In need of some help!!

[AUS2USA 0]

Hey guys,

Firstly, let me introduce myself. I'm Mike, I'm 22 and I currently reside in Sydney, Australia. I met my wife whilst we were both working on a cruise ship 2 years ago. By mid 2008 she had moved here to Aus on a one year visa and we lived together for that year. I finally popped the question on christmas eve just passed and we married on 2nd May 2009. Unfortunately, by this stage, we hadn't decided whether we were going to stay here in aus or go to the US. Finally, we decided us was a better option for many reasons. She moved back at the end of June and i would be telling the biggest lie if i said i didn't miss her ever second of every day, which i'm sure many of you can relate to. I'm sure you can relate to the stressful feeling of figuring out these visas and getting it done right the first time.

Secondly, I am a frequent user of other sport, fitness, musical and motorbike forums and know that it can be frustrating to see the same questions asked each and evertime. Believe me when I say, I have used the search function, but still have some unanswered questions.

Thank-you and sorry in advance - thanks for the answers, sorry if they've been asked before =)

So, I've sent over what I think is to be the last of the visa forms (4X G325A's). They should be arriving in California today where my wife will then send them off with all other relating documents.

My questions are:

1/ The difference between CR1 + K3, and how to go about applying for them. At the moment, as I understand it, when you send the I-130 petition, you automatically apply for CR1 + K3 (being that it is a petition for US Ctzn spouse. I also believe that i read somewhere we have to send the i-129F?? i thought this was for fiancee to come over and marry? this isn't the case for us so we don't use that, right.

2/ CR1 comes with benefits that K3 doesn't offer, such as able to work immediately without needing to apply for work auth. like K3, correct? I have heard/read that K3 is obsolete, and CR1 is the way to go, but can't find much info on CR1 on the USCIS web!?!?!

Like everyone else, I want to get to the States in the quickest time possible, with as few a hassles as possible (perfect world, right?)

Why do they make this so hard? haha I am envious of those who have completed this journey. congrats to you all. I hope to be sharing the same experiences as you guys have gone thru

Regards,

Mike

[BRB 6]

Hi Mike you can go to USCIS.gov which is also a good place for info. There are two ways to get a spousal visa. A K3 (I129) or a CR1 (I130). The K3 is a non-immigrant visa and the CR1 is an immigrant visa.

The first package that needs to be sent is the CR1 (I130 ) there are other documents you will need to send with it like the G325 for each of you and proof of your relationship and pictures. You can check the guides here for more info.

After about a week or two you should receive your NOA-1. If you want to submit the K3 (I129 with paperwork) with a copy of your receipt from the I130, you do that at that time ( there is no extra charge to send the I129 as you are given credit by paying for the I130)

Many people will tell you not to bother with the K3 but it may allow you to join together earlier. Some people who are not involved with getting a visa will tell you it may be just a few weeks longer but it could be much longer than that.

I am currently doing both and seeing which one gets to the NVC faster.

[Thai family 0]

Welcome to VJ! We did the K-3 and regret it. The CR-1 is so much simpler. Anymore it can be as fast as the K-3 since procedures at the National Visa Center have speeded up considerably. Unless you have compelling circumstances, which are rare, go with the CR-1. You won't be sorry.

-Thai Mom

[AUS2USA 0]

Thanks for the responses guys. I just spoke to my wife, she's yet to receive the 325A forms, so once she gets them, we'll send off the i-130.

So, will I be receiving any NOA's? or will my wife receive them in the states? do they then have instructions onhow to go about the rest of the procedure.

I was looking on the USCIS web site and it's down to 5 months to process the i130. that time is just a waiting period right? no medicals or interviews are scheduled until after the 130 has been approved, correct?

[hindocha 0]

What does this mean?

Current Status: Request for Additional Evidence Sent

On August 28, 2009, we mailed a notice requesting additional evidence or information in this case I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow the instructions on the notice to submit the requested information. This case will be in suspense until we receive the evidence or the opportunity to submit it expires. Once we receive the requested evidence or information and make a decision on the case, you will be notified by mail. If you move while this case is pending, call 1-800-375-5283 to update your address.

