K-1, K-3, I-130 Processing Times

[KWG17]

According to the USCIS website processing times for the K-1, K-3, and I-130 are all 5 months. Anyone know if the times always been this low or has there always been a variance between what is posted on the web and what is reality?

I'd love to hear from those who have recently gone through the process for any of these three and how long it took you from submission of documents to having the visa in hand.

Thanks!

[tuss]

I submitted our paperwork 10/5/2010, did not hear anything until April 2011. I went through the Vermont location, they were behind due to bad winter weather.

[barbarajlw]

If they are on schedule they will say 5 months if they are taking longer then there should be a date there. We filed Feb 2010 but were approved June 2010 this year I have seen a lot of Vermont filers taking a long time due to bad weather over Christmas and they are way behind but have also seen a lot of people getting approvals now and Cal have slowed down.

[nichole]

Don't be mislead by the USCIS processing times. Approval of the petition isn't a visa in hand. The case then goes to National Visa Center and then to the consulate for an interview. That can add another 2-3 months. Times vary with the service center processing the petition and the consulate issuing the visa. Our visa was in hand in 4.5 months, but the super fastest most perfect petition/visa application would probably take 7-8 months today if you knew all the shortcuts to take and had no glitches. Most probably tend to take longer. I wouldn't bother with a K3. Those are kinda old news since the CR1 visa for spouses process much quicker than they used to. USCIS will close the K3 in favor of the CR1.

[rtagoai]

I just wanted to say thanks to you Nichole!! I'm new to this forum/site just registered, but like everyone else here..I'm needing help with the I-129f application too...i read some other posts where you replied, and it helped!! so thanks..I emailed you some of my questions..thanks!! Rasela :)

[sacredceasar]

hi everyone, am new here and i will be glad to know how long it takes for an i130 to be approved and the visa issued, some people are saying it takes up to 18 months is this true? plz reply. tnx

[barbarajlw]

hi everyone, am new here and i will be glad to know how long it takes for an i130 to be approved and the visa issued, some people are saying it takes up to 18 months is this true? plz reply. tnx

Depends on circumstances. No2 applications are the same.

[KWG17]

@barbarajlw, @nichole, thank you so much with your quick, insightful replies. Its a blessing for all the rest of us who are trying to plan out our lives!

Nichole, quick followup question. What visa took you 4.5 months to get in hand? And if I may ask, what country was your fiance from? I am guessing some countries (maybe in Europe) have faster processing times than others (India)...

[barbarajlw]

@barbarajlw, @nichole, thank you so much with your quick, insightful replies. Its a blessing for all the rest of us who are trying to plan out our lives!

Nichole, quick followup question. What visa took you 4.5 months to get in hand? And if I may ask, what country was your fiance from? I am guessing some countries (maybe in Europe) have faster processing times than others (India)...

Just to let you know I am from Australia and we were approved in 4 months (Feb-June) and got visa Sept so 7 months all up . I think Nicole visa was from UK . I did k1 fiance visa.

[arzoo]

My fiance was interivew on May 6,2011 in pakistan but since then the case is in Administrative process.? All the documents were provided. Any idea how long will AP will take for K1 visa?
Is there any way to get it moving faster?

[nichole]

@barbarajlw, @nichole, thank you so much with your quick, insightful replies. Its a blessing for all the rest of us who are trying to plan out our lives!

Nichole, quick followup question. What visa took you 4.5 months to get in hand? And if I may ask, what country was your fiance from? I am guessing some countries (maybe in Europe) have faster processing times than others (India)...

Sorry, I haven't been on here much lately. In March 2008 our K1 I-129F petition was approved in fifty-something days at VSC. I thought that was slow because I had been looking at Feb filers who got approved on 2 weeks to a month. April took at least 80 and May filers took even longer like 100 days, so it quickly crept up. London took a couple of months to do the paperwork and give an interview appointment. We actually asked for a delayed interview or our time would have been just under 4 months for everything. But you know it's taking many 5-6 months to get the petition approved at VSC now and then add on NVC and your embassy. It goes up and down like a roller coaster and that why nobody can give a good answer. I was going by the previous month when I was waiting on petition approval but the roller coaster was in a steep climb.

