ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling Out I-129F form
Thanks Laura+Tom, especially for the tip about signing and dating the attach sheet!
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2008-10-24 08:58:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling Out I-129F form
Thanks livelife. Actually on eHarmony, you do have to pay to subscribe. And they send you "matches" and either a "Match" or you can request communication. It IS a dating website leading up to finding marriage partners. That's why I asked if they qualify as a Intl. Marriage Broker. Just want to make sure and give correct information, just to be on the safe side.

Also, this question is for anyone whose native language is not written with English Alphabet. When filling the G-325 form, should I fill the form in on the computer, print it out and fill the name in native language by hand or should I type the name in native language in a separate sheet and attach to the form?
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2008-10-24 05:03:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling Out I-129F form
My husband and I met on www.eharmony.com. Does this qualify as an "International Marriage Broker"

The I-129F form Q 19. asks "Did you meet your fiancé(e) or spouse through the services of an international marriage broker?" Do we say Yes or No.

Any advice on this is much appreciated!
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2008-10-24 03:52:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresaffidavits for 1-130
Do we need to attach an affidavit from the Petitioner (my husband) also along with the affidavits from third parties about the bona fide of our marriage? Or are 3rd party affs enough? Any advice, guys?
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2008-11-06 11:05:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresStarting K-3 Process - Please could somebody advice us?
Thanks Reba! I will send out the wedding photos and affidavits to my husband. Thanks for your help!
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2008-10-17 23:24:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresStarting K-3 Process - Please could somebody advice us?
Hi, my husband and I got married on 17th Septermber in Sri Lanka. We are planning to start the petition process for me to go to USA but have some concerns, or rather, confusions, about filling the I-130 and G-325A (biographic) forms.

First is, do these forms have to be filled on the computer itself or can we fill them by hand. Why I ask this is because

(1). my name and my father's name are very long (2 family/clan names, first name, middle name and surname!) so it's rather worrying because it looks like the whole thing won't show up if we fill out on the form and print!

(2). On the I-130 form question no. 20 says: "If your relative's native alphabet is other than Roman letters, write his or her name and foreign address in the native alphabet." My native language, which is Sinhalese, definitely does not use the roman/english alphabet!

Also, question no. 21. says: "If filing for your husband/wife, give last address at which you lived together. (Include street, city, province, if any, and country)". As we both could only take about 10 days' s leave for our wedding from our workplaces, and since my country's law requires he stay here 5 days before being eligible to get married in the country, we actually had only 2 days to live together as a married couple (our honeymoon). crying.gif Do you think that will look bad on the form? Of course I understand that there is no helping the matter.

When it comes to filling two G-325A Biographic information forms should be filled, one for each of us, should mine be filled and signed by me? As in, do I need to download it, fill and sign it and send to my husband?

We are also rather worried about the "Proof of Bonafide Marriage". The only viable option for us seems like getting one or more affidavit(s). We don't have any common residence or a joint account/property. Could someone please tell us how/what the affidavits should state? And do we need affidavits from both our sides? Who would be best to forward these affidavits? We are thinking his Pastor and his best friend who is an Army Sgt. Should we consider getting one from his parents? And mine?

Sorry this is such a long list of questions. We are just confused, and the lawyer that my husband spoke to seems to have given us only half the information (she never mentioned the Proof of Bonafide Marriage)!!
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2008-10-16 07:58:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling out I-864
QUOTE (pushbrk @ Feb 24 2009, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (queuedup @ Feb 24 2009, 06:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Are you filing for a CR-1 or a K-3? If you are following your I-130 petition you are going down the CR-1 route.


Right, the US Citizen filed two petitions, one for a CR1 visa path and the second for the K3 visa path. Any requests from NVC would relate to the I-130 and CR1 path, not the K3. If K3 is your choice, ignore requests for paperwork or fees from NVC.



Thanks guys! We plan to go the K-3 route. So as I understand we will ignore the I-864 and get on with the I-129F filing.


