ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence for I-129F petition
I also want to point out that I don't want to discourage anyone from sending photos. I think it's nice to show you both in the same place together and gives it a more personal feeling. You have to make sure the date stamp is turned on and that you don't overload them with photos. They don't want to see 20 photos of the two of you.

Similarly, it's the primary evidence that is the most important and what you should really, really beef up. It won't hurt you to have 20 pages of primary evidence, and will only make your case stronger. When we originally sent our petition, we got an RFE because we didn't realize the boarding passes we sent didn't have the year on them. Duh...silly error on my part. When we sent back the RFE we sent them 20+ pages of primary evidence...all different kinds. If you're stressing about the evidence to send them, stress about this, not about pictures.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-05-03 13:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence for I-129F petition
We had most of our plane ticket stubs, so we copied those, copied all passport stamps, had copies of Eurostar boarding passes (with each of our names on them) when we went to Paris together, and many, many pages of credit card statements showing purchases in each others' countries/cities.

In the end I believe the Eurostar boarding passes were the most convincing. It clearly showed we sat next to each other on the same train on the same date, same time, going to to the same place.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-05-03 13:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEvidence for I-129F petition

Has anyone gotten approved with NO PHOTOS supplied? I doubt it.


Uh. *raises hand*

We never submitted a single photo (besides the required passport-style photos, of course) during K-1 or at the interview (and didn't send any with AOS, either). They never asked for them and we never had a problem proving we've spent a significant amount of time together because we had plenty of primary evidence to prove this...which is what they want in the first place.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-05-03 11:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhile waiting for NOA2.....
filing for the police check would be a good idea, as well as getting information together for your I-134 Affidavit of Support if you haven't already. You could start reading up on AOS stuff (though it's a little early to do that, knowing what the next steps are comes in handy...like the fact that when your fiance moves here, he should probably go through JFK if he wants to work immediately). Order tax transcripts from the IRS. Start thinking about how and when you will get married and what the procedures/requirements are for that. Make room in your closet and start planning your new life together!

Good luck!
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-14 10:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresduring k1 process did anyone get married?
Was it a ceremony or an actual wedding that is registered in your home country?

I'm very confused.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-14 10:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion 8b. I-129F Help!!!
They will give you one once you submit your K1 papers, so for the I-129F, you do not have one yet. Just put NONE (not N/A).
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-20 15:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresphotos as 'evidence' of meeting (I129F)
Yes, definitely highlight very important information, like dates and locations on credit card statements and dates and locations on boarding passes or flight confirmations. We got an RFE for not enough proof of having met and sent back a big stack of evidence, but we made sure to label everything at the top, front and highlight everything they might have to search for.

While we may think "duh, turn the picture over" or "look a little harder and you'll find it", these people are stuck in a room all day having to look at these petitions (and other cases). If it's not right in front of them and easy to read, they generally won't take the time to find it. As they shouldn't. Our job is to make it as easy and painless as possible for the adjucaters to say "yep, everything looks good...approved!"
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-20 16:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresphotos as 'evidence' of meeting (I129F)

(now wishing i had saved all those atm and restaurant, hotel etc receipts that i ripped up and threw out when they were clogging up my wallet! although i suppose a credit card bill will nicely itemize all that, hmm?)



Yes, that would be a good way to show all of your purchases in that country (to prove you were there since your credit card can't really board a plane by itself). We sent about a dozen or two pages of just credit card summaries from each visit (make sure you black out account numbers, but not names).

Also, as far as you boarding passes go, like other people suggested in your other thread try to print your ticket confirmation (to show you purchased the flight) and copy the passport stamp. Put those on the same page or on the page after so they can see "Ok, they purchased this flight and this passport stamp shows they got off on this day in this country."

Have your fiance(e) do the same if they have traveled here.

Good luck!
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-20 15:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresphotos as 'evidence' of meeting (I129F)
Beef up your primary evidence and don't worry too much about photos. It would be good to send a few if you have clear dates printed on the photos (or can tape them to a piece of paper and write the dates below), but the #1 important thing is primary evidence. People worry way too much about photos and phone records when they need to worry about boarding passes, passport stamps and credit card statements with purchases in the other country.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-20 09:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFilling out Forms: What about fields that overflow (+)
We had the same problem when entering date fields. What we did was leave those blank and very clearly in black pen hand-wrote the dates.

