which is faster K1 or K3 visa?

[Omar G. 4]

which is faster to get the K1 or K3 visa? well actually the K1/K2 visa or the K/3 K/4 visa. the visa is for my ´fiance´and her daughter. i dont know which is better to do? we want for them BOTH to enter the US TOGETHER which is the best route and how long done it take?

originally we were thinking DCF but i cant afford it living here in Colombia and i need to go back to the US inorder to organize for the big move.....

Which is the best option for me? i am right now living with her in Cali, Colombia but i am planning on moving back to the US soon....

[MargotDarko 0]

which is faster to get the K1 or K3 visa? well actually the K1/K2 visa or the K/3 K/4 visa. the visa is for my ´fiance´and her daughter. i dont know which is better to do? we want for them BOTH to enter the US TOGETHER which is the best route and how long done it take?

originally we were thinking DCF but i cant afford it living here in Colombia and i need to go back to the US inorder to organize for the big move.....

Which is the best option for me? i am right now living with her in Cali, Colombia but i am planning on moving back to the US soon....

How long have you been resident in Colombia? If it's been more than six months, you should be able to get married, file the I-130 there, and then go home to the states. You don't have to stay in Coloumbia the whole time it is being processed. That would result in immigrant visas for them, which are much better, and DCF takes less time than K1 or K3.

If you have not been living in there for six months or more, you are better off timewise with the K1/K2. It would mean first that you could file right away instead of getting married first and it tends to go a couple months faster or even more than the K3/K4.

EDIT - Just looked a post of yours from Oct 16. The fastest and best thing would be to get married ASAP, and go file the I-130s in Colombia in person (one for each of them). You don't have to stay in Colombia during the process.

Edited January 8, 2008 by MargotDarko

[Omar G. 4]

i have been a resident of Colombia for the last year and 7 months. so getting married and filing the I-130 petition in person is what i need to do? but is this for a K3 visa then or for a DCF (I/CR visa)? i know i cant stay here in Colombia because i need to move back to the US and get a job inorder to have money to afford this new family in the states because i can barely afford them here in Colombia.....

by filing the I-130 petition, i would need to file 2 then right? one for my ´wife´and one for her daughter?

and by filing in person it means the i must go direct the embassy of the US which is in Bogota D.C. or to the direct consular which is in Panama? i dont have much money, i heard that i need a check to pay for the filing of the i-129 (for the K1 visa) in order for me to get that i have to go back to the states because i dont have checks here. or if i have to travel to Panama which is the closest direct consular in my region for the I-130 petition is out of the question because i dont have the money to travel there.....

i am going to use my parents address in regards to all the paperwork. our address here in Colombia i dont think any mail service will deliver anything because we live in a poor bad neighborhood where addresses are barely used....

what should i do?

[payxibka 10,047]

You cannot file a petition for K-3 directly with the consulate...

[MargotDarko 0]

i have been a resident of Colombia for the last year and 7 months. so getting married and filing the I-130 petition in person is what i need to do? but is this for a K3 visa then or for a DCF (I/CR visa)? i know i cant stay here in Colombia because i need to move back to the US and get a job inorder to have money to afford this new family in the states because i can barely afford them here in Colombia.....

by filing the I-130 petition, i would need to file 2 then right? one for my ´wife´and one for her daughter?

and by filing in person it means the i must go direct the embassy of the US which is in Bogota D.C. or to the direct consular which is in Panama? i dont have much money, i heard that i need a check to pay for the filing of the i-129 (for the K1 visa) in order for me to get that i have to go back to the states because i dont have checks here. or if i have to travel to Panama which is the closest direct consular in my region for the I-130 petition is out of the question because i dont have the money to travel there.....

i am going to use my parents address in regards to all the paperwork. our address here in Colombia i dont think any mail service will deliver anything because we live in a poor bad neighborhood where addresses are barely used....

what should i do?

