Why the Fiance K-1 Visa takes so long to process
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Your fiance(e) K-1 visa petition exchanges many hands before it’s approved (the USCIS, NVC, and US Dept Of State).
In addition, many requirements need to be met. Several things will affect how fast or slow your fiance visa case is processed.
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So it’s easy to understand how several factors affect the overall timeline — many of which can’t be avoided. Here are some of the reasons why the fiance(e) K1 visa process takes so long.
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- 1. Filing location
Where you file from affects which service center handles your case. This is generally where you live. Some service center are normally slower than others. It’s the luck of the draw on this one, you can’t control which Service Center you get (see what happens to your I-129F after submission).
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. - 2. USCIS Backlogs
Service centers are usually backlogged several months. Some are slower due to the overwhelming number of applications they receive. This can add several months to your K1 visa timeline. Many times, the political climate dramatically affects how quick or slow the USCIS becomes (e.g. Trump order “extreme vetting” for applications).
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- 3. Errors and RFEs
If you make errors in your I-129F petition, you’ll have to make corrections and re-submit. If you haven’t provided enough evidence to the USCIS, you’ll receive Requests For Evidence (RFE) which hold your case until you comply. The same deal applies to the US consulate when they’re waiting on you for Administrative Processing.
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- 4. Embassy Backlogs
The US Embassies are backlogged handling several cases in the region. The date of the interview and visa approval are dependent of when they have availability. For areas with high application volumes, expect longer wait times. In fact, sometimes applicants can get an appointment for several months even if they’re completely ready with their paperwork.
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- 5. Time of year you filed petition
Due to the volume of applications submitted during different times of the year, the USCIS experiences highs and lows. Some types of petitions filed during the summer/fall are generally processed quicker than those filed during the winter (and vice versa). See When’s the best time of year to file the I-129F>>
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- 6. Complications in your case
Significant delays could occur if you or your fiance(e) have a criminal history, questionable background checks, or a previous immigration violation. Similarly, if your foreign fiance(e)’s Medical exam reports a problem, you might have some delays resolving those problems.
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- 7. Delivery/Mailing time
Since your case will go from the USCIS service center to the NVC, to the US Embassy overseas and to your fiance(e) — you can expect several days wasted in delivery or mailing. Although many processes are transitioning to electronic, as of right now, many are still paper-based.
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Backlogs, errors and general delays can happen at any step of the K-1 process. These things can end up costing you several weeks. These are the reasons why the K1 takes so long for many people.
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Your best option to prevent delays in your K-1 process is to stay informed of your case progress and save time by being ready for the next step. Being proactive may end up saving you several months off of your case.
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So my case was transferred from the California processing center to the Vermont cente, it says for load balancing, but the Vermont center has significantly longer average processing times(pretty much double). I’m wondering does that mean my case will now take longer to process than if they had left it at the California center? And does that mean if I want to submit a case inquiry because my case is outside of “normal” processing times I need to go by the Vermont centers average times? I get that they are busy and all but this is torture for couples who just want to start a life and family together.
Hello Justin,
It’s really hard to predict how long it’ll take for the case to be processed.
However, if you send a case inquiry, you may explain that you would like to be informed if the time frame will be based on the California center or the Vermont one.
Since they’ve done this to balance work load, they must have a plan to get the K1 petitions in a “reasonable” (which I understand is never reasonable for the same reasons you explained) time not to get those cases backlogged.
-Cris (Visa Tutor Team)
Hi sir I just want to know ,why my Visa still administration processing until now now it’s my 4th weeks ,my interview last May 30th I approve already….but until now my status still administration processing….
Please we got mail on our fiance application for additional evidence ,my question is what evidence do they want from us ?please your help is needed thanks
Levi,
It sounds like you got an RFE. Please see this article for detailed instructions and information
https://www.visatutor.com/i-129f-request-for-evidence-rfe/
-Prem
But since my fiance didn’t add the hotel reservation and the flight ticket only send the pictures we took within the time period of two years , I hope is not going disturb the process or if they need more prove will they ask us to send those stuffs ? Thanks
My fiance application was send to them but my fiance forgot to add her fly ticket and the hotel reservation the visa she use to visit my country, does this matter on my case ?
Hello Levi,
If you’re referring to the I-129F, then you must prove that you have met within the last 2 years. By providing airline tickets and hotel reservations, that’s one way to help prove that you’ve met. If the USCIS still isn’t convinced, they will send and RFE for missing documents.
-Prem
Honestly, I so much appreciate your efforts to respond to so many questions I always comfortable each time I read your post, thank you so much
I had my interview at US embassy, i am wondering why i havent received my passport and visa. The consul who interviewed me didnt tell me that i lack or miss out anything. I am petioned by my fiancé. Please help me on what i should do.
