Filing the I-129 together with the I130, has anyone done this? Does it speed up the process?

[NoeliayRonny 9]

Is this possible?

[TBoneTX 45,273]

The I-129F is 99.9999% certain to be closed at the NVC or consular stage, so no.

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the CR-1 Case Progress subforum. ***

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to K3 Process & Procedures.

[RD007 4]

Never heard of this....I think its either one or the other

[bukerjw 0]

I am a May Filer, I tried it, thinking it might. Didn't. I got transferred with the bulk of May filers in December. I was actually transferred later than many of them (Dec 27).

[NikLR 13,227]

You can file it but a K3 visa makes it through the NVC about .33% of the time. Really its pointless.

[nightingalejules 678]

You can't apply for them at the same time; you need to include a copy of your NOA 1 for the i130 in the application package for the I-129f petition.

I say go for it though... It doesn't cost any more (except postage) to send in the i129f and a chance that it'll work is better than no chance, right?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You have to have the reciept from the I130 to file the I129 F so no you can't send them together read the instructions

[NikLR 13,227]

You can't apply for them at the same time; you need to include a copy of your NOA 1 for the i130 in the application package for the I-129f petition.

I say go for it though... It doesn't cost any more (except postage) to send in the i129f and a chance that it'll work is better than no chance, right?

You understand that an actual K3 visa ends up costing twice as much as a CR1 right? Filing the I-129F may be free but the end result would be an adjustment of status vs an immediate green card. All to save a month or two if you are in the 0.33% to get the K3 visa.

[nightingalejules 678]

You understand that an actual K3 visa ends up costing twice as much as a CR1 right? Filing the I-129F may be free but the end result would be an adjustment of status vs an immediate green card. All to save a month or two if you are in the 0.33% to get the K3 visa.

I understand that it can cost much more, that it rarely happens, etc etc etc. Believe me, anybody who mentions the K3 gets hit with the warning stick! But for me, for example, the additional cost of the K3 is completely balanced out by how much it will cost to fly across Canada to Montreal (and stay and eat there) for the CR-1 interview. According to the US Consulate website, they do K3 interviews in Vancouver, which is where I live.

So for me, it's really a wash. For many people in Canada (given how expensive Montreal is and how much it costs to fly within Canada - one of the reasons I want to live in the US!) the final financial cost would be the same.

Honestly, though, why are people hating on the K3? Maybe it's obsolete, although we know it's not completely so, because the occasional one keeps trickling in. So it's a chance. And it makes us feel like we're doing everything we possibly can, which is kind of empowering at a time when otherwise we feel completely powerless to improve our situation. Yes, it's unlikely that anything will come of it, but what's the harm?

[NikLR 13,227]

I had to fly from Alberta and stay a week. If you are close to Vancouver you only have to stay a night in Montreal! There is a panel physician in Surrey you can use! Staying longer is your own choice. I never wanted a K3 but if you feel it's ideal for you then I hope it goes to plan. We hate on it because 1) it costs more immigration wise 2) you have to wait 3 months to work (or as a Canadian collect ei) 3)it's processed in the same amount of time so for the USCIS to promote it like it's really a viable option is really annoying. Either make it a possibility or don't. But to dangle 0.33% in front of people is just mean! but if it gives someone hope and they feel better because they can fill out more paperwork, then all the power to them.

[marapot 3]

I-130 PETITIONS APPROVED IN 96 DAYS AND I-129F PETITION APPROVED IN 77 DAYS!!!

As you can see from my timeline I pasted below, my I-130 petitions were approved in 96 days and my I-129 petition was approved in 77 days. My Philippine beneficiaries are my wife and step-daughter. My Philippine beneficiaries do NOT live in the area hit by the recent super typhoon. Our case was NOT an expedited criteria. Finally, I didn't do anything special other than submit the forms and documents required by USCIS. Don't get me wrong, although I don't know how my case has progressed so quickly, I am really very happy with the progress so far.

From my timeline below, I submitted my I-130 petitions just last SEP 27, 2013 and submitted my I-129 petition last OCT 16, 2013.

CSC in Laguna Nigel, CA approved both my I-130 and I-129 petitions just this JAN 6, 2014 and forwarded them to NVC Portsmouth, NH. NVC Portsmouth received the petitions JAN 15, 2014. Yesterday (JAN 17, 2014), I received 2 e-mails from NVC Portsmouth stating they have started processing our I-130 (the e-mails requested completion of DS-261 and paying the Affidavit of Support processing fee, which we did). As mentioned in another thread, the K3 will be "cancelled" if NVC receives and processes the I-130 first. I was previously aware of same - that NVC will administratively close the I-129 if I-130 is being processed - but called NVC anyway just to confirm and yes, they confirmed that they will be administratively closing my approved I-129 petition since my approved I-130 petition is already being processed. Currently completing my Affidavit of Support (in my case, I-864EZ) and should have it submitted by next week.

So is it worth submitting a K-3? In my opinion, K-3 was and is still worth submitting. It is afterall, provided as a free option for I-130 filers. In the best case scenario like mine, my I-130s (received by NBC Kansas) and I-129 (received by NBC Missouri) somehow all managed to make their way to CSC in Laguna Nigel, California were they were all approved on the same date and forwarded to NVC. Yes, NVC decided to process my I-130 hence my I-129 will be administratively closed (probably the reason why some filers think K-3 is obsolete or not worth submitting) but considering the worst-case scenario where an I-130 application approval is delayed, then filing an I-129 could potentially be a faster option and fall back, albeit eventually a more expensive option (due to the Adjustment of Status fee for K3 / K4s which is around $1K per beneficiary).

Event Date Service Center : National Benefits Center Consulate : Manila, Philippines Marriage : 2013-01-18 I-130 Sent : 2013-09-27 I-130 NOA1 : 2013-10-02 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-129F Sent : 2013-10-16 I-129F NOA1 : 2013-10-21 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2014-01-06 NVC Received : 2014-01-15 NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : Interview Result : Second Interview
(If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : US Entry : I-130 Approval : 2014-01-06 Comments : Processing
Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 77 days from your NOA1 date.

Your I-130 was approved in 96 days from your NOA1 date.

[NikLR 13,227]

I hate seeing people say it's a free option. Sure the I-129F petition is free, but in all the visa path costs more. That's important to say IMHO.

[GreenMetro 5]

It wont speed up your process at all. I filed a K-3 about 4 months after filing my I-130. I filed the K-3 because it was free for me to file it and because I didn't care about the higher cost in the long run. My K-3 and I-130 got approved a day apart. It didn't speed up the process or slow it down. In theory the K-3 is a faster route, but that's only if USCIS does the job of approving petitions in a timely manner. Which they don't. I can say from personal experience that you have nothing to loose by filing a K-3 except for a little of your time and a little money later on.

[TBoneTX 45,273]

*** Thread moved from K-3 Process forum to the "What Visa Do I Need" forum -- content discusses comparisons. ***