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-02-25 08:07:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling out I-864
QUOTE (Haole @ Feb 24 2009, 02:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Present address down there.
Why are you filling out a I-864 if you are K3??



Thanks for the reply Haole. Apparently the USCIS has sent a I-864 form to my husband by post and asked him to fill it out and submit. No idea why or how, but since they ask for it we are going to. Do you think we should call and double check?


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-02-24 07:22:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFilling out I-864
Hi guys...sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but my husband and I are a bit confused about a small matter. blush.gif

We are in the process of filling out the I-864 Affidavit of Support and had a look at the example form of the same posted on VJ. It shows in "Part 2. Information on the principal immigrant", the immigrant's address as a US address (same address shown as that of the petitioner). Is that how we should fill ours as well - with his address shown as mine (because that's where I will be living once I get to US) although I am still living in Sri Lanka? Or should we just fill out my actual present address down here? unsure.gif


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-02-24 01:36:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionTIMELINE FROM ROC TO GC PRODUCTION?
Buy, me and my husband are in the same boat as you guys, right down to the months. We will file for ROC in Sept. and plan to visit Sri Lanka in late November, but hope to come back a week before my existing GC expires. But we are kinda worried if that might not be enough time.
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-07-03 17:19:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionSending our I-751 packet tomorrow. Would this evidence be enough?

A month before we filled for ROC, i was added to the gas,electricity,cable and internate bills which were actually the few bills that i pay from my checking account.WE had all other documents such as life,house ,health and car insurance ,credit cards and joint checking and saving accounts,etc and felt pretty confidence about our documents.Its a huge difference what a few bills will make to your package.My husband started stressing out about it because like many people said,your evidence has to cover the last two years of your marriage.VJ is a great place,i insisted we have me added to them,three weeks later we mailed our package and was approved in less than three months.I will suggest you go ahead and have you added to these bills just in case you received a RFE,,,,
Have a wonderful trip and good luck


Thanks Barca and shashar! We went ahead and added me to the car insurance which also includes a renters insurance. Also we just got our new checks with both our names on it (the old ones only had his name on them because they were from before we married and lasted long coz we don't use checks much). We will also go ahead and put me on the bills as you suggested, shashar, in case they send a RFE.

On the plus side, we got the Biometrics appointment this Friday (10/28). Hopefully that'll take care of things and we won't have to have an interview. My husband's going to be traveling a bit early next month and then we leave for SL mid-Nov. So hoping for no interview to fall during that time :)
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-10-27 06:05:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionSending our I-751 packet tomorrow. Would this evidence be enough?
Thank you so much again, Drogs, Inky and mark101! We have some good news. we sent out the package on 09/15 and received our NOA with the 1 year GC extension on 09/23. A big weight lifted off our shoulders, because we have plans to travel to Sri Lanka in November, and my GC would otherwise have expired 1 week from when we return to USA. So now hoping that we won't have to mess with any additional evidence or that any interviews they set up won't be during the time we will be in Sri Lanka *fingers crossed*.

Thanks again, guys! You're the best! :)
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-09-29 21:22:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionSending our I-751 packet tomorrow. Would this evidence be enough?
Thanks guys! Will do as you suggested!

VJ crowd are the best!! *hugs*
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-09-15 12:31:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionSending our I-751 packet tomorrow. Would this evidence be enough?
Thanks Drogs and Inky!

We already have a letter from the apartment's Property Manager saying that we have lived in this apartment together since I came over in December 2009.

I don't have a driver's license, because I never learned to drive. Hope to learn this year. So that option's out. We do have car insurance but our old insurance agent told us when we asked about putting me on it that since I don't drive, I can't be put on it. We have since changed agents and have learned that I can be put in it because I am a regular passenger, so we have done that. But that was done this month and it's still being processed I think. We could show it if they ask for more evidence I guess.

We don't have life insurance at the moment. Have been looking into life insurance, but haven't proceeded with it - still researching whether to get a Term policy or universal policy.

