When should we apply?

[brian89 2]

Dear all,

In 4 weeks I will be heading towards the US to stay with my girl for 2 months.

After all goes well we will get engaged during that trip.

I am a current student here in Holland and will be done with school in the summer of 2011 (hopefully!!)

Our goal is when im done with school that I will have my K1 in hand and would be travelling towards the US to get married.

Now my question is, when should we apply for the K1 visa. Should we do that this summer or wait a lil later (during Christmas) so we have more breathing space for me to finish school.

Why Im wondering is that I hear many stories that some have there visa within 5 months and others are waiting for over a year.

So if its takes a year when we apply this summer then it wouldnt be a problem and when it takes a year when we apply during Christmas it would.

Thanks for your help!

[Indy90 21]

Dear all,

In 4 weeks I will be heading towards the US to stay with my girl for 2 months.

After all goes well we will get engaged during that trip.

I am a current student here in Holland and will be done with school in the summer of 2011 (hopefully!!)

Our goal is when im done with school that I will have my K1 in hand and would be travelling towards the US to get married.

Now my question is, when should we apply for the K1 visa. Should we do that this summer or wait a lil later (during Christmas) so we have more breathing space for me to finish school.

Why Im wondering is that I hear many stories that some have there visa within 5 months and others are waiting for over a year.

So if its takes a year when we apply this summer then it wouldnt be a problem and when it takes a year when we apply during Christmas it would.

Thanks for your help!

Apply now, in case something goes wrong and the process takes longer than expected...really, it is best to plan on the process taking almost a year, knowing that a lot of people get approved in 5-7 months. If you guys get approved quickly, you do not have to come right away. I believe that you have 6 months from the issuing of the visa to actually enter the United States, giving plenty of time to finish your studies if the visa is issued in January.

The downside, I believe, is that you would not be able to make a quick visit to the United States and return to your home country until you have the green card, once the visa has been issued. Please correct me anyone if I am wrong about this.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Indy90

[Darnell 8,478]

I'd say apply 2 months after you return to Holland. But that's just a 'shot from the hip'.

[brian89 2]

I'd say apply 2 months after you return to Holland. But that's just a 'shot from the hip'.

Apply in October? We kinna wanna fill it out 'together', so when im there in the summer of December.

[Indy90 21]

Apply in October? We kinna wanna fill it out 'together', so when im there in the summer of December.

Again, if you want to be together in the US next summer, file now while you are together (maybe wait until late July or early August). If your visa is issued earlier than you intend to move, you can wait up to six months before entering. Get it ready to send now, send it before you go back to Holland and if it is issued in January or February just you won't have to move to the US for six months. If you wait until December, you run the risk of something going wrong (lots of requests for evidence, mistakes, etc.) which may decrease the likelihood of being together next summer.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Indy90

[brian89 2]

Anyone else got a thought on this?

[Bernie C 24]

Hi Brian!

I would take some time while you are together this summer to prepare the I-129F petition (which your fiancee will submit to the USCIS). No problem with her submitting it while you are here visiting.

The petition approval "averages" around 3 months (can be shorter or longer - no way to know). (I hate averages by the way - can be very misleading!).

After petition approval you are looking at another 3 months (average again ugh) till interview.

After visa approval at interview you have 6 months to enter the US.

If you use the 6 month time frame to enter the US after visa approval, you are looking at (on average ugh) 11-13 months from petition submittal till the time you would have to enter the US. That would out you dead into "next summer" time frame.

If you got you I129f petition approval a bit quick you could always delay sending in the packet 3 info by a month too. Just watch and be cognitive of the dates.

Remember this is all based on averages (ugh again). There are no gaurantees on timing, things can go awry and be very frustrating. If you get RFE's there will be delays. Even without RFE's there can be delays. It is rare that things happen "quickly" but it does happen from time to time.

In our case, we were almost 6 months to the day from the submittal of my petition to the day of her interview. It took another month to get the visa due to a screw up at the consulate.

Do some thinking and discuss with your finacee(soon to be that is). Come back with any further questions. Remember, this is not only your visa journey but a journey you are undertaking to be with your loved one forever. Do lots of reading and understand what to expect.

Best Wishes

Also - when your together is a good time to complete your G325A, Letter if Intent and get some passport style photos too. Save you some change in mailing them back after you return home.

[brian89 2]

Thank you so much Bernie C!