I-130 approval delayed due to K-3 petition?

[Avi_NM 10]

Hello everybody,

We filed our I-130 petition for spouse in August 2013. In October 2013, when USCIS updated their I-130 processing time to 13 months, we decided to file K-3 (just in case there was a chance of K-3 being resurrected due to I-130 delays).

There was a moment of panic when people thought that these dual (I-130 + I-129f) petitions are being held back. Therefore, I started following several cases ahead of us to look for a trend:

1. YulingZhu: I-130 on 09Jul2013 and I-129f in Oct2013. Transferred to CSC on 03Jan2014, awaiting approval.

2. LoveMyTico: I-130 on 12Apr2013 and I-129f on 16Oct2013. Transferred to TSC on 27Nov2013, awaiting approval.

3. Colg81: I-130 on 03Jul2013 and I-129f on 19Aug2013. Transferred to CSC on 07Jan2014, received an RFE on 20Feb2014.

4. etrangais: I-130 on 17Jul2013 and I-129f on 27Jul2013. Transferred to NSC on 02Jan2014 awaiting approval.

5. ben2fat: I-130 on 23Jul2013 and I-129f on 29Jul2013. Transferred to TSC on 06Jan2014 and approved on 01Feb2014 .

6. NoelAnne: I-130 on 07Jun2013 and I-129f in June2013. Transferred to TSC on 27Dec2013 and approved on 27Jan2014.

7. Lakehouse: I-130 on 30Jul2013 and I-129f on 02Aug2013. Transferred to TSC on 28Jan2014 with August filers and approved on 10Feb2014.

1-3 are particularly interesting because of the big gap between their I-130 and I-129f and the unusually long time it has taken for the service centers to review these cases.

4 is unique because it is NSC and they seem to take their own sweet time.

5-7 filed their I-129f soon after I-130 and therefore I-129f petition seems to have little or no bearing on the approval time.

Is there anybody out here with a big gap between I-130 & I-129f petitions that has already been approved along with their neighboring I-130 filers?

So far I have only found one exception (I am hoping to find more)

Jilly30: I-130 on 11Apr2013 and I-129f in Oct2013. Transferred to CSC on 19Nov2013 and approved on 11Dec2013.

I am beginning to wonder if the I-130 petition is put on hold until the I-129f PD date matches other I-130/I-129f petitions being reviewed. Someone please prove me wrong otherwise I need to prepare myself for a long wait.

[Deep35472 130]

I am August fillers , and they closed my 129f( nov14) and approved my 130 yesterday.

but my case was expedite.

But having long gap between two cases may affect longer time for approval

[LoveMyTico 999]

both of my files are at the TSC... I had several service request and inquires done. I don't think it slows it down. I think it gives you more options. Lately the I-130 is taking along time to log in at the NVC. Lately I have seen the K-3 making to the embassy and a few already approved.

Don't get too caught up and over thinking all this. If you have an K-3 filed they will be joined and most likely adjudicated together. Keep making inquires and asking where your files are. I get a different answer everytime I call

[shivam23 11]

i filed for i-130 in the last February,2013 and after one week we filed I-129F fork-3 visa

after 10 mnths of waiting we got approval on 16th Decrmber for i-130 and afte 3 days we got approved for I-129F

so i can say it can delay ur case bec of the k-3 petition. (may be 1-2 mnths in comparision with i-130)

In my case my both files r consolidated at the field office n the file was thr since the 5 mnths from the petition date n stuck thr

all the best to u

[nightingalejules 678]

It actually looks to me more like it makes a larger difference when the time between the two applications is shorter... when the time is long, they're transferring them close to the same time as the rest of their peers. It may delay it a few days, but they're certainly not waiting until the I-129 is "ripe" to transfer.

[Avi_NM 10]

but my case was expedite.

Hi Deep, I am wondering if the expedite saved you from the long wait.

Don't get too caught up and over thinking all this.

Thanks LoveMyTico for your response...Over thinking and making sense of this chaotic process might be the problem.

In my case my both files r consolidated at the field office n the file was thr since the 5 mnths from the petition date n stuck thr

all the best to u

Thanks shivam23 for your response...it seems like the three Service Centers might be doing the same.

It actually looks to me more like it makes a larger difference when the time between the two applications is shorter... when the time is long, they're transferring them close to the same time as the rest of their peers. It may delay it a few days, but they're certainly not waiting until the I-129 is "ripe" to transfer.

Hi nightingalejules...I think getting transferred is not the problem but I am afraid that the approvals (or even getting the RFE) are taking longer.

Thanks again everybody...I hope next week provides some answers rather than raising more questions.

[Deep35472 130]

Yes...

Expidite request saved me from longer wait.

My other 12th Aug fillers transferred to TSC and CSC.

They are still waiting.

[Luz788 0]

How to expedite request it??