ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiance Visa for canadian fiance
The OP is being honest if deciding to get married was a spur-of-the-moment, or post-entry decision. Plenty of people have adjusted status successfully from a tourist visa.

Anyhow, to chime in with the answers to your questions.
1. Yes, for part of it. You'd have to go back for the interview, and you'd probably need to go back a bit before that for the medical exam.
2. It's about three months or so to get the I-129F approved through the CSC, where your paperwork would go if you're in Texas, about a month from there to the consulate and you getting information from the consulate, and from there it depends on the consulate. Montreal sets interview dates about four-six months out. Vancouver was about four-six weeks when we went through there. Our process was done in just under five months. That timeline of course, is assuming no problems.
3. You'd run the risk of not being let in because they might suspect you intend to stay, but plenty of people, including my fiance, managed a visit while the K-1 was processing.
4. If you entered with the intention of going home, but changed your mind while you were here, it's not fraud to get married and to file for adjustment of status. This is a good area to talk to a lawyer, but there's also plenty of people who have adjusted from tourist or other statuses here who can help advise you.
5. This is a little tricky. I have a boatload of posts in the Canada forum about getting a temporary work permit. But basically, some border crossings ("points of entry") can give you a stamp that will authorize you to work for the official ninety days of your fiancee visa. JFK is one of those places. However, if you're flying in from Canada, you'll clear customs & immigration *in Canada*, so if you were to land at JFK, you'd be already processed. And none of the Canadian airports will give you the work authorization stamp.

If you were thinking of driving down, most border crossings won't do it. Detroit is rumored to. But based on my experience (read my ranty posts), I wouldn't go out of my way to try to get the work authorization stamp, since most crossings aren't quite sure what to do with a K-1 and you can call them and get there and find out they won't stamp it even if they said they could.

In any case: if you get the work authorization stamp, it's good for 90 days. It expires when your I-94 (the paper that says you've been admitted on a visa) does. But once you're married, you can apply for a work permit. It takes about three months to process.

Good luck with your decision.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-06-20 21:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI'm so angry I just want to fight!!!
Being processed isn't the same as being approved. Think of it like this: if my case is complicated, and I have an early NOA1, and your case is easy, should we hold your case while mine goes through extra background checks just so our approvals come out 'fair'? Should the workers do nothing, day after day, until my background check comes back?

That doesn't seem right. You'll drive yourself nuts comparing your case with others. Contact the CSC if you need to, and get on their case as people have been doing, as things seem deeply fubared there. But getting jealous because someone else's NOA2 came through earlier though their NOA1 was later is counterproductive. Every case is unique.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-22 11:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresApproval from CSC!!!
Congrats!

(edited on more info.)

Edited by Caladan, 22 July 2006 - 11:29 AM.

CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-22 11:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWHOA......OMG...I got approved too - CSC
Way to go! Congrats!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-26 20:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCSC is rolling them out today
Congrats! From the news and all the touches, it seems like they're processing in large batches! But who cares! Yay!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-26 20:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduressad day :(
Oh, yes, the horrible American woman. Because people are never individuals. In fact, you can predict what I'll do based on the flag on my mail-order bride profile. Because of Hillary Clinton!

Dude, put down the bong before you post, m'kay?


Walt, sorry to hear of the sad news. Hang in there, okay?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-27 22:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAny naturalized American filed for I-129F?
JaneDoe,

If you are a U.S. citizen, you may apply for the I-129F to bring your fiancé over just like any other citizen. And just like any other citizen, you'll have to prove that you've met in the last two years, that you intend to marry, and that you have an on-going relationship.

The consulate has final authority, and it is possible that they will look closer if the marriage looks fraudulent. But it's hard to judge what a consulate will find worrisome; if you're really concerned, talk to a lawyer.

(If you're a troll, you should probably know that the 'me foreigner me no speaky good english' thing is a pretty lame parody. If you're not, no offense intended.)
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-26 20:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI've lost hope
Come on. You love her, don't give up! This sucks, but it will pass, and then you'll be together. It will be worth it!

In the meantime, have a drink, relax,and think of how much fun the wedding will be.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-27 22:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnswer from Colorado Senator
Oh indeed. I just don't think a phonecall is helpful. What is needed is publicity, and that might be better served by a) figuring out *exactly* what people are demanding and B) going to the AP for a follow-up on bill's story, or getting one of the big weblogs involved. If you can tie it to a Congressman that's made immigration a touchstone of re-election, so much the better.

From all the touches it looks like the CSC needs a bunch of temp workers to organize things so the regular employees can concentrate on getting approval.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-21 09:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnswer from Colorado Senator
There's little the Senator can do given that the guidelines are as they are. Yes, it's frustrating, but if the Senator's aide is going to make an inquiry, the aide has to have a reason, like 'They said 120 days and it's been 130. What's going on?'

The Senator obviously can't change the timescales just on his own; even if he agrees that the time crunch is ridiculous, if the guidelines say X days and you're at X-n days, he can't call and make a complaint. "My constituent is calling to complain that the process is working just as he was told it would because other centers are more efficient."

