Form I-129F processing time
I-129F K1/K2/K3/K4 - Fiance(e) or spouse and/or dependent children
Processing time trend
Months to decision
FY diamonds are USCIS-published yearly national averages. Weekly points average our daily snapshots. Daily points are individual USCIS snapshots from the last 30 days.
Summary · Updated 2026-06-23
As of 2026-06-23, USCIS reports a 11.5 Months to 14.5 Months processing time for Form I-129F K1/K2/K3/K4 - Fiance(e) or spouse and/or dependent children cases handled by Service Center Operations (SCOPS). This range represents the time to complete 80% of these cases. If your filing receipt is dated before April 17, 2025, you may submit a case inquiry to USCIS.
How long does I-129F K1/K2/K3/K4 - Fiance(e) or spouse and/or dependent children take?
USCIS currently publishes a range of 11.5 Months to 14.5 Months for Form I-129F K1/K2/K3/K4 - Fiance(e) or spouse and/or dependent children cases handled by Service Center Operations (SCOPS), as of . This is the time to complete 80% of cases of this type at this office — your case may resolve faster or slower than the published range.
Can I submit a case inquiry?
USCIS accepts case inquiries when your receipt date is older than the published inquiry date. For I-129F K1/K2/K3/K4 - Fiance(e) or spouse and/or dependent children at Service Center Operations (SCOPS), that date is currently April 17, 2025. If your filing receipt is dated before that, you can submit a service request through your USCIS online account.
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How to read the chart
The chart combines four data sources, oldest to newest: USCIS-published fiscal-year averages from FY2014 (including the current partial year), drawn from USCIS's Historic Processing Times page; weekly averages computed from our daily snapshots; and daily snapshots for the most recent 30 days. A flat line means the published range was unchanged in our snapshots, not that nothing is happening on individual cases.
Source & methodology
All processing-time figures on this page come directly from USCIS's official Processing Times tool. We snapshot the published ranges every weekday and store the time series for trend analysis. Historic fiscal-year medians come from USCIS's Historic Processing Times page. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.
Frequently asked questions about I-129F
What is Form I-129F?
Petition for Alien Fiancé(e). Filed by a US citizen for a foreign-national fiancé(e) (K-1) or, less commonly, a foreign-national spouse abroad (K-3). Approval allows the beneficiary to apply for a K visa at a US consulate.
What's the K-1 timeline?
Typical end-to-end timeline: I-129F filing → USCIS approval (6-12 months) → National Visa Center processing (1-2 months) → Consular interview scheduling (1-6 months) → K-1 visa issuance → 6 months to enter the US → 90 days to marry → I-485 filing for adjustment of status.
What evidence do I need for a bona fide relationship?
Proof you've met in person within the past 2 years (photos, flight records, hotel receipts), communication history (chat logs, emails, call records), evidence of intent to marry within 90 days of beneficiary's US entry, and any joint travel or shared activities.
What's the difference between K-1 and CR-1?
K-1 is for fiancé(e)s — get married after entering the US, then file I-485 to adjust status. CR-1 is for spouses already married — direct immigrant visa, arrives as a conditional permanent resident. CR-1 is generally cleaner long-term but slower overall (and requires being married first); K-1 is faster to bring partner to US.
Can my K-1 fiancé(e) work in the US?
After arrival, they can file I-765 EAD (category a-6) but processing typically takes longer than the 90-day marriage window. Most K-1s skip the K-1 EAD and instead file I-485 + I-765 (c-9) after marriage; the c-9 EAD typically arrives in 4-8 months.
What if we don't marry within 90 days of US entry?
The K-1 beneficiary must leave the US. There is no extension and no path to adjust to another status from K-1. Marry within 90 days, or depart and re-file under a different petition (CR-1, B-2, etc.).
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