Bobio

31 minutes ago, Bobio said:

Mentioned this in another thread but it was locked by a heavy handed mod. Anyone ever attempt this route for their illegal spouse? Thanks

By the way, I am neither "condoning" or "instructing" illegal immigration activity. I'm asking if anyone has attempted this form, once the illegal activity, i.e. the spouse already being in the states, has taken place.  Thanks

Mentioned this in another thread but it was locked by a heavy handed mod. Anyone ever attempt this route for their illegal spouse? Thanks

Just now, aaron2020 said:

If you think it's better to cross illegally, then try it.  See what happens.  You're not going to like it.

Tell me more. Sister is in Denver, 2 brothers in Boston. None married to a legal American. I'm an American citizen by birth. 

Lemme ask this: has an I-601 been attempted after illegal entry, been thinking about that route. 

7 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

OP, you're justifiably frustrated, as we all are or were, but avoid violating Federal law or the site's Terms of Service.  Political leaders and policies change.

 

If the process appears overwhelming and you're uncertain about navigating it on a do-it-yourself basis, consider assistance.  The following VJ Partner has a stellar reputation of helping with I-130 packages that pass USCIS's muster and look good in the eyes of the consulates:

I have no connection with the above organization.  I recommend that you contact them promptly.

you're avoiding the thread topic. Let's have a real, raw (G or PG rated) conversation about the topic; why do things the "legal" way that takes 2 years when there's an alternative that is actively encouraged by the current administration that takes roughly a month and incurs minimal if any risk at all?

Just now, TBoneTX said:

For some perspective:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/410945-k-1-journey-completed/

 

For more perspective:  pay a Coyote and she could end up dead or wishing that she were.

Obviously. But if it's someone that is well known and and has been aiding family members for years, not at all. 

6 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Really? 
 

What’s the reason you’re dragging your feet filing for her petition and adding time until she can join you as an immigrant? It’s online. 

Tell the truth; if B&H was directly below Arizona, would you wait 2 years or have your future/current spouse bring you here ASAP? 

3 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Really? 
 

What’s the reason you’re dragging your feet filing for her petition and adding time until she can join you as an immigrant? It’s online. 

I already said the reason in my op; disgust with the hypocrisy of our current regime. Only an idiot would wait two years to be with their own spouse if there's an alternative that is actively encouraged by our current government and takes roughly a month with minimal risk.  My wife is my life, what would you do to be with your everything? 

1 minute ago, TBoneTX said:

This was my exact feeling in 2008, when the [censored] Guayaquil consulate wouldn't give Mrs.-T-B.-to-be her visa.  I told her (verbatim), "If you were an illegal Mexican, you'd be here already and be on top of the world."  She didn't disagree.

 

However, as the (nothing but) painful legal immigration process unwound, things worked out, and she became a U.S. citizen.

 

What goes around comes around, or it will come around.

Governmental leaders, and their policies, change.

Avoid endangering your wife's status and possibly getting into trouble yourself.

--------

[Moderator hat on]

Thread is moved from the CR-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion.

 

How long did it take? Spoke with an attorney two weeks ago and she told me 2 years... to be with my own wife. Pay a Coyote and she's here in a month. Since this country obviously has no respect for it's own immigration laws, what's the point of doing it the "legal" way, when there's no ramifications for doing it the other way? At this point, we're fools for following the letter of the law when again, the democrat party is literally encouraging illegal immigration. She won't get deported, we all know that. 

I married my best friend in November in Guatemala. She is my everything, my soulmate, my partner for life. She cries every night that I'm here and she's there, despite the fact that I am able to visit every other month for 3 or 4 days (we spent our 1st Christmas together as husband and wife and it was amazing, but saying goodbye SUCKED!) We haven't filed anything yet though because it's sooo overwhelming and seeing hundreds of thousands of illegals crossing the border every month, we're wondering what's the point of doing things the "legal" way if there's literally no penalty for just crossing over? The democrats have made a mockery of our immigration system so why would anyone wait 2 years to be with your significant other if you can shell out $$$ to have your spouse by your side every day within a month? Honest question. I'm usually the most happy go lucky upbeat guy, but this is heartbreaking. Let's have an honest conversation. Thanks

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

There is a regional forum for Mexico, Latin America and South America.  Here is a Colombia specific thread that you may be interested in.

 

 

Thanks so much. 

2 hours ago, Timona said:

 

 You can do a second big wedding in the US. However, your first wedding is what USCIS will go with.

I would just do a small inexpensive Colombian wedding - Civil/ court etc. Just to get married. 

Thank you

Everyone has been so helpful so far, what an awesome community, thanks so much! I spoke with her last night and we thought that we settled on K1 because my daughters wanted to be in the wedding here, but now after reading some more posts, I may be inclined to go spousal. So confused. 😣

51 minutes ago, Timona said:

I would just get married and do CR-1.

Even though you stated she is okay with not working immediately, I would still go CR-1.

 

@Lucky Cat already gave you a good breakdown. Basically, with COVID times, if you do a K-1, it will take you close to 3 years from filing to GC  and you have to pay extra to get the GC after she arrives. CR-1 will be half that time and no extra pay. The only difference in CR-1/K-1 visa (not GC) issuance is like 3 months. That being said, I would go CR-1. You are going to Colombia next month. You may as well get married. 

 

Basically, let us say you are filing now for either process.

