LeftCoastLady

The Texas Service Center is not the same thing as the Dallas Lockbox. The Lockbox will process your payment and then forward on your petition and supporting materials to the appropriate Service Center -- as already noted, either California or Vermont. Whether you send it to the PO Box or via FedEx/UPS to the street address, it's going to the same place.
You can visit the Timeline link at the top of the page to see the timeline estimates.
If you file a petition for the K-1 Visa and get married before it's in your hand, you will essentially void the visa and will have to start over again with the IR-1/CR-1 visa process. The K-1 is for fiancé(e)s only!

Take some time to search these forums. There have been many others who have done similar ceremonies in their fiancé(e)'s home country and were denied because the officer believed they were already married. Expedited cases are reserved for active military personnel, I seriously doubt they will move up your case because of ill-made plans.
On average, it takes about 6 months to receive approval of the petition for the K-1. Then you have another couple of months for the interview, medical exam, etc, so you're looking at 7-9 months if everything goes smoothly.

The Texas Service Center is not the same thing as the Dallas Lockbox. The Lockbox will process your payment and then forward on your petition and supporting materials to the appropriate Service Center -- as already noted, either California or Vermont. Whether you send it to the PO Box or via FedEx/UPS to the street address, it's going to the same place.
You can visit the Timeline link at the top of the page to see the timeline estimates.
If you file a petition for the K-1 Visa and get married before it's in your hand, you will essentially void the visa and will have to start over again with the IR-1/CR-1 visa process. The K-1 is for fiancé(e)s only!

I do not know why honestly you would say that to someone that they were "negative and condescending" who was trying to help you. May be it was their picture you did not like -I honestly do not know.
I like you happen to be new here and you know when I joined this forum I came here with one intent and one purpose and that was to LEARN.
One can only learn as they submit themselves to the experience and advice of others who have gone before them.
I happen to be on another forum and an expert in another field other than this one that deals with these particular issues but I am a child when it comes to this field and I would be wise to learn all I can from those who can teach me. Perhaps the wise words of Shakespeare and a Chinese Proverb again can direct us appropriately.

"Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find."
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) British poet and playwright.
"A man should choose a friend who is better than himself. There are plenty of acquaintances in the world; but very few real friends."
Chinese proverb

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

The Texas Service Center is not the same thing as the Dallas Lockbox. The Lockbox will process your payment and then forward on your petition and supporting materials to the appropriate Service Center -- as already noted, either California or Vermont. Whether you send it to the PO Box or via FedEx/UPS to the street address, it's going to the same place.
You can visit the Timeline link at the top of the page to see the timeline estimates.
If you file a petition for the K-1 Visa and get married before it's in your hand, you will essentially void the visa and will have to start over again with the IR-1/CR-1 visa process. The K-1 is for fiancé(e)s only!

My finance was approved today!! The process is definitely worth the wait!!

Not to offend anyone, but I'm sure I will.... I can't STAND it when people try to "get around" immigration laws and procedures. I'm sorry, but if "oh, we have a wedding date, and vendors, and people flying out, etc etc etc" could get you an expedite, then EVERYONE would be doing it. UGHHHHH, people, don't plan ANYTHING until visa in hand. Geesh

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

The Texas Service Center is not the same thing as the Dallas Lockbox. The Lockbox will process your payment and then forward on your petition and supporting materials to the appropriate Service Center -- as already noted, either California or Vermont. Whether you send it to the PO Box or via FedEx/UPS to the street address, it's going to the same place.
You can visit the Timeline link at the top of the page to see the timeline estimates.
If you file a petition for the K-1 Visa and get married before it's in your hand, you will essentially void the visa and will have to start over again with the IR-1/CR-1 visa process. The K-1 is for fiancé(e)s only!

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

Take some time to search these forums. There have been many others who have done similar ceremonies in their fiancé(e)'s home country and were denied because the officer believed they were already married. Expedited cases are reserved for active military personnel, I seriously doubt they will move up your case because of ill-made plans.
On average, it takes about 6 months to receive approval of the petition for the K-1. Then you have another couple of months for the interview, medical exam, etc, so you're looking at 7-9 months if everything goes smoothly.

The Texas Service Center is not the same thing as the Dallas Lockbox. The Lockbox will process your payment and then forward on your petition and supporting materials to the appropriate Service Center -- as already noted, either California or Vermont. Whether you send it to the PO Box or via FedEx/UPS to the street address, it's going to the same place.
You can visit the Timeline link at the top of the page to see the timeline estimates.
If you file a petition for the K-1 Visa and get married before it's in your hand, you will essentially void the visa and will have to start over again with the IR-1/CR-1 visa process. The K-1 is for fiancé(e)s only!

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

You got lucky in two ways, but that's a textbook example of "exception, not the rule."

