Jump to content
AndyR82

When to file for K1

 Share

23 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Hello all,

I have a quick question, myself and my good lady are looking to get married on the 21st May 2016. After conversations with our lawyer he thinks the best time would be to file on the 16th December. Is this a realistic time frame?

We are looking to put down a deposit on a venue tomorrow.

Thanks :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

No - do not put a deposit down. Not until the visa is in hand.

Good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Brazil
Timeline

Hello all,

I have a quick question, myself and my good lady are looking to get married on the 21st May 2016. After conversations with our lawyer he thinks the best time would be to file on the 16th December. Is this a realistic time frame?

We are looking to put down a deposit on a venue tomorrow.

Thanks :)

Realistically...there's no way of knowing when a "realistic time frame is." As of "right now" all new applications are being routed to CSC, which has a 5 month processing time (but even that is not guaranteed-could be less, could be more). But by the time December comes around, you don't know if the applications will still be sent there, what the processing times will be etc. For example-there's people in the TSC that have been waiting 5, 6, 7, 8+ months and still no word as to when they'll be approved. It's never, ever a good idea to plan anything until the visa is in hand. There are many surprises that could come up along the way.

Remember, once you have the visa, it's good for (I believe 120-180 days *I forget which one* can anyone clarify that?) Plus, you have 90 days to get married once they are in the country. So you should plan accordingly to that, knowing that even if you get your visa a little before May of next year, you still have some time to plan etc.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Matt & Mish

:) 12/25/13 "Met" online (Instagram)

(L) 5/29/14 Became a couple

:wub: 2/4/15 First meeting in person (I spent almost 3 weeks in Brazil!)

USCIS:

4/24/15 Submitted I-129F

4/30/15 NOA1 paper copy

6/11/15 NOA2 paper copy

NVC:

6/27/15 Case received & case number assigned

6/30/15 Case shipped to Embassy in Rio

EMBASSY:

7/6/15 Case received by Embassy

7/20/15 Received "packet 3" email

9/18/15 Medical exam

9/29/15 Interview-APPROVED!!!

(F)"Every love story is beautiful; but ours is my favorite" (F)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is advisable not to put any money down or many any type of non-refundable reservations until you have visa in hand. There are to many variables out of your control. First, It depends on the service center where you package is assigned. Second, you may or may not receive an RFE which adds time to the processing of your case. Third, you do not know when you interview will be scheduled. If anything you should file as early as possible. Frankly, your setting yourself up for a big let down if you file in December and hope the entire process will be completed in time for the wedding. Filing early is better than filing later.

Good Luck!!!

October 2011 - Met Online :D
November 2011 - First trip to Dominican Republic :dancing:

Jan 25 2014 - Married in Dominican Republic

May 14, 2014 - I-130 sent Phoenix Lockbox

May 16, 2014 - PD from USCIS Website

May 21, 2014 - NOA-1 hard copy received, Nebraska Service Center

Oct 17, 2014 - RFE notification by txt.

Oct 25, 2014 - RFE hard copy received

Oct 27, 2014 - RFE response sent

Oct 28, 2014 - RFE response received and signed for NSC

Nov 04, 2014 - NOA 2 received by txt message

Nov 21, 2014 - NVC received

Apr 06, 2015 - Checklist received from NVC by email

Apr 07, 2015 - Checklist response sent to NVC

Apr 08, 2015 - Checklist response received and scanned at NVC

May 01, 2015 - Case Complete :dancing:

May 13, 2015 - Received interview letter

June 10, 2015 - CR-1 Approved :dance: :dance: :dance:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the responses they are appreciated, I have just said about asking if we would be able to change to a later date if needs be. I'll be back over at the end of August so it might be worth mentioning about possibly looking to file a little earlier.

I've given family the date as a hopeful one more than anything else.

It will all be worth it :D

Edited by AndyR82
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

So why not file now? Considering how much time there is on the other end (up to 180 days) to use the visa after it is issued. Plus the process can be slowed down once it passes USCIS.

