Filling for Spousal Visa

[marriedtomrg 140]

A K3 visa is a temporary resident visa for spouses of US citizens. Once you arrive in the US, you have to file a separate application for adjustment of status, and only then will you receive a green card. This entails an additional cost of $1,070. And since you guys have been married for less than 2 years, you will receive a conditional green card and will also need to apply for removal of conditions before your card expires.

If you file for CR1 visa, it is a permanent resident visa for spouses of US citizens. Once you arrive in the US, you will be eligible to receive your conditional green card a few weeks after arriving; you'd still need to apply for removal of conditions, but at least there is one major step (and expense) out of the way.

The K3 visa was introduced several years ago when the CR1 process was taking too long to complete. Now they have about the same processing time. Last February 1, 2010, they introduced new rules for K3...since you need an I-130 and and I-129F to apply for a K3 (for CR-1, you only need to file an I-130 to start the process) --- if USCIS approves them both at the same time, once your case is transferred to the National Visa Center, your I-129F will be administratively closed (so even if it was approved, NVC will close it and you both will have to undergo CR1 anyway).

Forget about K3...just look at the CR1 process.

Now if your USC spouse has been a resident of the Philippines for at least 6 months, you may qualify for Direct Consular Filing (DCF)...in this process you file your I-130 at the US Embassy, NOT at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox.

Otherwise, if your spouse doesn't meet the residency requirement, then you follow the regular CR1 process. Good luck on your journey!

- We're still deciding what type of spousal visa to go through. Which do you think guys is better, is it K3 or will I go with CR-1?

- How I understand on filing spousal visa is like this: (pls. correct me if I'm wrong)

File for I-130 with g-325a with all the required documents then after you received the receipt from USCIS you may file for I-129f petition indicating the desire to obtain a K3 visa( will I have to give the same requirements if I'll file for I-129f) or I can go with CR-1 after I-130?

- Lots of inquiries I'm getting nuts already, thou I thank VJ coz it's been so useful for anyone who needs to know about visa and there journey to be with there love ones. Good luck to everyone.

[GLJ1322 5]

Took us 5 months to get the visa in hand. I did have help since I was able to expedite it at the USCIS and NVC level. We actually got a pretty quick approval dispite having an RFE and the time lag from sending the evidence from kuwait military mail. I have our timeline filled out. You could safely add a couple of months to my timeline and that's the way it should work, but every case is different.

It only took 53 days for an approval (should have been 30 days faster but got an RFE) and it was 147 days from the time we filed until the interview. I think the NVC forgot about us for almost a month there too.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=75661

Thou, you're both together now so everything's cool. I hope we'll get together soon as well. He wanted us to be together sooner as possible, thou God's will be done, I just hope every thing will be okay. Thanks guys. God bless.

[GLJ1322 5]

A K3 visa is a temporary resident visa for spouses of US citizens. Once you arrive in the US, you have to file a separate application for adjustment of status, and only then will you receive a green card. This entails an additional cost of $1,070. And since you guys have been married for less than 2 years, you will receive a conditional green card and will also need to apply for removal of conditions before your card expires.

If you file for CR1 visa, it is a permanent resident visa for spouses of US citizens. Once you arrive in the US, you will be eligible to receive your conditional green card a few weeks after arriving; you'd still need to apply for removal of conditions, but at least there is one major step (and expense) out of the way.

The K3 visa was introduced several years ago when the CR1 process was taking too long to complete. Now they have about the same processing time. Last February 1, 2010, they introduced new rules for K3...since you need an I-130 and and I-129F to apply for a K3 (for CR-1, you only need to file an I-130 to start the process) --- if USCIS approves them both at the same time, once your case is transferred to the National Visa Center, your I-129F will be administratively closed (so even if it was approved, NVC will close it and you both will have to undergo CR1 anyway).

Forget about K3...just look at the CR1 process.

Now if your USC spouse has been a resident of the Philippines for at least 6 months, you may qualify for Direct Consular Filing (DCF)...in this process you file your I-130 at the US Embassy, NOT at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox.

Otherwise, if your spouse doesn't meet the residency requirement, then you follow the regular CR1 process. Good luck on your journey!

Thanks your info. is very well appreciated I will discuss about it to my hubby. God bless.

[BigJohn 4]

If your us citizen spouse has been a resident of the philippines for at least 6 months, you can file DCF through the embassy and it will only take 2-3 months. Only available to long term us citizens residing in the philippines though.

