Help!! Waiting for CR-1 or go with the K3????

[Mr.Gabs 0]

HI everyone, i'm new in this forum and i found it looking for information about I-130 form because my girlfriend Shannon (north american) now my wife and I Gabriel (Argentine) just got married on September 5th of this year here in Argentina, she is living here since May 20th and in the beginning of the next year she'll go back to the US. We want to apply for the I-130 and we decided that is better to do the whole process and me waiting here in Argentina instead than me going there with K3 visa because is so much paper work and then you have to Adjust Status and cost like a Thousand dollars but i will be able to go sooner with the K3 and when I'm there i have to ask for a permisson of work so we decided to wait for the CR-1 because once i enter the US i can work but i think i so much longer the process. So we don't know what now because today arrived to Oregon, US all the paper work (I-130 form, and the two g-325 forms) and now all the papers are in my wife's mom house waiting for us to tell her what to do with the papers. We also read that if you apply in the embassy is more expedite the process so we are waiting for that. What should we do?? wait for CR-1 ? go with the K3 visa?? Please help, this forum is great, formed by very helpfull and friendly people. Saludos!

PS: Sorry about my bad english punctuation and mistakes.

Edited September 17, 2008 by Gabriel Milanese

[MsZ 6]

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

[payxibka 10,044]

HI everyone, i'm new in this forum and i found it looking for information about I-130 form because my girlfriend Shannon (north american) now my wife and I Gabriel (Argentine) just got married on September 5th of this year here in Argentina, she is living here since May 20th and in the beginning of the next year she'll go back to the US. We want to apply for the I-130 and we decided that is better to do the whole process and me waiting here in Argentina instead than me going there with K3 visa because is so much paper work and then you have to Adjust Status and cost like a Thousand dollars but i will be able to go sooner with the K3 and when I'm there i have to ask for a permisson of work so we decided to wait for the CR-1 because once i enter the US i can work but i think i so much longer the process. So we don't know what now because today arrived to Oregon, US all the paper work (I-130 form, and the two g-325 forms) and now all the papers are in my wife's mom house waiting for us to tell her what to do with the papers. We also read that if you apply in the embassy is more expedite the process so we are waiting for that. What should we do?? wait for CR-1 ? go with the K3 visa?? Please help, this forum is great, formed by very helpfull and friendly people. Saludos!

Did you look into filing directly with the Embassy in bsas once she has been in country for the required 6 mos... a lot FASTER...

[Mr.Gabs 0]

Did you look into filing directly with the Embassy in bsas once she has been in country for the required 6 mos... a lot FASTER...

Yeah, but she has been here for like 3 months under a tourist visa and finally today she applied for the residency and after that is 6 months so is not helpfull at all any way we just sent today a email to the embassy in Buenos Aires asking if we can do the DFC. Tahnks for the help fwwaguy.

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Edited September 17, 2008 by Gabriel Milanese

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Did you look into filing directly with the Embassy in bsas once she has been in country for the required 6 mos... a lot FASTER...

Yeah, but she has been here for like 3 months under a tourist visa and finally today she applied for the residency and after that is 6 months so is not helpfull at all any way we just sent today a email to the embassy in Buenos Aires asking if we can do the DFC. Tahnks for the help fwwaguy.

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Yes, After you get the receipt for the proof of receiving the I-130, then you send in the I-129F if you decide to.

And you are very lucky to be going through the Embassy in Buenos Aires, they are very good. And if she lives in Oregon, you will ise the California Service Center which is also very good for you.

Good Luck!

[YuAndDan 153]

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Filing for a K-3 requires that the US citizen FIRST file an I-130 package for a CR-1 visa and then AFTER getting I-130 NOA1 "Receipt" letter they then file I-129F to the service center noted on the I-130 NOA1 letter.

Note: for most countries K-3 is not much quicker to process than CR-1, NVC has streamlined their process a bit on CR-1 so that in most cases K-3 wont save much time. Also K-3 is NOT work authorized CR-1 IS, I see many complaints of K-3's about not being able to work until at least 90 days after entering the USA while they wait for an EAD or AOS to generate a green-card.

Compare VJ timelines for K-3 and CR-1.

If you enter the USA on CR-1 visa, then NO AOS needed. CR-1 has the advantage of GREEN-CARD on entry to the USA, and can imediatly take a JOB, get SSN, and apply for a driver's licenence after getting SSN. K-3 CANNOT take a JOB, get SSN, or apply for driver's license until after getting EAD or Green-card. EAD can take 90 days or more.

CR-1 saves $$$

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

AOS: $1010

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

Edited September 17, 2008 by YuAndDan

[Mr.Gabs 0]

Did you look into filing directly with the Embassy in bsas once she has been in country for the required 6 mos... a lot FASTER...

