awaiting approval of I-129F form for Fiance Visa

[Luan]

Hi,
I am from the UK and am applying for the Fiancé visa to marry my Fiancé over in the USA who is American.
We sent off the I-129F form to the LockBox facility in Texas back in September 2014....and it seems they are going way over their 5 month approval time frame currently. It I is looking more like 7-8 months to even get the I-129F approved....that's before it goes to the NVC and then the US Embassy in London.
This is taking so long.....not only can we not plan the wedding but we are apart for so long....
Any one else applied end of 2014 and had any news yet?
Even after the approval is done, any idea why you can start to do the online forms.....do you do anything when it's with the NVC or not....do you just do the online visa form once the US Embassy have it?
Any idea how many more weeks / months it will be after the I-129F is approved before I can leave?
It seem in 2012/2013 things were moving a lot faster than they are now!
This very depressing and stressful.

[Yuri1988]

First off I want to apologize, but it would seem my process was a lot luckier then yours. I submitted the application for my fiance K-1 Visa on January 16, 2015. I did all the paperwork myself, and had her Uncle review the paperwork for errors that he could see. On January 22, I received the letter stating the receive my paperwork and are processing it. On February 9, I received my NOA2 stating that my paperwork was sent to the NVC and all further inquiries was to go through them. Currently waiting on letter from NVC stating that they sending the paperwork to the Embassy in the country where my fiance lives. I am under the impressions when I receive my next letter is when I can tell my fiance to start filling out the ds-160 online, and provide her with any documents she needs. Wish you luck with your paperwork.. long distance relationships sucks.

[Luan]

How come so fast?

First off I want to apologize, but it would seem my process was a lot luckier then yours. I submitted the application for my fiance K-1 Visa on January 16, 2015. I did all the paperwork myself, and had her Uncle review the paperwork for errors that he could see. On January 22, I received the letter stating the receive my paperwork and are processing it. On February 9, I received my NOA2 stating that my paperwork was sent to the NVC and all further inquiries was to go through them. Currently waiting on letter from NVC stating that they sending the paperwork to the Embassy in the country where my fiance lives. I am under the impressions when I receive my next letter is when I can tell my fiance to start filling out the ds-160 online, and provide her with any documents she needs. Wish you luck with your paperwork.. long distance relationships sucks.

Did I send my forms to the wrong place or something?
How come yours was reached the NVC in a month?
What countries are you both from? Is one from the UK and one from the USA finally to marry in the USA?
The USCIS site stated the I-129F forms had to be submitted to the Texas Lockbox Team, I had no other options. When checking their process times online it says it usually takes up to 5 months, but currently they are taking 7-8 months!

Please let me know.
Thanks

[Yuri1988]

My parents are vietnamese but I was born in America. My fiance is Vietnamese and is currently in Vietnam. To start i sent my paperwork to the lockbox at the texas location. About a week later, I received a letter stating they received it and foward it to the USCIS in Califorina. It is our intent to marry in the states when her visa is approve. I was worried about the wait time too, and was extremely shock at the pace everything seems to be going. I don't know if my background help, but I've been in the US most of my life. No criminal record, no financial hardships, and I've been in the military since i was 17. I don't know if all those help. I've also known my fiance for over a year, and was able to prove that with photos and passport stamps.

[Yuri1988]

Don't know if this will help out but I submitted the following in my packet
Payment-Check
A Cover letter with a list of everything I place in the packet
Form 1-129F.
About one page describing our relationship with dates and locations of where things took place.
Statement of intent, one from me and one from my fiance stating our that we'll marry within 90 days of her arrive in the states.
G325A filled out by me and her.
Passport type photo of me and her.
My birth certificate.
Copy of the my entire passport and hers
evidence of our relationship-Plane tickets iternies, 5 photos, which included picture of me proposing on a beach, and the ring itself..... (I was really worry i was lacking in this area)

Hope this helps ya.

[Luan]

My parents are vietnamese but I was born in America. My fiance is Vietnamese and is currently in Vietnam. To start i sent my paperwork to the lockbox at the texas location. About a week later, I received a letter stating they received it and foward it to the USCIS in Califorina. It is our intent to marry in the states when her visa is approve. I was worried about the wait time too, and was extremely shock at the pace everything seems to be going. I don't know if my background help, but I've been in the US most of my life. No criminal record, no financial hardships, and I've been in the military since i was 17. I don't know if all those help. I've also known my fiance for over a year, and was able to prove that with photos and passport stamps.