[GLJ1322 5]

Thank you and can I ask about form I-130 what name should we write on my wife's name is it her maiden name or her married name? And anyone could tell me what requirements should be sent with the form I-130 to USCIS? Any idea how long it'll take for CR-1 visa? Thanks VJ-ers

[marriedtomrg 140]

Well...what name is she planning to use?

When my husband and I got married, I immediately made the decision to take his family name...and that is what appears on all my paperwork. Ask her which name she would like to use and stick with it.

The requirements are on the VJ Guides: CR1 Guide Read them carefully, and if you have questions, you can re-visit the Philippine forum. Most likely those questions in your mind have already been answered by the members here. A quick search or advanced search can help you with this.

How long does it take? There are essentially 3 phases: 1) getting the petition approved by USCIS, 2) getting your documentation approved by the National Visa Center, and 3) getting your visa through the US Embassy.

As the other members have mentioned, you can get your CR1 visa two ways:

Direct Consular Filing (I-130 is processed directly by the US Embassy) --- this is shorter, roughly 6 months from start to finish across all phases (assuming there are no delays)

Regular Filing (I-130 is processed by the USCIS office in the US) --- roughly 9 months on the average from start to finish across all phases (assuming there are no delays)

Thank you and can I ask about form I-130 what name should we write on my wife's name is it her maiden name or her married name? And anyone could tell me what requirements should be sent with the form I-130 to USCIS? Any idea how long it'll take for CR-1 visa? Thanks VJ-ers

[GLJ1322 5]

Well...what name is she planning to use?

When my husband and I got married, I immediately made the decision to take his family name...and that is what appears on all my paperwork. Ask her which name she would like to use and stick with it.

The requirements are on the VJ Guides: CR1 Guide Read them carefully, and if you have questions, you can re-visit the Philippine forum. Most likely those questions in your mind have already been answered by the members here. A quick search or advanced search can help you with this.

How long does it take? There are essentially 3 phases: 1) getting the petition approved by USCIS, 2) getting your documentation approved by the National Visa Center, and 3) getting your visa through the US Embassy.

As the other members have mentioned, you can get your CR1 visa two ways:

Direct Consular Filing (I-130 is processed directly by the US Embassy) --- this is shorter, roughly 6 months from start to finish across all phases (assuming there are no delays)

Regular Filing (I-130 is processed by the USCIS office in the US) --- roughly 9 months on the average from start to finish across all phases (assuming there are no delays)

Thanks, Vj-ers are so much of help giving ideas and info's. God bless.

[GLJ1322 5]

Hello VJ-ers:

Another inquiries 1) In my marriage cert. my address is where I stayed for few months in Manila, but now I'm back in the province where my parents lived, what will I put on my G-325A, will I base it all to my marriage cert.?

2) I only stayed in Manila like 6 or more months, if my petition will be approved, will the manila us embassy ask for a police clearance to a place where you reside less than a year?

3) In form G-325A for CR-1 visa I'll put in connection with form I-130 right?

Thank you once again VJ members.

[marriedtomrg 140]

Hello VJ-ers:

Another inquiries 1) In my marriage cert. my address is where I stayed for few months in Manila, but now I'm back in the province where my parents lived, what will I put on my G-325A, will I base it all to my marriage cert.?

Not sure what you mean here...are you asking what address you will put as your residence? Please clarify.

2) I only stayed in Manila like 6 or more months, if my petition will be approved, will the manila us embassy ask for a police clearance to a place where you reside less than a year?

You only need the NBI clearance.

3) In form G-325A for CR-1 visa I'll put in connection with form I-130 right?

Check Other then type I-130/CR1

Thank you once again VJ members.

[GLJ1322 5]

Yeah my current address now is in the province but I have Manila in my marriage cert. for I stayed there for more than 6 months, we got married there so we just put my address in manila, should we all based it to marriage cert?

[marriedtomrg 140]

Put your current address, since that is where all your mail goes to. Your stay in Manila was temporary, no need to list it there.

Yeah my current address now is in the province but I have Manila in my marriage cert. for I stayed there for more than 6 months, we got married there so we just put my address in manila, should we all based it to marriage cert?

[GLJ1322 5]

Put your current address, since that is where all your mail goes to. Your stay in Manila was temporary, no need to list it there.

Thanks a lot.