The short answer

• K-1 is a nonimmigrant visa. Your fiancé(e) travels to the US, you must marry within 90 days of entry, and then they apply for a green card (adjustment of status) with USCIS. State Department K-1 page
• CR-1/IR-1 are immigrant visas for spouses. You file Form I-130, the case goes through the National Visa Center (NVC) and the embassy in Manila, and your spouse enters the US as a permanent resident. USCIS: bringing spouses
• CR-1 vs. IR-1: if you have been married less than 2 years when your spouse becomes a permanent resident, the status is conditional (CR-1) and you later apply to remove conditions. USCIS
• You can only use the K-1 if you are not yet married. USCIS says that if you have already married, or plan to marry outside the US, the fiancé(e) visa is not an option. USCIS fiancé(e) page

Side by side

Fees from the USCIS fee schedule Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26 and the State Department's Fees for Visa Services. Last checked Oct 18, 2026. Full breakdown: K-1 and spousal visa cost.

Things couples often weigh

• Where you want the wedding. The K-1 means a US wedding within 90 days; the spousal route means marrying first (in the Philippines or elsewhere).
• Work and travel after arrival. A K-1 entrant who adjusts status needs USCIS permission to work (I-765) or to travel and return (I-131 advance parole) while the I-485 is pending; a CR-1/IR-1 immigrant arrives as a permanent resident. USCIS K-1 adjustment page · Form I-131
• Total cost: the K-1 route adds the I-485 fee, which is larger than the spousal route's NVC and Immigrant Fees. See our cost page.
• Timing: neither route has a guaranteed timeline. We don't quote durations; check the live official tools on our wait-times guide.
• Complications such as prior marriages, prior visa refusals, overstays or criminal history are exactly when to talk to a licensed immigration attorney.

Official sources

• State Dept: K-1 visa
• USCIS: fiancé(e) visas
• USCIS: spouses of US citizens
• USCIS: Form I-130
• USCIS: Form I-129F
• USCIS fee schedule G-1055

FAQ

• Can we use the K-1 if we already married in the Philippines?
  No. USCIS says spouses, or couples planning to marry outside the US, are not eligible for the fiancé(e) visa; use the spousal I-130 route instead.
• Which is cheaper?
  In government fees as of Oct 18, 2026, the spousal route is lower because the K-1 route adds the I-485 fee ($1,440 paper for age 14+). Check the current USCIS fee schedule G-1055 before filing.
• What is the difference between CR-1 and IR-1?
  Both are spousal immigrant visas. If the marriage is less than 2 years old when the spouse becomes a permanent resident, residence is conditional (CR-1).