Question regarding filing Affidavit of Support on K3

[Odds_On 0]

Hello All,

I have a question regarding the K3 visa (I-130) filed with a I-129f. I know the CR1 is supposed to be faster and cost a few hundred less etc. My wife and I just received the USCIS petition approval on Feb 18 (yeah!) and today I just received the packet in the mail from the NVC with the Affidavit of Support requiring a $70 fee.

My question is if we are going to go through with the I-129f visa to get her over hear quicker do I have to pay the Affidavit of Support fee or is this only for the CR! filers. I am thinking I can just wait and pay the Adjustment of Status fee once she gets the visa from the USEM in Manila.

I guess since we are on the topic I will throw this out there also; does it make sense to change it to the CR1 at this point? I understand from reading the forums that it can prolong the arrival of my wife and that it costs a few hundred dollars less to process. I would rather get my wife here quicker and just pay the extra processing fee but figured I would get some feedback for you guys first.

As always thanks for your help.

David

[YuAndDan 153]

You do not need to respond to the NVC if you are planning to do K-3.

If you follow the NVC guide here, you can get the CR-1 visa process through within weeks of the timing for K-3.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...s%27s_Shortcuts

If considering K-3 consider it carefully, USCIS has been approving both I-130 and I-129F for K-3 and sending them both to NVC on the same day lately, this makes the processing tome for CR-1 nearly the same as K-3.

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 until they have EAD or green-card, EAD can take 90 days or longer to get.