What are my chances?

[mizzle 0]

K-3 visas are rarely issued anymore, due to IR-1 / CR-1 visas being processed faster than they were a few years ago.

If you apply for a K-3 it will usually be administratively closed.

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean, 'administratively closed'? Thanks. I was kind of thinking it would be my best option since I would be able to travel to the US while its still in progress.

[Hypnos 6,576]

http://travel.state....pes_2993.html#5

It used to take USCIS over a year to process IR-1 and CR-1 visas, so the K-3 was useful because aliens could enter the US on a K-3 and wait out the time for their IR-1 / CR-1 to be approved. Now, with IR-1 / CR-1 visas being issued in around 8 months (thereabouts), by the time it came to process the I-129F and get the K-3 issued, the I-130 for the IR-1 / CR-1 was already approved, so the purpose of the K-3 (to wait out time until the IR-1 / CR-1 was approved) became moot.

K-3s are still issued, but rarely.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Hypnos

[Darnell 8,478]

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/

[Mina90 134]

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean, 'administratively closed'? Thanks. I was kind of thinking it would be my best option since I would be able to travel to the US while its still in progress.

http://travel.state....pes_2993.html#5

It used to take USCIS over a year to process IR-1 and CR-1 visas, so the K-3 was useful because aliens could enter the US on a K-3 and wait out the time for their IR-1 / CR-1 to be approved. Now, with IR-1 / CR-1 visas being issued in around 8 months (thereabouts), by the time it came to process the I-129F and get the K-3 issued, the I-130 for the IR-1 / CR-1 was already approved, so the purpose of the K-3 (to wait out time until the IR-1 / CR-1 was approved) became moot.

K-3s are still issued, but rarely.

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/

Darnell and Hypnos basically gave you the reply I was going to give. When I said obsolete, I meant it is outdated and has fallen into disuse. Yes, they still do have the option of filing K3 visas but getting it is rare. CR1/IR1 visas do not take as long as it used to (i.e. it used to take a years which is why the K3 would have been beneficial to apply for back then). Nowadays, the CR1/IR1 is approved faster (within an average of 6-9 months). If you do apply for the K3 while your CR1/IR1 is pending, the chances are, before the K3 is even processed, your CR1/IR1 will be completed. When that happens, USCIS will automatically close your K3 visa and it will not be issued, hence the term "administratively closed".

[Ryan H 3,812]

If you do apply for the K3 while your CR1/IR1 is pending, the chances are, before the K3 is even processed, your CR1/IR1 will be completed. When that happens, USCIS will automatically close your K3 visa and it will not be issued, hence the term "administratively closed".

This is not correct. USCIS has nothing to do with administrative closure of an I-129F that was filed to start the K3 process nor do they have anything to do with issuing visas.

Administrative closure of an I-129F that was filed to start the K3 process occurs at the NVC if the NVC already has an approved I-130 on-station.

[Mina90 134]

This is not correct. USCIS has nothing to do with administrative closure of an I-129F that was filed to start the K3 process nor do they have anything to do with issuing visas.

Administrative closure of an I-129F that was filed to start the K3 process occurs at the NVC if the NVC already has an approved I-130 on-station.

I stand corrected. You are correct, it is at the NVC.