Some fields on the forms will do this too if you try to type too much. If that's the case for, say, the explanation of how you met...simply say "Please see attached sheet" and type it out on a different page. It's better than trying to cram in a lot of information in a tiny space.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-06-20 16:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarrying in the UK
You could have a ceremony in England so that his parents are in attendance, but I'd be careful with even that because it may appear as a "marriage". If they so much as suspect you are married before he comes to the United States on his FIANCE(E) visa, they will deny it.

So, do the research. If you really have to have a ceremony before he comes to the States, make sure that you get nothing signed and that you know what constitutes as "getting married" in England. Do not refer to each other as husband and wife, do not make mention of a wedding until he is in America. Even if it's a non-legally binding wedding, they have every right to deny his visa.

Your other options include having a wedding there after he's come here, you're legally married, have filed for AOS and he has been approved for AP (advance parole). You can then travel to the UK and have a ceremony there.

Otherwise you should marry and file for K3 SPOUSAL visa instead of K1.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-07-10 15:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresplease advise :g325
One thing you could do is to make sure you have upgraded to the latest version of Adobe: http://www.adobe.com.../readstep2.html

Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. This form gave me problems as well; I had to hand-write dates on the form because they didn't fit in the boxes provided. As long as it doesn't hide any of your information, it won't be a problem.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-11-01 11:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-129F - Proof of having met
QUOTE (~Laura and Nick~ @ Nov 28 2007, 07:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Completely agree!
Never send in copies!



??


You have sufficient evidence to prove both that you have met and you maintain an ongoing relationship. Just make sure to keep the originals of all documents for your visa interview and to make one or two copies of the entire packet you send them for reference.

Good luck!
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2007-11-28 10:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresvisa application
Despite the hard feelings of many members who feel that people like you treat this process so carelessly, if you actually want to go through with this again, you're going to have to get your story straight. There are going to be some red flags and lots of questions, so best to think it through now before you even think of filing for another petition.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-01-30 12:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow In The World Did It Come To This?
Sometimes I think the process really weeds out the people who are doing it for the wrong reasons. If you truly love your fiance(e)/spouse, you will endure the process, no matter how long it takes or hard it is. Yeah, we have to put up with a lot, but we kind of knew that we would entering into a foreign relationship. I knew we'd have hurdles, and as much as USCIS has given us the run-around, I'm happy that we are together now and that there was a process (no matter how flawed) for him to come and be with me.

I think similar processes should be put in place for USC-to-USC marriages to make sure the "sanctity" of marriage is upheld. Unfortunately, sanctity only seems to matter when it's an issue of same-sex couples wanting to marry. Like someone said earlier, if regular marriages had to go through any kind of scrutiny like we do, we'd have much healthier families in this country.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-02-05 13:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion of Evidence
Like others have said, the most important thing is that you have physical evidence of meeting that shows dates and names such as boarding passes. Make sure it has the YEAR date on it as some of the boarding pass stubs do not. We received an RFE because I didn't notice that it was missing the year.

Pictures are fine, but they are not proof that the meeting occurred in the last two years. Be thorough in "how you met", include all the necessary pictures and copies and you should be fine.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-02-07 12:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWedding ceremony
They strongly, STRONGLY advise you not to do anything that even hints at a wedding prior to your fiance(e) using their Visa to enter the US and you marry there. Even if you didn't sign anything, they may get suspicious based on the formality of it all.

