K1 Couples Timeline
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FilAm Immigration Services
K1 Visa Philippines Timeline 2024
Midway through 2023 the US Embassy in Manila announced processing would be getting faster for K1 Fiance Visas, and we noticed some significant movement around June 2023.
Now into 2024 the US Embassy of Manila Philippines has continued to pick up the pace of processing which means K1 Fiance couples are pleasantly surprised with issuance of approval letters, case number, interview and delivery times of the K1 Visa.
Couples who filed in 2023 and 2024 are seeing wait faster times, meaning from the time USCIS received the petition, to the time an interview takes place has been averaging 10 – 12 months and is expected to get even faster according to the embassies ambassador, they have a goal of processing in 6 months.
Important:
Keep in mind that these processing times are not guaranteed to everyone as not all couples have the same case.
Some of you have had criminal convictions in the past, which will contribute to lengthier wait times, some of you have had more than one previous marriage again this adds to wait times.
And for those of you who are “do-it-your-selfer” you risk a number of possibilities to get set back and wait longer.
Rejections of your petition right from the get go due to a number of reasons. RFE- request of evidence notices at a later date saying that USCIS is not onvinced or needs more evidence which can take time to get.
Lastly is your Alien Fiance’s interview. They go to the interview and are told by an interview more documents or proof is required and a 221(g) letter is given to the alien fiance to take home and gather the needed items before they can receive a K1 Visa.
Advise:
Talk to FilAm Immigration Services. Reach out to us and allow us to help you, if you lack time to do things correctly due to a busy work schedule or if you simply hate trying to figure out government red tape, then allow us to help you.
Our fees are among the most affordable and we have 20 plus years of experience and definitely offer a lot more than Law firms or Attorneys offer for a fraction of their cost. Reach out to us here
K1 Timeline of events 2024
Here is a sample timeline of events for the 2024 K1 Fiance Visa process:
This is a 2024 scenario of events that could happen to those couples who filed correctly the I-129F Application for Alien Fiance.
1. January 2024:
Submit the Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance, to USCIS. Include all required supporting documents, such as meeting in person, intent to marry, Required ID’s.
2. February 2024:
Receive the Form I-797C, Notice of Action, from USCIS confirming the receipt of your petition. This notice will have a unique case number that you can use to track the progress of your application.
3. March 2024:
USCIS begins processing your petition.
They will review the submitted documents, conduct background checks, and verify your eligibility for the K1 visa.
This process can take several months, depending on the agency’s workload.
4. April 2024:
Complete and submit the DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, to the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).
Pay the required visa fee and schedule an interview appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.
5. May 2024:
Attend the K1 visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Provide the necessary documentation, including proof of relationship, medical exam results, and financial support.
The consular officer will also ask questions about your relationship and intent to marry.
6. June 2024:
If approved, receive the K1 visa packet with the visa stamp in your passport.
This packet will also contain important instructions for traveling to the United States, including the validity period of the visa.
7. July 2024:
Make travel arrangements to the United States.
You must enter the country within the validity period of your K1 visa, usually within six months. Inform the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that you are entering the United States on a K1 visa.
8. August 2024:
After entering the United States, you have 90 days to get married to your U.S. citizen fiance.
Plan and organize your wedding accordingly.
9. September 2024:
Gather all the necessary documents for the adjustment of status application, including the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, medical examination, and supporting evidence of financial support and bona fide marriage.
10. October 2024:
Submit the adjustment of status application to USCIS.
Pay the required fees and include all supporting documents.
USCIS will process your application and schedule bio-metrics appointments and interviews if necessary.
Please note that this timeline is just a general guideline, and the processing times for each step may vary depending on the individual circumstances and workload of the government agencies involved.
It is recommended to monitor the official USCIS and U.S. Department of State websites for the most up-to-date information and instructions.
Filing a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance, with (USCIS) involves a series of steps and typically follows a specific timeline.
While it is possible to handle the process alone, it is important to note that immigration procedures can be complex, so having a thorough understanding of the requirements and guidelines is essential.
Here is a general timeline for filing the I-129F form:
1. Gather documents:
Begin by collecting all the necessary supporting documents, such as proof of U.S. citizenship for the petitioner, evidence of a genuine relationship, and any other relevant forms or paperwork required by USCIS.
2. Prepare the form:
Carefully fill out Form I-129F, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Review the form and make any necessary corrections before submitting it.
3. Review filing fees:
Verify the current filing fee for the I-129F form on the USCIS website. Make sure to include the correct payment, typically in the form of a check or money order, with your application.
4. Mail the application:
Send the completed I-129F form, supporting documents, and filing fee to the appropriate USCIS lockbox facility.
