When Does the Processing Time for a Fiancee Visa Start?
The K-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa to bring a foreign-born fiancé(e) to the U.S. for the purpose of marrying an American citizen. The process must be initiated by the citizen, and both must complete multiple steps before the government issues the visa.
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Steps
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The U.S. citizen begins the process by submitting Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), to the nearest USCIS office. If it approves the petition, it goes on to the NVC (National Visa Center). The NVC sends it on to the fiancé(e)'s closest U.S. embassy; the fiancé(e) then applies for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa. A medical exam, interview and administrative processing follow.
Considerations
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The entire visa process can take anywhere from three to six months, from the time Form I-129 is submitted to the day the K-1 visa is issued. The total length of time depends on whether or not the applicants filled out each form correctly and whether or not the consular office requires time for extra administrative processing.
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Processing Time
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Although it takes time for the USCIS to process Form I-129, actual "processing time" begins once the form is sent on to the NVC. Form I-129 is simply a petition, not the visa application. Although it's an essential part of the process, visa procedures aren't in the works until the NVC is sent the petition.
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References
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