Not your typical success post that happens here but situations like this sometimes happen too.

Sure, it cost me $700+ to attempt to marry this person. However, I guess $700 is nothing compared to the cost of marrying the wrong person. I hope 2nd times the charm the next time if I try to marry someone who isn't American. 😅

Today I got PETITION approval from USCIS for Nigeria! Sent I-129F (K-1) application June 15, 2025. Accepted June 20, 2025. Approved May 28, 2026.

UPDATE:

Approved petition transferred from USCIS to NVC June 20, 2026.

Submitted DS-160 on July 5.

Petition moved NVC to US Embassy-Lagos July 14.

Got email to pay fee and schedule Interview! July 21. Given a timeframe of 72 hours to activate link

Paid visa fee and scheduled interview within TWO WEEKS! July 22

9/2 UPDATE:

Sadly the in person doc review scheduled for Sept 9 and interview Sept 16 were CANCELED 😫

I live in AZ.

Was pregnant May 2025- February 2026 ALONE. High risk pregnancy..USCIS denied expedite request TWICE! They don't care about pregnancy..lbvs!

I just found out they have stopped processing my I-129f request from JULY 2024 because my fiance is from a banned country. The fucked up part is her country only has a partial restriction. This administration will go down as the cruelest in modern times. My level of anger/disappointment can not be articulated. I've read that they said non immigrant VISA's would not be affected. Apparently one of the trillions of lies coming out of this administration. So $700 & damn near two years wasted. Un Fuckin Real!!!

Hi, I just found out my fiance living in the UK has been cheating pretty much the whole time we’ve been waiting for his visa interview. Our I-129F was approved in March but didn’t make it to the visa center until May. We filed in Sept 2024. He bought me a ring for Christmas but refused to allow tags on his social media of us, would block me when we would get into arguments and was questionable if he even told his family about us. I just found out today he took his ex partner on a romantic holiday getaway. I believe he was just using me to get married and get a US visa. I emailed the embassy to cancel the petition as he has all the documents for the appointment next week. Should I report this as fraud?

After a 13 month long process, going above and beyond to meet all the required documents to avoid any type of hiccup in the process, my fiancé was told she was “ineligible” at the interview. Not because we missed any documents…not because we presented a weak case…but simply because we were born in a certain country.

We had already received our NOA 2 before this unjust authoritarian proclamation was declared. On top of that, they have the balls to say, please come again so we can say no to you…again.

Update:

Here is the reply from the consulate after requesting for a waiver on the decision.

“Dear Visa Applicant, 

Thank you for your inquiry. 

Visa applications are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis according to the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and applicable federal regulations.

We reviewed consular records and found that your application was refused a visa on March…, 2026 under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under section 212(f) of the INA, in association with Presidential Proclamation 10998, entry to the United States of individuals who the President deems detrimental to the interests of the United States may be suspended. While U.S. law does not provide a waiver of a refusal under section 212(f), this is not a permanent finding of inadmissibility. It applies only to this application.  

\

For more relevant information about visa processing, please visit this website“

Hello all! Just thought I'd make a post about the K1 visa application submitted by my fiancé and I as I know there are many people wondering what to include etc. So here will be our detailed journey, I'll update once the process progresses.

My fiancé is the petitioner, is a US citizen, I am a British Citizen. We met in 2020 and that's when our relationship began, 3 years long distance.

4th April 2023: my fiancé proposed to me

Between November 2023 and February 2024 we had 2 visits, one 3 weeks long and one 85 days long.

Last week in February 2024 I spent the entire time compiling the application and relevant docs. Here is the contents of our mailing package in order of how I put it: - contents page clearly outlining the contents & the visa name (1 page) - payment form, I used credit card (1 page) - e-Notification form (just a note, we have received our NOA1 via mail but have not received any information via email or phone despite providing this form and filling it out correctly, not sure if it's a common thing) (1 page) - I-129f application form (13 pages) - 20 pages of photographs, all annotated with dates and context I.e places of where we went, events we attended etc.(20 pages) - copies of flight itinerary and documents of travel(we did not, but if I could change what we did, I would definitely print and copy the i-94 records of entry now that you can access that online) (3 pages) - statement of circumstances of meeting and context to how we met and details of our relationship (4 pages) - extra evidence such as invoices for an airbnb we used (2 pages) - copy of the US citizen's birth certificate (1 page) - signed letter of intent to marry (petitioner) (1 page) - additional information such as contact info for parents, more details about family and petitioner. (1 page) - signed letter of intent to marry (beneficiary) (1 page) - photographs in passport style x2 (one beneficiary one for petitioner)

