ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAlmost approved K1 - can get married outside US?
PS The only other recommendation for a Hawaii wedding is that you complete the form (with check) for certified copies of your marriage certificate, while you are still on the island. This should make it easier, and you'll need a few spares in case you want to change fiance(e)'s details back home or here in the States.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-10 07:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAlmost approved K1 - can get married outside US?
QUOTE (Penguin_ie @ Apr 9 2009, 11:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hawaii would be allowed (though look into it first- they may have a residency requirement or something before you can get married there!).


Nope, you and your fiance(e) simply have to turn up at the Department of Health building in person, with the fee and identification (usually passports) and queue for your marriage licence. That's it.

You can apply for a marriage license on Oahu at the Department of Health Building, 1250 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu. For information, call (808) 586-4545.

It's a really easy process - normally there's an admin floating around with a clipboard and the forms you need to fill in. Make sure you go prepared with your parents full names and places of birth (form requires this information). Take a number off the interview door and wait your turn. Unless you pick a really busy time, you're usually in and out within 15 minutes.

The only other point to note is that the license is submitted to the DoH by the minister/celebrant/registrar after the ceremony. If you want to get your AoS started quickly, then you will need to ask them if you can take it down to DoH in person to speed that process up, as the marriage certificate itself will normally take 10-14 days from the date of receipt back at DoH.

Hawaii is a beautiful place for a wedding - just allow plenty of time for traffic on the way to the ceremony! wink.gif

Edited by Brit Abroad, 10 April 2009 - 07:33 AM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-10 07:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust Laid Off in NYC--Put case on hold or cancel?
Is there nobody in your family who would co-sponsor your fiance with you, while you keep looking for work?

EDIT: OP posted in between my typing and posting. smile.gif

Edited by Brit Abroad, 16 April 2009 - 05:18 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-16 17:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresParanoid — Please doublecheck photo
Provided the picture of you is large enough that they can clearly see you and recognise you, I don't think there will be a major issue.

Most of the problematic photos are where people have their heads turned, or hair over their eyes, placement in the picture is off-centre etc.

It's a pity that each country seems to have a unique passport photo size. You'd think in this modern era of shareable data and international standards, they'd have worked out a no-brainer like this. smile.gif
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-20 03:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my UK Fiance visit the US while K1 is being processed?
I visited my husband (then fiance) about 6 weeks after filing the K1. You'll get the "stern" lecture about NOT getting married on the visa waiver, but they're normally pretty cool so long as you are 100% clear that you will be returning to the UK after your visit to wait out the K1 processing. smile.gif
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-20 02:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisiting the US with K-1 pending, had trouble entering before...
To be honest, I think your past would actually count in your favour, rather than against you. At least, to anyone with a few brain cells, anyway!

Fact: You entered previously under suspicious circumstances, were interviewed and cleared for the visit; but you also left voluntarily within the terms of your visa waiver as a visitor does.

If you were going to marry your fiance illegally, surely you'd have done it when the opportunity was there????

If they query your visit just tell them about your past and point out politely that you have no intention of getting married, otherwise you wouldn't have gone to the trouble and expense of a K1.

It's not like Australia's a high fraud country so your chances of being denied the fiancee visa are pretty low. Customs/Immigration Officers might occasionally be rude, but they aren't stupid. smile.gif

Also, if you have a wedding planned where people will be coming, bring any supporting evidence that it's planned for the future (bookings, receipts etc). This REALLY reassures them.

Edited by Brit Abroad, 20 April 2009 - 02:58 AM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-20 02:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDOes anyone know of?
Skype has an extensive call register that tells you the date, time and duration of the call - for calls received, calls made, in addition to chats. I'm posting a pic as I think this will be more helpful than explaining it to you.

This is NOT the beta version, it's the other one (3.8). As you can see, the records are selectable for display purposes.

Hope this helps!


Edited by Brit Abroad, 23 April 2009 - 08:33 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-23 20:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEnglish fiance - K1 questions...any help?
If there are no special circumstances for either of you, do the application for yourself. The money you save can be better spent on trips to visit each other and saved for the next step of the immigration process, rather than a lawyer who can't do more for you than you can do for yourself.

