Hello All,

I decided to start a thread for all us CR1/IR1 filers petitioning for someone in Jamaica. There's alot of information that can be gathered from the VJ NVC threads but I thought that having one specific to us JA filers could help alot. There are a few things that are specific to Jamaica during the NVC process so this thread will be sort of a one-stop-shop.

• During NVC you can choose to speed up the process by using James Shortcuts

• The US Embassy in Jamaica is an appointment post embassy....this essentially means that the Embassy only performs the interview. The NVC schedules the interview and collects ALL fees and paperwork. At the time the appointment is scheduled, the NVC will send an appointment letter to all interested parties (applicant, petitioner, and agent/attorney of record, if applicable) notifying them of the date, time, and location of the interview; and forward the petition to the embassy in Kingston.

So post any questions or concerns you have during the NVC to Interview process here.

Marlita
You r something else!
You always have so much knowledge on whats what.
I had never heard of James Shortcut.
I read alot and that never came my way until now.
Thankyou.
I myself really dont know what way to go now with the CRI/IR1 or the K-3. I just need my hubby asap!!
I know the cost differ but what is the time differ between the two??

Hey Bailey! Girl I forgot you just got your NOA2!! Woo Hoo....you're on your way. Your about a couple steps behind me as far as your timeline tells.

Well as far as the K3 vs CR1 visa....I think many people will tell you to go CR1 if you are at this stage now. The only problem is since the new fee hike back in July 2007, the K3 visa route didnt have an additional fee payment. So the idea is that once you submit that I-129F to apply for K3 you cannot go back to CR1. USCIS is supposed to forward only your K3 (I-129F) approved application and save your CR1 (I-130) application for when your husband arrives and decides to adjust status. I have heard that some people are still having both their I-130 processed at NVC while their K3 visa moves on to the Embassy.

I would strongly suggest you do the CR1 if still possible. You can call the NVC once you get a KNG# and ask if your CR1 visa is still being processed and that you want to abandon the K3. The reason I encourage the CR1 is because its not that far behind the K3 and in the end you will be DONE for 2 years. With the K3 you will have to file AOS within 90 days and that fee is $1010 or so! The CR1 has fees in total of $470 during the NVC process. Your K3 will also have fees during the NVC/Embassy stage...same as every other visa. That includes police certificate...medical...and another visa fee of $100. Its just a really expensive and time consuming visa and I estimate that you may be approved only 2 months earlier than the CR1 would....if that.

So if you want to rid yourself of immigration for awhile especially after your husband arrives CR1 is best. If 2 months means more to you then stay with the K3.

I can tell that your NOA2's came really late because you filed an I-129F a good 3 months after you filed your I-130. Filing for that K3 actually hurt you because it put you in the October priority dates instead of July. This is why I think your CR1 will be approved around the same time as your K3 making the K3 not the best choice right now.

Hey Lita!!
THANK YOU
so the next document I need to prepare is the DS-230? so when I get to NVC that is the first thing I send off? no? SCREAM.
I will read the james short cuts again.

Shrewdie;

I think the first document that you process with the NVC is the DS-3032 (choice of agent form) and the AOS (affidavit of support) fee bill of $70. After these are completed you will get the visa fee bill ($400) and after those are processed it will generate the DS-230 and the AOS packet. Barring any RFE your case should be completed with them and then they will schedule your interview and forward your case to the embassy and send you, your hubby and agent the interview letter.

Good luck!

I want to !
Thankyou Marlita.
Two months is not much differ now since we been waiting this long.. lol
We par for him to be able to wk when he get here with no problems.
The CR1 sounds like the better deal.
I just hope Im not to late to do so!!

gollee! thanks you! That is what I needed to know..maybe I am just too "slow" to have understood it any other time!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!

So I have a question...once Kingston receives the petition, what do they do with it? Are they just stashing it somewhere until interview time because everything else has already been done, or is there some additional paperwork or processing that they will do? And Lita...thanks again for starting this...you're a godsend...you're going to help a lot of people!!

Hey Tamisha;

I think that all Kingston does is hold the file until the interview date. They actually review the medical and conduct the interview then approve or deny the visa and issue it if approved. With this little to do I would think it would free them up to conduct interviews earlier than the two months one has to wait after case complete. Wouldn't you think???

