Now that you are done with the I-129F Fiancé(e) Petition Process, the K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Process comes in next. The K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Holder must marry his/her US Citizen petitioner within 90 days. They must also file for Adjustment of Status (AOS) right after they’re married, before the K1 Visa beneficiary’s I-94 expires which is typically 90 days upon admission to the U.S. This I-94 is fully automated now and is available online.
The order for this process is going to be country-specific (Philippines) since this is based on my own experience. But first, let’s recap the stages that came before starting the K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Process:
I-129F Petition »
Your I-129F Fiancé(e) petition has been approved. Your petitioner has already received a I-797 Notice of Action or NOA2.
Read more here: I-129F Fiancé(e) Petition & Checklist
NVC Case Number Acquisition »
Call NVC to get your Case Number. It is suggested to call a week after NOA2.
Read more here: NVC and CEAC Status Tracker
CEAC Status Tracking »
Track your case through the Consular Electronic Application Center or CEAC. You will know if your case is already in your designated consulate.
Read more here: NVC and CEAC Status Tracker
The K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Process is usually much faster than the I-129F Fiancé(e) Petition Process itself. Once the Filipino/a beneficiary gets their MNL Case Numbers, they can start the K1 Visa Process right away without waiting for the NVC Letter and the Manila US Embassy Letter. Let me break down what happens during the K1 Stage:
K1 Visa Fees as of November 7th 2013, are still at $240 as stated on USEM’s Website.
Read more on: K1 Visa Fee Payment at BPI (Philippines)
Once you’ve paid the K1 Visa Fee, you may now schedule your appointment online at the US Travel Docs (Philippines) website.
Read more on: How To Schedule Your K1 Visa Interview Online
This stage can be completed in as short as one day (if you’re lucky). Normally it’s a two-day process.
Read more on: K1 Medical Exam at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic, Manila
Make sure you’re already done with the Medical and all your paperwork is in order before going in to your K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Interview.
Read more on: K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Interview (Checklist, Walkthrough, Experience, Questions)
Also, please read: My K1 Fiancé(e) Visa Interview Experience
221G Request for Additional Documents is neither an approval or denial of a U.S. Visa. Incomplete documents at the time of the interview will most likely result to a 221G. Comply to the US Embassy’s request for documents and you’ll get news about your case soon after.
Read more on: 221G Request for Additional Documents
Track your visa status if it’s still in Administrative Processing or if it’s already marked as Issued.
Read more on: How to track your Visa Status and Passport (USEM Passport Tracker, CEAC Visa Status Checker)
Hooray! Your visa packet will get delivered soon!
Read more on: 2Go: How To Track and Pick Up Your Visa Package
All intending immigrants are required to undergo the seminar at Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Better best prepared with all your documents!
Read more on: CFO Seminar (Philippines)
You don’t want to leave your home country without extra copies of your birth certificate and other mementos. I’ve also listed some of the processes you’re going to have to go through when you get to the US.
Read more on: On Leaving: Port of Entry (POE), Getting Married, and Other Processes
Immigration paperwork doesn’t end here. When you get to the US, you have to get married within 90-days upon entry AND file for Adjustment of Status (AOS) as soon as possible.
Read more on: Adjustment of Status (From a K1 Visa)
Please read the Disclaimer.
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Darl and Mitch (Kentucky)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Cherish & Thad (Minnesota)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Jared & Elena (New York)K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Avril & Jon (Colorado)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Greg & Veronica (Indiana)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Elizabeth and Brandon (Colorado)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Mary & TQ (California)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Jerrico and Melissa (California)
K1 Visa Holder Interviews: Mau & Alain (Oregon)
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Thank you so much for all your information…but I’m struggling to figure out what the difference is between things you need for Philippines versus the United Kingdom, where my Fiance is from. I am from Utah… I’m struggling to follow some of these steps. Do you have any articles on Fiances from England?
Am I still supposed to send my I-129F packet to Dallas, TX? I’ve always thought so.
Also, how do you know what fee/where he’s supposed to send the fee to for his Visa when we do get approved?
And is the I-129F checklist the same for us as it is listed on here?
I’m sorry if you’ve already responded to something exactly like this. I’m just stressing hard :(
It’s basically the same for everyone during the I-129F Fiancee Petition Stage. Everything you need to know is already on the blog.
