ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow to use Passport as evidence.
When applying for a K-1, I submitted a copy of my passport and the Visa which shows my dates of travel as primary evidence, apparently it worked out because it was approved and sent on to the embassy ... (well it's on it's way.)
My main question is, will they require a notarized copy, because the one I sent was not with my orig documents was not notarized.
Since copies are all that is required when filling the 325, that was all I sent but at the interview they will want to see "the real thing" on things such a birth certificates etc.
I am reluctant to send my passport so she will have the actual "item", at the interview, should I get a notarized copy?
I would hate for her to get rejected for "failing to show evidence" because we only produce a "copy" of the visa which documents my travel dates.

Other than that we also produced photos together and train tickets from a second trip.
0MaleRussia2007-11-27 19:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswondering why some got their visa earlier
QUOTE (oranges @ Jun 9 2008, 09:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello, im just wondering why some other people got their visa earlier and some did not get it until now? AT the US embassy during my interview last May 12, i met someone who is also a CR1. She paid delbros may 7 and i paid delbros April 17. We got the same paper after the interview, white paper and pink slip. But in the white paper it does not say anything what we need to submit, so it's all fine. But she already got her visa june 7. And in my case, when my husband call us embassy, they are still verifying my documents. I'm just wondering why these things happen, it's useless to pay the document verification in early when it does not do anything for our case? Why others paid late to delbros but they got their visa earlier?


Maybe there are more documents to review in your case. Or maybe there's a problem with one of your documents that they are checking out. If you and/or your spouse have been married before, more documentation has to be verified than if one or neither of you have been married. Perhaps, also, if you or your SO have a common name in the Phils or they have been petitioned before, that might make the name verification, etc. more difficult and time consuming. All out of your control, but just be patient. I find that prayer helped us out a lot in our process (slightly different K1, but just as difficult and time-consuming).

D

Edited by dj1206, 09 June 2008 - 09:07 PM.

dj1206MalePhilippines2008-06-09 21:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC Phone Number Always Busy?
QUOTE (Carol and Bruno @ Jun 9 2008, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (moldha01 @ Jun 9 2008, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey guys-

I have tried to call the 24 hour NVC phone line several times today and I always get a busy signal. What's up with that? Has anyone else experienced this??

The number was from loto's NVC guide, and also on the website. It is 603-334-0700. It's supposed to be a 24 hour hotline so not sure why it's always busy. Anyone else having this problem?


I had the same problem and when I finally got through, I kept being sent into the automated loop and then disconnected because no agent was available. I decided to call exactly at 7:30 AM and was successful.

Good luck.


One semi-tip that I tried in my numerous attempts to contact the NVC during this process so far was to press the menu option I wanted right as the "operator" started giving the options. If another option follows that, know what option you need to choose and hit it ASAP. I had much difficulty even using that method the last time, and maybe it's gotten worse, but at least it will cut down on your wasted time per call, especially if you're like I was and using a cell phone! Maybe that small tip might help someone. I, too, recommend calling later evening or early morning, like the others have recommended.

D
dj1206MalePhilippines2008-06-09 19:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdoes anyone know what this could mean?
QUOTE (brnidokiegurl @ Jul 13 2008, 08:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It could be someone worked the case or it could be someone moved it, touches really arent reliable sources but make us glad to know at least someone touched it. Some get totally okd without ever showing a touch, so dont worry.


I noticed we got a touch on our K1 the evening (10pm) before the status changed to Petition Approved thing (1:10am). So it could mean you might get some action of some sort on your case very soon, or it could be just a transfer between service stations or to the adjudicator's desk, etc. Like the other person said, not exactly reliable, but still of note.
dj1206MalePhilippines2008-07-13 08:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmoney order tracking
QUOTE (shaman goddess @ Jul 18 2008, 06:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (sad_angel @ Jul 18 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (shaman goddess @ Jul 18 2008, 03:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (sad_angel @ Jul 18 2008, 03:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (shaman goddess @ Jul 18 2008, 03:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
do you have track no. listed in your money order? call you bank if theres a website where to track your money order. goodluck

yeah i think there is a number and i think i have it ,but i looked online and i could not find anythin gon how to track a money order not even at my bank's website:(



oh i see. did u ask ur bank if theres a phone no. to call so u can trace ur money order ?

