Confused about fee changes

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Hi all,

I will be filing an I-130 for my wife in a few weeks with the intention of pursuing a K-3 visa.

I am pretty sure that I will get it mailed and delivered before July 30. What is the official filing date as it relates to the July 30 fee changes?

Do I still pay $190 for the I-130?

Since my I-129F will likely not be filed until after July 30, what do I pay? After the change, I think the I-129F is free if you file it for a K-3. Does this mean I pay nothing or do I have to pay $170 since my I-130 was filed before the change?

I will call USCIS, but their reps seemed pretty clueless the times I have called before on other topics. They make me think I know more about the process than they do.

Thanks for any insight.

CG

[Mononoke28 135]

I think I read this same question before here on VJ. Some people said that you will not have to pay for the I-129F (hopefully the USCIS web site will be updated by the time the fees go into effect), so it looks like it's free at the time of filing. But since the AOS fee will increase as well, then it's just as if you had paid for the I-129F anyway.

I'm pretty sure the USCIS web site will be updated with the new fees come July, I mean they can't be THAT inefficient, right?

[Craig_Karina 0]

Hello CG

The "Step-by-Step" guide to filing your K3 visa specifically gives you the EXACT process for filing your I130 and then filing the I129f after you receive your I197 (NOA1). Click on the "GUIDE" tab at the top of the page. Here is what it says:

Once you receive the NOA1 for the I-130:

Assembling the I-129F Package: Checklist

Forms and Documents (follow these assembly instructions. All supporting documents must be in English or be translated as noted here.)

1. Payment as required by USCIS. Use a check so you can track the payment.

2. Cover Letter. Should include a description of what your are petitioning for (K-3 Visa), a table of contents (list everything in the packet). If you need additional room to explain your case, attach a separate sheet (list the attachment on the cover sheet). Make sure to sign and date the cover sheet.

3. Form I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiance(e). This form may be used to obtain a K-3/K-4 visa for your alien spouse and her or his child. Fill out the form as directed, except assume that "fiancé" or "fiancé(e)" means "spouse." answer Questions B.17 and B.18 by stating "N/A." Note that filing this form is only necessary to facilitate the entry of your spouse and her or his child as a nonimmigrant.

4. G-325A (all four pages) filled out by the US Citizen signed and dated

5. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the US Citizen. Write the full name of the US citizen on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <US Citizens Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a.

6. G-325A (all four pages) filled out by the foreign spouse/fiance(e) signed and dated

7. One passport-type photo (see specification) of the foreign Spouse. Write the full name of the foreign Spouse on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Foreign Spouses Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a.

8. Copy of the Birth certificate for the US Citizen (front and back) or a copy of ALL pages of the US Citizen's passport or a copy of the US Citizen's naturalization certificate (front and back). This is used to establish citizenship.

9. Copy of the NOA1 from the I-130

10. A copy of your marriage certificate (If not in English then again get a translation)

11. In regards to Section C Question 2, if applicable provide certified copies of all court and police records showing the charges and dispositions for any specified conviction(s) (in accordance with the IMBRA). See section 9 of the I-129f instructions for more information.

We hope this helps!!!

[ColombianoGringo 0]

Thanks Craig,

I have studied the guide and I'm familiar with its content. However, the fee structure is changing at the end of July and they are also implementing Direct Filing rules for the filing the I-129F. Consequently, I want to make sure I comply with and take advantage of the changes where possible.

CG

[pushbrk 13,058]

Thanks Craig,

I have studied the guide and I'm familiar with its content. However, the fee structure is changing at the end of July and they are also implementing Direct Filing rules for the filing the I-129F. Consequently, I want to make sure I comply with and take advantage of the changes where possible.

CG

If you have firmly decided you want a K3 visa instead of an immigrant visa, I think I would simply send both petitions at the same time, to the appropriate service center. Others have been successful doing that. Remember, if you do file both petitions together or close together, and you don't want the I-130 held at the service center after approval, you'll need to clearly indicate you want Consular Adjudication, other wise you will have no option but the K3 and its associated extra expenses.

Have you decided against an immigrant visa?

[edp333 9]

I am pretty sure that I will get it mailed and delivered before July 30. What is the official filing date as it relates to the July 30 fee changes?

Do I still pay $190 for the I-130?