Hello Rhona,
That’s difficult to tell from what you’ve described. Did you get approved? were you told you’re under administrative processing? What does the CEAC status say? only after that we can figure out what happened.
-Prem
Uscis received the rfe Jan 18th 2019 and me and my fiancé are hoping they will review and respond because we have been away from each other for too long … please we need advice
Thanks for sharing, Deanna.
-Prem
We got our noa1 shortly after applying. It was on June 20 2017. We got our noa2 on December 22 2017. No RFEs or anything. Felt like ages. Well it took until April for them to get him in for a medical appointment and now it’s August and still waiting on an approval from that appointment months ago. And after that who knows how many months we will have to wait until getting an interview. This is painfully slow and it’s cruel to have to spend so much time waiting and being apart. I can’t stand how long it’s taking. It’s been a year and a couple months since the noa1 and still no word months after the medical appointment. Will it be 2 years before we can be together? This is agony.
Hey,
What you’ve described is very uncommon. Medical appointments take no more than 1 month. Unless your fiance had some contagious disease or other abnormality that they needed to check. Is that the case? Otherwise, if there’s nothing wrong with the report then you have to follow up and get them to act. Which country is your fiance in?
-Prem
I submitted the petition last Aug. 2017 and received a letter dated Aug. 18, 2017 that they received it and gave us a receipt number (WAC number) but until now, we haven’t heard anything yet. It just says on the letter and on check my case status (online) the description on how they will process the case. It’s been 5 months without any progress. Do I have to start to worry and inquire? I’ve been checking the processing times for the California Service Center and as of Oct. 31, 2017, they are processing June 1, 2017. Am I still on the correct timeline? Your response is gladly appreciated!
Hello Joan,
Glad to have you here. I know it’s frustrating not getting a response from the USCIS. They’re very backed up at the moment from what I’ve gathered from all my readers. To get the best estimate of your waiting time, I suggest you read this https://www.visatutor.com/i-129f-petition-uscis-case-processing-charts/
it’ll show you exactly how to figure out your processing time.
-Prem
Our applications was approved on the 23rd of August and haven’t heard anything from them.
Please, where so you think our case is right now and how do we track it?
Hi Pita,
Do you mean to say your I-129F is approved (NOA2)? In that case, the file is with the National Visa Center (NVC). I suggest you check out the article on what to do after your I-129f is approved (https://www.visatutor.com/steps-129f-fiance-visa-petition-approval/) . You can also call them up to check your case status and get a case #.
-Prem
Thanks for the response! My Visa got approved at USCIS and is now going to the NVC – how long on average does it take at NVC before I can do the next step of the medical pay for the interview? do you know what medical doctors are available to use for the medical – I want to get ahead and have everything ready for when I have to do the medical and interview. I signed up for a US embassy but its a different country – so you know if they only use medical physicians from that country or could I do it back at my country? Is there a list of physicians. But the main thing I want to know mainly is the time it usually takes at NVC – what do they do there for a fiancé visa just run a background check?
Hi Kerry,
That’s great news! If your petition is approved by the USCIS, the NVC is the next step. They usually take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to review your documents. As of right now, the Approved Physicians won’t take you for your medical. It’s too early and they’ll need to know your Case #. You won’t have a case # until the NVC actually finishes reviewing your files. So you’ll have to wait it out.
Before you choose a physician, be sure that the NVC knows you’ve chosen a different Embassy. They will forward the packets to the Consulate you’ve already selected in your I-129F (or the one that’s most appropriate). I suggest you wait for the approval Letter from the NVC before taking this step. There is a list of physicians that Embassies accept. You can find it on the Embassy.gov website or travel.state.gov website.
If I send an rfe back does the USCIS start over or just continue with my case? How long does it typically take for them to process a case from when they start to look at it. So let’s say I sent it 6 months ago and now they are looking at it how long from now? I know it’s a first come first serve basis to start it but when they actually work on it how long is it at USCIS before they say yes or no and send it to the NVC and how long would it be at the NVC?
Hey Kerry,
That’s a great question. Your case is on a first come first serve basis. When your case is actually next in queue, in my experience/opinion, it takes 1-2 weeks to review it. When you add an RFE in the mix, it adds perhaps another 1-2 weeks. Which accounts for mailing it to/from you and also for them to review your RFE response.
I really enjoy your tutorials it has made things easy for me. I really feel at ease and I stress no more.
Thank you so much for your guidelines I do appreciate it so much. May Almighty God bless you.
Thank you
Ayisha Sahnoon
Ayisha,
Thanks for reading. The K-1 process is one of those steps we take before we can be together with our partners. I’m here doing what I can to make this process easier for others. Stay in touch and let us know how the interview goes…