I-129F Petition and the K-1 Visa
| I-129F Mailed | First NOA | I-129F Approved | Time to Approval | K-1 Interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22, 2001 | Jan 30, 2001 | March 22, 2001 | 51 | Jun 7, 2001 |
- Overview of the Process
- I-129F
- First Notice of Action
- Paperwork from London Embassy
- Second Notice of Action - Approval
- The K-1 Interview in London
- Packing up and moving out
- Arriving in Chicago
How We Met
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We met online in late 1996 in a role-playing game called Terris, while it was part of AOL's games offerings. We didn't really start talking to each other until the summer of 1997, when Dan quit playing Terris and Becky was enjoying one last, lazy summer before heading to university.
Becky and Dan talked often online, and eventually by phone. Towards the end of the year they thought they'd like to meet in person. So, Dan - who had never flown so far from England before - booked a flight to Atlanta and spent a few short days with Becky and her family.
Months passed, and they came to realize "Hey, I think this is love!" So Becky went to England for the summer on a student work visa so they could get to know one another better. Shortly before becky was to return to the US, Dan proposed to Becky, and she said yes.
But Becky was still a student, so they thought it would be best to wait until she finished her degree. Long distance relationships are very hard work, and most don't last, but Becky & Dan stuck it through. After two years, they decided it was time to finally tie the knot, even though Becky would still have a year of university left after their intended wedding date.
And So Began the Paperwork
Although we decided in September 2000 to go ahead with the K-1 Visa, we didn't submit our paperwork until January. We weren't planning on getting married until September 2001, so we didn't want to start the paperwork so early that the K-1 visa expired before Dan traveled to the US!
To get a K-1 visa, first the US Citizen has to file an I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (and a bunch of other documents) with the INS. While waiting for the I-129F approval, the foreign fiancé(e) can start gathering paperwork on his/her end and sometimes file the first set (called Packet #3) with his/her local US Consulate. After the I-129F is approved, the INS lets the fiancé(e)'s 'local' Consulate know, and the fiancé(e) is scheduled for an interview. The fiancé(e) is then given more paperwork to bring to the interview. After a successful interview, the fiancé(e) receives a "K-1 Visa" that is good for 1 entry into the US, and the US Citizen and foreign fiancé(e) must get married within 90 days (of the fiancé(e) entering the US).
Phew! What a run-on!
Details about our I-129F Application can be found on the I-129F page (surprising, isn't it?). Dan recounts his experiences dealing with the US Embassy in London, and at his K-1 interview on June 7, 2001. This was Dan's first move in many, many years. And passing through customs on a K-1 visa was a lot easier than he expected.