K3 or CRI!!!

[Soulmates2928 0]

Presently my spouse and I are pursuing the K3 route and she has her interview in 2 weeks. However, she just received mail from her local consulate regarding the immigrant visa and naming an agent, etc which she has to send back to the NVC. Should she just ignore that mail or does she need to reply and just let them know that we are presently pursuing the K3 and will adjust status once she come to the US.

Any advice please?

Thanks!

[YuAndDan 153]

Can ignore that if strictly pursuing the K-3.

[Dakine 26]

Can ignore that if strictly pursuing the K-3.

Yep sure can. However in the long run the CR-1 is a MUCH< MUCH better visa and worth going for.

I didn't we now wish we had. Still kicking ourselves for not doing so.

This subject has been thrashed around A LOT here on VJ.

Overall concensus is to go with the CR-1.

You can get the K3 and go to the US and then go back and get the CR-1. Cost of plane trip is negated as bene can work sooner than a K3 and also doesn't have to pay the $1010 to adjust status.

LOT more advantages that I won't go into.

[YuAndDan 153]

Can ignore that if strictly pursuing the K-3.

Yep sure can. However in the long run the CR-1 is a MUCH< MUCH better visa and worth going for.

I didn't we now wish we had. Still kicking ourselves for not doing so.

This subject has been thrashed around A LOT here on VJ.

Overall concensus is to go with the CR-1.

You can get the K3 and go to the US and then go back and get the CR-1. Cost of plane trip is negated as bene can work sooner than a K3 and also doesn't have to pay the $1010 to adjust status.

LOT more advantages that I won't go into.

Yep,

For the most part CR-1 tends to take a bit longer than K-3 to get if you prepare for NVC when they request I-864 fee, and Visa fee, as well as documents requested by NVC. In many cases the CR-1 petition reaches the consulate just before K-3 interview, which causes K-3 to get dropped and the interview becomes a CR-1 visa interview.

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 am 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.

K-3 was developed at a time when CR-1 was taking much longer that today, NVC has greatly streamlined the CR-1 process to the point where K-3 becomes irrelevant.

[Ling Ling 22]

People who've used the information in the LingChe guide, and taken advise from others on the board,

have been able to get through NVC in under a month.

The current record is a couple that made it through NVC in 21 days.

If you have an approved I-130, it really is worth it to wait an extra few weeks for the CR-1....unless there's a life threatening situation.

If the difference between your K-3 and CR-1 was 90 days to 6 months or longer, I could see you going the K-3, but don't blow the direct CR-1

for a difference of 30 days.