Filing I130 and K3 for wife at the same time, anybody?

[Frenchwife 1]

129F for K3 visa (wife) says to provide evidence I130 has been filed

does not say to provide NOA1

somebody has ever filed both in the same enveloppe?

to save waiting time for NOA1 of I130 and new mail

and to have both files together at the service center since the start

Edited October 8, 2008 by Frenchwife

[YuAndDan 153]

Copy of NOA1 needs to be included, and the I-129F needs to be sent to service center that is noted to be processing the I-130, that would be VSC or CSC depending on where Chicago sends the I-130.

NOTE: Compare timelines.

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.

[YGandMAT 0]

129F for K3 visa (wife) says to provide evidence I130 has been filed

does not say to provide NOA1

somebody has ever filed both in the same enveloppe?

to save waiting time for NOA1 of I130 and new mail

and to have both files together at the service center since the start

Yes, I have seen many people file both together. I'm sure someone here can help you with that. I can't because I did not send them together....good luck.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

129F for K3 visa (wife) says to provide evidence I130 has been filed

does not say to provide NOA1

somebody has ever filed both in the same enveloppe?

to save waiting time for NOA1 of I130 and new mail

and to have both files together at the service center since the start

I do not know which service center you would use, so you will need to know which service center to send things to.

But, in my case our stuff was being processed at the California Service Center, so here is what I did.

1. I made sure both petitions, I-130 and I-129F were clearly separate.

2. I had rubber bands around the packages and they were in seperate folders. But I put them in the SAME ENVELOPE.

3. I had cover letters with both petitions explainiing that I was following the K3 and that I was sending them both together as proof that I had sent in my I-130.

I also put sticky notes on the petitions explaing this.

4. I then mailed everything to the California Service Center, NOT the Chicago lockbox.

I did not have any problems, both were accepted and I recieved NOA's for both. Good Luck!!!

[Frenchwife 1]

Steve Y Jessica

that it is exactly what I was planning on doing

filing at Vermont center though

thank you

wooo, your processing was fast.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Steve Y Jessica

that it is exactly what I was planning on doing

filing at Vermont center though

thank you

wooo, your processing was fast.

Yes, We got VERY lucky and got through the USCIS very fast, but I did other things that helped speed up the process. And this is one of them, I figure We saved about a month by sending them in together.

[himher 634]

I don't know about this. We beat the CR1 US entry timelines by about (2) months with a K3. Filed June 18th, US entry Jan 21st.

My wife DID get a drivers license with her visa and 2-year I94, so she could drive as soon as she could take the courses and pass the test

Her EAD arrived in a little less than (3) months, the CR1 green card/SS card takes 3-4 weeks to arrive after the visaholder gets in the US anyway. The SS card arrived (12) days after the EAD card. Means that 2 of the 3 months waiting for the EAD would have been spent apart waiting for completion of the CR1 process.

SO: had WE chosen the CR1 timeline - with two extra months apart - (during which time a K3 visaholder would be waiting in the US while the EAD card is being processed) her green card would have arrived at the same point in time after filing as the K3 EAD card. The going-to-work happens after the green card arrives, so NO TIME SAVED. SS card would have arrived with the green card - 2 weeks earlier than waiting for EAD then applying - in a state that requires SS/EAD for drivers license that means that she could have realistically gotten a drivers license (2) weeks earlier.

Summary:

(2) extra months apart did not, in our case, make up for:

Saving $700-$800

Being able to drive (2) weeks earlier had we lived in a state that required a SS# to get a drivers license

Those are the ONLY advantages that a CR1 visa would have given us. At the time - being together was more important than a few hundred dollars.

Copy of NOA1 needs to be included, and the I-129F needs to be sent to service center that is noted to be processing the I-130, that would be VSC or CSC depending on where Chicago sends the I-130.

NOTE: Compare timelines.

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.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

I don't know about this. We beat the CR1 US entry timelines by about (2) months with a K3. Filed June 18th, US entry Jan 21st.

My wife DID get a drivers license with her visa and 2-year I94, so she could drive as soon as she could take the courses and pass the test

Her EAD arrived in a little less than (3) months, the CR1 green card/SS card takes 3-4 weeks to arrive after the visaholder gets in the US anyway. The SS card arrived (12) days after the EAD card. Means that 2 of the 3 months waiting for the EAD would have been spent apart waiting for completion of the CR1 process.

SO: had WE chosen the CR1 timeline - with two extra months apart - (during which time a K3 visaholder would be waiting in the US while the EAD card is being processed) her green card would have arrived at the same point in time after filing as the K3 EAD card. The going-to-work happens after the green card arrives, so NO TIME SAVED. SS card would have arrived with the green card - 2 weeks earlier than waiting for EAD then applying - in a state that requires SS/EAD for drivers license that means that she could have realistically gotten a drivers license (2) weeks earlier.

Summary:

(2) extra months apart did not, in our case, make up for:

Saving $700-$800

Being able to drive (2) weeks earlier had we lived in a state that required a SS# to get a drivers license

Those are the ONLY advantages that a CR1 visa would have given us. At the time - being together was more important than a few hundred dollars.

Copy of NOA1 needs to be included, and the I-129F needs to be sent to service center that is noted to be processing the I-130, that would be VSC or CSC depending on where Chicago sends the I-130.

NOTE: Compare timelines.

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.

But, if you do things right, it does not take any more time to get the CR1 than the K3. As in my case.

We filed for the K3, which seems to get approved faster than the CR1. But since both applications get approved at the same time, we continued to follow both paths, K3 and CR1. We recieved the K3 interview date with the Embassy. And before the interview, our case was complete at the NVC. Then our K3 interview was changed to a CR1 interview.

