cyberdeep

Cyberdeep and or SKLuv,

Do you have any updates on what finally happened? Were you able to convert to a CR-1 interview?

I am considering following the same plan, which is to do the CR-1 and K-3 process in tandem, wait for NVC to have CR-1 processing complete and reschedule the K-3 interview to CR-1 interview. Any updates, tips, advice would be appreciated from anyone!

Thanks,

The consulate put my K3 on hold and said they'll just wait for my CR-1 to catchup. Thankfully NVC scheduled a CR-1 interview for Nov and documents should head out to the consulate soon. But the end result is that I wasn't able to get an interview any sooner than the CR-1 interview.

There was a small possibility I could have had my interview earlier. It required careful planning when requesting rescheduling of the K3 interview date such that the documents would have just arrived from NVC. To try I suggest the following:

- Don't indicate CR-1 as the reason for re-scheduling coz they'll just put the K3 on-hold otherwise

- Ask to re-schedule 4 - 5 weeks before the date you expect the consulate to have received the documents from the NVC as they won't give you an new interview date any earlier

- Estimate that the documents will arrive at the consulate about 2 - 3 weeks after an interview date is scheduled by NVC. It's been a week for me so far and it doesn't seem like the documents have even left NVC yet.

- It seems the interview letter gets mailed out right around the day when the interview date is scheduled. So by the time the consulate receives the documents you should have the letter in hand to get the medical stuff taken care of.

When talking to a doctor that does the medical exam it seemed like he couldn't conduct an exam for a CR1 on the basis of a K3 interview letter. I didn't bother pressing on this too much as it wasn't important for me.

Congrats on getting the interview date

Congratulations cyberdeep for interview. By the way not to disappoint you but 13th october, embassy in chennai will be closed to observe columbus day. Its frustrating that they have 6 holidays in ocober only. Still hopefully it works out for ya.

Oh no!! I knew I was being too optimistic. *sigh* oh well...appreciate the heads up.

Case was completed on Sept 12th. Have been waiting all week to hear some good news. NVC operator said CR1 interview was scheduled today for Nov 10th!

Now's the tricky part. We have a K3 interview scheduled next week on Oct 16th. Operator couldn't tell me when the documents would be sent out but I see a DHL package on it's way today to Chennai. I am just praying it's ours, gets there on Oct 13th, so we may convert the K3 to a CR1 interview, and collect an interview letter in person to get the medical stuff done on Oct 14th/15th. I'm probably being way too optimistic...

Hi cyberdeep,

I was planning the same thing as you from India. From reading your earlier post, you were able to reschedule your K-3 interview. Did you just contact the consulate by email and they rescheduled the date?

Also, what are you going to do regarding the K-3 interview if it doesn't get converted to CR1?

I would contact the NVC again and hope you can get a different operator and try to have them send the docs

Thanks

yeye

Yeah, they rescheduled it by email.

Once the CR1 date comes through, I'll probably find out if the K3 date can be rescheduled to be earlier than the CR1 date, and if not, notify them that I will proceed with CR1 instead.

Our I-130 case was completed at NVC but is waiting for a Nov interview date. Chennai consulate has assigned a K3 interview date in Oct already. They are willing to convert that to a CR1 interview if they receive the docs. But NVC won't send the docs until they schedule an interview and consulate won't request the docs!

Sent emails to consulate, spoken to an operator at the consulate...but they say they can't request it. NVC can't do anything about it nor can the state dept. Tried to get an email from NVC stating that the consulate could do it but no replies from NVC. I guess we are just stuck waiting for a Nov interview date now.

How have people been able to get the consulate to request documents from NVC? Has it worked with the Chennai consulate?

I called NVC operator today and he said my case was complete. Figured I'd go online to the DHL site to check if it got sent to the consulate and I do see a package going to my consulate...but how do I know if it indeed contains my docs?

Thanks!

My wife's K3 case has been assigned an interview date of Sept 19 at the Chennai Consulate in India. NVC received her CR-1 documents on Sept 4th and is pending completion. I am trying to figure out the best course of action now and was hoping for some advice:

1. Send email to consulate and have them request NVC to approve CR-1 documents and send them to consulate sooner so Sept 19th can be converted to CR-1 interview....is this even possible?

2. Try to postpone K3 date by about 2 weeks and request consulate to convert to CR-1 interview as soon as they receive documents from NVC (assuming no RFE, based on estimates, case should be complete in a week, and consulate should have received documented in 7-10 days from then, i.e. Sept 18th - Sept 21st).

3. Ignore K3 interview date entirely and wait for CR-1 interview date.

Side question: Can medical reports & vaccinations obtained based on K3 interview appointment letter be used for a CR-1 interview?

