K1 Visa next steps

[valinor 0]

Hello my fiancée and I will be going through the embassy in Lima, Peru. We received our approval notice from USCIS on September 17, 2024 and have been waiting for the notice from NVC since then. How long should the process take to get notification and then for them to send the petition to the embassy? Also, what documents should we be gathering in advance so that we are prepared? I am in the process of getting an SF50 from my job and documents from the bank. Should I get anything else? And what about my fiancée? Thank you in advance.

[MalloryCat 178]

have you checked the status of your case through USCIS to see if they have sent it to the NVC? based on what others have said they have been much slower sending cases to the NVC.

you can either check through your USCIS account or here with your case number - https://egov.uscis.gov/

 

if it has been sent to the NVC, you can check their processing times here - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html

if it is passed the processing time for when your case would have been received (if it has already been sent) you can submit a public inquiry to the NVC to get your case number here - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html?wcmmode=disabled

 

if you can get your case number that way, you can track its status for the embassy here (when searching, the visa application type needs to be under "immigrant visa" not "nonimmigrant", even though the K-1 visa is technically nonimmigrant) - https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV

if it has just been sent to the embassy, the tracker will show as "in transit" and will eventually update to "ready". "ready" just means that the embassy has received it and they will be contacting your fiance with the next steps (no exact time frame on that as it is embassy specific)

 

you can read information about the consulate in Lima here  - https://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Peru&cty=Lima

it also lists what documents your fiance should bring to her interview.

 

any communication now will go directly to the foreign fiance.

Once it does leave the NVC and the embassy has received it, the embassy will send what is typically called packet 3 to your fiance. this packet will contain the information for the next steps of the process. including how to schedule the interview, how and when to schedule the medical exam, and what documents your fiance will need to bring to the interview.

 

for your side though, you will need to fill out and gather the evidence for the I-134 Affidavit of Support and send this to your fiance for her to bring to the interview.

the I-134 evidence needs to show current income, so tax return transcripts, employment authorization letter, pay stubs.

 

[apnzz 222]

2 hours ago, valinor said:

have been waiting for the notice from NVC since then. How long should the process take to get notification and then for them to send the petition to the embassy?

Just be prepared for a potentially longer wait. I got approved on Aug 23rd and my case only got sent to the department of state (NVC) yesterday - the 7th Oct.  It took 6 and a half weeks for me. Others are waiting longer. It could be faster, but just be aware of that potential delay!

 

After your case actually updates as "case sent to the department of state" it could be several weeks, however, after 2 weeks from the day it updates you can contact NVC by the Public Inquiry Form on their website, to inquire and see if they have received your case.

 

People recently have said that this is also taking a little longer - around 3-5 weeks. Shortly after that, perhaps just a matter of days, they will provide your case number.

 

Good luck!  

[valinor 0]

2 hours ago, MalloryCat said:

have you checked the status of your case through USCIS to see if they have sent it to the NVC? based on what others have said they have been much slower sending cases to the NVC.

you can either check through your USCIS account or here with your case number - https://egov.uscis.gov/

 

if it has been sent to the NVC, you can check their processing times here - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html

if it is passed the processing time for when your case would have been received (if it has already been sent) you can submit a public inquiry to the NVC to get your case number here - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html?wcmmode=disabled

 

if you can get your case number that way, you can track its status for the embassy here (when searching, the visa application type needs to be under "immigrant visa" not "nonimmigrant", even though the K-1 visa is technically nonimmigrant) - https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV

if it has just been sent to the embassy, the tracker will show as "in transit" and will eventually update to "ready". "ready" just means that the embassy has received it and they will be contacting your fiance with the next steps (no exact time frame on that as it is embassy specific)

 

you can read information about the consulate in Lima here  - https://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Peru&cty=Lima

it also lists what documents your fiance should bring to her interview.

 

any communication now will go directly to the foreign fiance.

Once it does leave the NVC and the embassy has received it, the embassy will send what is typically called packet 3 to your fiance. this packet will contain the information for the next steps of the process. including how to schedule the interview, how and when to schedule the medical exam, and what documents your fiance will need to bring to the interview.

 

for your side though, you will need to fill out and gather the evidence for the I-134 Affidavit of Support and send this to your fiance for her to bring to the interview.

the I-134 evidence needs to show current income, so tax return transcripts, employment authorization letter, pay stubs.

 

Thank you for such a detailed response. I asked my fiancée if she received anything yet and she said she hasn't so more waiting I guess.

[valinor 0]

2 hours ago, apnzz said:

Just be prepared for a potentially longer wait. I got approved on Aug 23rd and my case only got sent to the department of state (NVC) yesterday - the 7th Oct.  It took 6 and a half weeks for me. Others are waiting longer. It could be faster, but just be aware of that potential delay!

 

After your case actually updates as "case sent to the department of state" it could be several weeks, however, after 2 weeks from the day it updates you can contact NVC by the Public Inquiry Form on their website, to inquire and see if they have received your case.

 

People recently have said that this is also taking a little longer - around 3-5 weeks. Shortly after that, perhaps just a matter of days, they will provide your case number.

 

Good luck!  

Thanks for the heads up. I suppose a longer wait at the NVC stage is fair considering we got our i129F approved in 3 months. Cheers.