Planet-Love.com Searchable Archives

Can anyone tell me how long the processing times for the K1 petitions in the Texas service center have been?

Thanks,

Tim.

... in response to K1 Visa  wait for Texas service center, posted by Darkstar on Jan 20, 2003

My paperwork back in Sept was approved in 19 days....but my buddy  paperwork has been there for 63 days but  I have never been married,so my paperwork breeze on without any problem.

... in response to K1 Visa  wait for Texas service center, posted by Darkstar on Jan 20, 2003

NT

... in response to K1 Visa  wait for Texas service center, posted by Darkstar on Jan 20, 2003

Regarding the last few posts concerning the K-1 129F fiancee visa. I'm totally perplexed on how these posters received or heard that filers for the K-1 visa received them so quickly. I've never heard of such a response time considering the Texas adjudication office is next to the last in response time (in general Vermont being the fastest at about 30-40 days) Currently the response time for the Texas service center for K-1's is at 60-90 days. and that's a conservative estimate. I think you need to be careful taking advise from some of the posters on this board (bulls@#t), do the research it's out there. I can also tell you I filed for a K-1 in November it's been over 60 days and they haven't even looked at it! They are working on case files on 10/11/2002. At the Nebraska center it July of 2002 and California it's about November 1st or so and Vermont it's the same. It's my belief that a K-1 visa is about a 6 month wait out of the Texas center at the current time. Hope I helped

... in response to Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service cent..., posted by Craig on Jan 20, 2003

Craig

If you're saying that I've got my dates wrong or lied, put your money where your mouth is.  I can prove who is full of BS.

Steve

... in response to Re: Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service ..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

I didn;t realize that you said that some of us were bull,,,,,g but i have the proof...my certified mailer and the approval letter with the date on it.I was shock that it happen so fast but no kids, or ex-marriages were in my file so maybe that the reason why....

... in response to Re: Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service ..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

Money? What are you talking about? I never mentioned your name nor do I know who you are but if the shoe fits? So prove it then because I don't beleive it.
It's 60-90 days for a K-1 Visa in Texas . That's a fact! Don't take my word for it go on the INS websites or various other sites off Google. Type in "Texas service center I-129F processing times" Furthermore I said current processing times who cares what someone did months or years ago. These processing times change every two weeks. So it makes no diffrence what happend in July. If I hurt your feelings then don't read my posts.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas serv..., posted by Craig on Jan 20, 2003

Craig

¥ou wrote something about "prove it".

¢ant hear you.

£oosing signal.

$teve

... in response to Re: Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service ..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

Steve--I hope you don't think -I- meant you were lying when I told Craig "thanks for telling the truth"...I was just being polite to Craig, heck I'm trying to be polite to both of you and thank you both for the help. So let me say "you're BOTH telling the truth, as YOU experienced it" before I dig this hole any deeper.

... in response to Re: Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service ..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

And yes, it may not be that fast now, but I read others post similar response times for the Dallas district back in August/September, 2002.  It used to take about 3-4 months when I did another K1 in 1999, but my dates are true.

Steve

... in response to Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service cent..., posted by Craig on Jan 20, 2003

Your estimate of 60-90 days (which BTW is what I told M. to expect) is probably more accurate than M's estimate of three weeks. Most likely she has her time frame confussed with the interview in Bogota date to departure for Houston date and doesn't know that the sponsor filed probably 2 or 3 months before the interview date, that's what I suspect. She did say that the guy is well off and that she thinks he paid a bribe for extra fast service. That may work in Colombia, but I don't think it will speed up the clerks at Texas INS.

Anyway, you told the truth, even if it wasn't what we wanted to hear, so for that I thank you.

... in response to Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service cent..., posted by Craig on Jan 20, 2003

6 month wait meaning start till she arrives in the states.

... in response to K1 Visa  wait for Texas service center, posted by Darkstar on Jan 20, 2003

I filed in Mesquite, Texas last year, 2002.  The timeline went as follows:

July 22 - I mailed my K1 documents to the INS.

August 16 - My fiancee received an invitation letter from the embassy in Bogota.

