ONLY K3 HOLDERS CAN ANSWER PLEASE OR SOMEONE WHO HAVE IT

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Over 1200 people with K-3 visa's entered the US in 2013....it's not obsolete.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ois_ni_fr_2013.pdf

My guess it is mostly people that are not ready to move to the us permanently yet

Honestly with those numbers I would consider it as many have stated in this thread virtually obsolete.

61 million Non-Immigrant Visa's issued

K3 = 1262 That is (%0.00002067081)

Now if we go further down and focus purely on the Visa's that are issued for Immigration Purposes (K1)

K1 = 26046

K3 = 1262

And if you look at the Trend of issuance.

2009 = 12937 K3 Visas Issued

2010 = 25615 K3 Visas Issued

2011 = 17874 K3 Visas Issued

2012 = 4534 K3 Visas Issued

2013 = 1262 K3 Visas Issued

In an area where the K3 Visas used to equal between 50% and 80% of the K1 visas being issued, down to it being 0.05% of the K3 Visas being issued, it is clear that the USCIS is obsoleting the visa. In a time where Visa applications are rising year after year, this one visa is on a steady path of decline.

And please ignore everything I wrote above, as I am applying for a K1 for my Fiancee, and not a K3.

Edited December 28, 2015 by Chris.M

[Pennycat 880]

Over 1200 people with K-3 visa's entered the US in 2013....it's not obsolete.

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ois_ni_fr_2013.pdf

My guess it is mostly people that are not ready to move to the us permanently yet

2 to 3 years ago, after the number issued was reduced to 10% of what it used to be, in the fact of direct, personal experience from people who have attempted much more recently.

OP-- I'd listen to the people here. I'm sorry if you want a different answer, or if you paid someone for advice and/or to help you file. But it is extremely unlikely that you will find anyone with recent experience with the K3 because no one (here, at least), has gotten one recently. That's because, as told to you many many times already, they administratively close the K3s at NVC because the IR1/CR1s are faster now.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Honestly with those numbers I would consider it as many have stated in this thread virtually obsolete.

61 million Non-Immigrant Visa's issued

K3 = 1262 That is (%0.00002067081)

Now if we go further down and focus purely on the Visa's that are issued for Immigration Purposes (K1)

K1 = 26046

K3 = 1262

And if you look at the Trend of issuance.

2009 = 12937 K3 Visas Issued

2010 = 25615 K3 Visas Issued

2011 = 17874 K3 Visas Issued

2012 = 4534 K3 Visas Issued

2013 = 1262 K3 Visas Issued

In an area where the K3 Visas used to equal between 50% and 80% of the K1 visas being issued, down to it being 0.05% of the K3 Visas being issued, it is clear that the USCIS is obsoleting the visa. In a time where Visa applications are rising year after year, this one visa is on a steady path of decline.

And please ignore everything I wrote above, as I am applying for a K1 for my Fiancee, and not a K3.

Comparing apples to oranges.

A K-1 applicant does not have another visa option.

A K-3 has the option of a IR1/CR1.

A more appropriate comparison would be between K3 and IR1/CR1.

It seems the annadotal evidence is that more people are going put through the IR1/CR1 route when K3 cases are administratively closed.

[JFH 12,190]

Comparing apples to oranges.

A K-1 applicant does not have another visa option.

A K-3 has the option of a IR1/CR1.

A more appropriate comparison would be between K3 and IR1/CR1.

It seems the annadotal evidence is that more people are going put through the IR1/CR1 route when K3 cases are administratively closed.

A K-3 applicant doesn't really have an "option". There is now really only one visa process for spouses (as with fiancées). Those who have applied for a K-3 have been forcibly re-routed into a CR-1 anyway. As people here have experienced.

[aaron2020 11,651]

A K-3 applicant doesn't really have an "option". There is now really only one visa process for spouses (as with fiancées). Those who have applied for a K-3 have been forcibly re-routed into a CR-1 anyway. As people here have experienced.

Option was a poor word choice.

A fiancée has one route.

A spouse can go into the K-3 rout or IR1/CR1 route. If a person is not going through K-3, then the person is going IR1/CR1.

Comparing visas for a spouse to a fiancée is not appropriate since its two different groups. This is the problem with comparing K1 to K3.

[Expat1 971]

i need to see here K3 holders or underprocess,others plz don't comment.

COM'N K3

We got a K3. It was issued in 2008 and processed in 2007 the last year they processed the petitions separately.

Why don't you listen to what you are being told. Your I129F and I130 will be approved together, they will subsequently toss your I129F, and you will get a CR1 immigrant visa.

Edited December 28, 2015 by Expat1

[Henry357 70]

They are still be issued - they are not obsolete as stated.

They only close the K-3 if you also follow the CR/IR-1 route. You can still get a K-3. http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/article26.html

There would be some cases where you would want a K-3 over a IR-1. An example is that you live abroad but do not wish to move to the US until you find a job in the US. Using K-3 you would have 2 years to look for a job - IR-1 would give you 6 months. (I don't think you are even suppose to enter the US with IR-1 until you permanently move there) Also, some consulates (Vancouver) only issue non-immigrate visas.

