Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	She has no computer and no DSL or high-speed internet provider in her area. We've got the bills down to the $300 to $400 per month range...still too much, but survivable....thoughts? She doesn't need a computer for you to use Skype or Yahoo Phone Out, only you do. All you need is a head set/speakers, and a mic for your computer. You can call any LAN line, or cell phone from your computer.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 16:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	Unlimited international for $50? Can I call a cellular (Indonesia) from my computer here? If so, Where do I sign up? Wow, I spend about $400+ per month on calling cards - 13cents per minute to a cellular. I wish internet chatting were an option, but no...it isn't. You are definitely spending alot. Yup, I'm ready...and I can feel it comin'...I'm banking on tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. As far as phone bills, they are only slightly unreasonable now. Anyone out there bust a $1,300 phone bill in one month or am I the champ? It may be cheaper for you to talk to her through the computer, have you checked it out? Here are the rates through Yahoo Phone Out Indonesia $0.079 Indonesia, Jakarta $0.029 Indonesia, Mobile $0.120 Indonesia, Surabaya $0.079 I use an internet phone service like Vonage called Packet8. There is a package for $50 / month that includes unlimited international calling at no additional charge. It has saved me a pile of money!! just checked, Packet8 doesn't include Indonesia (for unlimited). You'd have to pay 0.17 a minute You beat me to it! Skype is the ONLY way to go . . . add a webcam and it's ALMOST like you're together. I've probably saved thousands of dollars at this point. . . Have you checked Yahoo Phone Out? I found it to be cheaper than Skype so I switch.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 15:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	Wow, I spend about $400+ per month on calling cards - 13cents per minute to a cellular. I wish internet chatting were an option, but no...it isn't. You are definitely spending alot. Yup, I'm ready...and I can feel it comin'...I'm banking on tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. As far as phone bills, they are only slightly unreasonable now. Anyone out there bust a $1,300 phone bill in one month or am I the champ? It may be cheaper for you to talk to her through the computer, have you checked it out? Here are the rates through Yahoo Phone Out Indonesia $0.079 Indonesia, Jakarta $0.029 Indonesia, Mobile $0.120 Indonesia, Surabaya $0.079 I use an internet phone service like Vonage called Packet8. There is a package for $50 / month that includes unlimited international calling at no additional charge. It has saved me a pile of money!! Thanks for the info, unfortunetly for me it only applies to Sao Paulo, Brasil, not the other areas (well without having to pay a per minute fee).	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 15:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	Wow, I spend about $400+ per month on calling cards - 13cents per minute to a cellular. I wish internet chatting were an option, but no...it isn't. You are definitely spending alot. Yup, I'm ready...and I can feel it comin'...I'm banking on tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. As far as phone bills, they are only slightly unreasonable now. Anyone out there bust a $1,300 phone bill in one month or am I the champ? It may be cheaper for you to talk to her through the computer, have you checked it out? Here are the rates through Yahoo Phone Out Indonesia $0.079 Indonesia, Jakarta $0.029 Indonesia, Mobile $0.120 Indonesia, Surabaya $0.079 Edited by Erik, 03 August 2006 - 03:21 PM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 15:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	Yeah, Dave...I know you want closure on this, if only to save you from those TREMENDOUS phone bills Nate told me you had a while back. Damnit, man. Dave, the only evidence you'll need to give Lirio for her interview is a copy of that phone bill. I'm sure they'll see that anyone racking up that big of a phone bill HAS to love the person they are petitioning. Yup, I'm ready...and I can feel it comin'...I'm banking on tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. As far as phone bills, they are only slightly unreasonable now. Anyone out there bust a $1,300 phone bill in one month or am I the champ? good god why don't you call through the computer?	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 15:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	As soon as I get my studio space I'm going to write a song about how fantastic USCIS is and I'll post it here. What we need to do is get Spielberg to make "Visa Journey, the Movie" and then force all USCIS and Embassy workers to watch the 3-hour epic of a bunch of pissed off people sitting in front of their computer waiting to be touched or receive NOA2 with the credits finally rolling before any d@mn closure or climax is achieved! Or, here's an idea, how about making it law that when a USCIS case worker is assigned a case, they must be immediately removed for cohabitation and contact with their spouse or significant other until the case is closed! Wonder if that would speed 'em up. ---------------------- 3/13/2006........NOA1 6/28/2006........IMBRA Sent 7/08/2006........RFE Receipt 7/11/2006........Touched 8/03/2006........Touched Lets not forget we pay these peoples salaries. We could also propose they work off a commision based plan, where they only get paid a percentage for every petition they process. Bet it would take 4 days or less from mailing in the petition to approval	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 14:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Here we go again!!!	