ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresChange of Address
You know I was slightly irked when my packet 3 had to be forwarded. I lost another 3 days!!!! tongue.gif To be honest though, once your case gets to NVC it goes so fast that those 3 days that I got irked about were nothing.

Waiting for NOA2 is a different story though wink.gif I think I had too much time on my hands and sweated everything.

And it is worth it. All of it smile.gif Good luck!
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-10 17:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresChange of Address
I had the same situation. I moved home to save money shortly after filing the K1. There is no way to change the beneficiaries address via USCIS.

When your partner receives the NOA2 approval notice your petition will be sent on to NVC before it is sent to the embassy. At this stage you can telephone NVC and ask them to record the change of address. I would give it time for the petition to be sent to NVC though.

I did this, but it did not work. Fortunately, I had my mail forwarded from my previous address and I received a forwarded Packet 3. I was then able to contact the embassy to register the change of address.

In short, there is nothing you can do until NVC. Make sure you have mail forwarded and then try the NVC tactic. If that doesn't work the embassy will change the discrepancy.

and no one will get mad! Except you if you don't get your Packet 3 tongue.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-10 16:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Questions
If he has another job set up for October presumably he has a contract with them? Can't you get a letter from his new job stating what his salary will be and when he will start. This coupled with tax returns from the past three years and any pay stubs he has to show evidence that he was recently employed would be good evidence he has the means to support you. He could also include proof of assets or savings to supplement the mandatory evidence.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-10 22:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat to do if K1 visa is denied?
I am sure they would have to give a more substantial reason than your age difference for denial. Age difference shouldn't be a cause for denial.

If it is a lack of evidence your fiancee should have been given a notice defining the reason for denial and an opportunity to rectify this.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-11 23:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYet another EAD stamp question
Cool. Thanks so much for the info. Wish I had known that back in March - all the info I had then was some memo from 2000 that stated K1 were authorised.

Congratulations on your approval. It's a very good day for you!!
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-16 21:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYet another EAD stamp question
Hey Lancer,

Could you explain the SAVE thing - or send me a link. It's irrelevant in my case, since I'm now out of status, but I would be interested in seeing the 'proof'. I trawled through a lot of info prior to my move out here and it seemed that K1 authorisation during the first 90 days was an incredibly grey area - and there was much argument about it. From what I understand employment with a UK employer is an ideal situation for K1 - I wished I'd had that opportunity. Seems to me, that until permanent residency is in place she is not employed by a US employer and is therefore not violating any work restriction.

Sorry also to see that you have been messed around a lot by USCIS, you received your NOA2 3 days earlier than me. I take it she's due to arrive in the US soon? Congrats if that's the case.

edit: sorry, that was your NOA1. You really were messed about!

Edited by bakofoil, 16 September 2008 - 08:34 PM.

bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-16 20:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNEED HELP!!! REALLY... NEED HELP!
I take Tracy and john&marlene's point about marrying and filing for AOS. Overstay is forgiven by marriage to a USC I believe. I agree that she should not leave the country until she decides what she wants to do.

But, what problems is this going to cause her for AOS? If he can't get his act together now to marry her, how many difficulties are they going to run into providing evidence of a bona fide relationship at that point?
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-14 16:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTravel to US with K1 visa pending
You can use the visa waiver program to return to the US but should ensure you have sufficient evidence with you at the US point of entry to show you intend to return to Italy. A return ticket is not sufficient. You will need to show ties to Italy, such as ongoing employment, course of study which requires you return to Italy to complete, a rent or mortgage agreement. Anything which indicates you fully intend to return. You may not be asked at all but it is useful to have this information because it is possible that without it you could be refused entry to the US. I visited once during the K1 process and didn't have any problems.

I don't know much about the Italian consulate and timeframes but you can use the Immigration timelines on this site and filter it for your consulate to give you an idea. Good luck!
bakofoilFemaleEngland2009-01-09 12:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Oct 26 2007, 03:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Babblesgirl -

You have entered into a discussion that cannot be won. Perhaps more importantly, there is less intention by some individuals to make salient points than there is to continue an ongoing sociological examination of the perceived traits of certain 'types' of relationships.

I mentioned earlier it isn't our place as posters to define 'intent' categorically without interjecting our personal opinion. This thread is a perfect example of that very thing happening. What 'intent' is - in the eye of one petitioner and beneficiary - may not seem adequate to others. Insofar as immigration is considered, 'intent' can only be defined by the letter of the law - thus my reference to the INA. Case law will further influence any decisions made by a court.

On the other hand, cultural norms and anecdotal experience will influence decisions made by consular officers. It is this stage of the process that many of us seem to be discussing, as there have been many comments about saying thus-and-such or behaving a certain way at the interview.

Suffice it to say there are a number of posters on this site who are apparently fascinated by the relationships between petitioners and beneficiaries of certain nations. The validity of these relationships are often put under the microscope of these posters societal petri dishes for ad nauseum discussion. I believe that is not our intended purpose here. It creates a defensive atmosphere in the community. Unfortunately, that is the intent of some.


