K1 or CR1 visa question.

[Rasko 3]

Hello wonderful people, hope you're well! I'll try to keep this nice and simple because currently both my fiance and I are in tough spot and need some answers.

For background: 
She is a US citizen who moved out of US when she was 11 back to Bosnia. She's 27 now and we met in July 2024, got engaged on Valentines Day of 2025 and had made plans to move to the US due to better life there than in Bosnia as well as for the future of our kids. 

I'm 25 and I never visited US and I was never denied a Visa. I don't have any criminal records, I don't use drugs, I don't drink or smoke, I never had any issues with people in general. 

Now because of the  fact that she's been out of US for so long and her family's friends (who should've been sponsors) probably won't reach 100-125% poverty line, we decided that she could move back in July 2026 to Vancouver WA (where she was born and has place to stay at her family friends' place) and that she finds work so she can provide financial stability needed for us to move (because her address will already be the same as her parent's friends address as they own the house fully). 

We planned on her staying for a few months (maybe till December 2026) until she files the K1 process. 

Now the question/questions are:

Would marrying let's say 10-15 days before she moves back to the US make it much more difficult on us because she needs to redomicile and provide more proof of financial stability? (We planned doing this to make it easier for us once we move if we move that is and also because we want to make sure we got a safe and good chance).

Also how risky is K1 visa for us?

By the way for context, she plans on staying in the US as she figured that it's better that way either way because of life that gives you more options there in terms of work and general peace and stability, so we can't really risk getting married and wait 17 or however many months for CR1 just to be denied because we would both be "frozen in time" during 17 or so months because of the distance and life that we would live in the meantime (because of the fact that I need to plan my life here in Bosnia during that time and it's not easy living off of normal paycheck if you have to juggle between affording a car for easier transport locally or saving up money so you can use it once you reach US), same applies for her of course (she could do other things instead of saving up for something that has high probability of failing). 

So realistically what's our best bet? We plan on paying a lawyer (still figuring out who to talk to from US immigration) about our case. 

Again, I want to make sure we are on the same page, my fiance and I are and have fully agreed to move due to mutual benefit and benefit of our future kids because current climate in our country is not at all healthy for lasting relationship and kids. 

We only want to make sure we get the best chance we got because we don't know if K-1 or CR-1 is better for our case and safer. 

Also if she applies from US, does she need to fly back to US embassy here in Bosnia (located in Sarajevo) or am I the only one applicable for interview?

Thank you all! 
Best of wishes. 

P.S I just noticed I said our kids a few times here, we don't have kids right now but are planning on having once we marry.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Rasko

[appleblossom 5,497]

40 minutes ago, Rasko said:

We only want to make sure we get the best chance we got because we don't know if K-1 or CR-1 is better for our case and safer

 

If you don't want to file until she's been in the US for ~6 months and you want to marry 10-15 days before she leaves, K-1 isn't an option anyway. So that's the decision made for you! 

 

You shouldn't need a lawyer unless you have complicated circumstances. VJ is a DIY site, plenty of people here will help you with any questions.

 

And only you would need to be interviewed.

 

HTH, good luck. 

Edited 1 hour ago by appleblossom

[Rasko 3]

2 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

If you don't want to file until she's been in the US for ~6 months and you want to marry 10-15 days before she leaves, K-1 isn't an option anyway. So that's the decision made for you! 

 

You shouldn't need a lawyer unless you have complicated circumstances. VJ is a DIY site, plenty of people here will help you with any questions.

 

And only you would need to be interviewed.

 

HTH, good luck. 

Oh thank you, well if I understood correctly, she needs to be at least 6 months in the US before we can apply either way? 

Just to clear up on marriage plan, the reason we wouldn't marry before that is because of financial strain it would put on both of us locally due to apartment payments and because we don't live in the same city so it would mean additional travel fees for work etc. 

I figured our complicated circumstance would be the fact that she hasn't been in the US since the age of 11 really, she planned on going there but wanted to meet someone who she could see herself with so that's why we are now here in this spot.

In short, she needs to move for about 6 months or more and then we can apply without serious risk of getting denied from the get-go, correct? 

 

[appleblossom 5,497]

6 minutes ago, Rasko said:

Oh thank you, well if I understood correctly, she needs to be at least 6 months in the US before we can apply either way? 

Just to clear up on marriage plan, the reason we wouldn't marry before that is because of financial strain it would put on both of us locally due to apartment payments and because we don't live in the same city so it would mean additional travel fees for work etc. 

I figured our complicated circumstance would be the fact that she hasn't been in the US since the age of 11 really, she planned on going there but wanted to meet someone who she could see herself with so that's why we are now here in this spot.

