I-130 and I-129 approved same day

[dbarker2 1]

My situation is as follows. My wife is from Mexico. We were married in Veracruz, Mexico on August 19th, 2009. After a honeymoon and a few weeks together I returned to the United States and began filing the paperwork for the K3 visa, because I was told that it was faster. I received NOA1 for both the I-130 and I-129 very quickly and then we were waiting until I received the email/text message saying that both cases had been approved on January 22, 2010 yay ... anyway, I am expecting to receive the actual NOA2 in the mail any day, but I have a few questions. I have heard from some that we should just pursue the I-130 since they were both approved, but we really want my wife to be here quicker because she is pregnant and it would be best for her to be here with me as soon as possible. Will I have the choice to pursue the K3 even though the I-130 is already approved as well? What would be the difference in total time if we pursue the I-130 compared to the K3? It just seems like there is always something new that comes up to make the process even more confusing. Anyway, any advice/information would be greatly appreciated. I understand that if we do the K3 we will have to adjust status when she gets here and go through all of that, but it would be worth it to get her here even a couple of months sooner. Thanks in advance!!

Daniel and Charbel

[Meredith_Brahim 2]

My situation is as follows. My wife is from Mexico. We were married in Veracruz, Mexico on August 19th, 2009. After a honeymoon and a few weeks together I returned to the United States and began filing the paperwork for the K3 visa, because I was told that it was faster. I received NOA1 for both the I-130 and I-129 very quickly and then we were waiting until I received the email/text message saying that both cases had been approved on January 22, 2010 yay ... anyway, I am expecting to receive the actual NOA2 in the mail any day, but I have a few questions. I have heard from some that we should just pursue the I-130 since they were both approved, but we really want my wife to be here quicker because she is pregnant and it would be best for her to be here with me as soon as possible. Will I have the choice to pursue the K3 even though the I-130 is already approved as well? What would be the difference in total time if we pursue the I-130 compared to the K3? It just seems like there is always something new that comes up to make the process even more confusing. Anyway, any advice/information would be greatly appreciated. I understand that if we do the K3 we will have to adjust status when she gets here and go through all of that, but it would be worth it to get her here even a couple of months sooner. Thanks in advance!!

Daniel and Charbel

Can't speak to the quickness of it, I'm still going through the process (filed 23 April and just waiting to finish administrative processing after our consular interview on 9 December. But I can give you a hint: don't pay all the fees for the I-130 - I lost about $700 this way. You just need to have a I-130 filed/in process and then go with the I-129F instructions. When you get the letter that says the I-129F has been forwarded to the Embassy for processing, then start ignoring the communications on I-130. The two cases become one later down the road. Follow the instructions from the Mexican embassy. As your case is for immigration of a Female and not considered a 'T' country, you shouldn't have to deal with the extra waiting of administrative processing (background checks). Once you have your interview at the embassy should just be a few days. Hope this helps!

[Raphmadu 0]

My situation is as follows. My wife is from Mexico. We were married in Veracruz, Mexico on August 19th, 2009. After a honeymoon and a few weeks together I returned to the United States and began filing the paperwork for the K3 visa, because I was told that it was faster. I received NOA1 for both the I-130 and I-129 very quickly and then we were waiting until I received the email/text message saying that both cases had been approved on January 22, 2010 yay ... anyway, I am expecting to receive the actual NOA2 in the mail any day, but I have a few questions. I have heard from some that we should just pursue the I-130 since they were both approved, but we really want my wife to be here quicker because she is pregnant and it would be best for her to be here with me as soon as possible. Will I have the choice to pursue the K3 even though the I-130 is already approved as well? What would be the difference in total time if we pursue the I-130 compared to the K3? It just seems like there is always something new that comes up to make the process even more confusing. Anyway, any advice/information would be greatly appreciated. I understand that if we do the K3 we will have to adjust status when she gets here and go through all of that, but it would be worth it to get her here even a couple of months sooner. Thanks in advance!!

Daniel and Charbel

Congratulations, pls post your timeline.

[pushbrk 12,883]

My situation is as follows. My wife is from Mexico. We were married in Veracruz, Mexico on August 19th, 2009. After a honeymoon and a few weeks together I returned to the United States and began filing the paperwork for the K3 visa, because I was told that it was faster. I received NOA1 for both the I-130 and I-129 very quickly and then we were waiting until I received the email/text message saying that both cases had been approved on January 22, 2010 yay ... anyway, I am expecting to receive the actual NOA2 in the mail any day, but I have a few questions. I have heard from some that we should just pursue the I-130 since they were both approved, but we really want my wife to be here quicker because she is pregnant and it would be best for her to be here with me as soon as possible. Will I have the choice to pursue the K3 even though the I-130 is already approved as well? What would be the difference in total time if we pursue the I-130 compared to the K3? It just seems like there is always something new that comes up to make the process even more confusing. Anyway, any advice/information would be greatly appreciated. I understand that if we do the K3 we will have to adjust status when she gets here and go through all of that, but it would be worth it to get her here even a couple of months sooner. Thanks in advance!!

Daniel and Charbel

At this point, you might save a few weeks by pursuing the K3. Both petitions approved the same day is what you should have been expecting.

[Lia792 5]

I thought that K-3 was a wash but I have noticed in the Mexican timelines that it may be as much as a month or two quicker. Check out the K-3 timelines for Mexico above. It's impossible for us to tell you how long it will take, but the timelines can give you a general idea. Since you already filed K-3, you may as well watch and see how it goes through NVC. I think you can pick later on whether you want K-3 or the CR-1 interview? but don't quote me on that. My guess is your K-3 interview would come slightly faster and it seems like that may be a really important factor for you.

However, if she was ever illegal or has any other US customs difficulties it will probably take a lot longer...

[pushbrk 12,883]

I thought that K-3 was a wash but I have noticed in the Mexican timelines that it may be as much as a month or two quicker. Check out the K-3 timelines for Mexico above. It's impossible for us to tell you how long it will take, but the timelines can give you a general idea. Since you already filed K-3, you may as well watch and see how it goes through NVC. I think you can pick later on whether you want K-3 or the CR-1 interview? but don't quote me on that. My guess is your K-3 interview would come slightly faster and it seems like that may be a really important factor for you.

However, if she was ever illegal or has any other US customs difficulties it will probably take a lot longer...

The I-129F passes through NVC without further input from the couple. CR1 requires significant interaction through NVC, so no CR1 interview will simply complete the race on its own. You either ignore the I-129F and pursue the CR1 using the shortcuts or ignore the I-130 and go with the K3.

Overall timeline comparisons are useless at this stage. Once both petitions are approved, the K3 is always at least a few weeks faster.

Edited January 27, 2010 by pushbrk

[dbarker2 1]

Thank you everyone. I am pretty sure we will be following the K3 route. I don't know if anyone will know the answer to this question, but I know that with the K1 visa at the Ciudad Juarez consulate they give an open appointment notice for the interview, meaning they beneficiary can go any date between 8 and 10 AM for their interview. Does anyone know if it is the same for the K3, or is it a specific date? Anyone with experience at the Ciudad Juarez consulate? Thanks again for your help everyone!

Daniel and Charbel