Its weird.....we had lots of back up too we had also been together a while and he is American.
Maybe it's because there is less of a wait in her country than in the UK?
I have no idea why mine was not sent to California or anywhere else to be handled?
All I can do is look online at the I-129F approval times on the USCIS site and it is only now that they have just approved forms filled with them on the 26th June!
So It is taking 7-8 months to even approve them! Its heart breaking and puts your whole life together on hold.
We try to call the Lockbox office and you wait for hours and get no answer, and when you email nothing either.....so frustrating!
Only thing I can think helped you was being in the Forces and her being from Vietnam where maybe Visa times are less?
That's why I cam on here to see who else had my issues!

- - - Updated - - -

Don't know if this will help out but I submitted the following in my packet
Payment-Check
A Cover letter with a list of everything I place in the packet
Form 1-129F.
About one page describing our relationship with dates and locations of where things took place.
Statement of intent, one from me and one from my fiance stating our that we'll marry within 90 days of her arrive in the states.
G325A filled out by me and her.
Passport type photo of me and her.
My birth certificate.
Copy of the my entire passport and hers
evidence of our relationship-Plane tickets iternies, 5 photos, which included picture of me proposing on a beach, and the ring itself..... (I was really worry i was lacking in this area)

Hope this helps ya.

I submitted all of the above and plane tickets and pictures and how we met etc.....
everything you say above we enclosed if not more.
I just don't get it and you can never get hold of anyone!

[Yuri1988]

I forgot to mention in my list of paperwork,I also did Form G-1145, Notification of Acceptance of Application/Petition and got a e-mail stating the received it. I also tracked my package when it arrived at the center. Did you ever receive any sort of notification they actually received it? Was the payment you submit cashed if it was checked? My check was cashed within two days of them receiving it.

[Luan]

I forgot to mention in my list of paperwork,I also did Form G-1145, Notification of Acceptance of Application/Petition and got a e-mail stating the received it. I also tracked my package when it arrived at the center. Did you ever receive any sort of notification they actually received it? Was the payment you submit cashed if it was checked? My check was cashed within two days of them receiving it.

Hi....I didn't do that G-1145 form.....whats that for?
It didn't advise to do it.
We did get a I-797C Notice of action '' Receipt'' saying it had been received 23 sept 2014, and the fee of $340 was received with it.
That's all......and we checked and out money too was cashed by them 3 days after receiving it!
I can even go onto the USCIS web site and where you can check your case status....I enter my Receipt Number and all it says it, we received your application on the 23rd Sept 2014.....bla bla bla.....standard stuff. Nothing at all helpful!
I wonder if anyone else from the UK is having the same issues as me or if I am alone here!

[Flex60369]

I-129F Fiance' Visa Delay

I am experiencing the same type of delay. I filed my I-129F on 6/30/2014 and have only received conformation that it was received and accepted. No other word on approval. I am becoming very worried, however I think I submitted all the required documentation and forms. My fiance' lives in Dominican Republic and I am a US Citizen. I am looking at these other categories of applicants being processed in like 3 months, and think this is so unfair. Looks like we are all in the same boat for the Fiance' Visa Application so at least I know it's not just me.

Hi,
I am from the UK and am applying for the Fiancé visa to marry my Fiancé over in the USA who is American.
We sent off the I-129F form to the LockBox facility in Texas back in September 2014....and it seems they are going way over their 5 month approval time frame currently. It I is looking more like 7-8 months to even get the I-129F approved....that's before it goes to the NVC and then the US Embassy in London.
This is taking so long.....not only can we not plan the wedding but we are apart for so long....
Any one else applied end of 2014 and had any news yet?
Even after the approval is done, any idea why you can start to do the online forms.....do you do anything when it's with the NVC or not....do you just do the online visa form once the US Embassy have it?
Any idea how many more weeks / months it will be after the I-129F is approved before I can leave?
It seem in 2012/2013 things were moving a lot faster than they are now!
This very depressing and stressful.

