Waiting time K1 Visa UK Citizen

[Timpat 0]

Hi

I am a UK citizen marrying a US citizen and we have a straight forward case as far as we know, we have employed a lawyer for $1500 to help us with the process. We have just paid the $455 filing fee and our forms will be with the USCIS on Monday 26th. It has taken 3 months just to get to this stage as we work on cruise ships and its hard organising things. We have a wedding date booked for 22nd August in the states, will this give us enough time for me to get the Visa and get to the states?

Please help!

Tim

[Hell0W0rld 10]

average time takes 4-6 months, if you filled in your timeline, you'll get an ETA...

[luckytxn 2,264]

Timpat. First welcome to VJ and God bless and good luck on the journey. I would put off on making an exact date for wedding plans. August could be possible but the chances are slim. More than likely it will be later toward the end of the year. I say this from past experiences from this site and my own. Of course it could have sped up by now and the time you get yours. Also it is good that you got an attorney to do the paperwork and all but be sure to double check them. There are also many horror storied here about the ones that pay someone to do it for them and it gets screwed up badly. If any of the paperwork is done wrong that could pushh the time way beyond normal times.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Also I would like to add that maybe you should go to the regional forums of the UK and see the others there and what they say also. Many here are also from the UK and they could help out a lot.

[Ellie-and-David 38]

We filed in November - to vermont.

I am not expecting to get my NOA 2 until May.

Then there is the additional wait on top. I'd be surprised if I recieved my visa much before August / September. As you can tell.....I am not optimistic.

One thing I have learnt about this process is that, as much as I would like to plan my wedding, I am not going to tempt fate by having a date set. We are going to do the court house thing as soon as I arrive so that I can apply for my Employment authorisation and green card asap.

Then as soon as that is done, plan a wedding for late 09 / early 2010.

I guess what people are trying to say is, it could happen for you by August, but dont bank on it.

Edited January 23, 2009 by Ellie-and-David

[Rob&Dawn 1]

We started the process middle July and have an interview date of 3rd Feb...

IMO i wouldn't book anything until your NOA2 has been received and your file has left NVC for USE in London. Until that point your application can be held up for any reason.

Not the best news for you, but best to know now rather than late.

Wishing you a speedy process.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

If you want to look at today's statistics

if filed at California Service Center

0 13 days to get NOA1

105 days to NOA2

007 days transfer to NVC

008 days at NVC

006 days transfer to London

062 days processing in London

201 Days from mailing to CSC

if filed at Vermont Service Center

00 8 days to get NOA1

156 days to NOA2

007 days transfer to NVC

008 days at NVC

006 days transfer to London

062 days processing in London

247 Days from mailing to VSC

Those are today's numbers from Visa Journey timelines and statistics. Some go faster, some are slower. A lawyer could slow you up a little because of the time to get papers back and forth from him, but these averages include lawyers and do it yourselfers. And sometimes the length of time trends up at the various service centers. If you look at this graph, what if the VSC trend continues to go up? Then your NOA2 could be even more days by the time your case gets adjudicated. The current number of days is for people getting approved today, meaning they filed in August.

The graphs go up and down and you can check them under Immigration Timelines in the lighter blue menu bar.

[Timpat 0]

Thaks for your replies everyone, Its looking pretty gloomy for our August date huh! Does anyone know if I could enter the US on a visa waiver and we can have the church blessing and party then return to the UK to wait for my visa and reenter and legally marry when I get it? Would I get stopped at immigration for having a K1 pending?

[Cailyn15467 0]

Don't get discouraged. It might go much quicker than you think. I received my NOA1 on September 10 and I got my NOA2 on January 14. I was initially looking at a 6-7 month wait but it only took me 4 months to get my petition approved. Me and my fiance are thinking his interview will be between the end of march and mid april. As you can see, what we originally thought would take us 8-9 months to achieve is only taking around 6-7. So keep your chin up and hopefully you will get approved quickly.