Quick Answer: How Long Does A K1 Visa Take?

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.

How long does a K1 visa take?

• The total K1 visa process takes about 7-11 months. Of course, this can vary depending on your case. If 7-11 months seems like an insanely long time for you to wait, there’s the visa expedite option. It won’t be easy but if you meet certain criteria that USCIS has, you can speed the process by several months if not years.

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. It is now taking 5-7 months for USCIS to approved I-129F petitions and some service centers are taking longer than this.

How long does K1 visa take 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.

How long does the K1 visa process take 2019?

K-1 Fiancé Visa Process & Timeline (Updated for 2019) Depending on which USCIS service center is handling the case, the average processing times can take anywhere from 6 to 9 months (as of 2019).

Can I travel to the US while my K1 visa is being processed?

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.

How much does a K1 visa cost?

As of early 2021, the filing fees for the K-1 process were $535 for Form I-129F (filed with USCIS), $265 to apply for the K visa (paid to the consulate), and $1,225 for Form I-485 and the adjustment of status packet (filed with USCIS), including the biometrics fee. That brings the total government U.S. fee to $2,025.

Which is faster K1 visa or spouse visa?

While processing times have gotten significantly better for U.S. Citizens, the K1 Fiance Visa is still quicker and simpler for unmarried international couples seeking to get married. A Marriage Visa is typically more complex, slower and, a more expensive route compared to the K1 Fiance Visa.

How can I speed up my K1 visa?

How to Speed K1 Fiance Visa Process Post USCIS

1. Prepare ahead of time before NOA2 to gather your financial and supporting documents for the embassy interview.
2. Call NVC to get your case number instead of waiting for the letter.
3. Pay Visa Application Fee.
4. Schedule embassy interview appointment.

Can you travel while waiting K1 visa?

Visiting After Filing a K-1 Petition The Department of State says that while I-129F petitioners are technically allowed to travel to the United States temporarily, doing so “is not advised” because of the questions raised by such travel.

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

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.

Why would a fiance visa be denied?

Your K-1 visa petition may be denied if one or both of you do not meet the legal requirements to get married in the U.S. The most common scenario is when either or both of you haven’t terminated your previous marriage(s).

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.

How do I expedite a K1 visa?

The best way to expedite a K1 fiance visa or K3 spousal visa is to prepare the petition carefully, with zero errors. A complete petition will eliminate the need for USCIS to send an RFE (Request for Evidence). A neat petition will help the reviewer quickly process the application.

Do I need a lawyer for K1 visa?

The law does not require that you use an immigration attorney to complete K-1 petition documents such as the Form I-129F. You may need help writing in the answers to questions on USCIS forms or translating documents into English. You can get this type of limited help from anyone.

What happens if my fiance leaves me after marriage on a K1 visa?

After you get married, you have to apply for her Green Card (also know as Permanent Residence or Adjustment of Status). If your fiancé leaves the US without the Advance Parole Re-Entry Permit, she may be denied entry and the Green Card petition may be cancelled.

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.