K3 visa....worth it?

[vj. 0]

Hi all.

I have read the guides.

I have read the pluses/minuses to the K3 vs CR1 visas

I have also read some people in these forums saying that they thought the K3 was a waste of time.

or that the 129F and the 130 were combined in one file and approved together.

Yes I read the K3 faster in the Pluses section for visa comparison but it apperas that K3 approvals are not really that fast anymore.

comments welcome

Thanks in advance

John

[YuAndDan 153]

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

Adjustment Of Status: $1010 I-485

($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.

Keep this in mind in this economy, the CR-1 with it's instant green-card looks very attractive considering the cost savings, and the ability of the immigrant being able to take a job shortly after entry to the USA. K-3 has the down-side of added cost, and NOT being able to legitimately take a job untli they have EAD of green-card, EAD can take 90 days or longer to get.

[Mononoke28 135]

I agree, the CR1 visa may take a little bit longer but it's a much better visa, not to mention less expensive. Also, keep in mind that the NVC is now allowing these petitioners to pay their fees online which in many cases makes the process move along faster than a K3 visa.

Diana

[vj. 0]

Thanks for the input guys!

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Hi all.

I have read the guides.

I have read the pluses/minuses to the K3 vs CR1 visas

I have also read some people in these forums saying that they thought the K3 was a waste of time.

or that the 129F and the 130 were combined in one file and approved together.

Yes I read the K3 faster in the Pluses section for visa comparison but it apperas that K3 approvals are not really that fast anymore.

comments welcome

Thanks in advance

John

Yes, the "pluses" for it being faster are at the consulate stage(unless you file at CSC), not so much the adjudication at uscis.

Although, some people are just as sucessful in getting their CR1 interviews as fast by using the shortcuts through NVC that are out there.

Edited February 17, 2009 by Lisa wa Yazied

[bootslacky 1]

Hi all.

I have read the guides.

I have read the pluses/minuses to the K3 vs CR1 visas

I have also read some people in these forums saying that they thought the K3 was a waste of time.

or that the 129F and the 130 were combined in one file and approved together.

Yes I read the K3 faster in the Pluses section for visa comparison but it apperas that K3 approvals are not really that fast anymore.

comments welcome

Thanks in advance

John

Yes, the "pluses" for it being faster are at the consulate stage(unless you file at CSC), not so much the adjudication at uscis.

Although, some people are just as sucessful in getting their CR1 interviews as fast by using the shortcuts through NVC that are out there.

There are shortcuts you can take?

[queuedup 1]

Yes, read the LingChe shortcut posted in the VJ Wiki.

[Catt 6]

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.

Keep this in mind in this economy, the CR-1 with it's instant green-card looks very attractive considering the cost savings, and the ability of the immigrant being able to take a job shortly after entry to the USA. K-3 has the down-side of added cost, and NOT being able to legitimately take a job untli they have EAD of green-card, EAD can take 90 days or longer to get.

I agree with that.

We went K-3, and both our I-129F and I-130 got approved at the same time.

Because the Consulate was not very familiar with what should happen if couples first get K-3 visa, and then interview for Green Card, we decided to not overcomplicate matters and just stick with K-3.

I have since regretted it, for the above mentioned reasons.

With CR-1, you get your SSN almost immediately (so you can get a US driver's license, and you can get your bank account set up), you can work, you do NOT have to file a whole new paperround for AOS (with biometrics, interview, etc).

It is a personal choice and hindsight is 20/20, but if do now regret not having gone the Green Card route.

Good luck eitherway.

Edited February 18, 2009 by Catt

[queuedup 1]

I applied for both the CR-1 and K-3, and have since abondoned the K-3 for the same reasons mentioned above. Plus, I do not want to hold up the process of getting a green card, by going through the VSC again.

[Carlos and Jocel 2]

Hi all.

I have read the guides.

I have read the pluses/minuses to the K3 vs CR1 visas

I have also read some people in these forums saying that they thought the K3 was a waste of time.

or that the 129F and the 130 were combined in one file and approved together.

Yes I read the K3 faster in the Pluses section for visa comparison but it apperas that K3 approvals are not really that fast anymore.

comments welcome

Thanks in advance

John

YES AND NO...UMN MAYBE... GET MY POINT. IT IS DEPENDING ON YOU... YOU WANT THE PERSON TO BE THERE SOONER, K-3, IF TIME IS NOT ISSUE, CR-1/IR-1, BUT MOST OF THE TIME CR1/IR1 CATCH UP WITH K3, MAYBE A FEW WEEKS OFF THE TIMELINE. THE K-3 WAS POPULAR IN THE EARLY 2000'S BUT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND ALL THE STUFF IT'S ALMOST SIDE BY SIDE. WE ALL, WELL MOST OF US, APPLIED FOR BOTH SINCE K-3 DONT COST ANYTHING IF YOU FILE FOR I-130 ANYWAY, EXCEPT FOR ALL DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE RESUBMIT. FLIP THE COIN, SHAKE YOUR HIPS... HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL, IT'S YOUR CHOICE!

[childress_london 3]

I am hoping to follow the K3, because with the K3 we can interview in the country we got married (Canada). If we have to follow the CR1, we will have to go to Turkey or Dubai. UGH. With him living in Canada, that makes it more expensive and time consuming for us.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

I am hoping to follow the K3, because with the K3 we can interview in the country we got married (Canada). If we have to follow the CR1, we will have to go to Turkey or Dubai. UGH. With him living in Canada, that makes it more expensive and time consuming for us.

That does make a big difference.

I think we have one other k3'er that is in the same type of situation.