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OK...What is the Real Deal with the K-3, I'm Confused!

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
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Would anyone PLEASE help me understand the real deal with the K-3 process, or lack there-of. Post a link to a forum I missed, supplemental website, anything, because I have combed this website's links, forums, timelines, etc for a better understanding and I feel like I am being turned in circles!

I keep reading that the K-3 is obsolete and no longer being processed? if this is true, why are they even accepting/approving petitions for them to begin with? How is everyone coming to this conclusion?

My situation: I filed both the I-130 and I-129f (K3) for my husband in March and April respectively. Both were approved on the same day, May 19th after I requested the I-130 to be expedited due to a short notice deployment tasker. (I only requested the I-130 be expedited, and they both were approved the same day, maybe they were just processed together?) Anyway, USCIS sent both cases to NVC on the same day, May 27. Now, As of this moment, the NVC still does not have my I-130 case, but according to a supervisor I was transferred to, they received the I-129f case on 27 March, she gave me the case#, the IID#, and said the NVC was reviewing it to be sent to the consulate. She told me I would get instructions from the consulate on what to do next.

BUT...according to what everyone is saying here, the K3 case will be closed and the I-130f will be processed as normal (which I know and expect will happen anyway, but I filed the K3 for a reason). So because I have a case#, does this mean they will process it, or does that mean nothing?

And if they DO process it, what is the average processing time for the K3 visa to be issued? Because I can't seem to find that ANYWHERE either. Any help would be great. It's bad enough to be stuck out in the middle of the ocean far away from any and everyone I know and love for years at a time. The least the government can do is let me be with my husband.

Thanks for reading.

<3 Tee

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
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Call the NVC, they will be able to explain everything to you, 6033340700

Thanks Hun, I have been calling them everyday since USCIS approved my cases. I spoke to that supervisor yesterday and she only told me that NVC was reviewing it before sending it to the embassy/consulate, and that I would get information from them once they receive it from the NVC. Do you have different information? Should I call back?

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
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Yes, K3s are usually closed at NVC stage. the reason for that is that for almost everyone, the CR-1 is the superior visa, since it is cheaper, and you can work and travel as soon as you arrive in the USA, unlike the K3, which requires AOS (more paperwork, more fees, can't work).

The K3 was useful years ago, when it took the CR-1 several years to get approved, whereas the K3 only took around a year; that meant that at least, couples could be together during some of the process, even if the foreign beneficiary could not work. But a few years ago, processing times for the CR-1 shortened, and is now the same as for the K3 (though it is hard to give processing times for the K3, because so few are issued nowadays, we see 4-5 a year here).

I see. Well I definitely appreciate your response because that reasoning makes sense. I wish they would be upfront about it when you call for information instead of string you along like they do with their scripted answers. Especially when they know that's the case. Giving people this false hope, it's cruel I tell you! Anyway, thank you!

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ireland
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yah, we don't call them the "missinformation line" for nothing.... :(

Bye: Penguin

Me: Irish/ Swiss citizen, and now naturalised US citizen. Husband: USC; twin babies born Feb 08 in Ireland and a daughter in Feb 2010 in Arkansas who are all joint Irish/ USC. Did DCF (IR1) in 6 weeks via the Dublin, Ireland embassy and now living in Arkansas.

mod penguin.jpg

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
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**Correction** Can't figure out how to edit my initial post, but I called just now, and NVC received both cases 3 June (but when I called yesterday they didn't have it, SMH), but the K3 case has the numbers.

Original post had 27 March as NVC receipt date and only God knows where that came from...

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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**Correction** Can't figure out how to edit my initial post, but I called just now, and NVC received both cases 3 June (but when I called yesterday they didn't have it, SMH), but the K3 case has the numbers.

Original post had 27 March as NVC receipt date and only God knows where that came from...

That happened to me too, one day I called and they said they had just received my case and is awaiting case number. The next two days they told me they hadn't got it yet.....then the third day.....case number assigned.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
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That happened to me too, one day I called and they said they had just received my case and is awaiting case number. The next two days they told me they hadn't got it yet.....then the third day.....case number assigned.

They are the worst! And it's bad enough I have to call 100 times to even get through, then wait another 30-45 mins to talk to someone, only to A). Get a complete A-hole who gives you as little info as possible or B). A really nice person who gives you all the wrong info. What. The. Heck!

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Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Peru
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Would anyone PLEASE help me understand the real deal with the K-3 process, or lack there-of. Post a link to a forum I missed, supplemental website, anything, because I have combed this website's links, forums, timelines, etc for a better understanding and I feel like I am being turned in circles!

I keep reading that the K-3 is obsolete and no longer being processed? if this is true, why are they even accepting/approving petitions for them to begin with? How is everyone coming to this conclusion?

