Confused about K-3 and what forms to use

[AllanPoe 0]

Why are there diffrent ways to get a wife to the US? there should only b one form.

I get married in two days in Colomba and dont know if i need to fill out the i-130 or the 1-129f, this is soo confusing!!!

How do i provide proof of a bonafide marriage? isnt a marriage certificate enough?

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

PS i read the FAQ and I am still confused.

[Dakine 26]

Why are there diffrent ways to get a wife to the US? there should only b one form.

I get married in two days in Colomba and dont know if i need to fill out the i-130 or the 1-129f, this is soo confusing!!!

How do i provide proof of a bonafide marriage? isnt a marriage certificate enough?

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

PS i read the FAQ and I am still confused.

Best to just go with the I-130. It's a MUCH better visa than the K3. Cheaper and less paperwork also.

No need much proof of bonafide marriage for the initial petition [uNLESS you've been married a long time!]. Marriage cert will do it. You will tho for the embassy interview later.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Haole

[YuAndDan 153]

K-3 is an OPTIONAL visa, is starts by first filing an I-130 for a SPOUSAL visa, and then later if you want to take the EXPENSIVE option you then file an I-129F for the K-Visa to the center that is handling the I-130.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1 (CR-1)

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k3guide (Optional K-3 (Notice both require to file I-130))

Since USCIS has been apporving I-130 and I-129F on the same date letely, this negates the reason for K-3. K-3 was developed at a time when I-130 was taking a LONG time to be approved, K-3 allowed the prospective immigrant to enter the USA and wait for I-130 approval, so that they can then return to home country for IMMIGRANT visa interview, or adjust status.

K-3 is an OPTIONAL visa for persons who are applying for a CR-1 or IR-1 SPOUSAL IMMIGANT visa.

Since USCIS has been approving both I-130 and I-129F on the same day in K-3 cases, this has essentially eliminated the reason that K-3 was developed (Entry to the USA and waiting for I-130 approval)

Follow the shortcuts and you more than likely can get I-130 to the consulate before K-3 interview.

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:

($100 more than K-3) ($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.

[pushbrk 12,898]

Why are there diffrent ways to get a wife to the US? there should only b one form.

I get married in two days in Colomba and dont know if i need to fill out the i-130 or the 1-129f, this is soo confusing!!!

How do i provide proof of a bonafide marriage? isnt a marriage certificate enough?

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

PS i read the FAQ and I am still confused.

Best to just go with the I-130. It's a MUCH better visa than the K3. Cheaper and less paperwork also.

No need much proof of bonafide marriage for the initial petition [uNLESS you've been married a long time!]. Marriage cert will do it. You will tho for the embassy interview later.

The I-130 is a petition, not a visa. In this case it is the beginning of a CR1 visa process.

Newlyweds can skip the "in addition to the required..." documents mentioned in the I-130 instructions. However, please note that a marriage certificate is only evidence of a legal marriage not of a genuine marital relationship. You WILL most likely need to present evidence of a bona fide ongoing relationship at the interview as well as answer questions people in a genuine relationship would be expected to answer.

[daboyz 36]

K-3 is an OPTIONAL visa, is starts by first filing an I-130 for a SPOUSAL visa, and then later if you want to take the EXPENSIVE option you then file an I-129F for the K-Visa to the center that is handling the I-130.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1 (CR-1)

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k3guide (Optional K-3 (Notice both require to file I-130))

Since USCIS has been apporving I-130 and I-129F on the same date letely, this negates the reason for K-3. K-3 was developed at a time when I-130 was taking a LONG time to be approved, K-3 allowed the prospective immigrant to enter the USA and wait for I-130 approval, so that they can then return to home country for IMMIGRANT visa interview, or adjust status.

K-3 is an OPTIONAL visa for persons who are applying for a CR-1 or IR-1 SPOUSAL IMMIGANT visa.

Since USCIS has been approving both I-130 and I-129F on the same day in K-3 cases, this has essentially eliminated the reason that K-3 was developed (Entry to the USA and waiting for I-130 approval)

Follow the shortcuts and you more than likely can get I-130 to the consulate before K-3 interview.

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:

($100 more than K-3) ($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.

Yu and Dan. You must have this post saved somewhere. It is a very good comparison. I wonder if it shouldn't be placed in the guides somewhere.