What the CSC would need, I think, is more funding and more eyeballs looking at petitions. To do that is going to require the Senator sponsoring a bill or the House holding a hearing. But that's gonna take more than a phone call.

Anyhow, about the back-up leading to further! inevitable! back-ups! I doubt it, and here's why. All the CSC applications have to go through the same place, but once it's off to the different consulates, it's their timetable. Unless everyone at the CSC is sponsoring a person from the same country, it should even out somewhat once the process is decentralized.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-21 09:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImmigration lawyer vs. Doing it yourself
The boyfriend and I, when we file (probably September), are not planning to consult with an attorney. He's from Canada, we're both single and never married, we didn't use a marriage broker, and we've only a three year age difference.

I don't expect that a lawyer would be helpful. It's just paperwork; I applied to graduate school and jobs on my own.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-07-23 15:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQ10 on the I-129F
Indeed! The layout on these forms has been reasonably good, but #10 threw me for a loop.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-06 08:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQ10 on the I-129F
Hello!

Hurray!

Just became engaged! Now it's time to do paperwork.

Quick question on #10. I have the birth certificate (I am the petitioner and USC). The I-129F asks for the certificate number. I am uncertain:

1) Does the second part of #10 apply to birth certificates, or certificates of naturalization?
2) If it applies to birth certificates, does anyone know which number it is on the Pennsylvania certificate? I'm guessing the one that say 'File No.', but there's a few candidate numbers.

3) I have a second 'original' long-form birth certificate (I ordered a copy a year or so back for my own records). Should I send that in, in lieu of a copy, as I have another original already?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-06 08:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Question
This is totally not because I don't want to use another stamp.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 13:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Question
Actually, I'm thinking I might copy the whole thing as once the Edmonton customs agent didn't stamp my passport, so they'd probably think I lost a page as I have a return stamp but no entry stamp. I'm not sure why Canada doesn't always stamp my passport, but they seem not to care too much.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 13:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Question
Yes, I saw that RFE, but note that it says all 'relevant' pages including stamps. Of course I intend to copy the two relevant pages; it's the other 26 I'm not sure about. Bleh, it's not a big deal to copy the other blank pages, it's just that the size of this petition is getting rather unwieldy.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 13:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Question
Some of my primary evidence of having met includes passport stamps. Should I copy my whole passport, or just the biographical information and the relevant pages? It seems a waste to send 12 pages of copies when only two of them will have stamps.

I am using my birth certificate to certify citizenship, so I have no other reason to copy the entire passport.

Suggestions?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 12:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Set of Dumb Questions -- These Ones about Staples.
Thanks! Will probably mail it tomorrow! And meauxna, your signature rocks. :)
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 19:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Set of Dumb Questions -- These Ones about Staples.
Thanks guys and gals! I'm probably sending off the petition tomorrow so I'm at the point where I'm worrying about stupid ###### rather than the actual evidence. You all rock and good luck!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 18:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Set of Dumb Questions -- These Ones about Staples.
My local Staples & Rite Aid didn't have any of those. Would two rings and a binder clip suffice? The nearest Office Depot is about an hour away and I don't have a car.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 15:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Set of Dumb Questions -- These Ones about Staples.
Thanks!

I'm surprised at how simple most of this process is, actually; it feels like applying for jobs except I don't have to bug people for recommendations.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 14:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Set of Dumb Questions -- These Ones about Staples.
What's an ACCO fastener? Is that one of those little brass tabs? (In case the store doesn't have the name brand.)
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 14:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother Set of Dumb Questions -- These Ones about Staples.
1. For the G-325a, we had a supplementary page for my fiancé's past five years of employment. We made four copies of the supplement and he signed all of them. Should I staple them to the G325a pages?

2. Do I need to include the instructions to the I-129F?

3. How do I attach things together? What do I staple? Should I use staples?

Basically, the heart of my question is I don't know whether to staple forms together, or use brass tabs, or paperclips, and I'm drowning in paperwork and I don't want to do the same to the poor service center f00b.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 13:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Question
Yup, got all four copies remarked.

Thanks so much! I swear I'm not normally this neurotic about details. I can fill out university grants in a single bound!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 22:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Question
Thanks anyway! Since I'll have to have him retype and resign the form, I figure I'll have him do that, send it to me in case of an RFE, but in the meantime, send in the form (as it would probably take about as long to get the forms and correct 'em once he forgets something else.)

Congrats on your recent approval and good luck on your interview!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 22:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Question
I'm sorry, I'm tired, and not typing well.

We have two sets. I just returned from a visit with him, and he and I both filled out the G-325As and signed them. One for him, one for me. The G325a is also not saveable.

Upon my final review, I noticed that we neglected to fill in a box on his (signed) form, so I filled in the relevant information in pen. I haven't seen an RFE for filling in a form in pen, but I was curious.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 22:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Question
Thanks. Another G325-a question. We made a mistake. Where it says last foreign address on my fiancé's G325a Q, we left it blank instead of filling in the last address (which is the same as his current one obviously). I filled it in pen just now, as he's 2000 miles away and already signed it. I think I'm going to send it in as is, but has anyone else had to make a late typo-sort of correction before?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 22:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Question
I wasn't unemployed. One job ended 4/30, and the next started 5/1. Same with the lease -- it ended on the 31st, and the new place was on the first of the next month.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 21:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325a Question
Okay, rule is no gaps in addresses or employment.

