Would it be wise to send I-130 and I-129F together???

[jeca 0]

Would it be wise to send I-130 and I-129F to the Chicago lock box together?Should we wait for NOA1 and then send I-129F or we can send it at the same time?I am confused about where to send I-129F and when to send it. Please help me, I dont want to wait for NOA1!!!

[YuAndDan 153]

It would be wise to compare timelines for CR-1 and K-3 visas.

CR-1 tends to take a little longer for most consulates, CR-1 has the big benefit of getting GREEN-Card upon entry, this saves you from having to file AOS ($1010) and waiting 90 days or more for EAD in order to take a job.

CR-1 is filing the I-130 and NOT filing the I-129F.

Many have been reporting USCIS approving the I-130 before the I-129F/

If you do decide that you absolutely want to file the K-3, you can file both together to the Chicago PO box.

[jeca 0]

Thank you very much for your reply!Im in a hurry to go to the USA and be with my husband, we dont care about the money and I dont need to get a job right away so I would go for K3 because it is faster.So, we wouldn be doing anything wrong if we sent the 2 forms at the same time to the Chicago lockbox?Should they be mailed in the same envelope or separately?

[YuAndDan 153]

Thank you very much for your reply!Im in a hurry to go to the USA and be with my husband, we dont care about the money and I dont need to get a job right away so I would go for K3 because it is faster.So, we wouldn be doing anything wrong if we sent the 2 forms at the same time to the Chicago lockbox?Should they be mailed in the same envelope or separately?

Nothing wrong filing then together, they are filed in same envelope to keep them linked.

[pushbrk 13,079]

Thank you very much for your reply!Im in a hurry to go to the USA and be with my husband, we dont care about the money and I dont need to get a job right away so I would go for K3 because it is faster.So, we wouldn be doing anything wrong if we sent the 2 forms at the same time to the Chicago lockbox?Should they be mailed in the same envelope or separately?

Nothing wrong filing then together, they are filed in same envelope to keep them linked.

This is my recommendation as well. However it is critical that you treat the two petitions as separate entities. They don't cross polenate. I would use three cover letters; one for each petition and one as an overall cover explaining that you are filing the petitions together intentionally so please consider the enclosed I-130 submission as your proof of having filed it.

[samira_07 1]

I did send both at the same time and treated them as two separate items, just in the same mailing envelope. However, I am almost at 6 months in February and still no NOA 2 yet for my 129F, I am thinking the I-130 will be approved first anyways. Its a choice on how you would like to begin your visa journey.

[visaveteran1 33]

I keep hearing people say the CR-1 (the I-130 packet) does not take that much longer than the K-3. I send in my K-3 and got a NOA1 in a week for the 129F but still waiting for the NOA1 for the 130. I hear people saying they've waited way past 3 months and still no NOA1 for the 130. Additionally it is a well known fact that the NVA messes around with the 130 for months whereas they can process the 129F in days.

So.....how can people still say the CR1 is not that much longer than the K-3? It must be a minimum or 3-4 months longer or worse. And it only seems to be getting worse with each passing month.

Only some concrete signs of USCIS improvements in handling and processing the petitions will make a difference and I see no such improvements stretching through 2008.

[C and J 1]

I keep hearing people say the CR-1 (the I-130 packet) does not take that much longer than the K-3. I send in my K-3 and got a NOA1 in a week for the 129F but still waiting for the NOA1 for the 130. I hear people saying they've waited way past 3 months and still no NOA1 for the 130. Additionally it is a well known fact that the NVA messes around with the 130 for months whereas they can process the 129F in days.

So.....how can people still say the CR1 is not that much longer than the K-3? It must be a minimum or 3-4 months longer or worse. And it only seems to be getting worse with each passing month.

Only some concrete signs of USCIS improvements in handling and processing the petitions will make a difference and I see no such improvements stretching through 2008.

If you have a look at James' short cuts (search this site for them), you will see that you can reduce the time taken for the I130 at the NVC. And, honestly, in the long scheme of things, 2-3 extra months is nothing (this is not the view I had when we first started our visa journey, this is something that has sunk in over time). We filed in April 2007 and are still waiting for my interview date to arrive (luckily only 2.5 weeks left to go). If I had known I would be waiting this long for a K3 then I would have seriously considered the CR1 visa instead.

I have watched the shoddyness of USCIS since I first joined this site and, I have to say after seeing the debacle of their approval system for the K3/CR1/IR1, their mishandling of the petitions backlog and their mishandling of the lives they are playing with, I have little hope for a smooth AOS (including getting the EAD within the 90 days timeframe). Remember, no EAD, no SSN (unless you are lucky enough to already have one) and I hate to think how long I will be waiting to receive my green card. The green card is recognised by all employers, there have been stories on VJ about EAD not being as well recognised.

If I had the option to swap to a CR1 now (without having to file forms to kick start it) and the only downside was waiting 2-3 more months, the upside being no more hassles with USCIS until removal of conditions, I would do it in a heartbeat just to remove the potential stress from our lives.