The secret is organisation. Know what documents you need and make plenty of copies. Keep at least two (preferably three) copies of all your "packets" and make sure you copy YOUR initial packet to your UK fiance so he has everything he needs for his interview.

Read the guidelines at the top of the K1 forum for forms/documents/evidence and cast a quick glance over requirements for AoS which comes later. If you get all your originals in advance of requirement, then you're good to go and should avoid the dreaded RFE's and their associated delays.

Read the guidance notes on the application forms very closely. Keep a copy and check off documents on the list, so you'll know you haven't inadvertantly missed something important.

I didn't send any originals with any of my applications. A good photocopy normally suffices and they'll ask to view all originals in the interview anyway.

Plan in advance and you'll be fine. smile.gif
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-23 16:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed your Experties Pls
The General Register Office website (they control Births, Deaths and Marriage records for England and Wales) specifies the following:-

QUOTE
Residency requirements
You can get married in England and Wales as long as you have both lived in a registration district for at least seven days immediately before giving notice of marriage.

When do the seven days begin and end?
Here is an example - A person arriving in a registration district at any time on a Tuesday does not start the seven day period until the Wednesday because he or she has only been resident for part of Tuesday. Wednesday would be day 1 and the following Tuesday would be day 7, so notice could only be given on or after the second Wednesday.

This applies to all couples, including those travelling from overseas to marry in England and Wales.

If you or the person you wish to marry are subject to immigration control, you can only give notice of marriage at designated register offices (pdf, 26k) which you must attend together. There are 76 designated register offices in England and Wales.

To find out if you are subject to immigration control please see the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website or telephone 0870 606 7766.

Alternatively you can email indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk


Have a read through their site at http://www.gro.gov.u...tent/marriages/ for full details as I've ony summarised what I think applies to your situation. smile.gif

As your religious ceremony would appear to be outside the legal requirements and therefore will not be registered under British Law, the USCIS Officer would appear to have given you accurate information regarding the fiance petition. However, knowing that the record of a religious ceremony of marriage is bound to have been filed in your case notes under the Rejection, you may want to clarify with USCIS (and get it in writing or the relevant section of applicable law) that it won't prejudice the I-129.

Better safe than sorry, eh? Good luck with your process! smile.gif

Edited by Brit Abroad, 10 May 2009 - 05:48 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-10 17:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 Visa options.... to stop process
Several questions you need to ask, both of yourself and your fiancee.

1. Do you actually love each other or are you simply having fun together socially? You mention that you have a good time when you're out and about. What about when you are in non-sexual quiet time together or doing regular things like shopping, walking, just hanging out watching tv, computers, reading, dogwalking .. whatever your interests are ?

2. What do both of you expect from marriage and how much commitment do you have to putting it right when things are tough?

3. What level of emotional/financial/immigration support do you propose giving to her family? What level of support does she envisage? If your expectations are hugely different, this can cause BIG problems.

4. What's the difference between an argument/fight between you when you are apart and when you are together? ie, what tools help you solve diffences and problems. If being together allows you to both forget the problems rather than actually dealing with them, then you are merely delaying the issues rather than resolving them and this itself will force eruptions as they don't go away, they magnify.

Honestly, I see potential problems here because neither of you are looking at yourselves as a couple. You have the obvious cultural differences - and, honestly (I can speak from experience here, having married into the military and knowing that you are used to being shunted around the world at the drop of a hat) it's a daunting experience to leave everything you know and everyone you love behind and start afresh in a new country. Trust me, if it was simple, you wouldn't see the threads on "I miss this" and "Homesick" all over immigration boards. Are you doing enough to reassure her that she won't just be abandoned if you're deployed, that you will help her find friends and home-comforts when she gets to America and be patient with her if she's unhappy while she adapts to a new environment?

It's a big, big step and although we foreign fiance/e's and spouses are excited to join you, we are leaving behind a massive part of ourselves and taking a leap into the unknown. It's not unknown for people to freak out when they think about what they're doing. Be kind, be patient with her, but most of all you have to learn to communicate or you're staring at a failed relationship in the making. If you can't talk now, how muc more difficult is it going to be when she doesn't have a emotional support system right by her side?

