Question about spouse visa; I-130 vs K-3, etc

[Alfia & John 10]

Good morning all;

Can someone give me a bit more information about the I-130, Petition for Alien Relative? I have read some conflicting information; some information seems to indicate that this is a faster way to bring you spouse to USA (Russian citizen is beneficiary, USA citizen is petitionier). Another site seemed to indicate there was sort of a lottery involved, one must wait for an available visa number before being able to bring the spouse on I-130. Irina mentioned she had read something about an immediate marriage visa that was enacted June 2013 for humanitarian reasons (getting families together faster, not because of any emergency). Had anyone heard of this?

Is there currently a faster method than the K-3/CR-1 visa. According to the timelines, the K-3 seems to be running at about 7 months. This is a real improvement from a couple years ago but still a long time to be separated.

Thanks for all assistance.

[baron555 934]

The K-3 is obsolete, so the CR-1 one is the way to go if you wish to marry her there and then bring her over.

Yes the visa lottery is available, but it's random and I believe the wait is about 5 years.

The K-1 seems to be the fastest way but it costs more and she can not work immediately.

Read the Guides for your best info on each process. Yes you will be apart (you can always go visit and you both can visit in a third country and maybe she'll be granted a visitor's visa) for a number of months. Decide and file and get moving.

[Alfia & John 10]

Thanks Phil

Edited January 13, 2014 by moosescape

[Turboguy 6]

The government doesn't do anything fast. There isn't a lot of difference in the processing time between a K-1 and IR-1 or CR-1 and yes the K-3 is history. If you are married now the K-1 isn't an option. It is only for people engaged to be married to bring her here to marry. The IR-1 and CR-1 are very similar. One applies if you have been married less than 2 years and the other is if you have been married more than two years. The paperwork is pretty much the same. There is nothing you can do to expedite things.

Edited January 20, 2014 by Turboguy