Nothing going on here yet today either. I certainly would not tell you guys to be patient, in Williams case I probably would have wiped CSC off the map by now. Kitkat, give me your address before you toss that laptop out the window, I could use another one Here's to hoping you folks get your NOA2's this week	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-03 10:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Immigration lawyer vs. Doing it yourself	Keneisha, I also had your question when I started my process. I decided that our case didn't have any significant complications and did all of the work myself. I found that the members of VJ and the information on this site made it possible for me to put together my petition with zero error (so far so good). For me, it's been quite a bit of work and attention to detail, but from my point of view the money that the lawyers don't get buys a couple of extra bottles of champagne at our wedding reception. =) Good luck, and I'm sure that you'll make a good decision. More like a couple cases of Champagne, some of these Lawyers want between $1,500 - $2,000 for this #######	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-07-22 19:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	a little confused	I've contacted the consulate in Brazil and they assured me the I-134 is good for a whole year, even though the instructions in packet 3 said 6 months. So I guess the best thing to do is contact the pertinent consulate/embassy. I agree with Mew, because the Consulate in Brasil also states the Police Reports are valid for a year, even though they say different on the actual Police Report itself. Def. check with your Embassy	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-19 20:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	child support	Jeez Mew, your a busy little beaver aren't you? Nah, I just like using my searching skills. And they're not even that great! Are you sure your Brasilian? and can you talk to my fiance???	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-19 20:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	child support	Jeez Mew, your a busy little beaver aren't you? If your making $11.00 an hour, then your annual gross salary would be $22,880. So you should even be a little closer. As you can see from the links Mew provided, people have included they're child support. I'm not sure how your overtime will come into play though, as if memory serves me right they ask for your annual income, not hourly. So, unless you get the same exact amount of overtime every week, I'm not sure how that would work. Also, the company you work for will not include your overtime when they report your annual salary. Someone may know better about this. Keep working on a co-sponser to if you can, certainly wouldn't hurt. Just remind those people that are scared to fork over they're SSN, that they are sending that SSN to a "US" Consulate.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-19 20:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K1 vs K3	First off... welcome As the others have mentioned, checking out the MiddleEast/NorthAfrica section of the site for more specific information will certainly help you tons. It's hard to say which is better, as it really is an individual thing. Generally speaking, I believe the K3 does take longer, somewhere in the 10 month range. Of course, I'm sure some have gotten it sooner... and unfortunately later as well. Right now, the K1 process is probably gonna run you somewhere in the 6 month range, or a tad longer. It all depends how quickly the Service Center recovers after they clean up this IMBRA fiasco. Of course, you could be a lucky duck, and get it sooner as well. As far as a lawyer, in "my" opinion it's a waste of money. Now that you have found VJ, and it's many resources you should not have a problem going at the process alone. Most of the time if someones case is a very complicated one, that is when most will suggest using a lawyer. But, if your case is straight forward, you really shouldn't have any problems. Just do your research, ask questions, and double/triple check your work. A lawyer as we have seen many times here, can often hamper the process rather than help it. Also, they can do nothing to speed your petition along any faster than if you do it yourself.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-19 20:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What to do after NOA2	Woah! That was fast! Congrats! Take a look at this: http://www.visajourn.....0De Janereiro It contains info on what to expect after the petition is sent to the consulate in Rio. Great job Mew! One question though, why was your Dr. Appointment $300.00 American? It says it is not to exceed $100.00.