I keep reading about these super fast NOA1's and NOA2's, and it makes me anxious because we wont be filing the petition until September this year. My fiancee wants to complete college before she looks for an apartment for us, so we can't risk getting it too early then have it expire before I can move to the US. (Ironic, right?)

I don't want to miss out on the speedy mood that the VSC seems to be in, and end up waiting a year or longer This is probably just me ranting, so please be gentle lol.

Well, January last year it was definitely this fast and kept up the pace until the fee increase in July. It slowed down then quite a bit, which sucked for VSC filers, but now it's just as fast. So that's good. I guess the best answer is that VSC seems to fluctuate and CSC seems to be slow and slower! ~giggles~ I wish there was a way to say for sure, but there isn't! Sorry!

Hi.

Oh, even with big delays and things, it's doubtful you'd have to wait over a year. I think most people pass through in 6 months or so, 9 tops...I mean stuff happens and it's all case by case but really you can kind of guesstimate 6 or 7 months.
We've gotten one of those uber fast NOA2s...I really don't know if it's gonna keep up. I hope it does for everyone else's sake. Veterans here have said the processing usually works in cycles and it's been backed up for awhile, so now people are working weekends and clearing it up. I would think by September it'll really be about the same on average - I'd say still leave yourself 4 months or so to get the NOA2, though it might come a lot earlier.

One good thing to know is that once the NOA2 is issued you have 4 months to get the Packet 3 back to them, so you can just sit on it awhile. Also, when you finally do get your visa, it's good for 6 months. So really you have a lot of wiggle room here. So it's up to you guys of course but I don't think it's necessary to wait until you're all graduated to file, if you want to be together immediately. I graduate in May and my fiance doesn't graduate until October, and we've already (kind of horrifyingly) gotten our NOA2, and we're still gonna be alright with it all.

Yeah I kind of assumed that it'd have it's ups and downs, just trying to get an idea of what the worst/best case scenario might be.

We're not waiting until she graduates, though. We're waiting until she's about 4 months into it, so by the time I get the visa (fingers crossed) she would have graduated or be very close to doing so.

Thank you for your quick reply!

I filed in december and got approved in Febuary at the vermont service center! Mine went real quick The vermont service center is usally the fasted of all of them helps to have a good lawyer 2! If you go ahead and file and then your approved! the petition is good for 4 months from the date it is approved but if you dont have a interview or get your vis yet and you still have intentions to marry you can get it extended 4 more months! And i believe you can do this multiple times so i would go ahead and file!

In regards to processing time by VSC the "good lawyer" has no effect on this. I have read more stories of people's lawyers causing delays than speeding up any process.

This site can assist you without using expensive lawyers. Unless you have a special case or unique circumstances there isn't the need for one.

The second point I agree with. You should file now and any timeframe, long or short, will be fine if you are planning a September file anyway... If you don't want to file till Sept cause of her college does that mean she finishes by January? If that is the case I might wait till June or so.

Do you two realize that just because you get the visa, you don't have to use it right away?

A K1 visa is good for six months after it is granted.

Most people come to the States right away but you don't have too!

Yes, I do realise that. My fiancee had to take an extended break from college when she became very sick, and because she missed so much time she basically has to start over. Her semester will begin between June and August this year, meaning she wont be done until June/August the following year.

If we started the process now, then it could get pretty tight down the track. As much as I would LOVE her to file it now!

Historically, VSC has always been the fastest of all the offices. You can search back years and still find disparity. With the fee increase last July, as well as the split of States to each office, one would assume things would even out but obviously, that's not happening.

I agree with Grandoner comments in regards to a lawyer. Unless your circumstances are extreme, you wont need one.

As others have stated, the K1 visa is valid for 6 months from the day it's issued. Then you have 90 days to marry once you've entered. You must keep in mind that it is a 1 time only entry, though.

Whatever you choose to do... best of luck!

Oh trust me, we wont need 90 days! We can't wait to get married, and I wont be looking to leave once I'm there

You mean you can delay the interview after the 2nd NOA? Wouldn't that look bad, maybe they'd think we have cold feet or something Not sure I'd want to do that.

All you have to do is hold onto your Packet 3 for a little while. Or you could simply send it in with a cover letter telling them the same thing you just told us.

It's not bad to have a life plan.

When will she be done with school?

Around July-August 2009

VSC is a k-1 filer's dream !! luckyyyyy