Just got approved for I-130 AND I-129f... advice please

[newlyweds07 0]

Hi there,

I'm from Canada and my husband is from the US. We filed for the K-3 visa back in October 2007 although Vermont didnt receive it till January (stuck in backlog). We've finally gotten the approval for both our I-130 and our I-129f.

Our question now is... which one should we go for? We've heard that the I-129f can take from 5-6 months and you'll have to pay about $1000 once you get into the US to get permanent residency and that could take a year and that the I-130 can take 7-8 months right now but you get permanent residency right away (you just wait the extra few months in Canada). Can someone correct me if my facts are wrong? I feel like 5-8 MORE months is way longer than I thought it would take once we got approved. I thought MAYBE 4 at the most! Can anyone share with me their timeline if you've been through or in a similar situation as us? We'll be applying for our interview at Montreal if that helps...

Thanks in advance!

[YuAndDan 153]

You are correct about K-3

CR-1 has the big benefit of GREEN-CARD upon entry, NO ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS. K-3 CANNOT get SSN, WORK, or Get driver's license until they have EAD or Green-card, EAD can take 90 days or MORE to get.

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

AOS: $1010

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

I see many posts from K-3 holders stating, "Wow this sucks, I an stuck at home because I don't have EAD, DL, etc, or I am having hard time getting added to bank accounts because of NO SSN." K-3 has a 90 day or longer period of limbo while waiting for EAD or Green-card.

Timelines:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...da&dfile=No (K-3)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...da&dfile=No (CR-1)

If you decide CR-1 then just keep it moving through NVC, and if K-3 interview gets scheduled, just re-schedule it so that the CR-1 can catch up to the K-3.

Look at Jame's shortcuts for working the CR-1 through NVC. http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...s%27s_Shortcuts

[Mononoke28 135]

I know this is personal decision, but waiting an additional 5-8 months vs. having to pay an extra $1,010 and wait months for EAD and a green card is way worth it. If you think you can't wait that long and would rather stay put at home while you wait for your EAD and green card then go for the K3.

Diana

[notime4haterz 0]

I agree...I would pay $5,000 if my husband could get here just one month sooner...

I guess it also depends on your situation. How badly do you need work? How hard is the extra expense for you?

Just weigh the pros and cons, discuss with your spouse and make the best decision you can.

[ninjarocket 1]

Exactly what you do depends on which takes priority:

1) Being together in USA fastest: answer I-129F/k3

2) Being able to work in the USA on arrival: I-130/(CR/IR)

3) Being as cheap as possible in the long run: I-130/(CR/IR)

4) Both (1) and (2): parallel I-129F and I-130 (requires much personal effort to process the I-130 through NVC rapidly and to coordinate the arrival of the two at the embassy: may also require payment of both visa fees)

[msnoob 3]

Exactly what you do depends on which takes priority:

1) Being together in USA fastest: answer I-129F/k3

2) Being able to work in the USA on arrival: I-130/(CR/IR)

3) Being as cheap as possible in the long run: I-130/(CR/IR)

4) Both (1) and (2): parallel I-129F and I-130 (requires much personal effort to process the I-130 through NVC rapidly and to coordinate the arrival of the two at the embassy: may also require payment of both visa fees)

I agree. I would also add

5) Not wanting to deal with USCIS again for two years I-130(CR)

[newlyweds07 0]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice! I really appreciate it! I've been looking at some timelines of people who were in similar cases and maybe I'm looking at the wrong info but it seemed to me once people had their NOA2, they got their interview within 3-6 months following the I-130. Is this typical or not? How long should I expect till my interview if I got my NOA2 last week?

Thanks!

[YGandMAT 0]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice! I really appreciate it! I've been looking at some timelines of people who were in similar cases and maybe I'm looking at the wrong info but it seemed to me once people had their NOA2, they got their interview within 3-6 months following the I-130. Is this typical or not? How long should I expect till my interview if I got my NOA2 last week?

Thanks!

I-130 (CR1) takes a bit longer. Like someone posted before, I would have paid more $$ to bring my husband back to me ASAP. We went with the k3, and I would not change a thing. Besides, since your I-129 was already approved it should be going to NVC soon. Therefore you are pretty much stuck with the K3 (I believe you need to file a form to change this to CR1. Someone correct me if I'm wrong)