ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureslost passport photo
If you are the beneficiary, it won't matter if you have a job or not at the visa interview. What you earn doesn't matter, it's what the USC earns that counts.

If you are the USC, then yes, it will matter and you are going to need a co-sponsor.

I'm going to end up taking new photos to my interview too - the first set I got were the wrong size (hoping we don't get an RFE for that, seems like it slips through the cracks sometimes) so I'll need a new set that are the right size, plus I ended up using the rest of the photos from my first set to apply for a new passport since mine expired.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-04 06:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresProof of an ongoing relationship
QUOTE (Chris & Mara @ Jul 10 2009, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
PS, it is amusing the number of couple I see floating around on here because of WoW and Blizzard, that game has made a lot of lives very different...


Haha, yes, Blizz has a lot of love lives to take credit for... a friend of mine (Aussie) met her Canadian husband on WoW smile.gif In a roundabout way, WoW helped me meet my fiance too... he didn't start playing until after he met me (because of me!) but when I was in the US on my J-1, I met a guildmate in New York and Jesse was a friend of a friend of his... hehe. Strangely though, as addicted as I am to WoW (been playing almost since release and still going) I think I would've felt a little silly if I'd met the love of my life there, I'm sort of glad I met Jesse in the "real world" - though WoW certainly helps us feel like we're doing something together despite the miles apart.

SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-16 22:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLost my ticket stubs, can a DNA test on the baby be proof of having met?
QUOTE (driver @ Aug 3 2009, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For proof of visiting each other... what happens if we met in a different country? I met my fiancee in Taiwan twice (she is from Korea). She just finished a 3 month visit with me. So a total of 3 visits together - but the first 2 are both of us being in Taiwan. Passport stamps for Taiwan are visible in mine, but she got a new passport since our trips to Taiwan... (because the US requires an electronic passport for Korean's using the VWP).

Is a printout of itinerary of our flights good enough? I never thought about keeping the ticket stubs.... sad.gif


She should still have her old passport, shouldn't she? I don't know what the process is in Korea, but here when they issue a new passport they will give the old one back after cancelling it (cutting the corners off).

It's a very good idea for her to hang on to that old passport, I have seen people being asked at POE for their old passport / any other passport they might have. I assume it's to see if they've travelled to the US on a passport other than their current one, but that's guesswork - I can't think why else they'd want to see it.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-03 07:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisa Extension
Interesting that you weren't able to extend the J-1, if your host family were happy to keep you. I remember my LCC (agency rep) saying I should extend my J-1 but my host family and I were well and truly done with each other laughing.gif and I didn't want to risk moving any further away from Jesse in NY (I was in CT, it was already a 5 hour round trip to see him every weekend).

Anyway, there's not much you can do about it except go to the interview and find out if it will be a problem. It sounds like your intent was honest in that you didn't just stay illegally, you actually sought permission to stay via a visa, so let that give you confidence. If I were a consular officer I don't know that seeing "au pair - 18 months" on the G-325A would really raise any red flags and make them think, "I better check her legal status on that one!", because they must see au pairs all the time for various periods. Best of luck!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-16 15:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiancee coming to US this week as Tourist... what to show at POE?
QUOTE (ACGeiger @ Aug 17 2009, 05:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Avoid answers like "to visit my boyfriend or fiance" etc. unless specifically asked. Never lie but don't voluteer unnecessary information either.



Yea this is what I was wondering about also... At the point of entry will they be able to pull up and see she has a K1 filed and processing? If so, shouldn't she go ahead and say she is here to visit me? That way it doesn't look like she is trying to withhold information.

I guess the best response is to just be short and sweet with all the answers...


This time last year - back when my fiance was just my boyfriend and we were nowhere near thinking about marriage - I got held up at the POE in Anchorage on suspicion that I was going to marry and AOS illegally. They didn't even find out about my USC boyfriend until after I was already in secondary questioning, since my answer to purpose of visiting was, "I'm on vacation before starting a new job." The thing that threw up a red flag for me was that I was coming for an 80-something day visit, after having just been in the US for 13 months (there was about a two month gap between trips), and I only had about $500 to last me that amount of time. I was expecting more money to be wired over from my parents plus my tax return to be deposited into my bank, but they didn't care about that. My return ticket, a pending job offer in Australia on my return and a hell of a lot of talking was the only thing that convinced them to let me through.

I'm also headed back to the States to visit this week and I am much better prepared! I have letter of full time employment, letter of expected return from my employer, letter of expected return from my landlord, a notice of an educational assessment I'm due for in September as part of a program of study I'm doing with work, a copy of my NOA1 from the K-1 (just in case!), and of course my return ticket. I'm only going for a two-week trip this time and I have plenty of cash, so I'm hoping for a smooth POE smile.gif

QUOTE (Haole @ Aug 17 2009, 06:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Since Sweden isn't a high fraud country I wouldn't worry to much.
At the same time do as pushbrk said and don't offer info. Keep answers short and to the point.


Doesn't matter. Australia isn't high fraud either, but I was the only white girl on a flight full of Asian families and I was one of the only ones pulled into secondary.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-16 15:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLost job
Denise, definitely get in contact with your consulate to ask what they will require in regards to the I-134. I emailed the Sydney (Australia) Consulate and they actually sent me the whole ... not sure what you would call it, but it was pretty much the "cheat sheet" actually written for the CO's in regards to the I-134 and in what situations should they deny it. I'm going to quote it because you can clearly see it's written for the CO's (plus you might get some useful info out of it, but please be aware, this information is specifically for the Sydney Consulate!:

QUOTE
Thank you for your inquiry.

Please refer to the following 9FAM citations regarding accepting I-134 affidavits of support. Basically, the consular officer at time of interview will make the determination whether or not he will require any additional information apart from the documents already submitted from your fiancé. The 125% guideline does not apply to the form I-134.

9 FAM 40.41 N11.7 Alien Seeking Admission as K Nonimmigrant

(CT:VISA-911; 11-02-2007)

Since K-1 (fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen) and K-2 (child of the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen), K-3 (spouse of U.S. citizen), and K-4 (child of K-3) applicants are technically applying for nonimmigrant visas (NIV), they must use Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, if you determine that a Form I-134, is necessary. You shall not require or accept Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act in K visa cases. Such applicants will, however, have to submit Form I-864, to the DHS/USCIS at the time of adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR).

