Masa2000

Hi everyone, I’m looking to hear from anyone who has attempted to expedite their I-130 petition for a spouse through a senator or congressperson. Were you successful in your request? If you were, I’d love to know how the process went—did the senator or congressperson seem helpful? How long did it take to get an update, and what was the outcome? For those who weren’t successful, I’d also appreciate hearing about your experience. Did you feel like the senator’s office provided support? Were there any specific hurdles you faced or things you wish you’d done differently? It’s been hard to find real stories about this process, so any details you can share would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!:)

It took about 3 weeks before I got a SMS on my phone and then added my case online by using the receipt number, and then got the thing in the mailbox after 1 month

Firstly, I want to acknowledge that this post is partly a rant because I’m frustrated. Also, since the forum limits daily posts, I’ll consolidate my responses to everyone here. I wish more people would research—not just on USCIS's website, but also on platforms like this forum, Facebook, Reddit, etc. Sharing fact-based information is crucial, and speculation often leads to misinformation. I also think language barriers might sometimes contribute to misunderstandings and miscommunication. "If you check that site, you will see any of the offices can receive I-129F petition when already married." Thank you for pointing this out! I hadn’t seen it before, but now I understand that I-129F petitions for K-3 visas can be sent to any service center. This reassures me that mine not being at California is still within normal processing parameters. "Why would K-3 push I-130 approval? What's the rationale? I'd say don't waste your time and don't add more unnecessary work for USCIS which is already backlogged. 15-16 months is the normal timeframe for I-130 as of day before yesterday." The rationale is simple: USCIS rarely approves K-3s anymore. When they process it, they review your other cases, including your I-130. Filing the K-3 requires the receipt for your I-130, so USCIS sees all your cases. Since the K-3 won't likely be approved, they often prioritize processing the I-130 instead. And since the K-3 filing fee is essentially already covered by the I-130, why not use it as a strategy? It’s free, so there’s no harm. "There was some evidence this one weird trick worked, but that was several years ago. It no longer seems to have that effect. OP, the K-3 is likely to be paired with your I-130 and administratively closed." Exactly—it’s often administratively closed. But it’s free to file, takes no additional effort beyond the information already in the I-130, and occasionally it has sped up approvals. It’s an option USCIS allows, so why not try? "You went from California to Texas Service Center, which is weird to see because California is the fastest as of today. K-3 will not help, and it’s better to focus on the I-130." Actually, my case started at the Texas Service Center. As for the K-3, I’m aware it’s not guaranteed to help. But if it gets my I-130 in front of an officer faster, that’s a potential win. Since filing is free and uses the same information, I don’t see why I wouldn’t try it. "They don’t want to approve the I-129F and issue a K-3, so they quickly approve the I-130. Or it gets USCIS's attention, and they adjudicate the I-130. If nothing else, it gives an earlier case inquiry time. I and my brother did it for our wives, and we both got approvals in roughly 2–2.5 months." Thank you for sharing your experience, JD2! I completely agree—filing the K-3 is a low-risk option. It’s not about creating unnecessary work; USCIS doesn’t actively process K-3s anymore. They automatically check the I-130 instead. If time is a concern, USCIS could hire more staff or increase fees—it’s not on applicants to resolve their inefficiencies. Sorry if I seem overly passionate; being separated from my SO is emotionally taxing. I just believe in using every tool at my disposal, and the K-3 is one of them.

Hi, yes i'm aware that the K3s get closed, that is also what im hoping for (to get a push on my I-130 and not get the actual K3 approved) However, I thought they all end up in California as it technically is an I-129F (which should be handled by California? So i'm trying to see where others K3s ended up, and the timeline from submitting to approval/denial (approval of the I-130 and denial of the I-129F).

Hi everyone, I recently applied for a K-3 visa, and the first step was filing the I-129F petition with the lockbox. From my research, it seems that all I-129F petitions should be processed at the California Service Center unless there are specific circumstances like Adam Walsh Act (AWA) flags or criminal backgrounds, which we absolutely do not have. However, I just received my receipt, and it shows that my case is being processed at the Texas Service Center (SRC). I’m confused because I thought all K-3/I-129F cases went to California unless there were AWA-related issues. Am I misunderstanding the K-3 and I-129F processing flow? Has anyone else experienced their case going to Texas instead of California or any of the other Service centers? If so, any idea why this happens? It would be helpful to hear about your experiences—where your K-3 case ended up and the first three letters of your receipt (mine is – SRC – Texas Service Center). Thanks so much for any insights!

Hi, i'm assuming you filed the K3 by now. Could I ask what service center it ended up in? The first three letters on the receipt from your K3 should tell you that:) Thanks!