First time k1 advice please

[todos 4]

Hi all,

My fiancè and I are starting the K1 process and are completly new to this.

I am from Italy and she is from NY, would someone be able to tell us about the current timeline of the process. We have spoken to lawyers and they said since there is a

delay in the gov't it could take up to 10-12 months rather then 5 months. We would like to hear from someone's

personal experience regarding the timeline. Also, is there any way to speedy up the process?

Does anyone reccomend to do this process by ourself or better with a lawyer.

.. Recently I got denied twice for a J1 trainee visa- would that stop me from being able to get a B1 to go visit my fiancè?

Thank you!

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Hi all,

My fiancè and I are starting the K1 process and are completly new to this.

I am from Italy and she is from NY, would someone be able to tell us about the current timeline of the process. We have spoken to lawyers and they said since there is a

delay in the gov't it could take up to 10-12 months rather then 5 months. We would like to hear from someone's

personal experience regarding the timeline. Also, is there any way to speedy up the process?

Does anyone reccomend to do this process by ourself or better with a lawyer.

.. Recently I got denied twice for a J1 trainee visa- would that stop me from being able to get a B1 to go visit my fiancè?

Thank you!

Hi there,

Currently, processing times is more faster than from past which was around 3-6 months at USCIS stage. I would say many people get an approval around 30 days to 2 months on average for the last 3 months. And no, there is no any other way to speed up the process even with lawyers line up to help you to file.

Based on my experience, My fiance and I did not use lawyer and we got approved in 38 days at USCIS. But, if you think get very complicated case, better to call up a lawyer for helping hand. Most people are here doing by themselves and just use search tools on this website. This is DIY website, very helpful, and a lot people are willing help you.

Just looked up on my K-1 timeline on signature and get better idea how long the process will be. Good luck!

[G&O7 9]

K-1's are actually being processed a lot faster now than before form what I've seen throughout this forum. I wouldn't recommend a lawyer because assembling everything is fairly easy. Save your money and look around this forum for guidelines....it's extremely helpful!

[HK12 273]

There is a list on here called Igor's List, where you can check other people's timelines. Here's the timeline for the Vermont Service Center, where I think you may end up at : http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?form=1&visa=1&scenter=2&option=2&sortby=2 You're lucky processing times are pretty fast right now. They can always change though when the focus of USCIS shifts to other petition types.

You can only try to speed up the process if you have a valid reason for an expedite (basically an extreme hardship). It is hard to qualify for one though.

I would only recommend a lawyer if you have red flags. Otherwise, save the money and do it yourself. Lawyers cannot speed up the process or anything; in fact, we get posts on here almost every week by people whose lawyers have messed up the process.

Good luck!

Edited December 22, 2013 by HK12

[todos 4]

Great! So happy to see that you have got approved, this info was so helpful. We want to do the process by ourself.. But do you think we would need a lawyer because I was denied twice for a J1 trainee program in the US? I never overstayed my visits and have clean records.

[Ning 619]

K-1's are actually being processed a lot faster now than before form what I've seen throughout this forum. I wouldn't recommend a lawyer because assembling everything is fairly easy. Save your money and look around this forum for guidelines....it's extremely helpful!

The lawyer simply becomes a filter for the info which has to be assembled anyway. This means it probably takes even longer when using a lawyer.

The O P s previous denials shouldn't affect the outcome of the K 1.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Ning

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Great! So happy to see that you have got approved, this info was so helpful. We want to do the process by ourself.. But do you think we would need a lawyer because I was denied twice for a J1 trainee program in the US? I never overstayed my visits and have clean records.

No, it would not going to affect your K-1 visa unless you did misrepresentation prior visas that you applied before. Many people got denied on different visas but got approved for K-1 visa. You should be okay with all denials.

[todos 4]

Thank you! Yes, we are for sure going to try it on our own

[todos 4]

I was reading that for proof to show 2-5 photos, can we show more photos.. Would it help??

[Girl from Celebes 588]

I was reading that for proof to show 2-5 photos, can we show more photos.. Would it help??

You can ensembled pictures as many as you want into your I-129F package. We sent 15 photos and we did not get any RFE's for any forms or proofs that we submitted for I-129F package.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Girl from Celebes

[todos 4]

What does RFE exactly stand for? Some sort if refusal?

[mtcmk1 37]

What does RFE exactly stand for? Some sort if refusal?

RFE is Request for Evidence. It is your chance to provide more evidence to improve your case--the USCIS specifies the proof they want, but you can always use that opportunity to send more proof that you think will help improve your case.

It is not a refusal but can trigger one, if you fail to respond or to send the correct papers needed.

[todos 4]

Okay great! Sorry, were not used to the website yet .. Where can we see cover letter examples and or I-129 examples?

Thank you for all your answers, really helpful!

[todos 4]

Besides photos and traveling tickets, what other proof should we show?

[G&O7 9]

This website has everything ....i used this for help: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

You can send your facebook/email/skype conversations...letters, post office receipts if you send anything to each other....phone bills showing numbers of both of you communicating.....