As I have had quite a bit of interest shown in my post on the fiance visa processing and wait time, I thought that it might be useful to post a simple breakdown of my significant dates in the process and put together a K1 Fiance Visa timeline. It is not surprising that people get concerned about wait times and start wondering how long each stage of the process is supposed to take - applicants don’t get a great deal of information from the USCIS, in my experience, and it can sometimes feel like you have been forgotten, or your application has got lost in the system.
Once again, I think it wise to remind people that this is my own person experience of the K1 Fiance Visa process. As far as I am aware, my experience is fairly typical, but other people’s experience might be different. Processing times can vary according to factors such as how many other people happen to be applying at the same time as you, or if the USCIS are being more particular because they are responding to security concerns, or whatever.
The K1 Fiance Visa Timeline begins with the I-129 petition, which is submitted by the US citizen and ends with non-US citizen being issued with a K1 Fiance Visa. The bureaucracy doesn’t end there, however, as you still have to move to the USA, get married, then begin the I-485 Green Card application process in order to work and live in the USA indefinitely – this process is easier than the visa, but still a pain. (I will post a Green Card Timeline on here too, when I’ve got time).
Anyway, here is my K1 Fiance Visa Timeline:
March 2nd. I-129 Petition submitted by my fiancée (the US citizen) along with the I-129 Petition relationship proof.
March 13th. My fiancée receives a letter of receipt saying that the I-129 petition has been received.
July 2nd. My fiancée receives notification that I-129 petition has been approved and will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC).
July 10th. My fiancée receives a letter stating that the NVC has received the approved I-129 petition and will be sending the information to the London Embassy within a week.
July 19th. I receive a letter from US embassy informing me to submit the K1 Fiance Visa forms.
August 11th. I sent off my K1 Fiance Visa application forms to the London Embassy along with my proof, including things like my UK Police Certificate, passport-style photos etc.
September 14th. I receive a letter sent to me inviting me to arrange a K1 fiance visa medical exam and giving me my K1Fiance Visa interview date.
October 21st. K1 Fiance Visa delivered to my workplace, where I signed for it.
Timeline isn't the issue - they seem to be working through petitions pretty quickly - its being able to mind read and know if they will say yes or no at the interview. So far we are on 5 1/2 months total time and I have my interview at the embassy this Thursday and if they say yes my boys and I are hoping to fly on the 31st October. that will be 6 months since the date of our receipt bar 3 days.
ReplyDeleteI am just terrified that they are going to say no!
One thing you have put here that is no longer the case is that you don't send anything other than the embassy forms once you have the embassy number - everything else ie. Police certificates, birth certificates, photos etc have to be taken with you on the day of the interview. I ahve quite a sizeable pack of info to take down to London with me on Thursday, which is another worry in itself in case anything is forgotten..
Ho hum role on lunchtime Thursday when I will know either way and can stop worrying about it.
Lou :-)
Good luck! The success rate is very high! But I know what you mean about worrying.
ReplyDeleteNice posting, what I am exactly searched is available in your website. Thanks Bye
ReplyDeleteJust to update - I got my Visa approved last Thursday at my interview and I got my paperwork returned to me yesterday (double quick time). Myself and my boys fly out to Cali on Monday (Halloween)
ReplyDeleteSo excited to finally be able to join my fiance - we have been apart 6 months now - it's not good!
Lou :-)
Excellent news, Lou, I am so pleased for you all! :-D
ReplyDeleteFirst...thank you for all the information you've posted on your site. I'm from Canada and my fiance is in the U.S. We are considering what is the best course of action to take to precipitate my move to the States. I think that based on the research I've done so far the fiance visa is the best option. What I am concerned about, though, is whether or not I can still visit him once we've started this process. Do you know if I would still be allowed to visit the States once we've applied for the visa? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have applied...from Canada...at the border they know, but ask you to provide evidence of ties in Canada...bank statements, work schedules, etc. They're pretty good. DON'T take any photo albums or items that may seem odd to them...that might suggest you don't plan to return!
DeleteLooks like you had to fly back to London for a medical exam and wait two weeks for an interview.