We have only 1 year's tax transcripts. I came in December 2009, so we filed separately for 2009 while we were figuring things out. In 2010 we filed jointly and we have tax transcripts for it which we are enclosing. :)

No joint phone/utility bills - we didn't change our utility bills from Daniel's name to both our names. Silly as it sounds, it just never occurred to us! :unsure:
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-09-15 10:07:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionSending our I-751 packet tomorrow. Would this evidence be enough?
Hi guys,

So we are getting ready to mail our I-751 package tomorrow morning. We have a bunch of evidence, but some of them don't span the full 2 years since I got here. Part of it was due to our ignorance - we were naive and didn't realize that we needed evidence that spanned all 2 years and thought the most recent would be enough when the time comes. Part of it was due to various circumstances that we could not control for the most part. So, here's the evidence that we do have and our concerns over them:

1). Apartment Lease Renewal agreement and signed letter from property manager stating that I have lived here with my husband for the last 2 years - the thing is, our apartment is really lax with lease agreements. My husband has lived here since 2003 and I joined him in December 2009. Since my husband moved in, they have never had him sign a lease renewal. From the beginning of this month they increased rent, so we requested a Lease Renewal agreement, which we have now signed. Because the Lease Renewal is just 2 weeks old, we asked the property manager to give us a letter confirming that we have lived in our apartment, together, for the last 2 years, and she was happy to do so. She attached her business card to the letter too. So we are sending the Lease Renewal Agreement and the letter.

> question: do you think this would cause a problem that we don't have an older lease agreement to show?



2). We filed taxes jointly last year, and are submitting the tax returns. Pretty sure nothing's amiss there.

3). My husband's Investment portfolio showing me as 75% beneficiary and his mom as 25% beneficiary - this is no problem for me; I like having Mom in there because she knows about these financial matters a lot more than I do (which is basically nil! :blush:). She and I have a great relationship, and I know that I can rely on her for help in this regard if anything should happen to Daniel (God forbid!).

> question: would this be a cause for concern for the USCIS officer who is reviewing our case? Like, why is his mom in there???



4). Joint Bank account & Credit Card statements - this is where we were a bit slack. We have joint accounts with Wells Fargo and a local Credit Union here in El Paso, TX, and we have all statements from these account since January/February 2010, so this is no problem. We also have a savings account with a Credit Union in Appleton, WI where my husband's originally from, and we only put me on there as a joint owner since April 2011 (we have been to WI several times before since I came to USA, but never really had the chance to go and take care or it). Also this account also lists Daniel's Mom as a joint owner together with Daniel and me - simply because she lives in Appleton and it's easy for her to run to the Credit Union sometimes to deposit a check etc. which we can't do from over here.

> question: would this be something that USCIS view as strange and suspect?


5). A letter dated January 2011 from a former group health insurance policy offered through Daniel's work showing both of us under his policy - the problem is this insurance has since been discontinued by the company because of really high premiums, and now we have separate health insurance policies - albeit through the same insurer. This is because Daniel has a pre-existing health condition which means he has to be insured under the Texas Health Risk Pool or some such policy, which has rather high premiums, and I can't go under it because I am not a citizen of Texas yet (we explained this on the cover letter where we list the evidence).

> question: would this be an issue? (Unfortunately this is where our ignorance come into to play. We don't think we have any paperwork from our current health insurance policies which list the other as a beneficiary or anything)



6). Flight ticket from March 2010 showing both our names on the same schedule. Tour itinerary, invoice and some other documents (a hotel voucher & a transfer schedule) from our trip to Costa Rica in May 2010 (couldn't find the flight tickets, but we have photos to show that we were there) and flight tickets and and invoice for hotel bookings from a tour company for our planned trip to Sri Lanka coming November. We hope these would be enough.

7). Three notarized affidavits - one from Daniel's Mom, one from his sister and one from our Pastor for the last 2 years, who is also a close friend.

8). Envelopes and a couple of letters showing letters addressed to both of us at our home address. We also included a "Christmas Letter" from some friends who mention in the letter about the time we spent at their place as guests (it even has a pic of us with their dog).

