K-3 Vs. CR-1 Visa HELP!

[AdnanS 82]

As compared to earlier processing, they are now hell slow. Earlier i-130 was getting approved in 3 to 5 months, now it can take 8 to 12 months.

Yeah. Thats true also, well we still got time to wait let's see what happens mid-2014 your also a december filer like me. Join the Dec 2014 thread somewhere around here bro.

[Bradrean 15]

Also is there any harm in even applying for the K-3 as there is no filing fee for Form I-129F? If they both get processed at the same time then the K-3 get's dropped and automatically turns into the CR-1 Visa.

Is it therefore not worth the chance in case the I-130 really does take a long time? (8+ months)

Thanks

[Bradrean 15]

Darcy- I have NO IDEA why everyone is saying k-3 / i29f isn't worth it. Our i130 noa1 is nov 2013, and i129f noa1 dec 2013. I did the k-3 path because I had a long and cry filled discussion WITH AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER. He told me that the 130 will take up to 11 months. He TOLD ME to apply for the k-3 path... Since it only takes 5 months. If the CR is going faster now- great! Then it'll be around the same time and k-3 will drop. However if it's not, the k-3 will be worth it. It's ALL theories and misinformation about pulling out of queues and all that. Believe me I've called uscis MULTIPLE times to confirm all this - I mean like 2 hour waits to talk to an officer. I went for it. You should too! There's NO harm.

[Hypnos 6,576]

You can file for the K-3, it's just very very very unlikely that you'll receive it; if you enjoy filling forms though, have at it.

[NikLR 13,227]

K3 happen 0.33% of the time. I've done the math based of DOS figures.

[Bradrean 15]

I talked to an officer again this morning (they prob know me by name now). He said the reason there's barely any k-3s is because people are scared that it will mess with the process times of the 130. He assured me they are being processed and that they just don't get many. He reaffirmed that they take half the time as 130s. I'm taking my chances. No matter what it's FREE to apply and it CANT hurt. If there's 1000$ AOS later... I will pay it I just want us to go to US. The few people who actually did a k-3 had success. When an IO tells me straight up that no one files for them and he hardly sees them and it's because of what everyone is saying here- they're scared... I'm going to take his advise than from people from online that haven't done one or done the calling and research. I'll keep you all posted. I guess the only way we'll know is when it happens or doesn't. I'll be the guinea pig.

[Bradrean 15]

Hypnos- how do you know it's unlikely? Is it from people SAYING theirs didn't go through? Or just a guess?

If my k-3 doesn't work cuz my 130 goes at the same time... Great! But it won't unless they picked up process times of 130s from 11 months to 5...

[Bradrean 15]

NLR - there's only .33% of the time k-3s cuz there's barely any that are submitted! The IO told me "honestly we hardly see any anymore but they're being processed and they are still at half the time as 130s"

[NikLR 13,227]

NLR - there's only .33% of the time k-3s cuz there's barely any that are submitted! The IO told me "honestly we hardly see any anymore but they're being processed and they are still at half the time as 130s"

If you choose to believe so that's fine. We'll look at the number after the 2013 year since the USCIS has been telling people to file K3's. I have no idea why since it's THEIR policy to match up the I-129F and the I-130 and process them together. That means whatever timeline they seem to think they have for the I-129F is moot because they're not processing them separately. So whatever that misinformation line is telling you, doesn't work in real life. Due to THEIR policy! If they were, the K3 would be a viable option, but they are NOT. As evidenced by the fact that 1) you send the i-129F to the service center which is processing your i-130 as per their instructions, 2) people who are chasing the k3 who have USCIS case numbers for the I-129F in a place where they do not process I-129F (aka National Benefits Center for example, and 3) that people on this board are getting their I-129F and I-130 approved on the same date, subsequently sent to the NVC who close the I-129F path (or if they manage to send it on, it's closed by the embassy or consulate.) It's very rare to get one. The NVC created their policy because of the USCIS policy.