I agree Rebecca. However, it was not my intention to win the argument but merely to enter into the overall discussion. I also felt that I should defend the accusation that my posts were dishonest.

In retrospect, I will hold my hands up to focusing perhaps unwisely on what I feel is adequate intent and you are right to point out that this can only be defined by the letter of the law and is otherwise a matter for personal opinion. This was not a willful derailment of the discussion on my part, more an injection of my own view that people be treated respectfully and thoughtfully regardless of their background.

However, as you say, anecdotal experience and cultural norms do play a large part in the outcome of a visa application and therefore it is not wise to advise anyone to rely too heavily on the wording of the INA document when a large part of this process may rely on the subjective opinion of a consular officer as well as objective guidance from the law.

I do feel the importance of this community is to provide good information to those seeking it. Much of that advice is a combination of factual evidence and anecdotal experience.

Thanks for your input. I do feel you and others add a valuable clear-headed and non-personal approach to these types of discussions. smile.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-26 09:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (moxcamel @ Oct 26 2007, 05:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (babblesgirl @ Oct 25 2007, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'm done smile.gif

Me too. I've said everything I have to say, and I tried to present it in a clear and reasonable manner. However, you and LisaD insist on manipulating it to fit your little zingers and sound bites so that you can trade smug little comments between each other. If you were really willing to listen to and comprehend what I and others have said, rather than deliberately misunderstanding, you might still not agree with it, but at least your opinions would at least be a little more informed. I can respect honest disagreements, but I cannot respect deliberate miscomprehension.


Well I figure I have the right to defend this misrepresentation and personalisation of my part in this debate.

I too can respect honest disagreements. You may have noticed that some of my posts defended your view when some people were missing your point and assuming you were in the same league as the OP. In some of your later posts, you made blanket statements about female beneficiaries, about countries of origin and the ease of displacement and displayed an unwillingness to listen to points that were being made about circumstances relating to both the petitioner and beneficiary's commitment within the K1 application procedure. Points which are highly relevant to the process but which you appear to ignore in favour of standing blinkered by a personal viewpoint on how you and your SO choose to use the 90 days and how that view might be supported legally by documentation. A view I said I didn't disagree with in essence as it is a mutual one. I also stated in a previous post that I have no reason to believe that your commitment to your fiancee is open to question whatsoever. However, I don't recall this debate ever being about you personally. Or about Lisa D or me. The debate isn't really even about the OP anymore.

Rather than being a willful effort to gang-bash you (I am perfectly able to form and articulate my own opinions), my part in this debate was triggered initially by what I thought might be a good thread, i.e. advice about driving licences, SSN's, work experience, getting involved in the community. How the petitioner might cope with helping the beneficiary in those early days of adjustment - which I think you would agree would have been a beneficial thread. One doesn't need to go further than post #1 to see that the thread clearly wasn't going to deliver what it said on the packet.

The thread has since evolved into an honest discussion/debate about what people feel the K1 process is about. Clearly we're not all going to agree. But the main point was about INTENT and I believe Pushbrk's comments clearly and succinctly answered anyone's doubts about what intent actually means despite the fact that various contradictory documentation has been presented. I am certainly not arguing with your point that the document you quoted allows you to bring a fiance(e) to the US and spend the 90 days as you wish and that should you choose not to marry no law is broken. That is fact.

Nor will I argue with Lisa's point about the importance of the letter of intent in the petition stage or the fact that the non-USC would be wise not to state at the interview stage that the USC is using the 90 days following visa issuance as a trial-period. Those points may not have been factually backed up but this is a process which does not objectively bind itself to wording on the document you quoted. Ultimately every application is approved at the whim of a CO who uses a framework of law to guide him/her but who will use subjectivity to decide the fate of your application. You yourself used a good analogy that you would say you liked pink if that was what swayed an approval of your application. If you have been around the VJ site long enough you will have come across a number of couples who didn't present what the CO wanted to hear at interview. People who clearly do have the intent to stay together because they are still waiting ...not 90 days on, but 300, 400, 500 days and more from when they originally hoped to have a K1 visa in hand.

The debate is not just about arguing what is factually true or what untruths can be engineered to fit the application. This process is more than just words on a document. It is an ideological process that involves careful thought and consideration by those involved on how this decision will impact on every aspect of each others lives. Ultimately, there are people here waiting patiently in line to be with the loves of their lives. They don't want a trial period. They trust, respect and love their partners. They are not thinking about their fiance(e) as a potential partner. One doesn't get engaged to someone they are not serious about marrying, you date and take time over that kind of decision. Many have considered the pitfalls, difficulties and merits of being with their loved one and they have started the process of adjustment before visa issuance. Yes, there is always the possibility of being wrong and things not working out quite the way you planned but that can be true of any situation. The point is, you go into this wholeheartedly because you are dealing with not just your own life, but the lives of your partner, yours and their family. It's personal opinion whether you concentrate on ensuring the marriage is a success or focus on what may go wrong and cover your back in the event of a break-up.