My situation: I filed both the I-130 and I-129f (K3) for my husband in March and April respectively. Both were approved on the same day, May 19th after I requested the I-130 to be expedited due to a short notice deployment tasker. (I only requested the I-130 be expedited, and they both were approved the same day, maybe they were just processed together?) Anyway, USCIS sent both cases to NVC on the same day, May 27. Now, As of this moment, the NVC still does not have my I-130 case, but according to a supervisor I was transferred to, they received the I-129f case on 27 March, she gave me the case#, the IID#, and said the NVC was reviewing it to be sent to the consulate. She told me I would get instructions from the consulate on what to do next.

BUT...according to what everyone is saying here, the K3 case will be closed and the I-130f will be processed as normal (which I know and expect will happen anyway, but I filed the K3 for a reason). So because I have a case#, does this mean they will process it, or does that mean nothing?

And if they DO process it, what is the average processing time for the K3 visa to be issued? Because I can't seem to find that ANYWHERE either. Any help would be great. It's bad enough to be stuck out in the middle of the ocean far away from any and everyone I know and love for years at a time. The least the government can do is let me be with my husband.

Thanks for reading.

<3 Tee[/quote

My wife came on K3 and daughter on K4 September 2014 so I can talk by experience. Yes, most commonly the i-129f would get administrative closed, if both the I-130 and I-129f are received at the same time by NVC. My I-129f was received and processed first and case assigned and was sent to the embassy within a week after got case number. If you have a case number for it, you may be in luck. I will say call again to confirm and track down the case number as it may reach the embassy before the I130 gets a case assigned as it usually takes a month at NVC. You can see my timeline as my wife entered the US on a K3 last September 2014. I was not the only person. There were three other I followed who got K3s approved. As many will say is not common, but it happens. If you want to proceed with the K3 and want to get your spouse sooner you can, but know that if you do your spouse has to do AOS in the States and spend another $1070 to get the green card and get interviewed again.

In any case, verify again with NVC and also you can track the process of your case on the ceac website.

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

If you case shows as in transit it means it has not reached the embassy, if it says ready it has reach it.

Good luck!

Jorge

*The material presented is intended for general information only and does not constitute legal advice*

USCIS - IR1/CR1 Wife/IR2 Daughter - K3 Wife/K4 Daughter

12/03/2013 -- I-130s Sent, 12/06/2013 -- I-130s Received                                           12/13/2013 -- I-129F Sent, 12/16/2013 -- I-129F Received           

12/10/2013 -- I-130s NOA1 Hard copies received from VSC                                         12/20/2013 -- I-129F NOA1 Hard copy from VSC           

06/05/2014 -- I-130s Alien Registration Numbers Changed                                           02/12/2014 -- I-129F Transferred from VSC to TSC hard copy                                       

06/09/2014 -- I-130s RFE Emails, 06/12/2014 -- I-130s RFE Hard copies received       02/25/2014 -- I-129F Alien Registration Number Changed

06/16/2014 -- I-130s RFE Response received                                                              07/11/2014 -- I-129F NOA2 email (207 days)

09/25/2014 -- I-130 NOA2 Emails 290 days                                                                 07/16/2014 -- I-129F NOA2 Hard copy received and sent to NVC        

NVC - K3 Wife/K4 Daughter

07-29-2014 -- NVC received I129F                                                                           

07-31-2014 -- NVC case number assigned

08-01-2014 -- Left NVC in route to Embassy in Lima

Embassy - K3 Wife/K4 Daughter

08-07-2014 -- Embassy in Lima received case from NVC                                        

08-07-2014 -- Received email interview letter and packet IV

08-18-2014 -- Completed DS-160 online                                                                 

08-21-2014 -- Medical & Vaccination completed

09-03-2014 -- Interview (Approved)                                                                        

09-05-2014 -- Visa Issued (CEAC website)

09-10-2014 -- Visa in hand                                                                                      

09-18-2014 -- Dulles VA

USCIS - AOS Wife/Daughter

12/10/2014 -- I-485 Sent - including I-765                                                            

12/11/2014 -- I-485 Received

12/16/2014 -- I-485 and I-765 NOA Received email                                             

12/20/2014 -- I-485 and I-765 NOA Hard copies received

01/09/2015 -- I-485 and I-765 Biometrics appointment                                       

01/14/2015 -- I-485 Ready for interview

02/02/2015 -- I-485 Interview notification received                                             

02/14/2015 -- I-765 Approved - EAD card production email and text

02/24/2015 -- I-765 EAD card received                                                              

 03/12/2015 -- I-485 Interview Date (APPROVED)

03/17/2015 -- CR6/CR7 Welcome letters received                                               

03/21/2015 -- CR6/CR7 Green Cards received :dance:

USCIS - ROC Wife/Daughter

01/12/2017 -- I-751 Sent

01/17/2017 -- I-751 NOA Received for wife and daughter

02/23/2017 -- I-751 / CRI89 Biometrics Appointment for wife and daughter

12/26/2017 -- I-751 / CRI89 Approved for wife and daughter

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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***Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.***

**Moderator hat off**

I keep reading that the K-3 is obsolete and no longer being processed? if this is true, why are they even accepting/approving petitions for them to begin with? How is everyone coming to this conclusion?