ReplyDelete@Sarah - There is much discussion about this in expat forums. As far as I am aware (and I am not an expert, so I could be wrong) you are allowed to visit as normal while the processing is going on, but you may be treated with more suspicion when entering the US, as they may view you as a potential overstayer.
ReplyDelete@Angus - I didn't start living in the US until I'd gone through the entire process!
I filled out my forms in February 2011 and have yet to receive an approval. We are getting married in December and we were informed in order to not void this whole process we have waited so long for that we are not allowed to sign the papers the day of our wedding. My fiance will have to go back to Australia after the wedding where we will continue to wait for his visa to be approved.
ReplyDelete@Anon - Wow, that's terrible - sorry, to hear about your long wait!
ReplyDeleteHi. Does anybody know how long processing usually takes for Jamaicans? My fiance is in Alaska and we're at initial review stage right now. We got a letter of receipt August 6, 2011. Our centre is in California. It's been over four months now and I'm afraid we'll be rejected.
ReplyDeleteOur petition was approved two days ago. I am waiting for my interview date :)
DeleteI've heard Fairbanks is pretty cold but it matters not. My daughter and I will be together with a man we both love. Good luck to everyone else. :)
DeleteDid you get your interview call ?? just asking coz my petition was also approved on jan 12 and my centre is in california ,but I didn't get interview call till now :(
DeleteHello! :)
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me if my fiance is American and I am from Europe, can I be in another European country during the process of applying and waiting? I know I have to be in my own country for the interview, so since I am studying abroad, and cannot return to my country at any time, do I have a say in when my interview date will be scheduled for?
Thank you :)
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI have a quick question. Last week I received the I 797 petition approval notice. I noticed in your blog that you mentioned you didn't wait until the packet of information/forms arrived to you, you went online and started filling them out. Am I correct on this? If so, what forms did you start filling out for the K-1 fiance visa application and where did you find them? We are currently in limbo waiting for the National Visa Center to send our K-1 visa packet to the US Embassy in London so that they can start the process. I know my fiance has already applied for and received his police record. I just wasn't sure if there was anything else he could do in the meantime.
Just trying to be as efficient as possible to keep this process moving.
Thanks.
I am little confused you say in timeline you were contacted to submit your visa application to the London embassy. What did you submit? At this early stage I'm at, my fiance has just submitted i-129f in US so apart from copies I made of all paperwork I sent him I don't have any form to submit. What exactly we expected to submit in Britain is it a repeat of what fiancee has already submitted. Confused and feeling very dumb!
ReplyDeleteThe i-129f is like a precursor to the K1, at least it was for me. You will have a lot more forms to fill out and send in once the i-129f is accepted.
DeleteThey will write and tell you what you need to do for the K1 after the embassy get the petition documents sent over from the US. That's what happened in my case anyway. In the meantime, you might want to get a police certificate and to get your vaccinations up to date?
Hi, I read your post and it was very helpful.. I would like to know at which stage you have to submit your co-sponsor information if you need one, USCIS mailed my fiancé stating that they have approved our application and they have mailed the package to my country embassy but however I did nt receive it as yet, its been a week since he got the approval letter from them...but that's least bothering me. what's on my mind is that my fiancé is making a little over$25,000 a year would he need a co sponsor and if so at what stage of the process would he have to submit a co sponsor.
ReplyDeletethank U!!!
I am no expert, but in my case, my wife had to submit all her earnings details when I applied for a green card, which I didn't do until I was already in the USA, having entered using my K1.
DeleteThe rules are all available online if you want to work out if you need a co-sponsor and who you can use, if you need to.
I believe the sponsor amount needs at least $18000pa income that is considering she is living on her own and is not supporting anyone else
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your site, very helpful :)
Do you know if it's possible to travel to the US for a vacation during the Visa progress?
Thank you very much!
Anna/21/Germany
I have seen discussions on this on britishexpats.com and I believe that you can still travel to the US on a visa waiver from EU countries, as normal - but you might want to double check that, as I didn't do it so I can't say for certain. They might question you longer at the US port of entry, as you may be viewed as an overstay risk.
DeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! We were given our NOA1 on January 30th. My Fiancé is 23 weeks pregnant (24 on Wednesday!) I'm from Sussex, she's from New Orleans. And we just had our expedite turned down as they said her being pregnant isn't a serious reason to get the expedite :/ But undeterred we are just waiting for the NOA2 now. I rang the embassy in London today to ask if there was anything I could do to help speed up the process. But I was told there is nothing, but they did mention about filling in other forms in preparation for my interview. Forms mentioned were a DS-160? What is the DS-160?! I've tried to looking on the internet and can't find anything that actually says what the form is for. Did you have to fill one out? Any help would be most appreciated!
Regards,
L&O
I can't remember that form, but then K visa applicants don't generally have to fill them out, it seems. According to http://travel.state.gov/visa/forms/forms_4230.html the rules are that "Visa applicants must submit a completed DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application for all nonimmigrant visa categories, except for applicants applying for K visas. K visa applicants must use Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application."
DeleteThere is a FAQ and link to the online form on that page, which I'm guessing is what you need? I'm just an ordinary guy, not an expert, so you might want to double check.
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeletemy fiance submitted he application sept 3rd, and i asked him about the letter of receipt when i saw ur blog. he said he could not remember anything, he knows he got a receipt but he couldn't remember when he got it and where he placed it. what's ur stand on this? hope u could help. until now,we're still waiting for the response. thank u!
LM
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteDid you just submit the I-129f or did you add evidence stuff like photos together, passport stamps and such?
Hello Paul,
ReplyDeleteHow do you pay the fee for the I-129f? Can you just add a check when submitting it?
Thank you :)
Thanks to your experience and timeline, my fiancée and I were able to gauge when our petition would be approved. It was received November 10, 2011 and was approved March 28, 2012. I am now awaiting the interview and hopefully everything goes smoothly so I can enjoy the rest of my life with the man I love. Thanks much :)
ReplyDeletehey we jus file a few days ago im so scared we get rejected
ReplyDeleteThe rejection rate is very low. And you can appeal.
DeleteSame here. We are doing it with a lawyer. We sent the petition March 2 and not a news so far. I am scared too but have to think positive
DeleteHello Paul,
ReplyDeleteMy fiance are about to start the process. He has been residing in Spain for 10 years and is now a resident, but he is born from another country. Do you know if he will have to go back home to do process or if he can file from Spain? Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
You don't have to be at the country where you were born to file for K1 visa. I'm European but at the moment living in Middle East and will process my visa through the US embassy here.
Deletewhat is the application status of December filers for california service centre
ReplyDeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteyour blog is very helpful,can you please tell me what forms you sent back to the embassy after receiving packet-3 ??
apart from DS-230 part1
This site is good for info like this: britishexpats.com - Category:USA
DeleteThis was a great post thank you for sharing your story now I have more hope ... I submitted my application this march 15 so I hope to get an answer July 5 using your timeline as a guide ... :-)
ReplyDeleteThe times do seem to vary. But generally each stage tends to take months rather than days or weeks, unfortunately!
DeleteWe received approval 1-797 on May 17th 2012 and I am still waiting for the documents to arrive at the Consulate in Auckland NZ. Almost 2 months!I have been in contact with the Consulate and the secretary has been very helpful.
DeleteI am wondering on how long I am supose to wait to hear that our application for I-129F visa will be approved. The California Service Center recieved our papers on March 2, 2012 and I am still waiting to hear something. Please if anyone has any thought about this, I would greatly appriciate it. We both are going crazy waiting so long. My fiance is from India and I am in Alaska
ReplyDeleteCherry
ReplyDeleteMy fiance applied for my Uk fiance visa last june 22,2012 and I am really nervous this time because the Uk visa centre texted me that the british embassy made a decision about my visa application. I'm really worried right now because of its very quick processing I was worrying if it gets declined or what. My documents and result should be delivered today but it never arrived yet. Help, does it mean negative or positive result?
thanks and more power :)
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteJust a quick question. Did you have to ring the automated premium line number to arrange the Visa interview without them specifically telling you to do that?
I have sent the form D2001 telling them that I have all the necessary documents. I also had my medical done 5 days ago. So I don;t know whether to ring the premium line no or to wait for them to write to me my visa interview date........
Thanks Paul.........your blog is so helpful
The embassy wrote to me with a date for my interview. It probably won't harm you to ring them. They should contact you though, I think, if you've given them all the info?