Please help

[mrsemcee 1]

hey there!

i am an Aussie girl who did a similar thing to you and now i am past the initial stages to get over to the US to live with my US hubby!

we also got married then didnt know where we would be living so he was in Australia with me for 5 months and now is back in the US and i am waiting to get approved to go live there with him!

the medical is done after NOA2 (which is after your case leaves the USCIS and goes to the NVC) this is also in other terms known as the I130 being approved.

i initially was going to do the K3 route but then found out the CR1 route is almost the same timeframe and i can work as soon as i get to the US and apply for a Social Sec. Card etc etc so we are going for the CR1 route.

so i hope my info has helped a little. let me know if you need more. i am based in Melbourne by the way.

i would say thought, get your police check done after you file the I130 as i did mine a few weeks back and still havent got it in the mail yet, and theyre good for 12 months so you want to get it done asap.

you will be going to Sydney for your interview, which is near the end of the process, and i heard the Sydney Consulate is pretty nice, so good luck!

let me know if you have queries though as i am a little way ahead of you, and i am almost up to NOA2... hoping to get it really soon

p.s. also try to get all your vaccination/immunisation history sorted prior to the medical, i have been doing that and getting all my needles required ahead of the medical so i am prepared!

[hindocha 0]

hey there!

i am an Aussie girl who did a similar thing to you and now i am past the initial stages to get over to the US to live with my US hubby!

we also got married then didnt know where we would be living so he was in Australia with me for 5 months and now is back in the US and i am waiting to get approved to go live there with him!

the medical is done after NOA2 (which is after your case leaves the USCIS and goes to the NVC) this is also in other terms known as the I130 being approved.

i initially was going to do the K3 route but then found out the CR1 route is almost the same timeframe and i can work as soon as i get to the US and apply for a Social Sec. Card etc etc so we are going for the CR1 route.

so i hope my info has helped a little. let me know if you need more. i am based in Melbourne by the way.

i would say thought, get your police check done after you file the I130 as i did mine a few weeks back and still havent got it in the mail yet, and theyre good for 12 months so you want to get it done asap.

you will be going to Sydney for your interview, which is near the end of the process, and i heard the Sydney Consulate is pretty nice, so good luck!

let me know if you have queries though as i am a little way ahead of you, and i am almost up to NOA2... hoping to get it really soon

p.s. also try to get all your vaccination/immunisation history sorted prior to the medical, i have been doing that and getting all my needles required ahead of the medical so i am prepared!

IS that a reply back to my question?

[BRB 6]

Thanks for the responses guys. I just spoke to my wife, she's yet to receive the 325A forms, so once she gets them, we'll send off the i-130.

So, will I be receiving any NOA's? or will my wife receive them in the states? do they then have instructions onhow to go about the rest of the procedure.

I was looking on the USCIS web site and it's down to 5 months to process the i130. that time is just a waiting period right? no medicals or interviews are scheduled until after the 130 has been approved, correct?

The USC should receive the NOA-1. You then will have to decide if you want to submit the I-129 or not. The address to send the I-129 will be on the I-797.

[meowmeowmeow 1]

DUDE, do the CR-1!!!!!!!

[pushbrk 12,973]

Hey guys,

Firstly, let me introduce myself. I'm Mike, I'm 22 and I currently reside in Sydney, Australia. I met my wife whilst we were both working on a cruise ship 2 years ago. By mid 2008 she had moved here to Aus on a one year visa and we lived together for that year. I finally popped the question on christmas eve just passed and we married on 2nd May 2009. Unfortunately, by this stage, we hadn't decided whether we were going to stay here in aus or go to the US. Finally, we decided us was a better option for many reasons. She moved back at the end of June and i would be telling the biggest lie if i said i didn't miss her ever second of every day, which i'm sure many of you can relate to. I'm sure you can relate to the stressful feeling of figuring out these visas and getting it done right the first time.

Secondly, I am a frequent user of other sport, fitness, musical and motorbike forums and know that it can be frustrating to see the same questions asked each and evertime. Believe me when I say, I have used the search function, but still have some unanswered questions.

Thank-you and sorry in advance - thanks for the answers, sorry if they've been asked before =)

So, I've sent over what I think is to be the last of the visa forms (4X G325A's). They should be arriving in California today where my wife will then send them off with all other relating documents.

My questions are:

1/ The difference between CR1 + K3, and how to go about applying for them. At the moment, as I understand it, when you send the I-130 petition, you automatically apply for CR1 + K3 (being that it is a petition for US Ctzn spouse. I also believe that i read somewhere we have to send the i-129F?? i thought this was for fiancee to come over and marry? this isn't the case for us so we don't use that, right.

2/ CR1 comes with benefits that K3 doesn't offer, such as able to work immediately without needing to apply for work auth. like K3, correct? I have heard/read that K3 is obsolete, and CR1 is the way to go, but can't find much info on CR1 on the USCIS web!?!?!

