k-3 visa

[sangman 0]

I am an american citizen and on September 22nd, 2010 went to Armenia and got married.

I have filed a I-130 and received the I-797 back. I also have filed the I-129f. My question to you is there anything else I need to do? I want to get the K-3 visa for my wife. Do I need to request anything to get a K-3 visa for her? And if yes, what and where? I also read somewhere on the net that I needed to send the I-129f form to the same address that I sent the I-130. Is that true? My I-130 was sent to Chicago and the I-129f was sent to Texas. Is this a problem? Should I send another copy of the I-129f to the Chicago office? Please, please, please help me for I am lost. Thank you for your time.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

the K-3 is dead. Your I-129F and your I-130 will be approved on the same day and NVC will close the I-129F. If there are children involved, I'd file I130s for each child soon. Do not count on the K-3, they were administratively closed in february

Good luck

[Ryan H 3,795]

I am an american citizen and on September 22nd, 2010 went to Armenia and got married.

I have filed a I-130 and received the I-797 back. I also have filed the I-129f. My question to you is there anything else I need to do? I want to get the K-3 visa for my wife. Do I need to request anything to get a K-3 visa for her? And if yes, what and where? I also read somewhere on the net that I needed to send the I-129f form to the same address that I sent the I-130. Is that true? My I-130 was sent to Chicago and the I-129f was sent to Texas. Is this a problem? Should I send another copy of the I-129f to the Chicago office? Please, please, please help me for I am lost. Thank you for your time.

The two petitions will ultimately arrive at the appropriate service center. What the USCIS will do next is tie them together for adjudication. Approval of the petitions and sending them off to the NVC will occur simultaneously. The NVC will then administratively close the I-129F, which will only leave active the I-130 for a CR-1 visa.

The CR-1 is better because your wife will be given a green card when she arrives, no need to adjust status. Additionally, she will be authorized to work immediately, no need to apply for an EAD.

[marriedtomrg 140]

No the instructions were correct. You send the I-130 to the Chicago lockbox that corresponds to where the state where the petitioner lives, then it is transfered to one of the service centers (California, Texas or Vermont). The I-129F should be sent to where your I-130 was transferred...which in your case is Texas. No need to send anything to Chicago.

canadian_wife is also correct; because of the new rules that came out in February 1, 2010 you can expect both the I-130 and the I-129F to be approved at the same time; but once they are forwarded to the National Visa Center, the I-129F will be considered closed, and you will have to proceed the rest of the visa journey as a CR1 (if you and your spouse have been married for less than 2 years) or IR1 (if you have been married for 2 years or longer).

There are many advantages to being CR1/IR1. As Ryan H mentioned, the non-USC spouse becomes eligible for work immediately, and you'd save yourselves $1,010 (after November, you'd be saving $1,070) in adjustment of status costs, and the time it would have taken to adjust from K3 to green card holder.

I am an american citizen and on September 22nd, 2010 went to Armenia and got married.

I have filed a I-130 and received the I-797 back. I also have filed the I-129f. My question to you is there anything else I need to do? I want to get the K-3 visa for my wife. Do I need to request anything to get a K-3 visa for her? And if yes, what and where? I also read somewhere on the net that I needed to send the I-129f form to the same address that I sent the I-130. Is that true? My I-130 was sent to Chicago and the I-129f was sent to Texas. Is this a problem? Should I send another copy of the I-129f to the Chicago office? Please, please, please help me for I am lost. Thank you for your time.

Edited October 22, 2010 by marriedtomrg

[BULLWINKLE 3]

ok, let me get this straight...

K3 Visa no longer exists?

Friends of mine just got married - she is USC and hubby is non USC. Just got married in States. He left back to Europe. Now she has to file I-129F and I-130 for him? Once he gets that, he can come back to the States and he will have an EAD immediately and can work?

Then instead of doing AOS, he can apply for greencard adjust from CR1? So that does not involve a form I-485?

Thanks for any advice!!!

[marriedtomrg 140]

No, the USC spouse files just the I-130. Once it's approved, it is transferred to NVC for review. When it's documentarily approved at NVC, it gets sent to the US Embassy in the non-USC spouse's home country. What he will receive is a CR1 visa; when he arrives in the US he will receive a conditional green card (good for 2 years).