Filing by direct consular filing will result in immigrant visas (CR1 for your wife, but I do not know the name of the one for her child). Yes, you would need one I-130 for each of them. Having to use your parents' address complicates things as it would make it look like you did not live in Colombia, which you would need to do in order to file directly. However, as you can file in person, you can explain it to them at the time of filing and they will tell you what to do. I am not sure which place you have to go to. I think it says in a letter you received which you posted in a previous post.

EDIT - Yes, you file in Bogata according to the e-mail you received from them inviting you to make an appt to file the petitions.

Edited January 8, 2008 by MargotDarko

[payxibka 10,047]

Filing by direct consular filing will result in immigrant visas (CR1 for your wife, but I do not know the name of the one for her child).

CR2

[MargotDarko 0]

Filing by direct consular filing will result in immigrant visas (CR1 for your wife, but I do not know the name of the one for her child).

CR2

That was my guess, but I know what can happen when guessing around here!

[Mononoke28 135]

You're looking at a very similar timelines, whether you file DCF, K1 or K3. They're getting processed by the US Embassy in Bogotá at around the same amount of time.

I recommend you choose the best option for when they get here because if you file for a K3 & K4, you will have to pay $1,010USD per person for AOS and wait at least 6 months to have them approved. But if they enter the US with a CR1 and CR2 visas, there is nothing more to pay when they get here and they'll get their green cards and SS cards in the mail.

Diana

[payxibka 10,047]

I recommend you choose the best option for when they get here because if you file for a K3 & K4, you will have to pay $1,010USD per person for AOS and wait at least 6 months to have them approved.

Your point is still valid but one additional clarification... it is only $600 to adjust status if they are under the age of 14

[MargotDarko 0]

You're looking at a very similar timelines, whether you file DCF, K1 or K3. They're getting processed by the US Embassy in Bogotá at around the same amount of time.

I recommend you choose the best option for when they get here because if you file for a K3 & K4, you will have to pay $1,010USD per person for AOS and wait at least 6 months to have them approved. But if they enter the US with a CR1 and CR2 visas, there is nothing more to pay when they get here and they'll get their green cards and SS cards in the mail.

Diana

Are you sure it's similar timelines? For DCF to take as long as the others, it would mean that Bogota was taking at least six months or more just to approve the petition, and that seems highly unlikely when you can file in person. Please do correct me if you have heard of people filing directly and having to wait six months or more for petition approval.

[Omar G. 4]

im confused now....many options to take and now dont know which is the best......

the main objective is for my ´fiance´ and her daughter to get to the US but TOGETHER, and as soon as possible. but 2 things....

1. we arent married yet, and were thinking about waiting to marry in the US. and

2. im probably going to leave Colombia in march inorder to start working and get a place organized for us to live

if i file direct before i leave, file I-130, then i have to file 2 right, one for each?

and there is no problem if i file then leave Colombia and go to the states?

i know that for DCF you have to live and be a resident but need to show US income taxes right?

yes i have paid my taxesfrom up til that i was working there which was 2006, so this year i didnt make any income so im not going to pay any income taxes.

i can use my parents address because i when i go back i will reside there until i get my apt.

that will cause confusion right? living in one place and using a different adress?

ALSO, (another important factor)

MONEY....i know this is expensive any route, but using K-3/K-4 i will have to pay 1,010 USDfor each just to enter the US? and another 600 each for the AOS to change there status? on top of all the the paperwork filing charges?

doing the other ways isnt overally cheaper?

i assume by doing an I-130 CR1/CR2 visa for them i will probably have to travel back multiple times right? i cant have that, and will ALL the corresponding responces come to my address in the US?

i know i have many question but i guess thats normal right, everyone says that i MUST take the best route for me with regards to my situation, but i need the opinions of yours to help me because im on my own here.....

thanks to everyone for the help

[payxibka 10,047]

im confused now....many options to take and now dont know which is the best......

MONEY....i know this is expensive any route, but using K-3/K-4 i will have to pay 1,010 USDfor each just to enter the US? and another 600 each for the AOS to change there status? on top of all the the paperwork filing charges?

K3/K4

I-130 & I-129F petition is now $355 combined (or something like that)

Visa application fee is soon to be $131 each

Adjustment of Status is $1010 for over 14 ($600 for under 14 if filed concurrently) or $930 if you do not.