Any guidance from you guys based on experience / other knowledge is highly appreciated. Thanks!

1) seems unlikely to be done by that time

2) seems like the best option

3) i would not just ignore without notification to the consulate... nothing else it is simply courteous

medical is the same... vaccinations need be completed for CR1

Thanks, I am leaning towards #2 as well. Regarding vaccinations, can those be requested from the doctor during the examination based on the K3 interview appointment letter?

My wife's K3 case has been assigned an interview date of Sept 19 at the Chennai Consulate in India. NVC received her CR-1 documents on Sept 4th and is pending completion. I am trying to figure out the best course of action now and was hoping for some advice:

1. Send email to consulate and have them request NVC to approve CR-1 documents and send them to consulate sooner so Sept 19th can be converted to CR-1 interview....is this even possible?

2. Try to postpone K3 date by about 2 weeks and request consulate to convert to CR-1 interview as soon as they receive documents from NVC (assuming no RFE, based on estimates, case should be complete in a week, and consulate should have received documented in 7-10 days from then, i.e. Sept 18th - Sept 21st).

3. Ignore K3 interview date entirely and wait for CR-1 interview date.

Side question: Can medical reports & vaccinations obtained based on K3 interview appointment letter be used for a CR-1 interview?

Any guidance from you guys based on experience / other knowledge is highly appreciated. Thanks!

In India, the registrar gave us the original marriage certificate, that has our photographs and original signatures, and stored a scanned version of it in their archival. I think this is a bit different from the way it works here in the US where the original is never given to you...only original certified copies are issued and can be requested any time as the original is in some government vault somewhere.

So now, when we requested a certified copy from the registrar in India, he

a) printed out that scanned version,

b) put a fresh seal and signature on it on the front (along with "certified copy" written in local script...but NVC can't read that),

c) put the following info on the back in english - copy applied by, copy applied on, copy ready on, copy prepared by, copy verified by and copy delivered on

Is this document acceptable? I am very hesitant to send the original as there is only one and, if lost, things are going to get seriously complicated for us in the future.

How have others from India dealt with this problem?

Thanks!

I also want to ask - the online site says "NOT INVOICED". Does it have to say "INVOICED" before making the payment?

keep trying...3rd time's a charm !!!!!

WOOOOHOOOO! 3rd time was the charm indeed.

He was like "If you are thinking about paying it online, we request that you send it in the mail". I was like "I am just trying to collect all the numbers associated with my case" and then he just rattled on all the digits!

So is this online payment thing really in testing and not for public use? In trying to accelerate the process the last thing I want to do is make things worse. Are there any failure stories?

I got this same story...might be the same girl too. lol She grilled me for dob and names too.

Eh well I'll try again tonight.

yeah call at night after 8:00pm EST and dont even mention online payment system. just say I was looking at my application and didnt see an IIN.

I was also told by operators online payment system doesn't work but I just paid my bill online today lets see when it shows PAID.

Btw, NVC hasnt caught up with its automated msgs, still says you have been assigned a CASE #..and not AOS fee bill has been generated.

Ok, no luck second time around at 10:30pm EST

This time, the lady was nice but just stood by her "I don't have that information, sir" stance.

They always say that... Try calling late tonight right before they close 11:30 EST, the nicest girl respond at that time... but don't tell her is to pay online.. tell her that is for your own records... that you are aware that the system online doesn't work and that you are waiting for the letter... that's how my hubby got it!!

Awesome! I'll try to do that then.

I actually didnt tell her anything about why I wanted it. She asked me the usual verification questions about Beneficiary name and DOB, Petitioner name and DOB, and then when she said "how can I help" I asked for the IIN #. She asked me to wait a minute and then came back saying I needed to wait for the packet...

My NVC case # just got assigned yday. According to the guide by Lotofpatience (which is just awesome!) I should be able to call an operator to get the IIN# for paying the fee online. But when I called, she wasnt clear whether she didnt have that info yet but she said that I had to wait for a packet to be sent out which could take 4 - 6 weeks! Note, I have an attorney that should be receiving that packet. When I mentioned that I was told I could get it by calling she said it was still in "testing" and not available for public yet. When asked if the system might be available soon she said she didnt know but I could call back in a week and check.

How have you guys been getting the IIN#?

Gratzzzz!!!! I'm happy for u!!! U should give us the name of that attorney LOL!!!!

Sure! I am going through the guys over at http://www.fianceevisas.com/

They never told me things might happen this soon. In fact, quite the contrary - they told me to not expect to hear back until around Nov! But I have been very pleased with them so far and hopefully they'll continue whatever they are doing and finish this in style!