The way the NVC is now, you can get through the NVC in 4 to 6 weeks. The same time it takes to get the K3 interview scheduled.

Mailed I-130 and I-129F 4-29-08, wife entered US with CR1 visa 8-19-08. 113 days after mailing petitions.

[Frenchwife 1]

Thanks a lot for your replies

Anybody having done the submission to Vermont Center?

Steve Y JEssica

what did you put on your enveloppe?

CONCURENT ORIGINAL SUBMISSION OF I130 and I129F for K3?

I see submission to the service center instead of lockbox is probably because I129F must go to service center not to lockbox

I read through your timelines that you kind of boosted each step, through online payment, DHL etc

Any other tips you may want to share?

I understand that K3 may not be actually much faster than IR1 but also we have plans to ask for expediting for medical reasons

and having filed K3 shows we have done all the things technically possible, not that they tell us well file K3 to speed up.

Edited October 9, 2008 by Frenchwife

[Alli and Léo 0]

I made several phone calls to the USCIS before I married so that I would know exactly what to do and how to send the petitions after I married. Every time that I called the USCIS with more questions everyone that I spoke to said that I must wait until I receive the reciept for my I-130 before I send the I-129F because I would need a copy of the NOA1 to send with the I-129F. I was clearly told to send these petitions separately many times. However, I called the USCIS today in referance to another question...the guy that I spoke complained that I should have mailed the I-130 and I-129F together. I thought this was rather odd when I was told the opposite many times. Anyways, the officer never answered my other questions...go figure.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

I made several phone calls to the USCIS before I married so that I would know exactly what to do and how to send the petitions after I married. Every time that I called the USCIS with more questions everyone that I spoke to said that I must wait until I receive the reciept for my I-130 before I send the I-129F because I would need a copy of the NOA1 to send with the I-129F. I was clearly told to send these petitions separately many times. However, I called the USCIS today in referance to another question...the guy that I spoke complained that I should have mailed the I-130 and I-129F together. I thought this was rather odd when I was told the opposite many times. Anyways, the officer never answered my other questions...go figure.

Yes, it is not the way it says to do it. But I have heard of many people who did this and it worked for them. The NOA1 just shows proof that you filed the I-130. But sending them in together is also proof that you filed the I-130.

As far as what to do for speeding things up.

K3's are approved faster than CR1's. Read everything and have everything prepared ahead of time. Have all documents and certificates ready. And if you plan on following both routes, get 2 copies of all documents. My wife got two copies of all of her police certificates etc. Also, anything that needs to be signed, like the DS-230, get that signed now, so there is no delay when it is time to send it in.

Edited October 9, 2008 by Steve Y Jessica

[Frenchwife 1]

Always looking for more testimonies about people who file together I130 and I129F for K3, at Vermont center or California center

Steve y Jessica

I am preparing I129F filing and have a doubt about which documents to include again while in I130 already

I plan to provide with I129F A full copy of I130 file , plus original passport photos, original I129F and original G325As (again)

In the copy of I130 there will be birth certificate and wedding certificates.

Or do you think I should provide again all the certificates? is going to be a bulky I129F

what did you do?

thanks for your tips

I have already started working on the next forms.

some are pretty difficult to get (police record in Italy!) and I have already started

Alli and Leo

how do you get to talk to Vermont Center?

thanks all.

Edited October 12, 2008 by Frenchwife

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Always looking for more testimonies about people who file together I130 and I129F for K3, at Vermont center or California center

Steve y Jessica

I am preparing I129F filing and have a doubt about which documents to include again while in I130 already

I plan to provide with I129F A full copy of I130 file , plus original passport photos, original I129F and original G325As (again)

In the copy of I130 there will be birth certificate and wedding certificates.

Or do you think I should provide again all the certificates? is going to be a bulky I129F

what did you do?

thanks for your tips

I have already started working on the next forms.

some are pretty difficult to get (police record in Italy!) and I have already started

Alli and Leo

how do you get to talk to Vermont Center?

thanks all.

I just put copies of everything in the I-129F package as well. I know it is probably overkill, but I feel it is better safe than sorry.

And if you are starting to get all of your documents, remember, get 2 copies of everything. So you are prepared if you decide to follow both paths after they are approved.

[Frenchwife 1]

Steve y Jessica

not sure I was clear

In I130

I put original / certified copies

in 129F folder

I will put a full copy of I130 folder.

if I put original / certified copies again I am short of them.

I can put again copies, that is overkill but I would do it.

[SankuNiku 0]

Hey Thanks so Much everyone,

I plan to pursue both CR-1 and K-3 processes and leave it to chance which one happens first. Here is what I understand is needed for the Affidavit of Support package and for the Immigrant Visa packages.

Affidavit of Support

1. Completed and signed I-864/I-864EZ

2. Copies Last 3 years IRS 1040 and W-2/1099

3. Original Employment Letter

4. Copies of Pay Stubs

Immigrant Visa

Two passport photos

Completed and signed DS-230 Part 1

Completed and unsigned DS-230 Part 2

Copy of passport biographic data page

Birth certificate

Marriage certificate

Police certificate

Do I need to send the AOS and IV documents listed above to the NVC after my I-129F/I-130 are approved? Or does my wife have to present them at the consulate for her interview?

Do they need originals of any of these documents or do copies/certified copies suffice? Which ones do you need originals of and for which ones are copies/certified copies ok?

Thanks

Steve y Jessica

not sure I was clear

In I130

I put original / certified copies

in 129F folder

I will put a full copy of I130 folder.

if I put original / certified copies again I am short of them.

I can put again copies, that is overkill but I would do it.