The lack of trust shown by some for their partners and negative commentary on their partners life back home just indicates that for some this process is an avenue for 'trying before you buy' and that they have no regard for the impact of this decision on the beneficiary's life back home. It has been evident from a few of the posts on this thread that there is a strain of opinion that some women should be grateful for this opportunity and it's really no biggy whether she has to be sent back home or not. I strongly object to any person being used in this manner. And I guess that view is precisely why the K1 process is as long and involved as it is.

For me, the reason why I have even bothered to respond at all on this thread is that it has highlighted some protection of two important groups of people;

1) beneficiaries from countries deemed to be at some disadvantage by comparison with the US
2) people new to the process looking for information on how to deal with various stages of the application procedure

The advice you are advocating is that the law is so clearly well-defined that it is acceptable to use the 90 day period any way you wish but that is simply not the case and regardless of whether you think I am point-scoring and back-slapping with Lisa or not, she made a very strong and important point. Whilst the document you quote does not define how that period should be used (which also highlights the fact that it is NOT well-defined) and therefore any use of that time period is lawful, the fact remains that the individuals who ultimately make the decisions on K1 petitions do actually expect you to have a well-considered intention to marry within that 90 day period and not use it as a trial period. It's going to take a lot of hassle, time and money to prove to them that actually the document doesn't stipulate a clear intent to marry at all.

For your information I don't even know Lisa. If by agreeing with the rationality of many of her points and disagreeing with some of yours you assume we are in some smug little club together being wilfully "dishonest" and "deliberately misunderstanding" your view well I'm sorry but you appear to have an inability to accept an alternate viewpoint at all. You would have seen had you read my posts in detail that this is not at all my intention.

After all, intention has been what has underpinned this thread and what will ultimately decide the fate of any K1 application.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-26 08:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (moxcamel @ Oct 25 2007, 09:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
blink.gif

The process *IS* sufficiently legally well-defined. It's defined in (thanks Rebeccajo smile.gif ) 8 CFR 214.2. It is by definition sufficiently well-defined, because it addresses the process it's supposed to address. To say it's not sufficiently well-defined because it doesn't support your argument does not strengthen your argument.


umm, you were the one picking holes in the process and saying that the 90 day period could be interpreted as just about anything you wish. If people are thinking it's not *really* about having a firm intention to marry then the document is about as squiffy as the eyes in the condescending smiley you placed in your reply. I think you're the only person who cares about winning the argument.

What I care about is there are people who are making commitments to people they are not that serious about keeping and who seem to have no interest in how their decisions impact on others.

QUOTE (moxcamel @ Oct 25 2007, 09:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (LisaD @ Oct 25 2007, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ok, let's do it this way.

Have the non-USC go into the interview and say that the USC is going to use the 90 days to 'get to know' the fiance and see what happens.

Seriously, this is really a no brainer and oh so ridiculous that this is still up for interpretation.


And why exactly would somebody do that?


Why wouldn't you if the law is as well-defined as you say it is?

That was a rhetorical question. I'm done smile.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-25 20:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Oct 25 2007, 09:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't think it's up to us to moralize on the 'role of the beneficiary'. I'm not even certain I get what that means.

The INA requires the couple have met within the last two years, be free to marry, and have intent to marry. So of course the K1 and USCIS need to be taken seriously.

But I don't see them defining 'courting'. They only define the above mentioned three things.


No, it's not up to us to moralise on this, nor is up to us to encourage people to misuse a process because it's not sufficiently legally well-defined.

What I meant by the 'role of the beneficiary' is that he/she should not be assumed to be someone who is moving to the US simply to gain because he/she has little to lose by staying in their own country. I also intended this remark to remind people that this isn't just about doing someone a favour and bringing them to the US for a better standard of living, which is also something that has been suggested on this thread.

I'm not going to repeat myself again and again, the fact remains that for many people, petitioners and beneficiaries, this is a process that takes a lot of thought and consideration and people should be aware of all that entails before undertaking the K1 process. But you're right, that kind of detail is not defined by the INA.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-25 15:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Oct 25 2007, 08:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
There's a debate about whether it's RIGHT to use 'intent to marry' when actually there may be a 'test drive' in mind.

Everybody's definition of 'intent' is going to be different. You can intend to cross the street at a certain juncture in the road, but decide at the last minute to walk down another block or two before you actually cross over.

The bottom line is - if both people had intent - but the marriage never takes place and the beneficiary returns to their native country before 90 days is up, there is no 'lawbreaking' going on.

It might not be the grooviest thing in the world, and USCIS sure doesn't want to advocate people use the visa as a 'get to know you' thing, but the fact remains that no LAW has been broken if the marriage doesn't occur and the foreign intended goes home in a timely manner.

Beyond that, I don't think we as members here can advocate or advise anything else. Without interjecting our personal opinions, that is.


There was a definite train of thought in earlier posts that 'some women' were not giving up very much to come to the US for marriage and in fact that was a good enough excuse to use the K1 as a medium to discover whether a particular woman was marriage material.

