I'm trying to determine if the filing of an I-129F has, in fact, delayed processing of the I-130.

I haven't gotten an approval for I-130



Nita

It might be nearly impossible to determine if filing a I-129F slows the I-130 approval down since the Service Centers seem to work at their own pace and don't necessarily work on the files in the order they receive them. Not to mention, some petitions just take longer to approve than others. I would suggest doing a query on the K-3 VJ time lines and perhaps compare it to the spreadsheet (see link to my blog in my sig) I have been keeping which tracks the I-130s for CR-1/IR-1 filers.

I did a timeline search and found there are at least some that have a I-130 NOA2 where a I-129F was filed. I searched only those filed after September 1st to avoid confusion with the old system.

I haven't found any evidence that suggests filing a I-129F will slow down processing of an I-130.

I noted that pushbrk commented in another threat that this was the case. Pushbrk could you please let me know how you arrived at that opinion?

I'm getting worried about the processing of my I-130 ....

So what happens in that case? After you get the I-I30 NOA2, the file is passed to NVC, and what happens to the K-3 application? Once you get the NOA2 for the I-130 there should be no point (no time advantage either!) to continue with the K-3, is there? If, say, you received NOA2 at the SAME time for both, is the NVC procedure different for the two? Is either one much faster? Or am I missing something?

K3 normally stays no longer than a week at the NVC and then forwarded to your embassy/consulate, while the I-130 process at NVC might take up to 4 months.

My I-130 application was approved in Sept 2007. My attorney says he never got a file
number from USCIS until the approval arrived, so he filed for the I-129F ( K-3 )two
weeks after the I-130 approval hard copy. Nothing has happened to this application
while my I-130 was sitting at NVC, having a case number and presumably collected
ots of dust. Two weeks ago I decided to go IR/CR, so we will see where this goes. I
understand that USCIS does not touch and even ignores I-129F if submitted after an
I-130 approval. Maybe that's what happened. So in my case an approved I-130 seems
to have slowed down the K-3 application or maybe even stopped it head on. But without
any info from USCIS it's hard to say.

Check the other thread for your answer. In short, the process of putting both petitions in the same queue to arrive on the same adjudicator's desk ends up delaying processing on the I-130 until the "marriage" of petitions occurs.

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

Oh I see... So the K-3 is worth it: I guess that the processing in your country is about the same length once it clears the NVC, therefore it is all in all faster than the K-3. Unless one is lucky and his I-130 clears through NVC is a shorter time span than the average 4 months...

Ok, but you can get to the US faster (average, 4 months faster), and then adjust there (you can get a work permit in less than 3 months, so all in all you save at least 1 month and get about the same thing). Of course it is more expensive, but what is an immigrant visa more than a K-3 if not simply a work permit? Ok and of course the extra hassle of changing status, wich of course is priceless! ;-)

In my case I feared it would have so I just stayed with the I-130, i just barely recieved my NOA1 approximately a month before i recieved the approval so who knows whether or not if I would have filed the I-129f and persued the K-3 route if it would have held things up, personally I think I was just one of the fortunate ones that got an earlier than expected approval. But im confident that staying with the CR1 is going to end up being the wise decision, in my case. Personally from what Ive read here from others and what Ive observed in timelines I tend to think that it does delay the process. Just my opinion.