The immigration process

I've had a few people ask me what the process is Mike and I are going through regarding his immigration to the U.S.

There's two ways to bring a spouse to the U.S. The first is called a K3 visa, and it was originally developed when getting a green card took a couple of years. What this visa allows you to do is to have the foreign spouse to the U.S., then file for change of status to permanent resident. This lets the couple be together while the green card process is going on and costs about $1,700 in the end. Also, Mike would have to return to Liverpool for his adjustment of status interview, which wouldn't make either of us happy.

The second is called IR-1/CR-1 and is permanent resident status. In the years since the K3 visa was developed, the process of getting a green card was streamlined to the point that it takes only a month longer to get the green card. This means Mike can get that coveted job at McDonalds as soon as he gets off the plane. He can travel freely. Total cost here is about $945.

Mike and I have decided that Mike will not become a U.S. citizen. We have decided our children will be dual citizens. The cats will retain their U.S. citizenship.

OK, so these are the basics. Now, here's the details.

( Timelines and other stuff under the cut. )