of time. Some real world data, experiences also helps.

[Crazy Cat 39,280]

10 minutes ago, smore said:

I sort of have but it can get a bit confusing. I did see there are a few links to data on here, but again sometimes a bit difficult to decipher. I am mainly interested in of course PH to USA and also the end amount of time, the total amount of time. Some real world data, experiences also helps.

Do a little searching in the timelines section of Visa Journey.  You can sort by country and visa type.

 

 

[smore 19]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Do a little searching in the timelines section of Visa Journey.  You can sort by country and visa type.

 

 

I will have to try that again and see, it just gets confusing on there, was hoping for some reason world experiences from recently and currently. Its just when you read things and search for things you get so many results and information, some sources say K1 is quicker while other sources say spousal. Some say due to covid spousal has flipped to being the quicker option, while others still say K1 still is.

[Crazy Cat 39,280]

Here is a quick, preliminary little snippet of the VJ timeline query I just did for PI.  Note the filing to interview times.  These samples seem to have been updated over the last few months.  According to these samples, spousal visa appears to be a little faster.  The overall average for all countries are reported by other VJ members is:

K-1 from filing to interview: 579 Days

CR1 from filing to interview: 550 Days

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1 
  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 6-8 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 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.
  A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
  In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice 
  A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  K-1 entrant cannot file for citizenship until after having Green Card for 3 years.
  Once an I-129F has been approved, delaying the case is difficult to impossible if the need arises.

CR-1/IR-1
  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.
  The clock for citizenship filing starts immediately upon entry to the US.
  A CR-1/IR-1 case can be delayed indefinitely at NVC if the need arises. 
   

 

[smore 19]

16 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Here is a quick, preliminary little snippet of the VJ timeline query I just did for PI.  Note the filing to interview times.  These samples seem to have been updated over the last few months.  According to these samples, spousal visa appears to be a little faster.  The overall average for all countries are reported by other VJ members is:

K-1 from filing to interview: 579 Days

CR1 from filing to interview: 550 Days

 

 

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1 
  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 6-8 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 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.
  A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
  In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice 
  A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  K-1 entrant cannot file for citizenship until after having Green Card for 3 years.
  Once an I-129F has been approved, delaying the case is difficult to impossible if the need arises.

CR-1/IR-1
  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.
  The clock for citizenship filing starts immediately upon entry to the US.
  A CR-1/IR-1 case can be delayed indefinitely at NVC if the need arises. 
   

 

Thanks for all your help and the screen shots of the results with just PH, I did see these tables but some was just confusing. So thank you again for a bit of clarification and pointing out things. So the one column to interview is that a good estimate on time or is there sometime after the interview also in which they need to decide? I did see some high 300s on those results and that would be nice to be in that time frame instead of the 500s or 600s. I know this is a loaded question with perhaps unknown answers but I wonder why the difference in times from couple to couple is, what makes for a shorter time?

 

I agree every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation. I am trying to gather all the info to have a conversation about.

 

Again thanks for your help, many sites say K1 is much quicker, and other sites say CR-1/IR-1 is quicker, so its very difficult to really know. From the tables it does appear they are very close to amount of time and CR-1/IR-1 being quicker with better situation when arriving as you had listed. Its just strange how things flipped around where CR-1/IR-1 is now quicker than K1.

[Crazy Cat 39,280]

K-1s used to be much faster...that has changed for many consulates.  There are many factors to consider besides speed to the US...imho.  Good luck.  

[RO_AH 1,615]

13 minutes ago, smore said:

Again thanks for your help, many sites say K1 is much quicker, and other sites say CR-1/IR-1 is quicker, so its very difficult to really know.

Not really difficult. What @Crazy Cat posted are actual cases. These are not "he said, she said" results. If you trust the other sites, why ask here? If you trust here, why ask there? Are you looking for what you want to hear or are you looking for factual information. If it's factual information you are looking for, @Crazy Cat provided it above.

[RO_AH 1,615]

18 minutes ago, smore said:

Its just strange how things flipped around where CR-1/IR-1 is now quicker than K1.

Maybe, but in my opinion CR1 should be prioritized over K-1. CR1 you are petitioning an actual family member and K1 you are petitioning a possible family member.

[smore 19]

3 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Not really difficult. What @Crazy Cat posted are actual cases. These are not "he said, she said" results. If you trust the other sites, why ask here? If you trust here, why ask there? Are you looking for what you want to hear or are you looking for factual information. If it's factual information you are looking for, @Crazy Cat provided it above.

I don't trust the other sites? Not sure why you would think I trusted the other sites, hence why I posted the question here to get some actual results and feedback. I never asked on other sites, these were search results in google from a variety of sites including law firms, other visa information sites, etc, a wide variety of sites, hence why I did not trust the information as being current and accurate. I am not sure you read into things each time I ask a question and go WAY OFF in left field when nothing in my question or responses suggests what you are referring to. I do appreciate any and all advise or info.

 

Thanks Crazy Cat you helped me out alot with the chart and also the added info. Thanks again.

[smore 19]

5 minutes ago, RO_AH said:

Maybe, but in my opinion CR1 should be prioritized over K-1. CR1 you are petitioning an actual family member and K1 you are petitioning a possible family member.

Yes I agree with this. Your already married and it should be prioritized and also not take long at all to process, I mean come on your already married, why the long wait to approve anything.

[IWander 581]

Are you only interested in the time to visa or the time to greencard (all other differences ignored)?   

 

If you are eligible to file the I129f today, then theoretically speed to visa is the k1 because besides the immigration process you must also include the time it takes to get married (marriage process will undoubtedly add a few to several months).  If speed to greencard is what you need then the IR/CR visa wins hands down.

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by IWander

[smore 19]

2 minutes ago, IWander said:

Are you only interested in the time to visa or the time to greencard (all other differences ignored)?   

 

If you are eligible to file the I129f today, then theoretically speed to visa is the k1 because besides the immigration process you must also include the time it takes to get married (marriage process will undoubtedly add a few to several months).  If speed to greencard is what you need then the IR/CR visa wins hands down.

 

Time to visa, basically the time to actually being together in person, whether thats already married, or from 0-90 days in that time frame. Its tough being apart and trying to enjoy lifes events while apart so time to visa and actually being together is important.

[IWander 581]

4 minutes ago, smore said:

Time to visa, basically the time to actually being together in person, whether thats already married, or from 0-90 days in that time frame. Its tough being apart and trying to enjoy lifes events while apart so time to visa and actually being together is important.

You need to lay out a timeline of both and figure out which one will finish quicker then.  Spousal petitions are about 2 months faster to clear the USCIS.  Do you have sufficient information to file the the I129f today?  How soon can you get over the the PI to get married.  You need to figure this out and put this on the front end of the timeline.