9 FAM 40.41 N4.6-2 Evidence of Support When Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, Not Required

(CT:VISA-1126; 12-03-2008)

a. An applicant relying solely on personal financial resources for support for him or herself and family members after admission into the United States should be presumed inadmissible for a visa under INA 212(a)(4) unless his or her income (including any to be derived from prearranged employment) will equal or exceed the poverty guideline level for the applicant and accompanying family members. You should refer to 9 FAM 40.41 Exhibit I, Poverty Income Guideline Table, published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

b. Normally, all accompanying dependent family members and other dependent family members already in the United States are considered to be within the family unit for purposes of applying the poverty income guidelines. However, an applicant seeking to join a lawfully admitted permanent resident and two citizen children in the United States, who are receiving public assistance, may be determined to overcome the public charge provision if the applicant's prospective income will exceed on the poverty income guideline table for a single person. In this instance only, it does not matter that the applicant's prospective income will be below that shown in the poverty income guideline table for a family of four. It is quite possible that the admission of the applicant and the applicant's income in the United States may permit the lowering of the public assistance benefits the family members now receive.

c. You should not rely exclusively on the submission of documents to determine whether an applicant is inadmissible under INA 212(a)(4). Repeated requests for documents in an effort to resolve every small doubt should be avoided. There is a limit to the value of documents in a situation in which the applicant must satisfy the officer of his or her future activities, intentions, and prospects.

d. You should make every effort to inform applicants in advance of the visa interview of the required support documents. You should be in a position to issue or deny the visa under INA 212(a)(4) at the end of the initial visa interview, assuming that the applicant has made reasonable efforts to submit the evidence originally requested. (For example, in cases where a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act, is required, an application cannot be considered until that document and related information have been executed and considered satisfactory by you.) Applicants who are not likely to overcome the public charge provision even after the presentation of additional evidence should be refused. Adequate time and effort spent during the initial interview can save work for the post and the applicant in this respect.

e. An applicant may establish the adequacy of financial resources by submitting evidence of bank deposits, ownership of property or real estate, ownership of stocks and bonds, insurance policies, or income from business investments sufficient to provide for his or her needs, as well as those of any dependent family member, until suitable employment is located. (The amount sufficient will depend on the applicant's age, physical condition, and family circumstances and size.)

(1) Bank Deposits?Applicants relying on bank deposits to meet the public charge requirements should present as evidence a letter signed by a senior officer of the bank over the officer's title, showing:

(a) The date the account was opened;

(cool.gif The number and amount of deposits and withdrawals during the last 12 months;

© The present balance. This information may prevent attempted abuse such as an initial deposit of a substantial sum of money being made within a relatively short time prior to the immigrant visa application; and

(d) How the money, if in a foreign bank in foreign currency, is to be transferred to the United States.

(2) Real estate investments?Evidence of property ownership may be in the form of a title deed or equivalent or certified copies. The applicant must satisfy you as to the plans for disposal or rental of such property and the manner in which the income from the property (if abroad) is to be transferred to the United States for the applicant's support.

(3) Stocks and Bonds?Evidence of income from these sources should indicate present cash value or expected earnings and, if the income is derived from a source outside the United States, a statement as to how the income is to be transferred to the United States.

(4) Income from business investments; or

(5) Insurance policies.

f. An applicant may also support a finding that he or she meets the public charge requirements by:

(1) Evidence of employment of a permanent nature in the United States that will provide an adequate income. A certified Labor Department Form ETA-9089 Application for Permanent Employment Certification, or Form ETA-750-Part A & B, Application for Alien Employment Certification) will show this if the applicant is subject to the provisions of INA 212(a)(5)(A). If the labor certification provisions do not apply, the employer may submit a notarized letter of employment, in duplicate, on letterhead stationery attesting to the offer of prearranged employment; or

(2) Assurance of support by relatives or friends in the United States.

g. Sufficient support from a combination of the above sources.

9 FAM 40.41 N4.6-3 Use of Form I-134, Affidavit of Support

(CT:VISA-911; 11-02-2007)

a. Because INA 212(a)(4)© and INA 213A require the use of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, for so many classes of immigrants, the use of Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, has been reduced considerably. Nevertheless, there still are circumstances when Form I-134 will be beneficial. This affidavit, submitted by the applicant at your request, is not legally binding on the sponsor and should not be accorded the same weight as Form I-864. Form I-134 should be given consideration as one form of evidence, however, in conjunction with the other forms of evidence mentioned below.

b. If any of the following applicants need an Affidavit of Support to meet the public charge requirement, they must use Form I-134, as they are not authorized to use Form I-864:

(1) The self-petitioning spouse of a deceased U.S. citizen, and any children there from (see INA 204(a)(1)(A)(ii));

(2) The self-petitioning spouse of a U.S. citizen, and any children there from, who has been battered by or subjected to extreme cruelty perpetrated by the spouse (see INA 204(a)(1)(A)(iii) and (iv));

(3) Returning resident aliens;

(4) Diversity visa applicants; and

(5) Fiancé(e)s.

c. The simple submission of Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, however, is not sufficient to establish that the beneficiary is not likely to become a public charge. Although the income requirements of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, do not apply in such cases (e.g., the 125 percent minimum income), you must make a thorough evaluation of other factors, such as:

(1) The sponsor's motives in submitting the affidavit;

(2) The sponsor's relationship to the applicant (e.g., relative by blood or marriage, former employer or employee, schoolmates, or business associates);

(3) The length of time the sponsor and applicant have known each other;

(4) The sponsor's financial resources; and

(5) Other responsibilities of the sponsor.

NOTE: When there are compelling or forceful ties between the applicant and the sponsor, such as a close family relationship or friendship of long standing, you may favorably consider the affidavit. On the other hand, an affidavit submitted by a casual friend or distant relative who has little or no personal knowledge of the applicant has more limited value. If the sponsor is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR), the likelihood of the sponsor's support of an immigrant visa (IV) applicant until the applicant can become self-supporting is a particularly important consideration.

d. The degree of corroborative detail necessary to support the affidavit will vary depending upon the circumstances. For example, for a relatively short-term visitor, little, if any, would be required. In immigrant cases, however, the sponsor's statement should include:

(1) Information regarding income and resources;

(2) Financial obligations for the support of immediate family members and other dependents;

(3) Other obligations and expenses; and

(4) Plans and arrangements made for the applicant's support in the absence of a legal obligation toward the applicant.

e. To substantiate the information regarding income and resources, the sponsor should attach to the affidavit a copy of the latest Federal income tax return filed prior to the signing of the Form I-134, including all supporting schedules. If you determine that the tax return and/or additional evidence in the file do not establish the sponsor's financial ability to carry out the commitment toward the immigrant for what might be an indefinite period of time, or there is a specific reason (other than the passage of time) to question the veracity of the income stated on the Form I-134 or the accompanying document(s), you should request additional evidence (i.e., statement from an employer showing the sponsor's salary and the length and permanency of employment, recent pay statements, or other financial data).

f. If the sponsor has a well-established business and submits a rating from a recognized business rating organization, you do not need to insist on a copy of the sponsor's latest income tax return or other evidence.