Of course, much personal opinion has come into play here. Many of us feel that by filing the K1 we have already made the commitment to marry. And of course, there's a possibility that some of us may not actually get married once we get there. Stuff happens, stuff we can never forsee. And i'm not interested in arguing the point about when people actually get married within that 90 day period. I think that particular argument has stemmed from people taking comments too personally and really I have no reason to question their commitment to their partners if mutual agreements are in place.

What has happened in this thread is that because many of us have argued vehemently that the K1 is an afterthought to an existing wish to marry a specific individual, others have argued that actually the K1 and USCIS need not be taken as seriously as we appear to. It's turned into a bit of a mess actually. But my main concern is that we define what the K1 actually is for the sake of people still looking into avenues for bringing people to the US. Is it simply my opinion that it is not ok to court a potential partner after the K1 has been approved? It seems that the K1 can and is used for that purpose. Of course it's not illegal, but surely there is some moral aspect involved here in terms of how we view the role of the beneficiary in all of this.

Edited by babblesgirl, 25 October 2007 - 02:59 PM.

bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-25 14:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Oct 25 2007, 07:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (PEGGY @ Oct 25 2007, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I knew my husband for almost two years before I moved to the USA.

We were lucky to get to see each other every three months. When I came to the USA to live, I thought we should still wait almost until the 90 days were up just to see how we all (blended family) got along living in the same house. I didnt make that decision because I didnt love my fiancee. I did it to see how things went with us all living together. Having to live with someone is totally different then visits from each other. We all get caught up in the romance on those visits. If anyone says that dont they are full of themselves.

I just didnt want to come here and get married 2 days later just so I could get my AOS sent out so I could start working. That was not our plan.

Everyones plan is different

Thats my opionion


Yes, plans and circumstances vary. Yours seem perfectly reasonable. However, I didn't notice anything about stroke loggers and other snooping. I take it also that your plan was a mutual decision, not an "audition".


It really makes no difference whether you choose to marry on day 1 or day 89 as long as, like you have said, there is a mutual respectful intent to your decision.

I have no objection to someone who has a mutual agreement with their partner to take time to see how well things fit once they are together on the K1 - although I still think that 90 days is going to be a bit of a push to arrange weddings and work out whether full adjustment is going to take place.

What concerns me about the thread is that it has evolved into a disagreement on the terms of the K1. I object to the notion that 'the intent to marry' is not a prerequisite for filing the K1 in the first place.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-25 14:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
I think we have to be careful about what we're advocating with regard to the K1 visa process.

I know from personal experience that I have gleaned more information from this site about the process than from any other single site. However, I have been careful to ensure that any advice I have received on these boards is backed up by secondary sources.

I don't think it is unreasonable for people to assume that by embarking on a marriage-based visa they are making a firm commitment to another person and that with that comes a responsibility for each other that goes far beyond what one might experience making a similar commitment to someone in your home country. For example, I am not financially or legally responsible for anyone who I have had a relationship with in the past, nor am I responsible for encouraging (with their consent) them giving up good careers, local friend and family support on my account. This is why I personally feel that what my fiance and I are undergoing is the most intense responsibility for a relationship either of us has ever experienced and this is why we have discussed ad infinitum what kind of issues we might face in what is a very unusual way (although not unique way) for people to come together for marriage.

That said, I don't think it is unreasonable either for people to be cautious about the limited time they have been able to utilise to get to know their partner in person. Or to feel that bigger issues might get in the way of a successful outcome to their INTENT to marry. None of us can ensure the success of our future marriages and it is only right and fair to both parties to be aware that problems might occur.

However, if anyone is advocating that the K1 is a legal means of getting to know someone better then you are misleading many people looking to these boards for good advice. Also, you are misunderstanding the practicalities involved for the beneficiary. We do not all have the same circumstances, but many beneficiaries have loose ends to tie up BEFORE entering the US on a K1 visa. Careers, lifestyle, family, friends, homes, belongings, pets. Facing the prospect of not earning for at least 3 months. These things are all weighed up BEFOREHAND. Is this relationship worth this to me? Is the relationship worth my fiance or their family signing an affadavit of support? Is the relationship worth being with someone who is inevitably going to experience a period of extreme dependency upon me? This is a very serious undertaking. It's got past flirtation and dating and testing the water.

To say that the K1 petition is not as legally-binding as it appears to be is one thing but expecting the beneficiary to go through all of this just so you can decide whether he/she is worth the bother is completely neglectful of what is actually at stake here. I would add to this (as I've said before) that a 90 day timeframe to test a partner's ability before marriage to adjust to the cultural differences and separation from families and friends or practicalities of living in close confines with you is simply insufficient. Someone here, very eloquently stated that a relationship is in constant flux - a fluid process that continues to evolve over years of being together.

Please be careful what you are advising here. I too would say I liked pink if it meant I could be with my SO, but I know we as a couple have stressed over every minor detail of getting this application right. Not taking USCIS seriously could result in us facing a lifetime apart.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-25 13:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (Seattle2Cebu @ Oct 24 2007, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I never said the 90 days was a get to know time.... Ive known her over a year...