9). Photos documenting our marriage celebration (church wedding) in January 2010, plus our travels throughout - multiple trips to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Costa Rica and eastern Texas. The photos show us with Daniel's extended family, with some of our friends and even with his kindergarten teacher :D .

We know USCIS probably don't put much stock in the affidavits, letters/envelopes and photos, but figured, what the heck, let's give them all we have.

So....what are your thoughts and insights on these? Anything we can add to improve this package?

Thank you so much for your time, and sorry about the long read :P
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-09-15 06:05:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionQuestion about timeline of I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence
Lissette, jkelly and Bob, thank you so much for taking the time to reply! That's such a burden off our minds! We'll keep our fingers crossed that if we get called for an interview, it's before thanksgiving :D

Thank you once again! :)
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-07-03 20:11:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionQuestion about timeline of I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence
Sorry, milimelo. Didn't notice that forum :blush:
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-07-03 17:14:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionQuestion about timeline of I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence
Hi guys,

Hope everyone's having a great weekend and enjoying your 4th of July holiday!

I have a question about the timeline of the I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence. My Conditional Green Card will be expiring on 14th December 2011, so we plan to file the I-751 to get the conditions removed from the Green Card in September. Can anyone tell me roughly how long this process will take and when the new Green Card could be expected?

We plan to visit my home country, Sri Lanka early in the Thanksgiving week for 2 weeks - returning on the 6th or 7th Dec, on the assumption that it's not a problem for me to re-enter USA with only a week to go on my current Green Card. Or do you think the new Card would already have come by late November?

Any insights from your experiences is much appreciated! :)

Shani
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-07-03 17:02:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI-751 September 2011 Filers
I guess I forgot to mention that we sent out our I-175 in September. Sorry about that - timeline's in the signature if you want to add me to the list.

BigBubble, thanks for the tip about the long wait at the El Paso, TX office. We have our appointment this Friday, so I'll make sure to pack little snack bars for us in case we also have an insane wait.
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2011-10-27 06:56:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDocuments to be submitted with DS-230

mrsemcee, in Sri Lanka we also generally get "certified copies" certified by a Justice of Peace or a Nortary Public here. But since the website said certified copies by the relevant authority that issued the original documents, I am in the process of getting copies from the authority (for me it's the relevant Divisional Secretariat that the town my marriage took place belongs to etc.). They have an original of my marriage certificate in their registry and what they do is to take a photocopy and put their seal on it certifying that it's a true copy.

So I think you should get the copies certified in Australia and send to NVC direct or to your spouse in the US and through him. I assume that's the correct way - that's how I plan to do.


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-07-01 07:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDocuments to be submitted with DS-230

Thanks guys! So I will send all those docs.
Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-06-30 09:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDocuments to be submitted with DS-230
I am getting ready to post the DS-230 to the NVC and am a bit confused about the documents I should send with it.

The website Travel.State.gov in the page "Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Forms DS-230 Part I and Part II" (http://travel.state..../info_3190.html) says to "Mail the DS-230 and the applicant’s civil documents, and the applicant's photographs to the NVC" and goes on to explain that I should send originals or certified copies of Birth and Marriage Certificates etc. along with their photocopies and English translations to NVC.

But the same Travel.State.gov website, in their page "Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants" (http://travel.state....types_1308.html) says "Please obtain the original documents or certified copies from an appropriate authority (the issuing entity) for yourself and each family member who will accompany you to the United States. Note: Do not send any of the documents in this section to the National Visa Center. You must submit them at the time of your immigrant visa interview."

So am I to send the documents or not? Please help!



Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-06-30 08:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForeign Ministry Seal for Original & Translated documents??

Thanks dear! We don't have a law about taking original documents out of the country so I will be taking my original marriage and birth certificates with me when I go. I got the original copies issued from the "issuing authority" - the relevant Divisional Secretariats who originally issued the certificates. I hope that will be sufficient.