Personally, I don't like the infidelity issue and I think you need to examine that one with her, not as a confession of the past, but how she will cope with prolonged periods of your absence and the loneliness that a military spouse can feel (non-foreigner military marriages have huge numbers of divorces before you add in all the extra problems of a foreign wife). If she's vulnerable and needs your support then you'll both need to plan how she can not fall into the trap of seeking that with someone else if you aren't there.

Like I said, as a couple you need to talk, and leaving her messages and ultimatums isn't going to encourage her to open up to you. Of course, I could be miles wide of the mark and she's a self-seeking greencard hunter, but you aren't going to know that unless you learn how to talk WITH her and discover just why you're both in this relationship.

Best of luck to you both!
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-05-14 07:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325A
And, whatever you do, make sure you keep copies of your NOAs. You'll need those for your AoS. smile.gif

More copies = better.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-01 07:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan US petitioner visit UK beneficiary after approval?
Shouldn't be any problem with entry if your fiancee brings her NOA2 and proof of intent to return to the US. Basically, why would she be intending to immigrate with you being almost through the US entry qualification? Can't imagine they'd turn her away under those circumstances.

Customs can be asshats at times. My Active Duty military husband (then fiance) was held back in Customs, despite having a leave approval document from the Army proving he had to return on X date. (Admittedly, Norwich International Hahahahah isn't used to too many Americans travelling through it, being a teeny regional airport).

If there are any queries, just tell your lady to be calm and rationalise it for the "nice" Customs Officer.

Edited by Brit Abroad, 10 October 2009 - 06:59 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-10 18:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed to leave the US after entry on K1 due to death in the family.
The assumption of getting married tomorrow, is that one can put in the AoS paperwork at the Infopass appointment. That means the AP can be applied for, and the people at Infopass would be able to act on the request at that stage.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-16 03:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed to leave the US after entry on K1 due to death in the family.
I am so sorry for your loss.

I'm assuming from the tone of your post that you're going ahead with the wedding tomorrow. This means that the US Embassy in London can't revalidate the K1 visa, as your marital status will have changed.

Your best bet at this stage is to contact Infopass and ask them if they can give you an Advance Parole document or, at minimum, a covering letter. You didn't mention if your wife-to-be is flying back with you. If she isn't, then she could mail on the AP if it can't be issued immediately.

To save you looking it up, here's the link for Infopass .. https://infopass.uscis.gov/info_en.php

I wish you the best in getting this sorted.!

EDIT: Infopass will almost certainly ask for some kind of evidence, so if your family have registered the death and you can have them email or fax a copy of the certificate ... or a letter from her GP or a hospital, it will make the process a little faster.

Edited by Brit Abroad, 15 October 2009 - 09:41 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-15 21:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPLEASE HELP
I would imagine that USCIS don't just take the stamp as evidence. They would cross reference it with the passport having been scanned in at a POE, so fraudulent use of someone else's copied entry stamp would be worthless.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-11-01 10:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan a mother's disapproval be drastic?
Could always be honest and say that his mother is concerned because of the religious differences, but hopes that her son will be happy in his future. ;)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-02-21 08:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresfiance visa denial
It amazes me that with modern technology available, the various consulates don't do a joint interview using video conferencing at a convenient location for each person. Two consular officials could view both parties and you'd have more than one person's opinion.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-03-02 03:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresName change
I would be inclined to contact the people who have issued the new birth certificate and clarify WHERE they got the spelling from. If your fiancee spells her name a certain way, that is more likely to be correct than a translation from a difficult-to-read prior version. However, a birth certificate is a primary identification document and one would expect it to be accurate. It may not provide issues, but why take the risk with such an important document?
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-03-14 12:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresALRIGHT. HONESTY Please

My suggestion is to focus on one petition, get the stack built and throw away the copies you made. Then, on the way to the post office, stop ad FedEx Office or Office Depot etc and hand them the whole stack. Ask them to scan the entire stack, in order, to a single PDF file, reduce the file size and put it on your thumb drive or burn it to a CD. That way you have a soft (electronic) copy of the whole stack without worries. You can email it to your fiance and upload it to your own computer. If you want to print it, fine. This way, if there are any problems, you'll know exactly what you sent.