Your right Claire. Kingston embassy just conducts the interview and reviews medical and such. Why it STILL takes so long for an interview is beyond me. NVC is the one scheduling it so unless Kingston is telling NVC to hold off on scheduling interviews, something is really out of wack here.

Anyway Shrewdie, yes like Claire said the DS3032 and AOS fee bill is the 1st thing to prepare for the NVC. The DS230 is the LAST thing usually.

For DS3032 please think about having your spouse email it as soon as you hear on the NVC automated line(603-334-0700). This will save at least a weeks time. Otherwise have a signed copy from your spouse ready to go as soon as you hear the generated message.
My husband emailed them at NVCInquiry@state.gov

Dear Sir or Madam,
> My name is (beneficiary full name), my visa case number is #KNG2008------
> Per the DS-3032, I would like to appoint my
> wife as my agent of choice to receive all the correspondence from NVC.
> Her name and address is:
> (Petitioner name)
> DOB
> street address
> city, state zip
> ......
> All mail from the U.S. Department of State concerning my immigration visa
> application should be sent to the address above. Thank you for your help.
>
> Sincerely yours,
> (beneficiary name)
> <KNG2008------>
> DOB

Please title your email: NVC Case Number:KNG2008------ - (beneficiary full name)

This has worked for many people. The NVC will send you an automated message confirming the receipt of email and within a week will send another email confirming acceptance (or not) of your DS3032. I would still have a signed copy of a DS3032 just in case you need to mail it in.

Thats awesome Lita.. I didnt know..
Marsh doesnt have email.... lives in the bush you know..
so...couldnt I just have an email for him? or is that too sketch and risky?

This question came up before in the NVC forum. You can open an email for him, and send it. just send it as if its coming from him, and not you.

Marlita,

Thank you so much for starting this thread......it is so much easier than searching the entire website.
We filed our IR-1....sent in all our documents but my hubby got a RFE(NVC said it was sent of March 29...but nothing yet ) I wonder how much longer this letter will take to arrive. My hubby want to travel to Ja. by the end of the week....and ooh by the way im keeping my fingers cross that he gets his US passport by then (He applied on April 9th ).

We seem to have so much on our plates. Any suggestions???

Thanks guys,
Kishmar

Does anyone knows how long it takes the NVC to review a DS-230??? NVC operator told me they received it on April 7th.

Thanks,
Kishmar

Thanks for starting this thread...this will be really helpful..my hubby is in Kingston now applying for his police record...this is the website if anyone needs info for applying for the police record: http://www.mns.org.jm/ApplyingforPoliceRec...79/Default.aspx
I'm planning to do the email thing too...setting one up under my hubby name...he lives in the bushes too...LOL... I found another thing interesting about how NVC assigns case #(thought I would share it)
3 letters=embassy
first 4#s = year
next 3 = subtract 500 and that is the day of the year when the case was assigned (ex.724-500=224th day on calendar = 08.13)
the last couple of digits = how many petitions they received for that embassy on that day they entered it in the system(ex. 029=your the 29 petition they received for KNG)
The only thing I'm not sure about that is if they mean all petitions like CR-1, K-1s etc...or per specific petition.
Just a little knowledge I would like to share. I hope everyone has a speedy NVC experience because USCIS was sure not.

hey guys. you may have already known this..but if you filed taxes jointly with your spouse and they dont live here yet and/or you used an ITIN then we are NOT elig. for the economic stimulus payment..BOO

You know sometimes NVC can generate a "false" RFE because its just saying that its missing documentation that you will eventually be sending to them anyway. Its hard for me to know in your situation because I would need to know what was the last items you sent to NVC before getting the RFE phone notice. In most cases, when the NVC line says something was sent out...it really means something was generated, not when it was mailed out of NVC. Once things are indeed generated they get sent to mailroom and can stay there for up to 2 weeks in some cases. This means that it may take alot longer for the item to reach you than you first anticipated. That sounds like the case with your RFE notice.



Per some other folks timelines it looks like it takes around 2 weeks.