Since my I-129F will likely not be filed until after July 30, what do I pay? After the change, I think the I-129F is free if you file it for a K-3. Does this mean I pay nothing or do I have to pay $170 since my I-130 was filed before the change?

The answers are not definate. The official filing date should go by the postmark or date the packet was received. During the last fee change, a few VJ members had their packets returned for the check being written for the old amount because they were opened after the date.

There just doesn't seem to be consistancy in what happens at USCIS.

[ColombianoGringo 0]

That really concerns me. If I do end up filing the two forms together, I think I'll just pay the new fees. They actually come out to the same for the initial filing of the two forms.

And I do think I will go the K-3 route. According to most sources, for Colombia seems to be at least 1-2 months faster than the CR-1. If I am able to successfully file them at the same time, I would be able to shave at least a few additional weeks off. Also, my wife will not be working for a while when she gets here.

As far as filing at the same time, I imagine that the worst case is that they simply return the I-130 and return the I-129F. I will make sure to write separate checks. I imagine I would also need to keep the packets separated even though they are in the same package.

Now, if I am just completely barking up the wrong tree, somebody please talk some sense into me.

Thanks,

CG

[During the last fee change, a few VJ members had their packets returned for the check being written for the old amount because they were opened after the date.

There just doesn't seem to be consistancy in what happens at USCIS.

Edited June 23, 2007 by ColombianoGringo

[pushbrk 13,058]

That really concerns me. If I do end up filing the two forms together, I think I'll just pay the new fees. They actually come out to the same for the initial filing of the two forms.

And I do think I will go the K-3 route. According to most sources, for Colombia seems to be at least 1-2 months faster than the CR-1. If I am able to successfully file them at the same time, I would be able to shave at least a few additional weeks off. Also, my wife will not be working for a while when she gets here.

As far as filing at the same time, I imagine that the worst case is that they simply return the I-130 and return the I-129F. I will make sure to write separate checks. I imagine I would also need to keep the packets separated even though they are in the same package.

Now, if I am just completely barking up the wrong tree, somebody please talk some sense into me.

Thanks,

CG

[During the last fee change, a few VJ members had their packets returned for the check being written for the old amount because they were opened after the date.

There just doesn't seem to be consistancy in what happens at USCIS.

Well if you're ready to file now, I wouldn't send the new fee. That will just confuse them and get your petitions returned. File with the appropriate fees for the date they'll be received and make sure you stay a week either side of July 30 just to stay out of the confusion.

[edp333 9]

Well if you're ready to file now, I wouldn't send the new fee. That will just confuse them and get your petitions returned. File with the appropriate fees for the date they'll be received and make sure you stay a week either side of July 30 just to stay out of the confusion.

pushbrk's suggestion is a very good one and I would reccommend the same. The visa journey is long enough without complications.

Edited June 23, 2007 by edp333

[The-wait-is-on 0]

Well if you're ready to file now, I wouldn't send the new fee. That will just confuse them and get your petitions returned. File with the appropriate fees for the date they'll be received and make sure you stay a week either side of July 30 just to stay out of the confusion.

pushbrk's suggestion is a very good one and I would reccommend the same. The visa journey is long enough without complications.

I have the same problem too. I am getting married on July 9th in India and my fiance (then husband), the US citizen returns back to the US on July 15th. We already have got most of our paperwork ready so he plans to send the I-130 out for the K-3 visa by July 20th. By all accounts, by the time we get the receipt notice for the I-130 and send out the I-129F, it will be mid-August. So, my question is, what do we do about the fees? Do we send both the applications together by July 20th to Vermont or just proceed as usual and send them separately but with old fees. But then, we would not be paying anything for the I-129F as of August 01, which I think will also cause problems.

Please advise !!!

[pushbrk 13,058]

Well if you're ready to file now, I wouldn't send the new fee. That will just confuse them and get your petitions returned. File with the appropriate fees for the date they'll be received and make sure you stay a week either side of July 30 just to stay out of the confusion.

pushbrk's suggestion is a very good one and I would reccommend the same. The visa journey is long enough without complications.

I have the same problem too. I am getting married on July 9th in India and my fiance (then husband), the US citizen returns back to the US on July 15th. We already have got most of our paperwork ready so he plans to send the I-130 out for the K-3 visa by July 20th. By all accounts, by the time we get the receipt notice for the I-130 and send out the I-129F, it will be mid-August. So, my question is, what do we do about the fees? Do we send both the applications together by July 20th to Vermont or just proceed as usual and send them separately but with old fees. But then, we would not be paying anything for the I-129F as of August 01, which I think will also cause problems.

