How Long Do I-129F Fiance Visas Take to Process & Complete

The common answer for many immigration forms when the question asked is “how long will this take?” is “it depends.” This applies to Fiance(e) Visa as well. Are you here to find out how long Fiance Visas take to be processed? Great news! This process can take anywhere from six to twelve months.

The requirements to file USCIS Form I-129F are:

1. The petitioner must be a U.S. Citizen
2. The petitioner and the fiance(e) intend to marry within 90 days of your fiance(e) entering the United States
3. You are both free to marry and all previous marriages must have been legally terminated
4. You must have met each other in person at least once within 2 years of filing your petition (with some exceptions)

What Does it Allow You & Your Fiance to Do?

A Fiance Visa allows your fiance to enter the United States and have the marriage ceremony within 90 days of entry. After the marriage, the fiance(e) can then apply for a green card and become a permanent resident. The fiance(e) can stay in the United States while USCIS processes the application for permanent residence.

Keep in mind that if you do not get married within the 90 day period, the fiance(e)’s immigration status will automatically expire and cannot be extended; the fiance(e) must leave the United States at this point to follow U.S. immigration law. There are a lot of factors that go into how long fiance visas take to process.

How Long Fiance Visas Take to Process

Each case is different and you can check the current processing times on the USCIS “Check Processing Times” page. How long fiance visas take to process by USCIS depends upon:

1. Which office is working on your case
2. When you filed
3. Which country your fiance(e) is moving from

Fiance(e) Visas are processed in the order that they are received.

Once USCIS completes its processing and has approved the application, it is sent to U.S. Embassy or consulate via the National Visa Center (NVC). Once it reaches the NVC, this can take an extra 30 – 45 days or so. The NVC will conduct any necessary background checks and will send some visa application forms to the fiance(e) to fill out.

Once the application makes it to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy, the fiancé(e) will receive an appointment notice for an interview. It is possible for the fiance(e) to be approved at the interview, but it may take some extra time depending on additional security checks. This can often depend on the country the fiance(e) is coming from. Once the visa is approved, the consulate or embassy will put a stamp in the fiancé(e)’s passport, and they will have 6 months to travel to the US to get married. The 90 days to marry begins the day the fiancé(e) enters the US.

As always, the accurateness of your paperwork and the attention to detail the first time around can also determine how long the process will take.

You can learn more about and begin filling out your I-129F here. The current USCIS fee (which was raised on December 23, 2016) is $535.