K3 Visa Worth it?

[Roosha 51]

Hi All,

I'm a US citizen currently living overseas with my husband but we want to move to the states as soon as possible so I'm about to file I-130. However, looking at the processing times it looks like it's taking anywhere from 6 months to a year, sometimes more! So I'm wondering if filing an I-129f for a K3 visa would be worth it? When I look at the USCIS website for Vermont Processing Times it says that the K3 visa actually takes LONGER than the I-130! And it also costs around $1000 to file (from start to finish)?!

I will need to move back to the US by August for our son's school at the latest and would love for him to be able to come with us at that time! Am I looking at these processing times right? I went on the USCIS site and looked at the times for vermont, but how long does it take for USCIS to send to NVC? And then how long will it take for them to send to embassy? I have a feeling that the 5 months stated for the Vermont center is just half the time it's going to take, please tell me I'm wrong!

Thanks for your help!

[canadian_wife 1,808]

in short, no the K-3 is not worth it, it will not speed up your case

good luck

[bsd058 296]

in short, no the K-3 is not worth it, it will not speed up your case

good luck

Right now it won't. If I were you, since it doesn't cost any extra, I would file it. If processing times continue to increase for the I-130, the K-3 may become feasible. If not, they will just cancel the I-129f and you're not out any money. It depends on your office though. Do it if you're VSC especially, though.

This is the first time I've changed my tune on the subject and it's based entirely on the increase in processing times.

Also, I thought it didn't cost extra. If it does and you don't feel like paying extra, don't worry about it.

Edited November 19, 2012 by bsd058

[Roosha 51]

Since we'll be moving to Virginia I'm pretty sure the processing center will be Vermont. And looking at the processing times for Vermont on this website, it won't let me post a link since I'm a new member, but looking at those graphs it's taking a VERY long time to process the i-130! It looks like it's taking about 100 days less for the K3 visa, but I'm not sure I'm reading the graphs right? Could someone help with that? visajourney.com/ content/ ir1cr1historical

Not to mention we're in the MENA area of the world, and we all know that our application will probably take the longest to be processed -__-

Edited November 19, 2012 by Roosha

[Birdysboy 5]

When my wife and I first starting planning everything, we had to made the same decisions. In 2006, we decided to do a K1 and get married here. We did a small civil ceremony here in US and then last year in 2011 we did a big church wedding with her family and it was beautiful. Some people are not as blessed as me to marry the same beautiful woman twice.

The moral to this story is: If the actual wedding ceremony is more important than the immigration then plan around the ceremony. If the immigration is more important, then plan around that.

[bigdog 376]

They are and have not been using the K3 even though it is on the books. See other postings in VJ on this.

[Roosha 51]

Sorry birdysboy not exactly sure what you're talking about since we've been married for the past 7 years? I'm talking about the K3 visa that will allow my husband to enter the US while his immigrate visa is still pending.

bigdog: I've been searching sites and reading information for the past 6 hours, could you please point me in the right direction as I haven't seen any information stating that the K3 visa has been discontinued?

[bsd058 296]

Since we'll be moving to Virginia I'm pretty sure the processing center will be Vermont. And looking at the processing times for Vermont on this website, it won't let me post a link since I'm a new member, but looking at those graphs it's taking a VERY long time to process the i-130! It looks like it's taking about 100 days less for the K3 visa, but I'm not sure I'm reading the graphs right? Could someone help with that? visajourney.com/ content/ ir1cr1historical

Not to mention we're in the MENA area of the world, and we all know that our application will probably take the longest to be processed -__-

VJ shouldn't be consulted on the K-3 since lately they have been closed with the I-130 being approved. It is bad information since the site is based upon the stats of users.

K-3 will be administratively closed if your I-130 is approved first, which right now they are being approved first.

HOWEVER, since processing times are slowing down, the K-3 might become feasible again. If it doesn't cost anything extra to send, it cannot hurt you to submit it. It could benefit you. People only tell others that the K-3 is not viable now because the processing times sped up. They are slowing down now, though.

If it doesn't cost anything, I would submit it just in case. You never know what processing times are going to do.

Edited November 19, 2012 by bsd058

[JoannaV 174]

Which country are you in? I assume not one with a USCIS Field Office?

Firstly, file that I-130 before you spend more precious time thinking about the K-3!

Processing times can change radically from month to month, so you don't want to base too much on the timelines.

Just checking, have you checked you have the assets, income, or sponsor required for the affidavit of support?

[bsd058 296]

Sorry birdysboy not exactly sure what you're talking about since we've been married for the past 7 years? I'm talking about the K3 visa that will allow my husband to enter the US while his immigrate visa is still pending.

bigdog: I've been searching sites and reading information for the past 6 hours, could you please point me in the right direction as I haven't seen any information stating that the K3 visa has been discontinued?

They think you're a K-1.

[Roosha 51]

bsd thanks so much, i think that's what we'll do. As long as it won't cost a whole lot more that's what we'll do!

Joanna: No unfortunately we don't have a field office here in Qatar. And yes I agree, I need to get moving on the I-130! I definitely will not have the assets and all that jazz, but my father is willing to co-sponsor so that shouldn't be an issue. Also, I'll probably beat him back to the states to establish domicile (register kid in school and stuff) once they start asking for the Affidavit of Support.

[bsd058 296]

bsd thanks so much, i think that's what we'll do. As long as it won't cost a whole lot more that's what we'll do!

Joanna: No unfortunately we don't have a field office here in Qatar. And yes I agree, I need to get moving on the I-130! I definitely will not have the assets and all that jazz, but my father is willing to co-sponsor so that shouldn't be an issue. Also, I'll probably beat him back to the states to establish domicile (register kid in school and stuff) once they start asking for the Affidavit of Support.

See here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=a10e4154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

There is no fee to file for K-3.

Edited November 19, 2012 by bsd058

[Roosha 51]

One last thing, and this may seem like a stupid question, but mail here is really unreliable unless you're using a PO Box. Mail delivered to home addresses is almost unheard of. I'm going to send the paperwork to my parents first so they can add the fee and then they'll forward it onto the Chicago Lockbox. My question is, what address are USCIS going to use to send the NOA? There isn't anywhere to put a PO Box number on the i-130 and I really don't want to deal with address confusion as I'm sure that'll take forever to clear up! How can I specify where they should send paperwork?

[Roosha 51]

yea bsd I saw that, but then I also read this: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2993.html#10 and it states that the fee for the I-129f has to be paid . so there's my confusion!

[bsd058 296]

Wherever the petitioner lives is where USCIS will send the I-797C, Notice of Action. They will send it via mail. Some people do not receive it until its about a month later or not at all where mail is unreliable. You can, however, get set up on the electronic system online once they receive your petition (send it by courier like UPS or Purolator to amke sure you can track it). They will issue you a receipt number and if you wait about 10 days after they receive the peitition and call in (if you haven't received your NOA1 yet), then they should have your receipt number on file at that time. Once you're given the file number go here to check your processing status. You can set up your account online to send you notifications whenever your petition is "touched." This means that whenever someone does anything on your file you can receive a notification of the touch in your email.