I've been around a long time and know the London K1 process especially well. So a few comments to add the the excellent info you've already been given.
Lockbox
USCIS changed to the Lockbox setup for I-129F petitions to make their process more efficient and more cost effective by doing the preliminary work-up at one site. They had already been using a lockbox in Chicago for Adjustment of Status applications. They have contractors in a separate "lockbox" facility opening the mail. They check for basic documents, correct payment, and signatures. If all is well, they deposit the fee, generate a NOA1 receipt, scan documents into the computer, and reorganize your papers into a specific order/file for USCIS processing. Then it goes to a USCIS Service Center and waits until the day a USCIS adjudicator will review it.
I think many of the timelines of processing at the Texas Service Center are probably erroneous because other VJ members thought Texas Lockbox was the same as Texas Service Center, much like you did. So when they set up their VJ timelines they said TSC. Their data will be reported as TSC, even if CSC actually was the eventual Service Center, if they never go back and fix their VJ timeline. All the cumulative data on VJ is dependent on members making correct timeline entries and keeping it updated.
How do they find out K1s married or suspect such?
a few I've heard--
Photos in wedding garb they take to their interview (dumb!)
Photos in wedding garb found in luggage at POE. Were refused entry on a fiance visa.
FACEBOOK! Yes, USCIS has admitted they use social media to vet applicants qualifications for a visa. So imagine your fiance changes her profile picture on FB to you and her cutting the wedding cake in September. You go interview in London in November..... caught!
Timing
Times change constantly depending on workload. I looked at the I-129F filers the month before me and they were getting NOA2 in 2-4 weeks so that's what I expected. It changed to 2 months by my group (March). It was 3 months for the next group (April). Just shows how it's difficult to predict because it can change for better or worse quickly.
Service center to NVC--supposed to be a week. I remember when people have had delays there of many weeks.
K1 at NVC- supposed to take 3 days but some get held up and aren't sent on to the embassy right away.
London Embassy- The most efficient people can get through in 2 months or just over. Many who don't study the process for tips and tricks take 3-4 months. Here's a good thread full of London tips in the UK forum. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/
If I was placing a bet, I would say you will not have a visa in hand in 6 months but there are many variables so anything can happen. The smarter your are about filing perfect paperwork and being ready for London instead of waiting for them to send you instruction, the faster you will process. And the nicer you act on VJ, the more likely someone will take time to sincerely help you with the experience they have gained over years of seeing hundreds of cases. You've already shown a little bit of "attitude" in this post. Just sayin'.

OP, you certainly have the cart before the horse. You need to do quite a bit of reading here on Visa Journey, starting with the K1 flowchart. It takes quite a lot longer than 6 months from application to Visa. Some people get lucky and get through the system faster, but they are the exception rather than the rule. Some people get sent requests for further information. That causes a delay. Some people who file petitions never successfully get Visas at all.
I'm sorry that you went ahead and planned your entire wedding, and made deposits, and invited people who paid for plane tickets to attend, but please understand USCIS will be unmoved by this. Poor planning on your behalf will not generate an emergency on theirs.
You cannot get around the process through perceived shortcuts, or hurry it up. You need to send your petition to the location they ask all K1's to be sent to. There is no short line, overnighting it only gets it to USCIS sooner, but once it is there, you will get into the line with everyone else.
You have not filed, so no. Contacting your congressman to hurry the process is of no use to you whatever. Even if you had been waiting beyond the projected time frame, calling on their help is of dubious assistance at best. They can call and inquire, but they will not be told more than you can find out yourself. It doesn't give you any special status or consideration.
It will do you no good to write your wedding date down on your paperwork or cover letter. USCIS are under no compulsion to make your time frame.
You cannot go ahead if your visa is not granted in time, and marry anyway. You would have to begin again, at the expense of more time and money. Impatience could earn your fiance a ban, and is it really worth that?
You will not get an expedite citing severe financial loss. That you imprudently went ahead and organized and paid for a wedding without benefit of Visa in hand does not fit the criteria. The US citizen portion of a couple needs to prove that they are financially able to support their spouse, and I get a little nervous when I see people at the early in the plot K1 petition stage pleading financial hardship.
Read up on the process. Understand that none of us are particularly fond of USCIS, or the way that they do business. They are the only game in town. If nothing else, please try to grasp that USCIS want what they want, and how they want it. If they grant you and your fiance a Visa, they will do so in their own good time.

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

Example of someone being denied because the consulate office thought they were already married: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/346279-how-can-a-k-1-misrepresentation-denial-be-overturned/

Take some time to search these forums. There have been many others who have done similar ceremonies in their fiancé(e)'s home country and were denied because the officer believed they were already married. Expedited cases are reserved for active military personnel, I seriously doubt they will move up your case because of ill-made plans.
On average, it takes about 6 months to receive approval of the petition for the K-1. Then you have another couple of months for the interview, medical exam, etc, so you're looking at 7-9 months if everything goes smoothly.

That seems to be one of the misconceptions in reading some of the threads started as of late. The six months estimate for the K-1 refers to actual adjudication of the petition and the timeframe for receiving the NOA2 approval...not[/] the actual receipt of the K-1 visa by the fiancé(e).
From there, there's still 2-3 months (again, estimate) ahead for the medical exam, gathering/sending the various docs, scheduling the interview, etc.

It takes less than 200 days to receive the NOA2 approval, not the K-1 Visa. Again, I suggest you review the K-1 Flowchart and the timelines from others.
It seems as if you're just looking for someone to justify your plans and to tell you to go ahead with what you have planned in spite of the advice and recommendations of others on this board. If that's what you want, I doubt you'll find it in this forum.
And if I sound condescending, perhaps that's true, but when someone comes on with the expectation that everyone will justify their ignorance, it annoys me. Have a good evening and good luck with your visa journey.

No, this is the opposite of what the OP should do. Have you not read the previous posts in which I and other members have CLEARLY explained the serious consequences of holding a mock wedding ceremony? Lying or concealing a ceremony is dangerous and if it were to be discovered it could result in severe penalties which could include a lifetime ban from the US.
I cannot stress this enough! Do not do anything reminiscent of a wedding of you are planning on applying for the K-1!
Please browse around the forums and see the trouble others have experienced for attempting to do a marriage-like ceremony during the K-1 before giving advice like this to the OP.

This forum has many knowledgeable members that will guide you in the right direction. We can always sugar coat it for you, but the truth is, we take this process very serious. In the long run, what you are describing, can hurt your process and you WILL get denied.
As always.. it's up to every individual, to take the info provide it here and do as they see fit. LeftCoastLady gave you proper information and guidance... what you do with it, is completely up to you.