September 1 - She arrived in Bogota for medical exam and interview at embassy.

September 8 - She arrived in Dallas.

Steve

... in response to Re: K1 Visa  wait for Texas service cent..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

Glad you two are together. Well, that's like 4 weeks from mailing to notice of interview--pretty good (considering the horror tales, on the other hand, they OUGHT to handle it in two or three DAYS)

1) Mesquite? They told me on the phone (and their website also says) 8101 N. Stemmons, Dallas. Well (for the bennefit of those who don't know the area) Mesquite is a suburb of Dallas--they probably run a courier between the two offices once or twice a day...who knows which office actualy does the work?
2) Any children involved?
3) Did they give her a "come when it's convient for you any time after xxx date" invatation or "8:15AM September 1, don't be late or you forfeit your chance" type appointment?
4) How much did the medical cost?
5) Where did your wife stay (what hotel)? And would you recomend that hotel? Or if she didn't like the hotel, do you know a different one to recomend?
6) Anything else that you think that we should know?

Thanks

... in response to Questions, posted by Michael B on Jan 20, 2003

My wife just arrived in Bogota, she has her medical appointment later this week, and tomorrow she is going to get her lab work done.  There are two doctors on the approved list one is male and the other is female, needless to say if your lady wants to make her appointment with the female, doctor do it early.  My wife made her appointment back on December 17, the day of our first visit to the embassy and the only appointment she could get with the female doctor is later this week.  

I am not sure about east, west, north or south but if you are facing the entrance to the embassy the first street to your right and about three blocks down there is a small hotel just across from the embassy compound.  I will give you more information such as name address and phone number of the place when she checks in.  This hotel is about a three minute walk to the embassy entrance gate.  I hope this helps.

... in response to Questions, posted by Michael B on Jan 20, 2003

Michael

1) Stemmons is their public office.  I think Mesquite is a district office, and the K1 instructions said to mail it there.  The INS has since been revamped in order to keep out the "bad guys".  They should put me in charge.  I'd keep 'em out!  Reminds me of Gallagher's old gag:

"I don't fly TWA because it stands for Travel With Arabs.  I fly Delta because it stands for Don't Even Let Them Aboard!"

Anyway, the adresses may be changing.

2) She has 2 children that accompanied her.

3) The embassy's invitation letter allowed her come to the embassy at any time, not a specific time.  But the Bogota embassy may be changing it's visa procedures.  They shut down at year-end for security reasons.  They are supposed to be re-opened now.

4) The medical was supposed to cost about $70, but the thieves, I mean the doctors that work there started gouging her for vaccinations.  I don't know what the final bill was.  She just kept saying, "Send more money".

5) My wife stayed with family in Bogota.  The only place I ever stayed in Bogota was in an apartment owned by an agency, named Ladies and Gentlemen International, I think.  It's a very nice 2 bedroom apartment for about $50 a night.  Sometimes the water is even hot.  I have no idea if it's near the embassy.

6) Anything else that you think that we should know? - The doctor in Bogota told her to strip naked but she refused and the doctor backed off.  I'd like to have that job.

Steve

... in response to Answers, posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

Well thank you, Steve. I'll tell her to be wary of Dr. Check U. Out....OK, thought up some more questions. Did the kids have to accompany her to the interview? Do the kids have to have a medical also? What documents were required for the kids?

... in response to More questions, posted by Michael B on Jan 20, 2003

Michael

No offense, taken.  My response was to Craig.

The kids do not have to go to the interview, but they do have to have a medical also.  Or at least we were told the kids did not have to go to the interview, but I think Milena took her kids with her anyway, just to be sure.  I think the kids have to have all the same documents as the mother, but I'm not sure.  Milena put that all together while I waited in the US.

One other thing I remembered.  Her first day at the embassy she asked some officer there which line she needed to be in.  They told her the wrong line and when she got to the front of the line the other window was closed for the day.  I think that should be grounds for firing the officer.  Preferably out of a cannon.

So Milena had to go back the next day and she got in the correct line.  I don't know which line to tell you.  You/your fiancee will have to ask.