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-25 18:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Holiday	So do you think CSC staff will be back on Tuesday or taking extra time off. Personally I think all leave should be cancelled until I get my approval but CSC might not agree!! Considering how long you've been waiting, I would have to agree with you	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-03 10:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Whats with my timeline?	Good lord, it's an "approximation" of when your petition will be adjudicated, it is impossible for it to be exact, and is probably more incorrect now than ever due to the IMBRA fiasco. At one point mine said Nov. I was approved at the beginning of August... so take it with a grain of salt and move on with your life	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-04 12:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	how much of the stuff has to be absolutely positively original?	And co-sponsor passport and birth certificate too! (Heard somewhere some had problems with this) You said that the co-sponsor passport and birth certificate have to be originals too. I don't see why that is. (Or maybe I do but I am just incredibly stressed). My dad wasn't born in the US, he was born in the Philippines. So while I know when he was born, I don't know where he kept the original birth certificate. I know his naturalization certificate is here in our home. My assumption from reading the paperwork about umpteen times was that if one was using a co-sponsor a copy of the naturalization certificate or birth certificate or passport was sufficient. I am frustrated because I thought I had everything done, now I find out that apparently my dad's original passport is needed as well. (For lack of a better term, ####### is that?!) I hope that he doesn't have to travel out of the country anytime within the next two months because who knows how long the people at the embassy will take to let my fiancé know of his interview! I don't mean to talk for Ieva, but I guess she meant that the OP shouldn't forget to send proof of citizenship of the co-sponsor together with the I-134 that they have to fill out. Right, and I believe she was talking about having the co-sponser send "copies" of they're passport, or certificate... If a co-sponser had to send they're original passport, or birth certificate over seas, I would imagine many people would have a hard time getting one	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-03 19:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	how much of the stuff has to be absolutely positively original?	Hi all. I just sent my fiancé in the UK my half of the application stuff with the financial information included. I asked my dad to be a joint sponsor (to which he consented) and included copies of the W-2/1099 etc, 2005 tax return and the first pages of his passport showing his picture and signature. We also included copies of letters from the bank regarding our financial status. My fiancé is about to send the whole thing off to London pre-interview but I am freaking out because it says that all documentation must be original along with one photocopy. So does that mean I have to send him my parents' 1040 and W-2 (originals) AND his passport and/or naturalization certificate? What exactly must absolutely be original, and what is ok to send as a photocopy? By all accounts a copy of the Passport, and copies of income tax returns are fine. I wouldn't imagine the Embassy would think a co-sponser would actually send they're real Passport. Bank letter, employment letter, notorized I-134, copies of Passport and or birthcertificate, copies of past income tax returns, should be all you need	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-03 17:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	APPROVED	You can put me on that list, approved Aug 3	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-08-04 10:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	please help	I agree with JenT. You don't want an accusation of the predisposition to get married on a work visa. Blows off the dictionary... Here ya go: predisposition A noun 1 predisposition a disposition in advance to react in a particular way What am I missing? Pretty clear to me. Your missing the fact that it's 10pm, and I haven't had a Coffee in 12 hours now Have a Drink instead!!! Then I'll be asking you what the word Visa means	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-13 22:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	please help	I agree with JenT. You don't want an accusation of the predisposition to get married on a work visa. Blows off the dictionary... Here ya go: predisposition A noun 1 predisposition a disposition in advance to react in a particular way What am I missing? Pretty clear to me. Your missing the fact that it's 10pm, and I haven't had a Coffee in 12 hours now	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-13 22:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	please help	[quote name='William33' date='Sep 13 2006, 09:53 PM' post='444608'] I agree with JenT. You don't want an accusation of the predisposition to get married on a work visa. Blows off the dictionary... [/quote] [/quote] Edited by Erik, 13 September 2006 - 10:01 PM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-13 22:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Worried my NOA2 got stuck or lost in CIS	I wouldn't worry to much yet. Our NOA2 was August 3rd, the NVC sent our petition to the Embassy on August 22nd... We already have our interview date, and I still have not received anything from the NVC in the mail saying the forwarded are case. I would do what William suggested, and keep checking in with the NVC.