awaiting approval of I-129F form for Fiance Visa

[Sonia Gutierrez]

Apply a fiancé visa after a short overstay under j-1 visa?

Hi

I was on a j-1 visa when i met my fiance, and I overstay less than 180 days, want to apply for a tourist one and try, but I'm pretty sure I will be denied... So I'm thinking about the fiancé visa even tho I know it's takes forever... Anybody got it under 6 month? Do you think my overstay can affect my next visa ?

HELP PLEASE I MISS HIM

[Luan]

Hi

I was on a j-1 visa when i met my fiance, and I overstay less than 180 days, want to apply for a tourist one and try, but I'm pretty sure I will be denied... So I'm thinking about the fiancé visa even tho I know it's takes forever... Anybody got it under 6 month? Do you think my overstay can affect my next visa ?

HELP PLEASE I MISS HIM

Hi Sonia,
I am not expert on this. Maybe you would be better to email the US Embassy and ask, they are pretty fast at responding to emails.
The application for the I-129F which starts the K-1 Visa process is currently taking a while! Over 7 months and then its not even over at that stage!
However that does vary depending on how many applications they have and from which country you are from etc....
For me, I am British and it seems they have lots of application currently and are taking over 7 months to even approve the forms in the USA and send them to London!
I know the US are very strict one you have violated a visa before! They keep records of everything. I know when I was on my 6 month tourist Visa I had to come home over a week before my 6 months ran out as even if the plane is delayed they don't care, it is still violation of your visa and you have still broken their rules and I was not going to risk anything....;0(
You may be best to ask the US Embassy or a lawyer that deals with this kind of thing.
L x

[CamMarie]

Two different service centers - two VASTLY different processing times.

Guys,
Doing a little homework goes a long way in terms of managing stress through this process. I-129's are processed at two different centers - one in California, and one in Texas. With rare exception, you are processed based on where you live in the US. Also, NOTHING is processed at the "Lockbox Facility". That is simply a routing center. It coincidentally resides in Texas, but is not the same as the Texas Service Center.

Average wait for your NOA2 from Texas - 200-ish days
Average wait for your NOA2 from California - 30-40 days.

If your fiance is from the Philippines, you can expect a much faster processing time than the rest of us. Their applications are expedited.

Is there anything you can do about the huge gap in processing times? Sort of. Write your congressman. Write the president. Fill out a complaint form for the Department of Homeland Security. I, and many others have done this... mostly because we all have applications sitting in a box in the Texas Service Center.

Moreover: visit the Visa Journey website. The advice and help there is immensely more helpful than it is on these forums, sad to say.

One bright spot appeared just a couple days ago: http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/wor...ter-operations

Good luck to everyone.

[Luan]

Guys,
Doing a little homework goes a long way in terms of managing stress through this process. I-129's are processed at two different centers - one in California, and one in Texas. With rare exception, you are processed based on where you live in the US. Also, NOTHING is processed at the "Lockbox Facility". That is simply a routing center. It coincidentally resides in Texas, but is not the same as the Texas Service Center.

Average wait for your NOA2 from Texas - 200-ish days
Average wait for your NOA2 from California - 30-40 days.

If your fiance is from the Philippines, you can expect a much faster processing time than the rest of us. Their applications are expedited.

Is there anything you can do about the huge gap in processing times? Sort of. Write your congressman. Write the president. Fill out a complaint form for the Department of Homeland Security. I, and many others have done this... mostly because we all have applications sitting in a box in the Texas Service Center.

Moreover: visit the Visa Journey website. The advice and help there is immensely more helpful than it is on these forums, sad to say.



Good luck to everyone.

Hi, I gathered some went to California and mine certainly didn't.
What happened when you wrote letter to those people above.....did it speed up your process at all at the Texas Service Centre?
Like you say above, it is taking mostly over 7 months to get approval from the Texas Service centre, It has been like that since late last year!
It does seem very unfair that some go to the California Office and get done within a few months.
Please let us all know if writing letters helped you at all?
I read all those forums you mentioned and nothing seems to change.
I have already waited since Sept last year, so I guess there is little point in me writing to anyone now as I hope to have my forms approved by The service centre by the end of April, but I am sure everyone would like to know if writing letters to these dept you suggest makes any difference???

