3 questions about K3 Visa's - Please Help

[JamesUK 0]

Hi All,

I am new here so please bare with me, I have read all the literature online about filing a K3 Visa to move to the US but I have some questions...

I am a UK citizen my wife is a US citizen living and working in the US.

My first question is, are they still processing and accepting K-3 Visas as I read somewhere on here that they are no longer processing them????

We are about to send in our I-130 form, at what point do we send in our I-129 K3 Visa form? They say on receipt of the I-130, but what does that mean and how long does it take to get receipt?

If all goes smoothly, how long should it take roughly from first sending in the I-130 to getting approved for a K3??

Thanks,

James

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

99.9% of the time, the K3 gets closed at NVC stage, though we recently had a VJer get an interview. The CR-1 is superior anyways, as it leads to an immediate greencard upon entry and is cheaper. Is there a reason you want the K3?

[Mithmeoi 29]

CR-1 is better than K3 and as far as I know they will not process the K3 anymore, it's been phased out.

As Penguin said, it's also cheaper and you have the advantage of being able to get a greencard the moment you set foot in the States. From what I've seen it normally takes 6-8 months to process a CR-1.

Check out this guide http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 and it's flowchart http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Process_Flowchart_v1-2.pdf . Also look at other UK timelines here on VJ. Good luck!

[Darnell 8,478]

1. are they still processing and accepting K-3 Visas as I read somewhere on here that they are no longer processing them????

2. We are about to send in our I-130 form, at what point do we send in our I-129 K3 Visa form? They say on receipt of the I-130, but what does that mean and how long does it take to get receipt?

3. If all goes smoothly, how long should it take roughly from first sending in the I-130 to getting approved for a K3??

1. USCIS is still processing the I-129F petition for a K-3 visa, but if the I-130 and I-129F travel together to NVC (and they will), NVC administratively closes the I-129F petition, thus nixing any hope of a K-3 visa at a US Embassy in London.

2. You will receive 'receipt notice' for the I-130, via postal mail. Once you have that, is ok to send in the I-129F petition. Usually is 1 to 3 weeks, but could be longer.

3. about 8 months.

and now for the 'bad' news. Pitch the concept of obtaining a K-3 visa - instead, follow the I-130/CR-1 visa path... that'll take anywhere from 7 to 11 months, from start to finish.

Some light reading?

Comparison on K-3 vs CR-1 - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/204324-wondering-if-i-made-a-mistake-marrying-in-us/page__view__findpost__p__3060767

K-3 administratively closed - http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

Good Luck ! Let us know which path you choose, later?

[mtlgato 2]

7-11 months doesn't apply to Canadians, unfortunately. It's now been 11 months for me, and I've still had no word of a consular interview. So it's looking like it's going to be maybe 13-14 months for me. And my case is totally simple.

I know the op is not Canadian. I just feel bitter about this state of affairs.

C.

1. USCIS is still processing the I-129F petition for a K-3 visa, but if the I-130 and I-129F travel together to NVC (and they will), NVC administratively closes the I-129F petition, thus nixing any hope of a K-3 visa at a US Embassy in London.

2. You will receive 'receipt notice' for the I-130, via postal mail. Once you have that, is ok to send in the I-129F petition. Usually is 1 to 3 weeks, but could be longer.

3. about 8 months.

and now for the 'bad' news. Pitch the concept of obtaining a K-3 visa - instead, follow the I-130/CR-1 visa path... that'll take anywhere from 7 to 11 months, from start to finish.

Some light reading?

Comparison on K-3 vs CR-1 - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/204324-wondering-if-i-made-a-mistake-marrying-in-us/page__view__findpost__p__3060767

K-3 administratively closed - http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

Good Luck ! Let us know which path you choose, later?

[JamesUK 0]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.

I was going to go down the K3 route as I heard it was quicker 5-7 months...but if you think its best to go the CR-1 route then I will try for that.

BUT

That means I wont see my wife for 8-11 months! That is rediculous! I've heard its really hard to get into the US while my Visa's are being processed, and I have to show them commitments in the UK that I have to come back for?

Is there anything to stop me processing the K3 visa anyways? and seeing if that does arrive quicker?

Thanks for all your help this means a lot!

James