pbgirl

There is no website/no way to check on the status of a case if you have the NVS case number is there? The one that starts with the magic three letter code for the embassy it is sent to? NWD2005123456 etc.

The only way is to contact the Embassy directly or call the department of state to see what they have to say? Or am I wrong and there is an online case status check?

Thanks all!!

Yup, was referring to the extra paperwork/fee for the K1 route.

Personally, it was important for me to get married in India to be near his/my family and be able to experience a true Indian wedding. I did not want to do the K1 because we would have to wait to get married, travel back to India etc.etc.

What embassy she goes to will depend on where she lives, and not the type of visa she gets.

My timeline was relatively typical. It took a few weeks to get my I130 approved. A few weeks for the NVS to forward it to Delhi. But then it kinda got stuck where it took two months for Delhi to even assign an interview and send my husband his appointment letter.

He had his interview at the embassy, showed all the paperwork etc, but was asked to submit full fingerprints. So now we are waiting for the darn letter to show up that tells us the fingerprint process is complete and he has his visa in hand. This was a month ago.

If they had not requested the fingerprints, he would be here with me right now. And the whole process from start to finish would have taken 4 1/2 months. Can you tell I am frustrated?!?!?!

But the only thing is that you have to pay for the AP paperwork (yet another fee!).

India? Cool! You'll have to let me know how it goes. What Embassy?

I was hoping to do the DCF route too, but couldn't stay in India for more then 30 days. I know someone who did do the DCF in New Delhi, and it seemed so simple for him. He stayed 60 days, filed his wife's paperwork, she received an interview letter one month later and a few weeks after that, they were together. Seemed much, much quicker than the route I have been going with the K3. But oh, well, what is one to do? I went back to India for the winter holidays so all together, I have probably stayed in India almost 60 days, just not continuous though!

Good Luck with whatever you decide!!

Just curious....did anyone have to do fingerprints as part of their interivew (mine was K3) and then wait until the visa was given? It has been a month and we have yet to hear anything. I am running out of patience and am wondering if other people also ran into this, and how long it took for results.

This is for someone with no police history, no legal troubles, nada, zip, zero. The name must match with someone who does have those troubles!!

BTW...this was at the New Delhi Embassy.

From what I understand, both are taking about the same amount of time, so if you can wait to get married, then you can do the K1. If you want to get married sooner (and with family, in your home country), then go with K3. There are minute differences, for example, you don't have to apply for advance parole to travel when on a K3 visa.

An answer to the orginial post....for some protein (and if you want it to be vegetarian) is to go the local Indian store and buy something called Nutrela (may be British, I am not sure, I have only gotten from India or Indian store). They are soy bean "pakoras". Trust me, I am NOT a soybean fan, but I love these. I add them to my rice (basmati rice, some onions and peas...fabulous main dish along with your dal makhani)....

Oh yeah...and for your chapatis (or your "roti"), try Indian store again and buy brand called Golden Temple. Made in Canada. :-)

Ok, thanks!

So does that mean that the National Benefits Center gives you a priority date? But you follow the dates on your local office?

Or does it sit in Chicago, then get sent to Detroit and THEN gets a notice date? And that is the date you have to follow on the website?

Well the other issue is, it doesn't sound like you're even eligible to file DCF if you haven't lived in India...

Ok, never mind... I think am confusing DCF with the plain old CR1 visa status. Of letting the I130 continue to process and then go through the interview at the foreign embassy where the paperwork is submitted by the NVC.

India requires you reside in the country for a 60 day period before DCF (although I am of Indian origin so that might also be relevant). I couldn't take that amount of time off of work when we got married. So I had to forgo that option.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

No visa was issued yet because he was asked to submit fingerprints and we are waiting for results. We were planning to go to India for a family visit later this year anyway, so was wondering if it was easier/better to do DCF that way (get your permanent status approval right away). But I suppose it takes the same amount of time for the AOS to go through as it would waiting for I130 paperwork DCF.

Sorry, I am new to all this and my head is reeling. I haven't had anyone to guide me through this and I am confused about what to do/not do. All i know is I filed for the K3, all the paperwork was approved etc., and now just a waiting game. India is a slower consulate than others, where everything from UCIS and NVC was approved within a matter of 2-21/2 months. But the consulate took 2 months just to give us an interview date. Which exaplains why the I130 is through approval now.

It just seemed like less hassle and wait if you have the DCF route, then the AOS, biometrics etc.

Again, thanks. It helps to have a community who knows the process (and the frustration of being apart!).

Hi all,

Quick question that I have been trying to read through our posts and pinned topics about. I think I posted this question in the wrong forum last time..

If your spouse enters the US on a K3, but the I130 is approved, can you continue the I130 route and do DCF? When I start getting the paperwork for the I130, should I start the process? My husband had his K3 interview but no visa has been given yet. But he may arrive by the time they send me I130 paperwork.

Are you even allowed to do this? Or are you supposed to notify NVC that your spouse is here and you are supposed to file for AOS?

Thanks.

Hi all,

I have my husband arriving on a K3 visa, and it says you are supposed to file AOS with Chicago Lockbox (and not your district office). Where can you find the processing dates for this office?

I don't see it on the uscis website, only National Benefits Center or local office...

Thanks.

Hi all,

This is my first post to this site, as someone pointed me to this website today. I have found some great information and am searching the forums to find more answers. But was hoping I could throw a few questions down on the table to see if I can get answers.

I did not really understand the K3/CR1 route, only knowing that K3 was supposed to get my husband here quicker. Well, he had his interview at the embassy three weeks ago and they asked him back for fingerprints (i believe sent to the FBI for verification) which he gave. So now it is just a waiting game...sooooo close but still...

Yesterday, I received an email that my I-130 was approved. I assume it is on its way to the NVC now and they will send me a packet of information. My questions are:

I know we file for AOS when he arrives (and file for EAD) But what is consular processing? If I decide to fill out the NVC information packet( since my I130 was approved but I know I don't need to do this...but let's just say that I do), will they send it to the Embassy and then my husband will be given an appointment for a CR1 interview (although he will be in the US with me?)? This means he gets his 2 year conditional greencard right away and you don't have to deal with AOS?

Otherwise we file the AOS, pay all the fees?

Other quick questions:

1. He had full fingerprints done for the interview. Does that mean we have to pay again to get more fingerprints for the biometrics I have read about?

2. AOS goes straight to the greencard route? But could take anywhere from 4 months to a year?

3. Do you have to file for advance parole if you are on K3 visa?

Ok, whew. All for now. Thanks for reading and for any input you can provide.