You are not supposed to keep secrets from USCIS (it will bite you in the ### ten-fold when they find out), but in this case...yikes. I don't know. Maybe someone who has done the same can offer a better opinion, but I would not show your ceremony pictures at the interview because it will raise red flags.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-02-11 16:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiled 129F in November - What can we do while we wait?
Some suggestions:

1) Get your evidence in order for the interview and have your fiance(e) get their information together for the I-134.
2) Once you have all that in order, you can read up on the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process, since it's right around the corner. Have your fiance(e) order their tax transcripts from the IRS if they don't already have them.
3) Figure out when you'll be legally married and when you hope to get AOS papers out the door.
4) Declutter your life and figure out what you'll take to America and what you'll ship/toss/give away/put in storage.
5) Enjoy your last few months in your homeland! See lots of people! Eat lots of your favorite foods!
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-02-12 14:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIs it legal?
I'm sorry, but immigration lawyers aren't the most honest or knowledgeable people in the biz. We went through two who were utterly useless and gave us incorrect information.

It's always better to do it the legal way, even if people you know are being sneaky and getting away with it. We've all had to go through this, and you know what, we all survived. It's a test of a good relationship, and although the waiting is difficult, it doesn't last that long.
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-05-02 10:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan I fill in the I-29F and compile the evidence
I'm the USC, but even still I'm definitely the one who has done the homework and hard paperwork. My husband, though he certainly cares, doesn't have the patience for paperwork. In my job, that's about all I do!

Just make sure that he knows the answers to the questions on the applications so that when you have your AOS interview, he's knowledgeable. And make sure he keeps a copy of ALL documents so that you don't have to drag a big binder of paperwork when you move here.

Good luck!
cellarlilyFemaleEngland2008-06-26 11:05:00
United KingdomWhich of these kids shows do you remember watching?
What? No Everybody Here?
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-17 13:33:00
United KingdomLondon Embassy Review
Whee! Congrats on a successful interview! dancin5hr.gif luv.gif Did they tell you when the courier would be delivering your visa?

I'm forward this one to Alasdair. I suspect he'll be quite happy to read it. smile.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-09 13:21:00
United KingdomYou know you're living in America and not the UK when...
QUOTE (TracyTN @ Apr 7 2008, 08:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Ian + Anne @ Apr 6 2008, 06:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
..... you can not find an electrical screw driver in the hardware stores ! (all they sell are test probes, ####### !)


Glad to hear this isn't just a Tennessee thing!! It drives me CRAZY!!!!!! mad.gif

(I'm not sure why you can't find an electric screwdriver, though!)


I don't believe we have electric screwdrivers here, actually. What I know we DO have are electric drills, to which you can attach various screwdriver bits. There's even dinky ones about the size of an overlarge screwdriver, for that authentic feel. smile.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-09 13:57:00
United KingdomThe 2008 United Kingdom Interview Thread!
i can has interview? Alasdair will be going under the gun on April 28th. Yippee!!!! smile.gif

Now, am I mistaken or do some people seem to get their visa on the same day and some seem to get it sent to them?
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-04-04 07:42:00
United KingdomBrits in the USA
Elaine (AtlantiCat) is the Yank, Alasdair (No username yet!) is the Brit, and we will be living just outside of Chicago, IL.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-24 13:46:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)Automated Phone Service Not Updated?
I received my approval/NOA2 on January 30th, and I've been calling the NVC for a week and a half trying to see if they've received my paperwork from CSC. Today in the mail I received a letter from NVC dated February 19th, saying they'd received the petition and where they would be forwarding it (within a week, they say), plus my USCIS case number and my new NVC case number. However, when I call the automated phone system and input either number, the pleasantly bland white male voice tells me there's no record of my case.

Has anybody else had this experience? What's the point of having an automated phone system that doesn't work? I didn't notice another topic on the subject so forgive me if somebody else has asked this question all ready.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-02-22 19:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsTime from Mailing to NOA1?
QUOTE (dreamscometrue @ Aug 24 2007, 04:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I can hardly see the numbers on the back of check. What number am i to look for? Where is it? There are more than one I think? What is the place I can key it in and check status (web url)?


You know where the endorsement is on the back of your check? If yours is like mine, there should be a stamp there, the top line reads "For Credit to US Treasury" with other lines of data under it and a dashed line at the bottom. The number under the dashed line is your case number. It should have thirteen characters and start with three letters (mine starts with WAC).