Check the USCIS website for the most up-to-date mailing address, as it may vary depending on your location.
5. Receive receipt notice:
Once USCIS receives your filing, they will send you a receipt notice, also known as Form I-797C.
This notice confirms that your petition has been received and provides a case number that you can use to track the progress of your application.
6. Wait for approval:
USCIS will review your petition and conduct background checks on both the petitioner and beneficiary.
This process can take several months, and USCIS may request additional evidence or information to support your case.
7. Receive approval notice:
If your petition is approved, USCIS will send you an approval notice, typically Form I-797, which confirms that your petition has been accepted.
This approval notice is required for the next steps in the process.
8. Move to the next step:
After receiving the approval notice, you can proceed to the next step, which is usually applying for the K-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
Be sure to follow the instructions provided by USCIS and the Department of State regarding the visa application process.
It is important to remember that this timeline is general in nature, and processing times may vary depending on factors such as USCIS workload, country of origin, and individual circumstances.
Additionally, USCIS frequently updates their procedures, so it is essential to regularly check their website for the most up-to-date information.
While it is possible to complete the I-129F process alone, couples may need assistance along the way through various sections of the process, as we often notice a lot of “do-it-your-selfers” tend to get lost especially on what to do after the I-129F has been approved. Contact us
The filing process for the I-129F, also known as the Petition for Alien Fiance, involves several steps, including the involvement of the National Visa Center (NVC).
Here is a timeline of the process at the NVC:
1. Approval of the I-129F Petition:
The first step entails the submission of the I-129F petition to USCIS.
After the petition is received, it undergoes review, and if approved, USCIS forwards it to the NVC.
2. Case Number Assignment:
Once the NVC receives the approved I-129F petition, a case number is assigned.
This case number will be used to track and identify your case throughout the process.
3. Fee Payments:
The NVC requires various fees to be paid before proceeding further.
These fees include the NVC processing fee, non-immigrant visa application fee, and an affidavit of support fee.
The payment of these fees prompts the NVC to start processing your case.
4. DS160 Form and Supporting Documents:
After the fees have been paid, the NVC instructs your fiance to complete the DS160 online nonimmigrant visa application form.
Additionally, a list of supporting documents, such as photos, birth certificates, and police certificates, need to be gathered, translated if necessary, and submitted to the NVC.
5. NVC Review:
Once the DS160 form and supporting documents are submitted, the NVC will review them to ensure they are complete and meet the necessary requirements.
If any documents are missing or incomplete, the NVC will request additional or corrected information.
6. Medical Examination and Interview Preparation:
After the NVC completes the review and approves your supporting documents, your fiance will be notified to schedule a medical examination at an authorized panel physician.
The medical examination results are sent directly to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where the interview will take place.
At this stage, your fiance should also start preparing for the visa interview by gathering any additional documents required for the interview, such as evidence of the relationship.
7. Interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate:
On the scheduled date, your fiance will attend the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
The consular officer will review the documents, ask questions, and make a determination on whether to approve or deny the visa.
8. Visa Issuance:
If the visa is approved, your fiance will receive the visa packet, including the passport with the visa stamp.
The packet will provide instructions on traveling to the United States and entering as a fiance.
It is important to note that the timeline may vary depending on various factors such as the workload at the NVC, the embassy or consulate’s availability for interviews, and any additional administrative processing that may be required.
The timeline for processing a K1 Visa at the US Embassy can vary depending on numerous factors.
However, generally, the process follows these steps:
1. Petition filing:
The US citizen sponsor files a Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance, with the USCIS.
The processing time for this step can take several months.
2. USCIS approval:
Once the I-129F petition is approved, it is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
This step usually takes a few weeks.
3. Embassy processing:
The NVC forwards the case to the US Embassy/Consulate where the foreign fiance will have their K1 Visa interview.
The embassy will provide instructions on how to proceed, including scheduling the interview and submitting documents.
4. Medical examination:
The applicant must undergo a medical examination at an authorized facility.
The medical examination may take several days to complete, depending on the availability of appointments and the complexity of the medical requirements.
5. Interview:
The applicant attends the K1 Visa interview at the US Embassy/Consulate.
The interview date is typically scheduled after completing the medical examination and submitting all required documents.
The interview is an opportunity for the consular officer to evaluate the legitimacy of the relationship and the intentions of both parties.
6. Visa issuance:
If the interview is successful, the K1 Visa may be issued immediately, or it may take a few days to process.
Once the visa is issued, the applicant will be able to travel to the United States.
The entire process, from petition filing to visa issuance, can take anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on factors such as the workload at the USCIS, NVC, and the US Embassy, as well as any potential administrative or background check delays.