K1 or cr1

[J O R D Y 0 0]

Okay I have not filed anything yet. I came here for some constructive advice

 

 I met a Pakistani guy online in march and fell in love a few months later. We are now dating long distance of course but we are planning to meet in January I was already going to Egypt and invited him to tag along. 
 

Some background information 

we are both Christians 

 

we only have a 3 year age gap

 

I’ve been married twice and have 2 children I’m in the middle of a divorce and it will be finalized before meeting in January.

 

both of our families approve 

 

now that we are actively planning a future together which visa route will be best for us if we decide to go that route k1 or cr1?

 

advice please 

[appleblossom 4,787]

**Post moved to What Visa Do I Need forum, as OP is not sure which visa route to take**

 

@Crazy Cat, when you get a moment, would you mind sharing your list? 

[Crazy Cat 45,108]

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 (up to 9 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (up to 9 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.
  If US spouse declines to participate in Adjustment of Status, the foreign spouse will have a very difficult avenue to legally remain in the US.
Current Presidential executive order (travel bans) don't allow K-1 visa holders from some countries to enter the US.

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. 
Current Presidential executive order (travel bans) exempt immediate relatives of US citizens.
   

 

[Boiler 47,795]

I would get a few visits in first.

 

Intrigued as to how you know his religion.

[milimelo 4,819]

Were the prior two marriages to USCs or immigrants you brought into the US?

[J O R D Y 0 0]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

I would get a few visits in first.

 

Intrigued as to how you know his religion.

We met in an online place where our religion was the topic and I’ve seen his ID and passport because I was in shock that official documents have religion on them in his country. He’s clearly Christian as is his family 

Just now, milimelo said:

Were the prior two marriages to USCs or immigrants you brought into the US?

Us citizens 

[milimelo 4,819]

3 minutes ago, J O R D Y 0 said:

Us citizens 

Ok, that's helpful. Once you're divorced, do check if your state has a cooling off period (1-6 months) and don't rush into marriage. More visits, establish what you actually want to do. Also, while you share religion, you don't share culture  customs, or traditions - either or both of you can and will be faced with unusual things/practices/traditions/ways of doing things. Getting someone in, and especially from Pakistan will not be easy - they normally have lengthy administrative processing (AP) after interview. You really should search for threads here with Pakistani beneficiaries to know what's in store for both of you. 

 

Good luck! 

[smilingstone 722]

5 months LDR and already exploring marriage is a potential red flag, especially for a high fraud country such as Pakistan. You're probably better building a solid relationship, meeting plenty, being 100% this is what you want, and going spousal route. 

[J O R D Y 0 0]

5 minutes ago, smilingstone said:

5 months LDR and already exploring marriage is a potential red flag, especially for a high fraud country such as Pakistan. You're probably better building a solid relationship, meeting plenty, being 100% this is what you want, and going spousal route. 

That’s the thing it’s not like we can just hop over and visit each other anytime we want each visit has to be very intentional.we won’t be making any final decisions until closer to our in person meeting. So if we did file anything probably wouldn’t happen until February or march of 2026. Trying to be prepared as possible 

[OldUser 10,335]

12 minutes ago, J O R D Y 0 said:

That’s the thing it’s not like we can just hop over and visit each other anytime we want each visit has to be very intentional.we won’t be making any final decisions until closer to our in person meeting. So if we did file anything probably wouldn’t happen until February or march of 2026. Trying to be prepared as possible 

Yes, each visit is intentional so is the marriage - one of the biggest decisions somebody can make in their life.

[Boiler 47,795]

It is not a quick or cheap process especially if the person involved is half way around the world.

 

 

[J O R D Y 0 0]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It is not a quick or cheap process especially if the person involved is half way around the world.

 

 

Yes I’ve gathered this much 

[appleblossom 4,787]

3 hours ago, J O R D Y 0 said:

That’s the thing it’s not like we can just hop over and visit each other anytime we want each visit has to be very intentional.we won’t be making any final decisions until closer to our in person meeting. So if we did file anything probably wouldn’t happen until February or march of 2026. Trying to be prepared as possible 

 

If February or March 2026 would be after just one visit then will give you an uphill battle - for a high fraud consulate you'll ideally have spent much more time together to stand the best chance of the visa being approved. But if you married then applied you're a good way off a visa application, so at least that would give you time to have a few more visits together before the interview. They don't have to be to Pakistan or the US, they could be to a third country where you can meet. 

 

Good luck. 

[smilingstone 722]

3 hours ago, J O R D Y 0 said:

That’s the thing it’s not like we can just hop over and visit each other anytime we want each visit has to be very intentional.we won’t be making any final decisions until closer to our in person meeting. So if we did file anything probably wouldn’t happen until February or march of 2026. Trying to be prepared as possible 

 

Marrying after one visit won't help your case. 

[Cathi 5,876]

CR1, especially from such a high fraud country.