In short, she needs to move for about 6 months or more and then we can apply without serious risk of getting denied from the get-go, correct? 

 

 

Why do you think she needs to be in the US for at least 6 months before she can apply? She could apply from anywhere, but if you can't meet the financial requirements then yes, she'll have to go ahead and try and find a job. But she doesn't need to work in that job for 6 months before you apply. 

 

And her not being in the US since she was young isn't really a complicating factor, plenty of people apply that are USC's but have never even set foot in the US. Has she been filing her taxes? That is the only possible complication. 

 

If you want to marry before she goes then K-1 isn't an option (you have to marry in the US for that). And it sounds to me as though CR-1 may be better anyway if money is an issue, as it will be cheaper and also mean you can start earning as soon as you get to the US. I'm going to tag forum member @Crazy Cat who has a fabulous comparison list which should help though.

 

Best of luck.  

Edited 1 hour ago by appleblossom

[Rasko 3]

Just now, appleblossom said:

 

Why do you think she needs to be in the US for at least 6 months before she can apply? She could apply from anywhere, but if you can't meet the financial requirements then yes, she'll have to go ahead and try and find a job. But she doesn't need to work in that job for 6 months before you apply. 

 

And her not being in the US since she was young isn't a complicating factor, plenty of people apply that are USC's but have never even set foot in the US. 

 

If you want to marry before she goes then K-1 isn't an option (you have to marry in the US for that). And it sounds to me as though CR-1 may be better anyway if money is an issue, as it will be cheaper and also mean you can start earning as soon as you get to the US. I'm going to tag forum member @Crazy Cat who has a fabulous comparison list which should help though.

 

Best of luck.  

Ohh sorry, I misunderstood what you said, now I understand you. 

Basically we were of logic that she needs income and because she is lacking sponsors well at least she will have some time to settle there so she  can prove her finances when she applies for visa.

Also we are new to all of this and it sounds scary so that's why we thought that her not being in the US for so long would be a problem. 

Lastly, we would marry before US, IF and only if K1 is not applicable in our case, but because she needs finances (proof that she is stable financially) we were split between K1 and CR1. We are mostly afraid of our future and the impact it would have on us as a couple. CR1 as far as we checked has stricter requirements so we figured CR1 wouldn't work out because it would take her a long time to redomicile and get finances in order which again could result in getting denied as nothing is guaranteed and due to supposed stricter requirements. 

I will check comparison and that list you pointed out by @Crazy Cat and hopefully it clears up some stuff for me. 

Sorry for taking too much of your time and hopefully I was clear and concise enough

Thank you kindly for the response and help! 

[Crazy Cat 45,843]

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.
   

 

[Rasko 3]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

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.
   

 

Thank you so much for this! 

My fiance and I will look through this and hopefully make a decision one way or another  

[appleblossom 5,497]

16 minutes ago, Rasko said:

Sorry for taking too much of your time and hopefully I was clear and concise enough

 

No problem and of course you were. 

 

It's honestly not as scary as you might think, and now you've found VJ you've got a supportive helpful community behind you. Have a look at the list above and then feel free to ask any further questions and somebody will always try and help.

[Rasko 3]

23 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

No problem and of course you were. 

 

It's honestly not as scary as you might think, and now you've found VJ you've got a supportive helpful community behind you. Have a look at the list above and then feel free to ask any further questions and somebody will always try and help.

Thank you, we checked out comparisons briefly and we concluded that K1 is probably the way to go. 

On paper CR1 is better, but because she will move for good and we would need to marry for CR1, possible denial of our case after xy months would deal a hefty blow to both of us and our relationship that would probably fail because it probably wouldn't be sustainable for 2+ years of long distance/different timezones etc. and would make it much more difficult to figure out what to do since we would be married and all the legal stuff would be harder to dissolve if God forbid it would come to that. 

On the other hand, we would be much sooner together through K1 and we would have place to stay (at her friends place) and that family as additional support on top of her paychecks. So at least we would be together figuring it out even if it takes longer to process papers and requires more work, we are at least on US soil together as opposed as being an ocean apart for a year or more and we can always marry and try CR1 if K1 fails, while marriage we cannot revert and due to longer timelines we'd be in uncertainty for longer potentially freezing both of our lives/careers in vein. 

Thank you and @Crazy Cat again for comparison charts and support, it really helped us straighten our plans a tad bit and at least gave some clarity as to what path to pick up.  

Cheers and if we ever make it abroad, I'll gladly find a way to repay you guys/gals as your replies and comments means a lot to us and our future plans.