More Info on K-3 and marrying in USA

[cookli59 0]

We are marrying in California on July 4, my fiancee is from Canada. Where will we file for the K-3? Would we file in Sacramento? Is it just as quick to simply file the I-130 and have him go to Montreal, he lives in British Columbia, or is that a long wait? He would like to come and live here as soon as possible. I have read the guides and it seems as if the I-130 and K-3 take about the same amount of time. It seems a waste of money to file for K-3 if the I-130 is processed in relatively the same amount of time. I know you can never be certain how long any will take to process. Can anyone tell me of their experiences with Montreal, is it a long wait?

[pushbrk 12,286]

We are marrying in California on July 4, my fiancee is from Canada. Where will we file for the K-3? Would we file in Sacramento? Is it just as quick to simply file the I-130 and have him go to Montreal, he lives in British Columbia, or is that a long wait? He would like to come and live here as soon as possible. I have read the guides and it seems as if the I-130 and K-3 take about the same amount of time. It seems a waste of money to file for K-3 if the I-130 is processed in relatively the same amount of time. I know you can never be certain how long any will take to process. Can anyone tell me of their experiences with Montreal, is it a long wait?

You would file the I-130 with a lockbox address in Chicago, followed by the I-129F at the service center where your I-130 gets transferred. Depending on where you live, that would be California or Vermont. Since he's from BC, K3 will actually save three or more months because the interview can be in Vancouver instead of Montreal. However, K3 is not work authorized, so if working within 4 months is important, take the CR1 route. There is no filing fee for the I-129F when an I-130 is filed. The difference in cost comes later when you pay $1010 to adjust status from the K3.

This page does a good job of laying out when fees are paid. Use the fiance visa example for K3. The difference is the initial filing fee is $100 less because you file an I-130 instead.

http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/FEES.html

[cookli59 0]

So he can file the K-3 in BC? I thought we had to file the K-3 in California because of being married in Calif. If he can file the k-3 himself and get the interview in Vancouver that would be much easier, also cutting down the time frame is really important to us. I guess it is to everyone trying to get their loved ones here. Thank you for taking the time to reply and all the helpful information! It seems a bit overwhelming at first but getting information I am starting to feel less overwhelmed. Once again thank you.

We are marrying in California on July 4, my fiancee is from Canada. Where will we file for the K-3? Would we file in Sacramento? Is it just as quick to simply file the I-130 and have him go to Montreal, he lives in British Columbia, or is that a long wait? He would like to come and live here as soon as possible. I have read the guides and it seems as if the I-130 and K-3 take about the same amount of time. It seems a waste of money to file for K-3 if the I-130 is processed in relatively the same amount of time. I know you can never be certain how long any will take to process. Can anyone tell me of their experiences with Montreal, is it a long wait?

You would file the I-130 with a lockbox address in Chicago, followed by the I-129F at the service center where your I-130 gets transferred. Depending on where you live, that would be California or Vermont. Since he's from BC, K3 will actually save three or more months because the interview can be in Vancouver instead of Montreal. However, K3 is not work authorized, so if working within 4 months is important, take the CR1 route. There is no filing fee for the I-129F when an I-130 is filed. The difference in cost comes later when you pay $1010 to adjust status from the K3.

This page does a good job of laying out when fees are paid. Use the fiance visa example for K3. The difference is the initial filing fee is $100 less because you file an I-130 instead.

http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/FEES.html

[pushbrk 12,286]

"Interview" and "file" are not synonyms. Always read carefully and interpret literally. You do exactly as I said. The US Citizen's State of residence determins which service center will process the petition, not the State the marriage took place. The Canadian's province of residence determins the Consulate at which a "K3 visa" interview will occur unless the marriage took place in a third country. In that case, the interview must be in the country the marriage took place.

So he can file the K-3 in BC? I thought we had to file the K-3 in California because of being married in Calif. If he can file the k-3 himself and get the interview in Vancouver that would be much easier, also cutting down the time frame is really important to us. I guess it is to everyone trying to get their loved ones here. Thank you for taking the time to reply and all the helpful information! It seems a bit overwhelming at first but getting information I am starting to feel less overwhelmed. Once again thank you.

We are marrying in California on July 4, my fiancee is from Canada. Where will we file for the K-3? Would we file in Sacramento? Is it just as quick to simply file the I-130 and have him go to Montreal, he lives in British Columbia, or is that a long wait? He would like to come and live here as soon as possible. I have read the guides and it seems as if the I-130 and K-3 take about the same amount of time. It seems a waste of money to file for K-3 if the I-130 is processed in relatively the same amount of time. I know you can never be certain how long any will take to process. Can anyone tell me of their experiences with Montreal, is it a long wait?

