Does this affect K-3'ers? as of Dec 3rd...

[wanderingbeing 0]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

[wanderingbeing 0]

I only ask because I'm about to send both my I-130 and I-129f to the nebraska location together. I have a feeling this means I s hould just send the I-130 to chicago.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

[pushbrk 12,154]

I only ask because I'm about to send both my I-130 and I-129f to the nebraska location together. I have a feeling this means I s hould just send the I-130 to chicago.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

It does seem a bit confusing but there is no reason to send anything to Nebraska. They'll just transfer it to Vermont or California anyway, perhaps via Chicago. If I were in your shoes, I'd send both petitions together to the Chicago address above.

I think by "stand-alone" they mean without an I-485 for AOS. They are still processing the I-130 and I-129F together for K3 cases. Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path. There is no practical option to go the CR1 route. Are you really certain you want K3. It is far more expensive and a lot more trouble overall.

[Imua 0]

I only ask because I'm about to send both my I-130 and I-129f to the nebraska location together. I have a feeling this means I s hould just send the I-130 to chicago.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

It does seem a bit confusing but there is no reason to send anything to Nebraska. They'll just transfer it to Vermont or California anyway, perhaps via Chicago. If I were in your shoes, I'd send both petitions together to the Chicago address above.

I think by "stand-alone" they mean without an I-485 for AOS. They are still processing the I-130 and I-129F together for K3 cases. Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path. There is no practical option to go the CR1 route. Are you really certain you want K3. It is far more expensive and a lot more trouble overall.

Is this the general consensus - I remember a few months ago it seemed like everyone was applying for both at the same time but now I have heard a lot of VJers say only file the I-130 - money is definitely an issue for us and even if the extra wait will be painful if we can avoid the AOS mess and expense as much as possible and he can work when he arrives then that will be a blessing. We still haven't filed yet but maybe it is just for the good - I think I will just file for the CR-1 now. It's about time LOL

Edited December 3, 2007 by Pattu Rani

[pushbrk 12,154]

I only ask because I'm about to send both my I-130 and I-129f to the nebraska location together. I have a feeling this means I s hould just send the I-130 to chicago.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

It does seem a bit confusing but there is no reason to send anything to Nebraska. They'll just transfer it to Vermont or California anyway, perhaps via Chicago. If I were in your shoes, I'd send both petitions together to the Chicago address above.

I think by "stand-alone" they mean without an I-485 for AOS. They are still processing the I-130 and I-129F together for K3 cases. Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path. There is no practical option to go the CR1 route. Are you really certain you want K3. It is far more expensive and a lot more trouble overall.

Is this the general consensus - I remember a few months ago it seemed like everyone was applying for both at the same time but now I have heard a lot of VJers say only file the I-130 - money is definitely an issue for us and even if the extra wait will be painful if we can avoid the AOS mess and expense as much as possible and he can work when he arrives then that will be a blessing. We still haven't filed yet but maybe it is just for the good - I think I will just file for the CR-1 now. It's about time LOL

Two separate issues. If you definitely want a K3 visa, then filing both petitions together is the way to go since July or slightly before.

However, whether to skip the I-129F altogether is, IMO, a case by case decision. There are some reasons to go with the K3, like you live in Western Canada and the time differenced is more than six months, etc. or you simply want speed and are in no hurry for the beneficiary to work. There's no question the immigrant visa is preferrable but individual priorities may dictate the K3 preference.

[Imua 0]

I only ask because I'm about to send both my I-130 and I-129f to the nebraska location together. I have a feeling this means I s hould just send the I-130 to chicago.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

It does seem a bit confusing but there is no reason to send anything to Nebraska. They'll just transfer it to Vermont or California anyway, perhaps via Chicago. If I were in your shoes, I'd send both petitions together to the Chicago address above.

I think by "stand-alone" they mean without an I-485 for AOS. They are still processing the I-130 and I-129F together for K3 cases. Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path. There is no practical option to go the CR1 route. Are you really certain you want K3. It is far more expensive and a lot more trouble overall.

