What Is The Current Wait Time For A K1 Visa?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It takes 8-10 months on average (as of June 2021) for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process Form I-129F (technically called the “Petition for Alien Fiancé”), and an additional 4-6 weeks processing time for the agency to send an interview request at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

How long does K1 visa take 2021?

To provide a quick recap on 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.

Are K1 visas being processed in 2021?

Many types of visas offer the ability to pay extra for premium processing, which guarantees that a petition will be reviewed within a few weeks of its arrival. Unfortunately, K-1 visas are not eligible for premium processing. However, the overall timeline, even in 2021, is not typically extremely long .

Why is K1 visa taking so long?

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.

Why is Uscis taking so long 2021?

Due to a large backlog of immigration applications , review times at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are delayed for most applications and services. USCIS received a higher volume of applications than normal in 2020 and 2021, and offices remain understaffed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is K1 visa faster than spouse visa?

While processing times have gotten significantly better for U.S. Citizens, the K1 Fiance Visa is still quicker and simpler for unmarried international couples seeking to get married. ... A Marriage Visa is typically more complex, slower and, a more expensive route compared to the K1 Fiance Visa.

Can my fiance visit while waiting for K1 visa?

You cannot reside in the U.S. on a tourist visa or Visa Waiver while waiting on a K1 Fiance visa or K3 Spousal visa. However, you can make a temporary visit using a B-2 tourist visa or on the Visa Waiver Program.

What happens if you get divorced on a K1 visa?

If you divorce your sponsoring fiance(e) before filing the I-485, then you will likely lose residency . You may not be able to file for a green card. You and your K2 children may lose immigration rights and leave the US.

Which is better fiance or spouse visa?

Application Process and Timeline for Fiancé(e) and Spousal Visa. If your main goal is to get to the U.S. as quickly as possible, then the fiancé(e) visa is likely the fastest option. But if your goal is to get an actual green card as soon as possible, then a marriage-based visa will be quicker.

Can I get a K1 visa during Covid?

Effective August 28 , as it becomes safe to resume more consular operations at each U.S. mission, posts are authorized to give K visa cases high priority. ... For most cases impacted by the suspension of routine visa services or COVID-19 travel restrictions it will not be necessary to file a new I-129F petition.

How can I speed up my K-1 visa?

  1. Prepare ahead of time before NOA2 to gather your financial and supporting documents for the embassy interview.
  2. Call NVC to get your case number instead of waiting for the letter.
  3. Pay Visa Application Fee.
  4. Schedule embassy interview appointment.

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

Based on the 2020 poverty guidelines, the petitioner would require an income of at least $17,240 to meet the K-1 visa income requirements in all states except for Alaska and Hawaii.

What percentage of fiance visas are approved?

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), around 90 percent of fiancé visas were approved in 2016. In 2017, when President Donald Trump took office, the percentage of approved fiancé visas dropped to around 66 percent.

Is USCIS taking longer than expected 2021?

Processing times for Form N-400 (officially called the “Application for Naturalization”) have increased significant between FY 2017 and FY 2021, with FY2021 processing times averaging 12.2 months . The spike in recent years is largely due to a naturalization application backlog.

How long does it take for USCIS to send approval notice 2021?

How long is it taking USCIS to process and send out Receipt Notices and Approval Notices? Historically, USCIS issues Receipt Notices and Approval Notices within 2 to 3 weeks .

How many cases does USCIS process a day?

According to documents obtain by The Washington Post, USCIS is creating the “Organization of Professional Responsibility” to enhance oversight of the way its employees handle the more than 26,000 cases the agency decides each day.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.