I think its a good time to double check thats all

I had a very bad experience in the past and am given to moments of paranoia at times

hence the key logger statement, which was one of those things i might say but not do..

im sure no one else has ever said something that they didnt actually intend to do


You started the thread and the title suggested you were offering good advice to those of us going through this process.



QUOTE (Seattle2Cebu @ Oct 24 2007, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I wish I didnt have trust issues, its not fun.

how do you trust completely when you are totally decieved? I dont know.


I don't think it's a good idea to marry anyone you do not trust. Especially not someone who lives a long way away. You need to resolve any trust issues before committing yourself to someone for life.



QUOTE (Seattle2Cebu @ Oct 24 2007, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
for those of you who seem to think the foreign fiance is giving up everything...

lets see what are they giving up? some fiances are coming from poor nations... they are giving

up incredibly low pay, bad housing, etc etc etc to make the terrible sacrifice to come to america.

geez.. thats a tough one.


there are many foreign fiances that arent giving up much... and they will do and say anything to get here..

thats just the truth.. most of the people on this forum wont have this problem..


Maybe the problems you are experiencing stem from your lack of understanding of your fiancee's experience in this process. Leaving your country is not *just* about money, it's about security; leaving a network of family and friends behind. Not to mention being completely dependent on others whilst adjustment takes place.


QUOTE (Seattle2Cebu @ Oct 24 2007, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hmm and that would be why I have paid thousands of dollars in medical care for her parents ?

im a real heartless ####### for sure.


her parents being ill could also be contributing to a difficult choice for her.

Also, I don't see how paying out thousands to help her and her family is relevant to this discussion unless you are assuming that she owes you and therefore it is ok to invade her privacy and accuse her of being less than trustworthy. It is not ok.

Work on building trust between you and enjoying the first 90 days of the rest of your life together.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 13:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
There is so much to adjust to that I doubt it can be comfortably achieved within 90 days and that is certainly not what the OP was referring to.

To be fair, I think moxcamel and the OP are coming from different tangents on this. Moxcamel is concerned about the cultural transition for his fiancee and the OP is worried that his fiancee is dishonest. Two entirely different sentiments.

Having said this, the 90 day time period is useless regardless of the validity of the petitioner's concerns. Entering the K1 process is an intent to marry and you need to set systems in place before petitioning to ensure that the marriage has the best chance of success. I'm afraid that hoping your partner can adjust satisfactorily within 90 days of entering the US is missing the point. Your partner will need your support for much longer than that and sometimes for things unrelated to relocation to the States.

Edited by babblesgirl, 24 October 2007 - 10:48 AM.

bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 10:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
Thanks to Lisa, there is one sure way of proving the USC is not using the 90 days as a cooling off period and it doesn't involve complicated keylogging techniques.

Just ask them before you file the K1 "Now are you sure you're not trying to put lipstick on a pig?' jest.gif

On a serious note, If I thought for a minute that my fiance was using the K1 opportunity as a trial-period then I wouldn't be with him. Is there some lack of comprehension here on what processes the beneficiary has to go through in order to come to the US on a marriage-based visa? People give up homes, careers, families for this. You have to be damn sure it's what you want, IMO.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 10:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (AmericanGentleman @ Oct 24 2007, 03:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Me and my fiance are extremely fond of each other, but we are not deeply in love yet. I could easily say we love each other, but we are both rationalists. We realize that it love, or the notion of love, at such an early stage of a relationship is more of a state of mind rather than a tried and tested cement between us. So we do not put on any airs to act otherwise. We have discussed this in great length and we have decided to base our marriage on respect and place our trust in each other. We both are 100% confident that we will grow to love each other deeply because we are going to build our marriage on a greater foundation than emotions.

I do not mean to discount any of you who are marrying and basing the foundation on your marriage on love. I only wanted to illustrate that it is ok to have a variety of reasons to initally marry. It is what you do in that marriage that will make it valid or a sham.


I think you make a valid point here. Love can sometimes be a state of mind. I have had enough relationships (not that many though! tongue.gif ) to know that feelings of love can be part of the euphoria and buzz of those first few months with someone and not necessarily because you are in love. Love is complex and individual and there is so much more to a lasting successful relationship than 'being in love'. Personally I would rather work on the bricks and mortar of a relationship knowing the cement is there rather than work on falling in love after meeting someone who meets all my practical needs, if that makes sense.

I don't want this to sound like I am discounting your reasoning either, because I can sense from your words that you and your partner have a deep respect for one another and that you have a practical and rational explanation for not basing your feelings on love alone. You are of course completely correct that your actions during the marriage are what will make or break it and respect for one another is probably the key factor in making it a success.



QUOTE (LisaD @ Oct 24 2007, 03:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (moxcamel @ Oct 24 2007, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (LisaD @ Oct 24 2007, 06:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You can bet your azz that if you said it was a ''trial period' or 'cooling off' period, that you'd never have gotten approved. I think you're being a bit semantical in nature here...because while it's not a problem to marry at the end of the 90, it's not designed for the purpose of 'cooling off'. I mean focking hell, your fiance just got here and you're gonna 'cool off'????

