Surprisingly quick (if it happens!)

[munkeynutts 0]

There's a couple on here that got the NOA1 just 2 days after sending off the I-129F! Is this common? Seems far too quick. I suppose I am already being really hopeful anyway though!

Ok, so I created my timeline. How do I get it to show on my posts? Thank you all.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

NOA1 is basically your receipt saying they have received your application. 2 days is very quick, however, if someone express posted overnighted the application and it was received the next day and the notice sent out right away it is possible they could receive the NOA1 within 2 days. It is more common to get it a few days to a week after mailing. Come to think of it, our I-129f petition was mailed June 16 and the NOA1 was dated June 19th - although we didn't receive it on the 19th, but a few days after that. This was back in 2003.

At the very best you 'might' have NOA1 - the approval of the I-129f petition by August. That is only phase 1 of a two phase process. After the NOA1 the process moves to your home country where you need to gather a lot of information, fill out a lot of forms and have an interview at the US Consulate before the K-1 is issued. If your lawyer is willing to bet money that you have your K-1 by August take that bet - you'll win because, I am sorry to say, the process has never been that quick - ever.

You mean NOA2. NOA1 means they got your filing and check.

Oops - you're right, I meant NOA2.

[SCFsnoopy 0]

There's a couple on here that got the NOA1 just 2 days after sending off the I-129F! Is this common? Seems far too quick. I suppose I am already being really hopeful anyway though!

Ok, so I created my timeline. How do I get it to show on my posts? Thank you all.

You really need to read the guides!

The NOA1 is just a receipt to say, "yes, we have received your petition and we are now taking a look at it". The NOA2, which takes an average of 6 months to receive, is to say that your petition has been approved. You will then be sent a bunch of forms from your local US embassy to fill out - medicals, police checks, etc - you send those back and schedule an interview. Depending on how long it takes you to send back those forms and how far back the embassy is taking appointments, expect to add another couple of months onto the timeline. IF you pass that interview at the consulate, then you get your visa.

My fiance filed our I-129F just over a week ago and I'm not expecting to have a visa before next year... I will feel very lucky if I have it in hand by January.

Here is the link to the K-1 guide which will show you everything you need to submit along with the I-129F petition: K-1 Guide

And here is the K-1 Flowchart which will give you a rough idea of how long every step will take: K-1 Flowchart

[munkeynutts 0]

Ok. I guess there has been some confusion on my part. I should now expect it to be several months until I see my girl again. 'Join the club', I hear you all say! Thanks all.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Ok. I guess there has been some confusion on my part. I should now expect it to be several months until I see my girl again. 'Join the club', I hear you all say! Thanks all.

Now that you get it....GET RID OF THE LAWYER, AND KEEP THE MONEY FOR BETTER THINGS...

[SCFsnoopy 0]

Now that you get it....GET RID OF THE LAWYER, AND KEEP THE MONEY FOR BETTER THINGS...

Haha agreed! Monkey, it all looks overwhelming but so long as you follow the guides closely and keep some common sense there's really no reason why you can't DIY. Take your time, read over the guides, ask any questions you might have - this may just be one of the most important things you do in your life, so please don't be afraid to ask!

Unlike immigration attorneys, the folk here on VJ for the most part have your best interests at heart. We all know what you're going through and we understand the heartache of having to be away from the love of your life and we all dread what could happen if the legalities aren't observed - unlike a lawyer, who doesn't care what happens to you if you do it wrong and will probably charge more than you can afford to fix your mistakes.

Lastly - congratulations on your engagement and welcome to VJ!

[sunshine2 0]

Took 7.5 months from K1 application until I got my visa... Maybe you should plan on a winter/spring wedding 2010?? In fact, I wouldn't plan ANYTHING until you have that visa in your hand! I wish you all the best.

[Lisa and Ian 7]

I agree with the above poster. I am not going to be in the USA (If I pass!) until late 2009. There is no way they can do it in a few weeks. Even with Lawyers.

I love my lawyers to bits and they have sped up the process, but if your lawyers are saying it will take "weeks" I would double check who you are hiring.

I am actually in Bristol too and had my application received on May19th. And they told me I will not hear anything before October.

What about if it's expedited?

[rebeccajo 14]

I agree with the above poster. I am not going to be in the USA (If I pass!) until late 2009. There is no way they can do it in a few weeks. Even with Lawyers.

I love my lawyers to bits and they have sped up the process, but if your lawyers are saying it will take "weeks" I would double check who you are hiring.