Don't get down in the dumps about it. I am going through the same stress with my situation - my fiance may have to get a new (or additional) job just to sponsor me due to issues with his employer (the man's a #######, basically, I won't go into detail). Unlike most VJer's, we do not have the option of a co-sponsor because his parents think I will be hit by a bus or get cancer and they will have to pay the government for my welfare and they cannot be convinced otherwise. It is a waste of energy to get angry at the government, I like to think that if my fiance and I are prepared to get married then we are adult enough to deal with our financial situation as well and it's childish to play the blame game. I actually entirely agree that a foreign fiancee must prove sponsorship as I get angry at all of the immigrants, illegal and otherwise, in both Australia and the US who are benefiting from citizen's hard earned cash by failing to have their own support networks.

Edited by SCFsnoopy, 16 June 2009 - 05:32 AM.

SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-16 05:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRe-entering to US after visa K1 without mariage?
QUOTE (Penguin_ie @ Aug 12 2009, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you mean enter the USA for other purposes (as a tourist etc), you cannot use the VWP now that you have a US visa in your past. However, you can aply for a B2 tourist visa.


I'm really not sure that statement is correct... I used the VWP two months after being in the US for over a year on a J-1...
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-12 16:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSee the Pics & Please Post
QUOTE (Kinito_2k3 @ Aug 29 2009, 04:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Anh map @ Aug 28 2009, 02:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
UPS, FedEx, DHL



Isn't DHL out of business? At least in the US?


Yes and no. DHL doesn't do domestic services within the US anymore, but it will still send things internationally in and out of the US. DHL is the only courier service I use/trust.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-06 15:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Age Requirements
I'm only 20... My finace (USC) is about to turn 27, but I don't see it causing any hiccups. It may matter at the consulate stage and even then it would depend on local customs - for example, in I've heard in Morocco that it is unusual for men to date older women, especially if they are beyond child bearing years. In Australia, there are not a lot of cultural restrictions about age in terms of dating, and it's not at all unusual for women my age to be dating someone 3-9 years older than them.

Other than that, as long as you are both legally old enough to marry (which you are), then you should be fine.

(and toma, you don't have to be too exeptional to earn over $19k/year - the job I'm in now, which I secured a year ago when I was 19 and with no more than a high school education, pays over $34k/year and provides ongoing training for a Certificate 3 in logistics. It happens smile.gif )
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-18 05:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIs it normal that uscis touched fiancee petition after it was approved?
QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Sep 19 2009, 01:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just a random guess... They may be waiting for something before sending the packet to NVC. Maybe a security check document, who knows. Anyway, the packet may be sitting in a holding bin waiting for this whatever-it-is, and they may be pulling it each day to see if it's ready to be sent. If they scan it when they pull it then it would generate a touch.


That would be similar to what we do at work (we're a courier company) - all of the shipment being held at our base get kept in a big walk-in cage, and every day someone goes in there first thing in the morning and scans every single shipment in that cage with an "on hold" scan - in our situation, it's for visibility, since all our shipment are tracked and we need to account for where that shipment is at all times.

If this guess is close to the truth (I'm not saying it is, I don't know), I wouldn't be surprised if those touches were similar to the "on hold" scans that we use. I read somewhere that every time a USCIS employee physically handles a petition, even if they're just moving it from one desk to another, it has to be scanned. So if someone is checking it every day to see if it's ready to be sent out... voila, a touch.

For the record, my petition was approved 9th September, but I got another touch on the 10th - I assume that was them mailing it to NVC, but I'll never really know smile.gif
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-21 06:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRepercussions of obtaining fiancé visa & then leaving the US
QUOTE (ajune @ Sep 21 2009, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi! Thanks for your response.

Trying to clarify my 2nd question...

I was a student in France (when I met my fiancé), and I remember it was required for me to go through the whole student visa thing upon getting accepted to university. I'm just wondering... If I get accepted to a masters program, would I have to go through the whole student visa process, or could I just say, "Hey I'm married to a French guy, so I don't need the student visa." Something you said I didn't quite get though... If we got married in the US without the K1, wouldn't that be "abusing" the tourist visa? From what lawyers have told us, when you are a tourist you are supposed to be NOTHING BUT a tourist, and getting married on a tourist visa is a big no-no.


Not quite... you can marry on a tourist visa or VWP, the big no-no is that you must not marry and adjust status. Plenty of people marry in the US on a tourist visa - think destination weddings to Hawaii, Vegas, Florida... - but the idea is that if you do that, you're still supposed to leave (and if necessary, go through the proper immigration routes to move to and gain status in the US).

I'm not sure what your visa / residency options in France would be, and unless a French member has some specific advice, you probably won't find that answer on this site as VJ's members tend only have good knowledge on immigration routes to the US.

Have you thought about taking jobs outside of your fields? I know that seems like a waste of education, but plenty of people are having career changes until the economy gets back on its feet a little.

SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-21 05:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFacebook Concern?
I actually wouldn't mind if USCIS checked out mine and Jesse's Facebooks, they'd know it was a genuine relationship then! laughing.gif

But yes, if you're concerned I'd change the privacy settings so that only friends can see your page. Jess and I were the same with our status, he didn't want to set it as engaged before he told his family.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-22 04:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDecided to take the K1 route
QUOTE (Ms.Dawn @ Oct 2 2009, 05:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Justine+David @ Oct 2 2009, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For the I-129F, all you have to prove is that you met at least once in the last two years with strong evidence (like a copy of a passport stamp, boarding passes, flight itineraries) and you can add in some secondary evidence as suggested by the guides (located at the top of this page). You can also include future flights (if you've bought the ticket) if you have them.

When you get to the interview stage, it's then that you have to prove your ongoing relationship. If you want to get through the process sooner, only meeting once shouldn't hold you back, provided you have evidence of the meeting.

Good luck!



Hi Justine+David

Appreciate your reply. wink.gif

I kept my boarding passes, flight itineraries and also my passport has a stamp. When I entered the us the IO at Newark put a stamp on my passport which is august 3 (date of entry) but did not give me an I-94, but I saw the I-129F form and it's asking for a I-94 no. I'm guessing I didn't need it because it was just 2 weeks. I did not have to go through immigration when I left the country (just security checkpoints) I have the boarding pass but I don't have a stamp that I left the country on my passport! Would that cause a problem I'm just worried they will think I overstayed or became an illegal immigrant or something.

When it is time for me to apply for the visa here in HK, do I submit the proofs or I just bring it with me at the interview? And also, what other proofs can I show besides pictures? My Fiance have unlimited calls on skype and also have a local HK no. that is connected to his US mobile phone no. through skype (so it goes over our local minutes) (it's complicated but it's very cheap!) and that's what we use to call each other everyday, do we need to print telephone statements? I don't save histories of our YM chats and we don't email each other would I also need that too?

Say if we do get approved of the K1 visa do I have to go to the US ASAP or can I wait a few more months as I need to settle things before I leave?