Yeah, but she has been here for like 3 months under a tourist visa and finally today she applied for the residency and after that is 6 months so is not helpfull at all any way we just sent today a email to the embassy in Buenos Aires asking if we can do the DFC. Tahnks for the help fwwaguy.

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Yes, After you get the receipt for the proof of receiving the I-130, then you send in the I-129F if you decide to.

And you are very lucky to be going through the Embassy in Buenos Aires, they are very good. And if she lives in Oregon, you will ise the California Service Center which is also very good for you.

Good Luck!

Thanks steve y jessica, i heard that they are very good at the embassy of Buenos Aires and is a good thing too that the CSC is good too, will speed up things. But my doubt is still should wait in argentina until the whole process of the I-130 is done, how long does it take this one? or just go for the K3 that is expensive but i will be able to go i think in 7-8 months more o less from today. Do we need a lawyer??

Thanks for the help, and good luck for you with your process.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Did you look into filing directly with the Embassy in bsas once she has been in country for the required 6 mos... a lot FASTER...

Yeah, but she has been here for like 3 months under a tourist visa and finally today she applied for the residency and after that is 6 months so is not helpfull at all any way we just sent today a email to the embassy in Buenos Aires asking if we can do the DFC. Tahnks for the help fwwaguy.

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Yes, After you get the receipt for the proof of receiving the I-130, then you send in the I-129F if you decide to.

And you are very lucky to be going through the Embassy in Buenos Aires, they are very good. And if she lives in Oregon, you will ise the California Service Center which is also very good for you.

Good Luck!

Thanks steve y jessica, i heard that they are very good at the embassy of Buenos Aires and is a good thing too that the CSC is good too, will speed up things. But my doubt is still should wait in argentina until the whole process of the I-130 is done, how long does it take this one? or just go for the K3 that is expensive but i will be able to go i think in 7-8 months more o less from today. Do we need a lawyer??

Thanks for the help, and good luck for you with your process.

I would apply for the K3, just because they process the K3's faster than the CR1's. Then when they get approved, they approve both at the same time. If you want the CR1, you just ignore the K3 stuff from then on.

Or what we did was continue to follow both paths. K3 and CR1. This got my wife her CR1 interview about 6 weeks sooner than just following the CR1. She had her K3 interview scheduled for August 14th. Her CR1 was complete before that and the interview was changed to a CR1 interview. Wheile they scheduled her CR1 interview for September 23rd. So she has been here since August 19th on her CR1. As opposed to September 23rd if we had just followed the CR1.

And no, you do not need a lawyer. All of the information you need is here.

It took us 102 days from the Day I sent in the paperwork to the CR1 interview. But i admit, that is much faster than normal.

Edited September 17, 2008 by Steve Y Jessica

[Mr.Gabs 0]

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Filing for a K-3 requires that the US citizen FIRST file an I-130 package for a CR-1 visa and then AFTER getting I-130 NOA1 "Receipt" letter they then file I-129F to the service center noted on the I-130 NOA1 letter.

Note: for most countries K-3 is not much quicker to process than CR-1, NVC has streamlined their process a bit on CR-1 so that in most cases K-3 wont save much time. Also K-3 is NOT work authorized CR-1 IS, I see many complaints of K-3's about not being able to work until at least 90 days after entering the USA while they wait for an EAD or AOS to generate a green-card.

Compare VJ timelines for K-3 and CR-1.

If you enter the USA on CR-1 visa, then NO AOS needed. CR-1 has the advantage of GREEN-CARD on entry to the USA, and can imediatly take a JOB, get SSN, and apply for a driver's licenence after getting SSN. K-3 CANNOT take a JOB, get SSN, or apply for driver's license until after getting EAD or Green-card. EAD can take 90 days or more.

CR-1 saves $$$

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

AOS: $1010

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

NVC Visa fee: $400 ($355+$45)

($825)

Yeah, that's actually what i tought...the CR-1 is way better because once you enter the us you can work and do everything. The thing now is that will be better that if we can send the I-130 to the embassy in Buenos Aires that will be faster than applying in united states i think but we don't know if we can. Thanks for the help YuAndDan that put things a little bit more clear. Good luck for you!

[YuAndDan 153]

A lawyer is not needed unless you have something complex that needs to be dealt with like an overstay.

A lawyer will simply ask you a bunch of questions (what is asked on the forms) and fill in the forms for you, and send them to USCIS, in many cases something will be overlooked, or done wrong by the lawyer.

We did our case by ourselves from K-1 petition all the way through AOS, and will do removal of conditions and naturalization without using a lawyer.

[YuAndDan 153]

Yeah, that's actually what i tought...the CR-1 is way better because once you enter the us you can work and do everything. The thing now is that will be better that if we can send the I-130 to the embassy in Buenos Aires that will be faster than applying in united states i think but we don't know if we can. Thanks for the help YuAndDan that put things a little bit more clear. Good luck for you!

