I'm starting my journey

[thissacredheart 0]

I am starting my journey. Ive gone to the immigration office to get the form that i need to bring my husband to me. I need help. I am so scared about this process and the more I read the more I get confused. Could someone please explain to me what is going to happen. I have the form I-130 and the forms to fill out on myself and one on him. What else should I be doing? Also, what is the difference between CR1, IR1 or K3 spouse visa.

Im so scared and I want to make sure Im doing the right steps the whole way....but I'm worried about taking the first one...

[Cathi 5,695]

there are guides at the top of this page that can answer all of your questions, they are very helpful

[bestofboston 36]

CR1 visa is issued to married couples that are married for less than two years and is good for 2 years.

IR1 visa is issued to married couples married for more than two years and is good for 10 years. Form to be sent for IR1/CR1 visa is I-130.

K3 visa is no longer being issued. Don't waste time and money filing for K3 visa (I-129) because it will always die at the NVC because the IR1/CR1 visa will be processed first and it will cause the K3 visa to just die while at the NVC.

I filed for both hoping the K3 visa would come first but realized later that the NOA2 for I-130 will be received first and sent to NVC. The I-129 is sent in after you reveive your NOA1 for I-130 and it usually gets approved at USCIS shortly after NOA2 for I-130 is approved. Besides it cost less to process a CR1/IR1 visa.

Down side for CR1/IR1 visa is it takes longer to process compared to a K1 visa by approximately 3 months. Don't get confused between K1 and K3 visa. K1 is for couples not yet married.

Plan on IR1/CR1 visa to take around 1 year to receive. See timeline on visa journey for IR1/CR1 visa from NOA1 to interview at embassy for visa for your country and plan on that time frame to be very close assuming you are prompt in getting paperwork done for each phase. USCIS, NVC, and Embassy interview

Edited June 13, 2012 by bestofboston

[Cathi 5,695]

CR1 visa is issued to married couples that are married for less than two years and is good for 2 years.

IR1 visa is issued to married couples married for more than two years and is good for 10 years. Form to be sent for IR1/CR1 visa is I-130.

K3 visa is no longer being issued. Don't waste time and money filing for K3 visa (I-129) because it will always die at the NVC because the IR1/CR1 visa will be processed first and it will cause the K3 visa to just die while at the NVC.

I filed for both hoping the K3 visa would come first but realized later that the NOA2 for I-130 will be received first and sent to NVC. The I-129 is sent in after you reveive your NOA1 for I-130 and it usually gets approved at USCIS shortly after NOA2 for I-130 is approved. Besides it cost less to process a CR1/IR1 visa.

Down side for CR1/IR1 visa is it takes longer to process compared to a K1 visa by approximately 3 months. Don't get confused between K1 and K3 visa. K1 is for couples not yet married.

cr1 only takes 1-2 months longer..the K-1 is a fiance visa..the OP was asking about the spouse visa process

[thissacredheart 0]

CR1 visa is issued to married couples that are married for less than two years and is good for 2 years.

IR1 visa is issued to married couples married for more than two years and is good for 10 years. Form to be sent for IR1/CR1 visa is I-130.

K3 visa is no longer being issued. Don't waste time and money filing for K3 visa (I-129) because it will always die at the NVC because the IR1/CR1 visa will be processed first and it will cause the K3 visa to just die while at the NVC.

I filed for both hoping the K3 visa would come first but realized later that the NOA2 for I-130 will be received first and sent to NVC. The I-129 is sent in after you reveive your NOA1 for I-130 and it usually gets approved at USCIS shortly after NOA2 for I-130 is approved. Besides it cost less to process a CR1/IR1 visa.

Down side for CR1/IR1 visa is it takes longer to process compared to a K1 visa by approximately 3 months. Don't get confused between K1 and K3 visa. K1 is for couples not yet married.

Plan on IR1/CR1 visa to take around 1 year to receive. See timeline on visa journey for IR1/CR1 visa from NOA1 to interview at embassy for visa for your country and plan on that time frame to be very close assuming you are prompt in getting paperwork done for each phase. USCIS, NVC, and Embassy interview

so i should only apply with the I-130 and not worry about the I-129?

[cathy2904 97]

You are in the right place. As Mimolicious said, read the guides at the top of the page. And feel free to ask questions.

The K3 is now pretty much obsolete so forget that. Once your initial I-130 petition is approved, your husband will be applying for a CR1 or IR1 visa, depending on how long you have been married. If you have been married for more than two years when the visa is issued then he will be given an IR1 visa and will receive a 10 year Green Card when he enters the US. If you will have been married for less than two years then he will receive a CR1 visa. He will receive a 2 year 'Conditional' Green Card and will have to file remove those conditions shortly before the second anniversary of his Green Card.