Well unless someone can dig the actual intent of the 90 days out of Google or something, I don't think the argument of why there is a 90 day period is ..going to be settled. I think it can be inferred though, since 90 days is a pretty significant period.

And fine, I'll concede that "cooling off" was a poor choice of words, although quite frankly I don't think it's all that far off. MANY couples in the US these days live together before marrying, just to make sure they're doing the right thing. Call it cooling off, or a trial period or whatever. It happens, and although it may not be everyone's visions of rainbows and unicorns, it works for a lot of people. If both people are in agreement that they will use the 90 days in this manner, who are we to question it? If, on the other hand, only one partner sees it this way, then that's a problem.

In any case, I'll try this again: moving to a new country away from your friends and your family is a HUGE deal. Some people who had the best of intentions simply cannot deal with that shock. They love their partners, but ultimately cannot deal with the new life. It happens, and it happens a lot. There's no shame in taking the time available to make sure it's going to work. OTOH, some people just "know" and that's cool too.

I notice the most vehement opposition is coming from westerners, with the notable exception of pushbrk. It's one thing to move from Canada or Britain (where I lived for 3 years) to the US. Try moving from Malaysia or Russia or Japan. That's practically a move to another planet.


Why am I hearing that it's the 'big bad gov'ts fault for making me marry a stranger'? Big deal...it's practically another planet...there is plenty of opportunity for the USC to go there....you know, to take responsibility for their own relationship instead of b!tching about gov't restraints.

Again...you say 'cooling off' was a bad choice of words, then you say 'let's call it a cooling off'! That's so funny. But it's NOT a cooling off period...and furthermore...if the period was 180 days...I'm sure many would abuse it for the 'trial' aspect. Hey, if it doesn't work, ship her back and get a new one, eh? rolleyes.gif

But why a USC would delay getting their foreign partner on the path to a greencard is astounding.

You know what? If people have doubts and they still bring their partners over....they know what's what. Let's not even pretend that every marriage is full of love in the traditional sense....There are many lonely USCs and many desperate foreign SOs. And each benefits from the union. So hey...everyone's happy I suppose....but people need to realize what they have and not try putting lipstick on a pig making it be something else. If you're marrying someone you don't know....and you've uprooted that person from everything in her life....well 90 days isn't going to make a helluva lot of a difference, really. 'oh I didn't know her when she came, but 89 days later, we're soulmates!'


I mean really. Buyer Beware and all that jazz.....

QUOTE
QUOTE
Don't use the 80s to justify marrying a stranger.

And don't take me out of context. I'm saying that the K-1 dates back to the '80's, when many of the assumptions that are being made in this argument didn't apply.
QUOTE
And btw, did you actually READ your letter of intent that you signed? blink.gif

No, I just signed it. What's it say? rolleyes.gif


Don't be snide. It doesn't suit the conversation.


Everything you said here makes complete sense Lisa. It irks me somewhat that people appear to be taking this process so lightly.

I am particularly amused though by the lipstick on a pig remark. laughing.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 10:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
QUOTE (britty @ Oct 24 2007, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is very clear cut to me. When both parties in a relationship decide they want to be married and spend the rest of their lives together, they make a K-1 application. It doesn't matter what will happen ahead or how the relationship will pan out, the fact is that those two people are in love right now and want to be together. When the K-1 is granted it is because USCIS believe their is a bonafide relationship, one that will result in marriage. No one can ever guarantee the longevity of a relationship or what will happen in the future, but it is what you feel and believe right now that should lead you to enter this process. To worry that you might be taken for a ride, that your SO may bad mouth you to friends and family in their home country, or that he or she may be sending emails or developing contacts you do not approve of, denotes to me a person who is not ready to marry. Adjusting to your new life in the USA does have its problems, but the love of your life should be more important that any geographical issues. The 90 days grace before marriage is NOT a trial period. It is simply a timeframe to help organise your wedding.


good.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 09:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
I don't think that the values presented here are typical of 'Westerners' and actually you are doing a disservice to all the people who have petitioned for and married a non-western beneficiary. The fact remains, that the K1 is for people, english-speaking or not, to bring their fiance(e) to the US and marry them, not live-together, try things out, play at being together. It's a marriage visa, nothing more, nothing less.

I appreciate that there are more difficult circumstances to endure with some countries as opposed to others. I am fortunate to be from a country which operates under the visa-waiver program. That alone has given me the opportunity to visit the US twice and for extended periods before making the decision to get married. I understand others don't have this same fortune. I also appreciate that culturally the UK is not *that* far-removed from the US, although it would be wrong to assume things will be easy. The K1 is something none of us can take lightly; petitioner or beneficiary, western or not.

I should also point out that the hardship may not be the beneficiary's alone. The petitioner should be aware of the responsibility he/she takes on when bringing someone from a different country. These are things which should be discussed and settled BEFORE applying. It's no good arguing after the event that 'I gave up everything for you!' or 'I never asked you to give those things up, we were just trying things out!'
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 09:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow to best use the 90 days prior to marriage k-1
I'm just disappointed that this thread isn't delivering what it appeared to; valuable advice on ways in which to utilise the time waiting for permission for the beneficiary to start working or useful tips on how to cope with adjusting to life in a new country.

