K1 lengthy process... Why though?? We need answers...

[O&GForever 387]

I know it's difficult to be away from your loved one. Believe me I went through the visa process twice...once for a K1 that was denied and again for a CR1 which was approved this year. From the first time we applied until he arrived, it took us 2 years. I know it's hard to hear, but patience is key to this process. Continue to communicate with your fiance, be patient with each other, and prepare for the interview. You can never be too prepared. 

 

This may not help at all,  but you have to remember the sheer number of visas these centers are processing. The link below will give you the number of visas received by the USCIS just this year. 

 

K1 petitions reveived: 49,831

CR1 petitions recevied: 914,484

Total forms received: 8,530,722

 

Should they find ways to improve the process...sure. We are paying them to work for us. But with so many people wanting to bring their loved ones here, it's sadly going to take time. 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/Quarterly_All_Forms_FY17Q4.pdf

[FlashLG 152]

9 minutes ago, Fl Guy said:

I'm reading all these replies that say the waiting time were longer many years ago.  This is not true,  I was a K1 beneficiary way back in 1991 and we filed in April and I had Visa in hand by the end of Sept.  So 5 months to visa in hand. 

 

Now I find myself in the same boat as everyone on this site....waiting.  I'm a June 27th filer and waiting for the NOA2  its been almost  6 months.

 

Happy Holidays to all we will all get through this.

We filed in late February this year and had visa in hand 5 and a half months later. Could have been even sooner too but I delayed the interview by a few weeks.

 

I think the point being made by others is that it has always been the case that the timings shift in peaks and troughs.You were previously fortunate enough to benefit from a shorter time (as I was this year), however unfortunately for you and others going through the process now, it is taking a lot longer.

 

Hopefully for all of those going through the process now, things start to improve soon!

Edited December 22, 2017 by FlashLG
typo correction

[evapaula 230]

29 minutes ago, Fl Guy said:

I'm reading all these replies that say the waiting time were longer many years ago.  This is not true,  I was a K1 beneficiary way back in 1991 and we filed in April and I had Visa in hand by the end of Sept.  So 5 months to visa in hand. 

 

Now I find myself in the same boat as everyone on this site....waiting.  I'm a June 27th filer and waiting for the NOA2  its been almost  6 months.

 

Happy Holidays to all we will all get through this.

just because you got lucky doesn't make it the rule. 
We started the K1 process in Dec 2013, and were approved in about 4 month because CSC was pretty fast at that time, but I knew people who applied around the same time and had to go through the Texas center, and it took 10-12 months for them.
Now I'm going through ROC and it's California that's taking forever (although I don't really care at this point). It depends. 

Edited December 22, 2017 by evapaula

[Frustrated Amer. 2]

I have to agree that the K-1 visa process is now moving at a snail’s pace.  This year, the fees have increased yet applicants are not benefiting from paying more.  Years ago, under the Bush #2’s administration, I fell in love and applied for a K-1 visa.  It only took two months to receive the NOA2 after filing the application.  Unfortunately, the marriage did not last and we divorced several years later but we remained good friends.  In 2015 I fell in love again and applied for a K-1 visa under the Obama administration.   Once again, I received NOA2 within 45 days of the NOA1. Although the visa was approved, I canceled the petition and did not bring her here to the US after canceling our engagement. In 2016 I met the love of my life and after serious consideration proposed and filed a petition for a K-1 visa in 2017.  The fees have increased, and nothing is being done after waiting several months since NOA1.  For some reason under the Trump administration the process is moving ridiculously slow. Yes very very slow.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Frustrated Amer.
none

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

First K1 denied after 16 months of AP.

Second K1 approved.
Took us 4 years to finally be together.
It has only been 4 months for you and you should focus on gathering good quality relationship evidence together and visit him again.
Togo is not an easy embassy to go through, you may get AP.
I strongly advice another visit and /or being on the premises of the embassy when he interviews with strong evidence of a bona fide
relationship.
Use this time wisely to visit and collect more proof.

 

[George & Roth 1,485]

They should increase fees so they can hire more staff.

[Frustrated Amer. 2]

13 minutes ago, George & Roth said:

They should increase fees so they can hire more staff.

They already increased the fees this year and afterwards the process slowed down significantly. We are now paying more for less.

Edited December 22, 2017 by Frustrated Amer.
none

[George & Roth 1,485]

Because they are terribly mismanaged. Someone should be held accountable or explain where all the extra funds are going.

 

Now they accept forms for email, text and also have website notifications. However they are so poorly run they randomly update each of the above, you never know how you will find out. Maybe snail mail or maybe website. They gave up on email and sms. 

[usmsbow 802]

1 hour ago, George & Roth said:

Because they are terribly mismanaged. Someone should be held accountable or explain where all the extra funds are going.

 

 

USCIS is almost entirely funded through user fees. The upside is taxpayer $ isn't used. The downside is it weakens Congress' power over USCIS. Can't threaten to cut their budget if they don't get their act together. I'm also sure that the immigration process is not a high priority for the DHS inspector general to investigate. 

[geowrian 22,338]

3 hours ago, Fl Guy said:

I'm reading all these replies that say the waiting time were longer many years ago.  This is not true,  I was a K1 beneficiary way back in 1991 and we filed in April and I had Visa in hand by the end of Sept.  So 5 months to visa in hand.

You missed the >1 year wait when DACA came through. It was over 6 months in the past as well. It's an ebb and flow...sometimes it was faster than it is now, and sometimes it was slower.

 

1 hour ago, Frustrated Amer. said:

They already increased the fees this year and afterwards the process slowed down significantly. We are now paying more for less.

Not really. The fees cover the total processing costs...whether that happens in 1 week or 1 year doesn't change how much it costs to process the submission (well, except maybe storage costs! ). You're getting the same thing others did in the past...just not on the same timeline as others (which is always true....see above).

Edited December 22, 2017 by geowrian

[Umka36 781]

I had planned for one year for my wife to get to the US (filed K1 in autumn 2010, arrived late summer of 2011), and I traveled multiple times during the waiting game to see her. I took a financial hit doing this, but for me it was worth it. I'm not one to mull over something I have no control over, and try to make the best of the situation.

 

Not to brush people emotions aside, but I've learned that immigration has always been a waiting game.  If they are outside the processing time frame, it's your right to get your congress representative involved.