K1 visa

[tk15 0]

Hello all,

I applied form 129F for my fiance back in February of this year. I was initially told that the process would take 4-6 for completion. Well, we are still waiting for the Decision to be processed so that 4-6 month window is definitely not valid and this has caused us to delay our wedding plans from this year to next year, primary because of all the planning that has to be done because its an ethnic wedding. Now my question is that, is it possibly for my fiance to visit the US while the paperwork is in process? She is a citizen of Germany and per the travel rules into the US, Germany participate in the Visa Waiver Program, so no visa is required. I just don't want her to visit and at the airport any problems are given since our paperwork is pending. Any thoughts, recommendations are most helpful.

Thanks in advance,

TK

[C&Q 25]

I visited my fiance as well and didn't have any problems. She might want to take binding ties with her in case the Immigration Officer wants to see them but most of the time they don't even ask for any ties.

[Neetz 7]

Hello all,

I applied form 129F for my fiance back in February of this year. I was initially told that the process would take 4-6 for completion. Well, we are still waiting for the Decision to be processed so that 4-6 month window is definitely not valid and this has caused us to delay our wedding plans from this year to next year, primary because of all the planning that has to be done because its an ethnic wedding. Now my question is that, is it possibly for my fiance to visit the US while the paperwork is in process? She is a citizen of Germany and per the travel rules into the US, Germany participate in the Visa Waiver Program, so no visa is required. I just don't want her to visit and at the airport any problems are given since our paperwork is pending. Any thoughts, recommendations are most helpful.

Thanks in advance,

TK

Hey TK.

Well 1st you are still well inside normal processing times, the average for VSC is 5 months, however it seems that VSC are on a go slow at the moment. Most of the couples who filed in Jan are still waiting to hear anything and lots of them are now over 5mths. Your VJ timeline estimates between June 21 and July 1 for your NOA2, it could take longer now if VSC is so far behind. It is all a waiting game and requires all the patience you can muster!!. So hang in there and keep an eye on updates from the Jan filers.

Regarding the VWP and visiting the USA, i did it in March( from Ireland) with no issues and we filed our 129f in Jan. I guess it may be different for each person or each country but as long as your fiancee can show ties to Germany(letter from work, rent agreement etc) and that she will return then all should be ok, it is possible that they may ask a few more questions at the POE. I did not get asked anything other than the normal, how long was i staying, business or pleasure and what was my return date. Tip....check and see if there is a sub forum here for Feb filers and check they Germany portal for info.....Good Luck!

[Givn2fly 2]

I also visited my fiancé in the States shortly after we had received NOA1. I had read some horror stories about people being denied entrance, so I had a letter from my employer with me that said that I am expected back after my trip, as well as a letter by my landlord, stating that I am renting my apartment. Make sure she has some of those binding ties with her, and everything should be fine. In my case, they didn't want to see any of them, and also only asked the regular questions, but I felt better having them with me.

Edited June 3, 2012 by Givn2fly

[sonineni 8]

Iam in the same situation like ur fiance...

U can visit my post "can i visit USA again"

So that u can get some information..

[jaycali 415]

I've visited my wife three times on the VWP since we got married. Never got questioned beyond usual.

[tk15 0]

Thank you all that have replied. This is great information.

I do have a question for member C&Q, I see in your timeline that you got in touch with your congresswomen, how did you go about doing this to help move your case move faster?

Thanks,

TK

[tk15 0]

Iam in the same situation like ur fiance...

U can visit my post "can i visit USA again"

So that u can get some information..

Thanks for sharing, your topic was also helpful!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thank you all that have replied. This is great information.

I do have a question for member C&Q, I see in your timeline that you got in touch with your congresswomen, how did you go about doing this to help move your case move faster?

Thanks,

TK

I agree that the ability to visit probably depends on the country of origin. I met my Ukrainian wife here in the US, and when she went back to Ukraine, it was pretty clear that she would not be able to visit here until her K-1 worked its way through the process. If the country of origin is in the EU, visits never seem to be a problem, based on what I read here. I think normal care when entering is still a good idea, meaning that the visitor should be clear that they are a tourist visiting friends, and does not appear to be doing an end run around the K visa process.

We also reached a point where I called my Congressman. Each office has an aide that handles immigration issues. The aide was very friendly and well informed, but couldn't get involved until the petition was beyond the published USCIS timeline for a K-1. After that, they were able to get answers pretty quickly.

[Tinchen_ 21]

hi TK... it shouldnt be a problem at all that she visits you. i visited my husband , then fiance, all the time. even spend full 90days with him. just make sure that she shows her return ticket and has to answer some questions, like why she is visiting you and what profession she does back in germany, where she works and that.

and with ur process time its totally normal to wait 5-6 months to get the NOA2. good luck in your process

[rocks 494]

I applied form 129F for my fiance back in February of this year. I was initially told that the process would take 4-6 for completion.

So far you have been waiting 3 months and 21 days. You should use your NOA1 date as the start date. The process takes 5-6 months and that does not include the medical and interview stage which will add additional months to the 5-6 month estimate. You should become familiar with the K-1 Flowchart so that you can see all of the stages involved in the K-1 process.

[tk15 0]

So far you have been waiting 3 months and 21 days. You should use your NOA1 date as the start date. The process takes 5-6 months and that does not include the medical and interview stage which will add additional months to the 5-6 month estimate. You should become familiar with the K-1 Flowchart so that you can see all of the stages involved in the K-1 process.

Thanks again for everyone who has kindly responded, you all have been most helpful.

@rocks, yes you are correct that with our waiting time, but as I had mentioned we were originally told 4-6 months, come to find out that the whole process is going to take much longer then stated, hence we moved out marriage date back. I just wanted to make sure since we have moved things back, that my fiance could visit if possible being that she has citizenship in Germany while the process is still in progress. I do appreciate your response and the link with the k-1 process. I am absorbing all this information as I just came across this site over the weekend, with lots of information and great resources from its members.

Thanks,

TK

[rocks 494]

Thanks again for everyone who has kindly responded, you all have been most helpful.

@rocks, yes you are correct that with our waiting time, but as I had mentioned we were originally told 4-6 months, come to find out that the whole process is going to take much longer then stated, hence we moved out marriage date back. I just wanted to make sure since we have moved things back, that my fiance could visit if possible being that she has citizenship in Germany while the process is still in progress. I do appreciate your response and the link with the k-1 process. I am absorbing all this information as I just came across this site over the weekend, with lots of information and great resources from its members.

Thanks,

TK

It is a lot of information to absorb! You should be fine with her visiting you during the process. Good luck on your journey.

[bigdog 377]

The process is slow, expensive and trying at best, hang in there.