Each petition process K-1 Fiance or CR-1 Marriage Visa takes 6-8 months on average, start to finish. And roughly 70% of the processing time the petition is deliberated in the USA, and the balance of the time it is deliberated at the overseas consulate handling your case.
If your K-1 Fiance visa petition is currently AT the embassy in UAE, you are probably less (far less) than within 2 months of getting this visa approved.
Or you can obtain a civil marriage, then START COMPLETELY OVER AGAIN, this time filing for a CR-1 marriage visa. Which will probably take another 6 – 8 months from the time you submit a brand new petition.
Your choice is 2 months on your current Fiance Visa path, or start a new Marriage Visa path for an additional 6 – 8 months.
If it was I, I certainly would wait to see what the results of the Fiancee Visa petition are first. If approved, your fiance comes to the USA and you marry.
There always is a chance the Fiance Visa petition may be denied. If that happens then you ‘up the ante” by having your civil marriage then applying for the CR-1 marriage visa. It is good to have this marriage visas option ‘in reserve’ in case it is needed.
He does NOT have to wait 3 months before being able to work. He can apply immediately for Employment Authorization, even the very same day he arrives on the Fiance Visa. Normally Employment Authorization is granted within a few weeks.