Congratulations!!!!

Yes, it is true!!! I do not know why some get approved so fast, but mine were approved in 29 days and there is another person that was approved in 17 days. We did not request expidites or use lawyers or anything. I guess we just got lucky.

What I have done is pursued both paths. K3 and CR1. This will get you a CR1 interview faster. I did everything for the K3 with the embassy. My wife has a interview August 14.

But at the same time, I did everything for the CR1 with the NVC. Just make sure you have everything prepared and do it all through the website. My case was complete for thr CR1 July 16. They just assigned me an interview for the CR1 September 23.

I contacted the Embassy and told them my situation. My file was just sent to the embassy yesterday. The embassy told me they would let me know when they received my paperwork and change my interview on August 14 from a K3 to a CR1 interview. The embassy even contacted the NVC to confirm that my file was mailed, because if it wasn't they were going to get it expidited down there.

But by following both paths, I am getting my CR1 interview about 6 weeks sooner that it would have been.

107 days from mailing paperwork to the CR1 interview.

Thanks for the detailed post! It was very comforting to hear. I am glad I am not the only one.

I will talk to my attorney tomm and find out if we can proceed with both the K3 and CR-1...that obviously makes sense.

Ok guys, this is getting weirder and freaking me out. I just got another email stating that the I-130 got approved too. I checked on their website when the I129-F approval email came earlier this evening and the status of I-130 was still pending. I checked now and it says approval notice sent!

Go with the CR-1 [i-130]!!! K3 may be a bit faster but in the long run it doesn't "hold a candle" to the CR-1!!!

BEEN THERE! DID IT WRONG!!

Haole - I was just thinking about whether to do just that and potentially risk a length I-130 processing at NVC. Any specific data points that you can provide from your experience?

Ok guys, this is getting weirder and freaking me out. I just got another email stating that the I-130 got approved too. I checked on their website when the I129-F approval email came earlier this evening and the status of I-130 was still pending. I checked now and it says approval notice sent!

I just got an email from USCIS with current status stating "Approval notice sent" for my I-129F petition. The application was sent through my lawyers on June 3rd, NOA1 on June 13th and now approval on July 31st.

I am second guessing everything I know now about the K-3 process....this is really the approval right? It goes to NVC and Consulate now? Could someone confirm?

I am very dazed right now and really hope this is true. And if this is so, I hope too that things are getting much quicker for everyone.

Did u request for an expedite?that was fast..

No expedite. Just had an immigration attorney file the paperwork. Need to talk to them tomm and check about this.

I just got an email from USCIS with current status stating "Approval notice sent" for my I-129F petition. The application was sent through my lawyers on June 3rd, NOA1 on June 13th and now approval on July 31st.

I am second guessing everything I know now about the K-3 process....this is really the approval right? It goes to NVC and Consulate now? Could someone confirm?

I am very dazed right now and really hope this is true. And if this is so, I hope too that things are getting much quicker for everyone.

I-130 and I-129F was filed at CSC last month and NOA-1 received for both with receipt number. Tried to apply for a tourist visa. The interview was very short. The officer basically said that he could not issue a tourist visa when a K-3 was already in progress. He was polite and respectful but would not look at any document indicating that my wife had reason to return after a short trip. Didn't have much hope to begin with but figured it was worth a shot. We are going to be apart now until K-3 gets issued so the wait begins for us...

Some past research indicated that a similar response was received at the Mumbai consulate as well. It seems the Indian consulates are making up a policy to not issue tourist visas to K-visa applicants when all research suggests that no such policy exists. My guess is it's because they have a huge number of tourist visa applicants from India and need to deny a certain %. In any case, figured I'd post this info for others considering this route...

I-130 mailed on May 23rd

I-130 received on May 26th

NOA1 mailed on Jun 3rd. Case assigned to California Service Center.

Touched on Jun 6th

Thanks for tracking!

An I-130 was just submitted for my wife in India to start her K-3 visa process. I have a question about whether the following is possible:

1. Obtain and enter US on K-3 visa

2. Don't file for Adjustment of Status. Wait for I-130 approval and subsequent forwarding to US consulate in India for CR-1 interview.

3. Return to India for CR-1 interview

4. Re-enter US on CR-1 to obtain the green card.

I apologize if this has been asked before. Been scouting the forums for a while and haven't been able to get an answer.

Thanks!

The plan is viable. You definitely can arrive on a K3 and then return for a CR1 visa instead of adjusting status.

However, under the current policies the logistics can be both complicated and expensive. The current policy is to approve both petitions together, then hold the I-130 for status adjustment after K3 entry. Sometimes USCIS doesn't follow their own policy and they go ahead and send both petitions to NVC.

