K3 v. I 130 (Speed of processing)

[Ready2Kl 1]

Hello,

There is a lot of discussion about K3/K4 v. 130. All of the posts say I-130 is better and I definitely concur in general sense.

In terms of COSTS and hassle(of filing extra documents later on, definitely I-130 is the best. My only question is Will filing for K3 make uniting with the spouse any faster(even by a few days is great)? Or is K3 slower than I-130?

All the posts mostly talk about hassle and cost but not much info on whether K3 is actually slower than i-130. Can anybody who has done K3 in the last 1 yr or so share their experience if they think K3 is actually slower( Discuss only the time of processing and not any other issues since in all other issues I-130 is definitely better).

Going by the timelines on VJ, it does look like K3 is faster by about a month lately. Let me know if I am wrong.

Thanks a lot everyone.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

When we applied, K-3 visas were being approved 6-8 weeks behind Cr-1s. So...no, it did not speed up the process for those who filed when I did

Good luck.

[hindocha 0]

I've had to change mine from K3 to CR-1. My embassy was taking too long with K3, as they have to schedule in the interview, they "technically" dictate the time frame.

I was very reluctant in doing so. I did my wife's head in and also my attorneys, but its questions that need to be answered.

[New Beginnings 32]

If there was no AP in our case the K3 would have probably been approved about 3 weeks earlier.

I understand the thought that every day, every second counts when you've been away from someone for so long. But what I've learned from this immigration process is that you can't think with your heart.. you have to think logically. And for us, logic meant saving the hassle/cost of adjusting his status and waiting the additional few weeks

[Dakine 26]

Hello,

There is a lot of discussion about K3/K4 v. 130. All of the posts say I-130 is better and I definitely concur in general sense.

In terms of COSTS and hassle(of filing extra documents later on, definitely I-130 is the best. My only question is Will filing for K3 make uniting with the spouse any faster(even by a few days is great)? Or is K3 slower than I-130?

All the posts mostly talk about hassle and cost but not much info on whether K3 is actually slower than i-130. Can anybody who has done K3 in the last 1 yr or so share their experience if they think K3 is actually slower( Discuss only the time of processing and not any other issues since in all other issues I-130 is definitely better).

Going by the timelines on VJ, it does look like K3 is faster by about a month lately. Let me know if I am wrong.

Thanks a lot everyone.

K3 is "normally" a bit faster. Depends on how good you are using Ling Ches NVC shortcuts.

Have "fun" waiting for the EAD, SS card and adjusting status if you choose the K3. We blew it and did the K3. BIG mistake. Wish we'd had known the difference when we went thru it. CRs were slower then tho. I still would have gone with the CR if we'd known.

[Ready2Kl 1]

Hello,

There is a lot of discussion about K3/K4 v. 130. All of the posts say I-130 is better and I definitely concur in general sense.

In terms of COSTS and hassle(of filing extra documents later on, definitely I-130 is the best. My only question is Will filing for K3 make uniting with the spouse any faster(even by a few days is great)? Or is K3 slower than I-130?

All the posts mostly talk about hassle and cost but not much info on whether K3 is actually slower than i-130. Can anybody who has done K3 in the last 1 yr or so share their experience if they think K3 is actually slower( Discuss only the time of processing and not any other issues since in all other issues I-130 is definitely better).

Going by the timelines on VJ, it does look like K3 is faster by about a month lately. Let me know if I am wrong.

Thanks a lot everyone.

K3 is "normally" a bit faster. Depends on how good you are using Ling Ches NVC shortcuts.

Have "fun" waiting for the EAD, SS card and adjusting status if you choose the K3. We blew it and did the K3. BIG mistake. Wish we'd had known the difference when we went thru it. CRs were slower then tho. I still would have gone with the CR if we'd known.

Thanks for the input.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

When we did the K3 it was MUCH slower to approve through USCIS compared to the CR1. That seems to have changed a bit and K3's appear to have caught up to the CR1's at USCIS(last time I checked).

If you can get your K3 through USCIS in the same amount of time as a CR1, it will def be faster but likely only a month or 2.

Good luck in whatever path you guys choose

[pushbrk 12,877]

When we did the K3 it was MUCH slower to approve through USCIS compared to the CR1. That seems to have changed a bit and K3's appear to have caught up to the CR1's at USCIS(last time I checked).

If you can get your K3 through USCIS in the same amount of time as a CR1, it will def be faster but likely only a month or 2.

Good luck in whatever path you guys choose

I think you have that backwards. USCIS has been approving I-130 petitions the same day as the accompanying I-129F petition for nearly three years. Prior to that, the petitions were processed at separate service centers with the I-129F usually being faster. During the past three years, filing an I-129F for a spouse has caused the I-130 to loose its place in the waiting time, so it can be joined and processed with the later filed I-129F. So, it's the CR1 that caught up with K3, not the other way around.

Once the petitions are approved, it's likely to save a month or two on the remaining part of the process to follow the K3 route but that's the same month or two already lost when the I-130 lost its place in line.

Unless you have a special circumstance, it's foolish to file an I-129F for a spouse. It saves no time and costs a lot more money.

[New Beginnings 32]

When we did the K3 it was MUCH slower to approve through USCIS compared to the CR1. That seems to have changed a bit and K3's appear to have caught up to the CR1's at USCIS(last time I checked).

If you can get your K3 through USCIS in the same amount of time as a CR1, it will def be faster but likely only a month or 2.

Good luck in whatever path you guys choose

I think you have that backwards. USCIS has been approving I-130 petitions the same day as the accompanying I-129F petition for nearly three years. Prior to that, the petitions were processed at separate service centers with the I-129F usually being faster. During the past three years, filing an I-129F for a spouse has caused the I-130 to loose its place in the waiting time, so it can be joined and processed with the later filed I-129F. So, it's the CR1 that caught up with K3, not the other way around.

Once the petitions are approved, it's likely to save a month or two on the remaining part of the process to follow the K3 route but that's the same month or two already lost when the I-130 lost its place in line.

Unless you have a special circumstance, it's foolish to file an I-129F for a spouse. It saves no time and costs a lot more money.