The K3 visa was created by the LIFE Act in 2000. The reason it is still on the books is the provision in that particular law has never been repealed. It will remain on the books unless repealed by an act of Congress.

Procedural changes at USCIS implemented in 2006 resulted in the tying of the two petitions together. Procedural changes at the State Department implemented in 2010 brought about administrative closure of the K3 whenever an approved I-130 is on-station at the Department of State. It is these procedural changes that have rendered the K3 virtually unobtainable making the actual issuance of one in this day and age a rare occurrence.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Jamaica
Timeline

Got it. Thanks guys. I called back this morning and acted completely oblivious to the whole process (not totally an act, btw) and I actually got the rep to tell me it will be in AP until the I-130 gets a #, then it will join the I-130 and close out, reiterating what you all said =( Very disheartening especially considering this won't get approved before my deployment, so hopefully I can request an expedite, only the rep said I can't do THAT until the I-130 gets a number! UGH!

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Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Peru
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Got it. Thanks guys. I called back this morning and acted completely oblivious to the whole process (not totally an act, btw) and I actually got the rep to tell me it will be in AP until the I-130 gets a #, then it will join the I-130 and close out, reiterating what you all said =( Very disheartening especially considering this won't get approved before my deployment, so hopefully I can request an expedite, only the rep said I can't do THAT until the I-130 gets a number! UGH!

Sorry to hear that, but at least you got some sort of good answer from someone.

*The material presented is intended for general information only and does not constitute legal advice*

USCIS - IR1/CR1 Wife/IR2 Daughter - K3 Wife/K4 Daughter

12/03/2013 -- I-130s Sent, 12/06/2013 -- I-130s Received                                           12/13/2013 -- I-129F Sent, 12/16/2013 -- I-129F Received           

12/10/2013 -- I-130s NOA1 Hard copies received from VSC                                         12/20/2013 -- I-129F NOA1 Hard copy from VSC           

06/05/2014 -- I-130s Alien Registration Numbers Changed                                           02/12/2014 -- I-129F Transferred from VSC to TSC hard copy                                       

06/09/2014 -- I-130s RFE Emails, 06/12/2014 -- I-130s RFE Hard copies received       02/25/2014 -- I-129F Alien Registration Number Changed

06/16/2014 -- I-130s RFE Response received                                                              07/11/2014 -- I-129F NOA2 email (207 days)

09/25/2014 -- I-130 NOA2 Emails 290 days                                                                 07/16/2014 -- I-129F NOA2 Hard copy received and sent to NVC        

NVC - K3 Wife/K4 Daughter

07-29-2014 -- NVC received I129F                                                                           

07-31-2014 -- NVC case number assigned

08-01-2014 -- Left NVC in route to Embassy in Lima

Embassy - K3 Wife/K4 Daughter

08-07-2014 -- Embassy in Lima received case from NVC                                        

08-07-2014 -- Received email interview letter and packet IV

08-18-2014 -- Completed DS-160 online                                                                 

08-21-2014 -- Medical & Vaccination completed

09-03-2014 -- Interview (Approved)                                                                        

09-05-2014 -- Visa Issued (CEAC website)

09-10-2014 -- Visa in hand                                                                                      

09-18-2014 -- Dulles VA

USCIS - AOS Wife/Daughter

12/10/2014 -- I-485 Sent - including I-765                                                            

12/11/2014 -- I-485 Received

12/16/2014 -- I-485 and I-765 NOA Received email                                             

12/20/2014 -- I-485 and I-765 NOA Hard copies received

01/09/2015 -- I-485 and I-765 Biometrics appointment                                       

01/14/2015 -- I-485 Ready for interview

02/02/2015 -- I-485 Interview notification received                                             

02/14/2015 -- I-765 Approved - EAD card production email and text

02/24/2015 -- I-765 EAD card received                                                              

 03/12/2015 -- I-485 Interview Date (APPROVED)

03/17/2015 -- CR6/CR7 Welcome letters received                                               

03/21/2015 -- CR6/CR7 Green Cards received :dance:

USCIS - ROC Wife/Daughter

01/12/2017 -- I-751 Sent

01/17/2017 -- I-751 NOA Received for wife and daughter

02/23/2017 -- I-751 / CRI89 Biometrics Appointment for wife and daughter

12/26/2017 -- I-751 / CRI89 Approved for wife and daughter

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