Question: K1 Visa Timeline?

It takes 5 – 7.5 months on average (as of October 2021) for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process Form I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé”), and an additional 3-4 weeks to receive instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC) to continue the process.

• The K1 visa timeline includes multiple stages during USCIS, NVC, and Consular processing. In total, the K1 visa process can take 9-11 months to complete. According to USCIS, backlogs have increased which means there are long delays for I-129F approvals.

Are K1 visas still being processed 2020?

The K-1 Fiance Visa is not Banned, but they are not being processed at the Consulate Stage or being issued since they are not “mission critical.” So, they are technically not banned, but just not being given out by the US Consulates/Embassies.

Why is K1 visa taking so long?

Backlogs, errors and general delays can happen at any step of the K-1 process. These things can end up costing you several weeks. These are the reasons why the K1 takes so long for many people.

Is fiance or spouse visa faster?

Application Process and Timeline for Fiancé (e) and Spousal Visa. If your main goal is to get to the U.S. as quickly as possible, then the fiancé (e) visa is likely the fastest option. But if your goal is to get an actual green card as soon as possible, then a marriage-based visa will be quicker.

Are fiance visas still being processed?

U.S. Embassies and Consulates have continued to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services since March 2020 and will continue to do so as they are able. Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on what services that post is currently able to offer.

Can my fiance visit while waiting for K1 visa?

You cannot reside in the United States on a B-2 tourist visa or on the Visa Waiver Program while waiting on a K1 fiancé visa or K3 spousal visa. However, you can make a temporary visit on those visas.

What percentage of fiance visas are approved?

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), around 90 percent of fiancé visas were approved in 2016. In 2017, when President Donald Trump took office, the percentage of approved fiancé visas dropped to around 66 percent.

How long does it take for K1 Visa 2020?

If you and your fiancé meet all K1 visa requirements, your application will likely be approved. The estimated timeframe to obtain an approval if you choose the K1 visa route depends on USCIS processing timelines. Nonetheless, as a very general estimate, it can take approximately 6-9 months for a decision.

What to do after you get married on a K1 visa?

A K-1 visa — also called a fiancé visa — allows the engaged partner of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States, as long as the couple gets married no more than 90 days later. The newly married spouse can then apply for permanent residence (a “green card”) based on marriage.

How much income do I need to sponsor a K1 visa?

In dollars and cents, this means that you must have stable earnings of at least $16,910 per year for a two-person household (in 2019) to qualify as financial sponsor for a fiancé(e) visa petition, and you must have stable earnings of at least $21,137 per year for a two-person household to qualify as financial sponsor

Why would a fiance visa be denied?

K1 Fiance Visas are generally denied when the Petitioner fails to meet the requirements of a Fiance Visa, when the forms are incorrectly filled out and never corrected, our when there is a lack of evidence to support the claim of a genuine relationship.

What happens if you divorce on a K1 visa?

Divorce before or after filing the I -485 (Adjustment of Status) If you divorce your sponsoring fiance (e) before filing the I -485, then you will likely lose residency. You may not be able to file for a green card. You and your K2 children may lose immigration rights and leave the US.

What happens if an American marries a Nigerian?

After your marriage in the U.S., your new spouse can apply to USCIS for a green card, through a process called adjustment of status (the primary form for which is the I-485). The two of you will attend a green card interview at a local USCIS office.

Can you expedite a K1 visa?

Unfortunately, unless they are in the U.S. military, it is not possible to expedite the process once their petition is mailed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The best way to expedite a K1 fiance visa or K3 spousal visa is to prepare the petition carefully, with zero errors.

How much does a fiance visa cost?

Fiancé visa cost: $2,025 The U.S. citizen partner completes the appropriate government form (I-129F – “petition for a K-1 Visa”), and mails it to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), along with the $535 filing fee.