How much time will fiance need to clear immigration at JFK?

[Mishu]

Now that we are approved, I am booking Mr. Mishu's flight back to US in 3 weeks. He wants to go through JFK to get his temporary work authorization. Anyone have experience with using JFK as POE? I found flights with a 3 hour layover but I don't think it is enough. Any ideas?

[kitkat1]

Mishu, I would look for another flight. General rule is minimum 4 hours. It's unlikely he would actually need that much time, but there is no way to know if they are going to be backed up or how many other flights are arriving at the same time. My husband got through the whole thing fairly quickly, but he was in the front of the plane so he was one of the first to get there. Even so, he spent the night at a nearby hotel and flew out the next day because the connection was only three hours

[fashionista]

You can get a tempory work authorization if you go through JFK airport? How does this this work? Is it only for K1, my husband has a K3 apt next month at CDJ.

[Pinkpig]

Our situation is not really pertinent to yours...but I just felt like adding it... :) Our son and DIL came through JFK with a CR-1 and their time between flights was 35 minutes. They made it through customs and immigration and made their connection.

Delta had even booked them on the next flight as they did not expect them to make it but they did.

The immigration lady told them that if they had been on a K-3 visa, they would never have made it through on time. But since they were on a CR-1 she just waived them right through with little effort.

Amazing really.

[kitkat1]

You can get a tempory work authorization if you go through JFK airport? How does this this work? Is it only for K1, my husband has a K3 apt next month at CDJ.

Does not apply to K3s :(

[fashionista]

Does not apply to K3s :(

Thanks!

Wishful thinking I guess!!!

[Mishu]

kitkat, how long did it take for Mr.KitKat to get through immigration at JFK? I was reading on another site that since it is a k-1, it is faster. I think he needs more than 3 hours but I don't know how much more.

[kitkat1]

Around an hour in line - around 15 minutes at immigration - bags were there, went through customs, etc. in 5 minutes. But it all depends on how long the line is and how long the wait is at secondary inspection. When he arrived, there were not a lot of other flights arriving. He could have made his connection, but it was much less stressful to not have to worry about it.

[Magpie]

Hey all,

I have been reading a lot on this website. I don't write a lot because my work doesn't allow me that much. I have a question for you.
My fiance EWI in 2001. We want to go through the Fiance visa process. Can someone tell me where do I start with this whole thing. I looked at some timelines but I'm a little confused. It all seems so simple which I know is not. Please help. I'm also considering using Laurel Scott.

FYI anyone from Wisconsin.

[gatita]

Hi Magpie,

You start by filing the I-129F to the service center that serves your state. Go to the USCIS website to download the form, and follow the instructions carefully. You will need to submit additional things with this petition. Also, since you will need to do a waiver, go visit the Mexico 1-601 section, and read the stickies at the top. (I'm assuming he's from Mexico, if not go to the I-601 Other section.) If you want more direction, you have to tell us a little more about your case...like was it just one EWI, etc., because that would make a difference. Other good sites for the K-1 part itself are Visa Journey and Family Based Immigration.

We have not used a lawyer for this, and our I-129F was approved in the normal timeframe. To be honest with you, we saw a lawyer who gave us the wrong information, which caused a lot of stress in our lives. Luckily, I met someone who had gone through the waiver process, and learned about it in-depth on this site. If you choose to go with a lawyer, I think someone like Laurel Scott would be a good choice. I just can't justify paying $6000.00+ for something that we can do ourselves. If we are denied, and have to refile, then I might look into getting a lawyer then, but hopefully that won't happen.

FYI- I'm next door in Minnesota. :)