I agree with those who have already stated that the 90 day period is not a cooling off period. Whilst historically it may have served that purpose, there is no way in this climate that I would be undergoing this process at all if I wasn't as sure as I can be that my future is with my fiance in the US.

Believe me, giving up friends, family, belongings, not to mention a good career and facing the prospect that I may have to retrain or take a lower paid job is less important to me than being with my fiance for life. If I wasn't sure that we can make it work then we wouldn't have submitted the K1. He knows what I am giving up for him and he is as committed to making this work as I am.

I'm sorry but it is as simple as that. If you have doubts beyond the things we can never forsee then you should not be petitioning for a fiance visa.

(Oh and please note that as part of the application process you state your INTENT to marry your fiance(e) within the 90 days, the application does not cater for those who are still thinking about it.)

Edited by babblesgirl, 24 October 2007 - 09:05 AM.

bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-24 09:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBeneficiary Change of Address
Just successfully registered my new address with NVC. Worth trying to call them every day after you receive NOA2 so you can do this. Good luck! smile.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-12 18:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBeneficiary Change of Address
The form you were directed to is for US residents only. It's unclear because it says non-citizens but there is no means of changing a foreign address.

I know this because I am the beneficiary and moved a month or so after filing and looked into it myself. We just got approved recently and I am now phoning NVC daily to try and register my new address so that I can be certain of receiving Packet 3. I think if you miss NVC you can also register the change with the relevant embassy. They have to have your application though.

So, you will have to wait until after you receive NOA2. As far as I know anyway smile.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-11 21:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBeneficiary Change of Address
Only the petitioner can register a change of address vis USCIS whilst the petition is awaiting approval. The beneficiary must wait until the file reaches NVC before being able to do this.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-11 20:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYes, you can visit!
Thanks all for your advice. Michele and Mags are right, the issue is that I won't have a confirmed job when I return because it will probably be agency work. My mother lives 300 miles away and so I won't have had chance to sign up for work until I return in September.
Michele, I did think everything made sense too! There is no way I could afford to go through this process had I not been given the opportunity to return to live with my Mum for a while. Anyway, I think I can handle the questions, I was just concerned about not having appropriate documentation to back the words up. But, I do have copies of the K1 application we're about to send in and can get the letters you suggested to confirm I still have ties to the UK.
I just wonder why US immigration would assume that anyone would apply for the K1 then mess it all up by staying in the US for an illegitimate length of time.
Thanks for the reassuring words :)
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-07-07 10:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYes, you can visit!
Just when I thought I had everything covered I discover this thread and there goes my heart sinking again!

My fiance and I are just about to file for our K-1, in order to beat the July 30th deadline.

I also plan to visit him during August for about a month. I have just resigned from a permanent job and given up my home so that I can move in with my Mum and save some money whilst the K-1 is processing. As a teacher, I am signing up for supply work when I return from my trip to the US.

As a result, I now do not have a lease agreement on a home or a permanent job as proof of ties to the UK. I really don't want to be denied entry to the US. I am simply visiting my fiance for a holiday and will have only *just* filed for the K-1. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do under these circumstances to prevent being denied on POE?
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-07-04 17:30:00
Middle East and North AfricaAttention Fiance fraud
It doesn't take the thread starter to make this man look shameful.

Airing his dirty laundry has made the grease spots all the more glaringly obvious. There are so many inconsistencies in his posts (he quotes various dates for the marriage or intention to marry this unfortunate girl he's with now) that he himself has made it perfectly obvious why he was engaged to this poor woman.

He says he never loved her - makes it difficult then to genuinely submit the I-129F package, parts of which he would have had to sign to state his intention to marry a woman he does not love. Oh, and don't even think about telling us that she submitted without your consent. Biographic info can only come from a consenting individual.

He's made himself look foolish AND dishonest. Tell the US embassy, USCIS, whomever relevant. No wonder the visa process takes so long.

Edited by babblesgirl, 17 September 2007 - 01:28 PM.

bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-09-17 13:27:00
Middle East and North AfricaDip sticks Interview March 25
I remember you too! You have both waited FAR too long and I always thought of you in those moments when I got impatient with my own visajourney. I do hope you have good news.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2009-03-27 01:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswho is employment letter supposed to come from HR or direct supervisor?
Plus, HR departments can sometimes be picky about requiring a direct request for this information. Which, the embassy and NVC will not provide you. We had this problem with my mom-in-law's HR dept so we asked her supervisor to provide a letter on a company letter head. We had no problems with the embassy accepting this and we have done the same for the AOS application.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-09-20 12:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSo now I129F for K3 is going to be free?

slothy,

Takd advantage of the VJ Guides. Big red letters say "BEGIN HERE".

Yodrak

This whole process seriously confuses me. I am currently engaged to a USC and we are planning to file soon for the K1 visa...which thanks to this thread I've noticed will go up from $170 to $455 on July 30th.

