K3.....Really?

[Lakehouse 293]

I am so happy for you Dreamers!! Congratulations!!

[essibeng 0]

I-130 takes exactly 11months to process. I-129F takes exactly 6 months. I applied April 30th for I-130 and May 7th for I-129F. We got approved this month. Obviously it not obsolete since I-130 is slow and not catching up with I-130. We still need to wait 4 to 5 months for the I-130 to approve! You still have two mnths, and it will take EXACTLY 2 months to get a response.......All the best to you!!

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

I-130 takes exactly 11months to process. I-129F takes exactly 6 months. I applied April 30th for I-130 and May 7th for I-129F. We got approved this month. Obviously it not obsolete since I-130 is slow and not catching up with I-130. We still need to wait 4 to 5 months for the I-130 to approve! You still have two mnths, and it will take EXACTLY 2 months to get a response.......All the best to you!!

Could you please update your timeline?

And it doesn't take exactly 6 or 11 months. There is no exact timeline for any type of visa.

Some VJers got their NOA2s sooner, some later. No rule here..

Congrats though!

[essibeng 0]

I love this group of positive people!!

[LoveMyTico 999]

I-130 takes exactly 11months to process. I-129F takes exactly 6 months. I applied April 30th for I-130 and May 7th for I-129F. We got approved this month. Obviously it not obsolete since I-130 is slow and not catching up with I-130. We still need to wait 4 to 5 months for the I-130 to approve! You still have two mnths, and it will take EXACTLY 2 months to get a response.......All the best to you!!

Did you buy a crystal ball? Can you see into the future???

My crystal ball is on the fritz. Otherwise, I'd be able to see exactly when my file will be processed.

I've been waiting 7 months so far for my I-130 and only a month for my K-3. April files have started to transfer to service centers.. Hopefully mine will be transferred next week and I won't be waiting 11 months.

Edited November 16, 2013 by LoveMyTico

[NikLR 13,227]

LOL exactly 6 months for the I-130!!! My entire process took 8 months. I-130 was exactly 4 months. It was just under 4 months until my interview. I received my green card exactly 9 months from putting the I-130 in the mail.

[JA_Martinez 81]

I posted this on another thread but felt perhaps it might be helpful here as well.

We filed our I-130 end of June. Studied timelines and USCIS processing times and realized they were starting to drag. Called the USCIS to see if they could tell me if my petition was still really at the NBC, which they confirmed. In the same breath, the CS person referred me to the K3 telling me that was of course an option to pursue. Sounded more promising, so that's what we did (I had already resigned myself to knowing it was going to cost us a whole lot more to have to adjust status from the US, take more time to get work and driving permits, etc, but I was ready to deal with that if I could get him here sooner. Thus we filed the 129F/K3 application in August.

Since then, while I was already reading on VJ that K3's were no longer really being processed and 130's and 129's being joined, I've continued to check on both of my applications hoping VJ folks were wrong.

Several weeks ago I decided to follow other VJ advice and asked my congresspersons for assistance, moreso just to get someone to tell them where our documents are (this was when the news started coming out about petitions/applications being transferred out to the other VPC's).

Response back from my congressperson was pretty quick, probably about a week or so. USCIS responded that "our I-130 & I-129f had been joined together and would be adjudicated together IN MAY! A couple of points I got out of this response were: 1) K3's really aren't moving on their own so that is pretty much a waste of time and energy and 2) IF we are really adjudicated in May, that will put us at exactly 11mths, altho I'm going to guess that that's an estimate and could change tomorrow.....most likely they counted out 11mths based on what the processing trend appears to be today and said MAY, not like they actually KNOW it will be done in May. Kind of had to resign myself to the reverse explaination as being the real one.

This however was good enough for me! Oh no, I had to go back in for one more inquiry! I asked my congressperson if they would please (re)-inquire about the 129F/K3 application and if/why it's not being processed seperately as was the intention when the darn thing was put in to law! Heard back just this morning from my congressperson regarding the status of our 129F/K3 application:

"The processing time frame for I-130 and I-129F are the same. If the petitioner files the I-129F it is matched with the I-130 petition and are adjudicated together.

