Specific question about I-129f for K3

[cacontri 0]

I just got my NOA1 today... woo hoo! I just pray the rest of the process is this clear cut and (dare I say) efficient. So now I'm putting together the packet for the K-3 Visa. Here are my questions (and it is soooo very interesting how evasive the folks on the phone at USCIS are once one has her NOA1):

• What documents do I need? The instructions say, "Items 1, 2 and 4 of the instructions:...but it's unclear which section it's refering to. Do I need to send in my birth cert.? You get the idea
  
• How do I fill in # 11 on the form, "have you ever filed for this or any other alien fiance or husband/wife before?" Originially I thought to mark "yes: then put "I-130 for my husband." Who wants to shed some light on this?
  
• My husband cannot get mail service at his house, so I have listed his PO box as his mailing address. They do want a mailing address and not necessarily a physical address, right?
  
• Is it okay for my husband to sign the G325a and scan and email it? My Fed Ex bill is SIZABLE, but I obviously don't want to cut corners that will cost weeks away from each other.
  

thanks!

Col and Row

[Darnell 8,478]

This doesn't answer yer questions AT ALL - but hey -

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/

IMO, it's a bad idea, waste of time/money/energy, to try to 'get' a K-3 visa.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I agree with Darnell, the K-3 lost its usefullness years ago. Stick with the Cr-1 path you are currently on

BUT - if you are dead set on filing the K-3 (please make your decision AFTER you read the links posted above) then I'll try and help with the questions.

No, you cannot have him scan the G-325A. The signatures must be original, no scans, e-mails, faxes, photocopies, etc. However, if you are concerned about costs, you'll also want to look at the $1000+ added fees for a K-3 visa

Take a look at the checklist in the guides for how to assemble the packet and what to include

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k3guide

Also see the example forms for how to fill in the I-129F

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-I-129F-K3.pdf

Good luck

[missads 59]

... but I obviously don't want to cut corners that will cost weeks away from each other.

...

If that is the case, you should probably not pursue the K-3. Unless you have a specific reason to do so ...

According to timelines of fellow VJers, it looks like the IR-1 (i.e. I-130) gets processed faster than if you were to follow it with a K-3 application (I-129F). Both I-130 and I-129F are usually approved on the same day and sent to the NVC, where the 129F is closed. So the I-129F filing just tacks on a few extra weeks of processing time with no real benefit in the end.

Compare the IR-1 vs K-3 timelines and decide for yourself:

I130 + I129F (slower)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?visa=2&form=2&scenter=1&option=3&sortby=2

I130 only (faster by a few weeks)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?visa=3&form=2&scenter=1&option=3&sortby=2

YMMV

[cacontri 0]

If that is the case, you should probably not pursue the K-3. Unless you have a specific reason to do so ...

According to timelines of fellow VJers, it looks like the IR-1 (i.e. I-130) gets processed faster than if you were to follow it with a K-3 application (I-129F). Both I-130 and I-129F are usually approved on the same day and sent to the NVC, where the 129F is closed. So the I-129F filing just tacks on a few extra weeks of processing time with no real benefit in the end.

Compare the IR-1 vs K-3 timelines and decide for yourself:

I130 + I129F (slower)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?visa=2&form=2&scenter=1&option=3&sortby=2

I130 only (faster by a few weeks)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?visa=3&form=2&scenter=1&option=3&sortby=2

YMMV

Well, looky thar! I do believe you are right! I must admit, I am not very good at eyeballing data like this. I really do like graphs. Hmmm... but what about satiating my paranoia that I did something wrong on the I-130 app that would ultimately make the K3 faster? This just seems so silly! A process set up originally to expedite the first process, which ultimately makes it slower. Golly, that sounds just like bureaucracy. Still, I am cautiously suspicious. Come on, other folks, weigh in on this will you? (and, uh, feel free to re-weigh in). And if I decide not to go K3 route, I just wait for NOA 2, right? That sounds awfully easy for a process that was obviously created with medieval torture contraptions in mind....

Besides, Missads, it looks like you decided to do the K3, no? What made you do that if you think it's a long cut? Would you do it differently in retrospect?

Edited September 8, 2010 by cacontri

[Shenzhen 34]

Well, looky thar! I do believe you are right! I must admit, I am not very good at eyeballing data like this. I really do like graphs. Hmmm... but what about satiating my paranoia that I did something wrong on the I-130 app that would ultimately make the K3 faster? This just seems so silly! A process set up originally to expedite the first process, which ultimately makes it slower. Golly, that sounds just like bureaucracy. Still, I am cautiously suspicious. Come on, other folks, weigh in on this will you? (and, uh, feel free to re-weigh in). And if I decide not to go K3 route, I just wait for NOA 2, right? That sounds awfully easy for a process that was obviously created with medieval torture contraptions in mind....

Besides, Missads, it looks like you decided to do the K3, no? What made you do that if you think it's a long cut? Would you do it differently in retrospect?

Trusting what my attorney said he was going to do and, not knowing about this website, I let him file the k-3 on feb 13, 2010. Well I have no NOA2 yet it's already September!! I did get the NOA1 on 2/23/10. So I would not even try for the k-3. I hope I end up with the IR1/Cr1 I think that's better. What makes me mad is I paid this man for his knowledge. I don't really know, but I think he should not have filed for a k-3. Maybe he was not familiar since I was in his office much earlier then when he filed. Anyhow I would skip the k-3 that sounds like it just s l o w s things down. Just my humble opinion and I have been waiting 6 plus months for something to happen. I have a very bad feeling about this. I feel it's going to be much longer than that to get the NOA2.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

The K-3 was created when the Cr-1s were taking years to process. Not too long ago, a K-3 would save you months, maybe even years. Today that is not the case

Good luck

[missads 59]

Besides, Missads, it looks like you decided to do the K3, no? What made you do that if you think it's a long cut? Would you do it differently in retrospect?

I screwed up, didn't do my research before filing the I-129F

I figured I would just follow the due process as outlined by the USCIS ... BAD IDEA

In retrospect, I would DEFINITELY not have applied for the K-3. Without the 129F, I would be dealing with the NVC right now (going by VJ data), instead of still waiting for my NOA2s from the USCIS more than 5 months after applying

[Wendy<3Ahmed 12]

Trusting what my attorney said he was going to do and, not knowing about this website, I let him file the k-3 on feb 13, 2010. Well I have no NOA2 yet it's already September!! I did get the NOA1 on 2/23/10. So I would not even try for the k-3. I hope I end up with the IR1/Cr1 I think that's better. What makes me mad is I paid this man for his knowledge. I don't really know, but I think he should not have filed for a k-3. Maybe he was not familiar since I was in his office much earlier then when he filed. Anyhow I would skip the k-3 that sounds like it just s l o w s things down. Just my humble opinion and I have been waiting 6 plus months for something to happen. I have a very bad feeling about this. I feel it's going to be much longer than that to get the NOA2.

Wowwwwwwwww, that is exactly how I feel about the attorney we hired "Trusting what my attorney said he was going to do. what makes me mad is I paid this man for his knowledge." I also think that I shouldnt of have files the I-129F. We filed our I-130 on 2/17/10 and I-129F on 3/2/10, still waiting thats 6 plus months.