But -- I had a job end on 4/30/2002. And a lease end on 5/31/2004.

Meaning, my form has a 4/2002 (Job A) and a 5/2002 (Job B), and a 5/2004 (Address A) and 6/2004 (Address B).

There isn't a gap here, but there also doesn't seem to be a way to indicate that it was the whole month of April I worked at Job A, or that the whole month of May I lived at Address A.

Do I leave it as is? It's not a gap, but it's also lying to say I worked in a month I didn't work.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-07 21:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresOMG Wrong Address!!
If you used the right full zip code (the whole nine digits), that code takes you right to that P.O. Box. (If you look, you'll see that the last 6 digits of the ZIP code are the same as the P.O. Box. That's not always how the code works, exactly, but it's close enough.)

The machines sort off the ZIP code; you should be okay if you got that right. And the post office is pretty good about catching errors, anyway. I once sent a package to Canada and completely botched the postal code -- I had an S where there was a 5, and it worked out.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-08 17:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWell, will you look at that?

Isn't it a great feeling to finally get it all sent out? There's that nervousness about everything and how it'll go, but it's a lot better than the rush to get things together.

Good luck to you and best wishes for a quick processing time.


To be honest, now I finally feel 'engaged.' More so than with the ring. Isn't that odd?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-08 17:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWell, will you look at that?
Thanks! Not too worried as I think we're in pretty good shape. But who knows; the RFE monster might eat a signature here or there. :)
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-08 11:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWell, will you look at that?
I-129F & supporting players sent off today! Now the journey begins!

Thanks to everyone for their help and patience so far!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-08 11:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAttachments on G-325A
I'm an idiot and forgot to write "None" in the box where it says Last Address Lived abroad (never lived abroad). It doesn't say, if None, so state, but I'm guessing a blank is an RFE and I'm just sorta beating myself up.

No big deal, just kind of wanted to have a nice wedding so I needed a relatively non-f*cked up start.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-08 22:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAttachments on G-325A
My fiancé had to add an attachment, so we made it in Excel so it looked exactly like the form, titled it as Supplement to G-325A [Lastname Petition], and had him sign and date four copies of it.

No clue as I just sent it off today. (Think I may have messed up my own G-325A, but we'll see if it results in an RFE.)
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-08 21:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI feel like crying. Guh.

Congrats for filing! Why'd you wait so long?


'Cause we only got engaged on August 20th. Just wanted to be sure we were right for each other, I guess; we've been trying to treat our relationship as normal and not 'long-distance-must-rush-to-be-together.' Plus, we wanted to be in a good financial situation once he moved here, and he's taken a better paying job so he can squirrel away some cash over the next year so we don't have to eat rice & beans (I meet the poverty guidelines, but just barely.)
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-09 09:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI feel like crying. Guh.

Ahhh yes, this must come up again.
It must mean I'm not worthy of being upset at the process.
Forgive me.

:wacko:

:star: Cass (bebop the great)



Not that it matters, but bebop hadn't even met her fiance till a month after you filed, Rob.

I find that very hard to stomach when most of us have been struggling with immigration for many months/years.


*leans on a walking stick.... clump, clump

Girl, I have two sets of primary evidence older than your relationship. Pri-ma-ry! Back in my day we had to deliver our petitions by hand, uphill both ways in the snow, and there was none of this fancy P-D-F to fill it out for you! no sirree!

All of which means nothing, of course; you are entitled to a whining day just as much as anyone. :)

I'm having fun at the moment trying to explain patiently to relatives that I can't plan the wedding until I know more how long it's going to take. Crazy aunts.

I'm trying to look at it like this. My fiancé and I have been together for nearly three years now. What's changed? Nothing, except someone else has some paperwork; day to day hasn't changed at all. It's not like we wouldn't have been talking on the phone instead of being together anyway, so I'll just try to be patient and ignore the process until they need more info from me.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-09 09:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI feel like crying. Guh.
I suspect some of the 'omg I was approved in 20 days!' posts lately have been hoaxes. At any rate, hang in there & best wishes!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-06 09:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImmigration Attorneys
Oh, I forgot to add:
f) visajourney and
g) a friend whose husband is Canadian who can give pointers on the interview process.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-09 13:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImmigration Attorneys
I chose to forgo an attorney because our case is simple and unproblematic:

a) Neither of us have ever been married.
B) Neither of us have a criminal record.
c) Neither of us have ever attempted to enter the U.S. on a K-1 before
d) My fiancé has never run afoul of immigration (no overstays, no bans)
e) My fiancé is not from a country with a history of visa fraud.

That was my logic at least; with any of a-d) I probably would have considered finding an attorney, but my case didn't seem to require specialized legal advice, just filling out paperwork.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-09-09 13:17:00