K-3 paperwork

[MEDSHE20 0]

I have a friend that is starting this process. He is getting ready to file K3 paperwork. He is suppose to send his paperwork to California service center, but he is getting ready to move from the midwest to the East Coast and I know if you live on the East Coast you need to file through Vermont. Would it be okay if he went ahead and filed now through CSC or should he wait and file the VSC? He isn't do to move until the middle or end of May but he wants to go ahead instead of waiting.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

I'd file it asap!

After he moves he will need to make USCIS aware of the address change.

[YuAndDan 153]

Has he first filed the I-130 to Chicago??? The I-192F gets sent to the service center that Chicago forwarded it to and is handling the I-130.

Also for most cases through the Guangzhou consulate the K-3 WILL NOT save you any time. USCIS approves both on same date and sends both I-129F and I-130 to NVC, with proper prep for the NVC process, both petitions reach the consulate around the same time.

K-3 was developed at a time when USCIS was taking MUCH, MUCH longer to process I-130 than I-129F this is NOT the case anymore, this makes K-3 an EXPENSIVE option.

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-1:

I-129F: $455

Consulate: $131

Adjustment Of Status: $1010 I-485

($1596)

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.

In this economy the cost savings of the CR-1 and the ability of the immigrant to take a job soon after arrival makes the CR-1 the better choice.