L x

[Luan]

Guys,
Doing a little homework goes a long way in terms of managing stress through this process. I-129's are processed at two different centers - one in California, and one in Texas. With rare exception, you are processed based on where you live in the US. Also, NOTHING is processed at the "Lockbox Facility". That is simply a routing center. It coincidentally resides in Texas, but is not the same as the Texas Service Center.

Average wait for your NOA2 from Texas - 200-ish days
Average wait for your NOA2 from California - 30-40 days.

If your fiance is from the Philippines, you can expect a much faster processing time than the rest of us. Their applications are expedited.

Is there anything you can do about the huge gap in processing times? Sort of. Write your congressman. Write the president. Fill out a complaint form for the Department of Homeland Security. I, and many others have done this... mostly because we all have applications sitting in a box in the Texas Service Center.

Moreover: visit the Visa Journey website. The advice and help there is immensely more helpful than it is on these forums, sad to say.


Good luck to everyone.

Even now, it seems they are sending new application's over to California to get processed nice and fast, and leaving us who applied over 6 months ago to get stuff with Texas on the slow lane.
I am so upset.
They really don't seem to care about the people at all.
I am at breaking point.

[Luan]

Does it matter if we apply for the adjustement if status (aos) fors in my maiden name

HI,
I am finding mixed views as what name to use to apply for the AOS.
I wold love to do it all In my married name. However it seems the state we are getting married in only prints your maiden name on the licence and marriage cert.
So although I could sign in my new name there is nothing on the cert that states my name change each time my name will appear it will appear in my maiden name!
So.......will I then have to fill out my AOS forms in my Maiden name and change all my docs after!
I don't see how I can change my name before hand with the SSA without a Social Security card etc.....and I bet this process is not quick?
I called the USCIS and asked about the 90 day time frame and the lady said it doesn't matter when you apply for the AOS, so long as you marry within the 90 days you can stay and apply for your AOS whenever even months later!
However that doesn't match what's on the guidelines for the AOS on the USCIS site. That states you should try your best to apply within the 90 days for the AOS and if you can't, then going over a week or two ''usually'' doesn't cause any questions. But they do not say what the lady told me that you can apply whenever you like!

Do anyone know because being told one thing and seeing another is getting a little boring and stressful.

[Jovana Ruibal]

Hi #Luan , i sent my i -129f K3 visa september 24th 2014...still no news from Texas ... im freaking out also. Let me know if you know wHich days are they processing right now

- - - Updated - - -

HI,
I am finding mixed views as what name to use to apply for the AOS.
I wold love to do it all In my married name. However it seems the state we are getting married in only prints your maiden name on the licence and marriage cert.
So although I could sign in my new name there is nothing on the cert that states my name change each time my name will appear it will appear in my maiden name!
So.......will I then have to fill out my AOS forms in my Maiden name and change all my docs after!
I don't see how I can change my name before hand with the SSA without a Social Security card etc.....and I bet this process is not quick?
I called the USCIS and asked about the 90 day time frame and the lady said it doesn't matter when you apply for the AOS, so long as you marry within the 90 days you can stay and apply for your AOS whenever even months later!
However that doesn't match what's on the guidelines for the AOS on the USCIS site. That states you should try your best to apply within the 90 days for the AOS and if you can't, then going over a week or two ''usually'' doesn't cause any questions. But they do not say what the lady told me that you can apply whenever you like!

Do anyone know because being told one thing and seeing another is getting a little boring and stressful.

Hi Luan , i sent my i-129f on september 24th 2014, i believe one day after you did. Im freaking out , its been more then 6 months , ive sent the case inquiry but no news yet. Im same in Texas visa center. Do you have any news of which dates are they processing right now ?