1. For K-1, it may be until end year to just get the visa issued (Dec 2021). She comes over to US. You marry, file AOS ($$ to pay again). With COVID timeframes, you are looking at 2 years before your case lands on someone's desk for interview or waived interview (So mid 2023 to Jan 2024).
2. For CR-1, it may be anywhere from Dec 2021 to mid 2022 for her to receive both the visa and GC. No extra cost. 

 

Oooo and btw, if you go CR-1, she lands and get a GC asap. Having GC makes her eligible for loans/ grants for the schools she wants to go to. K-1 will not grant this till 2024 when she gets GC.

Excellent info and great summary! Thanks so much!

3 hours ago, Juliet57 said:

Reach out to people waiting for visas in Bogotá consulate, they should be well aware of the time it took to process either visa in pre covid times, and they usually actively communicate with other people in the same boat.

 

The K1 is not being scheduled in my Consulate, so even if it's supposed to take a shorter time, if the visa category is not being scheduled then it might take longer, that's why it's important to check with people who went to Bogota Consulate or are waiting for interview in Bogota.

 

There might be facebook groups, and you can also check the Regional group here on VJ.

How do I do that? I'm new to all of this and so overwhelmed. Thanks so much

20 hours ago, alexatexas said:

Yes be ready to get sent to secondary. It’s not guaranteed but we have been harassed by them on a trip before. They will demean you and otherwise treat you like you are committing a crime. Like I said it’s not guaranteed to happen but I has and unfortunately a lot of them are not nice people.

What is "secondary"? I am so new to all of this stuff. 

1 minute ago, aaron2020 said:

For the K-1, would her children be coming with her?  Or will you want them to come later?

With her. All 4 would come at the same time. 

3 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

I would go the spousal visa route.  Lots of VJ veterans would do the spousal visa.  No one has regrets about doing the spousal visa.  Lots of people have regrets doing the fiancee visa.

Thank you

1 minute ago, aaron2020 said:

Right now, visitor visas are not being processed.  If she doesn't have one right now, then forget it.  You will have to visit her.  Concentrate on the big picture.

Will her kids be immigrating with her?

Yes, her children are young, 8, 4 and 3 and her ex husband is a dead beat loser. He's fine with them all moving here. 

2 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Under US laws, all visitors are presumed to want to illegally immigrate.  It's their burden to show that they intend to return home after visiting.

 

If a person has an existing visitor visa, then visiting the US is easy. 

If a person needs a visitor visa, then it's much harder to show non-immigrant intent when there's a US citizen seeking to bring them to the US to live.  
 

Right, that's what I was saying to Lucky Cat. She does have her kids and mom in Colombia, and she's the sole bread winner, so that is a compelling reason to go back there until her visa is approved. We just don't know what to do now. 

1 minute ago, aaron2020 said:

The K-1 is faster by a few months but it's a longer and more expensive road to a green card.  The BIG DOWNSIDE is not be able to work legally or travel internationally without abandoning the green card process for about 6-8 months while waiting for the EAD and AP.  If working is important and she doesn't want to be idle for 6-8 months, then the spousal visa route is better.  Quicker should only be one of the considerations since there are significant drawbacks to the fiancee visa.

 

 

Hey Aaron, thanks so much for the response.  We've discussed all of that and she's ok with staying in the states for a while and not working (she'll just go to the local CC and take ESL classes). I have heard that K1 is typically faster but since the embassy in Colombia is closed, that's not the case now, that's why we're so confused on what to do. If they now take the same amount of time for her to get here, maybe we should just get married in Colombia next month. Thanks, Bobby

Just now, Lucky Cat said:

It is true that ALL visitors are assumed to have intent to stay illegally in the US.  However, many spouses visit during the process.  See the following thread

 

 

I did start to read that thread a few days ago. Thank you. 

So, is there a firm answer on which is quicker for us to be together full time as husband and wife, fiancé or spouse visa? Or does it depend on certain things?

1 minute ago, Lucky Cat said:

Many spouses visit the US during the visa process.  All entries are subject to the discretion of CBP at the border.

This is news to me. I was told that it is virtually impossible for them to come here to visit because it's assumed that they're just going to stay so they're guilty until proven innocent. 

Thank you both so much for your answers. That is so kind of both of you to take time out of your busy day to help me. It is just very overwhelming and now with Covid, the world is upside down. So here is just a little background information; I’m a 48-year-old divorced man and she is a 31-year-old divorced woman. We have been together for a year, are completely in love and want to get married. We both have children. We want to be together as soon as possible to start our life together. One question, if we do the spouse visa, she cannot come to see me until she gets here legally, correct? But I can visit her as often as I am able to with my work? We just want to start our lives together. Thank you again.

I will be brief because I know no one wants to read and hear a long story. I am American, my girlfriend/fiancé is in Colombia. Because of the embassy being closed in Bogotá we don’t know what we should do, should we apply for the K-1 visa, or the spousal visa? And I don’t even know the official names of these actual visas. I was told by an American man who married a Colombian woman that typically the K-1 visa only takes nine months for the foreigner to come to America, but that is no longer the case due to Covid and the embassy being closed and that it now takes up to a year, if not longer. So if it takes the same amount of time as the spouse visa now takes, should we just get married in Colombia? I’m going there next month again and don’t know what to do. Please help. Thank you