Does Short Courtship Affect K-1 Visa Approval for International Couples?

[Korede Temi 1]

Hey everyone, I’m a Nigerian guy (30) currently living in Finland, and my fiancee is a US citizen (27). We crossed paths at the Italy airport back in August 2023 during layovers, and the connection was instant. She admired my dedication and ambition, plus the fact that her father is Nigerian made it even more special to her. Since that day, we’ve been talking non-stop, falling deeper in love with each passing day.

I proposed when she visited me in November 2023, and it was a beautiful moment.
 

She filed for the K-1 visa in December 2023. Now, I’m wondering if the relatively short duration of our relationship before getting engaged could affect our visa process. Also, does anyone know how long it typically takes to get the K-1 visa approved? By the way, we recently had an amazing trip to Paris together this month! 

 

Thank you.

[wildbug100420 115]

20 minutes ago, Korede Temi said:

Hey everyone, I’m a Nigerian guy (30) currently living in Finland, and my fiancee is a US citizen (27). We crossed paths at the Italy airport back in August 2023 during layovers, and the connection was instant. She admired my dedication and ambition, plus the fact that her father is Nigerian made it even more special to her. Since that day, we’ve been talking non-stop, falling deeper in love with each passing day.

I proposed when she visited me in November 2023, and it was a beautiful moment.
 

She filed for the K-1 visa in December 2023. Now, I’m wondering if the relatively short duration of our relationship before getting engaged could affect our visa process. Also, does anyone know how long it typically takes to get the K-1 visa approved? By the way, we recently had an amazing trip to Paris together this month! 

 

Thank you.

It's about 1.5 to 2 years to complete the process. Strongly suggest you spend more time in person. 

 

Additionally others recommend going the spouse visa process instead. Cue crazy cat with the comparisons. 

[Boiler 45,585]

What is your status in Finland?

[Korede Temi 1]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

What is your status in Finland?

I’m a student in Finland. I will complete my studies this year. 

Edited April 1 by Korede Temi

[Boiler 45,585]

So you will be interviewing on Lagos, presumably she will be visiting you in Nigeria.

 

Have you previously been married

 

Have you applied for a tourist visa

[wildbug100420 115]

3 minutes ago, Korede Temi said:

I’m a student in Finland. I will complete my studies this year. 

Hopefully you are comfortable with not being able to work or travel outside the US until you get your employment authorization and advance parole 

[Korede Temi 1]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

So you will be interviewing on Lagos, presumably she will be visiting you in Nigeria.

 

Have you previously been married

 

Have you applied for a tourist visa

No, my visa is still valid here for the next four years. If so, I will be interviewing in Helsinki. 
 

no, I have not been previously married. 
 

no, I have never applied for any visa to visit the US ever. 

[Korede Temi 1]

2 minutes ago, wildbug100420 said:

Hopefully you are comfortable with not being able to work or travel outside the US until you get your employment authorization and advance parole 

Yes, we are both okay with that and we will navigate that when the time comes. 
 

Thank you. 

[wildbug100420 115]

2 minutes ago, Korede Temi said:

Yes, we are both okay with that and we will navigate that when the time comes. 
 

Thank you. 

Ok. Also the petitioner must make enough to sponsor you. Also please complete your timeline

[powerpuff 6,715]

*** Topic moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures ***

[JeanneAdil 6,519]

Now that the fees to adjust your status after a US marriage have doubled,   spouse visa makes mush more sense as both K1 and CR1 take about the same time.

 

If u will not return to Nigeria to live,  send for the criminal report documents that will be needed for your Finland interview.

If u do return to Nigeria for an interview ,  make sure u get a Finish criminal report before u leave.

 

what is important now is that you have over a year to show more trips to be together and you can prove it with  copies of boarding passes,  hotel receipts ,  etc 

time spent together will be very important to your case.

 

It would be best if the USC joined the site for information as she is the one who now is responsible for the process

[JeanneAdil 6,519]

check the following site to see if your relationship shows any of the red flag  warnings:

 

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

[TexasRafael 134]

I met my husband in October 2016, met in person in May 2017 and submitted my K1 on July 2017 and it was eventually approved.  I do want to make mention that in the time the application was going through I visited more than 6 times.  Maybe it was a tad too much, but it provided for strong ties.

[Boiler 45,585]

11 minutes ago, TexasRafael said:

I met my husband in October 2016, met in person in May 2017 and submitted my K1 on July 2017 and it was eventually approved.  I do want to make mention that in the time the application was going through I visited more than 6 times.  Maybe it was a tad too much, but it provided for strong ties.

So what would hundreds of visits be?

[Korede Temi 1]

42 minutes ago, TexasRafael said:

I met my husband in October 2016, met in person in May 2017 and submitted my K1 on July 2017 and it was eventually approved.  I do want to make mention that in the time the application was going through I visited more than 6 times.  Maybe it was a tad too much, but it provided for strong ties.

Thank you for sharing your story. I really appreciate it 

3 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

check the following site to see if your relationship shows any of the red flag  warnings:

 

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

Thank you so much.