How long after application of K1 visa can US citizen travel

[David R 2]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the site. My American girlfriend and I got engaged last week and we are now looking at getting a K1 visa. We are both in the US at present but we will be travelling together to my home country of Australia in 2 months. We will be staying there for 6 months before returning for a wedding here in the US in spring.

What I would like to know is I know my fiancee needs to apply for the K1 visa from here in the US but how long will she need to stay here before she can come with me to Australia? Will she be able to leave right away after filing for the K1 or does she need to stay a certain amount of months etc for processing?? We plan to leave in early September and it would be horrible if I had to leave without her.

Thanks so much for your time.

David

[Lilyena 10]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the site. My American girlfriend and I got engaged last week and we are now looking at getting a K1 visa. We are both in the US at present but we will be travelling together to my home country of Australia in 2 months. We will be staying there for 6 months before returning for a wedding here in the US in spring.

What I would like to know is I know my fiancee needs to apply for the K1 visa from here in the US but how long will she need to stay here before she can come with me to Australia? Will she be able to leave right away after filing for the K1 or does she need to stay a certain amount of months etc for processing?? We plan to leave in early September and it would be horrible if I had to leave without her.

Thanks so much for your time.

David

Don't worry she can leave with you as soon as you guys have filed, since the rest of the process will take place in Australie.

Once you have sent the K1 file in the US, the immigration will either approve/decline your petition. If approved, and there is no reason why you shouldn't be approved (i hope not!) USCIS will send your file to the American embassy in australia where everything will be sent to you.

it is only if imigration needs additionnal evidences, called RFEs that they might ask for others documents and the request will be sent to her, but I guess she can ask someone to watch out in the mail for her ?

In any cases, dont worry too much about it: you can go to Australia together after filing for K1.

[Ryan H 3,812]

What I would like to know is I know my fiancee needs to apply for the K1 visa from here in the US but how long will she need to stay here before she can come with me to Australia? Will she be able to leave right away after filing for the K1 or does she need to stay a certain amount of months etc for processing??

Your US Citizen fiancee does not apply for a K1 visa, she files a petition. You, the foreign beneficiary, will apply for a K1 visa and you will only be able to do that after the petition has been approved.

To answer your question, your fiancee can place the forms and documentation in the mail and then immediately board a plane.

[David R 2]

Ok thanks so much guys, that really clears that up for me.

Do you know how long we can expect to wait until we have the K1 in hand i.e When can I return to the US on my K1 visa?

We are planning to come back to the states in Feb next year. Do you think we would have it by then??

Thanks so much again.

David

[TBoneTX 45,090]

Welcome to VJ, David!

I-129F petitions seem to be taking 5 to 8+ months to process.

If USCIS reviews the petition and determines that something is missing, they would send your fiancee an RFE ("request for evidence") at her U.S. address.

She could have someone picking up her mail (or list on the petition forms some reliable/stable address, perhaps such as that of her parents, as her "c/o" address). However, if the requested piece of information is something official that only she could procure (readily or at all), things could get inconvenient.

On the basis of your stated plans, you might want to look into DCF (Direct Consular Filing) to see if it's possible and feasible for you. See the VJ Guides (atop every VJ page) and the DCF forum itself. Good luck!

[Ryan H 3,812]

On the basis of your stated plans, you might want to look into DCF (Direct Consular Filing) to see if it's possible and feasible for you. See the VJ Guides (atop every VJ page) and the DCF forum itself. Good luck!

DCF is unavailable in Australia.

[Xanax 349]

You should make sure that your plans fit with the visa timeline, if you consider the visa will take around 8 months, will you be back to in the USA for Spring?

[TBoneTX 45,090]

DCF is unavailable in Australia.

That was what I didn't know, without looking -- thanks, R.

[Hazel Ickes 0]

The total time required to obtain a K1 visa depends partly on where you reside in the U.S., and partly on what country your fiancee is from. Although individual processing times can vary widely, a typical processing time for K1 visas from the date of filing through the date the fiancee receives a K1 visa is 6 - 8 months.

[David R 2]

Thank you so much for all your help guys. We are starting the process this week. All very confusing but your information has already pointed us in the right direction. Thanks again.

David