This is exactly what hubby and I did with all of our submissions (except we scanned it ourselves at home). Take the memory stick or CD to the interview and you're covered for any eventuality that might arise. Saves destruction of a rain forest during your entire processing, and ensures that you have all your paperwork to hand immediately at any given time. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-03-17 11:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFlight isn't nonstop... Problem?
I would check if there are any later flights than your proposed one, with the same airline. That way, if you miss the flight because you're held up, they can put you on the next flight. If you can arrange a non peak hours flight, you are less likely to end up in horrendous queues. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-04-06 11:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresall of a sudden, having wrong SSN, marital status, etc. on pay stub
If the information is corrected with IRS, approach them for a letter confirming the events. A letter from payroll is probably not worth much at an Embassy, whereas an IRS confirmation would likely carry enough weight. :)

Good luck, that's a shitty thing to have happen at such a crucial time!
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-06-24 17:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam
If you had an examination with anyone other than a registered civil surgeon, you'll be required to have another.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-06-24 17:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresproxy marriage
I would check with JAG whether a proxy marriage is legally recognized for DEERS registration, otherwise you'll be out of pocket and it won't have gained you anything. :)

As one of the above posters states - get a proxy marriage and apply for a K1. How does that make it any easier than simply applying for a K1 anyway? Seriously, just go the K1 route and be done with it. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-06-29 13:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDenied K1 Visa due to filing bankruptcy years ago
The requirement is that you've met your fiance(e) in person in the last two years. How you fund the visit/meeting isn't really their concern and provided you meet the minimum financial requirement to sponsor your fiance(e) then I don't see how they can refuse it based on former bankruptcy if your income is sufficient and you can prove it.

This needs further checking, and I would contact your local congressman and get him/her involved in finding out why such arbitrary rules are being applied in Kingston.


Ahhhhhhh ...

Yes that what I was thinking, they also told him, that I was too old for him, which I thought was very rude


Maybe they believe this is potential visa fraud.

Edited by Brit Abroad, 06 July 2011 - 01:55 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-07-06 13:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmarried to us citizen with convictions
CR1 seems to offer a lot of positives.

1. Cheaper than K1 process
2. Faster than K1 process
3. Issued a green card and Social Security No on arrival, rather than waiting 2-6 months for it on Adjustment of Status process (post-K1)
4. Allows you to get your passport updated to married name while waiting in the UK (makes travelling with a green card MUCH easier)
5. You're at Uni anyway, so unless you're able to transfer your course here, you don't necessarily want to live in the US just yet.

From the information you've given thus far, I'd say the CR1 really is a great option for you.

In terms of your fiance's felony/misdemeanours, I'd see if there's a fixed-fee immigration solicitor (who specialises in American Law) in London, and see what information they can give you in a one-off appointment.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-10-07 20:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarrying in the US under VWP
If you're only intending on marrying in the US and then departing, it's pointless to spend all the money and go through the hassle of gathering paperwork. It would be easier to do a Visa Waiver (Portugal is part of the agreement) . Details at VWP for Portugal. It would be best to be honest on entry and state that you are marrying with the intent to depart after marriage and I'd strongly recommend your fiance brings paperwork showing he has the incentive and the life in Portugal to return to, so that he is not denied entry.

If at some later stage you decide you want to return to the US as a family, you will simply apply for the CR1 visa, as the K1 visa is only open to those who are entering the US unmarried.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-07-22 12:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMedical and disclosing information
I had the same thing.

My doctor wrote a letter saying they (4 bouts over a 5 year period) were situational and I was not a danger to myself or anyone else. It's a procedure that you have to go through. Don't worry about it, I'm sure it'll be fine. :)

EDIT: I also asked my doctor for a copy of her letter, so I can keep it with the rest of my paperwork for future reference.

