Timeframes (split topic)

[khanepal 0]

My case is new (above are from 2011) but same.
My Situation: I applied for I-129F (K-3 for spouse) a month ago (and I-130 a week before) My status in USCIS website is in "initial review" status and it says "your Alien Registration Number was changed relating to your I129F..". Visa journey website did not mention how long it takes to get I-129 approved (or receive second notice of action, NOA) and send to NVC. How long it may take, roughly? Visa Journey says it takes only 2 weeks to send to NVC and another couple of weeks to send to Embassy and for interview. BUT, my friends in Nepal are saying their application is in NVC for about 3 months. How long it will take usually at NVC and Embassy. I guess, it may vary from country to country also. We are having hard time living separately so your information will help us. Thanks in advance!

[Ryan H 3,834]

Post split from old and unrelated thread.

[dythan2005 12]

My case is new (above are from 2011) but same.

My Situation: I applied for I-129F (K-3 for spouse) a month ago (and I-130 a week before) My status in USCIS website is in "initial review" status and it says "your Alien Registration Number was changed relating to your I129F..". Visa journey website did not mention how long it takes to get I-129 approved (or receive second notice of action, NOA) and send to NVC. How long it may take, roughly? Visa Journey says it takes only 2 weeks to send to NVC and another couple of weeks to send to Embassy and for interview. BUT, my friends in Nepal are saying their application is in NVC for about 3 months. How long it will take usually at NVC and Embassy. I guess, it may vary from country to country also. We are having hard time living separately so your information will help us. Thanks in advance!

Usually from 5 to 8 months to get the NOA2 , though some ends up waiting for almost a year

[khanepal 0]

Thanks for the reply dythan2005. Some people said it took only three months for them (I am talking about Nepal). Does it vary from country to country? Are there situations that the processing would go in fast or slow manner?

[NikLR 13,232]

Do not look at I-129F timelines separately. In a K3 case both petitions are adjudicated together. It really depends on which petition manages to get to the NVC first on which path you will be on (either CR1 or K3.) Most people end up on the CR1/IR1 path because the NVC closes the I-129F.

[dythan2005 12]

Thanks for the reply dythan2005. Some people said it took only three months for them (I am talking about Nepal). Does it vary from country to country? Are there situations that the processing would go in fast or slow manner?

Don't quote me on this but I think people who filed outside USA usually gets an "auto-expedite" processing and Filipinos temporarily gets the auto-expedite as well. You can apply for an expedite processing but there are certain conditions that you have to qualify first in order for uscis to grant you one.

[Ppll909 3]

My case is new (above are from 2011) but same.

My Situation: I applied for I-129F (K-3 for spouse) a month ago (and I-130 a week before) My status in USCIS website is in "initial review" status and it says "your Alien Registration Number was changed relating to your I129F..". Visa journey website did not mention how long it takes to get I-129 approved (or receive second notice of action, NOA) and send to NVC. How long it may take, roughly? Visa Journey says it takes only 2 weeks to send to NVC and another couple of weeks to send to Embassy and for interview. BUT, my friends in Nepal are saying their application is in NVC for about 3 months. How long it will take usually at NVC and Embassy. I guess, it may vary from country to country also. We are having hard time living separately so your information will help us. Thanks in advance!

As a fellow Nepalese,

the 129 F (k1) for fiancee visa takes 5-6 months in Nepal ( which can extend to 11-12 as well)

and the 130 F Petition for Spouse takes about 9 to 12 months

There are some cases of 3-5 month approval as well but that will depend mostly on your background checks or your Service Center.

Even though some part of the process might get speed up, sometimes the post decision activities will make your petition longer. Of almost all people i have seen around Nepalese Embassy their petition are stuck on NVC for almost 3 months now. OR

most got stuck in Administrative Processing after the interview for many months.

Also if your spouse has any certain skills or high qualifications you may not worry much.

So i am not sure which visa you are applying for but make sure to be very organised while sending the forms.

Wait for the embassy to contact your spouse or fiancee , keep updates through USCIS case status and

CEAC status check after it reaches NVC and most questions are available here. The process is extremely easy... the waiting game is hard. And all you need to do is wait.

Your process next is

You Filed Petition

Wait till the USCIS status shows you are approved NOA 2

or RFE(Request for Evidence)

If you are approved call NVC in 15 days. The NVC number will be extremely busy, redial patiently. Ask them if your case has been received and if they have issued a case number. (Usually Nepalese Spouse visa will go through an extensive background check or rather very slower process in NVC) for other reasons.

But do not worry, if you have everything proper there is nothing to worry. Your fiancee will get a call from the Embassy anyway.

While your fiancee or spouse makes inquiry in the Nepalese embassy tell her to be smart, dress for the occasion mostly be formal and be polite. (Smart does not mean trying to show you have a Great English accent or wear offensive Western clothes) Just very polite and well dressed. That is because the inquiry officer is a major person your case file goes through to the consulate.

Most inquires are basic and brain teasers for them so they are not in a good mood. Even i had to tell many people to go to the CEAC site and check their status which showed AT NVC. So, a smile and politeness might brighten them up and usually everything goes in process and information on what to do next is always given. The inquiry is usually done due to impatience. At-least wait for them to contact your wife or fiancee.

Edited June 30, 2014 by Ppll909

[khanepal 0]

Thank you for explaining nicely.. just to go back little bit, I had applied for both I-130 and I-129F (Fiance Visa for Spouse, K3). I applied at the end of April and on May 8th, A number had been assigned to both form. Since then, I have been waiting and checking status online, and mail box everyday but it is still in initial review stage. Waiting is frustrating but what to do.. just need to wait. I am assuming that I-129F will go faster than I-130 because we will have to apply for adjustment of status for my fiance after coming to USA and that will take some time however with I-130, there is no need to apply for adjustment of status and processing may take longer at NVC or elsewhere. My wife is Nurse so according to your statement, our application will move relatively faster?

I have been hearing that K-1 is faster than K-3, is that right? If so, how much? But, when I checked processing time online, it is same for both of them. Also, there is not much difference between different service center (Texas, Nebraska, California..)