Oh thats really cool info about how the NVC number is generated! Thanks! i need to get my hubby crackin on the police cert. He was all ready to go and get it and surprise me with it about a month ago and I told him hold off cause i thought our case was moving slow. Now our case has sped up and I'm scared I won't get it in time.

You know, I read that on turbotax, but I havent even filed my taxes yet.....I really need to get on that. But I'm wondering if i can truly claim my husband as an exemption if he doesnt live here. Turbo tax let me file him as an exemption but also wanted me to enter a SSN. i just skippen SSN and wrote in non-resident alien. hmmm. Well i won't use the ITIN now.

No worries my dear. You can pay Ja$2000 for expedited 3-day service instead of the Ja$100 for 21-day service.

yeah. we filed and i sent it in with the w-7 and then they filed it from there with the itin
the itin comes in handy for stuff like adding to a checking acct. and stuff.
i also read that if you filed with an itin and dont get the stimulus then you can claim that deduction on taxes next year..(assuming your SO is here by that point..I am beginning to doubt)

I haven't reached this far in my journey yet but thanks SO MUCH Marlita for posting

Hi My hubby received the RFE mail last night (April 14th)

Date on the letter says March 29th, Post mark April 11th...

Its amazing how the NVC does things.. I guess one just have to decide on waiting on these people make sure you get it right the first time around so you dont have to deal with longer than necessary

Have you started your journey yet? If so, which visa will you be leaning towards?

If you don't mind me asking why did you get an RFE???

He did not date the Affidavit of Support form and he did not send in the 2007 taxes/w2

Lita,

It is the K-1 for which you have to file the AOS within 90 days, NOT THE K-3, THE K-3 IS A TWO YEAR VISA. If you want you can do the K-3 and then file for the EADand get a SS#. Then your spouse can help with paying for the AOS. And it is a two year re-entry VISA so no Advance Parole is needed.

yes it is a bit redundant, because at the end you still have to pay the $1010 for things you don't need, but if done right, no two year green card is needed. i.e. by the time me and hubby file the AOS, we will be married for two years and he will get a 10 year green card, so no lifting of conditions.

When I first joined VJ, I read where you could pursue K-3 AND CR-1 at the same time, so technically hubby could have came up here on his k-3 and went back for his cr-1 interview.

??? I'm confused...so essentially the K3 is just like the CR1 but you STILL have to pay $1010 for things you don't even need? That doesnt sound right, so many I'm not getting this. Is there not a limited time that you must file AOS on K3? It seems like the K3 is almost the same as CR1 but for some reason you have to pay a super high fee. The CR1 visa is a 2 year re-entry visa too, but you don't have to pay $1010. In 2 years on CR1 you will get a 10 year card after lifting conditions and I think that fee is around $500 or so, but with K3 you STILL have to pay to lift conditions after 2 years. If you were already married 2 years before initial visa issue you'd get the IR1-10year card. I really don't understand the K3 visa.

Marlita;

As far as I understand the K3 visa, which is also considered a non-immigrant visa. It allows your hubby get here faster than the CR1. They both need AOS if the marriage is less than 2 years and you get a conditional green card and have to file to remove conditions before the two year period expires thus the $1010 fee. If you have been married for more than 2 years you are considered an IR-1 which is an immigrant visa and is issued a 10-year GC with no lifting of conditions and no additional fees to pay.

That is what I have garnered from reading on VJ.

I just found this on the subject:

Step 1:
The K3 visa is classified as a non-immigrant visa while the CR-1/IR-1 visa is classified as an immigrant visa. This means that the CR-1/IR-1 visa holder enters the U.S. as a permanent resident while the K3 visa holder must make an application after entry to adjust status to permanent resident.

Step 2:
The CR-1/IR-1 visa holder can work immediately upon entry to the U.S. with no restrictions. K3 visa holders must apply for employment authorization or wait until they receive a green card before accepting employment.

Step 3:
Although the CR-1/IR-1 visa holder benefits by entering the U.S. as a permanent resident, the approval process can be significantly longer for a CR-1/IR-1 visa than a K3 visa, meaning a longer separation for the couple.

Step 4:
Both types of visas allow travel outside the U.S. and re-entry. The CR-1/IR-1 visa holder receives a green card allowing open travel and the K3 visa is a multi-entry visa, meaning the holder may travel outside the U.S. for up to two years, or until permanent residence is approved.