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-15 19:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	and Photos...	All you should need to do is print the pictures, write the date and a short description on the back in pencil, and put them in they're own little envelope, or some use a zip lock back. I personally wouldn't attach them to a piece of paper etc. In the directions, they ask that they be put in a seperate envelope	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-17 17:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Lawyer to assist fiancee?	Glenn, also keep in mind that you are allowed to assist your fiance in completing the paperwork she will receive from the Embassy in her country. For example, my fiance is from Brasil and does not speak English to save her life. All the documents come in English and Portuguese, but most of, if not all the documents she will receive can be located on the Embassy's website. I downloaded or printed all the forms, completed them, scanned them to my computer, and when she receives the papers, I send them to her one by one over the internet, and she simply copies the information to the real forms. This way, you have piece of mind that everything is correct because you are the one actually completing the forms for her. My fiance is not real involved in this process, I tell her what she needs to do, and she does it, thats about the extent of it. So, I know your fear, but this way I know if there is any mistake, it will be my fault, not hers, and I'm ####### as all get out in regards to paperwork, so I'm confident all will be well. If the documents are not available on the Embassy Website, then when she receives them, have her Fax them to you... you can complete them, Fax them back, or did as I did and scan them to your computer and send them to her that way. Edited by Erik, 24 September 2006 - 11:29 AM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-24 11:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-129F Criminal section	This is the same things as the IMBRA RFE's some of us received, it was only check boxes. I left if blank, and did not have any problem. Actually, I haven't heard of anyone on here yet that had a problem with leaving it blank.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-24 11:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Foreign Document???	we did not send my birth certificate (beneficiary) with the package, should we?we sent however a copy of the passport, and thought that would be enough. sorry i am no help with your question, but it got me thinking ~maria No, you don't need to include the Beneficaries Birth Certificate in the I-129F package, only the Petitioner. You'll need your Birth Certificate for your interview.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-25 17:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Nothing New!!	Are weekends counted in those days? Or do they just count business days? just curious	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-25 20:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Is a lawyer necessary?	No a lawyer is not needed, and in fact can actually complicate the process as we have seen here many times. If your case is straight forward, do your research, triple check everything, and you should be just fine.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-09-24 10:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Epedite fiance visa	I would agree with the others by saying this is not going to qualify. But, I guess you never know with USCIS. Edited by Erik, 01 October 2006 - 10:25 AM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-10-01 10:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Joey and Fernanda are APPROVED !!!!	Excellent, another Brasil couple approved!!!! Congrats!!!!	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-10-06 09:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	A Tricky Question... I need some 'exert' advice	Whether you met through a Marriage Broker or not, should not hurt your case at all in the first place. They aren't saying if you met through a Marriage Broker you will be denied, they just want the information of the Marriage Broker.... so, if you are not sure, why not just give them the information, give them a little description saying you do not believe nor consider where you met to be a Marriage Broker, but you are providing the information they request just in case they find it is. This is what I did... I did not believe where I met my fiance was a Marriage Broker, or considered one... actually I know it's not. But, I wrote a little description of where and how we met, gave them the address's, phone numbers etc. for the website, and let them decide. This way I would not receive another RFE, and it did not hold up my petition at all. I was approved less than 30 days after I sent it back.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-10-06 10:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	just a little worried....	From what I understand it is not absolutely necessary to bring a copy of your initial I-129 Packet to the interview with you (unless it is requested by that particular Consulate in the instructions on what you need to bring). I believe it is more of a suggestion in the guidlines here... as having copies of just about everything in this process is a pretty good idea. The Consulate should have your original Packet there already when the interview takes place.