Also, I had this image of Americans working at the US embassy.  Wrong.  I think most everybody there is Colombian.  Maybe they have a few Marines there.  I hope so!  (even if Craig is a Marine).

Steve

... in response to Re: More questions, posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

All of the personnel I saw and spoke to were Colombian, with the exception of the councilor.

... in response to Re: More questions, posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

Steve you have a problem with the fact that I was a Marine, that's ok. I think your a putz... so we at least have something in common.

... in response to Re: Re: More questions, posted by Craig on Jan 20, 2003

Hey Craig,
I to am a former "DEVIL DOG" with most of my time spent on the "Rock." Spent time at Lejuene(French Creek) with 8th Engineers, hated that awful place, so I stayed on as many East Pac and Nato floats as I possibly could, was there from mid 82 thru early 84. When were you in and how long did you serve?

Semper Fi!!!
moam

... in response to Re: More questions, posted by DallasSteve2 on Jan 20, 2003

So if the kids need the medical and all the approved doctors are in Bogota, then it follows that the kids will have to go to Bogota as well, right? Darn! Another expense, ha ha, but she's worth it. She's kind of worried about the 17yo boy, wants him here before he turns 18, she's afraid he will be drafted. Supposedly Colombia doesn't draft high school graduates, but she says that may be about to change. OTOH, when he gets here, he's actually interested in joining the US military. Don't know if they will take him (non citizen, but he will be a legal resident, no English) but we shall see what they say. Heck, I guess given the choice I'd rather enlist in the US than be drafted in Colombia too!

... in response to Re: Re: More questions, posted by Michael B on Jan 20, 2003

If he thinks they might try to draft him there in Columbia, then i agree its a good idea to join the military here. Im not sure about if he has to be a citizen to join, when i was in the army there were a couple guys from the Dominican Republic and Panama i knew, but they might have been citizen when they joined? not sure,........but i suspect they dont have to be, just residents .. but im sure a recruiter will find out and very quick..... Something to think about is joining the reserve or national guard if he doesnt want to go active full time.....you can learn a trade and earn college money, just like active military.....something for him to think about

... in response to in regard to joining the military, posted by Golden on Jan 21, 2003

He told me: 1) No problem for a legal perminate resident to join any branch 2) Remidial English courses are offered to those who need/want them 3) BUT must pass the entrance test in ENGLISH, no classes nor help learning English BEFORE you are joined up. I thanked him for his time and information.

... in response to in regard to joining the military, posted by Golden on Jan 21, 2003

Thanks, Golden. I know you don't have to be a citizen for enlisted, but I'm almost sure you do have to be a citizen to be an officer. I think (but not sure) if you join up they cut you some slack on the waiting time to apply for citizenship.  I'm afraid the hang up is going to be his lack of English. He's most interested in the navy. Yeah, I guess I can make a phone call to a recruiter and next time I talk to him or his mother let them know what I found out.

... in response to Re: in regard to joining the military, posted by Michael B on Jan 21, 2003

You do have to be a citizen to be an officer. I know that while playing around with the idea of OCS while in the guard.(the OCS program last over a year in the guard because you go on weekends only and 2 two week camps during the process, while in the active army you can do it in 90 days ..aka "90 day wonder" or "butter bar". I would say the main reason you have to be citizen to be an officer has to do with security clearance. When you go to OCS they do a background check to get you a clearance, same thing applies if you go ROTC. Officers have a secret clearance.

... in response to K1 Visa  wait for Texas service center, posted by Darkstar on Jan 20, 2003

[This message has been edited by Michael B]

We'll find out together---I sent mine Saturday via certified mail. Came to 96 pages total, counting the orginal documents and the translation of each document.

Oh wait, come to think of it, I was talking with Martha yesterday and she told me that a friend of hers just left a couple of days ago to join a man in Houston. She said that the friend (and her 3 kids) got the visa in only 3 weeks. I asked her if they got married in Colombia and did DCF and she insisted that "No, it is the same kind of visa that we are applying for." Maybe she's right (we can hope).