Step 5:
After arriving in the U.S., if the K3 marriage fails before adjustment of status is complete, the visa holder must leave the U.S. CR-1/IR-1 visa holders receive permanent resident status upon entry and can remain in the U.S. regardless of marital status.

I think I just made the biggest mistake so early in the game... ..I sent out my money order for the AOS bill and realized that I did not make it payable to the department of state but to National Visa Center....this is a problem isn't it...I am so mad at myself.. ...this is definitely an RFE right????...even though they say the petitioner part does not affect the overall time since its independent from everything else I didn't want to cause any unnecessary errors....do you think it will be a good idea to call and let them know what i did???...

Whooooooooo!!!!!!! ...I got through NVC operator and she said that its no problem that I made it payable to National Visa Center instead of Department State...she said as long as you put your case # on the money order or cashier's check its ok....So everyone make sure you put your case # on everything....

You actually could have done it ever faster by paying online. The online payment system was acting wierd, but i hear a few people are getting thru now. No worries though it takes awhile for the AOS payment to generate the AOS forms anyway. Sounds like you are about a 1 week step behind me. Maybe we'll get to the Embassy at the same time. Are you planning on attending the interview with your husband?

Most all of this I already knew, except for Step 5...thats interesting. Anyway, I am a bit confused about the payment of the $1010. Is that the same amount of payment to lift conditions on all other visas too? And as far as K3 being faster thru Jamaica...usually not. I think K3 works for some African countries most and maybe a few others. Countries like those wait to give out interviews on immigrant visas almost 6 months AFTER completion at NVC...Jamaica doesnt wait that long (praise God), usually only 2-3max. So essentially the CR1 catches up to the K3 in the end.

K-3 doesn't have the intermediate steps like the AOS bill and things like that, so that is where it is quicker.

-

I wanted to do the online but was having a hard time getting through an operator yesterday to get my IIN so I just decided to mail off the payment next day delivery...Now that I'm thinking about it while i was on the phone with one today I should have gotten it for the IV bill... ..oh well...I will try again tonight...I'm definitely planning to go to the interview (God willing)...We will probably get an interview date around Aug/Sept if all goes well...

Yes, that is where it is quicker, but the way NVC assigns interviews, CR1 catches up and K3 is usually quicker by 2-3 months if that for Jamaica. However for many other countries K3 can be around 6 months or more quicker.

Ok, I just typed a HUGE breakdown of the K3 vs CR1 per the USCIS website and it completely failed and disappered. It was very useful info too!! Augh!!! i don't have time now to retype so I'll try and do it tonight.

Yeah, I was thinking August too. I hope. Our 1 year anniv is in Aug. So is the IIN number the same for both AOS fee, and IV fee? Once the online system is up...James Shortcuts will be almost obsolete. This will save so much time and money. I just send my forms priority and not overnight...they get there in 2 days.

i'm praying for you, I know u want hubby here quick fast. now i almost have no reason to go to j.a. i'm going thru traveling withdrawal.



question - is there a way you can pursue both at the same time, the k-3 and cr-1 and have them come up on the k-3 and then go back down for their cr-1 interview??

Good question, but no u can't get one visa while the other continues on. Actually since the July fee hike once you apply for K3(submit the I-129f in conjunction with I-130), the CR1 visa is supposed to cease after NOA2. Meaning once you decide to go K3 there's no goin back, or there's no waiting to see which visa wins the race to embassy the fastest. Which makes sense to me....cause it frees up employees from having to work 2 application packs for one person. However, there has been all this talk on the K3 forum that the K3 may become obsolete and phased out. Lots of folks were persuing K3 thru USCIS to find out that it was administratively closing. Its a bunch of mess if you ask me. I know that K3 filers were getting NOA2 on average about 2 months later than CR1 during the whole back log fiasco. Seems like they are pulling it together, but there's alot of inconsistentcies with K3 as of lately.

