I'm looking to file for a K-3 visa and in reviewing the instructions for form I-129F, I see lots of errors and contradictions. I tried calling the CIS general help number, and they just told me that they cannot help me fill out forms and they've never had anyone complain about their forms being wrong. They said I would need to make an appointment at my local office to talk to an officer to complain about the form

Maybe some of you who have filed already can fill me in...

Here's the issues I've seen so far:

Question 1C. References Question 11, “How do you use this form for your spouse seeking entry using a K-3 Visa”. However, Question 10 is the proper section. (obvious error)

Question 8B. Says to attach "passport" style photographs of myself and my spouse, then goes on to say "in a 3/4 frontal view". Is it a passport photo, or a 3/4 frontal view photo, like for the green card? The guide here seems to indicate it should be a standard frontal passport view.

Question 10. Says to file documents listed in questions 3, 4, and 6 and omit documents in question 5. Questions 3 and 4 do not pertain to documents. Question 6 is about if a document is not available, so what documents do I need? It appears the instructions should be to file documents listed in questions 5, 6, and 8 and omit documents in question 7. Is that correct?

Question 10. Says to answer questions B.17/B.18 as N/A, but those questions are yes/no checkboxes. Is it referring to the right questions and if so, just write N/A next to them?

I can't believe there are so many inaccuracies in the instructions. No wonder people hire lawyers to fill these things out.

Bruce

I will ask you to read the I-129F instructions more carefully. It has specifically said about married couple also. There is nothing wrong with the form or instructions. If you think, they are wrong, go to your local office, see an officer and complain about it.

Bruce,
They want just plain old passport photos these days.
You are correct, you may omit docs for Q7 since you should already be married to your wife for whom you are filing the petition.
Leave the checkboxes blank, and in the textbox for details related to the question, type "N/A"

Hello and welcome.

Check out the Example Forms section here on this site. That is what my husband and I used to complete ours.

simple_male,
Bruce is right, the instructions are now off, they have been since they added the IMBRA items to the beginning of the instructions (well after you filed). That resulted in many instruction items being renumbered, but the item that discusses that to do for K3 spouse still references the original item numbers. This is something many of us have come across, but like Bruce, figured out which one we could omit. I have a copy of the old version of form, which actually matches up with the item numbers in the instructions.

If you think the I-129F is bad ! Try filling out the DS 156K being a K3.
I went nuts trying to before I realized K3 didn't have to fill it out.
Almost every space had N/A except the signature!

Okay, I was telling from my own experience of I-129F. At that time, I did not notice any error. Anyway, I am looking at the new I-129F instructions and foudnd that Bruce's first observation is true:

Question 1C. References Question 11, “How do you use this form for your spouse seeking entry using a K-3 Visa”. However, Question 10 is the proper section. (obvious error)." Bruce is referring to Section 1C and 11 of the instructions. I was also confused when he mentioned Question 1C and Question 11, obviously, it would be section 1C and Section 11. Yes, section 10 is correct for married couple, but obviously section 11 is wrong.

Section 8B: Passport photos are fine.

He is right about documents' sections.

For Questions B17 and B18 of the I-129F form, you don't cross any checkbox (Yes or No), simply write "N/A," since they are not applicable for married couple.

It was my fault to think that USCIS can not make such errors. Amazing!

8B (Passport photo, that is incorrect and USCIS put a flyer out about it some time ago. Must be full frontal 2"x2" standard, not the 3/4 view in the instructions.) see: http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf

As for the rest the example form here on VJ simplifies understanding

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-I-129F-K3.pdf

Consider The K-3 is a hybrid to the K-1 and the I-129F form was written with K-1 fiancee in mind.

Thanks everyone for your informative answers. I can see this site will be very helpful with the whole process.

Bruce

Thats great. Will have to keep that in mind