IR-1 or K-3?

[AAD... 4EVER!!! 0]

What is the difference in filing for a K-3 or an IR-1? what is the advantages and disadvantages?

[Nik+Heather 121]

K3 is a NON-immigrant visa with a path to AOS for people married to US citizens. Upon entry, you will still have to file for AOS. Currently, there are no advantages to the K3, but it was created to decrease the time spent apart when it took a long time for CR-1/IR-1 visas to be processed, and is now obsolete (or so I read).

IR-1 visas are "Immediate Relative" visas, available for couples who have been married for more than 2 years. If you have not been married for at least 2 years, you can get a CR-1 "Conditional Resident" visa, which is the same, except you have to file to remove conditions when you have been married for 2 years. The advantages over a K3 visa are that you do not have to adjust status, you enter the country as a US resident and do not have to apply to adjust status.

[trinket 30]

K3 is a NON-immigrant visa with a path to AOS for people married to US citizens. Upon entry, you will still have to file for AOS. Currently, there are no advantages to the K3, but it was created to decrease the time spent apart when it took a long time for CR-1/IR-1 visas to be processed, and is now obsolete (or so I read).

IR-1 visas are "Immediate Relative" visas, available for couples who have been married for more than 2 years. If you have not been married for at least 2 years, you can get a CR-1 "Conditional Resident" visa, which is the same, except you have to file to remove conditions when you have been married for 2 years. The advantages over a K3 visa are that you do not have to adjust status, you enter the country as a US resident and do not have to apply to adjust status.

Agreed

Also K-3 is almost $1000 more expensive to CR-1/IR-1

Beneficiary on CR-1/IR-1 visa can start working as soon as they arrive in US, where as its not the case with K-3.

Read the guides and you should fly through CR-1. That's the best choice right now. A lot of people got delayed last year because they filed for K-3 rather than sticking with stand alone i-130.

[DouglasFiel 53]

What is the difference in filing for a K-3 or an IR-1? what is the advantages and disadvantages?

Before the IR1/CR1 Immigrant Visa used to take much longer then the K3,, But, these days the processing time is

about the same.

Please review the following link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

My personal opinion is to file for both (as there is not an additional filing fee for the I-129F K3).

Because in my case.. My K3 paperwork was lost between the CSC - Califormna Service Center and the NVC - National Visa Center. But,, my IR1/CR1 is still being processed in an efficient manner.

Regards,

[imaisha 0]

This question has been asked about 1 million times. Please search and read through the forums before asking questions that have already been answered in other posts/ the guides. I don't mean to sound harsh... just waiting for the day when the K-3 is eliminated entirely and this never comes up again.

[trinket 30]

This question has been asked about 1 million times. Please search and read through the forums before asking questions that have already been answered in other posts/ the guides. I don't mean to sound harsh... just waiting for the day when the K-3 is eliminated entirely and this never comes up again.

By that account though, K-3 forum is usually more active compared to CR-1/IR-1. So I guess the wait is longer than expected.

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

This question has been asked about 1 million times. Please search and read through the forums before asking questions that have already been answered in other posts/ the guides. I don't mean to sound harsh... just waiting for the day when the K-3 is eliminated entirely and this never comes up again.

We should have a link for all the newcomers read all the requirement before jump on broad. Just my 2 cents.

[trinket 30]

Here read this post for details of how k-3 can slow down your process rather than speeding it up.

[trinket 30]

This question has been asked about 1 million times. Please search and read through the forums before asking questions that have already been answered in other posts/ the guides. I don't mean to sound harsh... just waiting for the day when the K-3 is eliminated entirely and this never comes up again.

We should have a link for all the newcomers read all the requirement before jump on broad. Just my 2 cents.

Well yes it might sound harsh, but this same K-3 vs CR-1 question was right on the second page.

[YuAndDan 153]

The K-3 is no longer a relevant visa type, it was developed at a time when I-130 for spousal visa was taking a year or longer to process through USCIS, in this case the K-3 allowed entry to the USA to wait for I-130 approval, so that the couple can either adjust status or interview for the spousal visa, since USCIS has begun approving I-129F AND I-130 on the same date, this eliminates the whole reason for K-3 (Entry and waiting for I-130 approval).

K-3:

I-130: $355

I-129F: NONE

Consulate: $131

Adjustment Of Status: $1010 I-485

($1496)

CR-1

I-130: $355

NVC I-864: $70

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

($825)

I see many posts from K-3 holders stating, "Wow this sucks, I am stuck at home because I don't have EAD, DL, etc, or I am having hard time getting added to bank accounts because of NO SSN." K-3 has a 90 day or longer period of limbo while waiting for EAD or Green-card.

K-3 was developed at a time when CR-1 was taking much longer that today, NVC and USCIS has greatly streamlined the CR-1 process to the point where K-3 becomes irrelevant.

[Nlove 0]

Do you have to married for more than 2 years for the CR-1?

K3 is a NON-immigrant visa with a path to AOS for people married to US citizens. Upon entry, you will still have to file for AOS. Currently, there are no advantages to the K3, but it was created to decrease the time spent apart when it took a long time for CR-1/IR-1 visas to be processed, and is now obsolete (or so I read).

IR-1 visas are "Immediate Relative" visas, available for couples who have been married for more than 2 years. If you have not been married for at least 2 years, you can get a CR-1 "Conditional Resident" visa, which is the same, except you have to file to remove conditions when you have been married for 2 years. The advantages over a K3 visa are that you do not have to adjust status, you enter the country as a US resident and do not have to apply to adjust status.

Agreed

Also K-3 is almost $1000 more expensive to CR-1/IR-1

Beneficiary on CR-1/IR-1 visa can start working as soon as they arrive in US, where as its not the case with K-3.

Read the guides and you should fly through CR-1. That's the best choice right now. A lot of people got delayed last year because they filed for K-3 rather than sticking with stand alone i-130.

[DouglasFiel 53]

Do you have to married for more than 2 years for the CR-1?

K3 is a NON-immigrant visa with a path to AOS for people married to US citizens. Upon entry, you will still have to file for AOS. Currently, there are no advantages to the K3, but it was created to decrease the time spent apart when it took a long time for CR-1/IR-1 visas to be processed, and is now obsolete (or so I read).

IR-1 visas are "Immediate Relative" visas, available for couples who have been married for more than 2 years. If you have not been married for at least 2 years, you can get a CR-1 "Conditional Resident" visa, which is the same, except you have to file to remove conditions when you have been married for 2 years. The advantages over a K3 visa are that you do not have to adjust status, you enter the country as a US resident and do not have to apply to adjust status.

Agreed

Also K-3 is almost $1000 more expensive to CR-1/IR-1

Beneficiary on CR-1/IR-1 visa can start working as soon as they arrive in US, where as its not the case with K-3.

Read the guides and you should fly through CR-1. That's the best choice right now. A lot of people got delayed last year because they filed for K-3 rather than sticking with stand alone i-130.

You file the I-130 which is for an immigrant visa for a immediate relative. Depending how long you have been married... 2 years or longer the beneficiary will be issued a IR1 visa, If you have been married less then 2 years (as in my case) you will receive a CR1 visa.