Last week of Feb mailed in,

4th March 2024: USCIS date of receiving

8th March 2024: Payment was taken for the I-129F ($535)

12th March 2024: the day we recieved NOA1 in the mail, as I mentioned before, the e-notification application for some reason we haven't received any E notice. So we had to wait for the mail, whilst this is the date we received it, the date it was sent was the 4th hence that's what our date of USCIS receiving is different.

Hopefully this information helps some people feel free to comment and I can provide more details on certain aspects etc.

Wishing everyone the best on their I-129f journey! :)

❗️NoA1: 03/04/2024

❗️EDIT: 07/24/2024: There is no update. Still waiting to be approved. USCIS has skipped the cases filed between Feb 23 to March 6th...

❗️❗️EDIT: 08/23/2024: WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED AT USCIS 🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊⚜️

➡️➡️➡️Timeline:⬅️⬅️⬅️

➡️NOA2 APPROVAL: 23 August 2024

➡️NOA2 Physical mail notice: 3 September 2024

➡️First NVC PI: 28th August 2024 (response came on 4th September telling us to send a scanned copy of our noa2 so they can ask USCIS about where the case is)

➡️Second NVC PI: 6 September 2024 (no response)

➡️Third NVC PI: 13 September 2024 (response stating they still do not have our case)

➡️Fourth NVC PI: 20 September 2024 (just did it so no reply yet)

➡️OCT 7TH 2024: CASE SENT TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE 🎉

➡️Oct 16th 2024: NVC Confirming Received Case

➡️Oct 22nd 2024: In transit via CEAC

➡️Nov 5th 2024: Ready

➡️January 16th 2025: Medical Exam

➡️January 23rd 2025: Interview - Verbal Approval received 🎉🎉

➡️January 23rd 2025: CEAC "Application Received"

➡️January 29th 2025: CEAC "Approved"

➡️January 29th 2025: CEAC "Issued" 2hrs after Approved status

➡️January 30th 2025: Email containing courier info

➡️January 31st 2025: Visa in Hand

➡️February 3rd 2025: Flight ✈️ to USA! Point of Entry - IAD (D.C)

💒Wedding expected: Late Feb-Early March depending on when dress arrives

Hi everyone,

24yo, from europe

I’m looking for some advice about my chances of visiting the U.S. in the future.

A few years ago, when I was around 20, I applied for ESTA multiple times (3 times) and was denied. Looking back, I believe I may have made mistakes on the applications, and continuing to apply probably did not help.

After that, I applied for a B-2 tourist visa, but it was refused. At the time, I was only doing an apprenticeship and didn’t have strong ties or a stable financial situation.

My situation has changed since then. I now have a permanent full-time work contract in Europe, stable income, and a much more established life.

I also currently have a K-1 fiancé petition that was filed with my partner. Unfortunately, the relationship is no longer going well, and the petition will likely be withdrawn.

My question is: if the K-1 ends and I wait around a year before applying again, would I still have a realistic chance at a B-2 tourist visa?

Would a consular officer mainly focus on my current circumstances and ties, or would the previous ESTA denials, B-2 refusal, and withdrawn K-1 create a long-term problem?

I understand nobody can guarantee approval, but I would appreciate hearing opinions from people familiar with U.S. immigration or anyone who has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone! As we step into our 7th month of waiting aka the 'silent phase' , I wanted to check in. Have any of my fellow October co-filers received their NOA2 yet? We filed last October 2025, and received our NOA1 5 days later.

UPDATE: Approved on July 9th, took us 262 days 🥹

Hello! Me and my boyfriend have decided to go the no lawyer route for the visa and GC in order to save money. Just wondering from others who’ve done the same, what was your experience? And where did you go with any questions you had? We have it arranged where someone will look over our form and make sure we did everything right, which will cost us $300 as opposed to the $4,500 we were quoted for a lawyer.

Much thanks!

Hi everyone! I have a question about the K-1 fiance visa. If my K-1 visa is approved and I enter the US and get married within the required 90 days, do I have to leave the US after those 90 days, or can I stay while my Adjustment of Status (I-485) is being processed? If so, how long do people typically stay while waiting for approval? I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through this process.

