How long USCIS is taking to decide I-129F fiancé(e) petitions, the first step toward a K-1 visa, from real cases we tracked to a decision. Updated every day.
We're still collecting enough decided I-129F cases to publish our own numbers (we wait for at least 20). Until then, USCIS's published national median is 8.2 months.
USCIS national median, FY2026 for I-129F: 8.2 months.
Enter the 13-character receipt number from your receipt notice to see your current status, what it means and your estimated decision date.
Use the receipt number from your I-129F receipt notice. After approval the case moves to the NVC and the consulate, which this lookup can't see. Free, no sign-up.
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Not sure what a status means? See every USCIS case status explained. Following one case over months? The K-1 visa tracker explains each stage.
The time on this page ends when USCIS approves the petition. The approved I-129F then goes to the National Visa Center and on to the US embassy or consulate, where your fiancé(e) completes the DS-160, a medical exam and an interview. The whole K-1 process takes noticeably longer than the USCIS figure alone.
You generally need to show you met in person within the two years before filing and that you both intend to marry within 90 days of arrival. Weak evidence of either is a common cause of a Request for Evidence. The in-person meeting requirement can be waived in limited cases, such as extreme hardship or strict cultural custom.
If you met through an international marriage broker, have certain criminal history, or have filed K-1 petitions for other people before, extra disclosures or a waiver are required. Missing them is a reliable way to add months.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For decisions about your own case, check USCIS's current guidance or talk to an immigration attorney.
Other forms: I-730 · I-601A · N-400 · N-600 · N-600K · I-131 · I-539 · I-821 · I-129 · I-140 · I-526E · I-829 · I-360 · I-918 · I-914 · I-817 · I-600A · I-600 · I-800A · I-800 · I-90 · N-565 · I-102 · I-824
All USCIS processing timesUSCIS's published national median for I-129F is 8.2 months. We don't yet have enough decided I-129F cases of our own to publish a figure, so this page shows USCIS's number until we do.
USCIS sends it to the National Visa Center, which forwards it to the consulate in your fiancé(e)'s country. They file the DS-160, attend a medical exam and are interviewed. You can follow that stage on the State Department's CEAC site, not with a USCIS receipt number.
An approved petition is generally valid for four months, and the consulate can extend (revalidate) it if the case is still moving. Confirm the details for your case with USCIS or an immigration attorney.
You marry within 90 days of entry, and then your spouse files Form I-485 to adjust status. A K-1 entrant generally can't change to a different status, so the marriage has to be to the person who filed the I-129F.
Ours come from real I-129F cases we tracked from the day USCIS received them to the day they were approved or denied, over the last 12 months. USCIS's median covers its whole fiscal year and, for some forms, only one category. Neither predicts a single case exactly: your service center or field office, your category and any Request for Evidence matter more.
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