Total I-129F & K-1 processing time too short?

[cactuscake 0]

Tried hunting for this already and I'm not having much luck. My situation is that my fiancee (USC) and I sent our I-129F packet to the California Service Center about 2 weeks ago, on the assumption that everything should be ready for us to get married in the US in mid-late August next year. However, to accommodate wedding guests from outside of the US (give them more time to save up for airfares, hotels, etc) it made sense to postpone the wedding... May 2011 being the next best date.

This would put our planned ceremony 22 months after the initial filing, which is probably longer than it will take to be issued a visa and maybe so long that any visa issued would expire too soon. In the mean time, I plan to visit a few times on the VWP, which I understand is pretty trouble free as long as I can prove intent to return to the UK.

Soooo, my questions are:

1. which part of the process is easiest or most sensible to extend/postpone (NOA2, visa interview, visa issuance, visa validity dates, etc.)?

2. is it possible to continue visiting the US on VWP after the k-1 is in your passport (i.e. just not using that page) during the early part of its 6 month validity period?

Many thanks.

[Otto 83]

1. which part of the process is easiest or most sensible to extend/postpone (NOA2, visa interview, visa issuance, visa validity dates, etc.)?

Probably best place/time to extend the process would be when the approved petition reaches the Embassy/Consulate (either by asking for a late interview date or possibly asking for a delay in visa issuance once the visa is approved).

2. is it possible to continue visiting the US on VWP after the k-1 is in your passport (i.e. just not using that page) during the early part of its 6 month validity period?

The only folks I've seen/read were able to do this were from Canada - in most other cases the Visa holder doesn't get the option of using the visa or not - the CBP will likely automatically 'activate' the visa upon first entry.

[PeruvyandGringa 25]

Why not do what many of us are doing? 2! One quick courthouse ceremony, and then plan a larger more traditional wedding later (that you can take the time and plan together).

[brlukath 1]

Also, once the visa is issued, you do not have to use it right away. You can't enter on the VWP with it in your passport, but it is not like you have to leave for the US the next day, so just delay your coming to the US on the visa as long as possible. This is a good option for consulates that frown on delaying the interview. In any event, if you have a "normal" timeframe, it will be hard to make the process last 22 months.

[John and Camie 39]

Why not do what many of us are doing? 2! One quick courthouse ceremony, and then plan a larger more traditional wedding later (that you can take the time and plan together).

This is what we did. We figured the stress of K-1 and now AOS would be enough without throwing in elaborate wedding plans. Can't wait to get the GC so we can plan our larger 'do in England.

[cactuscake 0]

Thanks for the responses Doing 2 ceremonies sounds like a pretty good idea, not very traditional though, I'll have to see what my fiancee thinks about that...

Just thought of another question re: visa dates - do you have to be married within the validity of the visa, or could you arrive on the last day of its validity and get married 89 days after the K-1 expired? I'm not suggesting I would cut it that fine, just curious.

[Sam and Ben 2]

Thanks for the responses Doing 2 ceremonies sounds like a pretty good idea, not very traditional though, I'll have to see what my fiancee thinks about that...

Just thought of another question re: visa dates - do you have to be married within the validity of the visa, or could you arrive on the last day of its validity and get married 89 days after the K-1 expired? I'm not suggesting I would cut it that fine, just curious.

AoS should be filed within that period of time, so you wouldn't want to wait until the last possible day.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Tried hunting for this already and I'm not having much luck. My situation is that my fiancee (USC) and I sent our I-129F packet to the California Service Center about 2 weeks ago, on the assumption that everything should be ready for us to get married in the US in mid-late August next year. However, to accommodate wedding guests from outside of the US (give them more time to save up for airfares, hotels, etc) it made sense to postpone the wedding... May 2011 being the next best date.

This would put our planned ceremony 22 months after the initial filing, which is probably longer than it will take to be issued a visa and maybe so long that any visa issued would expire too soon. In the mean time, I plan to visit a few times on the VWP, which I understand is pretty trouble free as long as I can prove intent to return to the UK.

Soooo, my questions are:

1. which part of the process is easiest or most sensible to extend/postpone (NOA2, visa interview, visa issuance, visa validity dates, etc.)?

2. is it possible to continue visiting the US on VWP after the k-1 is in your passport (i.e. just not using that page) during the early part of its 6 month validity period?

Many thanks.