Edited by Brit Abroad, 25 July 2011 - 02:29 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-07-25 14:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMy name came up in a conversation
I can't understand how people live with the uncertainty of being caught and looking over their shoulder every day of their lives. It must be one helluva stressful lifestyle.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-07-29 11:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA1 received...now what?
If you're going to be living in the US for the rest of your life, get out there and visit family, friends, contact old friends, take lots of photos, get addresses/phone numbers up to date to bring with you, encourage your loved ones to get Skype and spend time helping them set it up and become familiar with using it.

Start thinking about what items you want to bring with you and what will be too costly to be worthwhile. Check them carefully against the list of prohibited items.

Download the next lot of forms (see the Guides link at the top of the page) and read through them and the guide notes to make sure you're prepared for the next stage.

Go talk to your doctor about your vaccination record, check the CDC website for required immunisations for US immigration and get any you are missing while you're on the NHS tab, ask your doc if it's possible to have a printout of your medical history to bring with you (this makes life SO much easier than starting from scratch out here), ditto dentist.

Research the area you will be moving to and check if they have foreign food stores available so you can get familiar foods that you love once you get here.

Get your fiance to mail you the local driving test booklet so you can start researching for the written test.

If you're planning on working, get references from current/former employers and gather additional copies of your academic qualifications and start some preliminary searching for jobs in your new area so you can see what sort of wages you might expect.

Start looking at the police certificate you will need to get, but leave that as late as possible as they have a period of validity.

Get your eyes checked and update any prescriptions that you need. Replacing glasses/contacts is considerably more expensive here. If you're moving somewhere hot/sunny consider getting sunglasses or prescription sunglasses if necessary.

Ask your fiance to give you a list of his favourite foods and do some searching for recipes. Once you get here you won't be able to work until you AoS.

There are lots of things to do between now and when you leave England, trust me, but the most important is spending time with people. Once you get here it'll be all excitement, but the feelings of loss over what you have to leave behind may be acute, and you'll never regret having spent time with loved ones. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-05 12:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion Regarding Traveling Abroad During K-1 Visa Process
I visited my husband three times while our K1 (fiancee visa) was underway. Two weeks, Three weeks, Four weeks respectively. Never had so much as an eyebrow raised by CBP. I carried a copy of my NOA and explained that I was there to visit while waiting out the approval of the visa. Unlike most, I didn't have a job and I owned no property, so couldn't carry any proof of intent to return to my home country but I travel light with a tiny case and a purse, so it was pretty obvious I wasn't moving my life over to America.

The one thing the CBP officer said was "Do not, under any circumstances, get married and attempt to stay while you are here".

Many countries are difficult to visit from while a K1 is in process, but these are generally high fraud risk countries, not the developed ones who are part of the VWP.

OP, if your fiancee wants to visit and has evidence of ties to Japan, have her come and visit. It certainly won't harm your case any, and provides great evidence for her interview. :)



Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-10 14:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about personal info on emails, chat logs, letters, etc...
Why do you need to print out the content of the emails at all? Isn't it enough to print out the top page that tells you the sender, date and title for both sent and received emails? USCIS has a right to know how often you communicate, but do they really need to know what's in those messages?

I sent the Skype printouts showing date and duration, not the conversations themselves, for both text messages and phone calls.

It may be a different requirement in India, but it gets around the "wife" endearment neatly. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-13 10:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresReady To Mail K-1 Today.. Need Advice
They want to see evidence that you have a relationship, not the second-by-second history of it that takes hours to wade through (or not, as they have specific things they HAVE to check for, and skim over the rest). Break up your evidence into monthly examples. Mix up the different types that you have and stick a post-it or something on top saying it's a sample of all the communication evidence you have. If you have summary information (I know Skype can give you a report of the date and duration and list it out for you, and that's perfect. USCIS don't particularly want to know what you discussed, just that you met in person and communicating, as a regular couple does.

Once you have your interview, build the file to take with information that you have built SINCE your application, to prove ongoing relationship and you should be fine.


