K3, CR1 Visa

[CrazyGujju 0]

All,

I hate to create another topic about this but I just wanted to make sure my message would be seen. Sorry I know this goes against forum "netiquette"... Basic question is even if I file the I-129F after I've received my I-130 NOA1, if the I-130 gets approved first can I go down the CR1 route or am I screwed and I have to do the K-3? Or worse the entire process becomes null and void and I have to start over again? This last one is a stupid question I know but I just want to make sure that if the I-130 is approved FIRST that I can still do CR1?

I applied for my I-130 and received the NOA1 a few days ago. I'm guessing it will go (or has gone) to the Vermont Service Center (how do I find out which service center received it by the way?... My case number still does not show up in search online or on phone).

I'm planning on filing an I-129F (K-3) tomorrow.

* 1/15/08: Sent I-130 package (by US Postal)

* 2/14/08: Personal check of $355.00 for I-130 cleared, with receipt # printed on back

* 2/18/08: Received NOA in mail !!

Thanks,

CrazyGujju

[manishnyati 0]

It seems like both of us are in the same boat. I received my I-130 NOA1 yesterday and I am planning on sending my I-129F either today or tomorrow. I think it is whichever one gets approved first. They both are getting approved around the same time. By the way, I am Gujarati also. Lets see how all this works out. If your receipt number starts with EAC then it is at Vermont and if it starts with WAC then it is at California. My case number still does not show. From what I have been reading Vermont is behind in entering the receipt number into their system.

All,

I hate to create another topic about this but I just wanted to make sure my message would be seen. Sorry I know this goes against forum "netiquette"... Basic question is even if I file the I-129F after I've received my I-130 NOA1, if the I-130 gets approved first can I go down the CR1 route or am I screwed and I have to do the K-3? Or worse the entire process becomes null and void and I have to start over again? This last one is a stupid question I know but I just want to make sure that if the I-130 is approved FIRST that I can still do CR1?

I applied for my I-130 and received the NOA1 a few days ago. I'm guessing it will go (or has gone) to the Vermont Service Center (how do I find out which service center received it by the way?... My case number still does not show up in search online or on phone).

I'm planning on filing an I-129F (K-3) tomorrow.

* 1/15/08: Sent I-130 package (by US Postal)

* 2/14/08: Personal check of $355.00 for I-130 cleared, with receipt # printed on back

* 2/18/08: Received NOA in mail !!

Thanks,

CrazyGujju

[Leedah 22]

I am also in the same boat.

My I-130 was received at the Chicago Lock box Dec.11,2007 and was forwarded to the Vermont Service Center for processing.

I received a NOA1 on Feb.5, 2008 and am still not able to see my case online with the entered receipt number.

Also, as you asked, I am wondering whether I should send the I-129F in for processing also. I've been hearing LOTS of stories that the I-129F is getting "administratively closed" once the I-130 is approved.

I personally would like my husband to be able to work as soon as he gets here and the CR-1 will allow for that. On the other hand, if it is gonna take more time than the K3 route, I will need to rethink this. I was doing the CR-1 to avoid extra fee's and the headache trying to adjust status after arrival, but the time and distance is seriously taking a toll on both of us.

Either way, every process is still INSANELY SLOW AS MOLASSES.

I'll be checking around to see which process seems to go fastest at the Vermont Center.

Tootles.

Leedah

[hyd617 1]

All,

I hate to create another topic about this but I just wanted to make sure my message would be seen. Sorry I know this goes against forum "netiquette"... Basic question is even if I file the I-129F after I've received my I-130 NOA1, if the I-130 gets approved first can I go down the CR1 route or am I screwed and I have to do the K-3? Or worse the entire process becomes null and void and I have to start over again? This last one is a stupid question I know but I just want to make sure that if the I-130 is approved FIRST that I can still do CR1?

I applied for my I-130 and received the NOA1 a few days ago. I'm guessing it will go (or has gone) to the Vermont Service Center (how do I find out which service center received it by the way?... My case number still does not show up in search online or on phone).