Like everyone else, I want to get to the States in the quickest time possible, with as few a hassles as possible (perfect world, right?)

Why do they make this so hard? haha I am envious of those who have completed this journey. congrats to you all. I hope to be sharing the same experiences as you guys have gone thru

Regards,

Mike

Mike,

You need to read the guides for the answers to your questions. Beyond that at least half the discussion in the K3 forum is about why the K3 visa is obsolete. Filing a petition is not applying for a visa. The foreign spouse cannot apply for any spouse visa until after a petition is approved. Since filing an I-130 and I129F results in two petitions being approved the same day (exception being some difficulty with one or the other) there is no longer any timeline advantage to the K3 and hasn't been for nearly three years.

[mrsemcee 1]

hey there!

i am an Aussie girl who did a similar thing to you and now i am past the initial stages to get over to the US to live with my US hubby!

we also got married then didnt know where we would be living so he was in Australia with me for 5 months and now is back in the US and i am waiting to get approved to go live there with him!

the medical is done after NOA2 (which is after your case leaves the USCIS and goes to the NVC) this is also in other terms known as the I130 being approved.

i initially was going to do the K3 route but then found out the CR1 route is almost the same timeframe and i can work as soon as i get to the US and apply for a Social Sec. Card etc etc so we are going for the CR1 route.

so i hope my info has helped a little. let me know if you need more. i am based in Melbourne by the way.

i would say thought, get your police check done after you file the I130 as i did mine a few weeks back and still havent got it in the mail yet, and theyre good for 12 months so you want to get it done asap.

you will be going to Sydney for your interview, which is near the end of the process, and i heard the Sydney Consulate is pretty nice, so good luck!

let me know if you have queries though as i am a little way ahead of you, and i am almost up to NOA2... hoping to get it really soon

p.s. also try to get all your vaccination/immunisation history sorted prior to the medical, i have been doing that and getting all my needles required ahead of the medical so i am prepared!

IS that a reply back to my question?

UMMM NO, it was a reply to the guy who started this thread. sorry, i didnt even read your question. why dont you start a new thread maybe??

[AUS2USA 0]

Pushbrk,

If I was keen to read FAQ's and Guides, I'd email USCIS and/or the consulate. Thats all they seem to want to do. I understand that my questions may be answered in there, but not in the way that makes 100% sense to me. And, I don't want to be 99.9% going into something like this. Especially with the amount of waiting time there already is.

Plus, I get the added advantage of SPEAKING with people whom have already completed the journey or are still within the journey.

However, I do appreciate the response. Working 14 hour days makes it difficult to frequent this site. I thought being able to start my own thread, I'd be able to ask specific questions that can be answered promptly thus eliminating the minutes/hours/days of researching. But, I do see where you're coming from and I will have to find the time to peruse this site moreso.

thanks pushbrk

Thanks again everyone!!

Edit: Sorry pushbrk, that may have come off as a bit obnoxious. Was not intended that way! Cheers bud!

Edited September 3, 2009 by AUS2USA

[Carlawarla 1]

Pushbrk,

If I was keen to read FAQ's and Guides, I'd email USCIS and/or the consulate. Thats all they seem to want to do. I understand that my questions may be answered in there, but not in the way that makes 100% sense to me. And, I don't want to be 99.9% going into something like this. Especially with the amount of waiting time there already is.

Plus, I get the added advantage of SPEAKING with people whom have already completed the journey or are still within the journey.

However, I do appreciate the response. Working 14 hour days makes it difficult to frequent this site. I thought being able to start my own thread, I'd be able to ask specific questions that can be answered promptly thus eliminating the minutes/hours/days of researching. But, I do see where you're coming from and I will have to find the time to peruse this site moreso.

thanks pushbrk

Thanks again everyone!!

Edit: Sorry pushbrk, that may have come off as a bit obnoxious. Was not intended that way! Cheers bud!

pushbrk's response to your thread is what a lot of us here will advise at the beginning actually. After reading the FAQ's and Guides, a lot of people will then ask questions. You're within your right of course to ask questions without reading them, but just know that some people will respond asking you to read. Because this is a self-help board as well, some people might answer you without the correct information, or there might be conflicting information. It's your job to sort through information given, compare it to what you've read, and then make your own decisions.

There is often information as well that is Consulate or Embassy specific as well, so you need to sort through this as well.

Anyway, just wanted to wish you luck and hope you have a speedy journey!