Below is the page you need to visit to check on your account status. You can either check it directly just using the number or you can create an account that you can log in to that will have more updates and will send you any updates via e-mail.

https://egov.uscis.g.../jsps/index.jsp

Or you can just wait for your NOA1 in the mail. smile.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-27 09:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsTime from Mailing to NOA1?
I checked my account this morning and I am dancing on the ceiling because THEY CASHED THE CHECK!!!!

I sent it on July 27th and it took them until August 24th to cash it, but I'm so relieved! luv.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-24 08:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsTime from Mailing to NOA1?
Thanks everyone for your kind words and stories. I'm a very nervous person when it comes to things that I can't check on and don't know a whole lot about (though I've read a metric ****-ton of articles, stories, and threads). My first flight to Britain? Gawds, I was a basket case until I got to Heathrow....

Thank you for making a nervous Cat feel better. smile.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-23 13:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsTime from Mailing to NOA1?
Hello folks,

I mailed out my I-129F petition on July 27th and according to my return receipt, it was received in Nebraska on July 30th. The problem is that the particular receipt I chose apparently only tells me that the envelope made it to Nebraska, not that it made it to the service center (the post office did not tell me this). I have not yet received my NOA1 and my account has not been debited the amount of the check.

Now since I mailed it out just before the prices went sky-high, I thought perhaps they were just having processing delays as I'm sure I wasn't the only person to send it out last-minute (though I didn't know the prices were going up!), but it seems like everybody else on here has had a much shorter waiting time. Has anybody else sent out their packets just before the price change and had a delay like this?

I'm getting very worried. I really can't afford to pay the price increase right now if my envelope did not make it to the service center.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-22 11:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports44 days for the check to clear!! OMGWTFROFL...
Wow, that IS slow! Congrats on surviving the time without losing your head. smile.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-09-07 14:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsThis is what's going on.
QUOTE (TracyTN @ Sep 26 2007, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So having ones partner here suddenly makes ALL other immigration related issues melt away?

Hmm okay...!


No, but it does make the whole ordeal more bearable. Particularly for those of us who only get to see our partners a few times a year or less. Having a loved one by your side and having a loved one "by your side" are two very different situations.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-09-26 12:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWaiting for a NOA2 from VSC for your I-129F?
Can Elaine and Alasdair be added? We just got our NOA1 on August 25th.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-27 09:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsATTENTION JULY FILERS!
NOA2 FINALLY!!!! Just got the e-mail that we were approved on January 30th, 6 months to the day it was received in Nebraska (and then forwarded to California). Yay! Let the next step commence!
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-31 09:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsATTENTION JULY FILERS!
Particularly since some July filers got approved in NOVEMBER and we're still waiting in JANUARY....

Somebody needs to send the Governator in there with some machine guns....
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-11 18:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsATTENTION JULY FILERS!
Yeah, stuck here, too. Sent July 27th, forwarded to California, NOA1 on August 25th. No touches, no information, still waiting. It's extremely depressing.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-07 11:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsATTENTION JULY FILERS!
*whine, complain, grumble, moan, pout* I'm currently at 161 days with no end in sight. I always go through a Winter depression and this really isn't helping things. As much as I despise any concept of "normal," I'd give anything for my case to be a normal one and to receive my NOA2. This wait is so difficult.

Ignore me, I just need to vent.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-01-07 11:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsATTENTION JULY FILERS!
Yes, I love to cook, as well! Since I have no fiance to cook for at the moment, I cook for just myself and my cats, who seem to enjoy my leftover chicken bits and the giblets. smile.gif My specialty is a salsa that will beat the pants off of any store or restaurant salsa on the planet. Good food is it's own reward.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-09-05 10:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsATTENTION JULY FILERS!
*allows self to be lassoed* Okay, ya caught me. smile.gif I sent it in on July 27th and it was received July 30th. The NOA1 only just arrived this past Saturday, August 25th. I sent it to Nebraska and it got forwarded to California so I figured that was the issue with the wait.
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-08-27 13:28:00
USCIS Service CentersService Centers have duration instead of dates
Update! CSC now has "March 15th" listed as their current processing time for I-129F packets. By their figuring, I might get mine done as soon as...February. Suck. dead.gif
AtlantiCatFemaleUnited Kingdom2007-09-19 15:47:00