A few questions about the K1 - please help!

[Steve & Rema 4]

My fiance applied for a k-1 for me that was received by the Department of Homeland Security on December 12, 2011. We received a Notice of Action (I-797C) on December 14, 2011. It basically said to check if his information is correct, and if not then to notify them if there are any changes. Since there were no changes, we just left it at that and didn't do any notifying since there were no further instructions.

We haven't heard back from them as of yet, and my stay in the US ends at the end of April, in which case I must return back to Canada due to the 6 month limit. I am starting to stress out a bit since I am leaving soon, and am wondering what I can do to prepare for any requests they may have. I know i'll need a police records check, should I get that ahead of time? Can I apply for one while I'm here in the States? What else can we do to be prepared? Any letters that need to be written? Also, is it possible for me to extend my stay here? Or does that require an important reason, and will that affect my k-1 in anyway?

Does it usually take this long to get the first approval? I called today to check the status again, and it's still in process. Is it normal for this process to take this long?

Thank you in advance for any help. This whole process is such a dragged out wait, and soon I will have to leave and we'll be doing the wait alone and far apart.. very eager to start our life together officially so we no longer have to part ways not knowing when we'll see each other again..

Edited March 13, 2012 by Rema

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Welcome to the forum as well as part of the club of being apart from your fiancé during this process.

Your interview will happen in Canada, so you will have to go back home for that. As far as the documents to prepare, please read the guide starting at "What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2)": http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

On timing, you're within the timeframe, so there's more waiting. Fill in your timeline and you'll see an estimate on when your case will be adjudicated. Good luck!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My fiance applied for a k-1 for me that was received by the Department of Homeland Security on December 12, 2011. We received a Notice of Action (I-797C) on December 14, 2011. It basically said to check if his information is correct, and if not then to notify them if there are any changes. Since there were no changes, we just left it at that and didn't do any notifying since there were no further instructions.

We haven't heard back from them as of yet, and my stay in the US ends at the end of April, in which case I must return back to Canada due to the 6 month limit. I am starting to stress out a bit since I am leaving soon, and am wondering what I can do to prepare for any requests they may have. I know i'll need a police records check, should I get that ahead of time? Can I apply for one while I'm here in the States? What else can we do to be prepared? Any letters that need to be written? Also, is it possible for me to extend my stay here? Or does that require an important reason, and will that affect my k-1 in anyway?

Does it usually take this long to get the first approval? I called today to check the status again, and it's still in process. Is it normal for this process to take this long?

Thank you in advance for any help. This whole process is such a dragged out wait, and soon I will have to leave and we'll be doing the wait alone and far apart.. very eager to start our life together officially so we no longer have to part ways not knowing when we'll see each other again..

You will be going back to Canada. When you see each other again is up to you and no one else. You can visit if you want and he can go to Canada. It is like going to Wisconsin but closer. No worries. We do it all the time. During our process I visited Alla in Ukraine 6 times, about every 3-4 weeks for 3 days to 1 week each time. Because she was a dirtball Ukrainiette that cannot get a tourist visa due to their undesireable status in the USA, unlike nice and good Canadians that can visit anytime they want without a visa, I had to go there to see her. Better that than have her try for a tourist visa and get treated like a poisonous reptile, but we did not let anyone else tell us when we could visit each other.

Your fiance filed a petition, he did not apply for a K-1 visa. The petition is asking permission to apply for a visa. YOU will do that after the petition is approved and you will do it in either Vancouver or Montreal, depending on where you live in Canada, you have no choice in the matter. Ontario and east applies in Montreal, Manitoba and west applies in Vancouver. You will get your police certificate and other documents in Canada

As suggested, read the guides. Expect 5-6 months for the petition process followed by the NVC process, and then the consualte process. I do not know what the lead times for interviews are at the consulates in Canada. Their website can tell you, and it does change. Whatever it says now will change before you fgo for your interview. Expect 7-9 months total time for visa issuance. Plan to see your fiance when you want and make it so!

Good luck