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-02 12:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Thank Goodness!	Congrats!!!	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-07 18:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Visa Approved	Thanks everyone, we are just overjoyed right now Ananda said she met another VJ member at the Consulate, and they were also approved!	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-07 18:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Visa Approved	Ananda emailed me this morning and told me that her interview was a success, she was approved. She did not get into great detail (poor thing was dead tired) but I will try to post something about her interview experience after I speak with her tonight. From what I can tell, it seems to have gone very smoothly, and quite fast. I think she was only there for 2 hours or so. There were a few other people from VJ going for they're interviews today, I can't wait to here from them today as well! Thanks again to everyone that has helped us through this journey. It is greatly appreciated, and I'm sure saved us a lot of heartache. She will be home on Saturday morning Edited by Erik, 07 November 2006 - 11:03 AM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-07 11:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What to do (in terms of immigration) when fiancee wants to go home?	Sorry to hear this Joedog... How about moving to the Ukraine?	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-09 12:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Mission Accomplished	Excellent news! Congrats!	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-21 23:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Has anyone ever had any success filing an expidited fiance visa case?	There have been some in the Military that have been approved, however I haven't seen many others. We may be able to give you a better idea if we knew the situation, but of course that is not something you need to reveal. Worse you can do, is try... just don't be shocked if they deny your request. Best of Luck	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-11-14 17:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Fiancee is pregnant	Congrats on the pregnancy, it truely "is" a blessing. Here's a little information that I got, because I was in the situation about a month ago. A few weeks after staying with my Fiance, we discovered she was pregnant. Of course it wasn't planned, but we both looked at it as a blessing as well. Some people try all they're lives to have kids, and can't, so who am I to say it was bad because of the timing. We felt fortunate. After her first medical exam, she was told she was going to have many complications during the pregnancy due to her having an extremely small uterus. I also was concerned about the medical attention she would receive there knowing this, as she lives in the middle of the Pantanal in Brasil, and is far from any major city. I called the USCIS and spoke to them about it. They said to "me" (as it could be different for someone else) that a normal pregnancy would not change the process at all. I also confirmed that by contacting the Consulate in Rio. Again, this is what "I" was told by the USCIS and the Consulate, someone else may have gotten different results, or answers. Now, the USCIS told me that because her pregnancy was labeled as an extremely high risk, that I would more than likely qualify for expedited services under the "Extreme emergent situation" section of the expedited guidelines. I was told to have her get a signed letter from her Dr. explaining the circumstances of her pregnancy. I was to send this in with my I-129F. Unfortunetly, a week later (April 15th) my Fiance lost the baby due to complications previously stated by her Dr. Now, I know this is a different situation, but wanted to share my knowledge, and what I was told. I had not contacted my Congress person however, only the USCIS, and the Consulate in Rio de Janeiro. Best of Luck to you both, and I hope you are united as quickly as possible. Erik Edited by Erik, 18 May 2006 - 02:02 PM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-05-18 14:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	TOTAL COST OF K1 VISA	Hi Cutie, and welcome. The I-129F Petition currently costs $170.00 to file. When your fiance goes for they're interview, they will also have to pay $100.00 You will also have to pay for a Medical Exam for the fiance... I know in Brasil it is $100.00 As far as I know, that is it. There are of course other things that may need to be considered, like having documents translated (if need be) mailing documents back and forth at times, and of course airfare, hotels (if they live far from the Consulate) etc. I know for me personally, from start to finish it is probably going to cost me a little over $3,000, and that includes a ticket for me to go be with my fiance during her interview. Without that, I'm guessing closer to $2,000. Ah yes, very good point Christy, I forget about the Passport, BirthCertificate, Police Records etc. that could add additional costs. Edited by Erik, 29 May 2006 - 08:19 PM.	Erik	Not Telling	Brazil	2006-05-29 20:18:00