Thanks very much

Cheers xx smile.gif


The US doesn't stamp departures. You only need to put your I-94 number on the I-129F if you're currently in the US, which you're not, so don't stress on that point - but it's a bit concerning you never had an I-94, they should have given you that on the plane on the way in to fill out, then you would have had to present it to immigration on the way in, and they should have torn off a little piece and given it back to you (which you would then return to the airline when you leave). It may or may not be a problem when you try to re-enter on the K-1, since that I-94 stub proves that you left the country when you were supposed to.

As for further proofs, send some snail mail to your fiance (Christmas is coming up, send him a card!), make sure you have your chat logs saved on Skype (skype is great because it also records how often you call a person, and how long the calls are), if your fiance comes to HK for another visit try to get things with both your names on them - hotel receipts, etc. I also had DHL Air Waybills because I used to ship a lot of things to my fiance (you wouldn't believe how much stuff he left behind when he came to visit -.-)

SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-10-02 03:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEMERGENCY!!!!
QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Sep 17 2009, 03:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (dutchmatt @ Sep 16 2009, 07:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
UPS sends to PO boxes - I sent my stuff with them.


UPS agents aren't supposed to accept a package for delivery to a PO box. There are only two entities that have access to a PO box - the agency that leases the PO box to the customer, and the customer who leased the box. If the box is in a post office, UPS has no way to get the package (or letter) into the box.

UPS agents do something screw up, and accept a package with PO box destination address. What happens after that is anybody's guess. Sometimes they hand the package (or notice) to the post office staff to be placed in the box. Sometimes they return the package to the sender. Sometimes they see if they have a physical address on file for the box owner, and then deliver to the physical address. I once sent a box of Christmas gifts to a friend in North Carolina. I went to a "Postal Annex" store that accepted packages for UPS, and used the PO box number my friend gave me. UPS delivered the package to the mayor of the city, who happened to have the same name as my friend. blush.gif


I know the process that DHL goes through for handling PO Box addresses, and I imagine it would be similar for other courier services...

When DHL receives a PO Box, it gets sorted into a "Bad Address" pile which then gets given to someone (usually a Network Control Agent) to sort out in the morning. If there is a phone number on the shipment, the first step is to call that number to attempt to get a physical address. If there's no answer, they leave a message and try again the next day. If they can't get in contact within 48 hours, a letter addressed to the PO Box will be mailed through the local post with instructions to call the courier base back to give address details.

If there is no phone number on the shipment, a Google search of the business name usually yields a street address, and the shipment will get redirected. If it is a residential/private shipment, usually an attempt will be made to get in contact with the reciever before the shipment gets redirected. If all else fails and they can't get a street address, they'll lodge a trace through the DHL network to attempt to get in touch with the shipper for either new reciever details or instructions to return or abandon the shipment.

Bottom line is, if you send to a PO Box through a courier service, you're leaving your shipment up to a complete stranger to decide where it will ultimately wind up.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-16 19:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDHL - Shipment on hold
Hey Leo&Farah,

I'm really sorry to hear you've had such trouble with DHL - they're usually a great company but I have also found they've been a bit screwy in the US lately. It's most likely due to the massive downsizing DHL has had in the States - DHL no longer offers domestic services within the US, only international services, which naturally has an effect on the way international shipments are handled domestically within the US. Ohio also happens to be a huge service centre which is why shipments get "stuck" there - it's just an issue of the huge amount of freight they have pass through there.

Documents, however, should not have been put on hold as they are not dutiable items and therefore do not pass through customs. The "On Hold" scan you saw most probably doesn't related to customs at all but is simply due to processing delays at the service centre.

As for the address change... it's rare, but every now and then something screws up with the data entry and the system will attach the wrong AWB to a customer's details or vice versa. So someone else's address wound up on your AWB number and package, therefore when the reweigh sticker was put on it redirected the shipment to the new address regardless of the original air waybill. (I hope that made sense, it's hard to explain). It's interesting that only part of the address changed though, I don't really have an explanation for that.

Like the others have said, keep pressuring customer service about it. Most of the time DHL can recover an incorrectly delivered shipment and if you keep at them they will often refund you or give you a free shipment.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-04-21 02:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJ1 Visa Home Residency Requirement warnings
Does anybody know what the HRR case is for au pairs? I do not believe we are subject to the rule, but I want to be absolutely certain. I *just* returned (as in, just over a week ago) to Australia after being in the US for 13 months on a J-1 visa as an au pair and I want to file for a K-1 very soon.

While I was in the US I called my agency and they indicated that I was not subject (although, all they really did was refer me to my visa - but apparently this isn't correct for some people).

The agency I worked for, btw, was supposedly a not-for-profit organisation (Cultural Care Au Pair) and I am sure there was no US government funding. I personally paid almost $3000 in fees for various things, including my plane ticket (although very discounted) and all of my visa fees (I think that was around $300 total, maybe a little more). So as far as I know I've had no government funding either from the US or Australia.

I would guess that I'm ok, but if somebody was an au pair or has experience with their visas, I'd love to hear back.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2008-05-20 16:53:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (Simon and Janet @ Sep 11 2009, 05:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (SCFsnoopy @ Sep 10 2009, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well, I got my NOA2 yesterday!!

I know that it goes to NVC and from there to the consulate - just wondering, do you get an email when they forward it to NVC? And do I need to call NVC to get my case number, or will that be emailed to me or Jesse? Confuzzled smile.gif

Just waiting for Jesse to get the hardcopy NOA2 and mail me a copy so that I can go ahead with my medicals.

One more question regarding immunizations - I guess I will have to ask the doc about this too - I don't think I still have my baby (blue) book, and all of my medical records were burned in a bushfire several years ago (basically everything from birth to age 12), so do you think the doc will be able to sign some sort of affidavit that I am up to date with shots? (although I do know that I need a booster for at least MMR). I'm hoping she has records but I'm not really sure she does.


Congrats! star_smile.gif

The whole NVC confuses me a bit.... what do they do with the package when they receive it considering USCIS has already given it approval?
How long in general have Aussies had to wait from NOA2 until the embassy has received it? Anyone know?


I've been under the impression that once the embassy sends packet 3 it's pretty quick for us. I'm not planning on leaving for the US until Dec 26th but I'm rushing Jesse to get the I-134, etc, ready so that I can have my visa as soon as possible. I remember when I booked my J-1 interview it was maybe a 3 week wait, hopefully not much has changed since a couple of years ago smile.gif

SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-11 05:20:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (Rings @ Sep 11 2009, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Get the blood test and that will prove what you are immune to and the current doctor you have will sign for it. Get copies of your medical documents if you can because they take them at POE in the sealed evenlope and you don't want to have to pay for them twice. we were lucky because we had copies and the TB skin testing rule came out in the middle of our immigration so we had what we needed because Loke's doctor gave him copies. Otherwise he would have had to do it all over again sad.gif


Good idea, especially about the copies. I was thinking about just going to my regular doc (who's known me since childhood) and seeing what forms she has on my record - because she also has copies of my medicals from my J-1 visa and another one from when I was applying for an exhange student year - and if there's anything missing I'd get a blood test and get all of my shots up to date and documented before going to the medical with the panel physician.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-11 01:36:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Well, I got my NOA2 yesterday!!

