i-130, i-129f

[appleegg 0]

so i filed i-130. after approval, i then followed guide and filed i-129f.

so do i have 2 cases in the works? am i now waiting for both?

do i keep em both and then take whatever comes first?

and how does this affect our application for ir-1 or cr-1?

we have now been married 2 years.

thankyou.

[gixbr 0]

Wait, first, what's the deal with your timeline?

K1 in 2006?

Second, yes, you now have to processes going on. But I'm not sure if you can apply for K3 when you are married more than two years, I think you can.

But the I-130 is for the CR1/IR1 and the I-129F for the K3. These days they are approving both in the same day, like happened to mine.

Check out my timeline.

Since CR1 is a better visa I'm gonna cancel my K3 interview and wait for the CR1 interview only.

Hope it helps

Edited March 20, 2009 by gixbr

[Hoot 0]

Hi:

If you read the information in the Guides section you will get a very clear understanding of how everything works. First - the I-130 is the IR1/CR1 and the I-129F is the K3/K4.

The I-130 can be filed alone - that was how things used to be - but since the I-130 takes a little longer a shortcut of the process was created to try to accomodate married people with a faster track that matched the fiance visa (K-1) so congress created the K-3. Conversly, the K-3 cannot be filed without first filing the I-130.

Here is the main difference. Usually both petitions are approved about at the same time. Once the petitions are approved they are forwarded to the National Visa Center. This is where the difference begins. The K-3 visa will typically go through the NVC in a few weeks and be at the embassy shortly thereafter. However, the IR1/CR1 (or I-130) has 3 or 4 steps which take up to 2 months to complete (however if you look in the WIKI there are shortcutsto cut this to 3 or 4 weeks).

The process is similar at the embassy for both petitions.

The biggest difference occurs once your spouse gets to the USA. The IR1/CR1 is an immigrant visa. Upon entering the USA your spouse will be mailed a greencard and can immediately get a social security number, work, and get a drivers license.

But - if your spouse enters the USA on a K-3 Visa - she cannot work, does not get a green card, and cannot get a licence until you file an adjustment of status (work requires filing another document and cn happen quicker). The adjustment of status takes some time - around 3 months and costs about $ 1,000.

Like you - I filed the I-130 and the I-129F. But - based on advice of many in these forums - I will use the I-130 and abandon the K-3. Im guessing it adds 1 month to our immigration but is alot easier once my wife is here. I wish you well in your journey.

Hoot

[appleegg 0]

Wait, first, what's the deal with your timeline?

K1 in 2006?

Second, yes, you now have to processes going on. But I'm not sure if you can apply for K3 when you are married more than two years, I think you can.

But the I-130 is for the CR1/IR1 and the I-129F for the K3. These days they are approving both in the same day, like happened to mine.

Check out my timeline.

Since CR1 is a better visa I'm gonna cancel my K3 interview and wait for the CR1 interview only.

Hope it helps

sorry i did not point out....my wife arrived on k-1, we married, then a family emergency had her return home before change of status.

so we started all over again via k-3.

sorry, have yet to update my "current" timeline.

thank you for your reply.