Typical Timeline of the K1 Fiancee Visa Process

The K-1 fiancé(e) visa process typically takes 7 to 10 months from start to finish, but processing times can vary depending on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) service center and the U.S. embassy or consulate where the interview takes place.

Step-by-step timeline:

1. Form I-129F Petition (Petition for Alien Fiance(e)) – Filed by the U.S. citizen with USCIS.

o Processing time: About 5–7 months.

2. USCIS Approval & Transfer to National Visa Center (NVC) – Once approved, USCIS sends the petition to the NVC, which then forwards it to the U.S. embassy or consulate in the fiancé(e)’s country.

o Processing/transfer time: 2–4 weeks.

3. Visa Application & Interview Preparation – The foreign fiancé(e) submits Form DS-160, pays fees, undergoes medical examination, and gathers supporting documents.

o Preparation time: 1–2 months (varies).

4. Visa Interview at U.S. Embassy/Consulate – The consulate reviews the application and conducts an interview.

o Interview wait times: Can range from 1–2 months depending on location.

5. Visa Issuance – If approved, the K-1 visa is typically issued within a few weeks.

6. Entry to the U.S. & Marriage – The fiancé(e) must marry the U.S. citizen within 90 days of entering the U.S.

In short, the entire K-1 visa process usually takes 7–10 months, though delays can occur due to backlogs, missing documents, or additional security checks.