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Filed: Country: France
Timeline
Posted

Hello,

I am a new comer here on the board! Here are some details about my situation. I am a french citizen and I met my girlfriend who lives now in Arkansas. Our couple project is to live together in the US so we had a look at those different visas for me.

Time wise, would it be quicker to fill a I130 petition rather than a I129 for the Fiance visa?

We are actually wondering if we should get married in Europe or in the US (and apply respectively for the I130 or I129) as (of course as many other couples) we want to be together asap!

As she lives in Arkansas, what s the visa center being used in that case? Vermont? I heard this one is relatively quick in terms of petition processing, true?

Generally speaking for someone who enters the US with a K1 visa, how long does it take to get the right to work (EAD)? Our concern is to see me waiting for ages to get the work permit compared to the temporary greencard "stamp" that we get after the I130 process validated at the POE!

Any inputs, feedbacks are more than welcome!

We ll keep you guys informed about our decisions anyway!

Cheers

Antoine & Mellany

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: China
Timeline
Posted

I went through this same thought process before I married my wife (from China).

I will give you our thoughts, but look at the Guides and Visa FAQ sections at the top to compare the processes.

The k1 is quickest visa to get, but then you MUST marry in the US within 90 days, and after marriage you must adjust your status to permanent resident before you can work, get a ss#, get a license, etc.

I didn't go this route so maybe others can get you the time this AOS takes, but I believe it is at least 90 days.

There are two marriage visas available if the US person is a citizen (K3 and I-130), only I-130 if the US person is a permanent resident. The K3 is basically a K1 process for married people, and you still must adjust status after the foreign person enters the US. The K3 is almost as fast as a K1, but then has the same AOS restriction after entry.

The I-130 takes the longest, but then the AOS is built into the process. You get your green card very quickly after entry.

The total time from application to green card is similar no matter which you do, it is just personal preference whether you would rather wait apart for the AOS portion (I-130) but be able to work on entry, or wait for the AOS together in the US, but not be able to work for that portion of the wait.

One other thing to consider, the time periods involved vary by country. For China, the time for K3 and time for I-130 is very similar.

After thinking this over my wife (then girl friend) we decided that the visa process was secondary to our relationship. We quit asking what was best for the visa, and ask what was best for us.

It is nearly impossible for her Chinese family members to come to a wedding in the US (visas to the US difficult to get) while my American family can go to China easily. Thus marriage in China was preferable. That rules out K1.

Since the time for K3 and I-130 for China was very similar (in some cases the I-130 was actually faster) and we could both continue to work through the process, we went I-130. The K3 requires you file an I-130 first, so if we decide to file the K3, we can still do that. Another part of this was I make enough money to be able to fly to China without too much financial strain.

That was our thought process, I hope it helps.

I hope you choose to ignore the US visa process. Getting married to your one true love is the most important thing you can ever do. You will be married for the rest of your life (I hope) so a month or 2 difference is really not significant.

Making SURE you get what you want from the marriage ceremony, making SURE you both have great memories about your wedding, making SURE you keep your relationship strong .. These are the things that will last a life time.

Don't let the rush to get a visa eclipse the really important things !

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
Timeline
Posted

helllo,

I think you should go for the I -130.... This is what i went for...... cost wise I-130 is better.. and for I-130 you do the paper work only once... but for K visas you have to adjustment and again file everything and all stuff.. for I -130 .. u get green card for good 2 years and things are better.... The thing for any visa you go... just do your home work very good because one day counts in this....(( I have relaised thsi very welll ... i knew it from before tooo ))),...........

God bless

Jigi

Feb 1,2007 - I-130 Reached USCIS.

Feb 4,2007 - I-130 accepted > Get USCIS case Number NOA1.

May 8 ,2007- GET NVC Case Number > NOA2.

June 16 ,2007- Get Order from NVC to pay 70$.

July 2 ,2007- Get DS-3032 in India.

July 7,2007 - DS-3032 choice of address agent entered in NVC.

July 14 ,2007- Get I-864.

July 18 ,2007- I-864 Enters NVC.

July 29 ,2007- Get Order to Pay 380$ fee.

Aug 3 ,2007- 380$ Fee Reached St Louis.

Aug 25,2007 - NVC & St Louis People receive photocopy of my payment with USPS receipt.

After WAITING for 37 days.

Sept 10,2007 - 380$ fee encashed.

Sept 24,2007 - Receive DS-230 in Mail.

Sept 25,2007 - DS-230 despatched.

Sept 26,2007- DS-230 Delivered.

Oct 1,2007 - NVC has DS-230.

Oct 12, 2007 - DS-230 Reviewed. Case Complete

Oct 16, 2007 - Case at Embassy.

Oct 25, 2007- Interview Letter Despatched from Embassy.

Nov 3, 2007 - Recieved Interview Letter.

Dec 1, 2007 - Medical Exam .

I GOT IT

Jan 16 - I am in USA

April 15 2008 - Get my Drivers License.

I-751 Lifting Conditions at California Service Center

November 12, 2009 - I-751 Sent via USPS Express Mail

November 13, 2009 - Receipt of I-1751 Fee

November 20, 2009 - Arrested on Domestic Battery(Had argument with wife)

December 18, 2009 - Biometrics Completed at 9 am.

January 13, 2010 - Receive I-797E Notice for more evidence

February 16, 2010 - Mail reaches Californa Service Center( Next day of Preseidents Day)

February 19, 2010 - Card Production Ordered. Status now IR1

Filed: Timeline
Posted
  Credzba said:
I went through this same thought process before I married my wife (from China).

I will give you our thoughts, but look at the Guides and Visa FAQ sections at the top to compare the processes.

The k1 is quickest visa to get, but then you MUST marry in the US within 90 days, and after marriage you must adjust your status to permanent resident before you can work, get a ss#, get a license, etc.

I didn't go this route so maybe others can get you the time this AOS takes, but I believe it is at least 90 days.

There are two marriage visas available if the US person is a citizen (K3 and I-130), only I-130 if the US person is a permanent resident. The K3 is basically a K1 process for married people, and you still must adjust status after the foreign person enters the US. The K3 is almost as fast as a K1, but then has the same AOS restriction after entry.

The I-130 takes the longest, but then the AOS is built into the process. You get your green card very quickly after entry.

The total time from application to green card is similar no matter which you do, it is just personal preference whether you would rather wait apart for the AOS portion (I-130) but be able to work on entry, or wait for the AOS together in the US, but not be able to work for that portion of the wait.

One other thing to consider, the time periods involved vary by country. For China, the time for K3 and time for I-130 is very similar.

After thinking this over my wife (then girl friend) we decided that the visa process was secondary to our relationship. We quit asking what was best for the visa, and ask what was best for us.

It is nearly impossible for her Chinese family members to come to a wedding in the US (visas to the US difficult to get) while my American family can go to China easily. Thus marriage in China was preferable. That rules out K1.

Since the time for K3 and I-130 for China was very similar (in some cases the I-130 was actually faster) and we could both continue to work through the process, we went I-130. The K3 requires you file an I-130 first, so if we decide to file the K3, we can still do that. Another part of this was I make enough money to be able to fly to China without too much financial strain.

That was our thought process, I hope it helps.

I hope you choose to ignore the US visa process. Getting married to your one true love is the most important thing you can ever do. You will be married for the rest of your life (I hope) so a month or 2 difference is really not significant.

Making SURE you get what you want from the marriage ceremony, making SURE you both have great memories about your wedding, making SURE you keep your relationship strong .. These are the things that will last a life time. Don't let the rush to get a visa eclipse the really important things !

That IS wonderful advise.... so I will just say nothing. ;)

 
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