Please read: http://mrsprsn.us/I129FChecklist
HI Erika can you please share with me what are the contact numbers of USEM for inquiring visa status?kasi every time I check my visa status online it said no status..Tatawag sana ako I don’t know the numbers..thanks
Hi Riza,
Please read: http://www.mrspresson.com/immigration/k1-fiancee-visa-process/221g-request-additional-documents/#followups
Thank you Mrs. Presson. I actually dont know what my lawyer is talking about. I have already explained to her that on the CEAC Website…it says it is ready for interview exactly the on you out up as an example on this website. I was afraid that the eligibility letter was required on the day of the interview, which is on feb 17, because I am actually going home to assist with the medical exam and the interview for my fiance. But thank you for clarifying that with me. :)
I have a question. So, I have hired a lawyer which they are taking a lot of time to prepare for my approved k1 petition. I have been using this website to be one step ahead of my lawyer. I did all the step which you have mentioned through this website which I have obtained my interview schedule as soon as I knew my MNL# for my fiance; knowing that my approved K1 visa is ready in Manila embassy using the CEAC website. You have mentioned on this website that you did not have to wait for the eligible conformation letter from consulate in Manila embassy, but my lawyer said he needs that eligible conformation letter to show on the day of interview. I have an interview date coming up soon and I dnt know what letter she is talking about. And the CEAC website mentions that it is ready for interview. Please reply soon. Thanks
The Letter of Eligibility is needed where? It was never asked from me at USEM, nor the people that followed the blog who have had their interviews. Unless there’s a new change in USEM’s policy (which I highly doubt) that you have to bring in your Letter of Eligibility. The Letter of Eligibility is not mentioned in the requirements for the interview in the Official K1/K2 Visa Instruction Packet that is linked on the K1 Visa Checklist I made. All you need are the ones on the list.
The Philippine Postal system is slow and unreliable. I got my eligibility letter after I was already done with scheduling my interview, and medical – more than a month after my NOA2. Some K1 Visa applicants never received their eligibility letters even.
The eligibility letter is basically “Congrats. You can start your process now. Here’s the same K1/K2 instruction letter that is also found online on the US Embassy website.”
If the case is ready, then they *should* have the physical files there. What you can do is call USEM and ask if your case is already there.
Hi Erika, do you have an idea if I have to bring my child during the interview?
Yes, you have to bring the child with you if he/she is a K2 derivative. Might depend on how old the child is. Call USEM to verify.
I’m very happy with the news that it’s not required. Thanks a lot for the replies. I had to ask because my fiance insists that the letter is needed. Now, I feel relieved..:) I’ll be waiting for the packet 3 though while I’m still waiting for the interview. I appreciate all the help! :)
Thanks much for your reply and time! I read the requirements on the link you gave. It does not include the US embassy manila i-129 approval letter. Does that mean I can go to the interview without it? Thank you very much.. I just need to be sure :)
If it were required, I would’ve put it in the checklist. Also please read: http://mrsprsn.us/K1Walkthrough
Good luck!
Thank you very much Mrs. Presson. Your blog has been very helpful. I understand that one does not need the US Embassy Manila i-129 approval letter in the packet 3 for the St. Lukes medical exam. What about the interview? Do I need the US Embassy approval letter for the visa interview? I am still waiting for my packet 3 and am afraid that It won’t arrive on time for my scheduled interview on September.
Thank you very much for your guidance..
What you need for the interview is listed here: http://mrsprsn.us/K1VisaChecklist
Hi, I don’t have the packet 3 yet but I’m already done making my SLEC online registration and the Interview schedule. Just in case my packet 3 does not arrive on time, can I go to the medical exam and the visa interview without the Manila US Embassy letter?
Thank you very much…! :)
Please review: http://mrsprsn.us/NVCandCEAC and read the info for applicants in the Philippines. Also check http://mrsprsn.us/K1MedicalExam.
Make sure to read ALL available Articles about the K1 Visa Process on http://mrsprsn.us/Articles
What’s DS-160 form? may i see the sample of it?
Hi Rose,
It’s actually an online form, not a printed form. An in-depth description of it is found at the US Travel State.Gov website: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/forms/ds-160–online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html
The form is directly available at: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
thank you very much. it helps me a lot :)
i haven’t schedule my interview yet coz i’m waiting for my fiance’s documents, etc. so i will make another one and have my new passport on it? thank you ^_^
That only works if you did not sign up yet for the US Travel Docs website for scheduling. The reason is, when you sign up, you’re asked to input your DS-160 confirmation number. I think it’s a pretty recent change US Travel Docs.
Good luck! :)
hello! i am on same sex fiance visa. i made the ds 160 form last may 2, 2014 with my old passport on it. now it’s been a month and i got my new e-passport recently. is it possible to bring my new passport with me during the interview and tell them to use my new passport instead of my old passport? or i have to make another ds 160 form?
Hi Charlie!
Which leads me to the question: Do you already have an interview schedule? If so, you might want to change your passport details on US Travel Docs, and call the USEM IV Unit to ask about the change of Passport on your DS-160. If you don’t have an interview schedule yet and/or haven’t signed up with US Travel Docs, make sure to use the new passport details and the new DS-160 confirmation number upon sign up.