What I'm not understanding is the relative benefits of applying as a spouse or a fiancee. I realise this question trips across two possible threads but it would be helpful to have advice from those who have experience of the process. The sheer volume of information can be utterly overbearing at times.


My apologies, I had read the individual guides and searched the forums for answers for weeks now and not even seen the 'Begin here' section.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-06-08 12:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSo now I129F for K3 is going to be free?
This whole process seriously confuses me. I am currently engaged to a USC and we are planning to file soon for the K1 visa...which thanks to this thread I've noticed will go up from $170 to $455 on July 30th.

What I'm not understanding is the relative benefits of applying as a spouse or a fiancee. I realise this question trips across two possible threads but it would be helpful to have advice from those who have experience of the process. The sheer volume of information can be utterly overbearing at times.

Edited by slothy, 08 June 2007 - 11:54 AM.

bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-06-08 11:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLife is All Over for Me......
QUOTE (Jigi @ Oct 5 2007, 05:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi

I dont know who will read my post today.. but i am devastated.. My wife is very MAD on me... and i dont know.. what to do .. she is very angry.. she is in so much stress that she wants to end all ties with me. I dont know I am done with my Life.... I give up..... NVC wins.... and i loose..... I dont know whose fault it is... Certainly not of my wife .... Am I at fault.... I dont know its better i go away from every one......

Bye Friends... I dont know whether I will come back ever.... Thanks you every one.. who have always responded to my messages, views and added me in their friends list. I am sorry to any one on this forum if I said them something wrong....

JIGI


I'm sad to read your post. I'm a K1 filer so not really familiar with the marriage visa process but having looked at the NVC flowchart on here you seem so close to having your details forwarded to the embassy.

I don't know exactly why your wife is angry but if it is visa process related then I assume the stress levels have got a little high but I'm sure her anger is not really focussed on you as much as the system itself. It is hard being separated from the one you love and people feel helpless and angry at a process which offers no certainty.

Try to encourage her that the process is underway, you appreciate it is hard but there are no short-cuts for anyone. She is probably super-stressed, missing you and feeling despondent wondering whether you will ever be together. Whenever I get stressed out my fiance reminds me that the process is relatively short compared with a lifetime together.

I'm afraid it all boils down to patience and a belief that at the end of the tunnel you will both feel this time spent apart was worthwhile.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2007-10-05 12:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIs that true that the USCIS is paying more attention to the petitions which payed the higher fees ?
I think it's taking 'so long' because of the sheer number of applications in July. I doubt fees have anything to do with it.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-01-20 16:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureslondon medical exam question
Thanks very much for the info Nilz, I found it smile.gif

The directions, map and medical questionnaire are all here>>> http://travel.state....L-0001-0801.pdf
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-14 13:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureslondon medical exam question
I'm not sure whether this helps but you can contact Knightsbridge direct via this website here

There is also a scan of a medical questionnaire on VJ under packet 4 (for some reason). I notice though this is IV21a and it's rather dated. Anyway it is here.

Those who have already gone through the medical may be able to help further. It's my understanding though that they ask you to fill out the exact same questionnaire at the medical. Someone correct me please if this is incorrect.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-14 09:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUK Police record request from abroad
From the WYP website:

Your Subject Access application will cost £10. You are encouraged to pay by cheque as regulations over the handling of cash may delay your application. Cheques etc. should be made payable to ‘West Yorkshire Police’. Postal Orders must be UK Postal Orders.

There must be a way around this. It is hardly 'Overseas' friendly.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-02-14 18:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOne more police certificate question - UK
QUOTE (Almoto @ Mar 21 2008, 12:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh, please don't tell me that the police certificate that we got last March is not valid as we are finally at the stage of waiting on our interview date in London for the K-3 & I just sent in my I-864 & DS-230 on my I-130. I have all my husband's court records corresponding to the police cert. dated 3/13/07.

Should I apply for this new ACPO right now?


I would if I were you. It takes 10 days to come through fortunately.Certainly any certificates older than 6 months look likely to be rejected, though this could be 12 months. No one is sure - in your case though it will definitely be out of date sad.gif
Sorry.
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-03-20 20:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOne more police certificate question - UK
I saw that! whistling.gif
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-03-20 13:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOne more police certificate question - UK
QUOTE (latteberry @ Mar 20 2008, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (babblesgirl @ Mar 20 2008, 01:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Is it ok to give you a hug now? wink.gif

I agree about the unfairness of this. Hang in there. They probably haven't had much dealing with this as yet. Your case may well help them get informed, which can only help others.


Yes, I did need a huge hug. I am glad DH was home because he knew I am not the keyboard-throwing type. LOL I had a total hysterical breakdown. But, being the wonderful Englishman that he is, he cuddled me while I was sobbing.

Sorry I got a little pissy. It's definitely not anyone's fault here. I've just had more than I can take recently and this was the last straw.


Totally understand!! This situation over police certificates really sucks. I'll keep my fingers crossed you get the right result here. Good luck! and I don't normally do this, so don't tell anyone:

*HUGS*
bakofoilFemaleEngland2008-03-20 13:23:00