Hello All,

I am a new member to this commuity. Reading and understanding everyones' immigration scenerios forces one to be more patient and sane. I am apllying for my wife [ I-130 ( in August) and eventually I-129F...K-3 ...] I was told by my lawyer that it usually takes 4-6 months for the whole process. Reading all the comments on the board sure does not seem like that will happen at all in that timeframe which is very dissppointing. I am about to take a long vacation in December 07 and was hoping the whole process would be done and she would return with me;but now having more information and sense of delays, my timing was way off. Our plans were that she start her Masters beginning of the year.

Is there any way she could (or should) apply for a visitors visa while she is awaiting for the process to take its "long" course!

If anyone is in a similar scenerio ( applying for a spouse in India ) or have general feedback on timing [start of process I-130.......to K-3 visa in hand], I would really appreciate your feedback.

skp

One thing, Lawyers love the K-3, it can provide them with additional income (filing the I-129F) and later filing I-485 to adjust status from K-3 to immigrant.

I would carefuly compare the timelines for K-3 VS CR-1 visas, in most cases CR-1 takes slightly longer than K-3.

CR-1 costs less and involves less paperwork (NO I-129F filing and NO adjustment of status needed) CR-1 gets a green-card upon entry to the USA because they are an immigrant. K-3 needs to apply for EAD or AOS and wait 90 days or more to get EAD or green-card, all of this time unable to get on with life and get things like SSN, driver's license, and other things requiring EAD or Green-Card.

Adjusting status from K-3 costs $1010

CR-1 is just I-130 without filing the I-129F for K-3

As for visitors visa many consulates wont issue them when a CR-1 or K-Visa is being processed, they need to be assured that the "Visitor" has a solid reason to return home.

I want to know the same thing .... if i just apply for i-130 and don't bother with the CR-1 .... as i understand it ...I-130 take 1-2 months in NVC vs K-3 (3-4 ) weeks ??... am also thinking about tourist Visa ....

Yes I-130 (CR-1) takes longer at NVC because of processes like I-864 fee bill, K-3 like K-1 passes through NVC and needs not much processing.

I-130 without I-129F results in the superior CR-1 visa, Filing the I-129F while I-130 is pending at USCIS results in USCIS holding the I-130 for later AOS, and sending the I-129F on to NVC for K-3 visa.

Again compare the timelines for CR-1 and K-3, a few weeks in the foreign country waiting for CR-1 can save you great aggravation of paying the high cost of AOS from the K-3

here is the CR-1 time line i found

Member Name --- I130 Sent --- NOA1 --- (CSC/VSC) --- NOA2 --- Days To Approval
The_dip_sticks--05/23/06 --- 06/15/06 --- CSC ----- Pending
Singha -------- 12/29/06 --- 01/03/07 --- VSC ----- 06/01/07 ---- 149
Nilz07 -------- 12/29/06 --- 01/03/07 --- CSC ----- 06/12/07 ---- 160
Nyseness ------ 12/30/06 --- 01/06/07 --- CSC ----- 05/16/07 ---- 130
mike & Elena -- 12/19/06 --- 01/09/07 --- CSC ----- 04/16/07 ----- 97
npatel3c ----------- ? ----- 01/14/07 --- VSC ----- 05/25/07 ---- 131
Erica --------- 01/16/07 --- 01/24/07 --- CSC ----- 04/06/07 ----- 72
Slbois -------- 01/17/07 --- 01/26/07 --- CSC ----- 04/09/07 ----- 73
Dillydally ---- 01/30/07 --- 02/01/07 --- CSC ----- 06/14/07 ---- 133
Virt ---------- 01/26/07 --- 02/01/07 --- CSC ----- 06/07/07 ---- 126
Comelly ------- 02/01/07 --- 02/09/07 --- CSC ----- 04/19/07 ----- 69
MegDan -------- 02/07/07 --- 02/13/07 --- CSC ----- 05/31/07 ---- 107
Mononoke28 ---- 02/05/07 --- 02/14/07 --- CSC ----- 05/03/07 ----- 78
Flicki -------- 02/13/07 --- 02/15/07 --- CSC ----- 06/25/07 ---- 130
Geist & Stabu - 02/16/07 --- 02/21/07 --- CSC ----- 06/07/07 ---- 106
Jasmin -------- 02/13/07 --- 02/21/07 --- CSC ----- 06/22/07 ---- 121
Mxjjx --------- 02/15/07 --- 02/21/07 --- VSC ----- 07/17/07 ---- 146
RandyandRina -- 02/22/07 --- 02/26/07 ----CSC------ 07/02/07 ---- 126
Vylex --------- 02/17/07 --- 02/28/07 --- CSC ----- 06/12/07 ---- 104
Greeneclipse -- 02/23/07 --- 03/01/07 --- CSC ----- 07/09/07 ---- 130
S & J --------- 03/01/07 --- 03/09/07 --- CSC ----- 06/19/07 ---- 102
Trailmix ------ 03/08/07 --- 03/13/07 --- CSC ----- 06/05/07 ----- 84
Rika60607 ----- 03/07/07 --- 03/16/07 --- CSC ----- 06/14/07 ----- 99
Mdpo ---------- 03/16/07 --- 03/19/07 --- CSC ----- 08/16/07 ---- 150
DeeCee -------- 03/08/07 --- 03/19/07 --- CSC ----- 06/06/07 ----- 79
Jaxguy -------- 03/05/07 --- 03/20/07 --- CSC ----- 09/07/07 ----- 171
Miriam n Alain- 03/09/07 --- 03/21/07 --- CSC ----- 03/22/07 ------ 1
hhk3 ---------- 03/26/07 --- 04/04/07 --- VSC ----- 05/31/07 ----- 57
LadyJane ------ 03/26/07 --- 04/06/07 --- CSC ----- 07/02/07 ----- 87
pc_whisperer -- 03/30/07 --- 04/09/07 --- CSC ----- 07/27/07 ---- 109
RickOlechka --- 03/02/07 --- 04/12/07 --- CSC ----- 07/04/07 ----- 83
Jundibasam ---- 04/07/07 --- 04/23/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
Tussie -------- 04/13/07 --- 04/24/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
Eresh --------- 04/24/07 --- 05/21/07 --- CSC ----- 08/10/07 ----- 81
Djturbo ------- 05/11/07 --- 06/05/07 --- CSC ----- 09/14/07 ---- 101
Pkewl --------- 05/15/07 --- 06/06/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
Luckysprite --- 05/22/07 --- 06/08/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
Clow ---------- 05/07/07 --- 06/14/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
Amberlynn ----- 06/22/07 --- 06/29/07 --- VSC ----- Pending
Mohgli -------- 07/12/07 --- 07/19/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
KTG ----------- 07/19/07 --- 08/02/07 --- CSC ----- Pending
Saradanielle -- 08/16/07 --- 08/16/07 --- VSC ----- Pending
Kelzm --------- 08/09/07 --- 09/05/07 --- CSC ----- Pending