You would file the I-130 with a lockbox address in Chicago, followed by the I-129F at the service center where your I-130 gets transferred. Depending on where you live, that would be California or Vermont. Since he's from BC, K3 will actually save three or more months because the interview can be in Vancouver instead of Montreal. However, K3 is not work authorized, so if working within 4 months is important, take the CR1 route. There is no filing fee for the I-129F when an I-130 is filed. The difference in cost comes later when you pay $1010 to adjust status from the K3.

This page does a good job of laying out when fees are paid. Use the fiance visa example for K3. The difference is the initial filing fee is $100 less because you file an I-130 instead.

http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/FEES.html

[Chica Yeyé 41]

We are marrying in California on July 4, my fiancee is from Canada. Where will we file for the K-3? Would we file in Sacramento? Is it just as quick to simply file the I-130 and have him go to Montreal, he lives in British Columbia, or is that a long wait? He would like to come and live here as soon as possible. I have read the guides and it seems as if the I-130 and K-3 take about the same amount of time. It seems a waste of money to file for K-3 if the I-130 is processed in relatively the same amount of time. I know you can never be certain how long any will take to process. Can anyone tell me of their experiences with Montreal, is it a long wait?

If he lives in BC, his K-3 will be sent to Vancouver.

Now, as far as he being able to come in and get married, he needs to be careful at entry. They will ask why he is here and god only knows what can happen.

My .02? Why not file for a CR-1 instead of a K-3? Much better visa, and the times are about the same nowadays. Though the CR-1 interviews are only in Montreal.

My processing (all through Montreal since we did DCF) took about 7 months from I-130 approval to interview.

[pushbrk 12,286]

To further clarify, K3 is a visa. First the US Citizen files a petition. When that is approved, the foreign national can "apply for a visa". With K3 being a "visa" the only place it is "sent" is to the beneficiary inside their passport. "Case files" are what get sent to Consulates and Embassies. CR1 is generally a better idea than K3 for a spouse but when the K3 interview would be in Vancouver and CR1 interview in Montreal like your circumstances, the K3 actually does save several months. Weigh carefully though because K3 holders enter without work authorization and pay hundreds more in fees from filing to green card than CR1 or IR1 visa holders.

"Interview" and "file" are not synonyms. Always read carefully and interpret literally. You do exactly as I said. The US Citizen's State of residence determins which service center will process the petition, not the State the marriage took place. The Canadian's province of residence determins the Consulate at which a "K3 visa" interview will occur unless the marriage took place in a third country. In that case, the interview must be in the country the marriage took place.

So he can file the K-3 in BC? I thought we had to file the K-3 in California because of being married in Calif. If he can file the k-3 himself and get the interview in Vancouver that would be much easier, also cutting down the time frame is really important to us. I guess it is to everyone trying to get their loved ones here. Thank you for taking the time to reply and all the helpful information! It seems a bit overwhelming at first but getting information I am starting to feel less overwhelmed. Once again thank you.

We are marrying in California on July 4, my fiancee is from Canada. Where will we file for the K-3? Would we file in Sacramento? Is it just as quick to simply file the I-130 and have him go to Montreal, he lives in British Columbia, or is that a long wait? He would like to come and live here as soon as possible. I have read the guides and it seems as if the I-130 and K-3 take about the same amount of time. It seems a waste of money to file for K-3 if the I-130 is processed in relatively the same amount of time. I know you can never be certain how long any will take to process. Can anyone tell me of their experiences with Montreal, is it a long wait?

You would file the I-130 with a lockbox address in Chicago, followed by the I-129F at the service center where your I-130 gets transferred. Depending on where you live, that would be California or Vermont. Since he's from BC, K3 will actually save three or more months because the interview can be in Vancouver instead of Montreal. However, K3 is not work authorized, so if working within 4 months is important, take the CR1 route. There is no filing fee for the I-129F when an I-130 is filed. The difference in cost comes later when you pay $1010 to adjust status from the K3.

This page does a good job of laying out when fees are paid. Use the fiance visa example for K3. The difference is the initial filing fee is $100 less because you file an I-130 instead.

http://www.fianceandspousevisa.com/FEES.html

Edited April 16, 2009 by pushbrk