Nigerian Woman Shares 22-Month K-1 Visa Journey

Joy, a Nigerian woman, documented her 22-month K-1 fiancé visa journey to the United States on TikTok under the handle @journeywithjoy0. She explained that the process begins with a petition filed by the US-based partner, requiring evidence of a genuine relationship, such as WhatsApp chats, call records, and photos.

After submitting the petition, the USCIS issued a Notice of Action in one week. The processing stage typically lasts eight to twelve months; Joy's took nine months.

Following approval, her case was sent to the National Visa Centre, and after the Lagos Embassy marked it as ready, she completed the DS-160 form and medical examinations. During her interview at the Lagos Embassy, her case was placed under 221(g) administrative processing, resulting in a "refused" status.

After five months of communication with the embassy, she received approval and quickly traveled to collect her passport and visa, finally arriving in the US. The entire process took 22 months, with Joy noting that many applicants complete it in less time.