DeleteHi, Paul, I have a question, most help, My fiancee is in Jordan, I am USA citizen, We had meet already in person, now, i send the 1-29f aplication, in February 13 , 2012 , but until today, I had receive nothing yet. I check the status everyday , the only thing they send me was a letter, saying they accept the aplication. I am worry , some peolple tellme , that maybe there is a problem. I dont know what to do. Please any advice. My status said Inial Review. Thats all.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can answer that. Three months isn't actually a massive amount of time, as regards visa processing, but you could ring them and ask what's happening?
DeleteIt's worth mentioning that between arriving on your K1 visa and getting your I131 approved (which is likely a minimum of 4 months and easily a lot more) you are not allowed to leave the country.
ReplyDeleteMore specifically, you are allowed to leave the country but you will be deemed to have abandoned your application and would need to start again. You would then likely not be allowed back into the US under the VWP while your new application is pending because the border agent may feel there's a risk that you don't intend to return to the UK.
I came very close to inadvertently tripping over this because I had done the application myself and misread the information.
Once you have filed your I131 and got a reference number for it you can apply to get Emergency Advanced Parole but it requires a death or life threatening illness of a close relative and proof before you'll get it.
Don't plan a honeymoon outside of the US or to be popping back for friends' weddings.
Are K1 visa's between Canadians and Americans quicker than other countrys?
ReplyDeleteCan I be the USA when we file the K1 request and return to Canada when I recieve my papers?
ReplyDeleteThe process for me began with my current wife, the American citizen, filing a I-129 petition and the K1 process didn't start until that had been processed.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello everybody!
ReplyDeleteI live in Belgium and my girlfriend (us citizen) and I started the K1 procedure. We send all the documents on August 17th. On August 27th we got conformation that the package was delivered by mail (send from belgium). August 30 my girlfriend received an email in which they said the case is accepted and send to uscis vermont service center for processing. Yesterday she received a letter by standard mail to confirm that the case is accepted. I wonder how long it will take to hear from them again :s
I hope everything goes well so we can finally be together.
In 12 days, I'm going to visit her for 10 days. Hope they won't give me a hard time for visiting her while I'm waiting for my visa...
Hi paul,
ReplyDeleteIn applying for the 129f, do I have to add pictures and evidence of us meeting within the last 2 yrs or is that what my fiancee is supposed to bring with him during the interview?
The 129f is a "petition" by the American person in the relationship. After the petition is granted, the non-American is contacted by the relevant embassy/consulate (London in my case) and invited to submit a visa application. That was the general procedure when we did it, and as far as I know, that's not changed.
DeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience. Its very helpful. I was just wondering when exactly did you schedule your medical examination and the visa interview? Did you have to wait until the embassy received the results from the medical examination until you could schedule an appointment? After reading your timeline it seems to me you didnt have to wait for that, do you know if this has changed in the meantime?
Thanks!
The US embassy wrote to me and gave me a date for an interview (which I coudn't change without very good reason) and I was invited at that stage to schedule my medical. I did the medical about 9 days before the interview, they had passed on the medical details/results by the time of my embassy interview.
DeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteThe information you've provided is very helpful! I have a question that I'm hoping you or anyone on this site can answer. I am 21 years old and live with my parents in the US. I work, but get paid minimum wage. I am planning to apply my fiance for K1 visa. Do you think my income and living status will affect my K1 process?
Thanks
As I remind people, I am not an expert. I don't see you having problems at the visa stage. But you might need to find a sponsor, when your fiance applies for a Green Card, as the American member of the partnership has to show that they are prepared to support your (non-American) partner, if required. It depends how much you earn.
DeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeletethis has been very helpful. I was hoping you or anyone else on this blog could help me with some questions. I am a born US citizen and currently live in Dubai on a resident visa. My fiance is here in Dubai as well but I want to have our wedding in the USA. The plan is to go to the USA for a week right before the wedding and the both of us to head back to Dubai. I do plan on going back to the USA in another 2 years with him but for now we will stay in Dubai. Will this be an issue? Also, his parents and brother lives in India and I need to make sure they can attend the wedding. Will this be possible? Any feedback would help. Thanks!
