how long does a lawyer take for k1 visa

Full Answer

How much does a K-1 visa lawyer cost?

Lawyers charge extraordinary fees for services on top of the K-1 visa cost. A simple 1-hour consultation can set you back anywhere from $75-$300+ depending on their fees. Why are they so high? Well, first: they’re running a business.

How long does it take to get a K-1 visa?

In general K-1 processing times can range anywhere from six to twelve months, depending on the complexity of the case as well as other information requested by USCIS. How Long Does it Take to Get a Fiancé (e) Visa?

What to do if your K-1 visa lawyer won’t return your calls?

. On the other hand, if your lawyer uses a typewriter to fill out your paperwork, or won’t return your phone calls, then grab your documents and walk out of their office. Or else you risk getting your K-1 visa denied by an inexperienced attorney.

What kind of questions are asked during a K-1 visa interview?

During your interview, you will be asked questions that will help the officer verify your relationship. Consult with a K-1 Visa lawyer to determine which other documents may be appropriate. Q. Is a K-1 Visa holder able to exit the US?

Can a lawyer speed up K1 visa?

The immigration process can be intimidating and take a long time, but hiring an immigration attorney to support you with your case can speed up the process and help you meet your goals.

How long K1 visa process takes 2020?

approximately 8 to 11 monthsK-1 Visa Processing Time Summary After filing Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, it may take approximately 8 to 11 months to obtain a K-1 visa. It may be shorter for some and longer for others. As explained, the K-1 processing time can vary based on the agencies that adjudicate the many steps.

How long does K1 visa approval take?

How long does it take to get a K-1 visa?Steps to Getting a K-1 VisaAverage MonthsI-129F Approved to U.S. Embassy Packet of Instructions* Received8.5U.S. Embassy Packet of Instructions to Interview Date2Interview Date to Receive Approved K1 Visa2 weeksAverage Number of Months to Obtain a K-1 Visa191 more row

Are K1 visas being processed 2021?

However, K-1 visas are still being processed in a timely manner, and you can expect only slight changes to the standard processing times in 2021 and beyond.

How can I speed up my K-1 visa?

You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice.

How long does it take to get a K-1 visa approved 2021?

Regarding the K1 visa processing time, it takes about 8 months to 1 year to get your K1 visa. Once you are in the United States on your K1 visa, it takes about another 7 to 9 months to get your green card and become a permanent resident.

What percentage of fiancé visas are approved?

It's true: most people who apply for a K-1 visa are successful. In fact, according to statistical reports published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), about 74% of fiancé(e) visas were approved in 2020.

Are K1 visas being processed right now?

Due to several factors, the K1 visa is taking much longer to process. The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with huge backlogs in processing times at USCIS, the length of processing time has extended from 6 months to over 10 months now to process Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé.

Are K1 visas being processed 2022?

As of March 2022, K-1 visa processing took approximately 9 to 12 months (USCIS time to process Form I-129F). Click here to see exact ranges based on your service center. In addition to that, it takes between three to four weeks to receive notice from the National Visa Center with further instructions.

Which is faster fiancé or marriage visa?

If the goal is for the couple to be together in the U.S. as soon as possible, the K-1 visa is most likely the fast path. From the date of filing to the date of admission to the U.S., it will take approximately 5-10 months on a K-1 fiancé visa. On the other hand, the marriage visa may take 10-16 months.

How long does it take to bring spouse to USA 2021?

Average time -- Five to 30 months to get the Form I-130 approved by USCIS; no time on the Visa Bulletin waiting list as of early 2022, and the rest depending on various complicated circumstances.

Can my fiancé visit while waiting for K-1 visa?

Can my fiancé visit me in the US while waiting for a K-1 fiancé visa? Yes – your fiancé may visit the US, so long as they have a valid B-1/B-2 visa or ESTA. However, your fiancé should expect more scrutiny at the border.

What is a K-1 visa?

The K-1 fiancé (e) visa is a nonimmigrant classification of marriage-based visa that is designed for the foreign-born fiancé (e)s of U.S. citizens. It gives those foreign fiancé (e)s the opportunity to come to the U.S. with the intention of marrying their U.S. citizen fiancé (e)s who are sponsoring their visas.

When should a K-1 adjust?

K-1 (foreign fiancé (e)s) holders should adjust their statuses as soon as they marry their U.S. citizen fiancé (e). K-2 holders (children of foreign fiancé (e)s) should adjust their statuses at the same time as their K-1 parent. K-3 holders (foreign spouses) can adjust their statuses as soon as they enter the U.S.

What is an E in immigration?

Definition of a Fiancé (e) According to the regulations set by United States immigration law, the official definition of a fiancé (e) is anyone who receives an I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé (e) that has been approved.

Where to send I-129F?

citizen lives. It is important to note that the I-129F cannot be submitted to a U.S. embassy, consulate, or overseas USCIS office.

Can I-129F be filed with USCIS?

on the date when the. I-129F petition is filed with the USCIS.

Can I leave the US on a K-1 visa?

A K-1 visa holder upon arriving in the US is not allowed to leave and re-enter on the same visa. If you intend to exit the country then re-enter it’s recommended to apply for a travel document with Form I-131 or adjust your status to legal permanent resident.

Can a K visa be converted to a green card?

Thanks to the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act (or LIFE Act), nonimmigrants from all four K visas can apply to have their statuses adjusted to green card status.

K-1 Visa Eligibility

The K-1 visa allows a United States citizen to sponsor their fiance but both partners are obliged to get married within 90 days after the sponsored fiance enters US territory.

K-1 Visa To Green Card

The process of transitioning from a K-1 visa to permanent residency is different from other types of immigrant visa categories, such as the Eb-5 investor program. K-1 visa holders, for example, are not required to fill out the I-130 Petition for Alien Relative – this is due to the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act.

