I-129F processing time 2026: how long it takes
How long the I-129F fiancé(e) petition (K-1 visa) takes according to the official USCIS median, who files it and what happens after approval.
Source: USCIS quarterly report — accessed Oct 19, 2026
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I-129F median processing time
| Period | Category | Median (months) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q3 | All | 9 |
I-129F key facts
- Form I-129F is used to bring your fiancé(e) (K-1) and their children (K-2) to the United States so you may marry, or your spouse (K-3) and their children (K-4) to await approval of a Form I-130 filed for your spouse. (Source)
- Form I-129F is filed at the USCIS Dallas lockbox. (Source)
- USCIS cannot adjudicate Form I-129F at its international offices. (Source)
- The evidence checklist asks for one color passport-style photograph of you and one of your fiancé(e), taken within 30 days of filing the petition. (Source)
- The current edition of Form I-129F is 01/20/25. (Source)
The first half of the road to the wedding
Form I-129F is the petition that opens the door to the fiancé(e) visa. The U.S. citizen files it and, if USCIS approves it, the case moves to the Department of State for the visa process. The median on this page covers only the USCIS part: the time until the visa is in hand is longer.
Because everything goes to a single lockbox, paperwork mistakes show up quickly. Before mailing the package, go through the evidence checklist USCIS publishes: proof of your citizenship, proof that any prior marriage was legally ended, the recent photographs and, if it applies, the documents about international marriage brokers. Any document in another language needs a full English translation with the translator’s certification.
The same form covers the K-3 category for a spouse waiting on an I-130 approval. Choose carefully which one you request: the Department of State has separate pages for the K-1 and the K-3 visa.
After the wedding, if your family’s next step is a green card from inside the country, check the I-485 processing time page to know what to expect.
If USCIS has already approved the petition and you want to withdraw it, its page says you must contact the Department of State, because the case is no longer with USCIS.
More about this form
Frequently asked questions
Does the median include the visa at the consulate?
No. The USCIS median covers the petition from the day USCIS receives it until it completes it. The visa process is a separate stage handled by the Department of State.
Can I file Form I-129F at a USCIS office abroad?
No. USCIS says it cannot adjudicate this form at its international offices; it is mailed to the Dallas lockbox.
What counts as evidence of citizenship?
The USCIS page accepts, among others, a copy of a U.S. birth certificate, a naturalization or citizenship certificate, Form FS-240 or an unexpired U.S. passport.
Official sources
- USCIS — Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
- USCIS quarterly report (FY2026 Q3) → — accessed Oct 19, 2026