This does not take into consideration any document acquisition, translation and/or medical fees.

Fees for K-1/2 are very similiar

[MargotDarko 0]

im confused now....many options to take and now dont know which is the best......

the main objective is for my ´fiance´ and her daughter to get to the US but TOGETHER, and as soon as possible. but 2 things....

1. we arent married yet, and were thinking about waiting to marry in the US. and

2. im probably going to leave Colombia in march inorder to start working and get a place organized for us to live

if i file direct before i leave, file I-130, then i have to file 2 right, one for each?

and there is no problem if i file then leave Colombia and go to the states?

i know that for DCF you have to live and be a resident but need to show US income taxes right?

yes i have paid my taxesfrom up til that i was working there which was 2006, so this year i didnt make any income so im not going to pay any income taxes.

i can use my parents address because i when i go back i will reside there until i get my apt.

that will cause confusion right? living in one place and using a different adress?

ALSO, (another important factor)

MONEY....i know this is expensive any route, but using K-3/K-4 i will have to pay 1,010 USDfor each just to enter the US? and another 600 each for the AOS to change there status? on top of all the the paperwork filing charges?

doing the other ways isnt overally cheaper?

i assume by doing an I-130 CR1/CR2 visa for them i will probably have to travel back multiple times right? i cant have that, and will ALL the corresponding responces come to my address in the US?

i know i have many question but i guess thats normal right, everyone says that i MUST take the best route for me with regards to my situation, but i need the opinions of yours to help me because im on my own here.....

thanks to everyone for the help

If you want to marry in the US, your best route is to get K1/K2. That would not be as fast as DCF and would cost more money in the long run. Both the K1/K2 and K3/K4 routes cost roughly the same up front I believe - it's $355 to get the K3/K4 process started, but I am not sure about the K1/K2 process. The non-immigrant visas themselves are $100 each. Then after entering, it is $1,010 for your wife to adjust status and $600 for her child to adjust status and receive green cards. Does that make sense?

Or, you can try the DCF path by marrying quickly in Colombia and then filing there. Yes, you can file directly in person and then leave for the US before the process is finished. You should not have to travel back and forth. Once the petition is approved, all the mailing is actually to do with your wife and her child and their visa applications. Can she truly not receive mail? Do you have an alternative address in Colombia where someone else could receive mail for her?

That is good that you filed a tax return for 2006. For 2007, you would just say that you did not have to file as you did make income.

[Sky2k 0]

K1 is the fastest of all. K3 is about two months behind K1, but now USCIS could also cancels a person's K3 if his/her I-130 gets approved earlier than K3. So, I would recommend K1 for anyone who is debating between K1 & K3.

which is faster to get the K1 or K3 visa? well actually the K1/K2 visa or the K/3 K/4 visa. the visa is for my ´fiance´and her daughter. i dont know which is better to do? we want for them BOTH to enter the US TOGETHER which is the best route and how long done it take?

originally we were thinking DCF but i cant afford it living here in Colombia and i need to go back to the US inorder to organize for the big move.....

Which is the best option for me? i am right now living with her in Cali, Colombia but i am planning on moving back to the US soon....

[MargotDarko 0]

K1 is the fastest of all. K3 is about two months behind K1, but now USCIS could also cancels a person's K3 if his/her I-130 gets approved earlier than K3. So, I would recommend K1 for anyone who is debating between K1 & K3.

which is faster to get the K1 or K3 visa? well actually the K1/K2 visa or the K/3 K/4 visa. the visa is for my ´fiance´and her daughter. i dont know which is better to do? we want for them BOTH to enter the US TOGETHER which is the best route and how long done it take?

originally we were thinking DCF but i cant afford it living here in Colombia and i need to go back to the US inorder to organize for the big move.....

Which is the best option for me? i am right now living with her in Cali, Colombia but i am planning on moving back to the US soon....

K1 is not faster than DCF in most countries though. But yes, for time's sake, a K1 is faster than K3.