DECEMBER 2022 I-129F K1 FILERS

[J&D1008 376]

Hello...Welcome!

 

For those who have just filed your I-129f application with USCIS, this thread has been created for your needs and for you to be with others experiencing different aspects of this journey. This is a place to ask questions and to share experiences. All are here to learn together.

 

Stay patient because this is a long process currently running 15-17 months for your NOA2 or petition approval by USCIS (first stage). Then your petition will be sent to NVC which runs about 4-6 weeks processing (second stage) and finally your interview at the embassy (third stage).  Also, do not compare yourself to others....Some will receive NOA-2 faster than others, some will be stuck at NVC for longer and then finally some will receive interviews fairly quickly at embassy. STAY PATIENT! 

 

Please create the timeline in your profile. Also note that USCIS goes by "Received date" :

 

Example

I-129 F Sent -  December 2, 2022

I-129 F Received - December 5, 2022 (NOA-1) 

I-129 F - Notice Date - December 7, 2022

 

In this example your NOA-1 should be December 5. This will help you fill out your timeline properly. 

 

 

 

 

 

[KeilaSanchez 9]

I just submitted my k1 application on Wednesday. I will come back to start my timeline.

 

[J&D1008 376]

On 12/3/2022 at 7:32 AM, keilaplatz said:

I just submitted my k1 application on Wednesday. I will come back to start my timeline.

 

Welcome! 

[Ok-Mix 117]

I-129F has been mailed!  Waiting for the receipt so we can all follow this journey together! 

 

[Play 66]

On 12/26/2022 at 3:24 PM, Ok-Mix1229 said:

I-129F has been mailed!  Waiting for the receipt so we can all follow this journey together! 

 

Sent it on thursday 20 2022. Once i get noa1 i will post it. Lets do this journey together

[myohmyohmy 15]

Hi,

 

I'm going to try to not obsess about this as the current process time is 15.5 months so we'll be lucky anything before May 2024.  Thanks.

 

I-129F Sent -  December 7, 2022

I-129F Received - December 9, 2022

I-129F - Notice Date - December 12, 2022 (NOA1)

[Play 66]

I-129F Sent -  December 29, 2022

I-129F Received - January 05, 2023

I-129F - Notice Date - January 09, 2022 (NOA1)

Edited January 13, 2023 by Play

[Play 66]

On 12/26/2022 at 3:24 PM, Ok-Mix1229 said:

I-129F has been mailed!  Waiting for the receipt so we can all follow this journey together! 

 

This is going to be a long journey?

[Ok-Mix 117]

Yep from everything I see on the forums and also USCIS web site

 

But K-1 was our best route because we will be together sooner.  We could file now, and then worry about AOS once she arrives here in the US. Yes she won't be able to work or travel (internationally), but at least we'd be together to wait it out.

[Play 66]

1 hour ago, Ok-Mix1229 said:

Yep from everything I see on the forums and also USCIS web site

 

But K-1 was our best route because we will be together sooner.  We could file now, and then worry about AOS once she arrives here in the US. Yes she won't be able to work or travel (internationally), but at least we'd be together to wait it out.

Thats what we were thinking too, We want to be together even if she can't travell or work but at least we are together and AOs can take its time.

[Anna Hessler 119]

2 hours ago, Ok-Mix1229 said:

Yep from everything I see on the forums and also USCIS web site

 

But K-1 was our best route because we will be together sooner.  We could file now, and then worry about AOS once she arrives here in the US. Yes she won't be able to work or travel (internationally), but at least we'd be together to wait it out.

Hi! I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but I just wanted to share that the spousal visa is faster and cheaper at every step. In 90% of cases, the petition is approved sooner. And there is no need for AOS, the CR1 visa is a green card. The spousal service center is random, unlike the K1 that automatically goes to California. All the spousal service centers are averaging 10-12 months right now, with one exception. (The Vermont center is currently at 16 months.)

 

The CR1 visa is better in every way, there are zero benefits to the K1 visa now. And with the AOS price hikes coming up, the spousal will be nearly $2,000 cheaper. 

 

You're all so early in this process. If you can withdraw and file a spousal I would recommend it. Just a strangers two cents. Best of luck! 

[Ok-Mix 117]

Sure Anna, I definitely appreciate the feedback!

 

However, when deciding between filing NOW for a fiancée visa or wait until after a wedding (in her country), which would be July or August of this year at the earliest, to file the spousal visa, this made more sense to us. 

 

So in our case, we are saving time, which is very important to us as far as being together ASAP goes... and it will also be less expensive for us to get married in the US, so I guess that savings will help offset the new AOS fees that you are talking about...

[Play 66]

4 hours ago, Ok-Mix1229 said:

Sure Anna, I definitely appreciate the feedback!

 

However, when deciding between filing NOW for a fiancée visa or wait until after a wedding (in her country), which would be July or August of this year at the earliest, to file the spousal visa, this made more sense to us. 

 

So in our case, we are saving time, which is very important to us as far as being together ASAP goes... and it will also be less expensive for us to get married in the US, so I guess that savings will help offset the new AOS fees that you are talking about...

I thought the k1 was faster and it came to be about the same or a little bit less timely, It was faster before 2020. The cost of a wedding here in the US is less, but we still planning for a wedding in local country.

Edited January 13, 2023 by Play

[J&D1008 376]

On 1/13/2023 at 12:46 AM, Play said:

I-129F Sent -  December 29, 2022

I-129F Received - January 05, 2023

I-129F - Notice Date - January 09, 2022 (NOA1)

Please join the January 2023 Filers. 

 

 

[myohmyohmy 15]

On 1/13/2023 at 10:14 AM, Anna Hessler said:

Hi! I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but I just wanted to share that the spousal visa is faster and cheaper at every step. In 90% of cases, the petition is approved sooner. And there is no need for AOS, the CR1 visa is a green card. The spousal service center is random, unlike the K1 that automatically goes to California. All the spousal service centers are averaging 10-12 months right now, with one exception. (The Vermont center is currently at 16 months.)

 

The CR1 visa is better in every way, there are zero benefits to the K1 visa now. And with the AOS price hikes coming up, the spousal will be nearly $2,000 cheaper. 

 

You're all so early in this process. If you can withdraw and file a spousal I would recommend it. Just a strangers two cents. Best of luck! 

I would've gone down this route but unfortunately it's illegal for us to get married in El Salvador so we had no choice but to go the K-1 route.  Stinks but at least we can get married here hopefully before the supreme court changes it!