How Long Is The K1 Visa Process?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It takes

10-13 months

on average (as of April 2022) for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process Form I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé”), and an additional 3-4 weeks to receive instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC) to continue the process.

How long is the K1 visa process 2022?

As of March 2022, K-1 visa processing took approximately

9 to 12 months

(USCIS time to process Form I-129F). Click here to see exact ranges based on your service center. In addition to that, it takes between three to four weeks to receive notice from the National Visa Center with further instructions.

How long does fiance visa take 2021?

Regarding the K1 visa processing time, it takes about

8 months to 1 year

to get your K1 visa. Once you are in the United States on your K1 visa, it takes about another 7 to 9 months to get your green card and become a permanent resident.

How can I speed up my K1 visa?

You can generally request expedited processing by

calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice

.

Why is K1 visa taking so long?

Due to several factors, the K1 visa is taking much longer to process.

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with huge backlogs in processing times at USCIS

, the length of processing time has extended from 6 months to over 10 months now to process Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé.

Why do K1 visas get denied?

There are various reasons why a consular may deny a K1 visa petition, including but not limited to:

The petitioner does not meet the necessary requirements

. The foreign national does not meet the necessary requirements. The relationship seems suspicious or fraudulent.

How much income do I need to sponsor a K-1 visa?

In dollars and cents, this means that you must have stable earnings of

at least $16,910 per year for a two-person household (in 2019)

to qualify as financial sponsor for a fiancé(e) visa petition, and you must have stable earnings of at least $21,137 per year for a two-person household to qualify as financial sponsor …

What percentage of fiancé visas are approved?

In 2015, during the Obama Administration, the USCIS approved about 99 percent of all fiancé(e) visa petitions. By late 2018 this figure had fallen to around

67 percent

. The lower the fiancé(e) visa approval rate descends, the more attractive a marriage-based green card application is going to look.

Can I visit the US while waiting for K-1 visa?

Can my fiancé visit me in the US while waiting for a K-1 fiancé visa?

Yes – your fiancé may visit the US, so long as they have a valid B-1/B-2 visa or ESTA

. However, your fiancé should expect more scrutiny at the border.

Which is faster fiancé visa or spouse?

Speed of Marriage

If your priority is to become married as soon as possible,

it will generally be quicker to marry outside the United States

. Obtaining a K-1 visa, typically the fastest way to the U.S., will take approximately 5-10 months. So visiting the fiancé in his or her home country will usually be faster.

How long does fiancé visa last?

The visa will be valid for U.S. entry for

six months

from the date it was issued. Once the fiancé enters the United States, the marriage must take place within 90 days from the date of entry.

How long does the K1 visa process take 2020?

It takes

10-13 months

on average (as of April 2022) for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process Form I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé”), and an additional 3-4 weeks to receive instructions from the National Visa Center (NVC) to continue the process.

Can Senators help visa?

Whether you are looking for assistance with immigrant or non-immigrant visas, citizenship, asylum or refugee cases, or would like to check the status of your application,

Senator Blumenthal’s office can assist you in answering your questions

.

What questions do they ask in a K1 visa interview?

  • What is your full name?
  • When is your birthday?
  • How old are you?
  • What is your nationality?
  • What languages do you speak?
  • Were you previously married? If so, when?
  • Do you currently work?
  • Have you been to the United States before? If so, when, why, and how?

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2021?

Average time —

Seven to 32 months

(as of early 2021) for approval of the Form I-130, and additional time depending on individual circumstances. Summary of the Process — The U.S. citizen starts the process by filing a Form I-130 with USCIS, either online or by mail.

How many K1 visas are approved each year?


In 2015 and 2016, an average of 49,000 I-129F petitions were approved. In 2017 and 2018 an average of 34,000 petitions were approved

.

Does age difference matter for K-1 visa?


Age differences between couples is common and generally accepted by USCIS when applying for a K1 Fiance Visa

. However, large differences in a couples ages will result in closer scrutiny of your case. I routinely see cases that are approved where the age difference between the couple is 20 to 30 years.

What are the requirements for K-1 visa?

  • You are a U.S. citizen;
  • You and your fiancé(e) intend to marry one another within 90 days of your fiancé(e)’s admission to the United States on a K-1 nonimmigrant visa;

What is the K-1 visa interview like?

The format will generally differ from embassy to embassy – but generally speaking, there are

less than 100 categorized questions that you will have to answer about yourself, your fiancé, and other aspects regarding the relationship

. In essence, the interview should last something between 15 and 20 minutes.

How much is a 90 day fiancé visa?

The foreign fiancé completes a visa application (Form DS-160), submits it online (or according to the local consulate’s instructions), and pays the

$265 visa fee

. The foreign fiancé goes to an interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate, and presents any requested documents during the interview.

What is the minimum income to sponsor an immigrant 2020?

The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is

$22,887

. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a friend?

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a non-family member for immigration? Unfortunately, no,

you can’t petition for a foreign national’s visa or green card if they aren’t a family member

.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.