Submitting K1 When Foreign Fiance doesn't have Passport yet

[KozmicBlues 592]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and have gotten a huge amount of help from this site!! I have almost everything ready to submit, but we're just waiting on my fiance to get his passport issued. I noticed that there technically isn't any requirement for his passport information on the I-129F or any other parts of the the packet so I began wondering if I can submit before he gets his passport. I'm getting super anxious and want to file ASAP because I know we are in for a long waiting period, but it could be another few weeks before he gets his passport. He lives in India and is waiting on an ID document before he can get his passport which is then a fairly quick process (1-3 days using the escalated option). 

 

My question is, would it be okay for me to send in the I-129F packet before he has his passport? Will his passport even be relevant prior to it reaching the embassy in India or his interview? Or does anyone know if there's a part of the process at the beginning stages that includes USCIS looking up details of my fiance and would it be a red flag if he doesn't have his passport by then? Everything else about our application seems to be textbook based on what I've read so I don't anticipate anything else being an issue (We met online but through work, not dating website/I visited him in person twice/tons of evidence of our meeting and ongoing relationship/etc.). Has anyone submitted their petition prior to the foreign fiance having a passport without issues? I don't want to risk causing any issues, but I'm also not a fan of sitting here waiting while there's nothing in motion with the USCIS! 

 

Thanks for any advice and help you can provide!

[shayden10 78]

There shouldn't be an issue with sending in the I-129F without a passport. I didn't send any photocopies of my passport or stamps from my passport with the petition when I sent in my petition. However, once it passes through the NVC your fiance will need to have the passport for filling out the DS-160 and to take to the interview. As long as you've applied for it and will receive it soon, you shouldn't have any problems!

[burhan_rethinker 54]

Hi @Traceratops, Congratulations!!. Hope you and your love are together soon. Me and my fiance submitted the I 129F recently and would recommend that you wait until you receive the Passport before you file, unless you are positive that the process would not take more than a month (Waiting time between NOA1 and NOA2 is more than that anyway.. lol). However, nowhere on the form does it ask for the beneficiary Passport number, so you are OK.

 

All the best. May you guys have a smooth journey.

 

 

[shayden10 78]

5 hours ago, burhan_rethinker said:

Me and my fiance submitted the I 129F recently and would recommend that you wait until you receive the Passport before you file, unless you are positive that the process would not take more than a month (Waiting time between NOA1 and NOA2 is more than that anyway..lol).

I don't think their NOA1-2 will take less than a month. Considering if you send it now it would be there next week at this point, if things go well you can expect electronic notification in 4-7 days and hard copy NOA1 in 7-10 days. After the NOAs it will be sent to the NVC then to your embassy, which generally takes a couple weeks. From there the consulate receives it, processes it, and lets you know what information you need to submit. At that point you fill out the ds-160 which requires your passport. I filled that out and sent it off the day my consulate received my package, but many consulates require you wait until you receive a packet 3, or notification of what documents to send and your next steps. This can take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. If your consulate receives your information and you don't yet have a passport, you simply wait until you receive your passport to fill out the ds-160. As long as you're not waiting too long, you'll be fine. The faster you get stuff done, the faster the process will go. I would definitely recommend applying for his passport sooner rather than later though. My K1 process took two and a half months from the time we filed to the consulate receiving our information, and things went smoothly. I think it would definitely be worth it to apply for the K1 while you're waiting for his passport, otherwise you're postponing getting the process started for a document you won't need for two months.

Edited March 16, 2017 by shayden10

[KozmicBlues 592]

8 hours ago, burhan_rethinker said:

Hi @Traceratops, Congratulations!!. Hope you and your love are together soon. Me and my fiance submitted the I 129F recently and would recommend that you wait until you receive the Passport before you file, unless you are positive that the process would not take more than a month (Waiting time between NOA1 and NOA2 is more than that anyway.. lol). However, nowhere on the form does it ask for the beneficiary Passport number, so you are OK.

 

All the best. May you guys have a smooth journey.

 

 

Thank you so much!! I am pretty positive the process won't take more than a month because he's got almost all of the docs he needs already. It will be another week anyway before I can file since he has to mail me the physical docs of what he had to sign and his passport photo so I think we will be okay. Thanks for your comments and all the best to you as well!

[KozmicBlues 592]

18 hours ago, shayden10 said:

There shouldn't be an issue with sending in the I-129F without a passport. I didn't send any photocopies of my passport or stamps from my passport with the petition when I sent in my petition. However, once it passes through the NVC your fiance will need to have the passport for filling out the DS-160 and to take to the interview. As long as you've applied for it and will receive it soon, you shouldn't have any problems!

That's reassuring, thank you so much!! 

[burhan_rethinker 54]

17 hours ago, shayden10 said:

I don't think their NOA1-2 will take less than a month. Considering if you send it now it would be there next week at this point, if things go well you can expect electronic notification in 4-7 days and hard copy NOA1 in 7-10 days. After the NOAs it will be sent to the NVC then to your embassy, which generally takes a couple weeks. From there the consulate receives it, processes it, and lets you know what information you need to submit. At that point you fill out the ds-160 which requires your passport. I filled that out and sent it off the day my consulate received my package, but many consulates require you wait until you receive a packet 3, or notification of what documents to send and your next steps. This can take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. If your consulate receives your information and you don't yet have a passport, you simply wait until you receive your passport to fill out the ds-160. As long as you're not waiting too long, you'll be fine. The faster you get stuff done, the faster the process will go. I would definitely recommend applying for his passport sooner rather than later though. My K1 process took two and a half months from the time we filed to the consulate receiving our information, and things went smoothly. I think it would definitely be worth it to apply for the K1 while you're waiting for his passport, otherwise you're postponing getting the process started for a document you won't need for two months.

India works mysteriously, is why I suggested caution. Your point is valid nonetheless.

[Londonergirl 133]

I have just had my medical. I still haven't showed my passport to anyone.