Please advise !!!

It is really unclear what will happen with I-130's paying the old fee and new I-129F's following after July 30. I would not expect to get by with no fee. If you can have everything ready in time to file July 20, I would file both together directly with either California or Vermont, as appropriate as long as you have your official marriage certificate translated and available that fast?

[The-wait-is-on 0]

Well if you're ready to file now, I wouldn't send the new fee. That will just confuse them and get your petitions returned. File with the appropriate fees for the date they'll be received and make sure you stay a week either side of July 30 just to stay out of the confusion.

pushbrk's suggestion is a very good one and I would reccommend the same. The visa journey is long enough without complications.

I have the same problem too. I am getting married on July 9th in India and my fiance (then husband), the US citizen returns back to the US on July 15th. We already have got most of our paperwork ready so he plans to send the I-130 out for the K-3 visa by July 20th. By all accounts, by the time we get the receipt notice for the I-130 and send out the I-129F, it will be mid-August. So, my question is, what do we do about the fees? Do we send both the applications together by July 20th to Vermont or just proceed as usual and send them separately but with old fees. But then, we would not be paying anything for the I-129F as of August 01, which I think will also cause problems.

Please advise !!!

It is really unclear what will happen with I-130's paying the old fee and new I-129F's following after July 30. I would not expect to get by with no fee. If you can have everything ready in time to file July 20, I would file both together directly with either California or Vermont, as appropriate as long as you have your official marriage certificate translated and available that fast?

Thanks for the input. And yes, I can get the marriage certificate translated pretty quickly. So should I send both the I-129F and the I-130 in two separate envelopes to Vermont (since he lives in Chicago) or should I club them together and send them in one envelope?

[pushbrk 13,058]

Well if you're ready to file now, I wouldn't send the new fee. That will just confuse them and get your petitions returned. File with the appropriate fees for the date they'll be received and make sure you stay a week either side of July 30 just to stay out of the confusion.

pushbrk's suggestion is a very good one and I would reccommend the same. The visa journey is long enough without complications.

I have the same problem too. I am getting married on July 9th in India and my fiance (then husband), the US citizen returns back to the US on July 15th. We already have got most of our paperwork ready so he plans to send the I-130 out for the K-3 visa by July 20th. By all accounts, by the time we get the receipt notice for the I-130 and send out the I-129F, it will be mid-August. So, my question is, what do we do about the fees? Do we send both the applications together by July 20th to Vermont or just proceed as usual and send them separately but with old fees. But then, we would not be paying anything for the I-129F as of August 01, which I think will also cause problems.

Please advise !!!

It is really unclear what will happen with I-130's paying the old fee and new I-129F's following after July 30. I would not expect to get by with no fee. If you can have everything ready in time to file July 20, I would file both together directly with either California or Vermont, as appropriate as long as you have your official marriage certificate translated and available that fast?

Thanks for the input. And yes, I can get the marriage certificate translated pretty quickly. So should I send both the I-129F and the I-130 in two separate envelopes to Vermont (since he lives in Chicago) or should I club them together and send them in one envelope?

If it were me, I'd put them in the same envelope with separate cover letters. Fasten each package together separately with the I-130 on the top and each cover letter referring to the other petition. The I-129F petition for spouse requires evidence of filing the I-130. In this case the evidence is the petitions in the same envelope.

[ColombianoGringo 0]

If it were me, I'd put them in the same envelope with separate cover letters. Fasten each package together separately with the I-130 on the top and each cover letter referring to the other petition. The I-129F petition for spouse requires evidence of filing the I-130. In this case the evidence is the petitions in the same envelope.

This is pretty much what I am thinking of doing. I figure the worst case scenario is that they return the I-129F.

[The-wait-is-on 0]

If it were me, I'd put them in the same envelope with separate cover letters. Fasten each package together separately with the I-130 on the top and each cover letter referring to the other petition. The I-129F petition for spouse requires evidence of filing the I-130. In this case the evidence is the petitions in the same envelope.

This is pretty much what I am thinking of doing. I figure the worst case scenario is that they return the I-129F.

True that. Thanks. Shall do the same.