I know that it goes to NVC and from there to the consulate - just wondering, do you get an email when they forward it to NVC? And do I need to call NVC to get my case number, or will that be emailed to me or Jesse? Confuzzled smile.gif

Just waiting for Jesse to get the hardcopy NOA2 and mail me a copy so that I can go ahead with my medicals.

One more question regarding immunizations - I guess I will have to ask the doc about this too - I don't think I still have my baby (blue) book, and all of my medical records were burned in a bushfire several years ago (basically everything from birth to age 12), so do you think the doc will be able to sign some sort of affidavit that I am up to date with shots? (although I do know that I need a booster for at least MMR). I'm hoping she has records but I'm not really sure she does.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-09-10 22:29:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Wow, they gave me WAY more info than that... like, they copy pasted the handbook that they give to the CO's and mailed it to me.

Immigrations was no problem... they asked, "what is the purpose of your trip?" ("I'm just on vacation") "how long for?" ("two weeks") ... then fingerprints/photo taken... "you bringing any foodstuffs into the country?" ("yes, some chocolate and cookies") ... no answer... stapled the I-94 into my passport and I was on my way smile.gif No mention of the K-1, I have a feeling that information isn't available unless they specifically look for it, but that's speculation on my part.

However, when I was passing through the customs gate, they asked about food, told them, chocolate and cookies, "anything fresh?" ("no") but then THEY asked, even though I had just passed immigration, "what is your purpose for coming here?" (??) So I told them again, "just visiting," and they asked, "friends or family?" so I replied, "just friends" ... "ok, have a nice trip." Seems at LAX that immigration and customs officials are doing each other's jobs laughing.gif

Just found the email Sydney consulate sent me, it's a bit long >_<

QUOTE
Thank you for your inquiry.



Please refer to the following 9FAM citations regarding accepting I-134 affidavits of support. Basically, the consular officer at time of interview will make the determination whether or not he will require any additional information apart from the documents already submitted from your fiancé. The 125% guideline does not apply to the form I-134.



9 FAM 40.41 N11.7 Alien Seeking Admission as K Nonimmigrant

(CT:VISA-911; 11-02-2007)

Since K-1 (fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen) and K-2 (child of the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen), K-3 (spouse of U.S. citizen), and K-4 (child of K-3) applicants are technically applying for nonimmigrant visas (NIV), they must use Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, if you determine that a Form I-134, is necessary. You shall not require or accept Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act in K visa cases. Such applicants will, however, have to submit Form I-864, to the DHS/USCIS at the time of adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR).

9 FAM 40.41 N4.6-2 Evidence of Support When Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, Not Required

(CT:VISA-1126; 12-03-2008)

a. An applicant relying solely on personal financial resources for support for him or herself and family members after admission into the United States should be presumed inadmissible for a visa under INA 212(a)(4) unless his or her income (including any to be derived from prearranged employment) will equal or exceed the poverty guideline level for the applicant and accompanying family members. You should refer to 9 FAM 40.41 Exhibit I, Poverty Income Guideline Table, published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

b. Normally, all accompanying dependent family members and other dependent family members already in the United States are considered to be within the family unit for purposes of applying the poverty income guidelines. However, an applicant seeking to join a lawfully admitted permanent resident and two citizen children in the United States, who are receiving public assistance, may be determined to overcome the public charge provision if the applicant's prospective income will exceed on the poverty income guideline table for a single person. In this instance only, it does not matter that the applicant's prospective income will be below that shown in the poverty income guideline table for a family of four. It is quite possible that the admission of the applicant and the applicant's income in the United States may permit the lowering of the public assistance benefits the family members now receive.

c. You should not rely exclusively on the submission of documents to determine whether an applicant is inadmissible under INA 212(a)(4). Repeated requests for documents in an effort to resolve every small doubt should be avoided. There is a limit to the value of documents in a situation in which the applicant must satisfy the officer of his or her future activities, intentions, and prospects.

d. You should make every effort to inform applicants in advance of the visa interview of the required support documents. You should be in a position to issue or deny the visa under INA 212(a)(4) at the end of the initial visa interview, assuming that the applicant has made reasonable efforts to submit the evidence originally requested. (For example, in cases where a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act, is required, an application cannot be considered until that document and related information have been executed and considered satisfactory by you.) Applicants who are not likely to overcome the public charge provision even after the presentation of additional evidence should be refused. Adequate time and effort spent during the initial interview can save work for the post and the applicant in this respect.

e. An applicant may establish the adequacy of financial resources by submitting evidence of bank deposits, ownership of property or real estate, ownership of stocks and bonds, insurance policies, or income from business investments sufficient to provide for his or her needs, as well as those of any dependent family member, until suitable employment is located. (The amount sufficient will depend on the applicant's age, physical condition, and family circumstances and size.)

(1) Bank Deposits—Applicants relying on bank deposits to meet the public charge requirements should present as evidence a letter signed by a senior officer of the bank over the officer's title, showing:

(a) The date the account was opened;

(cool.gif The number and amount of deposits and withdrawals during the last 12 months;

© The present balance. This information may prevent attempted abuse such as an initial deposit of a substantial sum of money being made within a relatively short time prior to the immigrant visa application; and

(d) How the money, if in a foreign bank in foreign currency, is to be transferred to the United States.

(2) Real estate investments—Evidence of property ownership may be in the form of a title deed or equivalent or certified copies. The applicant must satisfy you as to the plans for disposal or rental of such property and the manner in which the income from the property (if abroad) is to be transferred to the United States for the applicant's support.

(3) Stocks and Bonds—Evidence of income from these sources should indicate present cash value or expected earnings and, if the income is derived from a source outside the United States, a statement as to how the income is to be transferred to the United States.

(4) Income from business investments; or

(5) Insurance policies.

f. An applicant may also support a finding that he or she meets the public charge requirements by:

(1) Evidence of employment of a permanent nature in the United States that will provide an adequate income. A certified Labor Department Form ETA-9089 Application for Permanent Employment Certification, or Form ETA-750-Part A & B, Application for Alien Employment Certification) will show this if the applicant is subject to the provisions of INA 212(a)(5)(A). If the labor certification provisions do not apply, the employer may submit a notarized letter of employment, in duplicate, on letterhead stationery attesting to the offer of prearranged employment; or

(2) Assurance of support by relatives or friends in the United States.

g. Sufficient support from a combination of the above sources.