no i never asked them that question sad.gif



that might be the answer to your question. goodluck godbless star_smile.gif


Even with postal money orders, there is only one way to track them. By phone. You can also have the post office send a special investigation card (somewhat expensive, I think...) to an office in Ohio where they microfiche copies of their cashed money orders and can send you an endorsed photocopy (takes several weeks, if I recall correctly). But that's the US post office. Just call your bank's main customer support number during regular business hours. They might redirect your call elsewhere or give you a different phone number to call, but so long as you have your money order #, it should be able to be tracked through your bank, no problem. Best of luck-

D
dj1206MalePhilippines2008-07-18 06:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiancee - first name
My fiancée has an extra name that for some reason does not appear on her birth certificate. Just to make sure all of our paperwork is not incomplete/insufficient for our governements regarding the names issue, I formulated a letter for Jacki to sign which clarifies the situation with her using the extra name up until recently. I still used it on cards and such until Jan of this year. I personally would recommend just writing a letter or have your fiancé(e) write a letter and tell why there is a discrepancy in spelling or the use of a given name in letters, cards, etc. sent to each other. I had friends in school who went by and were called informally by their middle names...a lot of executives, even at our hospital, use names that are either their middle names or Americanizations of their first name. Our CEO's real first name is very weird!!! So, anyhoo, if the name used informally is different from the legal name they use for passport, birth records, etc., I personally would recommend writing a clarification letter and have the person it affects (be it you or the person you are petitioning for) sign the letter for submission with affected forms. Hope this helps.

David

(no timeline yet as am still preparing mine and Jacki's paperwork...my Dad passed away last Saturday, so haven't had much of an opportunity to sit down with paperwork until now!)
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-15 14:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocument Assembly question
Believe it or not, after the receipts were removed from my "stack," it's still quite thick. Most of what's left are photocopies of letters, cards, and emails. I think Jacki said she read somewhere on here that I should include bank/card statements for the plane tickets and the transactions completed in the Philippines...after reading earlier posts to my initial question, it seems like the inclusion of the statements would be redundant, too. Thoughts?

I'm still pruning my paperwork, consolidating and removing unnecessary pages...

How many cards and letters should I include? We haven't sent a great number of either, but that now makes up the bulk of what's left of the packet now that the receipts are gone.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-22 21:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocument Assembly question

Mine was not near that large, only a few examples of the things they ask for, with the two holes and the slide fastner not the clip style, tabs at the bottom to divide each section, cover page things required and your ready (dont forget the check) ha



can anyone please show what kind of tabs you guys talking about?


I had much difficulty trying to find a decent binder/folder with bottom tabs at a Staples store last weekend. Everything was on the side. I'm gonna proceed to eliminate the many apparenly unnecessary receipts and things from the stack of papers real quick and see what I can whittle it down to. Thanks everyone for your helpful input so far...I will read further replies a bit later on.

David
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-22 21:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocument Assembly question

Hello everyone,

I don't have a timeline yet because I plan on filing/mailing mine and Jacki's paperwork for I-129F Fiancee Visa on February 26, 2007, my 26th birthday. We have a special connection to the number 26...I was born on Feb. 26, she was born Apr. 26, and we got engaged on May 26. My Dad, who passed away on Feb. 10, 2007, was also born on the 26th of a month.