[Jovana Ruibal]

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.

I also applied for i-129f but k3 visa since we are already married. Filed September 24th 2014 and no news so far. Still under initial review. This is so frustrating and so stressful because we cant do absolutely anything but wait and its killing me . Have you been calling USCIS? My husband can not call becausw he is working those hours.
Let me know if you hear something.

[Luan]

Hi #Luan , i sent my i -129f K3 visa september 24th 2014...still no news from Texas ... im freaking out also. Let me know if you know wHich days are they processing right now

- - - Updated - - -




Hi Luan , i sent my i-129f on september 24th 2014, i believe one day after you did. Im freaking out , its been more then 6 months , ive sent the case inquiry but no news yet. Im same in Texas visa center. Do you have any news of which dates are they processing right now ?

Hi J,
I feel your sympathy. I cannot call the USCIS Office that has our forms as I am the beneficiary and they refuse to talk to anyone but the petitioner which is a joke because like your partner mine is also working long days and can't get hole the office in the short lunch break he has. I called several times and they refuse to talk to me.
They are difficult to get any info from, anytime you get through they can't give you any info on your case at all. It is just a waiting game!
They have not updated the processing time since 06th March 2015, so I hope they will soon. It seems they are very far behind and still approving I-129F applications from August last year, so I think we have another 4-6 weeks to wait!
By the time all of the rest of he process is done and I actually get my visa (hopefully) we will have been apart almost 1 year, it's an absolute joke and more so when you are a mature couple and would like to get on with your life and settled down!

[Jovana Ruibal]

Hi J,
I feel your sympathy. I cannot call the USCIS Office that has our forms as I am the beneficiary and they refuse to talk to anyone but the petitioner which is a joke because like your partner mine is also working long days and can't get hole the office in the short lunch break he has. I called several times and they refuse to talk to me.
They are difficult to get any info from, anytime you get through they can't give you any info on your case at all. It is just a waiting game!
They have not updated the processing time since 06th March 2015, so I hope they will soon. It seems they are very far behind and still approving I-129F applications from August last year, so I think we have another 4-6 weeks to wait!
By the time all of the rest of he process is done and I actually get my visa (hopefully) we will have been apart almost 1 year, it's an absolute joke and more so when you are a mature couple and would like to get on with your life and settled down!

Oh my God
So lets say that our case will be approved by the emd of this month HOPEFULLY , do you have any idea how long it will take until we can go back ?

[Luan]

Oh my God
So lets say that our case will be approved by the emd of this month HOPEFULLY , do you have any idea how long it will take until we can go back ?

Hi J,

No not at all. So it's so hard to plan my wedding.
From what I have gathered once the Office in the US approves the I-129F application they then send it to the NVC. I believe as they are doing that they will write to my Fiancé in the US to inform him it has been approved and sent to the NVC.
From what I have read it can stay at the NVC for anything from days to weeks? Average I think is 1-3 weeks.
From what I have read up on once the NVC are done with it they send it to the US Embassy in London. I am guessing they write to us once they have our forms so we can then try to book our Interview date and Medical Exam (and I don't know if the wait list for the interview is days, weeks or months)
I am very anxious and unsure about the whole thing, no one at the USCIS centre can give you any info on your file, and also the US Embassy in London are equally hard to get hold of and don't answer queries by phone, only email. So I am hoping it will all become clear as it happens.
I have been reading up as much as I can but every case seems to vary and all I am doing is making myself quite stressed and sick worrying about it.
Right now the USCIS site processing times still haven't been updated since the 06th March! So I am anxious for it to be updated soon to see if they are even on September 2014 application's yet?

[Luan]

Oh my God
So lets say that our case will be approved by the emd of this month HOPEFULLY , do you have any idea how long it will take until we can go back ?

Well..........My I-29F has finally been approved!!!!!!!!!!! After applying Sept last year!
So, I will let you know what happens next. and how long my case stays at the NVC which is where I think it goes next.
If anyone has been to that stage and has any tips let me know.

