I 129 F

[ahadhayat 0]

If i apply for the I 129 F, is it benificial? Does it speed up the process?

Please give me pros and cons of I 129 F.

Thanks

[Rings 10]

It was the best choice for us because we didn't want to wait, but it does cost more and it means more paperwork. If you can wait a couple months longer then it may not be the best choice for you financially. It may or may not be a faster way to be processed either. Sometimes the I 129F is not processed BEFORE the I 130.

Edited January 3, 2009 by Rings

[canadian_wife 1,829]

We just filed the I-130. Cost was an issue for us (CR-1 is almost 1/2 the cost of the I-130 and I-129F). Plus being able to work and travel upon arrival was also very important to us. We are willing to wait the addtional 1-2 months for the CR-1 because it will mean less hassle in the end.

Although the K-3 was designed to speed up the process, it's effectiveness seems to be decreasing.

[Peter&Jaime 1]

It was the best choice for us because we didn't want to wait, but it does cost more and it means more paperwork. If you can wait a couple months longer then it may not be the best choice for you financially. It may or may not be a faster way to be processed either. Sometimes the I 129F is not processed BEFORE the I 130.

It seems that people who have filled the I 129F with the I-130 are taking longer to process (especially at Vermont). It used to be that the CR1/IR-1 was slower then the K3. I would recommend the CR1/IR-1 because it is cheaper in the long run, faster, and a better Visa. Good luck with your process.

[YuAndDan 153]

Does not speed up process at USCIS, it does result in a K-3 visa which MAY save you 30 days or so for getting a visa.

HOWEVER, K-3 has many negatives.

If considering K-3 think carefully about it. CR-1 and K-3 tend to take about the same time, K-3 may save you about a month, however the K-3 has the added pain of adjustment of status, and it NOT a work authorized visa, so also has the added period of limbo waiting for EAD to be able to do things like take a job, get SSN, etc...

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.

[ahadhayat 0]

Does not speed up process at USCIS, it does result in a K-3 visa which MAY save you 30 days or so for getting a visa.

HOWEVER, K-3 has many negatives.

If considering K-3 think carefully about it. CR-1 and K-3 tend to take about the same time, K-3 may save you about a month, however the K-3 has the added pain of adjustment of status, and it NOT a work authorized visa, so also has the added period of limbo waiting for EAD to be able to do things like take a job, get SSN, etc...

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.

If money wasnt that much of a problem and i didnt have a problem with her working with in the first 3-4 months, would K-3 be a good way to go about it? I am not saying i am rich or anything, everyone wants to save money, but i guess after reading all the posts, it comes to opportunity cost, and everyone is different in that way. But if money wasnt a problem, would a K 3 on avg be faster? Also, if you get a K 3 interview and the CR I application comes around that time, does that mean the CR 1 interview will happen faster, because of the K 3?

Thanks for all the info. Much appreciated.

[geezer 1]

Does not speed up process at USCIS, it does result in a K-3 visa which MAY save you 30 days or so for getting a visa.

HOWEVER, K-3 has many negatives.

If considering K-3 think carefully about it. CR-1 and K-3 tend to take about the same time, K-3 may save you about a month, however the K-3 has the added pain of adjustment of status, and it NOT a work authorized visa, so also has the added period of limbo waiting for EAD to be able to do things like take a job, get SSN, etc...

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.

If money wasnt that much of a problem and i didnt have a problem with her working with in the first 3-4 months, would K-3 be a good way to go about it? I am not saying i am rich or anything, everyone wants to save money, but i guess after reading all the posts, it comes to opportunity cost, and everyone is different in that way. But if money wasnt a problem, would a K 3 on avg be faster? Also, if you get a K 3 interview and the CR I application comes around that time, does that mean the CR 1 interview will happen faster, because of the K 3?

Thanks for all the info. Much appreciated.

Well if money was not a problem I'd probably move to a state where you could file at the CSS instead of the VSC haha

But seriously on average the K-3 will be a little faster (1 or 2 months) than the CR/IR-1 because the K-3 spends only a few days at the NVC.

[SteveColo 0]

I guess for some, you could reason your decision on 'upfront' costs and each petitioners available funds and budget. With the CR1, you basically pay for the adjustment of status right away. In my case, a wife and daughter would add up to $800 to the NVC before the visa is issued ... where as on the K3, you have 2 years time to come up with the money for the adjustment of status. Granted the fee is twice as much, but when the spouse receives her work authorization, her added income to the family budget will make it easier to pay for the AOS.

The other thing I hear a lot is how many CR1's get bogged down at the NVC ... whereas the K3 seems to fly through to the embassy and interview.

I'm no expert, and for certain there are advantages to the CR1, but these are a couple of issues to consider.

Edited January 4, 2009 by SteveColo

[geezer 1]

I guess for some, you could reason your decision on 'upfront' costs and each petitioners available funds and budget. With the CR1, you basically pay for the adjustment of status right away. In my case, a wife and daughter would add up to $800 to the NVC before the visa is issued ... where as on the K3, you have 2 years time to come up with the money for the adjustment of status. Granted the fee is twice as much, but when the spouse receives her work authorization, her added income to the family budget will make it easier to pay for the AOS.

The other thing I hear a lot is how many CR1's get bogged down at the NVC ... whereas the K3 seems to fly through to the embassy and interview.

I'm no expert, and for certain there are advantages to the CR1, but these are a couple of issues to consider.

These are good points. The bottom line is that no one visa choice can be recommended for everyone. Each has advantages/disadvantages for your own particular set of circumstances. I dont buy the claims that one visa is a "better" visa. The best visa choice is the one that works for you.

Edited January 4, 2009 by geezer

[ahadhayat 0]

I guess for some, you could reason your decision on 'upfront' costs and each petitioners available funds and budget. With the CR1, you basically pay for the adjustment of status right away. In my case, a wife and daughter would add up to $800 to the NVC before the visa is issued ... where as on the K3, you have 2 years time to come up with the money for the adjustment of status. Granted the fee is twice as much, but when the spouse receives her work authorization, her added income to the family budget will make it easier to pay for the AOS.

The other thing I hear a lot is how many CR1's get bogged down at the NVC ... whereas the K3 seems to fly through to the embassy and interview.

I'm no expert, and for certain there are advantages to the CR1, but these are a couple of issues to consider.

These are good points. The bottom line is that no one visa choice can be recommended for everyone. Each has advantages/disadvantages for your own particular set of circumstances. I dont buy the claims that one visa is a "better" visa. The best visa choice is the one that works for you.

On avg, is the visa process faster? Also, will the K 3, bog my CR 1? i have read that some times its a negative thing to have both. Any truth to that?

Thanks in advance

Also, will i be filing a G 325 A with the I 130 and then the I-129F or just I-129F?