I am actually in Bristol too and had my application received on May19th. And they told me I will not hear anything before October.

What about if it's expedited?

Expedited for what reason?

There has to be reason for USCIS to process an expedite.

[HWANG0926 0]

I suppose you could receive your NOA 1 , which is exactly what many VJ friends had mentioned, its just a receipt that your case has been received by the USCIS~ nothing else and now you have a receipt # to refer to your case to. As for NOA2, the actual approval, there has been cases that it was approved within 2 month.... ( i'm very thankful and lucky to have our petition approved within 30 days of NOA1 ). But that is definitely not the normal time frame. I think realistically, NOA 1 to NOA 2 takes around 3-5 month on average.

After that it goes to NVC, that could possibly take another month... then reaching it to the embassy, depending on their workload, it can drag it out for a lot longer. Fortunately for me there is not a lot of cases from S. Korea, Embassy is not backed up... therefore, it was easy to obtain an interview date. But i believe for certain countries, it can take up to 3 months for an interview date that is after submission of packet # 4.

[newlyweds 0]

yes, i do agree with most here you can look at the K-1 flowchart, even the processing time from submitting the petition and getting it approved to the National visa center, it takes time and then u have to set aside a few more weeks for the USEM, medical exam stuff like that; so definitely not 4-6 weeks; even those who got expedited got there visa in hand in a few months time say about 3-4 months more like it i think; but yeah do just check the timelines.

but hey just pray for your whole process that there won't be any probs with the paperwork then it can run smoothly

God bless and i bet you're just so excited too

[Sinergy 3]

You are looking at 6-9 months, if you dont get stuck in AR.

If your case is easy peasy, i would actually say do it on your own, and forget the lawyer

[forestrose 0]

Hi all

I am a British guy intending to marry my beautiful Houstonian fiancee this summer in Texas. Our immigration lawyer has told us that I should expect a K-1 Visa in the post within 4-6 weeks of my fiancee submitting the I-129F. He almost wanted to put money on it! What a great guy he is. Anyway, I was really surprised by this timeframe. We'll wait and see and see how it pans out, but we shall not be complacent! I'll let you know how it goes. Martin. Bristol, England.

hello munkeynutts , I am married to a texan for almost a year now, and my husband got an immigration lawyer to do it for us , and it has been 6 months now and nothing definite yet, hope you dont mind , but i agree with the ohters that it is not that easy though keep your fingers crossed , and good luck .

[nickandkayte 0]

I agree with the above poster. I am not going to be in the USA (If I pass!) until late 2009. There is no way they can do it in a few weeks. Even with Lawyers.

I love my lawyers to bits and they have sped up the process, but if your lawyers are saying it will take "weeks" I would double check who you are hiring.

I am actually in Bristol too and had my application received on May19th. And they told me I will not hear anything before October.

What about if it's expedited?

Expedited for what reason?

There has to be reason for USCIS to process an expedite.

Now you have got me confused... Why would my case me expedited? And just to clarify that means sped up right? It will be my bad luck causing it not to speed up I guarantee.

And what are the USCIS reasons to process and Expedite??

Sorry for all the questions I am new to this and not to good with law (Med student!) so I am having a huge difficulty understanding things... I hired immigration lawyers to help because doing it on my own would be awful, and now I am glad I did ..

[msu17 0]

I agree with the above poster. I am not going to be in the USA (If I pass!) until late 2009. There is no way they can do it in a few weeks. Even with Lawyers.

I love my lawyers to bits and they have sped up the process, but if your lawyers are saying it will take "weeks" I would double check who you are hiring.

I am actually in Bristol too and had my application received on May19th. And they told me I will not hear anything before October.

What about if it's expedited?

Expedited for what reason?

There has to be reason for USCIS to process an expedite.

Now you have got me confused... Why would my case me expedited? And just to clarify that means sped up right? It will be my bad luck causing it not to speed up I guarantee.

And what are the USCIS reasons to process and Expedite??

Sorry for all the questions I am new to this and not to good with law (Med student!) so I am having a huge difficulty understanding things... I hired immigration lawyers to help because doing it on my own would be awful, and now I am glad I did ..

Don't be confused, I think they were just saying that the only way it could be faster was if it was expedited, but that is really hard to get. Usually reserved for military personnel who are put on active duty, so you didn't miss anything. I'm in med school too, but luckily we did all this before I started. No idea how you are doing it while in school! Yuck!