So why not file now? Sounds like that is the better option than just waiting and hoping and possibly losing money and changing dates

good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline

I was wondering the same, file now.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunately we have a few loose ends to be tied up which can't happen until we are able to speak to the lawyer, will ask though about setting everything up earlier.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunately we have a few loose ends to be tied up which can't happen until we are able to speak to the lawyer, will ask though about setting everything up earlier.

You don't need a lawyer to file for an I-129F/ K1 visa, unless you have other legal issues that prevent you from getting married (e.g. currently going through a divorce to someone else etc.). Most here on VJ are doing our applications on our own thanks to the enormous help and valuable resources/ advice that is the VJ forum.

The K1 visa gives you 90 days to get married upon entering the USA. Once issued, I'm not sure but you have a good few month to use it by (3 - 6 months before it expires?) i.e. those 90 days start ticking down upon setting foot in the USA with a K1, not the date that the K1 visa was issued.

As many have already mentioned above, it's impossible to give an accurate timeline for the process from start to finish. Every case is different, and throw the different service centres into the mix (currently TSC and CSC) that makes it even harder to estimate as some have gone from NOA1 to NOA2 in a matter of weeks whereas some are waiting 7+ months.

Depending on your individual case, you are looking at approx. a minimum of 5 months up to, or even more than 10 months from start to finish before you get your visa in hand. Your lawyer is giving you very bad advice suggesting that you file on the 16th December to guarantee that you will have a May 2016 wedding (why not suggest you file much earlier?) Once filed, there is no way to expedite the process unless in extreme circumstances (i.e. the beneficiary is from a country onset by civil war and their life is at risk, NOT that you have booked a wedding venue). Unless you have legal issues restricting your application, you would be wise to start the process ASAP. It might also be wise to ditch your current lawyer and getting one who knows the process and time frame better, or you go it alone with the help from VJ.

N400 Naturalization

Applied - 07/21/2022

NOA - 07/21/2022

Biometrics - Re-used

Interview - 11/03/2022 (Passed!)

Oath Ceremony - 11/08/2022

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline

There was an egg incident, perhaps a divorce to finalise?

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm guessing a divorce needs to become final. The lawyer who said Dec 16 is not the best person to seek advice from on immigration matters.

England.gifENGLAND ---

K-1 Timeline 4 months, 19 days 03-10-08 VSC to 7-29-08 Interview London

10-05-08 Married

AOS Timeline 5 months, 14 days 10-9-08 to 3-23-09 No interview

Removing Conditions Timeline 5 months, 20 days12-27-10 to 06-10-11 No interview

Citizenship Timeline 3 months, 26 days 12-31-11 Dallas to 4-26-12 Interview Houston

05-16-12 Oath ceremony

The journey from Fiancé to US citizenship:

4 years, 2 months, 6 days

243 pages of forms/documents submitted

No RFEs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for not responding quicker trying to be sneaky at work ;)

No divorces for either of us. Having never done this we decided to use an immigration lawyer just to make sure that everything was being completed properly.

I need to get the Police Report, pictures of us, immunized etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for not responding quicker trying to be sneaky at work ;)

No divorces for either of us. Having never done this we decided to use an immigration lawyer just to make sure that everything was being completed properly.

I need to get the Police Report, pictures of us, immunized etc.

No, the police report and immunizations and proof of income are not part of the first step...petition filed by the US citizen. Those come later.

England.gifENGLAND ---

K-1 Timeline 4 months, 19 days 03-10-08 VSC to 7-29-08 Interview London

10-05-08 Married

AOS Timeline 5 months, 14 days 10-9-08 to 3-23-09 No interview

Removing Conditions Timeline 5 months, 20 days12-27-10 to 06-10-11 No interview

Citizenship Timeline 3 months, 26 days 12-31-11 Dallas to 4-26-12 Interview Houston

05-16-12 Oath ceremony

The journey from Fiancé to US citizenship:

4 years, 2 months, 6 days

243 pages of forms/documents submitted

No RFEs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Other Country: Canada
Timeline

Sorry for not responding quicker trying to be sneaky at work ;)

No divorces for either of us. Having never done this we decided to use an immigration lawyer just to make sure that everything was being completed properly.

I need to get the Police Report, pictures of us, immunized etc.

More often than not you'll find that immigration lawyers complicate things or possibly mess things up viewing cases on here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...