K1 Process Questions

[RichF 13]

Hi everyone.

Me and my fiancé are planning our wedding and I just thought I would see if I could clear up a few things.

Due to our wish for some financial stability whilst I await the AP and EAD once we are married, we are planning our wedding for March 2014 to give both of us time to save a healthy amount.

So my questions;

1. With our wedding being targeted for March 2014, would January be to early to begin the application process? From what I can work out we would be processes at VSC and I see they have big delays at the moment.

2. Let's say we are approved and my visa is issued by the beginning of nov. I know there is a 6 month validity on the K1. Does that mean we have to be married within that 6 month or just that I have to have entered the country?

3.we are not booking anything until we have the visa, wedding or travel related. Would people who have gone through the process before recommend booking a return flight as they seem to work out cheaper? Also does anyone recommend a removals method from the UK for all my belongings.

Hope you can help

Thanks

Rich and amber

[dukeandduchess 141]

1. With our wedding being targeted for March 2014, would January be to early to begin the application process? From what I can work out we would be processes at VSC and I see they have big delays at the moment.

It's really impossible to suggest a time frame. Your petition could be approved in 30 days or it could be approved in 9 months+. It's better to do a legal wedding at the courthouse and THEN plan the big wedding for family and friends. No one here can really answer that with certainty because their processing times vary and so do different cases. You can slow down the process to a certain extent by sending in packages slowly but there's only so much you can do.

2. Let's say we are approved and my visa is issued by the beginning of nov. I know there is a 6 month validity on the K1. Does that mean we have to be married within that 6 month or just that I have to have entered the country?

You must enter the US within 6 months of your visa approval. You must marry your fiance(e) within 90 days of your entry. For example, my visa was approved in October 2011. I entered the US on Feb 18. The expiry date on my visa was April 10. We got married April 13.

3.we are not booking anything until we have the visa, wedding or travel related. Would people who have gone through the process before recommend booking a return flight as they seem to work out cheaper? Also does anyone recommend a removals method from the UK for all my belongings.

You can book whatever flight you want. Obviously cheaper is better. I can't answer the second part.

We filed the petition in February 2011. Petition approved May 30, 2011. Interview/Visa in hand October 2011. Entered the US in Feb 2012. Total time = 1 year.

Good luck!

[RichF 13]

Thanks.

I know once the petition has been approved you can request a certain month for visa interview upon receiving packet 3.

We are hoping that I can have my interview around October to ensure the visa lasts until the end of march

[djricky4 67]

once the K1 petiton is approved, you can take you little time getting the other stuff ready. The times @ the service centers fluctuate during the year. No telling whats going to happen once you apply. but you will have the visa for a validity of 6 months from the date of your medical and another 3 months to get married. thats 9 months plus waiting on the petition to be approved about (5 months on average)

[JoannaV 174]

Once your petition is approved you control when you book your medical and send in forms. So I don't think January is too early as you can easily delay everything a bit if necessary. If you're going to plan a big wedding you want to have plenty of time to allow for having the slowest visa process ever.

[RichF 13]

Thank you so much everyone.