When the approved petition gets to the consulate you can ask for extensions on the original 4 month validity. This is at the consulates disgression but most will extend it up to 1 year if requested. The visa itself, once issued, is valid for 6 months (you must enter the US within 6 months) and then of course, you have 90 days to get married from when you enter the US.

So given a 6 month (average) processing time plus 4 months initial validity, plus 6 months visa valisity plus 3 months for marriage, you are already at 19 months without any delays, but using ALL of you allowed time. One or, at most, two petition extensions at the consulate should do you nicely and I would think would be possible to get approved.

[thepizzadude 26]

Tried hunting for this already and I'm not having much luck. My situation is that my fiancee (USC) and I sent our I-129F packet to the California Service Center about 2 weeks ago, on the assumption that everything should be ready for us to get married in the US in mid-late August next year. However, to accommodate wedding guests from outside of the US (give them more time to save up for airfares, hotels, etc) it made sense to postpone the wedding... May 2011 being the next best date.

This would put our planned ceremony 22 months after the initial filing, which is probably longer than it will take to be issued a visa and maybe so long that any visa issued would expire too soon. In the mean time, I plan to visit a few times on the VWP, which I understand is pretty trouble free as long as I can prove intent to return to the UK.

Soooo, my questions are:

1. which part of the process is easiest or most sensible to extend/postpone (NOA2, visa interview, visa issuance, visa validity dates, etc.)?

2. is it possible to continue visiting the US on VWP after the k-1 is in your passport (i.e. just not using that page) during the early part of its 6 month validity period?

Many thanks.

When the approved petition gets to the consulate you can ask for extensions on the original 4 month validity. This is at the consulates disgression but most will extend it up to 1 year if requested. The visa itself, once issued, is valid for 6 months (you must enter the US within 6 months) and then of course, you have 90 days to get married from when you enter the US.

So given a 6 month (average) processing time plus 4 months initial validity, plus 6 months visa valisity plus 3 months for marriage, you are already at 19 months without any delays, but using ALL of you allowed time. One or, at most, two petition extensions at the consulate should do you nicely and I would think would be possible to get approved.

:thumbs:

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks for the responses Doing 2 ceremonies sounds like a pretty good idea, not very traditional though, I'll have to see what my fiancee thinks about that...

Just thought of another question re: visa dates - do you have to be married within the validity of the visa, or could you arrive on the last day of its validity and get married 89 days after the K-1 expired? I'm not suggesting I would cut it that fine, just curious.

Yes, you could. It is best if the AOS is also filed before the 90 days but there is no penalty if it is a little late. You will be "out of status" until you file. Provided you get the marrige certificate quickly (arrange that before the wedding) you can file very quickly after getting married. Just get everything ready and prepared, then just add the marriage certificate and send it off.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks for the responses Doing 2 ceremonies sounds like a pretty good idea, not very traditional though, I'll have to see what my fiancee thinks about that...

Just thought of another question re: visa dates - do you have to be married within the validity of the visa, or could you arrive on the last day of its validity and get married 89 days after the K-1 expired? I'm not suggesting I would cut it that fine, just curious.

There is nothing traditional about a K-1 anyway.

[cactuscake 0]

Why not do what many of us are doing? 2! One quick courthouse ceremony, and then plan a larger more traditional wedding later (that you can take the time and plan together).

Talked it over and we think this is a great idea. The time between the ceremonies would even be long enough to get advance parole for a honeymoon abroad! My day has just been made

[Otto 83]

There is nothing traditional about a K-1 anyway.

...aint that the truth..

[PeruvyandGringa 25]

Thanks for the responses Doing 2 ceremonies sounds like a pretty good idea, not very traditional though, I'll have to see what my fiancee thinks about that...

Just thought of another question re: visa dates - do you have to be married within the validity of the visa, or could you arrive on the last day of its validity and get married 89 days after the K-1 expired? I'm not suggesting I would cut it that fine, just curious.

There is nothing traditional about a K-1 anyway.

That was my thought exactly! I have 'embraced' that nothing will be traditional, but all a part of our story

[Ellie-and-David 38]

Why not do what many of us are doing? 2! One quick courthouse ceremony, and then plan a larger more traditional wedding later (that you can take the time and plan together).

Talked it over and we think this is a great idea. The time between the ceremonies would even be long enough to get advance parole for a honeymoon abroad! My day has just been made

Woo hoo! A happy customer....always nice to see.

Glad you managed to work it out

Best of luck to you both.