Is this the general consensus - I remember a few months ago it seemed like everyone was applying for both at the same time but now I have heard a lot of VJers say only file the I-130 - money is definitely an issue for us and even if the extra wait will be painful if we can avoid the AOS mess and expense as much as possible and he can work when he arrives then that will be a blessing. We still haven't filed yet but maybe it is just for the good - I think I will just file for the CR-1 now. It's about time LOL

Two separate issues. If you definitely want a K3 visa, then filing both petitions together is the way to go since July or slightly before.

However, whether to skip the I-129F altogether is, IMO, a case by case decision. There are some reasons to go with the K3, like you live in Western Canada and the time differenced is more than six months, etc. or you simply want speed and are in no hurry for the beneficiary to work. There's no question the immigrant visa is preferrable but individual priorities may dictate the K3 preference.

So IYHO if time is not so much an issue as money should we only file the I-130 and not the I-129F? Is there a reason that a beneficiary would be approved for the K-3 but not for the CR-1 in which case we would be SOL if we only filed for the CR-1? If we file both and the I-129F is processed more quickly does that mean the I-130 is discontinued? It is all very confusing - I just want to file already, maybe I should go with both after all and wing it as we go along...

[Divine Mercy 0]

Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path.

Oh how I wish that were true.

[pushbrk 12,154]

Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path.

Oh how I wish that were true.

It is true but somebody screwed up in your case. The policy is clear.

[pushbrk 12,154]

I only ask because I'm about to send both my I-130 and I-129f to the nebraska location together. I have a feeling this means I s hould just send the I-130 to chicago.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the locations for filing Form I-130 that are currently listed in the form’s instructions posted on this website. Until new instructions are posted, the following information applies:

Effective December 3, 2007, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130 are encouraged to submit their petitions to the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. I-130 petitions filed with the Chicago Lockbox will be routed to, and adjudicated at, the appropriate USCIS Service Center. This routing will be based on the petitioner’s place of residence in the United States.

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MS, MT, Nebraska, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY are encouraged to file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-1029

It does seem a bit confusing but there is no reason to send anything to Nebraska. They'll just transfer it to Vermont or California anyway, perhaps via Chicago. If I were in your shoes, I'd send both petitions together to the Chicago address above.

I think by "stand-alone" they mean without an I-485 for AOS. They are still processing the I-130 and I-129F together for K3 cases. Be very certain you want a K3 visa though because once you file the I-129F you are stuck on the K3 path. There is no practical option to go the CR1 route. Are you really certain you want K3. It is far more expensive and a lot more trouble overall.

Is this the general consensus - I remember a few months ago it seemed like everyone was applying for both at the same time but now I have heard a lot of VJers say only file the I-130 - money is definitely an issue for us and even if the extra wait will be painful if we can avoid the AOS mess and expense as much as possible and he can work when he arrives then that will be a blessing. We still haven't filed yet but maybe it is just for the good - I think I will just file for the CR-1 now. It's about time LOL

Two separate issues. If you definitely want a K3 visa, then filing both petitions together is the way to go since July or slightly before.

However, whether to skip the I-129F altogether is, IMO, a case by case decision. There are some reasons to go with the K3, like you live in Western Canada and the time differenced is more than six months, etc. or you simply want speed and are in no hurry for the beneficiary to work. There's no question the immigrant visa is preferrable but individual priorities may dictate the K3 preference.

So IYHO if time is not so much an issue as money should we only file the I-130 and not the I-129F? Is there a reason that a beneficiary would be approved for the K-3 but not for the CR-1 in which case we would be SOL if we only filed for the CR-1? If we file both and the I-129F is processed more quickly does that mean the I-130 is discontinued? It is all very confusing - I just want to file already, maybe I should go with both after all and wing it as we go along...

Theoretically qualification for CR1 and K3 is the same criteria but again, you don't have a choice after filing both petitions. Your choice is to file one for CR1 or two for K3.

It's more than just a time (apart) vs. money issue. There's the hassle of AOS too.

Things have changed since our K3 process. For China the time difference was several months and we didn't pay the new AOS fee. If I were doing it now, I'd just do the CR1.

Edited December 4, 2007 by pushbrk