The K1 Experience

Well we got a Xmas present from Uncle Sam and his Department of Homeland Security. We recieved our official notice of receipt of our paperwork. It was transfered to the California Processing center and our processing date is the 21st. All the processing centers seem to have gotten a decent bump and it looks like K1 processing is up to October 18th across the board. So our predicted date for approval of our petetion is now early march.

Why in gods name does the process of getting a fiance visa take so long? Well lets look at some numbers. USCIS Stat page 1st up. there are approximately 3 million pending claims for immigration to the US as of Sept 05. Approvals per month ranges between 400k and 600k. Received per month running a similar gamut. The inital brunt of this log is run through 4 processing centers. Texas, Nebraska, California, and Vermont. So evenly distributed this means the centers are processing somewhere between 100k and 150k forms a month. At that rate if you just worked on the back log it would take... about 6 months to work through 3 million cases. Surprise Surprise, that is about how long we expect it to take to get our K1. Its not exactly that simple of course. There are some 56 different visas and ascociated paperwork that these centers are dealing with. Some have backlogs dating back to '99. Yes you heard right. More than 5 years ago. The shortest are 2-3 months. The thing that amazes me is th

Ok. The package is in the mail. Mark it, day 1 of the official process. December 12. As of December 8th the current USCIS processing date for K-1 petitions at the center in Texas is August 3rd Petition should be received by thursday, the 15th. That puts us at a projected day for our petition to be processed in the latter half of April. Lets call it April 20th. Round 130 days or so away. Will post updates as the USCIS processing day times are updated and as we reach new milestones.

Ok, Forms all collected, Documents all collected. Time for the final check list. I-129F, Filled out, signed and dated. Check Additional items per instructions on back of I-129f -Passport style pictures of both of us taken withen last 30 days. Check -Names written on the back of said photos with felt pen. Check -Proof of US citizenship, Check (copy of birth certificate) I-129 states copies are acceptable. One of front and back. No request for original/certified copy. -Original Statement of Intent from both of us, Check -Filled out G-325a forms for both of us, Signed and Dated, Check -Additional evidence of relationship, meeting in person, Check -One Check in the amount of $170 made out to The Department of Homeland Security, Check. Double Checked, Check Triple Checked, Check Some additional stuff I added. -Copy front and back of my Drivers License, SS card. -Copy of Both of our Passports and Pass Port Stamps. My Forms, Documents, Evidence etc are all in slip covers arranged in a 3 ring

Ok, I had some questions regarding the instructions on the I-129f form, So I called the 1-800 number (1-800-375-5283) on the back of it and waded through the menus for a while looking for an option to talk to a person. Question number 1, regarding section 5b in the instructions for the I-129f which asks Provide original statements from you and your fiancé(e) whom you plan to marry within 90 days of his or her admission, and copies of any evidence you wish to submit to establish your mutual intent; What Exactly is this? Can it be say a printed out E-mail? We live 4000 miles apart, I have to file the petition, getting a written statement of intent is not a simple, or fast process. Plus we are filing a $170 FIANCE visa petition of which the entire purpose is to obtain a visa so that she can enter the united states with the intent to marry me within 90 days. What purpose does this serve above and beyond the form submission and visa interview at the consulate in the first place ? While goi