Help: K1 Visa Timeline - When to Apply?

[DaisyLovesTea 0]

Hi - 

 

Just a quick intro. My name is Daisy and I live in England and my fiancé lives in Tampa, FL. We've been researching the K1 process religiously and are wanting to apply in October. How long do you think we would have to wait? 

 

I realise there's no right or wrong answer, but we're wanting the big move to happen August next year (as I'm a teacher) and to ensure we've saved enough money for living off etc (and paying off my car etc) 

 

Is October too late? Only I know a couple whose entire K1 process (from UK) only took four months and that's too soon! 

 

Help?! TIA

[Cryssiekins 976]

On average, it's about 5-6 months from

filing to visa in hand, provided there are no real delays or requests for evidence.  That being said, once the visa is issued, I believe you have up to 4 months (or so?) in which to use it. 

 

Keep an eye on the USCIS processing times for a best guess, but I'd think January would be your best best. 

[DaisyLovesTea 0]

8 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

On average, it's about 5-6 months from

filing to visa in hand, provided there are no real delays or requests for evidence.  That being said, once the visa is issued, I believe you have up to 4 months (or so?) in which to use it. 

 

Keep an eye on the USCIS processing times for a best guess, but I'd think January would be your best best. 

Thank you. Filing in October would put it being issued in April which isn't a problem as we'd still have the six months in which to move and get married. Thank you

6 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

Once the visa is issued you must enter within 6 months.

Thank you 

Edited May 1, 2017 by DaisyLovesTea

[Ashley Scott 180]

You will have a bit of control over your timeline as well.  If you are in no hurry you can schedule your medical and interview a bit later as well.  Then you have the 6 months from the approval to move over.  Our interview is scheduled for 5.5 months after the date that we sent the packet.  That seems to be the norm for processing times right now  Good luck to you both!

[Ashley Scott 180]

You will have a bit of control over your timeline as well.  If you are in no hurry you can schedule your medical and interview a bit later as well.  Then you have the 6 months from the approval to move over.  Our interview is scheduled for 5.5 months after the date that we sent the packet.  That seems to be the norm for processing times right now  Good luck to you both!

[Ashley Scott 180]

You will have a bit of control over your timeline as well.  If you are in no hurry you can schedule your medical and interview a bit later as well.  Then you have the 6 months from the approval to move over.  Our interview is scheduled for 5.5 months after the date that we sent the packet.  That seems to be the norm for processing times right now  Good luck to you both!

[Georgia16 2,858]

Sinde you have plenty of time and are in no rush of moving have you guys considered the CR-1 visa? It takes about a year to get but you can work and travel right away and then you also don't have to think about AOS after you get here. 

 

 

[broppy 204]

1 hour ago, DaisyLovesTea said:

Just a quick intro. My name is Daisy and I live in England and my fiancé lives in Tampa, FL. We've been researching the K1 process religiously and are wanting to apply in October. How long do you think we would have to wait? 

 

I realise there's no right or wrong answer, but we're wanting the big move to happen August next year (as I'm a teacher) and to ensure we've saved enough money for living off etc (and paying off my car etc) 

 

Is October too late? Only I know a couple whose entire K1 process (from UK) only took four months and that's too soon!

As you're not in a rush, have you considered marrying first and taking the CR-1 route? As a Brit, you can take advantage of the VWP/ESTA to visit your fiancé and get married in the US - as long as you intend to return home after the marriage. It may take longer to process the visa application, but you're able to work or study the entire time. The huge disadvantage of K-1 is that after you get married you'll be stuck in the US for at least three months with no work authorization - with CR-1, you're eligible to work or study the same day you enter the country. 

[DaisyLovesTea 0]

45 minutes ago, Ashley Scott said:

You will have a bit of control over your timeline as well.  If you are in no hurry you can schedule your medical and interview a bit later as well.  Then you have the 6 months from the approval to move over.  Our interview is scheduled for 5.5 months after the date that we sent the packet.  That seems to be the norm for processing times right now  Good luck to you both!

How long can you delay or schedule your interview and medical for? Just curious as that would be helpful if needed

[DaisyLovesTea 0]

14 minutes ago, broppy said:

As you're not in a rush, have you considered marrying first and taking the CR-1 route? As a Brit, you can take advantage of the VWP/ESTA to visit your fiancé and get married in the US - as long as you intend to return home after the marriage. It may take longer to process the visa application, but you're able to work or study the entire time. The huge disadvantage of K-1 is that after you get married you'll be stuck in the US for at least three months with no work authorization - with CR-1, you're eligible to work or study the same day you enter the country. 

We've considered this, but we think K1 is the way forward for us.  

 

The not working right away isn't a huge factor for us - I just want to ensure I'm financially stable and able to support myself when moving

[Ashley Scott 180]

2 minutes ago, DaisyLovesTea said:

How long can you delay or schedule your interview and medical for? Just curious as that would be helpful if needed

I am not sure of exactly how long but I know when I got on to schedule my fiancé's interview it was offering me dates 2 months out.  I didn't look any further than that but I would think you would be safe scheduling it 2-4 months after your approval.  Hopefully someone can chime in on this with an accurate answer.   

[DaisyLovesTea 0]

5 minutes ago, Ashley Scott said:

I am not sure of exactly how long but I know when I got on to schedule my fiancé's interview it was offering me dates 2 months out.  I didn't look any further than that but I would think you would be safe scheduling it 2-4 months after your approval.  Hopefully someone can chime in on this with an accurate answer.   

2-4 months would be fine for us - thank you!

 

We've already delayed our application until October (we got engaged in February and wanted to apply last month), so we're just working everything out. We've known K1 would be the process for us for around a year, and it's so exciting and nerve-wracking! 

Edited May 1, 2017 by DaisyLovesTea

[broppy 204]

1 minute ago, DaisyLovesTea said:

We've considered this, but we think K1 is the way forward for us.  

 

The not working right away isn't a huge factor for us - I just want to ensure I'm financially stable and able to support myself when moving

CR-1 works out cheaper too - CR-1 visa  plus ROC vs K-1 visa plus AOS plus ROC. And it's not just being able to work that complicates things - even simple stuff like getting a driver's licence on K-1 can be troublesome.

[DaisyLovesTea 0]

Just now, broppy said:

CR-1 works out cheaper too - CR-1 visa  plus ROC vs K-1 visa plus AOS plus ROC. And it's not just being able to work that complicates things - even simple stuff like getting a driver's licence on K-1 can be troublesome.

Thank you. I think we're both apprehensive as we'd much prefer to get married whilst being able to stay with each other rather than marry and then have to leave again. :/ 

 

It's certainly something we can discuss - so thank you for your help!

[Sirisaysyes 7]

Oct 24 2016 - I-129F Filed - April 27 2017 Visa in hand delay of 3 weeks by me for not submitting packet 3 right away because working out of town also could have booked the interview sooner.