My impression is that you could all visit the US on travellers visas, get married, leave, then apply later apply to live in the US using a marriage visa - but I really couldn't be sure on that...
DeleteI have a question. Do you need to be in your own country to while this process is in the works? My girlfriend will be staying with me for 3 months, on her tourist visa. She is from Germany, would she have to take her K1 Fiance visa medical exam and interview in Germany? Or can that be taken care of over here incase she is already here?
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI'm a Canadian and my boyfriend is an American born citizen. We have been dating for 3 years now and are ready to get married. We have thought about the fiance visa but it takes several months to approve and being apart is hard enough. I'm in the US currently visiting and we are thinking of getting married here in the US before my 6 month visitor visa expires. From my understanding, we could get married and then he could file an I-130. What do you think?
A mind field, i been reading some for and some against.... like on the VWP etc..... Erm... so not sure what to recommend... i have read, costs more and takes longer still with marriage one.... cause likely still have to apply for status.... Also depending who you get, be frowned upon... Given what i now know in researching a lot of this.... so i am no expert, one of you.... wondering what to contemplate myself.. here in UK.... I would think why did you choose this option.... so like they probably trained to do, onus is on you, guilty until proven innocent...... No good flattering your lids at me, i a ruthless well trained you know what.... lol.... no but serious.... erm, yes your reply we did not want to wait might seem valid to you and if can proive genuine, evidence of being together for 3 years etc... in favour of your case.... but equally i might think, waited 3 years whats another max... why the rush.... so again looks suss..... Hope that helps.....
DeleteMy experience of VISA is so easier said than done. I have a question to everyone How I shifted to US in 1 week? I think someone have 1 min to reply.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all.
Hi. I would just like to ask if the embassy is also conducting background check likethe credit standing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi. I would just like to ask if the embassy is also conducting background check likethe credit standing. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi! I wish I read your blog when I was looking for the information! I arrived to the States last year and our process went quite smoothly. Here is my blog if you want to check it out www.myfiancevisajourneytotheusa.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHi paul,I want to ask a question.I live in nigeria and I met one beautiful american lady on facebook,we have been friend its going to a year now,and we both and crazy in love with eachother.and we never see each other eye for an eye for life.but we always talk on facebook chart everyday,and we also talk on phone once in a while.and we used to send our nude pic to eachother almost everyday.and we so much love eachother so so much.but we never see each othe for once in life,I hope american emberssy would not use that as an excuse not to grant me visa?I jst want to know.thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou have not met and no offense often unfortunately frowned upon from Ghana and Nigeria cause of fraud.... so be treated as suspect, you just wanting to go to United states to live and not long after divorce the person in question...So chances are higher for refusal.... So it adds a lot of weight cause shows you have the means (money) to travel and meet in person and so adds more weight to your case..... Again no offense i no expert.... I've met mine twice and soon to be 3 times with her also coming here.... if i was someone else looked at yours and mine case, i know which I'd be more likely to approve and more likely to not approve.... You simply must provide more evidence..... Blessings Lee.
Delete"it has cost me a lot of time, money, and stress"
ReplyDeleteSo what does it cost in money anyway? Can you give a ballpark figure? $1k, $10k?
Maybe around $3K for visa (including travel to embassy and for medical), but immediately after you are married, you then have to begin on getting the green card, which costs more.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul, On Aug 11th when you you sent off your k1 visa forms to the US embassy in London, can you tell me exactly which forms you sent please? I'm at this stage of my process.
ReplyDeletemany thanks and your blog is a great help
I wish my process was that quick. I applied for my fisnce in Dec if 2011 n he had his interview in May if 2012. Its been 13 months and still in administrative processing. They do not even give us any helpful replies to our emails. Its so stressful!!!
ReplyDeleteHi admin
ReplyDeleteI am from India n my fiancee is in us he has applied for my fiancee visa on 24 Feb 2013 n received letter of receipt on 19 march 2013 but after that till date we hvnt got any. Update its been almost 4.5 months m very worried plz help
hello,
ReplyDeleteI am from the Philippines. My fiance is also a Filipino but he's now a US immigrant. Are we qualified to apply for US fiancee visa ? Please advise. Thanks.