9 FAM 40.41 N4.6-3 Use of Form I-134, Affidavit of Support

(CT:VISA-911; 11-02-2007)

a. Because INA 212(a)(4)© and INA 213A require the use of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, for so many classes of immigrants, the use of Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, has been reduced considerably. Nevertheless, there still are circumstances when Form I-134 will be beneficial. This affidavit, submitted by the applicant at your request, is not legally binding on the sponsor and should not be accorded the same weight as Form I-864. Form I-134 should be given consideration as one form of evidence, however, in conjunction with the other forms of evidence mentioned below.

b. If any of the following applicants need an Affidavit of Support to meet the public charge requirement, they must use Form I-134, as they are not authorized to use Form I-864:

(1) The self-petitioning spouse of a deceased U.S. citizen, and any children there from (see INA 204(a)(1)(A)(ii));

(2) The self-petitioning spouse of a U.S. citizen, and any children there from, who has been battered by or subjected to extreme cruelty perpetrated by the spouse (see INA 204(a)(1)(A)(iii) and (iv));

(3) Returning resident aliens;

(4) Diversity visa applicants; and

(5) Fiancé(e)s.

c. The simple submission of Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, however, is not sufficient to establish that the beneficiary is not likely to become a public charge. Although the income requirements of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, do not apply in such cases (e.g., the 125 percent minimum income), you must make a thorough evaluation of other factors, such as:

(1) The sponsor's motives in submitting the affidavit;

(2) The sponsor's relationship to the applicant (e.g., relative by blood or marriage, former employer or employee, schoolmates, or business associates);

(3) The length of time the sponsor and applicant have known each other;

(4) The sponsor's financial resources; and

(5) Other responsibilities of the sponsor.

NOTE: When there are compelling or forceful ties between the applicant and the sponsor, such as a close family relationship or friendship of long standing, you may favorably consider the affidavit. On the other hand, an affidavit submitted by a casual friend or distant relative who has little or no personal knowledge of the applicant has more limited value. If the sponsor is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR), the likelihood of the sponsor's support of an immigrant visa (IV) applicant until the applicant can become self-supporting is a particularly important consideration.

d. The degree of corroborative detail necessary to support the affidavit will vary depending upon the circumstances. For example, for a relatively short-term visitor, little, if any, would be required. In immigrant cases, however, the sponsor's statement should include:

(1) Information regarding income and resources;

(2) Financial obligations for the support of immediate family members and other dependents;

(3) Other obligations and expenses; and

(4) Plans and arrangements made for the applicant's support in the absence of a legal obligation toward the applicant.

e. To substantiate the information regarding income and resources, the sponsor should attach to the affidavit a copy of the latest Federal income tax return filed prior to the signing of the Form I-134, including all supporting schedules. If you determine that the tax return and/or additional evidence in the file do not establish the sponsor's financial ability to carry out the commitment toward the immigrant for what might be an indefinite period of time, or there is a specific reason (other than the passage of time) to question the veracity of the income stated on the Form I-134 or the accompanying document(s), you should request additional evidence (i.e., statement from an employer showing the sponsor's salary and the length and permanency of employment, recent pay statements, or other financial data).

f. If the sponsor has a well-established business and submits a rating from a recognized business rating organization, you do not need to insist on a copy of the sponsor's latest income tax return or other evidence.

I hope the above guidelines is helpful to you.

Thank you.

SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-24 17:07:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (Simon and Janet @ Aug 23 2009, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone know what guidelines the Sydney consulate have as far as finances for the K-1 approval are?
For the adjustment of status the petitioner needs to be earning 125% of the poverty guidelines, but at the K-1 approval only 100%.
Some consulates however will require the petitioner to be at the 125% for the interview though.
Is anyone aware how Sydney operates in the regard?


I do actually have all that info... If I can find it in my inbox I'll repost here but I can't look right now, so you'll have to bear with me. If you want, just email the consulate (there's an email on their website somewhere... if you mail the wrong one they should forward it for you) and they'll probably mail you what they mailed me.

Just wanted to let you know I'm Stateside for the next couple of weeks, had no problem at immigration (they asked me if I was bringing food in? Why would they ask that at immigration?? Then they asked me again at Customs, go figure).
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-23 12:41:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (Simon and Janet @ Aug 20 2009, 09:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (SCFsnoopy @ Aug 19 2009, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Nothing for me on the NOA2 front, but it's early days yet smile.gif Not really expecting anything until October.

I'm headed off to NY for two weeks to see Jesse on Saturday, wish me luck for no hassle at the POE!

Good luck! Let us know how it all goes!

On a separate note... i'm going over for 3 weeks in late October. United Airlines have a return from Melbourne to Philadelphia for $909 ohmy.gif


That's so cheap! I'm flying with United Airlines too, I paid for my tickets a few months back but return Sydney to New York was $1131, taxes included. It sucks that prices spike up so much after December, right when I plan on going (if the visa happens when I'm thinking it will smile.gif ) It looks like I might end up staying in Aus for my 21st in February after all.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-19 20:49:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Nothing for me on the NOA2 front, but it's early days yet smile.gif Not really expecting anything until October.

I'm headed off to NY for two weeks to see Jesse on Saturday, wish me luck for no hassle at the POE!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-08-19 15:21:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (sharyna @ Jul 18 2009, 03:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
hey everyone
so hubby and i are thinking about returning to australia ....
can anyone tell me where to look to see about his visa and also our daughters? ... and all that stuff?


Hey Sharyna, www.immi.gov is your best bet to find the right visa - not sure if this link will work since it's a search result (you might have to re-enter the info) but these are the Aussie spousal visas: Clicky!

I know it's early for me but I found my wedding dress today <3 I feel like a queen in it! I guess it's not bad to get it so far ahead, since it takes 12 weeks to order in and it's one less thing to worry about smile.gif
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-18 05:25:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (Simon and Janet @ Jul 7 2009, 11:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks mate...we've got the NOA1 hard copy now smile.gif

qantas.com.au had flights from Melbourne-New York - $1076 return including taxes on sale that ended last week. I think if you book now it's around $1276 all inclusive....but of course the hard part is knowing exactly when to book for! I'd love to spend Christmas with Janet, but we SHOULD have the NOA2 by then and i'd be going the all the consulate stuff around that time so i'd need to be here.


Yeah, plane tickets have been hella cheap for the last couple of months. I'm going to visit Jess for our anniversary (2 years! It's flown!) in August and return to New York with United Airlines was only $1131 (tax included).

I think if everything goes amazingly smoothly I might be looking at an interview time of around late November... but I really don't want to plan on it and I haven't decided on my Christmas plans either. My family is really quite sad that I'm moving so I think it would be smart, for their sake, to stay for Christmas with them. I guess it will come down to how much money I have, that will be the decider on when I leave.

I'm glad someone asked about the Super, I got a letter from my super fund the other day and I was actually thinking about it... I only have a couple hundred in there so it wouldn't be worth the effort, I guess it will just sit there until I'm old smile.gif
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-07 04:12:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (Simon and Janet @ Jul 5 2009, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We sent our documents in for the K-1 on the 26th of June...had our check cashed and now are just waiting for the NOA1 in the mail.
Now for the 8 or so months of waiting! whistling.gif


Wishing you luck for speed! We've been waiting one month aaaannd... 10 days.

