Australia to US, anyone with experience?

[Aps1979 1]

Good evening forum,

My fiancee and I met about 3 years ago online. Not through a dating site or anything like that but in an online video game, (World of Warcraft). After becoming very close, we started travelling to see each other, fell in love, and got engaged. We have multiple visits, pictures, plane tickets, email, receipts, and everything to make a pretty packed filing packet. We are filing this month and were really hoping for an end of the year wedding.

Here is my question. I have read so many timelines on this site. Some people seem to be mailed and done in under 6 months. Some people seem to struggle on for over a year. With a thorough packet and a completely legit back story, what is a realistic expectation for someone coming from Australia to the US on a K-1?

Also, I realize it is legal for her to visit during the process, but is there any way we don't have to live apart for any considerable amount of time during this process? Aka, can she get an extended tourist visa or will she have to come back and forth every 90 days? She is quitting her job to come and stay here with me during the process and I will be fully supporting her, no under the table work etc.

Thanks to the community.

A.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Good evening forum,

My fiancee and I met about 3 years ago online. Not through a dating site or anything like that but in an online video game, (World of Warcraft). After becoming very close, we started travelling to see each other, fell in love, and got engaged. We have multiple visits, pictures, plane tickets, email, receipts, and everything to make a pretty packed filing packet. We are filing this month and were really hoping for an end of the year wedding.

Here is my question. I have read so many timelines on this site. Some people seem to be mailed and done in under 6 months. Some people seem to struggle on for over a year. With a thorough packet and a completely legit back story, what is a realistic expectation for someone coming from Australia to the US on a K-1?

Also, I realize it is legal for her to visit during the process, but is there any way we don't have to live apart for any considerable amount of time during this process? Aka, can she get an extended tourist visa or will she have to come back and forth every 90 days? She is quitting her job to come and stay here with me during the process and I will be fully supporting her, no under the table work etc.

Thanks to the community.

A.

The waiting time is just all over the place, and it doesn't matter where you're from (although it does on the consulate side, as some are faster than others). When you submit your k1 petition, it'll take anything from 3 months to 9 months to see that approved, then it'll go to your local consulate in Australia, and it'll take 2 - 4 months there to do medical, interview and finally get the visa in hand. If you submit today, you *might* get it all done by the end of the year, but it's really hard to say because the timelines fluctuate so greatly (have a look at the historic data charts and you'll see what I mean - the two service centres swap back and forth being the fastest). Having a really well filed case and a bonafide relationship in no way speeds up the time it takes for them to process the petition - they don't do it by country, they do them loosely in order of receipt - that's it. Although having a well filed petition makes it less likely they'll deny and/or ask for further evidence (which adds a couple more weeks processing time, but 2 weeks in the grand scheme of things won't feel like a lot).

She can apply for an extended tourist visa if one exists for Australia (I'm afraid I don't know much about Australia's tourism visas - you might want to try the Australia specific section of this forum) - she can travel as she had been before as a tourist. Having a k1 pending won't affect that, although if she's travelling to the US a lot, immigration officers may be suspicious, and as such, she should be prepared to show them that she is just visiting for purposes of tourism and not intending to live there/marry etc. (so may need to show strong ties home - a job, a rental agreement for an apartment etc.). She's not allowed to go to the US on a tourist visa and be moving there to live.

Edited March 12, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Alex&Amy 28]

She could come on a J-1 and stay a year, as an Australian there is basically no issues getting visas to the US, you can get multiple VWP but you would need to leave the country and come back. As for time range I don't really think coming from Australia has much to do with it, other than maybe it takes little time to do research on someones background because both governments have open information sharing, Australia also isnt a high visa fraud, crime or terrorism country which I suppose is a bonus, but i doubt makes much difference to anything. You will most likely be waiting around 7-12 months if you file at the moment until your fiance will be able to come on their K-1. If they do come before their visa is approved, they have to return to Australia for their interview, probably medical and police check's too.

[lost_at_sea 995]

She could come on a J-1 and stay a year, as an Australian there is basically no issues getting visas to the US, you can get multiple VWP but you would need to leave the country and come back. As for time range I don't really think coming from Australia has much to do with it, other than maybe it takes little time to do research on someones background because both governments have open information sharing, Australia also isnt a high visa fraud, crime or terrorism country which I suppose is a bonus, but i doubt makes much difference to anything. You will most likely be waiting around 7-12 months if you file at the moment until your fiance will be able to come on their K-1. If they do come before their visa is approved, they have to return to Australia for their interview, probably medical and police check's too.

Huh, the J-1 looks ace. Sounds perfect.

[kdude1 3]

I'm in the same situation. Hoping to file for the K-1 this month and hoping for a marriage next year. About the J-1, don't you need to do that through an institution of some sort?

[lost_at_sea 995]

This section of the forum covers J visas. Folks in there are likely to have the best advice on requirements and how you get one: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/142-student-%26-exchange-visitor-visas/