Fiancée vs Spouse Visa at VSC

[cchhat01 14]

Hi All,

Firstly I am about to rant (yes, its still an early phase in my fiancee's K1 Visa journey but still i need to vent).

I find this to be a bit pathetic.

At some point back starting November 2010, the processing time at the VSC started rising for K1 visa process.

The way it stands, looking at the stats page on VJ, the I-130 Petition has a lower average waiting period between NOA1 and NOA2 (146) days as opposed to the K1 waiting period for NOA1 - NOA2 (169 days, and potentially rising). I understand that each case is different, and everyone files their application in different ways. Some send just the bare minimum, some send the whole she-bang of proofs galore.

I think this timeline really hurts those who want to file the K1 petition thinking that they can be with their fiancé(e) faster if they considered the K1. I am one of those.

If by any means, the time spent at the embassy/consulate (post-approval) makes any difference, and they do give a preference to K1s as opposed to spouse visas, this difference of one month (waiting period over at the embassy) is made up for by the difference in processing time at the USCIS. Ultimately, one ends up having to wait the same amount of time (judging by current stats).

Note this only applies to VSC. If you're at the CSC, you are fine. Infact you are better than fine.

Not to mention that upon being issued a K1, the foreign fiancé(e) still needs to file for AOS, which is a whopping $1070. On top of this, the fiancee can not legally work anywhere either. With the I-130, he/she can start working the same day they arrive. I wish had looked at the timeline stats in a bit more detail.

I miss her too much to be away from her for such a long time. It just boggles my mind. I just hope that the stats start improving and that the VSC turns it around otherwise the entire reason behind the K1 visa is lost.

Sigh...

end of rant.

Chirag

[dmd.net 0]

Absolutely correct. I got my NOA2 today (only took 191 days:). If I knew ahead of time that it would take this long, I would've moved abroad, got married, and done a I-130 DCF . It really hurts to be apart this long. VSC has picked up big time though so yours probably won't take as long.

[cchhat01 14]

Absolutely correct. I got my NOA2 today (only took 191 days:). If I knew ahead of time that it would take this long, I would've moved abroad, got married, and done a I-130 DCF . It really hurts to be apart this long. VSC has picked up big time though so yours probably won't take as long.

I apologize if the above sounds like Im all hopeless because Im truly not. I just felt a bit let down, and Im sure several other VJers are also feeling this, probably more than I do. I just hope your part about VSC having picked up does continue for a period of time. I really really hope so.... keeping fingers crossed.

thx

chigs