Looks like VSC is slowing down sad.gif We're praying (well, not really, not the most religious couple ever - but you get what I mean) for a miracle in that my visa will be approved before December 9th, because that's when the good ticket prices expire! Up till Dec. 9th they're about $1400 tops, after that they sit well over $2000 until March :'(
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-05 07:15:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (jldut80 @ Jul 1 2009, 10:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The I-134 gets sent in the packet 3. The consulate moves super fast (or it did for me) so it is a good idea to get on to this as soon as you recieve the NOA2.


Cool. I am going to get him to fill out the I-134 for me when I'm there in August, since VJ reckons we'll get our NOA2 around the end of September (and I'll be back in Aus Sept. 6th, so it will be reasonably close).

Beautiful pics, Annie!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-03 01:00:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (mrsemcee @ Jul 1 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Geez that is quick!

Have fun on your trip... I have my hubby here in Melbourne til July 18 so I'm lucky!

I noticed you're getting a co sponsor too? We are using hubbys parents, they're awesome and are paying for the whole process too...

Good luck all!


Hopefully. Jesse's parents won't co-sponsor - they're worried about liability and are "careful" with their money, to put it nicely (although they are providing our wedding venue! which is really really awesome of them) - so the guy we're considering is a very long time client of Jesse's who heard about our situation and said he'd be happy to help. They've known each other for years and Jesse says he trusts him so that's good enough for me.

By the sounds of it though, Sydney consulate isn't really paying much attention to the I-134 (even the email I got from them basically says, "make sure you have it, but whatever") so I'm trying not to stress about it too much. It's really the only hiccup in our process because everything else is pretty straight forward unless Jesse's army history gets us stuck in AP ("other than honourable discharge" whistling.gif )

While we're on the subject, when does the I-134 come into play? Do you send that back with Packet 3 or bring it to the interview?
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-07-01 05:26:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (mrsemcee @ Jun 30 2009, 05:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It seems like you are all at interview stage... I just got my noa1 today and am pretty excited!

is anyone at the beginning like us?


Yup! We got our NOA1 for the K-1 about a month ago. Waiting, waiting... I'm going to NY for two weeks at the end of August, so hoping that after that trip it won't be too long until our NOA2 smile.gif Fingers crossed!

Really really jealous (but happy for) the Canadian couple that got their NOA2 from VSC in under 30 days... no expedite or anything. Wish they'd all go that quick!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-30 15:52:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I'm nowhere near my interview yet, sadly, so someone who has been already can correct me on this... jldut, I'm most likely just bringing the stuff on this list from the guide, as well as whatever they ask me to, probably except for the I-129F packet (I'll just bring my copies of NOA1/2):

QUOTE
What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):
1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).
2. Send all originals of the documentary proof that you submitted for the I-129F to your fiance(e) for their interview at the embassy.
3. Send an original letter affirming your desire to marry your fiance(e) and your continued support of the K-1 Visa. Sign and date the form. This will be similar to the letter you provided with the I-129F, but dated much closer to the interview (it will have most likely been several months since you submitted your I-129F).
4. I-134 Affidavit of Support form. Ensure it is signed, with all required supporting evidence. Begin collecting the required information ahead of time, as it can often take several weeks to collect it all.
5. You will likely need at a minimum (for the above form) two to three of your most recent pay stubs and a signed letter from your employer listing you job title, start date, your salary, and the status (full-time) of your position. Begin collecting these ASAP after your NOA2 arrives. You will also probably want to include other evidence such as your banking information and other assets as required by the I-134. Specifically you will need at least 2 of the 4 options mentioned in Section II-Supporting Evidence of the I-134. See this FAQ for more tips and ueful information on the Affidavit of Support Form.
6. A copy of the NOA2 that you received in the mail.
7. Proof of your ongoing relationship. This needs to be taken to the interview! Include photos, travel documents, emails, etc from between the time you filed and present (NOA1 date-now).

Examples: Copies of phone bills, cell phone bills, emails (you can edit personal info with a marker), letters (edit personal info also), stamps on the letters (to document the date they were sent), and other written documentary proof. Provide a reasonable amount; two to four of each type. Pick a range of dates up to and including the present. You can also include a copy of engagement ring receipt (this is something that is a big optional - do not worry if you do not have a ring yet!)


From what I've been hearing/reading, and based on the interview I had for my J-1, I don't think they really ask for much evidence. When I got my J-1 they didn't ask for evidence of the program I was with, they just asked how many kids I'd be looking after and which state I'd be in then said, "have a nice time!". I was only up there for maybe an hour and a half, which is not bad.

Best of luck, I'm sure you won't need it but there it is!!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-28 15:30:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Jesse and I might have found a co-sponsor... woohoo! We were hoping we could scrape by without one but if this works out, it will be so much less to stress about biggrin.gif

How's everyone doing? A couple of people aren't too far away from interviews now... good luck!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-18 22:22:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (jldut80 @ Jun 15 2009, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Quick question. Does anyone have any tips on shipping a few items to the states from australia. I have a few boxes of things i want to ship over but the quotes i have received so far are ridiculous!

Thanks!!


Unfortunately ridiculous is pretty much the only price you'll get, and with shipping you get what you pay for. I do not recommend sending anything through Aussie Post, they lose stuff all the time and things often get held up (it took 9 weeks for a clean pair of boots to get to me when I was in the US). If you send through DHL, as long as you pack your things into their boxes it's reasonable (still expensive, but they get stuff to the States in 2-3 working days)... their Jumbo box (25kg) is a little under $300 if you bring everything to the depot to pack. A little more expensive for the courier to pick it up from you.

I work for DHL so I can give you some tips on shipping in general (and I can probably get more specific info on retail prices if you let me know what city you're in). With any shipment that is not a document, you will be required to provide a full custom's declaration - I cannot stress enough how important it is that this is completed, and accurate! If customs suspect something's missing or not right on the invoice, they will open your shipment and search it and you'll be whacked with a huge inspection fee (sometimes in the market of $800+!). A custom's declaration needs to have at least the following info:

  • Name and address of shipper (you)
  • Name and address of consignee (who/where you're sending it)
  • Each item in the shipment. Note that you cannot generalize - don't put down "clothes", list each seperately, "shirts - 5, skirt - 1, dress - 4" etc.
  • An approximate value for each item (has to be at least $1, we encourage customers to list used personal effects at a low value as this deters customs from charging duties)
  • A total value for each item - if you have listed 5 shirts at $1 each, total value for that item is $5
  • A total value for the whole shipment
  • State whether goods are duty drawback (in your case, no) and if they are hazardous.
  • Some may ask for a reason for export, as far as I know this is not strictly necessary but not a bad idea to put down
  • Signature and date
  • AWB or tracking/consignment number (depending who you send with, DHL requires the Air Waybill (AWB) number) and date of export


It sounds like an awful lot but once the custom's declaration is in front of you it's all fairly easily laid out.