BUT after the 2013 figures are in we can revisit the math and see exactly how many are approved by the DOS (aka the consulates and embassies.)

Also they are an ISO > Immigration Services Officer

Edited February 1, 2014 by NLR

[Bradrean 15]

Where does it say they are processing them together? If they do that means 129 pushes the 130 to go faster then.. Because all the stories I read about 129s and 130s being put thru together were both processed at the same time - 6 months. In that case... That's fine! I'm going to call them again on Monday to ask for sure If they do process them together, and if they do... Why they say 129 is faster... Should be interesting. He swore to me today 129s go thru in 5 months -- about half the time as 130s. What we need is the actual number of 129s from 2013 applied for and number which actually got approved. I'll keep updating every time I call so we all know.

[Bradrean 15]

Oh and just FYI for those going for k3, I sent mine to Texas and it ended up in nebraska where the 130 is. The ARN changed on the 130 a bit later and I was told by uscis that it's prob for the 129..ie now both petitions have the same ARN on it, so it can be linked to the same people. Case numbers are different, this is the alien reg number I'm talking about.

[NikLR 13,227]

It is an I-129F. Please get the petition name right. 129 is not a petition and I-129 is for a different beast entirely. It actually is important. And you cannot look by how many I-129F are filed because the petition is also used for fiancé visa routes. In the end you can only look at the visas which are granted by the DOS. We will see if there are more K3 granted than in 2012 (which was 211 I think, out of over 40000 spousal visas) because the USCIS is trying to push K3 visas. If you think about it, of course the USCIS want people to get a K3 visa because it means more money for the USCIS via the adjustment of status.

[dwheels76 5,468]

I talked to an officer again this morning (they prob know me by name now). He said the reason there's barely any k-3s is because people are scared that it will mess with the process times of the 130. He assured me they are being processed and that they just don't get many. He reaffirmed that they take half the time as 130s. I'm taking my chances. No matter what it's FREE to apply and it CANT hurt. If there's 1000$ AOS later... I will pay it I just want us to go to US. The few people who actually did a k-3 had success. When an IO tells me straight up that no one files for them and he hardly sees them and it's because of what everyone is saying here- they're scared... I'm going to take his advise than from people from online that haven't done one or done the calling and research. I'll keep you all posted. I guess the only way we'll know is when it happens or doesn't. I'll be the guinea pig.

You realize you have two theories going here. Of course the I-129F is being processed whether a stand-alone or in conjunction with a I-130. Yes by order of USCIS (they did tell this in the Summit meeting back in September they are adjudicating them together).

I know about every couple i talk to since January (about 100) about 1/2 have sent in the I-129f. Both were approved within minutes or days of each other the I-129f was closed. Some are still waiting for either to be approved (some waiting still 8 to 10 months).

Of the I129F I have seen go to embassy and processed in the last 3 years I been on VJ and outside of VJ (4 to be exact) it saved the couple about 2 weeks because the I-130 was already at the NVC. No more months ahead or years ahead.

What a K3 Visa use to deliver doesn't exist anymore that is fact. But if spending more money to get here a week or month earlier is okay than go for it. No harm no foul.

Also another fact. USCIS will always say anything to fudge the numbers. Like their processing. I know I-129F's who are still waiting (pass 8 months now) yet a friend of mine who just filed beginning of January just got approved yesterday.

They are reporting K3 processing in 5 months. Really? That's laughable. But if you have one at 12 months and one at 7 I guess 5 months is their average right.

[Bradrean 15]

I guess we'll have to wait and see, and hopefully what they say is true I guess. If i-130s take 11 months and I-129fs take 5 I'll be happy to pay the money. I wish I could rely on those times but I guess it's calling the tier 2 people and trusting them until I have a reason not to (like when 5 months go by and nothing happens..). I'm with my spouse in Australia but I REALLY want to go back home but with him. My visa here runs out in July. So I don't know what to do.

[Bradrean 15]

And if what you guys are saying is true, it pisses me off that they can flat out lie to us about i129f being 5 months. How can they do that?