Confused with all options!

[babymoomin]

Hi All,

After spending what feels like forever and a day researching I feel more confused than ever!

I simply just want to know what is the best option to get permanent residence in the US.
He is a US citizen and I am a UK citizen and we plan on getting married as soon as we can.

I want to move to the USA as soon as possible but don't know where to start as every time I read up on immigration to the USA I get more confused

Reading all these different options is giving me a headache!

Please help someone, anyone....Starting point!?!

Thanks,
BabyMoomin

[barbarajlw]

Hi All,

After spending what feels like forever and a day researching I feel more confused than ever!

I simply just want to know what is the best option to get permanent residence in the US.
He is a US citizen and I am a UK citizen and we plan on getting married as soon as we can.

I want to move to the USA as soon as possible but don't know where to start as every time I read up on immigration to the USA I get more confused

Reading all these different options is giving me a headache!

Please help someone, anyone....Starting point!?!

Thanks,
BabyMoomin

From all that I have read and also on another site the same question was asked and most of us suggested a K1 visa, it is a good process and seems quicker than others I have just been through it and am on my way to USA Saturday. You need your fiance to file a 129F petition which is to petition to get you there. On USCIS is all the information if you click on forms go to 129f and download instructions and form. You have to wwait for that to be approved at whatever office is applicable to where he lives but all 129f's go to Dallas now to begin with. Can take 3-6 months for final approval then on to NVC national visa centre and then is forwarded on to your US embassy in UK. You can look on your embassy site and get the information at your end as that is what I did here in Australia. It is your best option and really the wait is so worth it. Good luck Ours took 3 months for approval from USCIS and then a further 2 months NVC then Sydney to interview.

[mxc]

Since you are from UK, you might want to consider K3.
You can enter US any time you want -- get married, file for K3.
Usually takes 6 months. In the mean time, you can stay in
either US or UK.

If you go the K1 route, then you cannot get married till you get your K1 visa.

[nichole]

Since you are from UK, you might want to consider K3.
You can enter US any time you want -- get married, file for K3.
Usually takes 6 months. In the mean time, you can stay in
either US or UK.

If you go the K1 route, then you cannot get married till you get your K1 visa.

Above is some misleading information.

K3s are all but dead. Been phasing out since Feb. Most married get the CR1 visa now. You don't just move to the US while your petition and later visa application are in process. You can visit, like you may have done before, but that would be no more than 90 days on the visa waiver program. And they don't have to allow you to enter. It's always up to the CBP officer on duty when you go through the immigration line.

You will need to be in the UK to gather documents, see you NHS service to get immunization records (and get your shots free maybe), attend a medical exam in London and attend an interview.

So which to choose? CR1 or K1? Do you want a wedding in the UK (CR1) or the US (K1) ? The CR1s have caught up and don't take nearly as long as they used to years ago. That's why married people did the K3, because the CR1 could take years to process. Now they process just about as fast as a K1 so USCIS is eliminating the K3.

Difference:
Your green card, social security, work authorization are processed prior to getting the CR1 visa. You arrive in the US and get all those things within a few weeks. You are free to travel internationally at any time. You can begin working in the US immediately.

On a K1, you enter, marry within 90 days (not much time to plan a fancy wedding), see a Civil Surgeon($) about your immunizations, file for Adjustment of Status aka green card ($1010), file for work authorization, and file for a travel document if you should have a need to travel internationally prior to receiving the green card. A K1 can not leave the US and expect to get back in unless they have applied for and received the AP travel document. K1 is a one time use visa. You do not work until you get authorization.

CR1 is a little cheaper than the K1.

K1 is a little faster (month or two) than the CR1. All times can vary along the way as you can hit a delay anywhere along the route...initial petition to USCIS, the National Visa Center, the embassy in London, the medical exam at Knightsbridge, the ACPO police certificate. Everything is dependent on you getting the right stuff to the right place, and them getting it handled in a timely manner. On a perfect case in a perfect world, the reason the CR1 takes slightly longer is because the whole green card process is handled at the NVC prior to your London interview. On a K1, nothing happens at NVC except the case goes there for a few days to be sent on to London. On K1 you wait in the US (4 months-ish) to get your green card. And remember that time doesn't start until you actually marry and apply for Adjustment of Status. It's alot to do and most don't do all that immediately after arriving because it's more overwhelming than you imagine.

[babymoomin]

Thank You All.... and....

Hi All, Thank you for your help... It all seems much clearer now.

I thought about doing the K1 route as it seemed quicker, however the CR1 doesn't sound too bad after reading nichole's advice. Thank You!

My partner travels out of the USA often for work sometimes up to 6months at a time (this is how we met as he was in England), so just assumed it would be easier. Either way I don't think we will have a huge wedding due to distance and getting families together. We have sort of agreed to have a small ceremony in one country and then renew vows or have a blessing in the other.

As my partner is jetting off again in October, I will consider the CR1 (I can't go anywhere till he is back anyhow..lol)

This whole immigration thing is a headache.. The things we do for true love.. lol

barbarajlw - I'm happy everything worked out for you and thank you for your advice! x