[meoroman]

Well..........My I-29F has finally been approved!!!!!!!!!!! After applying Sept last year!
So, I will let you know what happens next. and how long my case stays at the NVC which is where I think it goes next.
If anyone has been to that stage and has any tips let me know.

Congratulations Luan, Once your petition was approved, the next steps are very simple. These are my experiments:
- After your petition was approved, the USCIS will send it to NVC. In the NVC they will create a "CASE NUMBER" for yours. Then you use that number for the rest of process. It will take a couple weeks the NVC send your petitioner a letter with "case number". Then they will send your petition to the Embassy in your country. It will also take a couple weeks or more the Embassy will receive it.
- When the Embassy received it. They will send you the "Instruction package" to let you know what you have to do like completing the DS-160, paying fee, scheduling a interview, medical exam, vaccination and preparing all of paperwork to bring with when you show up for interview.
- If you won't get the "instruction package" in mail. Send them a query to ask, and they will send you in your email. That's happened with me because in my country Vietnam, the post office is terrible. I lost a lot of mail.
- When you have the "Instruction package" follow all of step in that. It's very simple. Now, while the meantime you can get the "Instruction package" online to prepare all of paperwork first.
- THis is the tip for scheduling an interview. After you finish DS-160 and pay fee, you go can schedule the interview. You can pick up the nearest available day only. If you don't like that day, you can log in many many times to see because it changes constantly. Once you scheduled a day, if you log in again and you see another day sooner, you may cancel the day you booked and book another day. You can cancel 2 times. Don't complete the DS-160 until you get information from Embassy to inform that your petition in Embassy
Above are my experiments, I did it myself. I hope it will help you relax because I spent worried months as you right now. I'm sorry about my poor English, if not clear please let me know

[Luan]

Congratulations Luan, Once your petition was approved, the next steps are very simple. These are my experiments:
- After your petition was approved, the USCIS will send it to NVC. In the NVC they will create a "CASE NUMBER" for yours. Then you use that number for the rest of process. It will take a couple weeks the NVC send your petitioner a letter with "case number". Then they will send your petition to the Embassy in your country. It will also take a couple weeks or more the Embassy will receive it.
- When the Embassy received it. They will send you the "Instruction package" to let you know what you have to do like completing the DS-160, paying fee, scheduling a interview, medical exam, vaccination and preparing all of paperwork to bring with when you show up for interview.
- If you won't get the "instruction package" in mail. Send them a query to ask, and they will send you in your email. That's happened with me because in my country Vietnam, the post office is terrible. I lost a lot of mail.
- When you have the "Instruction package" follow all of step in that. It's very simple. Now, while the meantime you can get the "Instruction package" online to prepare all of paperwork first.
- THis is the tip for scheduling an interview. After you finish DS-160 and pay fee, you go can schedule the interview. You can pick up the nearest available day only. If you don't like that day, you can log in many many times to see because it changes constantly. Once you scheduled a day, if you log in again and you see another day sooner, you may cancel the day you booked and book another day. You can cancel 2 times. Don't complete the DS-160 until you get information from Embassy to inform that your petition in Embassy
Above are my experiments, I did it myself. I hope it will help you relax because I spent worried months as you right now. I'm sorry about my poor English, if not clear please let me know

Thank you very much!!!!
I though the letter my Fiance got from the USCIS has my new case number, but you say I don't get the New Case Number until the NVC has it.....thanks!
Also yes I did wonder when to book the Interview date and if you could cancel it etc......we you need to get the Medial booked too don't you, so it's good to know you can canx 2 times if you need to.
Thank you.!

[meoroman]

hi Luan, when we have the interview appointment, print it then book the medical exam. Make sure do medical before your interview day. I had to bring all of my paperwork and medical record to the Embassy in my interview day. By the way, you may know already. while the meantime, ask your fiance send you Financial support and his birth certificate. That's we have to bring with too (in Vietnam ). In your country may be different, so read the instructions and prepare everything for your interview day.