Administrative Processing Time for K-1

[penny065 1]

Just wondering what other people have experienced in terms of administrative processing times for the K-1 visa. My fiance had the K-1 interview in early December 2019 at the embassy in Burkina Faso and we were instructed to fill out the DS-5535. We haven't heard anything and it's been 7 months and now I don't think I will be able to even visit him any time soon given the pandemic. 

[AandH 26]

We’ve been in the same boat since October of 2019 as well... has your case changed to nonimmigrant?

 

[pooj97 89]

Was administrative processing because of the DS-5535 or another reason?

[penny065 1]

20 hours ago, AandH said:

 

No it hasn't. Is this a step that occurs? Does it just change in the portal?

[penny065 1]

3 hours ago, pooj97 said:

Was administrative processing because of the DS-5535 or another reason?

At the interview he was given a piece of paper saying that his case required further administrative processing and then was asked to fill out the DS-5535. We submitted the DS-5535 about 2 days later and they confirmed receipt, however no other information was provided since.

20 hours ago, AandH said:

We’ve been in the same boat since October of 2019 as well... has your case changed to nonimmigrant?

 

No it hasn't. Is this a step that occurs? Does it just change in the portal?

[AandH 26]

1 hour ago, z065 said:

At the interview he was given a piece of paper saying that his case required further administrative processing and then was asked to fill out the DS-5535. We submitted the DS-5535 about 2 days later and they confirmed receipt, however no other information was provided since.

No it hasn't. Is this a step that occurs? Does it just change in the portal?

So k1 is a nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent. So it starts off processing at the immigrant department and then passes to  nonimmigrant department for final processing. 

[penny065 1]

2 hours ago, AandH said:

So k1 is a nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent. So it starts off processing at the immigrant department and then passes to  nonimmigrant department for final processing. 

Thanks for this! I knew it is technically a nonimmigrant visa that is treated like immigrant, however I didn't know it finally changes to nonimmigrant for final processing. What a confusing process! Is this reflected somehow in the portal or how does one know if it has changed departments? 

[AandH 26]

19 hours ago, z065 said:

Thanks for this! I knew it is technically a nonimmigrant visa that is treated like immigrant, however I didn't know it finally changes to nonimmigrant for final processing. What a confusing process! Is this reflected somehow in the portal or how does one know if it has changed departments? 

Yes. Our interview was in October and it changed to nonimmigrant in December  

unfortunately due to the pandemic I am still waiting ☹️
 

also it automatically changes on CEAC. Once it changes. Even if you check your status under immigrant it will show nonimmigrant on the top if it has changed 

[penny065 1]

50 minutes ago, AandH said:

Yes. Our interview was in October and it changed to nonimmigrant in December  

unfortunately due to the pandemic I am still waiting ☹️
 

also it automatically changes on CEAC. Once it changes. Even if you check your status under immigrant it will show nonimmigrant on the top if it has changed 

Thanks for the info and best of luck to you!! Ours is still in "immigrant" status  

[penny065 1]

UPDATE: After multiple emails to the Embassy over the past few months, the consular chief responded back to my lawyer and pinpointed the issue. The interview was fine, no issue with the proof of our relationship, however they said they were still waiting to receive our DS-5535 form which we submitted it 2 days after the interview. When we emailed, we received an automatic reply email so I know that the email did go through. This means that nothing has been done for nearly 8 months due to waiting on a "missing" document that was actually in their possession.

 

I'm thrilled to have received some news but livid that, despite reaching out numerous times, we received the same generic "your case is still in admin processing" response without mention of the "missing" document. 😫

 

 

 

[AandH 26]

8 hours ago, z065 said:

UPDATE: After multiple emails to the Embassy over the past few months, the consular chief responded back to my lawyer and pinpointed the issue. The interview was fine, no issue with the proof of our relationship, however they said they were still waiting to receive our DS-5535 form which we submitted it 2 days after the interview. When we emailed, we received an automatic reply email so I know that the email did go through. This means that nothing has been done for nearly 8 months due to waiting on a "missing" document that was actually in their possession.

 

I'm thrilled to have received some news but livid that, despite reaching out numerous times, we received the same generic "your case is still in admin processing" response without mention of the "missing" document. 😫

 

 

 

Ugh I’m so sorry!! This is truly a mess!! 
I hope your case is finally on the move to better news. We are still waiting! 

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.