Sounds like you have all your evidence under control. Hope you have a painless and speedy process. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-15 09:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI got a visa a month ago but I'm still stuck here, help!
There are a lot of things that make life easier for a military spouse, and it could be the lack of time to organise all that needs doing for a spouse to be added to his record that he's holding back on having you fly out at the moment. I understand his hesitation, but there really is never a great time to get started with a military man, they are permanently on call. :)

As the others have said .... get out here, girl, and get married at the earliest possible opportunity. Get your SSN, get registered in DEERS and the military "family" will look after you. Not sure if your fiance has military housing or if he lives off post, but in some ways it's easier to adapt to living in America without a spouse "helping" you with everything. You learn quickly when thrown in at the deep end.

My husband was deployed a couple of months after we married. Have him sign you up for the FRG now, as a fiancee, before you even come out here (mine did, and it helped a lot for someone who is quite shy around new people). They normally email you updates on what is happening within the unit, any events that are taking place in the near future and you can get familiar with names of spouses so when you arrive you have an idea of who your future "hanging out with crowd" are. Most units have a lot of social events, especially towards Halloween/Christmas..

If you're a religious couple, have your fiance talk to a chaplain on post and see what s/he can do for you. If not, get your fiance to book a courthouse pronto. Make sure your new hubby signs the I-485 and any other documents that require his signature for your Adjustment of Status and line up Skype so you can add call records to your package. Make sure he leaves you at least TWO copies of his orders (and that you are named on them as his spouse).

If you have time before he deploys/PCS/TDY's elsewhere then have him add you to lease/mortgage, utilities, car registration and insurance, get (at a minimum) a Power of Attorney to handle his PoV (privately owned vehicle) and anything else that requires his signature. These are all excellent types of evidence for your AoS.

If you do get out here before he goes, get yourself down to ACS and go on a Family Team Building course - it'll help you with the jargon, the acronyms and understanding the support structure that exists for families. It'll also give you something to do with all those free hours. Most duty posts have wonderful recreation facilities - gyms, libraries, pools, art shops, music groups ... you just have to search out the ones you're interested in.

It CAN be intimidating, but if your man is intending staying in the service, then you'll be glad to get established sooner rather than later. :)

PS Depending on where you're going, some states allow you to drive on your UK licence for the interrim period. If he banks with USAA their car insurance allows for UK licence insurance for you, he just needs to call them and add you to his policy. You will need a SSN for that though.
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-15 10:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about interview
Meeting your fiance(e) in an MMORPG is no problem at all. USCIS is aware that it happens, they are processing a huge number of people who met in this way . :)

Don't go mad on Facebook PM's, they normally just skim over the top of it anyway. Print a couple from each month (I'd choose the ones that have something memorable, if possible, like sharing family birthday celebrations or events that you are both emotionally invested in), a summary of your Skype/MJ logs and a selection from the quarterly phone bills.

Belgium isn't a high fraud country and they won't be examining your supporting documents with a microscope. You need only prove that you are communicating on a regular basis and that you've met in person in the last 2 years.

Happy processing and welcome to the long wait. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-13 10:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDid you do the I-129F packet yourself or through a lawyer?
Stop. Think about it for a few minutes. You go to see a lawyer. He asks you for the personal information to fill in the forms and then he asks you to check that he's completed them correctly. He asks you to provide copies of X, Y and Z paperwork and marks it off against a checklist of evidence requested or recommended by USCIS. He puts it in an envelope, mails it and then bills you.

Who is doing all the work? Who is getting the money?

Unless your case is complicated (CIMT history, violence against women or children, prior immigration issues, drug abuse or sexual abuse) there's really nothing a lawyer can do that you can't do for yourself. :)

Most people who find VJ read the Guides and Sample forms (link at the top of the page), read the guidance notes that go alongside the forms from the USCIS website and do their own filing. Any problems can be asked of the community here and there's nearly always someone who has knowledge or experience of the situation.

Good luck with your application. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-17 02:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduressupport
I agree with Mike. I would call the 1-800 number and ask if you can withdraw your petition as the wrong petition has been submitted. Once you get the packet back, READ READ READ the Guides link at the top of this page and familiarise yourself with the CORRECT process for fiance .. ie, I-129f and K1 (fiance/e) visa. Ultimately, it's quicker to withdraw and start again, than wait for them to realise that you're not married and they have the incorrect documents to be able to proceed.