Typically to do DCF the US citizen needs to be "resident" in the counselor district for approx 6 months, some consulates will accept less, others want to see proof of foreign residency, some dont.

[Mr.Gabs 0]

Did you look into filing directly with the Embassy in bsas once she has been in country for the required 6 mos... a lot FASTER...

Yeah, but she has been here for like 3 months under a tourist visa and finally today she applied for the residency and after that is 6 months so is not helpfull at all any way we just sent today a email to the embassy in Buenos Aires asking if we can do the DFC. Tahnks for the help fwwaguy.

Well, regardless, the I-130 has to be done so just fill that out and get it on its way and you can spend another week or so thinking about whether you want to send the I-129F.

So once we apply the I-130 then we apply for the I-129F that i think is for the K3 visa, ah? help me with that. Thanks for your response MsZ and your help.

Yes, After you get the receipt for the proof of receiving the I-130, then you send in the I-129F if you decide to.

And you are very lucky to be going through the Embassy in Buenos Aires, they are very good. And if she lives in Oregon, you will ise the California Service Center which is also very good for you.

Good Luck!

Thanks steve y jessica, i heard that they are very good at the embassy of Buenos Aires and is a good thing too that the CSC is good too, will speed up things. But my doubt is still should wait in argentina until the whole process of the I-130 is done, how long does it take this one? or just go for the K3 that is expensive but i will be able to go i think in 7-8 months more o less from today. Do we need a lawyer??

Thanks for the help, and good luck for you with your process.

I would apply for the K3, just because they process the K3's faster than the CR1's. Then when they get approved, they approve both at the same time. If you want the CR1, you just ignore the K3 stuff from then on.

Or what we did was continue to follow both paths. K3 and CR1. This got my wife her CR1 interview about 6 weeks sooner than just following the CR1. She had her K3 interview scheduled for August 14th. Her CR1 was complete before that and the interview was changed to a CR1 interview. Wheile they scheduled her CR1 interview for September 23rd. So she has been here since August 19th on her CR1. As opposed to September 23rd if we had just followed the CR1.

And no, you do not need a lawyer. All of the information you need is here.

It took us 102 days from the Day I sent in the paperwork to the CR1 interview. But i admit, that is much faster than normal.

Ohh that's really good, i'm glad for you guys. But if you follow both paths it's even expensive, uh? Because you have to pay the fees of the forms for the K3 and the CR-1??. How much costed in the end??

Where are you living steve ?? Seattle?? i've been there this year for like 2 months. I lived in Wallingford in NE Pacific St and 1st Ave NE in front of lake union, really beautiful city my wife graduated in march of this year from Seattle University and then we went for like a month to Portland where we plan to live.

[Mr.Gabs 0]

Yeah, that's actually what i tought...the CR-1 is way better because once you enter the us you can work and do everything. The thing now is that will be better that if we can send the I-130 to the embassy in Buenos Aires that will be faster than applying in united states i think but we don't know if we can. Thanks for the help YuAndDan that put things a little bit more clear. Good luck for you!

Typically to do DCF the US citizen needs to be "resident" in the counselor district for approx 6 months, some consulates will accept less, others want to see proof of foreign residency, some dont.

Yeah, i hope they make an exception in the embassy.

Steve y Jessica: Where did you started you process? at the embassy of Buenos Aires??

Edited September 17, 2008 by Gabriel Milanese

[YuAndDan 153]

Ohh that's really good, i'm glad for you guys. But if you follow both paths it's even expensive, uh? Because you have to pay the fees of the forms for the K3 and the CR-1??. How much costed in the end??

Where are you living steve ?? Seattle?? i've been there this year for like 2 months. I lived in Wallingford in NE Pacific St and 1st Ave NE in front of lake union, really beautiful city my wife graduated in march of this year from Seattle University and then we went for like a month to Portland where we plan to live.

They are not even expensive.

K-3 has adjustment of status $1010 and visa fee $131 CR-1 instead has NVC fees $470, Gabriel paid the CR-1 fees $470 when NVC sent out the paperwork, many who choose to just do K-3 dont pay the NVC fees.

What some do when they keep both petitions running, is if they get scheduled for K-3 interview first, will reschedule the K-3 interview to let the I-130 (CR-1) catch up to the K-3 at the consulate, when that happens, the consulate will drop the K-3 in favor of the CR-1.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

No, we did everything just like everyone else. Sent in the paperwork to the service center. I did not have residence in Buenos Aires to do DCF.

As far as cost. It cost me the $355 when I filed. Then the $470 at the NVC.

The only extra it cost me was the $131 I had to pay for the Visa fee for the embassy to get the K3 interview scheduled.

Edited September 17, 2008 by Steve Y Jessica