I'm planning on filing an I-129F (K-3) tomorrow.

* 1/15/08: Sent I-130 package (by US Postal)

* 2/14/08: Personal check of $355.00 for I-130 cleared, with receipt # printed on back

* 2/18/08: Received NOA in mail !!

Thanks,

CrazyGujju

from my understanding you can go ahead and file the k3.. if they cancel it you will HAVE to go with the ir1/cr1 so thats fine.. if your k3 is approved first you wil get a k3.. its a win win situation... recently i started seeing k3 cancels but i also saw aprovals .. go with what ur heart says.. and if u decide to file k3 then go for it.. and see which gets approved first.. they are about the same time period though.............. hope this helpss

[jeca 0]

I was studying timelines for K3 and CR1 and as I understood VSC is currently approving August filers for both petitions.We sent 129-F two days ago because we are hoping it will still be valid.My husband is coming to visit me in July and we are hoping that by that time 129 will be approved so that we can go together to the USA.

[YuAndDan 153]

There are no taking both routes any more, you either choose CR-1 the better visa by filing I-130 only, or K-3 by filing I-129F.

USCIS policy is to hold the I-130 and sending the I-129F on for the K-3, and the rule is that you need to file an I-824 to get the I-130 move on to get counselor processing of the CR-1.

SEE: http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/PN_i-129f.pdf

However it is being reported lately that USCIS may be doing the opposite lately, and canceling the I-129F and sending the I-130 on for CR-1.

Again compare timelines for your foreign country, you may see that the K-3 in most cases in unnessasary, because CR-1 is only taking a bit longer to get.

K-3 has the added pain of adjustment of status ($1010) K-3 is not work auth, so cannot get a JOB, SSN, or Driver's license until having EAD or green-card from AOS. EAD takes 90 days or more to get.

[badspellor 0]

from my understanding you can go ahead and file the k3.. if they cancel it you will HAVE to go with the ir1/cr1 so thats fine.. if your k3 is approved first you wil get a k3.. its a win win situation... recently i started seeing k3 cancels but i also saw aprovals .. go with what ur heart says.. and if u decide to file k3 then go for it.. and see which gets approved first.. they are about the same time period though.............. hope this helpss

If you go and file the I-129F, when they receive it they will pair it with your I-130 so then your I-130 will get held back. At least that's what has happened with the petitions filed last summer. I could have just filed my I-130 (which i did 17th of July) and left it at that and I'd probably have NOA2 by now but I sent in the 129F hoping the same as you and that has put me behind in processing. My 129F was sent 1st of August now only to be administratively canceled eventually. As of last week, my cases haven't even been assigned an adjudicator. Had I just stuck with the IR-1 my case would have been much further ahead than it is now. Maybe things are different with petitions filed now, I don't know, but I'd give it some careful thought or you might end up making things take longer than they should.

[CrazyGujju 0]

All,

Okay I'm getting thoroughly confused now. Understandably everybody has different experiences, opinions, and "gut feelings". Some say go ahead, file the I-129F, it shouldn't matter. Some say the K-3 is being "administratively closed", whatever that means. Others say that filing the I-129F will delay the I-130 and set both back... Supposedly the K3 is no longer quicker than the CR1 visa. Does this also mean that the CR1 visa process has sped up?

I'm voicing everyone's concern about whether filing the I-129F will delay the overall process? Its so confusing and frustrating. On the one hand I want to fill out my I-129F and send it off without much delay, but on the other hand I read all the posts and I start to worry if that's the right step to take.

How can I get live assistance when calling the 1-800-375-5283? Their menus keep saying, for live assistance call between 8:00 and 6:00 am M-F but I can NEVER actually choose an option that gets me to a human. The "POJ" trick didn't work for me (also the automated system said my case didn't exist). How do I get to a human even if case doesn't exist in system yet (although NOA1 received)?

Thanks a bunch,

CrazyGujju