Anyway, to my question...I am in the process of arranging the papers together, and I have MANY documents, such as emails, itineraries, cards, etc. that are multiple pages in length, and I was wondering how these individual items of a group of similar items should be kept together. Should they be individually labeled with a type of labeling system similar to how evidence in court proceedings is given (ie. Item A10, Page 1 of 3)? The petitition is about 300 or so pages thick, maybe more, so I was wondering how others of you might have done it with a similar amount of pages...it seems that staples are discouraged, so I've presently got documents put together with paperclips. Please, anyone, please get back with me...as I really would like to get a lot of my work done before the end of the night. Me and my fiancee chat nightly my time (which kills my productivity on paperwork), and she's gonna be away for an hour or so, so I would like to take the opportunity I've got now to get this stuff straight.

I've got manila folders with ACCO fasteners ready for the documents...if that helps any.

Ideas.......Paperclips, staples, extensive detailed labeling, other ideas????

Thanks so much!

David (& Jacki)


I seriously doubt that others submitted 300 pages in a I-129F petition. If you send a 300p age petition to USCIS, it may very well be rejected. You do not submit all that with the I-129F. The only evidence you need to show is that the 2 of you have been together in person in the past 24 months. Hotel receipts with both your names, 3 or 4 dated photos together , passport stamps to coroborate the times of your photos and hotel receipts...this is what is needed.

Proving an ongoing relationship is only necessary at the Interview stage. And then you do not need 300 pages of stuff. The interview is only a few minutes in most cases! Hotel receipts, phone bills, letters with stamps, emails and additional dated photos together since filing for the K-1 can prove an ongoing relationship.


Hmmm, but why would it get rejected if it's lengthy? I've been told by others (not on this site) that it's best to send as much as possible so there is no chance for a RFE. I imagine I could eliminate 60-100+ pages by not including the receipts from the various places we went together in the Philippines (outside of the hotel, airline, etc. ones we had). Most of those do not have either of our names on them, so it probably wouldn't really prove a whole lot.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-22 20:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocument Assembly question

Again no folders, i punched two hole in the top and used the fasteners, with tabs at the bottom


I'm referring to 2-3 page emails and such, that I'd kinda like to keep each part together to avoid confusion...using an ACCO faster for each individual email or card/envelope, etc. seems a bit of overkill...Am I understanding you in saying that folders are NOT to be used??
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-22 20:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocument Assembly question
Hello everyone,

I don't have a timeline yet because I plan on filing/mailing mine and Jacki's paperwork for I-129F Fiancee Visa on February 26, 2007, my 26th birthday. We have a special connection to the number 26...I was born on Feb. 26, she was born Apr. 26, and we got engaged on May 26. My Dad, who passed away on Feb. 10, 2007, was also born on the 26th of a month.

Anyway, to my question...I am in the process of arranging the papers together, and I have MANY documents, such as emails, itineraries, cards, etc. that are multiple pages in length, and I was wondering how these individual items of a group of similar items should be kept together. Should they be individually labeled with a type of labeling system similar to how evidence in court proceedings is given (ie. Item A10, Page 1 of 3)? The petitition is about 300 or so pages thick, maybe more, so I was wondering how others of you might have done it with a similar amount of pages...it seems that staples are discouraged, so I've presently got documents put together with paperclips. Please, anyone, please get back with me...as I really would like to get a lot of my work done before the end of the night. Me and my fiancee chat nightly my time (which kills my productivity on paperwork), and she's gonna be away for an hour or so, so I would like to take the opportunity I've got now to get this stuff straight.

I've got manila folders with ACCO fasteners ready for the documents...if that helps any.

Ideas.......Paperclips, staples, extensive detailed labeling, other ideas????

Thanks so much!

David (& Jacki)
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-22 20:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCENOMAR??

We didn't get one and it is my understanding that if one is required the embassy will order and and won't accept one from the beneficiary.


Interesting...my fiancee sent me an original copy of her CENOMAR, and I'm submitting that with her birth cert. and biographical information...odd that they won't accept it from the beneficiary, but oh well...it'll be in my packet, nonetheless! I don't know if it's required in all foreign countries...I know the Philippines uses them!!!

David
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-02-23 19:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedurestexas service center mail pickup

hello everyone, i just spoke with the u.s.p.s. about why my i-129f was not signed for today...the uscis tcs picks up their mail once a day at 7am...my petition will be picked up en la manana!! or so i was told...