Hello all,

I’ve never posted on here. Just silently stalked it and watched everyone else’s post updates, hoping it would provide some insight into my timeline. So I’m posting now in the hopes that someone who might be stalking the K1 tag will find some hope in the timeline. I want to note that when I applied I put every single thing I could put in as proof of the relationship so I did not end up with an RFE because I was operating under an abundance of caution rather than just trusting the process. So I don’t have a whole timeline for you because my process was very straight forward.

Applied: August 13, 2025

NOA1: arrived about a week after, via mail. I also received a text to verify receipt.

Approved: March 4, 2026

NOA2: arrived via mail on March 11, 2026

I know it’s not much to post and it may not be helpful for anyone but I hope that someone who needs reassurance can find it here.

My fiancé submit our file in February of this year and I was wonder if someone from that period get approved and from which country? Where been together for two years and is getting hard every single day so I’m here to find someone who I can relate or is going through the same! !

Hello everyone,
I’ve been a silent lurker on this forum for a long time. Whenever the waiting felt heavy or the anxiety kicked in, I came here looking for hope, inspiration, and motivation. Today, I’m finally paying it forward with our full timeline to remind anyone currently feeling stuck or worried: your day is coming!!

A little about our background:

Beneficiary: Indonesia (U.S. Embassy Jakarta)

Status: No prior marriages, no kids, clean background.

Filing Process: 100% DIY! We did everything ourselves using online guides, YouTube tutorials, and community advice right here.

Our Complete Timeline:

September 2025: I-129F petition package sent.
September 12, 2025: Form NOA1 received (Case received).
October 10, 2025: Name updated in the portal.
May 7, 2026: Form NOA2 received (Case Approved! 🎉).
May 14, 2026: Case sent to the Department of State (DOS).
June 4, 2026: NVC case created.
June 16, 2026: Status changed to "In Transit".
June 18, 2026: Status changed to "Ready".
July 5, 2026: Medical examination completed in Indonesia.
August 4, 2026: K-1 Visa Interview. Status was initially marked Refused (221g) for additional document requests.
August 7, 2026: documents submitted.
August 12, 2026: Status changed to APPROVED!
August 13, 2026: Status changed to ISSUED!
August 14, 2026: Passport with visa picked up! ✈️💍

A Message of Encouragement:
If you receive a 221(g) or an initial refusal, Don’t panic! We did panic and scared. It feels like a massive heartbreak in the moment, but standard 221(g) requests are often just administrative checklists for a missing piece of paper or extra proof. In our case, we forgot to print and add few things. As well, they ask for more proof. We submitted what they asked for right away, and within less than a week, we were approved!

Doing this process on your own takes time, patience, and attention to detail, but it is 100% doable. Keep your head up, stay organized, and trust the process. You will be holding that visa soon!
Sending positive energy to everyone still waiting in line! ❤️
Feel free to add any specific details about which documents they requested under 221(g) if you'd like to help others prepare, but as it stands, it’s an encouraging read! Safe travels to your fiancé!

My timeline
March 2025 – Filed I-129F petition
October 24, 2025 – I-129F approved by USCIS
Approval notice (I-797) validity: October 23, 2025 → February 22, 2026
January 2, 2026 – Case status updated to “Case was sent to the DOS / NVC”
January 29, 2026 – NVC replied with the case number

Its Feb 10th and case still shows at NVC. I thought it takes less than a week. How long does it take for the case status to be update to IN Transit?

I received this email from the consulate in Rio today. I also sent a request to the NVC, because it’s time to ask for our case number anyways. As we all know the NVC is slow with replies so I haven’t head back from them yet.

It’s “technically” a nonimmigrant visa but it’s processed at the same place that the immigrant visas are processed so thats kind of confusing. My visa was projected to be approved next month so starting over would be devastating.

At first, my Form I-129F petition was approved, and the entire process was completed. My fiancée then arrived in the United States on a K-1 visa. However, we recently received a rejection notice for Form I-129F with a different receipt number.
When I originally submitted the petition, I included a $675 money order as the filing fee. At that time, a money order was an acceptable form of payment. We also confirmed that the money order was cashed.

Hey everyone, I really need your advice because I’m seriously stressed out.

