Canadian would actually prefer a K-3

[nightingalejules 678]

I know that I-130s are usually married up with the I-129f and approved together, etc, etc, etc. what I'm wondering is whether anyone has tried to go ahead with the K3 rather than the IR1/CR1. I live in Vancouver, and the costs to fly to Montreal and stay there for the interview process (particularly since my USC husband would want to accompany me- if I have to go to Montreal, we might as well make the best of it) is way more costly than the extra money it costs to go the AOS route.

If we were able to go with the K3, we can interview a 10 minute drive from home, and maybe wait a little less. Has anyone actually gotten a K3 from Canada?

[lost_at_sea 995]

No one's gotten a K3 from anywhere lately (I think I saw NLR say she's seen like, 10... EVER... during her time on VJ. I've never seen one since I've been on here.).

They seem to just immediately marry up the I-129f (for the K3) with the I-130 (for the IR/CR-1) and they both just truck along together - so the K3 never wins the race.

There's some discussion about the K3 here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/463739-k-3-visa-is-it-still-an-active-or-an-obsolete-visa/

Edited January 5, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[Cathi 5,794]

A k3 is not a stand alone visa, you cannot file for one rather than an i130(as you state in your original post). You have to file for and have receipt of an i130 before you can send an i129 petition for a k3. You can do what you want, but your k3 won't be approved first and more often than not, it slows down the i130.

Edited January 5, 2014 by mimolicious

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

There was one I saw approved a couple of months ago here on VJ, but they are extremely rare. As mentioned by the others, you have to file for both and take your chances, but it is extremely unlikely you'll be able to go through with the K3 even if you want to.

[NikLR 13,232]

Look at emilys. She was a Canadian last year also trying for a K3. Im not even sure a K3 would go through Vancouver but it may.

If you live very near Vancouver you can do your medical there and then do an overnight trip to Montreal. The most expensive part of Montreal for me was staying 7 days. It would have been cheaper to fly there and back twice actually.

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration forum to K3 Progress Reports.

[nightingalejules 678]

A k3 is not a stand alone visa, you cannot file for one rather than an i130(as you state in your original post). You have to file for and have receipt of an i130 before you can send an i129 petition for a k3. You can do what you want, but your k3 won't be approved first and more often than not, it slows down the i130.

I didn't mean to imply that I hadn't sent in my I-130 package - of course I have. What I meant was that if I got notification of the approval of the I-129f first, which does seem to happen in some cases, I would try to jump on that, rather than wait for the I-130 approval.

I understand that in 99% of cases the I-130 is approved more or less at the same time and probably the I-129f will be administratively closed by the time they make it to NVC. But I figure it's worth a shot. Judging by the spreadsheets I've seen, people who filed both don't get approved any later than average, and according to the Vancouver consulate web page they do process K-3 visas.

At least it feels like I'm doing something, even if it's a very long shot. Better odds than the lottery!

[nightingalejules 678]

Look at emilys. She was a Canadian last year also trying for a K3. Im not even sure a K3 would go through Vancouver but it may.

If you live very near Vancouver you can do your medical there and then do an overnight trip to Montreal. The most expensive part of Montreal for me was staying 7 days. It would have been cheaper to fly there and back twice actually.

Yes, if I/we go to Montreal for the interview I'd definitely get my medical done here! We'd probably try to make a holiday out of the trip... neither of us has ever been there! But it's over a $500 flight for each of us, not including a place to stay or incidentals.

It seems crazy to me that there's only one place to do these interviews in a country as large as Canada!

[NikLR 13,232]

Yep its not cheap, effective, or convenient for the western half of Canada.

[Kate52 5]

Married 22 yrs, also living in B.C. Filed I-130 then for K3. Both were filed in early April. BOTH petitions will be adjudicated together. Both were transferred to Texas on December 12. K3 will not be issued (also confirmed by our congressman). Husband and 2 kids (all dual citizens) living in the U.S. Without me. I figure another month before approved, 2 months to transfer file to NVC, 2 months to get through NVC and then 3 month wait for visa interview....so hopefully by Sept 1st.

[bukerjw 0]

I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I would prefer the K3 for the same reasons, but it's not happening for me. My I-130 and I129f both got transferred at the same time. They just stick em together with a paperclip and then the I129f gets cancelled because the I130 is processed.

No way to make them give you a K3.

[nightingalejules 678]

I just read on another forum about someone who's put in a service request to ask for the k3 to go ahead in favour of the ir-1 - I'm interested in seeing what happens with that!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/424498-april-2013-i-130-filers/?p=6761369