I-129F K-1/K-2: Is USCIS Processing Speeding Up Again?

In our July 24th, 2026 article, I-129F processing had fallen to its lowest point of the year. Weekly activity was around 100 cases, the Front of the Line was barely moving, and the "Case Was Sent to the Department of State" status update had vanished.

However, we can finally share some great news. Since late August, USCIS has picked up the pace significantly. September was the busiest month for K-1/K-2 cases since May, approvals nearly doubled from August, and the Front of the Line is now moving on almost every working day.

Current Processing Numbers

Here's how monthly K-1/K-2 activity on Track My Visa cases has changed over the past few months:

• July 2026: 519 case updates, 331 approvals
• August 2026: 486 case updates, 312 approvals (the low point of the year)
• September 2026: 826 case updates, 614 approvals
• October 2026 (first week): 296 case updates already, 212 of them being approvals

Total processing activity for September 2026 was up roughly 69% from August 2026, and approvals had almost doubled. During the last week of September to October 4th, we saw 340 cases processed alone. This is a significant change from our July and August reporting of just over 100 cases processed per week, with some weeks even less than 100.

October has started even stronger. In the first few working days of the month, USCIS has already processed about a third as many cases as it did in all of September. The long term trend is still emerging, but this is a very encouraging and significant change.

The Front of the Line Is Moving Quickly

For most of the summer, the Front of the Line (the most recent filing dates where USCIS is actively updating cases) barely crept forward by about two filing days per week. With five filing days per week, this meant that the backlog of cases was getting larger every week.

It appears that USCIS is now reversing course as USCIS is pushing forward through the backlog more aggressively:

As of October 7th, 2026, USCIS has started to approve cases filed as early as December 17th, 2025.

Department of State Transfers

One thing hasn't changed: we're still rarely seeing the "Case Was Sent to the Department of State" status update.

Since July, only a handful of Track My Visa cases have shown this update. That doesn't seem to mean cases are stuck. As we noted in our July 30th update, approved cases appear to be reaching the Department of State and the National Visa Center (NVC) even though the USCIS status never changes.

If you're approved: Don't wait for the DOS status update. If it has been three weeks or more since your approval (NOA2), we recommend submitting a Public Inquiry to the NVC to confirm your case was received (PI form here).

Embassy Interview Pause for Public Charge Training

Faster USCIS approvals are only half of the story. Once an approved K-1 case reaches the embassy stage, some applicants are facing a new source of delays.

USCIS has updated its Policy Manual to clarify how officers determine whether an immigrant applying for a visa, admission to the United States, or adjustment of status may be inadmissible under the public charge ground in INA § 212(a)(4).

Because of this, U.S. embassies and consulates have postponed or rescheduled visa interviews while consular officers receive training related to updated public charge guidance.

What does this mean if you're approved now?

Your case can still move forward through USCIS and the NVC, but your embassy interview may take longer than you originally expected. Cases are currently being held at NVC before being shipped to the embassy due to the current backlog at the embassy phase.

In the meantime, use the extra time to make sure your financial evidence is in order. For K-1 applicants, this may include the Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, along with supporting documentation such as tax records and evidence of the sponsor's current income.

With increased attention surrounding public charge determinations, having a complete and well-documented financial package is especially important.

Are interviews still paused?

We are beginning to see interviews resume at some embassies. However, the situation varies significantly by embassy.

Keep a close eye on your email and NVC/CEAC case status for updates, cancellations, rescheduling notices, or new interview information from your specific embassy.

What Comes Next?

This is the strongest stretch of I-129F processing we've seen since the spring.

Still, we've learned this year that a few good weeks don't guarantee stability. The May rebound faded within a month. Here's what we're watching:

• Whether weekly volume stays at or above 200 cases through October
• Whether the Front of the Line keeps moving faster than 5 business days per week, which would mean the backlog is shrinking
• Whether the DOS status update returns, or whether NVC Public Inquiries stay the main way to confirm a transfer
• When embassies resume interviews after public charge training, and how quickly they work through the cases that piled up in the meantime

If you've been waiting through this year's slowdowns, we know how exhausting it has been. For the first time in months, the numbers are moving the right way. We'll keep tracking both the approval and DOS status changes and post updates as things develop.

— Track My Visa Team