One of the first questions that potential clients ask is, “how long does the K-1 fiancee visa process take to get?”

It is an important question – and it rightly at the forefront of any individuals ready to bring their fiance to the United States to marry.   You are in love and you want to begin your life together as quickly as possible.   I certainly understand the desire to be together as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, my answer to potential K-1 visa clients is that the process is not as quick as they would hope.   A realistic, conservative estimate is that it takes about seven to ten months from the start of the process until the K-1 visa applicant will be able to enter the US.

So, How Long Does the Fiance Visa Process Last?

Whenever questioned, I break the K-1 process down into two parts.

The first part is the submission of the I-129f immigration form, along with evidence supporting the couple’s relationship.  This submission is made to the USCIS, which is the immigration agency in the United States.  The USCIS is currently taking about five months to review and grant the K-1 visa petition.  Unfortunately, the granting of the K-1 visa by USCIS is just the first step in the process – and does not yet allow a K-1 visa applicant to enter the United States.

The second part of the K-1 fiancee visa petition involves what happens to the petition after it is approved by the USCIS.  After approval, the petition is sent to the Department of State (DOS).  The DOS will, in turn, send the petition to the U.S. consulate closest to where the foreign national resides.  The U.S. Consulate will then contact the K-1 visa beneficiary and schedule a consulate interview for the foreign national fiance(e) to attend.   Additionally, at this step it is necessary to gather certain documents and complete a medical examination.   Depending on how prepared the K-1 visa applicant, and how busy the consulate is, this step can take an additional two to four months.

It is important to remember that these are just estimates based on everything going smoothly.   Working with a K-1 fiancee visa lawyer will help ensure that the process runs more smoothly – an attorney will know what needs to be submitted when, what can be prepared prior to when it is required, and, most importantly, when something is not running on schedule or is out of place.