Our Journey Begins

[Roger & Grace 198]

12/22/2016  Original K-1 paperwork filed with check. Sent to Dallas Lockbox

01/06/2017 First NOA (Receipt)  Looks good,I think, but nothing to do but wait.   Sent to California for processing. 

 

Anyone have any experience in how long this might take?

 

I have seen on this sight, based on our dates, our I129f may be adjudicated on March 30- April 2nd?  

 

Does this mean that is when we should hear something apporved or get the request for more evidence/information? 

 

From that point of being approved, how fast will the health biometrics screening and the Interview be.

 

We have been told her being in Hong Kong, that this could go a lot quicker.  

 

Her major scare is telling her employer and being fired just for tryng to get here. Any advice how to handle that when you work as a nanny 24/7 Monday- Saturday  Her Sundays are off.  

 

She has worked for this family for 8 years now.  Does anyone else have any advice how to get out to attend the medical exam and Interview without any huge red flags that they might get upset and want to fire her? When did you tell your Boss/ Family you were engaged, leaving them and going to the USA? 

[geowrian 22,337]

A NOA1 of early January will probably get adjudicated sometime in April based on how fast they are currently going. Check the data in my signature to see their current processing rates for K-1s. They are still in mid-November and have a number of early Nov (and earlier) cases outstanding. This is just an estimate...it could be sooner or later, especially base don the details of your case. But sometime in April would be my rough estimate if they keep going at their current rate this month. Anyway, this is when you will likely either get approved, an RFE, or denied. RFEs are generally adding about 2-3 weeks to the process. Again, YMMV.

 

Once approved, you will get a NOA2, and the petition will be sent off to NVC for processing. This process generally takes about a month or so, and is where the petitioner files for the actual visa (via DS-160).

 

Once through NVC, the documents will be sent to the embassy. The time from embassy to interview varies heavily based on what embassy is involved. I'm not familiar with the HK embassy, but generally expect anywhere from several weeks to 3 or even 4 months for an interview. The stats here on VJ indicate an average of roughly 2 months for HK.

 

I can't speak for what she should tell her employer. However, I will just say that her employer doesn't really have a say in the process so there is no requirement to tell them. However, it's also better to tell your employer than have them find out through other means (i.e. if she needs to take a day off for the medical or interview or whatever). Other than that, I'll defer completely to others for their personal experiences.

Edited February 14, 2017 by geowrian

[Cryssiekins 976]

I'm not sure what her contractual obligations are, but for me, I used personal time (vacation days) for any legwork I had to do, such as the medical and criminal check.  

 

My employer knew right away when I was engaged but I never disclosed overly personal information about plans.  People leave jobs all the time.  As long as she continues to do her job in an appropriate manner, she should be fine.  Just maybe not disclose definite plans just yet.  Once she has a visa in hand, then she can give notice before she comes to America.  

 

We filed the K1 petition on 21 March 2016 and was approved by USCIS on 14 June, case was at NVC for all of July and with the embassy in August and my interview was at the beginning of September and I came to America on 1st October.  Just shy of 3 months for the initial approval and about 6 months from starting the process to feet on American soil.  We had no rfe's and I spent a lot of time on VJ researching the next steps so I was always prepared. 

[Roger & Grace 198]

Thanks for the encouragement! 

 

I know, based on others filing as a Female Filipina to the USA to her fiance, that sometimes it goes a lot quicker in HK.  The USA Embassy in HK  is not quite as busy as it would be, say in Manila or Cebu, PH.

 

Can you give me an idea what is really covered in the Medical Exam?  And the Interview as far as questions asked, what did your spouse wear, or anything else you might find useful for her/me to know?   

 

I wanted to ask her to marry me in front of my kids here (they are 15 and 13) in the USA.  I hope that is not anything that might be taken wrong? I stated that in a cover letter I sent with the K-1 info.   Last year at this time, Feb 14- 22, 2016, I spent the week in HK.  We had talked online for just over a year, and I needed to see if it was real. (It was) So now that the Receipt has been accepted, we are waiting for the NOA #2?  I also filled out everything I could find on Visa Journey, followed the checklist, this site had fantastic great advice!  

 

This is what we got so far... "On December 27, 2016, we received your Form I-129F, Petition for Fiance(E), Receipt #  *******  and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice.  Dated January the 6th."

 

 There really isnt any instructions? (Other than to check your name and address and her name.) So I guess it's now in process?  I went to the USCIS office here (I am extreemly lucky it's in my building in Indianapolis) to check last week, the lady said, "It just takes time to get through everything."  Nothing more required for now.  That "Anticipation" song now plays in my head! LOL!  

 

Three last questions for now.. 1) How long after the last interview did you have to wait for the K-1 Visa package?  2) How soon till you got on a plane to go to your fiance in the USA?  3) I assume once in hand, did you send the airline tickets to her electronically or what did you do? 

 

Thanks in advance, this is quite the Visa Journey!!