Has anybody moved from the UK to the US on a K-1 fiance visa?

Question

If so, how difficult was the process, and roughly how long did it take from your fiance(e) filing the petition to you receiving your visa?

I'm about to begin this process - my fiancee will be filing the petition in the next week or so. I've seen various wildly differing accounts as to how time-consuming/difficult it can be.

Also, any information on getting a work permit once in the US would also help - I'm not looking to be a bum once I get there...

Answer 1

Firstly, I must say that my wife and I have never regretted engaging an immigration attorney. It made everything so much easier. They can help with filing the petition, adjustment of status, work permit application and citizenship. It will cost several thousand dollars over the course of about 3-4 years but, in my view, it was worth every last penny. If you file something wrong they will send it back and you will go to the end of the queue.

My fiancee filed the petition in June 2001 (Vermont SC) and was approved about three weeks later. I got the appointment at the doctor and the embassy in mid-October 2001 and was on the plane on Hallowe'en. As embassies go, I gather London is one of the better ones, both in terms of getting an appointment and on the day you go there. However, you should travel light, if you can. Take a book to read - I was there for five hours and spent about 15 minutes actually doing something. Have you found the US Embassy's London website yet? It gives lots of good advice. See the link below. I also found the helplines well worth the money. It's the same cost as calling an adult chatline, but much more satisfying!

You will have to keep on top of the paperwork at your end(police certificate and innoculations - sort out your innoculations NOW) it will be fairly pain-free (except the jabs of course!)

Once you are here you should get married as soon as possible so that you can apply for adjustment of status and work permit. My wife and I did a very quick civil ceremony in front of the Mayor and then did the big wedding a few months later when we had time to plan everything. I was able to work fairly soon because, for some reason, the immigration officer stamped my passport allowing me to work pending issuance of a work permit. I gather that happens very rarely, so don't bank on it. If I did not have that, I would have waited about four months for my work permit.

Please be aware that time scales vary greatly depending on which service center your file goes to. I got lucky with Vermont - the other three generallyhave longer delays. Go to the link below to see what the processing times are. You can get that information without registering at the site. I must observe that I got all my appointments or responses ahead of the posted times.

Anyway, I hope this, and the other answers you will get, will help you. You are about to enter a period of your life which can get quite stressful at times. For instance you cannot usually visit the USA whilst your petition is pending. All you can do is focus on the "prize." For me, the prize is being able to take my lovely wife to an expensive restaurant tonight for our fifth wedding anniversary. Good luck and welcome to the Land of Opportunity.

Answer 2

Hope the following is useful:

The Fiancee Visa, or the K1 Visa, is issued to foreign fiancees of American citizens by an American embassy or consulate overseas. It allows for the fiancee of the American citizen to enter America for a period of 90 days, within which time the marriage must take place for the foreign partner to obtain permanent residency.

As for time scale, a few months is about right. If you go to the USCIS (immigration service) office when you arrive you can get a work permit card that lets you start work immediately!

As for process, you will have to prove that your relationship is meaningful and lasting, so keep evidence of shared bank accounts, holidays together etc.

Answer 3

It should only take a few months to get the initial K1 visa interview at the embassy (they issue the visa the same day). Thereafter your processing times will depend massively on your processing centre and local DHS/INS office. Once you arrive in the US you'll have a shortish period of time (3 months ish, but do it straight away) to apply for adjustment of status. After that you'll be granted a conditional permanent residency, and after 2 years of that you can apply for your full green card. If you want to travel outside of the US before you get your conditional green card (anywhere from a couple of weeks to 2 years, depending on your centre) you'll need advanced parole - file for this AS SOON AS YOU CAN, even if you don't think you'll use it. As far as you work permit goes, they no longer issue the temporary work stamp at port of entry so you'll have to apply for a work authorization card at your local office also - again, varies wildly by location, but in my case took about 3 months (Westminster, CA).

Answer 4

definite, there is not any prohibition. regardless of if, it relatively is critical that in the event that they run her call on the border and spot the petition is pending that she be effortless approximately it. it is likewise substantial that in the event that they simply ask her the purpose of her bypass to that she be effortless. the opportunities are they are going to enable her in, yet while they had to be hard they could refuse to admit her.

Answer 5

firm based in Florida and UK www.visausa.com