Is the K-3 or the I130 a faster option? How do we find out?

[Savroula 0]

We've applied for both an IR-1/CR-1 and a K-3 visa, and both our NOA2s arrived at the same time (for the I-130 and the I-129F). We are trying to decide if we should just drop the K visa and pursue the IR-1/CR-1, but we don't know which option will be faster! I've looked everywhere, but I can't seem to find any ball-park figures on how long it takes to process the immigrant visa as opposed to the K-visa. My husband is from Greece, and there are no figures posted for Greece on the Visa Journey web page.

In general, which option do you think will be faster?

Thank you!

[Chris Me lil D 18]

We've applied for both an IR-1/CR-1 and a K-3 visa, and both our NOA2s arrived at the same time (for the I-130 and the I-129F). We are trying to decide if we should just drop the K visa and pursue the IR-1/CR-1, but we don't know which option will be faster! I've looked everywhere, but I can't seem to find any ball-park figures on how long it takes to process the immigrant visa as opposed to the K-visa. My husband is from Greece, and there are no figures posted for Greece on the Visa Journey web page.

In general, which option do you think will be faster?

Thank you!

K-3 will shorten your time just with 1-2 months and will be more expensive. It's not what it used to be. Better do CR-1/IR-1. It takes almost the same time as K-3 and costs less. Plus, CR-1 benefits are that beneficiary can start work immediately and don't need to adjust status in USA.

[GabiandVi 34]

We've applied for both an IR-1/CR-1 and a K-3 visa, and both our NOA2s arrived at the same time (for the I-130 and the I-129F). We are trying to decide if we should just drop the K visa and pursue the IR-1/CR-1, but we don't know which option will be faster! I've looked everywhere, but I can't seem to find any ball-park figures on how long it takes to process the immigrant visa as opposed to the K-visa. My husband is from Greece, and there are no figures posted for Greece on the Visa Journey web page.

In general, which option do you think will be faster?

Thank you!

I can't tell you definitively. But most people on here say the K-3 is obselete. I'm pretty sure you've gotten through the part that takes the longest, so it would make sense to go for the R-1. I don't think it would take less time to schedule an interview for a K-3 than it will for an R-1.

As for the embassy in Athens, I can only tell you about my sister's experience, but they were filing DCF. She said that the only thing that held them up was getting her husband's papers. They got the visa almost immediately once they had the papers straight. I can't remember if she said they picked it up the same day or later. But it's hard to compare a DCF with a petition filed in the US. The reason it takes less time with DCF is because you bypass NVC, and you're already finished with that.

My advice would be to drop the K-3. It will save you money and your husband will be able to work almost immediately, so that means it will save time as well.