The NBC will expedite the I-130/I-129F if it meets the expedite criteria. Due to the extremely high volume of expedite requests for this case type, we are strictly enforcing the criteria that has been set for these expedite requests.

Based on the information provided, we are unable to expedite the processing of this case. All expedite requests must be accompanied by supporting documents that demonstrate that one or more of the expedite criteria have been met."

So there it is.....clearly nothing else will be done with our K3; ain't gonna happen. We're gonna sit here with all you other fine folks and wait.

Good luck to you all, and good luck to you "Dreamers"....hope they see your needs and reasons and help you get through to each other soon.

[Lenzwei 14]

I called the USCIS and found a helpful representative that explained to me that it is beneficial for me to file the 1-129F (K3) because...

I filed the I-130 and received my receipt on May 6th, 2013 Currently they are processing I-130's from October of 2012.

I filed the I-129F and received my receipt on October 31, 2013. Which they say has a processing time of 5 months.

Hopefully either the I-129F will be approved in 5 months, (end of March '14) or the I-130 will be approved in 11 months, (beginning of April '14)

Either way, it is a long process and I'm trying very hard to be patient.

I only wish when I called the USCIS several times in the last 6 months, someone would have told me about the I-129F perhaps in June because if I had filed it back then, we would probably be quite a bit further along in the process.

Oh well, I guess I didn't ask the right questions...

One last note, the I-129F didn't cost me anything because I've already paid for the I-130.

[NikLR 13,227]

The I-129F doesn't cost anything more. the adjustment of status should your spouse come to the USA as a K3 will.

[Husakovic 31]

I'm definetelly planning to file for a K3. It's worth a try. What documents and evidence is necessary to file for a K3 visa?

[Lakehouse 293]

http://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

Read up on the instructions in this link for starters. It's what you send to initiate a K3 approach.

[Kate52 5]

I too, filed both I-130 and 129F (K3) back in early April. I too, spoke to a Tier 2 and got our congressman involved. Same reply -- both at NBC and BOTH will be adjudicated together (whenever that will be). By the way each time I pass through the US land border (go once a week to shop) they also suggest I file for a K3 -- but then they are Customs and Border Patrol and NOT Immigration Officers!

[NikLR 13,227]

CBP are woefully ignorant of the actual immigration system. Thankfully they know how to do their paperwork (most of the time) but that's about it.

[RandyW 149]

I'm seeing some I-129F for K-3 processing times on VJ for THIS YEAR - we'd be doing a disservice by telling people (or implying that) they're NOT AVAILABLE or OBSOLETE.

http://www.visajourn...nt/k3historical

This chart says a lot - over 400 days processing at CSC, closer to 200 to 300 days at the other service centers. This is the time from NOA1 to NOA2 for I-130's

The K-3 processing times are in the 60 to 200 day range.

. . . and the overall time from I-130 NOA1 to K-3 interview time - around 300 days

The potential savings is there for a K-3 - why wouldn't you throw your hat in the ring, especially if your I-130 is at CSC?

Edited November 21, 2013 by RandyW

[RandyW 149]

The USCIS policy on K-3 processing - it's not clear if this extends to the Dept. of State processing AFTER it's already been forwarded

http://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/k3-k4-visa/k-3k-4-nonimmigrant-visas

The Limitations of the K-3/K-4 Nonimmigrant Visa

When the K-3’s I-130 reaches the Department of State, an immigrant visa is immediately available to him or her such that the he or she and his or her children are no longer eligible for K-3/K-4 nonimmigrant status, but rather must immigrate as lawful permanent residents.

Basically, that the K-3/K-4 are NO LONGER AVAILABLE once the "K-3’s I-130 reaches the Department of State". It's not clear that that is based on an actual law, or if it's simply another USCIS policy that is ripe for a lawsuit, like the over-21 K-2 policy was, but that's what you're up against with the I-130/I-129F horse race these days.

Edited November 21, 2013 by RandyW