No more adjustment of status needed, no EAD needed, no AP needed. He would just need to file for removal of conditions later to get his 10-year green card. Down the road if he wanted to obtain US citizenship, then he has to meet the residency requirement (3 years, if he received a green card through marriage to a US citizen).

ok, let me get this straight...

K3 Visa no longer exists?

Friends of mine just got married - she is USC and hubby is non USC. Just got married in States. He left back to Europe. Now she has to file I-129F and I-130 for him? Once he gets that, he can come back to the States and he will have an EAD immediately and can work?

Then instead of doing AOS, he can apply for greencard adjust from CR1? So that does not involve a form I-485?

Thanks for any advice!!!

[BULLWINKLE 3]

No, the USC spouse files just the I-130. Once it's approved, it is transferred to NVC for review. When it's documentarily approved at NVC, it gets sent to the US Embassy in the non-USC spouse's home country. What he will receive is a CR1 visa; when he arrives in the US he will receive a conditional green card (good for 2 years).

No more adjustment of status needed, no EAD needed, no AP needed. He would just need to file for removal of conditions later to get his 10-year green card. Down the road if he wanted to obtain US citizenship, then he has to meet the residency requirement (3 years, if he received a green card through marriage to a US citizen).

WOW! that sounds like a much simpler process than what I've had to endure! Thanks so much for the advice and I will pass it on...

I haven't properly looked into yet (but I will) but I am guessing that medical, G-325A biographical info, I-864 affidavit of support are also needed as part of the packet?

i've been looking for timelines but not really seeing how long it is taking y'all to complete this journey?

[marriedtomrg 140]

The medical will be completed at the Embassy stage of the process. G-325As for the petitioner and the beneficiary would be needed. And at the NVC stage, they will need the I-864 affidavit of support.

Here is the guide for applying for CR1/IR1: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Better if husband and wife can participate in the forum so that they can get more input specific to their circumstances.

You're a good friend.

The CR1 journey is 1 to 2 months longer than K1 on the average (assuming there are no complications or unreasonable delays in the case), but the trade-offs are going to be worth it. The non-USC spouse hits the ground running since he is eligible for the green card after entering the U.S....no lost time waiting for EAD (which often translates to lost job opportunities for the non-USC spouse waiting for authorization to work) or AP. They would be saving themselves $1,070 (as of November 23) in this process.

WOW! that sounds like a much simpler process than what I've had to endure! Thanks so much for the advice and I will pass it on...

I haven't properly looked into yet (but I will) but I am guessing that medical, G-325A biographical info, I-864 affidavit of support are also needed as part of the packet?

i've been looking for timelines but not really seeing how long it is taking y'all to complete this journey?

[BULLWINKLE 3]

The medical will be completed at the Embassy stage of the process. G-325As for the petitioner and the beneficiary would be needed. And at the NVC stage, they will need the I-864 affidavit of support.

Here is the guide for applying for CR1/IR1: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Better if husband and wife can participate in the forum so that they can get more input specific to their circumstances.

You're a good friend.

The CR1 journey is 1 to 2 months longer than K1 on the average (assuming there are no complications or unreasonable delays in the case), but the trade-offs are going to be worth it. The non-USC spouse hits the ground running since he is eligible for the green card after entering the U.S....no lost time waiting for EAD (which often translates to lost job opportunities for the non-USC spouse waiting for authorization to work) or AP. They would be saving themselves $1,070 (as of November 23) in this process.

This whole immigration thing is so daunting.. I figured I would help them since I am a bit more familiar with the baloney that we all have to endure

CR1 journey sounds amazing! And so much cheaper!!!

I also noticed that they AOS fee is going up to $1070! Hope that means they will be working more efficiently!

Anyway, I-130 costs $355 and then do they need to pay for G-325A and I-864 when they are ready to be filed? Did you have any other additional costs.

Edited October 22, 2010 by BULLWINKLE

[pushbrk 12,212]

This whole immigration thing is so daunting.. I figured I would help them since I am a bit more familiar with the baloney that we all have to endure

CR1 journey sounds amazing! And so much cheaper!!!

