Filing the I-129 together with the I130, has anyone done this? Does it speed up the process?

[Saneril 1]

I-130 PETITIONS APPROVED IN 96 DAYS AND I-129F PETITION APPROVED IN 77 DAYS!!!

As you can see from my timeline I pasted below, my I-130 petitions were approved in 96 days and my I-129 petition was approved in 77 days. My Philippine beneficiaries are my wife and step-daughter. My Philippine beneficiaries do NOT live in the area hit by the recent super typhoon. Our case was NOT an expedited criteria. Finally, I didn't do anything special other than submit the forms and documents required by USCIS. Don't get me wrong, although I don't know how my case has progressed so quickly, I am really very happy with the progress so far.

From my timeline below, I submitted my I-130 petitions just last SEP 27, 2013 and submitted my I-129 petition last OCT 16, 2013.

CSC in Laguna Nigel, CA approved both my I-130 and I-129 petitions just this JAN 6, 2014 and forwarded them to NVC Portsmouth, NH. NVC Portsmouth received the petitions JAN 15, 2014. Yesterday (JAN 17, 2014), I received 2 e-mails from NVC Portsmouth stating they have started processing our I-130 (the e-mails requested completion of DS-261 and paying the Affidavit of Support processing fee, which we did). As mentioned in another thread, the K3 will be "cancelled" if NVC receives and processes the I-130 first. I was previously aware of same - that NVC will administratively close the I-129 if I-130 is being processed - but called NVC anyway just to confirm and yes, they confirmed that they will be administratively closing my approved I-129 petition since my approved I-130 petition is already being processed. Currently completing my Affidavit of Support (in my case, I-864EZ) and should have it submitted by next week.

So is it worth submitting a K-3? In my opinion, K-3 was and is still worth submitting. It is afterall, provided as a free option for I-130 filers. In the best case scenario like mine, my I-130s (received by NBC Kansas) and I-129 (received by NBC Missouri) somehow all managed to make their way to CSC in Laguna Nigel, California were they were all approved on the same date and forwarded to NVC. Yes, NVC decided to process my I-130 hence my I-129 will be administratively closed (probably the reason why some filers think K-3 is obsolete or not worth submitting) but considering the worst-case scenario where an I-130 application approval is delayed, then filing an I-129 could potentially be a faster option and fall back, albeit eventually a more expensive option (due to the Adjustment of Status fee for K3 / K4s which is around $1K per beneficiary).

Event Date Service Center : National Benefits Center Consulate : Manila, Philippines Marriage : 2013-01-18 I-130 Sent : 2013-09-27 I-130 NOA1 : 2013-10-02 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-129F Sent : 2013-10-16 I-129F NOA1 : 2013-10-21 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2014-01-06 NVC Received : 2014-01-15 NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : Interview Result : Second Interview

(If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : US Entry : I-130 Approval : 2014-01-06 Comments : Processing

Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 77 days from your NOA1 date.

Your I-130 was approved in 96 days from your NOA1 date.

I wish my I-130 was approved as quickly as yours. Mine had a receipt date of June 4, 2013 and FINALLY got approved on January 8. This after senatorial involvement, etc. It was only expedited because of the super typhoon. I received the January 8 approval date from the USCIS and as of friday (the 17th) they have still not received my package from USCIS. Wish I had done the fiance visa and just done the adjustment of status as that seems to be a much faster process than the I-130.

I have been seeing some of you stating you had to fly to Montreal for your interviews. I know I have to fly my wife to Manila, but can she do the interview on her own or does the American citizen have to be there as well?

[marapot 3]

Saneril,

Here's the Bureau of Consular Affairs (US Dept of State) Interview Appointments and Preparation link. Clicking on Who Must Participate in the Interview shows "No, only applicants must appear to be interviewed".

With regards the the National Visa Center, here's the NVC contact link. NVC asks you to give them minimum 30 days before you contact them but no harm in calling them before then - they'll be able to at least tell you if they've received the approved petition if you provide them the Receipt Number on your approved NOA.

[marapot 3]

I wish my I-130 was approved as quickly as yours. Mine had a receipt date of June 4, 2013 and FINALLY got approved on January 8. This after senatorial involvement, etc. It was only expedited because of the super typhoon. I received the January 8 approval date from the USCIS and as of friday (the 17th) they have still not received my package from USCIS. Wish I had done the fiance visa and just done the adjustment of status as that seems to be a much faster process than the I-130.

I have been seeing some of you stating you had to fly to Montreal for your interviews. I know I have to fly my wife to Manila, but can she do the interview on her own or does the American citizen have to be there as well?

Saneril - I meant to reply to your quote but replied to the topic thread instead. Please see my reply.