Understanding the K-1 Fiance Visa Processing Timeline

If you are an American citizen contemplating marriage with a foreign national, you will need to fully understand the process for obtaining a K-1 Fiance Visa, including all the stages that make up the timeline. Working through this process on your own can be a time-consuming, frustrating experience.

Olvis Visa is here to represent your case in the K-1 Visa process, shorten preparation time, and eliminate delays, especially when dealing the government agencies. We recommend retaining our reputable firm at the very start of your journey. Olvis Visa specializes in obtaining K-1 Fiancee Visas and will deliver you through all the required steps, enabling you and your fiancé to enjoy this time in your lives with peace of mind.

Here at Olvis Visa, we will work with you from the preliminary planning stages all the way through to the issuance of the K1 Visa. We will start the process with the preparation of application forms and the gathering of support evidence.

This article will guide you through the timeline and process of obtaining a K-1 Visa, helping you understand the steps involved and what to expect along the way.

Here is the timeline for K-1 Visa processing

Step 1: Understanding the K-1 Visa

The K-1 Visa allows a foreign national fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen to enter the United States for the purpose of getting married. It’s important to note that the couple must intend to marry within 90 days of the foreign fiancé(e) arriving in the U.S. Once married, the foreign spouse can then apply for adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder).

Step 2: Petitioning for a K-1 Visa

The U.S. citizen must start the process by filing a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of their foreign fiancé(e). This involves submitting Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) Form, along with the necessary supporting documents such as proof of the relationship, intent to marry, and any previous marriages.

Step 3: USCIS Processing

Your case will be on its way to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services approximately one week after you initiate the process with our office. After acceptance of the case, it takes on average up to five months, depending upon the season the petition is filed and the amount of backlog at the particular USCIS service center. Each use has a different level of complexity and is assigned different examiners. The Approvals arrive not in the order the cases were filed.

Step 4: National Visa Center (NVC) Processing

The Approved petition is then mailed from the USCIS to the NVC. Once approved you will notified by mail and the NVC will then forward your case to the appropriate United States Embassy in your fiance’s country of residence (typically, there is only one U.S. Embassy in each country that works with K1 Visas; in some countries there are two or even three). This step in the process takes approximately two weeks.

Step 5. Consular/Embassy Interview:

This can be the most complex stage of the K1 Visa process as each embassy has different requirements, depending upon the country. U.S. embassies in most countries require a wait time of six to eight weeks until the interview date; however, there are some countries such as Mexico, the Philippines, and Ukraine that allow scheduling an interview as soon all documents are obtained. Specifics vary by country; for example:

• Applicants from Mexico are welcome to walk in for an appointment once documentation has been received by the embassy. Applicants from the Philippines and Ukraine may schedule an interview date at their convenience. It may be possible with this type of embassy for the interview stage to be as little as a few weeks.
• The Majority of embassies assign an interview date for you only upon receipt of the biographical forms (for example: UK, China). All supporting documentation must be taken directly to the interview. The wait time can be anywhere from four to eight weeks when dealing with this type of embassies handling.
• The U.S. embassies in some countries allow to select an interview date through their online interface (Russia, Brazil). This is a new method of handling the K1 Visa process by the embassies, which proves to be very convenient for the applicants.

Step 6. Visa Approval and Entry to the U.S.

After the interview takes place, upon approval, the embassy will issue the visa. The Passport with the visa and prepared documents in a sealed envelope will be delivered to your fiancé via courier service within three to five days. The visa will be valid for the period of six months from the date of issuance and good for one entry to the United States. Upon entry under a K1 Visa you fiancée is required to marry the American Petitioner within 90 days of arrival date.

Step 7. Arrival and Marriage

Upon arriving in the U.S., the couple has 90 days to marry. Once married, the foreign spouse can proceed with the process of adjusting their status to become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). This involves filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and attending a biometrics appointment.

Step 8. Conditional Green Card

If the marriage takes place within the required 90 days, the foreign spouse will receive a conditional green card. This card is valid for two years and allows the couple to live and work in the U.S. as they continue to build their life together.

Step 9. Removing Conditions

Before the two-year conditional green card expires, the couple must jointly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, to demonstrate that their marriage is genuine and ongoing. This involves providing evidence of shared financial responsibilities, living arrangements, and more.

Step 10. Permanent Residency

Once the conditions are successfully removed, the foreign spouse will receive a 10-year green card, granting them permanent residency in the United States. This card can be renewed as needed.

In most cases, the entire process of K-1 Fiance visa application and approval can take anywhere from five to six months. In cases with less cooperative embassies (for example: Canada, Ghana), or in countries without U.S. embassy presence (for example: Cuba, Iran), the entire process may take even up to a year.

To obtain the current processing times for USCIS and US Embassy in your fiance’s country please feel free to contact Olvis Visa.

Retaining our experienced firm to help you through every step of the K-1 visa process, rather than attempting to struggle alone (or hiring preparation-only consulting service), can save you months of frustration.

Please contact our office with any questions you may have.

DUE TO OUR NATIONWIDE EXPOSURE AND SPECIALIZATION IN THE K-1 VISA FIELD, WE ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE IN THIS FIELD OF PRACTIVE.