There's too many factors..which service center, if you make a mistake and they have you re-do something, if the NVC holds you up, or how long your embassy is taking. Don't plan a wedding based on timelines. It's totally unpredictable.

[rylin2010]

well i think it depends on the service center from which you filed or submit your petition.. 5 months is the maximum for the visa processing time.
ours just took 102 days we filed it in texas service center coz someone advised us to send it there coz among all the service center texas is not the busiest center compared to others so theres a possibility that your papers will be reviewed early than what you expected..:cool:

[barbarajlw]

well i think it depends on the service center from which you filed or submit your petition.. 5 months is the maximum for the visa processing time.
ours just took 102 days we filed it in texas service center coz someone advised us to send it there coz among all the service center texas is not the busiest center compared to others so theres a possibility that your papers will be reviewed early than what you expected..:cool:

All 129f petitions go to Texas service centre and then are sent on to the applicable service centre for your state. So it could be Vermont or California.

[promixmanny]

All 129f petitions go to Texas service centre and then are sent on to the applicable service centre for your state. So it could be Vermont or California.

Since I live in Texas, Will my application be sent to Texas Service Center when I file??? Someone please tell me...

[barbarajlw]

Since I live in Texas, Will my application be sent to Texas Service Center when I file??? Someone please tell me...

When you file your petition yes you send it to Texas but does not get processed there it will be sent to Vermont or California

[promixmanny]

When you file your petition yes you send it to Texas but does not get processed there it will be sent to Vermont or California

Really? I thought there were 3 service center now; CSC, TSC, VSC. So Texas solely receive the petition and send it out to either CSC or VSC?

Thank you for your respond Barbarajlw

[nichole]

They have created the Texas Lockbox for receiving all I-129F petitions. It's more efficient for one place to have contractors who open the mail, check for basic completeness (check right, everything signed), deposit the fees, and issue the receipt. It's not the actual service center in the way you are thinking. From there they send the applications to real USCIS employees at a service center. Most still go to California or Vermont Service Center, but it could go to the TSC. They try to balance out the load so it it possible it could go anywhere no matter what state you reside in. Texas traditionally has been processed by VSC when they go by state of residence.

They will inform you where your case is being processed.

[jonesmith201111]

hi everyone, am new here and i will be glad to know how long it takes for an i130 to be approved and the visa issued, some people are saying it takes up to 18 months is this true? plz reply.:mad:

[nexgenasian]

My NOA1 came from California (after I sent my 129f for K1 Visa to Texas). Does that mean its actually being processed in California?

[barbarajlw]

My NOA1 came from California (after I sent my 129f for K1 Visa to Texas). Does that mean its actually being processed in California?

Then your 129f is being processed at CSC:)

[spn1025]

I am a US Citizen filing for my spouse in the Philippines. I filed my paperwork on May of this year, and it got forwarded to the Vermont Service Center.

The "Processing Times" stated 5 months, and today is the deadline for 5 months. I called the national USCIS hotline 1-800-375-5283, worked my way through the menu, and spoke to a representative to report a problem (outside of processing times).

The representative told me that the Vermont center is currently working on cases from April 9. She said "the times listed on the website are only estimates. Vermont is experiencing a heavy workload, and because they're still working on cases before yours, you are still within the processing deadline." She told me to call back in about a month.

If they're working on cases received AFTER yours was received, then they can report a trouble ticket.

So.. don't keep your hopes up on the 5 month time.. when 5 months comes up, call them, and they'll tell you what dates they are currently working on. I'm guessing I'll be waiting about another month to 1.5 months for a reply.


This is your typical government agency..