Should I hire a lawyer for K1 visa?

The process of sponsoring a non-citizen fiance can be stressful and difficult. Luckily, our K1 Visa lawyers have plenty of experience in the field, having assisted several clients with complex situations.

What percentage of fiance visas are approved?

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), around 65% of all K-Visas were approved in 2017. Around 35% of all fiance visas were denied due to various reasons. By opting to work with an experienced team of K1 Visa lawyers, you will ensure the success of your petition.

How long does the K1 visa process take?

The K1 Visa process usually takes between 6 and 9 months to complete, with another 4 to 6 weeks for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS to send an interview request at the nearest consulate or embassy.

What is a K1 Visa?

A K1 visa allows the fiancé of a United States citizen to come to the United States for the purpose marrying their citizen fiancé and adjusting status to become a permanent resident. A K1 visa is initiated by the US citizen fiancé by filing form I-129F with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

What are the Requirements for Obtaining a K1 Fiancé Visa?

In order to obtain a K1 fiancé visa, you must meet a number of requirements. First, a foreign national must be the fiancé of a US citizen. A US permanent resident cannot sponsor a fiancé for a K1 visa. Second, the US citizen and foreign national fiancé must have met in person within two years of filing the K1 fiancé visa petition.

What Forms and Documents are Required for a K1 Fiancé Visa?

There a number of form and documents you will need to submit to obtain a K1 fiancé visa, both in your initial petition with USCIS and when you move on to the stage of processing your case as the US embassy abroad.

Forms

I-129F: The I-129F is the sent to USCIS in your initial filing. The form notifies the government that you intend to bring your foreign national fiancé to the United States with the intent to marry and adjust status.

Documents

Passport style photos: You will submit photos both at the time of filing the I-129F petition and when the foreign national fiancé goes to the interview at the US embassy abroad. You should have these taken according to US passport standards.

Documents

Copies of criminal convictions: If the foreign national fiancé has had any criminal convictions, you will need to obtain and provide certified copies of the dispositions.

How an Attorney can Help with Your K1 Fiancé Visa

While USCIS does not require you to have an attorney in order to process your fiancé visa, having an experienced immigration attorney can help immensely.

How long does it take to get a K-1 visa?

The K-1 visa allows the fiancé of a U.S. citizen to enter the U.S. for the purposes of getting married. The couple must get married within 90 days of the foreign partner’s arrival.

USCIS and Form I-129F

The first step for an eligible couple is for the U.S. citizen fiancé to file Form I-129F with USCIS. The primary purpose of this form is to prove the validity of the relationship. For more information about what to include in Form I-129F, see the Boundless K-1 overview guide.

NVC and Form DS-160

After Form I-129F is approved, USCIS notifies the NVC to take over processing the application. Around 30 days after the I-129F fiancé sponsorship form is approved, the sponsored fiancé receives a notice from the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country, including the date and location of their visa interview and a list of required documents.

U.S. Embassy or Consulate Interview

The fiancé attends the visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.

STEP 1: Get engaged & gather proof

Average time: Varies Depends on: how much evidence you’ve got or need . You’re already engaged, but did you remember to keep proof of this relationship’s timeline?

STEP 2: File I-129F petition

Average Time: Varies Depends on: how long it takes to gather and prepare documents . Prepare and gather the documents needed to initially file the I-129F. In fact, you can start putting together the petition as soon as you get engaged (Step 1).

STEP 3: USCIS Reviews Petition

Average Time: 1-5 Months Depends on: which center you filed, the backlog there, any errors in your initial filing, Request For Evidence – RFE . Arguably, the most difficult part of the K1 visa processing time is waiting for the USCIS to review.

STEP 4: NVC Reviews Petition

Average Time: 1 Month Depends on: backlog, delivery time to US embassy . The National Visa Center (NVC) handles validation of visas. This means they’ll check to see if a visa is available. Since your I-129F is a “family” petition, it won’t be limited by visa quotas.

STEP 5: US Embassy receives case, issues Packet 3 and 4

Average Time: 1-2 weeks (0.5 months) Depends on: backlog, delivery time to fiance (e) . The foreign US Embassy receives the case and begins to process. They will inform you by email, and mail over Visa Packets to your fiance (e). The two packets (Packet 3 and Packet 4) can come together or one-by-one.

STEP 6: Fiance submits application for visa

Average Time: 1-4 weeks Depends on: time to prepare documents, delivery time to embassy . Your fiance (e) needs to complete all forms required by the Embassy in their Visa Packet checklist. It’s in your best interest to be prepared by the time your fiance (e) gets the packets.

STEP 7: Schedule Interview

Average Time: 2-6 weeks after approval Depends on: Consular availability, response time . Depending on the US Embassy, either your fiance (e) or the Embassy itself will schedule an interview. Response time varies and you can check the status on the Embassy’s website to check when to expect an interview.

The top 4 questions about hiring a lawyer to handle your Fiance K-1 visa

The top 4 questions we all have regarding hiring lawyers, filing services or an expert:

Reasons you should hire Legal help

I have to admit: lawyers are good. They’re professionals who know a thing or two about immigration. They oversee your case and help if you have questions. And they’re allowed to do almost everything on your behalf in your fiance K-1 visa process, such as…

Reasons you should NOT hire Legal help

Even if lawyers effectively “replace you” in paperwork, there’s still a huge list of things that they can’t do. Here are a few….

How do I choose a lawyer?

If you decide to go with an attorney make sure he/she is experienced and willing to work with you. Here’s how to spot a good versus not-so-good lawyer…

Should I hire a lawyer?

It depends. If you have the right mix of the following things, you may need one: