Needing advice

[Shawna and James 4]

Hi there!

My husband and I got married on March 25th 2010. We have our wedding celebration planned for October with friends and family, but we knew that the immigration process was going to be a long one and wanted to get started on it as early as possible. We filed our 1-130 on Monday and he received his delivery receipt today in the mail. No NOA1 yet, but its still early. We were all set to go the K3 visa route, but after reading forums on here, we aren't sure that is the best way to go anymore. I was wondering if you all could give us some advice on what we are looking at as far as wait times etc for K3 versus CR-1. From what I'm reading, it looks like the CR-1 is the less expensive route since it requires no adjustment of status. Ive also read that since I'm in Canada, it might be a little longer wait because Montreal is one of the slower processing places. I'm sure I'll have loads of questions as our visa application goes on. I just don't want us to make the wrong choices. I have some Canada specific questions also, but I will post those in the Canadian forums later Anyway, any advice you all can offer would be greatly appreciated. I'm a nervous wreck! haha.

thanks!

[sachinky 464]

The K-3 has been effectively killed by NVC as of 1/2/2010. You'll be well served to follow the CR-1 guides and prepare accordingly.

Welcome to VJ.

Good luck!

[mari0711 4]

you are very welcome,

our lawyer adviced us to follow the cr 1 route cus it is not a big difference in time, ans as you said its less expensive. also the inmigrant is able o work inmediatly gets to the usa, and the difference its like one month, so i think that the k3 is not that good anymore.

hope it's been useful!!!

[trailmix 77]

Hi,

You may or may not get a choice about whether you pursue the K3 or not, as mentioned above. As of February of this year, if the I-130 petition and the I-129F petition reach NVC at the same time (and they generally do) the I-129F will be disregarded.

Also, if you do send in the I-129F, you may in fact be slowing yourself down, once it arrives it has to be matched up with your I-130 and it has to be processed, so that is worth considering.

With the CR1 - you are work eligible immediately, you get a 2 year greencard and you have to apply to lift conditions after 2 years, but there is no adjustment of status as there is with the K3.

Montreal is slow, once your I-130 petition is approved and you do all your paperwork with NVC, it will take 3-4 months before you will get an interview. Plan on it taking from 8 months to a year.

Prepare yourself for NVC now, ensure you have a copy of your long form Canadian birth certificate, in about 2 months, go ahead and get your police check.

Have a look at the NVC shortcuts guide here at VJ:

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/LingChe_NVC_ShortCut

Might also want to look at the VJ Wiki Canada page:

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

[Darnell 8,478]

Comparison on K-3 vs CR-1 - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/204324-wondering-if-i-made-a-mistake-marrying-in-us/page__view__findpost__p__3060767

K-3 administratively closed - http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

Read both, twice, then decide which route you'd like to pursue.

Good Luck !