It appears someone (M.S.) signed for mine at 5:06am CST on Feb. 28th!!! Talk about EARLY morning pickups! I wasn't even awake for work on the east coast of the US at that time! Oddly enough, the NOA1 I got today indicates that the application was received on Feb. 27th, a day earlier!! My check still isn't cashed. Do the service centers remain open 24/7 or are they a 5-day workweek 9-5 outfit? I saw some posts from people earlier today regarding touches that were done on Sundays, which are normally a rest day for Government folks.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 22:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresReceived NOA1 in mail today

Thanks for the clarification! This is good news, at least someone is working on my case- So I guess this is my first "touch"-


Are they a 24/7 operation at the CSC? I always envisioned that type of job to be a 9-5 5-day workday type thing, like many Federal Government jobs of that sort.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 23:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresReceived NOA1 in mail today

Hi David,

Congrats on getting your NOA1. From what I understand- I think the date box on the site is the most recent date the file has been touched. I'm just guessing. I don't know how to see a list of all touches. I'm also thinking that the March 11 date in my box is only there because that is when I registered with the USCIS online and they sent me an email (I'm sure automated) that I was registered.

Does your date correspond with when you registered online?

Good Luck!


I registered on USCIS today, 3/12, so I guess our application was put "on file" till June or so on the 9th, which was Friday.

Good luck to you and yours, too!

David


Got another question...I sent mine and Jacki's petition to the Texas Service Center...but it appears it got forwarded to the California one (I got my NOA1 from CA address)...I'm sure this is a dumb question, but isn't the Texas one a bit quicker/more efficient at getting these things approved; why was it moved to CA? Should I change the office where I filed our application to in my details here so I can get a more accurate timeline based on California's numbers? It looks like they're still working on August's filings...yikes!!!
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 18:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresReceived NOA1 in mail today

Hi David,

Congrats on getting your NOA1. From what I understand- I think the date box on the site is the most recent date the file has been touched. I'm just guessing. I don't know how to see a list of all touches. I'm also thinking that the March 11 date in my box is only there because that is when I registered with the USCIS online and they sent me an email (I'm sure automated) that I was registered.

Does your date correspond with when you registered online?

Good Luck!


I registered on USCIS today, 3/12, so I guess our application was put "on file" till June or so on the 9th, which was Friday.

Good luck to you and yours, too!

David
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 17:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresReceived NOA1 in mail today

Congrats, you are on you way :thumbs:


I am one of those compulsive folks, too, who likes to know what's going on when and such. The originator of this post asked the same question I wanted to ask. I've seen folks who have said their applications have been "touched" several times in one day, etc. How do you determine that through the USCIS web site? I got my NOA1 in mail today, with a notice date of March 6. Registered on USCIS site today, and it's showing a last modified date of 3/9/07. Is there a way of seeing the "touch" or update history? Would calling the CSC help any? Also, my check still is not showing as being cashed yet...I was expecting to see it show up in my account before I would get NOA1 in the mail.

Thanks, David

Edited by dj1981, 12 March 2007 - 05:06 PM.

dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 17:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIs it ok to send money order?

Yes, make sure it is a money order from USPS . Make it out to Department of Homeland Security.


Mine and Jacki's (jvernz) check didn't do much good in terms of getting a case # for us early. I got the NOA1 in the mail today and the check still hasn't hit my bank account...am kinda glad I was able to find my checkbook and submit a check, because if I were to request images of the cashed money order from the USPS, it would cost I think $10 for them plus it takes forever. At least with online banking and check images, it can be printed for almost free and there's not a long delay in getting access to print them after clearance of the check. Thanks for your responses to Jacki (and myself).
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 21:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325A

As someone mentioned - and to be clear - if you fill out the form on your computer, you just need to fill out the first page and the other 3 fill themselves automatically. Yes, it is filled out in conneciton with "I-129F (Fiance)" (for the K1, spouse if it's K3).