If the I-130 is held you file and I-824 with fee to get the I-130 moving again. Once it's at the Consulate and an interview is scheduled you go back to India, interview for the visa and re-enter as an immigrant with permanent resident status. If by that time, you've been married two years, the status is not conditional, so the green card is good for ten years.

You can take the above to the bank, regardless of what any other responses you may have received. I read only the first one, which was dead wrong.

All that said, I'd seriously consider not filing the I-129F at all and just stick with the immigrant visa from the start. The time difference just isn't that much now and the I-130 may well get approved sooner if they don't have to marry it up with an I-129F.

Thank you very much! This is very useful information.

My concern with going only for the CR-1 from the get-go is the possibility that I-130s start getting delayed for whatever reason. If that happens, we won't be together for even longer which would really suck. So I was trying to see if there was a way to optimize both being together sooner, which K-3 offers, as well as obtaining a green card sooner, which CR-1 allows (as opposed to adjustment of status).

Incidentally, the reason I am investigating getting the green card sooner is because my wife intends on applying for university admissions for next fall. The chances of her getting an admission would be greatly increased if applying as a permanent resident (very few positions available for international students). I am still trying to figure out whether universities will accept an I-130 approval, or receipt showing adjustment of status submission, to categorize her a permanent resident. Assuming not, then potentially the above approach would get her a green card much sooner, i.e. within 6 months of entering on a K-3 which appears to be much faster than obtaining one via adjustment of status.

IMO, filing only an I-130 and arriving with a CR1 visa will be a faster way to get a green card than six months after entry on K3 would be. If you want an immigrant visa, don't file an I-129F for spouse.

If you insist on filing both petitions, then clearly indicate in your cover letter and in big red letters on the I-130 that you want Consular processing of the I-130. I would then file the two petitions together in the same envelope directly to the appropriate service center. I know the instructions say otherwise but we've had at least two members indicate success doing so.

Thanks again. I wish I had thought about all this a little sooner. Unfortunately, the I-130 was sent out on Friday by my attorney already. I'll talk to then about all this tomm and see what they have to say.

An I-130 was just submitted for my wife in India to start her K-3 visa process. I have a question about whether the following is possible:

1. Obtain and enter US on K-3 visa

2. Don't file for Adjustment of Status. Wait for I-130 approval and subsequent forwarding to US consulate in India for CR-1 interview.

3. Return to India for CR-1 interview

4. Re-enter US on CR-1 to obtain the green card.

I apologize if this has been asked before. Been scouting the forums for a while and haven't been able to get an answer.

Thanks!

The plan is viable. You definitely can arrive on a K3 and then return for a CR1 visa instead of adjusting status.

However, under the current policies the logistics can be both complicated and expensive. The current policy is to approve both petitions together, then hold the I-130 for status adjustment after K3 entry. Sometimes USCIS doesn't follow their own policy and they go ahead and send both petitions to NVC.

If the I-130 is held you file and I-824 with fee to get the I-130 moving again. Once it's at the Consulate and an interview is scheduled you go back to India, interview for the visa and re-enter as an immigrant with permanent resident status. If by that time, you've been married two years, the status is not conditional, so the green card is good for ten years.

You can take the above to the bank, regardless of what any other responses you may have received. I read only the first one, which was dead wrong.

All that said, I'd seriously consider not filing the I-129F at all and just stick with the immigrant visa from the start. The time difference just isn't that much now and the I-130 may well get approved sooner if they don't have to marry it up with an I-129F.

Thank you very much! This is very useful information.

My concern with going only for the CR-1 from the get-go is the possibility that I-130s start getting delayed for whatever reason. If that happens, we won't be together for even longer which would really suck. So I was trying to see if there was a way to optimize both being together sooner, which K-3 offers, as well as obtaining a green card sooner, which CR-1 allows (as opposed to adjustment of status).

Incidentally, the reason I am investigating getting the green card sooner is because my wife intends on applying for university admissions for next fall. The chances of her getting an admission would be greatly increased if applying as a permanent resident (very few positions available for international students). I am still trying to figure out whether universities will accept an I-130 approval, or receipt showing adjustment of status submission, to categorize her a permanent resident. Assuming not, then potentially the above approach would get her a green card much sooner, i.e. within 6 months of entering on a K-3 which appears to be much faster than obtaining one via adjustment of status.

Go to the NVC forum and read all the threads that are pinned at the top. I especially used the document made by "lotsofpatience".

I see. What shortcuts are you referring to?

Thanks! I will go read that.

I have an immigration lawyer that is taking care of my paper-work. I'll go find out what they have to say as well...