the whole process

[leith@Ievgeniia 8]

me and my friend are starting to look at the process of the k1 visa... and seeing it takes up to 2 years. is this true? and does using a lawyer help with the process? and last we are trying to get a b2 visa for her to visit me. can she use the b2 visa druing the k1 process? or we have to find place to meet and see eachother?

she lives in the ukraine and has be turned down on the first b2 visa due to the interviewer did not wnat to read or look at all supporting paperwork.

is this the same thing that happens in the k1 process??

thanks for any help or info!!

[Otto 83]

• While processing times can vary - it is not typical for a K-1 visa to take two years.
• Using a lawyer does not speed up the process in any way and you should not use this line of thinking to decide if you need one or not.
• Lastly - it is possible to visit the US while the K-1/I-129f petition is being processed. Read more about this topic HERE.

The K-1 Visa Flowchart will give you a very good overview of each step and about how long each one takes.

Edited September 1, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[Nik+Heather 122]

Most people can complete the K1 process start to finish in much less than one year (2 years is extremely abnormal, but not unheard of). The spread for the large majority is 5-10 months. The average is 8 months, but this includes data from consulates which are much harder than yours, or with more of a back log.

Most people on VJ find that a lawyer is not necessary. Completing this process on your own requires diligence, patience, attention to detail and lots of research. If you feel you are lacking, then perhaps you should consider a lawyer. However, here on VJ we are mostly just average working people and managed to do fine without paying lawyer fees. If you have major roadblocks (beneficiary has a ban or overstays, either of you has criminal history, etc) a consultation at minimum would be prudent.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

me and my friend are starting to look at the process of the k1 visa... and seeing it takes up to 2 years. is this true? and does using a lawyer help with the process? and last we are trying to get a b2 visa for her to visit me. can she use the b2 visa druing the k1 process? or we have to find place to meet and see eachother?

she lives in the ukraine and has be turned down on the first b2 visa due to the interviewer did not wnat to read or look at all supporting paperwork.

is this the same thing that happens in the k1 process??

thanks for any help or info!!

Single women from Ukraine find it virtually impossible to get a B2 visa. My wife was denied for one also. It has no affect on a K-1. She can try to get a B2, but do not count on it.

The process may take more than two years IF you count the time for her to get her unconditional green card, BUT she will typically be here in 6-8 months and have a conditional green card about a year from when you file the petition. For us it was 6 months for her arrival and 10 months until she had her conditional green card

[Kathryn41 3,205]

One important thing to remember when applying for a K-1 - you need to have met face to face sometime during the past two years and be able to prove it. So, if you haven't met yet you will have to arrange to do so. It may be difficult if next to impossible to get a visitor's visa to the US, but you should be able to travel to the Ukraine - or the two of you can arrange to meet in a third country to where both of you can go. Keep copies of your boarding passes, hotel receipts, credit card receipts and passport stamps.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

One important thing to remember when applying for a K-1 - you need to have met face to face sometime during the past two years and be able to prove it. So, if you haven't met yet you will have to arrange to do so. It may be difficult if next to impossible to get a visitor's visa to the US, but you should be able to travel to the Ukraine - or the two of you can arrange to meet in a third country to where both of you can go. Keep copies of your boarding passes, hotel receipts, credit card receipts and passport stamps.

Correct. US citizens can travel freely to Ukraine without a visa. Ukraine citizens can travel without visas to any FSU country, and there are a few others where they can obtain visas easily...Czech Republic and Turkey for example

[leith@Ievgeniia 8]

yes we have meet in jamaica in feb for 9 days. it sounds strange that trouest visa for a single woman that has a flat with her mom and is chief of her devision and worked there for 8 years and attending univ for her degree in engineering cannot get a b2 visa...

it sounds like we should try 1 more time for b2 and then go from there.

thanks all and i guess i will keep the money for lawyer and do the papers on our own. keep the money for 2nd trip

see all in the funny papers or crazy ben with all this gov't red tape!!!!

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

yes we have meet in jamaica in feb for 9 days. it sounds strange that trouest visa for a single woman that has a flat with her mom and is chief of her devision and worked there for 8 years and attending univ for her degree in engineering cannot get a b2 visa...

it sounds like we should try 1 more time for b2 and then go from there.

thanks all and i guess i will keep the money for lawyer and do the papers on our own. keep the money for 2nd trip

see all in the funny papers or crazy ben with all this gov't red tape!!!!

Good Idea, I am pretty sure you can fill out the forms yourself without oaying a lawyer $1500-$2000 or more to have the secretary do it for you with all the information and documents YOU provide to them

You can try for another B2 if you want. For what it's worth my wife had a job paying 5 times the national average income, owns TWO flats free and clear, has an elderly mother and 2 sons who would have remained in Ukraine while she visited the US. She was turned down flatly and rudely. She was terrified to go to the K-1 interview which is nothing like applying for a B2, don't worry about it.

[Sinergy 3]

The K1 process all depends on your case and the processing times....Good Luck! The wait is painful but worth it.

[sara..... 371]

we are the abnormal length of time for k1, there have only been a few of us caught up in a two year nightmare plz dont base ur choices on some of the time lines u see here.

almost everyone that filed the same time as we did have their s/o home they have already filed and received aos and living happily waiting for their three years to be over so they can file for citizenship.

also im seeing that alot of people now are getting their noa2 in less than five months so its a good thing it means they will be finished before even eight months is complete, when i first started out people waited about seven to eight months for noa2.

good luck in what ever choice u make

sara

[Brad and Vika 129]

Shouldn't take anywhere near two years. I understand that once a visa is denied, the record of denial goes into the consular database (and I think maybe a stamp in the passport?), and the previous denial also needs to be overcome before the same type of visa is granted. We never tried for other visa types, but it sounds like a second b2 attempt isn't worth the effort.