K3 Visa Worth it?

[bsd058 296]

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!

That's for the K-1. They use the same form. The link I sent you shows specifically for the K-3 you do not pay anything. The link you sent me doesn't say there is a fee for the K-3. Just the I-129F form. And there is, but only if you're applying for K-1 visa. If you're applying for K-3 visa, my link is more appropriate.

[Roosha 51]

Yes but if I'm going to apply for a K3 then I need the NOA from the I-130 I'd really rather they sent it to my parents in the states and they can send it to me by fed ex. Maybe if I enclose a letter they'll be awake enough to notice it! lol

[bsd058 296]

Yes but if I'm going to apply for a K3 then I need the NOA from the I-130 I'd really rather they sent it to my parents in the states and they can send it to me by fed ex. Maybe if I enclose a letter they'll be awake enough to notice it! lol

You may have to special request that in a memo. They normally send it directly to where the petitioner lives.

Also, please see below. I clicked on your link and then clicked on the link your link sent me to in order to look up filing fees.

This is where it brought me---> http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-1055.pdf

If you scroll down to I-129f there is a special section for the K-3 that reads there is no fee to file for the K-3.

I cannot help you with receiving the I-797C part by mail, but I do know that the K-3 shouldn't cost you a penny extra to file once you have it in hand.

[Roosha 51]

bsd you are amazing, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! Really helped me get my thoughts in order

[bsd058 296]

bsd you are amazing, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! Really helped me get my thoughts in order

You're very welcome!!

[hamigirl710 112]

They have started transferring I130 petitions to USCIS offices so there is no guarantee that your case would even be adjudicated in Vermont. See the link in my signature. I say just file it and do it soon and it can't hurt to send the K3 even though more than likely it will be administratively closed when the I130 is approved.

On another note: I see you are possibly in Palestine and I am praying for you and everybody there...God Bless and stay safe!!

[Roosha 51]

Thanks for the info hami, yes I'm just going to go ahead and file the K3 once I have NOA from I-130, won't hurt and won't cost me anything extra and if for some reason I-130 is delayed I won't regret it!

Thank you for your kind thoughts but I'm not actually there, my husband holds refugee status from there but we actually live in Qatar, which is why when it asked the non-us citizen relative's country I put Palestine

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Another thing nobody has mentioned yet (maybe they don't know), but if you are residing outside the US when you file the petition, are in a non-DCF (no USCIS field office) country, and use your foreign address on the petition, you are very likely to experience expedited processing of your petition. See this thread:

http://www.visajourn...-living-abroad/

*Edit* I just noticed there have been some changes since I last checked that option, perhaps not the few-days/few-weeks process it used to be. It seems they've begun to apply a different process to petitions filed from abroad, but VJ doesn't have enough statistics to show what's really going on, and USCIS isn't really offering any clues, either...

So although it would perhaps make it more difficult to file a K3 petition, if you use your foreign address on the I-130, it would probably be faster. I haven't seen a K3 approved in years, although it's not like I sit and watch carefully for these things, but I've been on immigration forums for 5 years now and for at least the last 2 there has been no real incentive to file a K3 since it's a slower petition, it's been deemed quite obsolete and frankly I'm not sure why it's still detailed in the guides on this site as a viable option. You can file the K3, but if it's going to require using a US address and placing yourself in the standard queue for US-filed petitions, it may not be worth it when there's a pretty compelling faster option for getting an I-130 approved. And as stated previously, if you file the form for electronic notification, you will be informed of the petition approval long before you receive the paper approval notice so even using an unreliable foreign address wouldn't be terribly detrimental. Just something to consider.

Edited November 20, 2012 by GlobeHopperMama

[bt1 42]

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.

But they are already married!!!

[Roosha 51]

GlobeHopper thanks for that information, verrryyy useful! Although it looks like the trend changed as of the change of rules on August 15, 2012 but it looks like overseas applicants are still getting faster results (ie 2 months instead of about 6) but it's not as fast as before, which was about one month! Makes me want to go back in time...just 3 months! lol

I wasn't thinking of using my US address, I was going to add a note/letter/memo stating that I would prefer all paperwork to be sent to the US address instead of my address here so that paperwork is not lost. But my address here is what would be stated on all forms. That way I don't officially change which address to use and maybe get the best of both worlds?

[Dana and Divine 61]

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!

Since you are living together outside of the country and you are returning, couldn't you expedite? I would check into that. BTW, are you in the military? Just trying to think through some additional options for you to research. Good luck to you and God bless!

[Dana and Divine 61]

Another thing nobody has mentioned yet (maybe they don't know), but if you are residing outside the US when you file the petition, are in a non-DCF (no USCIS field office) country, and use your foreign address on the petition, you are very likely to experience expedited processing of your petition. See this thread:

http://www.visajourn...-living-abroad/

*Edit* I just noticed there have been some changes since I last checked that option, perhaps not the few-days/few-weeks process it used to be. It seems they've begun to apply a different process to petitions filed from abroad, but VJ doesn't have enough statistics to show what's really going on, and USCIS isn't really offering any clues, either...

So although it would perhaps make it more difficult to file a K3 petition, if you use your foreign address on the I-130, it would probably be faster. I haven't seen a K3 approved in years, although it's not like I sit and watch carefully for these things, but I've been on immigration forums for 5 years now and for at least the last 2 there has been no real incentive to file a K3 since it's a slower petition, it's been deemed quite obsolete and frankly I'm not sure why it's still detailed in the guides on this site as a viable option. You can file the K3, but if it's going to require using a US address and placing yourself in the standard queue for US-filed petitions, it may not be worth it when there's a pretty compelling faster option for getting an I-130 approved. And as stated previously, if you file the form for electronic notification, you will be informed of the petition approval long before you receive the paper approval notice so even using an unreliable foreign address wouldn't be terribly detrimental. Just something to consider.

Sorry, seems like someone else also thought of this! Good...I pray this is an option you can take advantage of right away.

[Roosha 51]

I don't think I can officially expedite, and if I can I'd appreciate a nudge in the right direction on how to find out! But it seems like overseas USC applicants are still being expedited, just not as fast as before...

[bestofboston 36]

I processed both a I-130 and a I-129 after receiving the NOA1 for the I-130 back in 2010

Both were approved at the USCIS but the I-129 is closed-out at the NVC because of the I-130 being processed at the NVC.

I have not read of anyone actually receiving a K-3 visa since I have been on VISA Journey website in the past 3 years.

I have always read that the K-3 visa is dead meaning it always dies at the National Visa Center (NVC).

Do not sent original NOAs with I-129. You can have people in states scan NOA1 in PDF format and email it to you because you only need a copy to sent in with I-129 if you deem that you think its worth the effort. I did in hopes that I could get my wife here sooner only to later find out that it was a waste of time and money for mailing in the forms.

I-129 submittal does not cost more if you are processing a I-130. Its just a waste of time.

Edited November 20, 2012 by bestofboston