SBUK

15 minutes ago, TM92 said:

Generally, the visa expires 6 months after the medical exam (medical done couple weeks before the CR-1 interview).

That is a very conservative timeframe to account for any unforeseen circumstances (e.g. prolonged Administrative Processing (AP); odds are prolonged AP will not apply to you).

43 minutes ago, JFH said:

A student visa is acceptable for DCF. She doesn’t even have to remain in the U.K. for the duration. She just needs to be living in the U.K. when you file. 

 

If you’re wanting to get married in September a K-1 is risky. It’s taking 10 months or more now to process and timelines are always unpredictable and subject to change. 

 

If I were you, I’d have a small, legal ceremony ASAP and start the CR-1 by DCF. You’ll have the visa before the summer is done. You can then travel to the USA next summer when it suits you, be a green card holder immediately, and have your big wedding celebration in September.

 

I’d have given my right arm to be in your position. 

 Guys, thank you so much for your help and information, I'm going to seriously look into taking this route, it completely makes sense. If you have any more tips or info, please send it my way! 

Stewart

9 minutes ago, TM92 said:

After getting the CR-1 visa you enter the US. Upon US entry you are a Lawful Permanent Resident. You have no restrictions, unlike K-1 visa holders.

Also, I just copied and pasted this from the link you sent me:

Planning Ahead:

U.S. citizens who plan on filing the Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) for their foreign spouse/child(ren)/parent to obtain an immigrant visa to relocate to the United States should file the petition at least ten months prior to the date of the planned relocation.

Accurate? 

6 minutes ago, TM92 said:

After getting the CR-1 visa you enter the US. Upon US entry you are a Lawful Permanent Resident. You have no restrictions, unlike K-1 visa holders.

Oh my goodness, thats crazy. Is there a time frame from when the visa is issued that I would have to travel to the U.S? 

1 minute ago, TM92 said:

With DCF 3 months is average for the CR-1: https://uk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/government-agencies/dhs/uscis/i130filing-html/

Not gonna lie, I'm a little overwhelmed with all of this and struggling to wrap my head around it at the moment lol. So from filing the I-130f form for the CR1 being approved is, on average, 3 months? Then what happens after that? 

10 minutes ago, TM92 said:

DCF, or Direct Consular Filing, is not a visa. It's filing the I-130 petition directly with the USCIS London office, thus avoiding the way slower US-based USCIS offices everyone else has to go through. DCF is not an option for K-1. DCF is the best option for CR-1.

If your goal is a US marriage, a K-1 is not needed if you qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. You visit the US with VWP, then you marry. Then you leave the US and wait for the CR-1 visa:

 

Thanks for clearing that up. At this point, I think we may have left it too late to apply for the CR1, like I said before we're getting married in September, the USCIS says that I should start the process at least 10 months before wanting to travel, but we're planning on heading to The U.S in June/July. Obviously nothing is set in stone, and I'm already preparing to not be able to work for several months upon arrival in the U.S, 7-8 months for the K1 sounds more doable than 7-8 months for the CR1? 

Again, thank you so much for your help and information. 

1 minute ago, TM92 said:

With DCF the CR-1 can very likely be done before October. DCF info: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/united-kingdom-uscis-london-field-office "Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative" tab

We're getting married in September. I've not really given the DCF any time or though as I did a bit of reading into it a little while ago and thought that my partners residency wasn't valid to obtain that kind of visa. Could you elaborate what kind of Visa it is and how and why I should be able to obtain one?

Thanks in advance. 

Just now, JFH said:

Are you both still living in the U.K.? If so you are absolutely crazy to be doing the K-1. Get married and file a spouse visa through DCF. Much faster, much cheaper and huge benefits such as being a green card holder immediately upon arrival. 

 

I can’t see any advantage to the K-1 for U.K. folks these days (it used to be a lot faster than a spousal visa but even that’s not the case anymore) but even less so when the couple lives together. Why subject yourself to several months having no real status, not being able to work or travel out of the country, in some states not even being able to drive, when you have the easiest path of all?

 Yes we're both still living in The U.K, however, I think our problem lies with the fact that my fiancé is in The U.K on a student visa, so even though she is a resident now, its temporary as it expires next October. If I'm wrong, please tell me! lol 

Good afternoon all, just a quick question. My fiancé and I are ready to begin our K1 Application process, we have all of the supporting evidence we need to attach to the application form. However, I've downloaded multiple application forms and each of them say that the date of expiry is 08/31/2018, is this an issue? What else can I try to get a recent date? 

Thanks in advance for your help!
Stewart

Thank you both so much! 

Good evening, firstly I just wanted to say that this forum is incredibly helpful, thank you to all of you for your help and advice for everybody that has asked for it. 

Just wanted to hear some advice and opinions on my partner and I's current situation: Should everything go according to plan,  we will be heading to Michigan in June. We're doing our research and speaking to other mutual friends we know that have gone through / still going through the process and I think that our situation is unique. I say this because my fiancé (a U.S citizen) and I currently live together in the U.K, she is a student in her final year of University (we've been together for 5 and a half years and living together for 3). Obviously this means that she has no proof of income in the U.S and therefore would really struggle to provide good evidence of being able to financially support me upon entering the U.S. 

I read somewhere that its easier to have a family member of my fiancé be the affidavit once applying for the work permit and green card. However, can we still rely on a family member to be an affidavit for the K1 Visa process? How reliant must my fiancé's finances be for the K1? 

I also get the impression that we've made the situation harder for ourselves by both being in the U.K currently, so if anybody has any advice on the best way to approach the application with us both being in the U.K then that would be appreciated! 

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for any response!