I could also see someone applying for a K-3 visa after being turned down for a B-2, but has no plans on moving to the US at all.

[Ryan H 3,818]

They only close the K-3 if you also follow the CR/IR-1 route.

This sentence is not worded correctly. K3 is administratively closed when an approved I-130 is on station at either the NVC or at the Embassy or Consulate.

[Expat1 971]

They are still be issued - they are not obsolete as stated.

They only close the K-3 if you also follow the CR/IR-1 route. You can still get a K-3. http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/article26.html

There would be some cases where you would want a K-3 over a IR-1. An example is that you live abroad but do not wish to move to the US until you find a job in the US. Using K-3 you would have 2 years to look for a job - IR-1 would give you 6 months. (I don't think you are even suppose to enter the US with IR-1 until you permanently move there) Also, some consulates (Vancouver) only issue non-immigrate visas.

I could also see someone applying for a K-3 visa after being turned down for a B-2, but has no plans on moving to the US at all.

Every K3 filer in history was on the IR1/CR1 route in parallel to the K3 route. Where they used to go to separate places, they are now processed and approved together. This happened in 2008 or 2009 and since then once the I130 was approved, the I129F was automatically cancelled and the beneficiary was put on the immigrant visa route.

You don't appear to know much about either. I suddenly and just now changed my mind about this public forum thing. Only a moron would "job-hunt" with a K3 visa. A K3 visaholder is not eligible to work.

Edited December 28, 2015 by Expat1

[aaron2020 11,651]

They are still be issued - they are not obsolete as stated. While the K-3 is not obsolete, fewer and fewer are being issued every year. When the number of K-3 goes down 90% from 2009 to 2013, it's becoming obsolete.

They only close the K-3 if you also follow the CR/IR-1 route. You can still get a K-3. http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/article26.html Not the applicant's choice for a K-3 or CR-1/IR-1. That will be up to the US Government.

There would be some cases where you would want a K-3 over a IR-1. An example is that you live abroad but do not wish to move to the US until you find a job in the US. Using K-3 you would have 2 years to look for a job - IR-1 would give you 6 months. (I don't think you are even suppose to enter the US with IR-1 until you permanently move there) Also, some consulates (Vancouver) only issue non-immigrate visas. What the applicant wants is irrelevant. It's what the US Government wants.

I could also see someone applying for a K-3 visa after being turned down for a B-2, but has no plans on moving to the US at all. While you can see this, this is not how things happen.

Please be aware that in order to file the I-129F for a K-3, the petitioner must also file an I-130 for an IR-1/CR-1. There is no way to file for the K-3 without filing for an IR-1/CR-1 at the same time.

[belinda63 3,039]

They are still be issued - they are not obsolete as stated.

They only close the K-3 if you also follow the CR/IR-1 route. You can still get a K-3. http://www.usvisalawyers.co.uk/article26.html You have to file the I-130 first or before the I-129 therefore you have applied for both.

There would be some cases where you would want a K-3 over a IR-1. An example is that you live abroad but do not wish to move to the US until you find a job in the US. Using K-3 you would have 2 years to look for a job - IR-1 would give you 6 months.A K-3 visa does not grant employment authorization. AOS must be applied for within two years of arriving in the US. Until you file for AOS and receive the EAD or green card you can't work legally.(I don't think you are even suppose to enter the US with IR-1 until you permanently move there) You can enter the US on the IR-1 and get on the next plane leaving. You must maintain your residency but you don't have to stay in the US for a certain period of time after arriving. Also, some consulates (Vancouver) only issue non-immigrate visas.

I could also see someone applying for a K-3 visa after being turned down for a B-2, but has no plans on moving to the US at all.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

Several noncontributory posts have been removed. Post constructively, or don't post.

[cocolucho 35]

I think there is nothing wrong for the OP to file the I129f after he filed the I130 in hopes of getting the I129f approved first and be able to get a k3 visa, I did that and my wife and daughter were approved on Sept 2014 eventhough many people here on VJ said the k3 was obsolete back then too. I was one of the lucky ones... I believe it is a personal choice to pursuit the k3. OP, be thankful if you get it, but keep in mind that it may not happen. Good luck OP!

[NikLR 13,228]

Considering a K3 visa costs twice as much as a CR1 and has half the benefits, how is someone lucky to get one? There are very few cases in which I see a K3 (and K4) being a desirable visa for anyone.

Looking at your timeline, it still took 10 months for your spouse and their child to arrive in the USA and then they still had to adjust their status to get a green card. That took another 3 months and could have taken more. Plus there were two interviews and an RFE.

My entire journey from sending the petition to hard copy green card in my hand was exactly 9 months. It only took 8 to get to the USA.

No RFE and only the single interview.

[Arelys Weimer 6]

I applied and got approved for a K3 visa On 2015.

Theyre not obsolete at all in my country thought. However, once the I130 is approved the visa will be treated as a C1R1 visa.

What exactly do you need info on?