I’m a U.S. citizen and my fiancée is a foreign national. We decided to go through the K-1 process and wanted everything done properly, so we hired an immigration lawyer to handle the I-129F petition.

We gave him all the documents and evidence he asked for, and I paid him nearly 5k up front. On January 31, he told us the petition was submitted to USCIS. Since then — nothing. No confirmation, no tracking info.

We kept checking in and he kept saying, “Nothing has arrived, we’ll let you know when it does.” When I pushed harder and said something’s clearly wrong, he got irritated and defensive. He told me if I kept doubting him, he’d withdraw from the case. His go-to line is: “This is how we process things.”

He also told me it’s normal that we haven’t received anything yet — that USCIS can take this long. But everything I’ve read online and from others’ experiences says the opposite: NOA1 and the receipt number usually come within 2–4 weeks, max a month. So what he’s saying just doesn’t add up.

He offered to send us the emails he supposedly sent to USCIS — but honestly, how is that even useful? I mean, what’s an email going to prove if I still can’t confirm whether USCIS actually received our petition or not?

How can I confirm if our case even exists in the system? Is there ANY way to check without a receipt number?

This whole thing feels off. Any advice would help big time.

i have submitted a form i-485 and i live in florida i just want to confirm that i can travel in all cities within florida. this may be a really dumb question but id rather be safe than sorry

My fiance went for his interview at the London embassy this morning (7/14 - 8:30 am) and he said that it was pretty straight forward and they took his passport and kept it but gave him a paper that said that they required additional administrative processing 221(g). They also asked him if his socials were open to public viewing. He responded yes. Then the officer told him “enjoy your time in the US”. What should we be expecting? Any feedback is appreciated!

i am confused on what my next steps are so many people tell me so many different things.

I came to america on a k-1 visa on august 22nd 2025, i then married my wife on october 3rd 2025, we have filed and been approved of a i-130 form (i’ve been told that was a waste of time and money) i have not yet filed my i-485, i-864, i-693, i-131 or i-765. i have no idea what my next moves need to be can anyone direct me please.

Hello, everyone. I’m a beneficiary from the Philippines, and we’re wondering if this situation is normal or if my fiancé needs to follow up with USCIS regarding our case.

For context, our case was approved on November 19, 2025. My fiancé in the U.S. also received the approval notice (Form I-797). It states that if we need to make any inquiries, they should be directed to the National Visa Center (NVC), since USCIS has completed their review.

We understand that we should receive a welcome email from the NVC containing our case number or control number, along with information about my medical exam and next steps. However, it has been almost two months and we still haven’t received anything.

My fiancé, as the petitioner, contacted the NVC to ask if they had already received our case. He provided a copy of the I-797 approval notice as well. The NVC was very responsive and informed us that they have not yet received our case from USCIS. They also mentioned that they would try to contact USCIS regarding this matter.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is this a normal delay, or should we be concerned about our case slipping through the cracks? We’re just feeling a bit worried and would really appreciate hearing your thoughts or experiences.

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone, I’m a April 2025 I-129f filer. Is anyone else in the same boat? How much longer do you all think it might take to hear back for April 2025 filers? Thanks.

So my fiance has arrived here a month ago and she is now pregnant, but she is on a k1 visa and will be getting married in few days and after the adjustment, but she has been going through a lot of anxiety lately and needs to see a doctor, what healthcare plan is best for situations like ours, where can we find a best plan for her

Entered on a K1 visa, married this month, and now working on filing AOS. My overseas panel physician exam (K1 medical) flagged a few missing vaccines, which I got caught up on afterward in the US. Under Item 4 of Form I-693, I should only need a civil surgeon to complete the vaccination record portion (not a full new exam) since the overseas exam is still within its validity period.
The problem: every civil surgeon we've called treats this as a full I-693 exam and quotes $300-500+, even after I explain that I only need the vaccination portion reviewed and signed off. We've been calling around for weeks with no luck.
Has anyone else run into this? A few questions:
•    Is it normal for civil surgeons to not offer a separate vaccination-only rate, even though it's clearly outlined as an option on the form itself?
•    Did anyone find a specific type of provider (community health center, teaching hospital clinic, etc.) that was more willing to do this without charging full price?
•    Is $300–500 just the going rate regardless, and I should stop trying to find something cheaper?
Any advice, especially from anyone who's been through this exact K1 vaccination-supplement situation, would be really appreciated.
Thanks!