Hello all,

I know this questions must have been asked a million times already.

Though and seing the time both process take, do you really think the k-3 is worth it anymore when you look at the AOS and all the fees you have to pay afterwards?

Can anyone tell me from experience if nowdays the K-3 is really faster and if not, how much longer do the IF-1 / CR-1 take compared to the K-3 to be approved?

Our lawyer swcrewed up and sent the I-130 almost three months before the I-129F. Now I think it is taking so long for the I-130 to be approved because of the I-129F pending.

Should I go for the K-3 or the IR-1 / CR-1?

Please advise i'm lost...

I can't give much advice on K3, mainly cos when i filed the I-130 i had no idea it existed until my I-130 was approved! (should have done more research)...

I'm waiting for my IR-1/CR-1 Visa Interview at the moment, and just to help you out with the time it takes for just doing the IR-1 route, We filed the I-130 in February 2007, it was approved in early July 2007. Sent to NVC, lots more waiting, Case complete at NVC - Nov. 6th 2007, and my interview is in Mid-January 2008. So, you are basically going to be waiting almost an entire year with the I-130. I doubt K3 is much less than that.

Personally, i think i'm glad i missed the K3 option, because of the reasons you said, like more fees, and AOS...and the whole process would just go on and on and on. Plus, you cant work on a K3. IR-1 you can get off the plane and go straight to work. (if you really want to)

Hope that helped a little,
Good Luck!

We looked at both options and felt the CR-1 was the better way to go because of some of the same reasons. Green card and SS number will both be on the way once my wife crosses the point of entry, lower cost, especially initially since K-3 has to file AOS that costs $1010 as opposed to CR-1 fee for removal of conditiions is $545 but that's 2 years down the road. I don't think the K-3 is more than a month faster/

Thank you for your answers and your advice and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!

hi,i will suggest IR1/CR1.in our case its almost 14months between NOA1 to Visa recived although we were going through the slowest embassy.all the best and marry x-mas

well if you figure aos for k-3 and processing time for cr-ir-1 it all averages out to be about same time it is just cheaper to go the cr route and spouse can work faster if want to

A word of warning now that you filed both.
The normal process if you file both the i-130 and the k3 is to hold the i-130, and process only the k3 because it is "faster".
If you decide you only want to pursue the i-130 you must cancel the k3, and ensure that they process your i-130.

I dont want to see you get caught in and admin goof up where your k3 is cancelled, but they hold your i-130 anyway!

best of luck

Right. People really need to get the message that once you've filed both the I-130 and I-129F, you are locked into the K3 path. If you want an immigrant visa, don't file an I-129F. This has been the policy since November 14, 2006. See below.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/PN_i-129f.pdf

The I-130 can also be reactivated:
If the beneficiary should later elect to consular process instead of applying for adjustment of status, Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, must be filed with the USCIS office that approved Form I-130. Upon favorable action on Form I-824, USCIS will send Form I-130 to the NVC.

Yes, that's in the press release. However, the best experience yet reported is that it took 8 months to get the I-130 moving again. Further, nobody has yet reported success with "clearly indicating" they want Consular processing when they file the petition, even though a couple were quite creative an obvious about it.

If you want an immigrant visa, don't file an I-129F.