[Luan]

I am experiencing the same type of delay. I filed my I-129F on 6/30/2014 and have only received conformation that it was received and accepted. No other word on approval. I am becoming very worried, however I think I submitted all the required documentation and forms. My fiance' lives in Dominican Republic and I am a US Citizen. I am looking at these other categories of applicants being processed in like 3 months, and think this is so unfair. Looks like we are all in the same boat for the Fiance' Visa Application so at least I know it's not just me.

I wish it wasn't you too, but like you at least now I know it is not just me.
It seems they have just approved forms filed on the 25th June 2014, so hopefully by this time next month you will be the next stage along!
Please keep in touch and let us know when you do hear something. It is quite a joke how they expect people to be apart for so long.

[Luan]

I wish it wasn't you too, but like you at least now I know it is not just me.
It seems they have just approved forms filed on the 25th June 2014, so hopefully by this time next month you will be the next stage along!
Please keep in touch and let us know when you do hear something. It is quite a joke how they expect people to be apart for so long.

We just managed to get hold of the Office in Texas, our paperwork is fine they said however they are very backed up as we suspected.
I think by next month they will be on July filed forms so I think you will hear something soon (Flex)....for us I fear we will be waiting a few months more!
It is heart breaking that doing things the right way, and paying so much money to do so puts you apart from your partner for so long!
5 month was bad enough but now they are behind themselves we are left waiting 7-8 months for even the first part to be approved...it's really an unfair process.
But what can we do!
Keep smiling and taking one day as it comes!

[Flex60369]

Approval

I wish it wasn't you too, but like you at least now I know it is not just me.
It seems they have just approved forms filed on the 25th June 2014, so hopefully by this time next month you will be the next stage along!
Please keep in touch and let us know when you do hear something. It is quite a joke how they expect people to be apart for so long.

I am happy to announce that my I-129F Visa Application was Approved today 2/17/2015. It was originally received by the Texas Service Center on 6/30/2014. That's a little over 7 months! So there is quite a delay, however don't loose faith.

[Luan]

I am happy to announce that my I-129F Visa Application was Approved today 2/17/2015. It was originally received by the Texas Service Center on 6/30/2014. That's a little over 7 months! So there is quite a delay, however don't loose faith.

AMAZING News for you!!!!!
Please let me know what the nest steps are once you go through them?
Congrats again!
Do let me know what your fiancé has to do next? I am unsure if you do anything when it is at NVC office....?
Does she do nothing, no other forms yet until the American Embassy have her file and tell her to?
Keep me posted

[Yuri1988]

I received my NOA2 on Feb 9 stating that my case was accepted on Feb 4, and was sent to the NVC. I called the NVC today to see if I could get a case number because i read you can check online the status of your case at https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx. Called 15 times (couldn't get on the call wait list for a while) waited 30 minutes for a representative, provide my WAC receipt number, my fiance name and Birth, and my personal information. She did gave me my Case number and inform that they actually mailed it to the US embassy today (best timing ever) and that the Embassy would contact my fiance. For kicks and giggles I check my status on the website and it says "Your case is in transit to the Consular Section. Your interview date was provided to you by the National Visa Center."

[Luan]

I received my NOA2 on Feb 9 stating that my case was accepted on Feb 4, and was sent to the NVC. I called the NVC today to see if I could get a case number because i read you can check online the status of your case at https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx. Called 15 times (couldn't get on the call wait list for a while) waited 30 minutes for a representative, provide my WAC receipt number, my fiance name and Birth, and my personal information. She did gave me my Case number and inform that they actually mailed it to the US embassy today (best timing ever) and that the Embassy would contact my fiance. For kicks and giggles I check my status on the website and it says "Your case is in transit to the Consular Section. Your interview date was provided to you by the National Visa Center."

Yuri....that's AMAZING News for you both!
Thanks for posting this.
So I take it then that once the I-129F has been approved, and is sent to the NVC....there is nothing that we have to do at all until the NVC send it onto the US Embassy, is that correct?
The NVC don't need us to do anything while it is there????
Is it correct that we have to wait for the papers to be sent to the US Embassy before we can do the online forms and medical?
How exciting for you!!!!!!!
I still expect I won't hear anything for another 3 months or so....'0(