I'm not trying to root for one visa over another here, just pointing out some of the issues that others who are trying to decide may want to take into consideration. I do believe that the K3's out of USCIS are coming back together....but it has been stated by USCIS officals that they are administratively closing that visa also.....so who knows .

it would be nice if they could make the CR-1 process shorter 12 to 14 months to get a spouse and 6 to 8 months to get a spouse thru k-3 or financee thru k-1 doesn't seem fair. If they are phasing out the k-3 then the cr-1 should be speeded up.

Well on average the CR1 only takes 10-12 months. Many people were getting it done in 9-10 months before this fee hike, so it really isnt' that long. I estimate 10 months for my process...God willing. Some people take longer cause they had a few RFE's, didn't use shortcuts, abnormal security checks...etc etc. I on't understand how the K1 visas are so much faster on average....those seem to be the easiest way for fraud to happen and I would think they would be scrutinized more. I'm not against those that do K1's..let me just put that out there, cause people get sensitive...but i think about it and if a person wanted to move to the US for "false or wrong" pretinses the K1 is the EASIEST way to do it. All you have to do is propose to someone or get someone to propose to you. There's no other legal binding, no checks and balances, thats it. You could get here and flee if you wanted. Of course you'd be considered illegally here, but when has that stopped people before. We all know that you can live perfectly fine in this country without a valid visa. So for USCIS to approve those petitions faster is odd to me...I'd think it would be the other way around.

Hey Marlita...I hear you. It does seem like to me that there should not be as long a wait period as there is for a CR-1 versus the K-1. But that's a debate for another day. What I do hope is that the wait time for CR-1's could be cut down to 6-7 months. I know it's wishful thinking, but gosh...waiting for a whole year to be with your spouse is enough to drive anyone mad!! I was explaining this whole visa process & immigration thing to my co-workers the other day. They were all like, "Why doesn't your husband just come over? Doesn't he have a passport?" I was like YEAH, but it isn't that easy. I said to one of them that I understand why people do it illegally. It's easier, and in some cases, there seems to be LESS risk than doing it the right way!! Go figure! But I have to believe that God's will will be done, and until that day comes I will wait...

Well, in defense of the K-1's, I don't think they are really the easiest way to fraud. You have to file saying you want to marry someone and move to the US to do it. You have to wait out the entire processing time, which is additional proof that you really do want to do it. You must then marry within the 90 day window and then file for the AOS and the green card. At any point, you can stop the visa or the AOS processing and the beneficiary would either be SOL or have to go back because they had not adjusted.

With the other two visas.......well, anyone can marry someone on the spur of the moment. Just because most that we know of shout it from the hills that they had big ceremonies with the beneficiary's family present, there are those who do it quietly in quickie ceremonies, sometimes under the guise of drunken good times in foreign countries with sweet talk ringing in their ears. Marrying someone does not really prove a thing. Look at someone like Pamela Anderson.....do you really see her marriages as long lasting? Drunken tryts most were.

I sometimes think they make the wait so long so people are forced to deal with some of the issues.

I don't think there is an absolute in any of this. It's all a crap shoot.

AMEN!!!!

What in the world...Pamela Anderson? haha My thing is that during the USCIS phase it should be all equal between K1/K3/CR1/IR1. They are doing back ground checks, verifying official documents, yada yada. Why is it that a K1 person is wisked thru much faster...what is the difference or the less stuff that is being checked on those cases...vs cases with a marriage involved. granted marriage visas require a marriage certificate but how long does that take to verufy....heck I didnt even send then an official certificate...for all they know I could be lying about my marriage . Its all just wierd. And as far as filing AOS well thats not always what the person is looking to do. I'm speaking of the terrorists, womaninzers, and those just interested in a free ride out of their current situation. If they wanted to get here fast and thats all they were worried about....well K1 will get them here without that much legal effort put into it.

There is nothing additional legally as far as marriage goes except for the marriage license/certificate. My point with that scenario was that, that piece of paper is very easy to get as well.

Womanizers, terrorists, and con artists will use whomever they need to use and do whatever they need to do to get what they want. There is no tried and true visa journey to avoid that completely.

I agree with you. I do think they should be equal in time and efforts.

Can anyone from Jamaica tell me how long the police certificates are valid for after you get them? Thanks!

I think police records are the same all around and most police certificates I know are good for up to a year, so I would not try to get it until you are closer within the NVC timeline...