Take your time reading as much as you can on here and start to practice filling out the forms. Fill in as much detail on your profile as you can and complete your timeline as that helps others when they are answering your questions.

so i should only apply with the I-130 and not worry about the I-129?

Correct.

[thissacredheart 0]

You are in the right place. As Mimolicious said, read the guides at the top of the page. And feel free to ask questions.

The K3 is now pretty much obsolete so forget that. Once your initial I-130 petition is approved, your husband will be applying for a CR1 or IR1 visa, depending on how long you have been married. If you have been married for more than two years when the visa is issued then he will be given an IR1 visa and will receive a 10 year Green Card when he enters the US. If you will have been married for less than two years then he will receive a CR1 visa. He will receive a 2 year 'Conditional' Green Card and will have to file remove those conditions shortly before the second anniversary of his Green Card.

Take your time reading as much as you can on here and start to practice filling out the forms. Fill in as much detail on your profile as you can and complete your timeline as that helps others when they are answering your questions.

Correct.

thank you thank you ThAnK YoU!!

[cathy2904 97]

thank you thank you ThAnK YoU!!

You are welcome. Congratulations on your marriage and good luck on your visa journey.

[geoffrey 0]

CR1 visa is issued to married couples that are married for less than two years and is good for 2 years.

IR1 visa is issued to married couples married for more than two years and is good for 10 years. Form to be sent for IR1/CR1 visa is I-130.

K3 visa is no longer being issued. Don't waste time and money filing for K3 visa (I-129) because it will always die at the NVC because the IR1/CR1 visa will be processed first and it will cause the K3 visa to just die while at the NVC.

I filed for both hoping the K3 visa would come first but realized later that the NOA2 for I-130 will be received first and sent to NVC. The I-129 is sent in after you reveive your NOA1 for I-130 and it usually gets approved at USCIS shortly after NOA2 for I-130 is approved. Besides it cost less to process a CR1/IR1 visa.

Down side for CR1/IR1 visa is it takes longer to process compared to a K1 visa by approximately 3 months. Don't get confused between K1 and K3 visa. K1 is for couples not yet married.

Plan on IR1/CR1 visa to take around 1 year to receive. See timeline on visa journey for IR1/CR1 visa from NOA1 to interview at embassy for visa for your country and plan on that time frame to be very close assuming you are prompt in getting paperwork done for each phase. USCIS, NVC, and Embassy interview

What happens when a k3 dies at nvc? DO they offer you the option to file a ir-1? I hear that the same information is needed for an ir-1 as for the k3? do you know?

[cathy2904 97]

What happens when a k3 dies at nvc? DO they offer you the option to file a ir-1? I hear that the same information is needed for an ir-1 as for the k3? do you know?

If you file for a K3 you submit form I-130 and I-129F. I-130 is the same form as the CR1/IR1 visa so if they let the K3 application 'die' you will be routed on to the CR1/IR1 path. No need to file anything new.

Edited June 14, 2012 by cathy2904

[geoffrey 0]

If you file for a K3 you submit form I-130 and I-129F. I-130 is the same form as the CR1/IR1 visa so if they let the K3 application 'die' you will be routed on to the CR1/IR1 path. No need to file anything new.

sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What about another fee?

[cathy2904 97]

sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What about another fee?

I'm not an expert, I'm just basing this on what I have read on here, but I am pretty sure that your original I-130 petition which was submitted as part of the K3 will be what goes forward and the fee for that has already been paid so there will not be another petition fee to pay. Obviously there will be the IV and AOS fees to pay to NVC later.

[geoffrey 0]

I'm not an expert, I'm just basing this on what I have read on here, but I am pretty sure that your original I-130 petition which was submitted as part of the K3 will be what goes forward and the fee for that has already been paid so there will not be another petition fee to pay. Obviously there will be the IV and AOS fees to pay to NVC later.

Great!!!! thanks

[toocool 0]

but on the ir1/cr1 you are not able to travel freely to visit your spouse in the usa during the process as I understand....whereas on the k3 you can.

do i have my information correct?

when i looked at the 3 processes that was the downside of a k3 visa.

please correct me if i am wrong.

i'm in the midst of rerouting my plans....thinking about changing processes....which i am not happy about....but that's another story

[Ryan H 3,810]

but on the ir1/cr1 you are not able to travel freely to visit your spouse in the usa during the process as I understand....whereas on the k3 you can.

do i have my information correct?

No, that is not correct. Visiting the US while the petition is pending (regardless of of the visa type that is being sought) is permissible, however, admission to the US is not guaranteed. You would need to bring evidence of ties to your home country should CBP (Customs and Border Protection) ask to see them.