There is a website you can ship through that actually has their own DHL account, so they get shipments at a discounted rate - I believe it is http://www.xsbagsandboxes.com.au/ - I've had a customer or two come in after using that site and they have sent stuff that would ordinarily have cost them in the thousands for under $800. I think the way they work is they give you an account number to present to the DHL staff and also allow you to write up your custom's dec online and print it off so you can have it ready.

Another note - I have no idea if Fedex, etc, are as stringent as DHL are but if you ship with DHL you will absolutely be required to allow a member of staff to inspect your shipment before you seal and send it. We have absolutely no choice, our security policies are extremely strict, if you are not a regular customer and do not hold an account with us we MUST inspect your shipment. We are really only looking for obvious thing like bombs, aerosols, certain foodstuffs, prescription meds, lithium-ion batteries (in phones, digital cameras, laptops etc) cash, checks or any other cash equivalent... things that people don't realize you can't send or we are not allowed to send due to policy.

If you're sending shoes, make sure they're clean and note that they are clean in the custom's dec ("pair of shoes, clean" will do the trick). If you send any wood products, good chance you can add another day to transit time. The US is really mostly concerned about foodstuffs coming in so try to limit or eliminate that if you can (although Tim Tams seem to be fine wink.gif )

Sorry if I've overloaded you with info, but we get a LOT of customers that don't realize what a process it is to ship anything overseas and it's better to have too much info than too little! At the least it will save you a bit of a headache if you're prepared - that's getting to my other point, try to do this a week before you really need to so that if something happens and you need to take another day to do it, you have that liberty. We had a customer send 8 jumbo boxes overseas about 3.5 hours before he had to get on the plane, it took over 2 hours to inspect the shipment and correct all the custom's decs and he complained the whole time about needing to get to the airport... he should have done it at least the day before!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-15 05:34:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Seems like everyone is doing pretty well! I hope you get the naming issue sorted soon MzMo!

So, my NOA1 date is May 22nd... how are my chances of having the visa by Christmas? I'd love to have a February wedding, despite the cold (hey, maybe it will snow and I can have a white wedding biggrin.gif) and I want to take at least 4 weeks to tie up loose ends before I leave for the States once I've got the visa in hand. Of course, I don't really mind if I get it later because then I will probably wait a bit longer before entering so that we can have the wedding early summer...
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-09 05:40:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Hi Aussies!

I have my NOA1 - dated May 22nd, but we didn't know we had it until yesterday (Jesse forgot to tell him mum to call him when she got the letter, so she'd just been hanging on to it) smile.gif

So now we wait... VJ says we should be adjudicated around the end of September. I was thinking about getting Jesse's I-134 while I'm there at the end of August to save him sending it over, do you think it will matter if it's dated that long before the interview?
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-06-02 20:38:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (myperfectflaw @ May 29 2009, 08:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We didn't receive any info by email, we simply got a hard copy sent to us. We also sent ours certified and got the card back from the post office showing the delivery confirmation, so we knew it was on it's way shortly. I paid by money order, so that's all I had to go on, but I'm sure checking with your bank to see when the check is cashed is also a good way to know.


Jesse sent our petition in by Fedex so I know that it was received a week ago... check hasn't even been cashed yet, should I be worried or do I still have a little while to wait before being worried? Seems like most people get their NOA1 within days, but I've seen some timelines that indicate a couple of weeks. I can't imagine there would be anything missing or wrong with our application so it's curious that it's taking a while for them cash the check.
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-05-28 22:38:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
When you get the NOA1, what happens exactly? Does he get one emailed and then a hard copy sent? Or can you just tell when the check is cashed?
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-05-28 03:49:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I got a good laugh reading over how EVERYONE gets picked on for their accent! I worked as a nanny for 12 months in the US and I constantly had to translate for my kids... I'd say "get your jumper on" and they'd look at me like I was crazy, until I figured it out and corrected with "put on your sweater!". I did get the British thing too - it never bugged me, I'd just correct them and then they'd get all excited and without fail every single person would say "I always wanted to go to Australia, that's such an awesome country!" I'm so proud of my nationality when things like that happen biggrin.gif

Ironically enough, when I got home to Aus after my initial year in the US, I got picked on for my accent again... Especially living in Connecticut/New York, I picked up a lot of turns of phrases that simply are not Aussie! Not to mention pronouncing "bawl" instead of "ball", "cawfee" instead of "coffee", etc... I still say "'Sup?" whenever a friend calls which is so different to how I used to answer the phone.

Anyhoo, we are still waiting for our NOA1 - I suspect the long weekend might mean it takes an extra day or two, but I wasn't expecting it before the end of this week anyways. We just got good news about our wedding venue - it's free! - we're having the wedding at Jesse's parents house, they have an absolutely beautiful house and garden with a three-tiered koi pond and bonsai and the works... his stepdad is pretty well off and he was happy to let us use his house as our wedding venue because, "we'd rather you have money to start your life together with than spend lots of money on a wedding." Considering they wouldn't co-sponsor us it's a generous offer!
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-05-27 04:26:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (jldut80 @ May 23 2009, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have never had any problems at LAX either but if you need to connect it can be a nightmare. Saying this it also has the most options for connecting flights (or so i have found anyway)


Ah, true. I've missed my connecting flight there (stupid airlines only give you 50 mins to transfer? Are they crazy?) but it was no issue getting on the next flight to NY 20 minutes later. I guess I'm lucky in the regard that LA --> NY and vice versa has flights leaving all the time. Oh well, I've got 2 hours to transfer this time so that should hopefully be long enough =D
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-05-22 23:42:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
QUOTE (kaffy @ May 23 2009, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congrats! He can go through POE anywhere

But unfortunately there are no direct flights from anywhere in Australia direct to Seattle.. I wanted to avoid LAX (hate that airport so much) and the next best option I could find was a connection in Taipei, then a direct flight into SeaTac. This is through EVA Airlines (I flew with China Airlines back in August but they have since suspended flights into Seattle)

You can also look at transiting in Tokyo. It's a JAL/Qantas codeshare flight from Australia to Tokyo, then a direct Northwest Airlines flight into Seatac

If you don't want an international connection try getting him a direct flight into SFO, then a connection up to Spokane, that might work better with timing


Last time I went to the States I flew China Airlines via Taipei and did POE in Anchorage. I do not recommend that... the officials there are horrible...!

LAX or SFO are pretty much your POE options for a direct flight from Aus, unfortunately.

Curious, kaffy, I've never had any issues with LAX (other than the huge wait line at immigration) - is it really so bad? I'm going through LAX again when I head over for two weeks in August, but maybe I'll try SFO when I go over with my visa...
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-05-22 20:52:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Woohoo! It made it! Now we wait biggrin.gif
SCFsnoopyFemaleAustralia2009-05-22 15:27:00