As always, choices should be considered on a case by case basis. We had do go the K1 route because my fiancé couldn’t not get a B1/B2 to the US due to the Muslim ban and same sex marriage is illegal in his home country. We waited two years with me traveling back and forth every two or three months for two weeks to visit. I am able to work remotely. So we went K1. We still had to file Writ of Mandamus to get the answer. We were approved. Two weeks later he and our son were here and we married two weeks after that in January 2021. The AOS was filed and our appointment is scheduled for the end of May 2022.
Two things to note. The medical exam for the K1 is not valid past it’s expiry date. It had to be redone. We had both already had the two COVID shots so we’re were fine there. The exam cost $550 each for him and our son. We did not have the luxury of shopping around because the approved civil surgeons were either booked or would not do the exam for a child in the time frame between notice and interview. .
in October 2021 the rule changed and children over the age of five must now be fully vaccinated against COVID. We have a lawyer handling our application and they have been very thorough but the dropped the ball here in not telling us. There is less than 21 days between the exam/first shot and the interview so we will get an RFE for the medical for our son’s vaccinations. .
In short, K1 was the only way for us to go, the short warning about the interview made getting the medical difficult and the COVID vaccine requirement was a surprise. Fortunately we have been carefully compiling all the required evidence over the past year and are well prepared in that regard.
so get your COVID shots and avoid a time crunch which may result in an unnecessary RFE.
