QUOTE(Leney @ Apr 23 2007, 06:47 PM)

I had absolutely no idea what to do when we started, and sought advice from my Senator. His aids advised us to go the K-3 route, which is what I have done, though it seems a lot of people don't like this method now that I read this site

Well, the K-3 is still faster once the I-129F's been approved because it doesn't hang around at the NVC for months, but many feel it's not a big enough difference to make up for the benefits you get with a CR1.
The thing I find most annoying is that you must file the I-130 before you can file an I-129F. I filed before they made the announcement that they would be holding I-130s if there was an approved I-129F petition. We assumed when we were filing that we would be able to decide which path to take later in the process. Now we don't see the CR1 as an option because we'd have to file a motion of action, shell out a couple hundred more dollars, and wait another six months or so for our approved I-130 to start being processed again.
I'm sure the K-3 was a godsend years ago, but now it's a bit of an albatross.