Is it better to marry outside or in the US for bringing a spouse here?

[Ryanya 0]

Your question made me think of one of my own; sorry if it is dumb (or in the wrong place) - I'm new to the process. 
Does it make much of a difference from a processing time perspective whether you marry and then come to the US, versus doing it the other way around?

I know it's different paperwork (K-1 vs CR-1?), and it makes a difference on how things go later on (regarding adjusting status etc..). But if the goal is to start your lives together as soon as possible, then is one approach significantly better (mainly faster) than the other? My assumption would be to marry first, as you already know you want to spend your lives together, so why wait?  But if that means a difference of months before you actually get to start that life, then maybe holding off on the ceremony makes sense.

[Dashinka 26,215]

One of the biggest questions commonly asked.  I pursued a K1 back in 2013, but processing was way different back then and we determined it was better for us then, if we did it again, we would most likely pursue a spousal visa.  Other factors that are not immigration related may be involved such as: what country is the perspective immigrant from, are they free to travel to a place where they can legally marry easily; same sex couples in a country that does not recognize those unions; the perspective immigrant's life and how easily they can pick up and move to the US; etc.  Overall, the CR1/IR1 is a far superior visa overall to the K1, @Crazy Cat has a comprehensive list he can post if he sees this, processing times change all the time, and a K1 may be a few months faster, but in the end as you stated, if your plan is to start a life together, getting married now is a much bigger step toward that goal than getting engaged, and the pursue the immigration stuff afterward.

 

Good Luck!

[Crazy Cat 45,586]

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.