K1 visa 129f waiting time.

[reyjay 49]

My petition packet was recieved by USCIS ON Aug. 18, 2017 and I received my receipt in the mail (form I-797) Aug. 26. I followed the instructions and sent everything. I’ve read in other forums that this phase is the longest waiting time. My fiancee is in the Philippines and we’ve been together for almost 3 years and we’ve only seen each other in person once.

 

If no problem at all with my petition;

1. Approximately when should I get approve?

2. While waiting, what documents should I     be preparing just in case I get approve?

3. What to expect on my next phase?

 

Thanks...

 

 

 

[AnJ Co 1,676]

17 minutes ago, reyjay said:

My petition packet was recieved by USCIS ON Aug. 18, 2017 and I received my receipt in the mail (form I-797) Aug. 26. I followed the instructions and sent everything. I’ve read in other forums that this phase is the longest waiting time. My fiancee is in the Philippines and we’ve been together for almost 3 years and we’ve only seen each other in person once.

 

If no problem at all with my petition;

1. Approximately when should I get approve?

2. While waiting, what documents should I     be preparing just in case I get approve?

3. What to expect on my next phase?

 

Thanks...

 

 

 

Look for an approval Valentines Day (mid February)

 

Send a copy of your I-129F petition to your F so she may familiarize herself with it.  

 

Keep a record of your relationship since filing the petition - screenshots of Skype calls, printed out texts, emails, whatever method you use to communicate.  One a week is good enough.  Send these to her or have her print them in the PH

 

Here is a good website, a little dated but still good for planning your post NOA2 journey    http://dennyeyberg.wixsite.com/filipino-am-visa/manila-process-usem

 

also click on Portals above and explore your country specific information.

 

another great reference is Hank.  Get to know Hank for any questions, 

http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/

 

Of course, ask any of us if you like.  I'm always willing to help.

 

When you get your NOA2, celebrate for 10 days.  Then start calling the NVC to get your MNL number.  With this number you can proceed lickity split thru the rest of the process and have her here by the first day of Spring.  So just relax now, read up on what you do after NOA2 - and continue to grow that relationship.  Go visit her one more time, if ya really wanna cement it.  CO's reportedly like to see more than one visit, but it is not a prerequisite.

 

[LLT 22]

We filed about the same time (received Aug 16, 2017) and according to the USCIS timeline, August filers should be approved in February (if they keep to the current pace). We are constantly checking this page: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do  It seems they update the processing time about every 3-4 weeks and last updated on Oct 13 for the CA center.

 

When we receive approval, we are planning to prepare either a form for Employment Authorization (so he can work) and/or the application to Adjust Status.  That way we'll be ready to submit it as soon as we are approved for that next step.  We're also saving money and planning our wedding. lol 

 

Good luck! Let's stay in touch!

[RJandHamid 1,133]

@LLT just a heads up about the Employment authorization: this step comes after your fiance arrives in the US and you get married. After your marriage, you will need to apply for your spouse's adjustment of status, and along with that you can submit the employment (EAD) and travel (AP/Advanced Parole) authorization documents. Currently the EAD and AP are taking around 3-4 months for processing. The bottom line is, I wouldn't worry about the employment authorization or AOS steps at all until your fiance arrives. One key piece of advice though is to start saving for the AOS process. The fee for AOS is currently $1225, and you can file the EAD/AP documents in the same packet for free. 

 

I wish you guys a speedy visa process! 

[LLT 22]

thanks!  yes, we know we can't file them yet but that's why we want to have them ready as much as we can.  That way it's not as overwhelming when the time to submit them actually comes.

 

You give some good info.  We are thinking through if it will even worth it to file for Employment Authorization or just wait for the Adjustment.  We are leaning towards skipping Employment Authorization but haven't made the decision yet (we wait, lol).  

 

And yes, we are saving money for everything related to the visa process as well as wedding/honeymoon and flights.  So expensive but totally worth it!!

 

What is the "travel (EP/advanced parole" authorization documents" you are referring to?  Is that so he can travel outside the US after we get married and before he gets approval to Adjust status?  We were wondering about that, especially in regards to the honeymoon.

 

Also, I found this thread for August filers to follow: 

 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

The process of adjusting (getting the green card) takes anywhere from 6-12 months, and sometimes longer depending on the volume of petitions at your service center. If you live near Chicago (like me!), the local office is taking forever (like 10+ months..) to process the adjustment of status documents. My husband filed for AOS last month and we don't expect him to have his green card until next summer at the earliest. We did file for Employment Authorization and Advanced Parole however. We are hoping those documents arrive at the end of the year. He will not be able to leave the United States (travel with the US can still be done!) until he has the Advanced Parole document in hand! The processing time for EAD and AP is around 3-4 months, so I definitely recommend filing for them both along with the I-485 (AOS) petition. 

[LLT 22]

oh great! Thank you!  Helps me clear my thoughts especially when I THINK I understand something...only to find out I don't! Ok, wow, so yes we should file all 3 of those (employment authorization and advanced parole and AOS) after we get married.  

 

Any thoughts on what we should be doing right now before we get NOA2?

 

 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

Well there isn't too much that can be done at this point other than wait for the NOA2. If you have not already done so, I would start researching what documents he will need to obtain to bring to the interview (police record, birth certificate, ect).

 

You're almost half way through the worst wait in the process (NOA2!) Hope you have a smooth K-1 visa journey! 

[LLT 22]

Thank you!! you too!!

 

I see in your timeline that you had a Biometrics appointment.  Did USCIS tell you that you had to do that?  We didn't submit any type of biometrics nor have we heard anything about it.

[RJandHamid 1,133]

The biometrics appointment is done during the AOS process. Part of the $1225 fee includes the biometrics fee. USCIS sent us a letter detailing when and where my husband needed to go for his appointment. This was all done after we received our NOA1 notification for the I-485 (AOS).

[reyjay 49]

3 hours ago, LLT said:

We filed about the same time (received Aug 16, 2017) and according to the USCIS timeline, August filers should be approved in February (if they keep to the current pace). We are constantly checking this page: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do  It seems they update the processing time about every 3-4 weeks and last updated on Oct 13 for the CA center.

 

When we receive approval, we are planning to prepare either a form for Employment Authorization (so he can work) and/or the application to Adjust Status.  That way we'll be ready to submit it as soon as we are approved for that next step.  We're also saving money and planning our wedding. lol 

 

Good luck! Let's stay in touch!

Thanks for the reply..

I’m a little nervous about it specially for the interview.

 

Good luck to you too!

[Confusion123 0]

My petition was received May 10 2017.  My fiance is in china and we are still waiting approval.   Ive called ncis and they rely on their misleading time chart telling me they cant do anything until December.   Does anyone have the same experience or suggestions?   Thanx

[reyjay 49]

4 hours ago, Confusion123 said:

My petition was received May 10 2017.  My fiance is in china and we are still waiting approval.   Ive called ncis and they rely on their misleading time chart telling me they cant do anything until December.   Does anyone have the same experience or suggestions?   Thanx

Some May filers have been approved and some have hot. I’ve read in other forums that they are sending a lot of RFE to buy times. 

 

 

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 Process to Progress Reports