I also noticed that they AOS fee is going up to $1070! Hope that means they will be working more efficiently!

Anyway, I-130 costs $355 and then do they need to pay for G-325A and I-864 when they are ready to be filed? Did you have any other additional costs.

Yes, there are other costs.

Spouse Visa

CR1 or IR1 Filing and Immigrant Visa Fees

When Paid

Agency and Purpose

Amount

Month 1 Dept. of Homeland Security, USCIS - Petition Filing Fee $355.00

Month 4-6 Dept. of State Affidavit of Support Processing Fee $88.00

Month 5-7 Dept. of State Immigrant Visa Application Fee $404.00

Month 28-32 *Homeland Security, USCIS Removal of Conditions Fee $545.00

Total Immigration Fees To Permanent Resident Status $1,402.00

Additionally a medical exam and vaccinations are needed. Those costs vary by country but are generally between two and five hundred dollars.

Edited October 22, 2010 by pushbrk

[marriedtomrg 140]

If they apply by November 23, the fee for filing the I-130 + G325As and other supporting documents will be $420.

At the NVC stage, she will pay $88 for domestic review of the I-864 and $404 for the Immigrant Visa (IV).

That's $912 in fees, and at the end of the process, he gets a green card. Assuming removal of condition fees remained the same at the time he files for it, He'd be paying $505 + the biometrics fee which will be $85 by November 23 (Another $590). Even then, that would be $1,502 in fees alone.

(I didn't include all the incidental expenses for photocopying, mailing, obtaining documents, medical examination, etc.; that would depend on where the non-USC spouse is from)

There really is no other alternative for them.

Assuming the K3 was still in play, they would have paid $420 for the I-130, $0 for the I-129F, $140 for the K3 visa, then $1,070 for adjustment of status, then $590 for removal of conditions)...that's 2,220 in fees. Let's not forget he will lose time waiting for employment authorization...that could be painful in itself (I know it was for me).

This whole immigration thing is so daunting.. I figured I would help them since I am a bit more familiar with the baloney that we all have to endure

CR1 journey sounds amazing! And so much cheaper!!!

I also noticed that they AOS fee is going up to $1070! Hope that means they will be working more efficiently!

Anyway, I-130 costs $355 and then do they need to pay for G-325A and I-864 when they are ready to be filed? Did you have any other additional costs.

Edited October 22, 2010 by marriedtomrg

[marriedtomrg 140]

My bad the visa fee for K3 is $350.

[BULLWINKLE 3]

My bad the visa fee for K3 is $350.

Thank you both for this wonderful information! Wow, just in disbelief at how much cheaper CR-1 is!!!!

Sorry to hear you had to pay so many additional fees for AOS... it is such a pain, really!

I've passed the info on.. hopefully I have not given them any wrong instructions

I said to file I-130 and G-325A (both) and send to Chicago with fees.

Once I-130 is processed it will be sent to NVC

Additional forms will be sent to Non USC and I-864 will be requested for USC to complete - all of this is sent in and then an interview is scheduled.

Good luck to you all on your continued journey!

[pushbrk 12,212]

If they apply by November 23, the fee for filing the I-130 + G325As and other supporting documents will be $420.

At the NVC stage, she will pay $88 for domestic review of the I-864 and $404 for the Immigrant Visa (IV).

That's $912 in fees, and at the end of the process, he gets a green card. Assuming removal of condition fees remained the same at the time he files for it, He'd be paying $505 + the biometrics fee which will be $85 by November 23 (Another $590). Even then, that would be $1,502 in fees alone.

(I didn't include all the incidental expenses for photocopying, mailing, obtaining documents, medical examination, etc.; that would depend on where the non-USC spouse is from)

There really is no other alternative for them.

Assuming the K3 was still in play, they would have paid $420 for the I-130, $0 for the I-129F, $140 for the K3 visa, then $1,070 for adjustment of status, then $590 for removal of conditions)...that's 2,220 in fees. Let's not forget he will lose time waiting for employment authorization...that could be painful in itself (I know it was for me).

Correction. The current I-130 filing fee is $355.

[marriedtomrg 140]

By November 23 it will be $420.

Correction. The current I-130 filing fee is $355.