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-07-10 02:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForeign Ministry Seal for Original & Translated documents??
Thanks, love! I followed the link you gave but couldn't find any information about the docs needing to be certified by the foreign ministry. So I called the US Embassy Colombo and talked to a Consular Officer. She said that NONE of the documents accompanying DS-230 form has to be certified by the Foreign Ministry! Ok so finally my question was answered, thank God!

Peace be with you!


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-07-08 03:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresForeign Ministry Seal for Original & Translated documents??
I was just told (when I have all documents ready to send with the DS-230) by a friend who got her student visa to USA a few weeks ago that docs like the marriage and birth certificate translations have to be authenticated by the local foreign ministry! Is this true? Anyone have any experience on this?


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-07-07 11:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresURGENT! I NEED HELP! In CR1 Process with NVC Just Payed IVBill but Now MY husband gets K3Letter from Cairo Consulate. Do we stop the CR1 process?
QUOTE (sachinky @ Nov 3 2009, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I'd pick the CR1. But then again, the K3 does look SO tempting. Tough decision.



I just got my visa today through CR-1. I think it's less hassle when you get there, especially if you plan to work.


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-11-03 11:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOk, visa in hand...now what?
QUOTE (redglasses @ Nov 4 2009, 04:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congratulations!

What you definitely need to do is getting a SSN and a DL or state ID, in my opinion.



Thank you guys so much!

Chris & Ani, I'm sorry I haven't filled out my timeline properly. It's for the simple reason that we don't remember the exact dates. That's why I have just put the dates that we do remember on my siggy! blush.gif

I cant' thank VJ members enough for answering all my questions and helping us in this thing. And for sure I plan to hang around so hopefully I can help someone in the way you all helped me!



Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-11-04 05:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOk, visa in hand...now what?

I got my visa today! kicking.gif Have my flight ticket to travel on December 14th, and God, I can't wait to see my sweetheart again!

My question is, what happens when I get to USA? I understand that I have to apply for my social security number when I get there. Is that the same as the Green Card? And does the Social Security Number take long to be given? Any ideas?






Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-11-03 12:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion CR-1 how much is total cost from beginning to end?
QUOTE (matt01 @ Nov 3 2009, 10:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Would like to know total cost so I get a rough idea of how much I need to put aside.

Thank youuuuuuu!!! smile.gif



I think all we paid is $70 + $400 or so as fees to NVC.


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-11-03 11:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan a foreign fiancee go to USA on tourist visa and register a marriage
Thanks guys for all the answers. To clarify her intentions... no, she does not want to avoid the legal immigration process or even stay on in the USA on her tourist visa. The only reason they want to get married in the USA is because the boy wants them to get married with a church ceremony (she's not Christian so she can't arrange a church wedding for them in Sri Lanka). I know you can have a legal marriage and then have a separate church ceremony later (which is what I opted for) but I think this boy is Catholic and for them it has to be a church wedding at the get go or it's not accepted by the church.


Considering it's a matter of either K-1 or CR-1 at the end of the day, I suppose it'll be better for them to apply for K-1 hmm? (I am down CR-1 route myself and just celebrated our first year wedding anniversary last month still being in two countries! sad.gif crying.gif )

Alternately, if they also go the CR-1 path, is it possible for her to visit him periodically on her visitor visa while the CR-1 is being processed? Or does the CR-1 process nullify her tourist visa?


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-10-05 09:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan a foreign fiancee go to USA on tourist visa and register a marriage

Hi, I'm asking this on behalf of a friend's daughter. She has been visiting USA regularly (they have a lot of relatives living there) and holds tourist visa valid for 5 years. Some time back she met a boy in USA while living there and they started a relationship. She returned to Sri Lanka and went back again last June to stay a couple of months - this time with the boy's family (parents). They got engaged while they were in USA. She has returned to Sri Lanka again at present.

They want to find out if it's possible and legal for her to go on her existing tourist visa, get married there and then apply for CR1. Or should he file for K1, get here over there on that, and then get married? Which is the quicker way? Any ideas?

Thanks guys!

PS: my CR1 visa interview is scheduled for October 27th!


Shani-saurusFemaleSri Lanka2009-10-05 07:27:00