The sooner you do it, the sooner you can start the right process. I'd give that "helpful advisor" a wide berth in future, if this is the best information she could provide. The process itself is easy enough, provided you educate yourself on what to expect throughout the whole cycle of your immigration path. Most people on VJ have done their own paperwork, and the vast majority of us have done it successfully the first time, or with minor RFE's. You can do this. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-19 17:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 fiancè visa
OP

Go ahead and get married, file your paperwork to adjust status. :)

On the subject of a lawyer to do your paperwork:
1. Visit uscis.gov and download the form I-485 AND it's accompanying notes.
2. Read through the notes carefully and see if there are any sections where you have to clarify the situation with additional notes (ie criminal or medical issues that require waivers)
3. Read the Guides at the top of this page to see the recommended evidence to support your application.

Think carefully about a lawyer. Realistically, unless there are significant issues on your application, YOU will be giving the lawyer the information to complete the form, and YOU will be giving the lawyer the evidence to support the application. What's the darned lawyer actually doing for your money, other than completing a form? Seriously? Start saving for your first trip back to Italy as a married woman, or start saving for your childrens' college funds. :)

Edited by Brit Abroad, 04 August 2011 - 06:20 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-04 18:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 visa, just starting.
If you're going to fill in forms and print them out, it's better to do it from the USCIS.gov website, as they have the latest versions of forms. Being a government department, forms change all the time. :)

One thing worth remembering: Make sure you make three copies of your entire packet. One for yourself, one for your lady, and one as a file copy. As you go through each of the immigration stages (Adjustment of Status once you are married, Removal of Conditions after 2 years as a green card holder, Citizenship) you will need to keep the NOAs as they are required as part of the next packet. Embassies can lose paperwork, so the file copy is your backstop if, for any reason, the original goes astray.

Something that helps a few people along the way: Have a planner (of sorts). Note down what needs doing and try to put them in order. The guides here will give you good instructions, but if you have a dated planner, you know when things are coming up - like the police report, CENOMAR, the medical, the interview, gathering of ongoing relationship evidence, picking up her SSN on arrival, AoS/EAD/AP (more acronyms to become familiar with!).

Perhaps the one thing we forget in our excitement to get through this process as soon as possible, is that your lady will miss a great many things about home once she arrives in America. It's all go-go-go until she gets here and then it's a big anticlimax where she is in a new place with new customs and everything seems overwhelming. Make sure your fiancee spends time with her loved ones, takes lots of photos, familiarises her friends and family with some sort of online video call system (Skype, Yahoo, MSN .. whatever floats her boat) and builds a lot of memories to bring with her. Those are the things that will give her comfort when she's stuck at home, unable to work, until her EAD or Green card come through. Have her go through her beloved possessions to determine what she wants to gift to others as a memento and what she chooses to bring to build her new home. It'll keep her busy, at the least.

Wishing you a speedy journey. :)

Edited by Brit Abroad, 19 August 2011 - 03:51 PM.

Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-19 15:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 visa, just starting.
Hmmm .... the same advice I give to everyone else:-

You're going to PAY this guy to fill in a form with information that YOU provide, he'll give it back to you to check he hasn't made any mistakes. Then he'll ask YOU to go and get all the paperwork he needs to send as supporting evidence, photocopy it, mail your forms in and bill you mightily for the privilege.

You do the work, he sits back and counts his pot of gold. Don't fall for it, you can easily do this process with your fiancee, the same as the rest of us. The Guides section at the top of the page will walk you through it, and if you have questions, ask 'em here and you'll be bombarded with advice. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-19 01:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEmployment letter
Has your fiancee been employed by this firm long enough to have a history of payments directly to her account, or for the bank to have a history of checks paid in? If she can provide additional evidence to support a letterhead stating the company policy and giving the phone number to contact, it may be more acceptable to USCIS. The objective is to ensure that your lady has the means to support you without you becoming a public charge, not to make it incredibly difficult for her or cause issues at her place of employment. She will, of course, need tax returns which confirm her past income anyway.

Embassy staff have probably seen many similar issues over the years. If it's something that worries her, have her call USCIS and confirm if they will accept that format. :)
Brit AbroadFemaleUnited Kingdom2011-08-19 17:35:00