Racing my petitions

[dagobert2 0]

Got great news yesterday that my I-129F made it to NVC. It took a month from NOA2 at CSC. After having started down the K-3 path we noticed that some folks were having some luck with actually being able to interview at the embassy for CR1 even after launching the K-3 process. It seems to have some advantages as far as eliminating some redundant steps involved in both K-3 and AOS and of course priveledges of CR1 are obtained as soon as beneficiary enters the US. There is also some financial advantage. So I also got some other news yesterday regarding our I130's. My stepson's was approved and is being forwarded to NVC. My wife's I130 however was mistakenly sent to National Records Center awaiting AOS. The CSC rep I spoke to confessed to the error and promised to "expedite the file to NVC". Of course, there might not be any such thing but... It seems they have to have the file returned to CSC and then forwarded to NVC from there. All in all this sounds like another month at least until both I130's are at NVC. So, if I am racing my petitions and need to make a decision on whether or not to pay the DOS fees (vs. AOS) how close to the embassy interview date (for K-3) is still a safe bet?

[pushbrk 13,107]

Got great news yesterday that my I-129F made it to NVC. It took a month from NOA2 at CSC. After having started down the K-3 path we noticed that some folks were having some luck with actually being able to interview at the embassy for CR1 even after launching the K-3 process. It seems to have some advantages as far as eliminating some redundant steps involved in both K-3 and AOS and of course priveledges of CR1 are obtained as soon as beneficiary enters the US. There is also some financial advantage. So I also got some other news yesterday regarding our I130's. My stepson's was approved and is being forwarded to NVC. My wife's I130 however was mistakenly sent to National Records Center awaiting AOS. The CSC rep I spoke to confessed to the error and promised to "expedite the file to NVC". Of course, there might not be any such thing but... It seems they have to have the file returned to CSC and then forwarded to NVC from there. All in all this sounds like another month at least until both I130's are at NVC. So, if I am racing my petitions and need to make a decision on whether or not to pay the DOS fees (vs. AOS) how close to the embassy interview date (for K-3) is still a safe bet?

I wouldn't pay any additional fees to NVC until both petitions are in their hands. Then see where your K3 case stands at that time and make a judgment call. It is too soon to decide now.

Also, your answer will definitely be Consulate specific.