The G325A cannot be saved on your computer (the I-129F can) , but again, the fact that it fills itself out makes it not such a big deal.

And in the grand scheme of this process - filling out a form in quadruplicate is THE LEAST ridiculous part of the process.


I was able to save mine and Jacki's entries on the G-325A forms to my hard drive without a problem. I filled out her information for her, emailed her the saved file, let her review it (she suggested many changes and/or error corrections), and when we finally had it right, she signed them and mailed 'em off to me. By having the pre-filled documents saved, we can use that for our later paperwork after she gets here...with just a few changes. Maybe I had better luck with the G-325A saving thing because I have Adobe Acrobat Professional here instead of the usual Reader software. Dunno.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-12 23:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiling alone or have service?
I agree with previous posters. I spoke with an immigration lawyer's office back in June, after me and Jacki got engaged. They wouldn't answer any of my questions, not even how much they would charge!!! They also wouldn't guarantee that the case would get approved. They wanted $1000 upfront, but the way the lady talked, it sounded like they would milk it for as much money as they can get, upwards of multiple thousands. Not being a financially rich type of person, and with a wedding to pay for after the K1 goes through, it didn't sound very economical to me to go through a lawyer, who like others have said, has a more vested interest in your money than in the success of your case. In December when I was with Jacki in the Philippines celebrating Christmas with her family, her cousin's American fiancé told us to check out this site, and then it might be easier on us and we could do it without burning money up with a lawyer. Jacki visited/joined here before I did, and we really got going around mid-January on our paperwork. We started with her forms, letters and what all she would need to send to me, and after I got those in the mail from her in February, I did mine. If I hadn't taken bereavement leave from work when my dad died, I'd probably still be fighting to assemble the packet today. What I ended up with looked more professional than anything a lawyer could dream of putting together, so that gave me a sense of accomplishment. And Jacki was proud of me, too, which means a lot to me. Her love and support has helped to sustain me, even in my lowest points.

Anyway, I recommend no lawyer, but if you can't do it after the enormous help this site is, and you can afford astronomical lawyer fees, go for a lawer.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-17 18:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAn interesting "why" question...
Since this is a government agency and our monies are going toward supporting them, shouldn't they at least be responsible to tell us 1) what their current caseload is, numerically, and 2) how many persons they have processing each type of form/application? Yeah, the "latest date of application" thing helps, but it doesn't give us hard numbers to go by. I see the Sept. 12 or so date on the USCIS update, but in reality it tells me very little. What if the apps from that date are ones that have been held over due to RFE's, but they're actually working on applications from say mid-December, too? One would think they'd report their earliest dated application for K1, not the latest date they've started working on...

Location has everything to do with my original question. One of my subquestions/comments was why couldn't I just forward all of my stuff to CA, and not wait a week for TSC to forward it to CA. I mailed my petition with the hope that I could be among the ranks of Feb. filers...as in Feb. 27 or Feb. 28, but my NOA date is 3/6 because of the week delay!That's one week less that me and Jacki will get to be together!

Another "why" question, which can probably be answered due to $$ issues, is why can't they implement a web-based system that gives us exact status updates on our application, as in a History of actions to-date and where the app is currently located. If it's going to off-site storage, why can't they indicate that to us via the CRIS web site/email notifications? If Joe Smith is reviewing page 1 of my G-325 form and Sally Smith is reviewing Jackis' G-325 form, why can't I be informed of that? After all, there should be accountability there, and it should be transparent to the customer, in my opinion. The last update on their web site for me is from 3/9, three days before I received NOA1 in the mail...nothing since. I would have much better peace of mind knowing where it is during this 10 day hiatus of updates. Some people have had touches on their app 7-10 days after the check is cashed. Last touch on mine was two days after mine was cashed, before payment cleared my bank!

I'm a very hands-on person, and maybe I just want to be too hands on with this paperwork process...but me and my fiancee are apart right now...and as I'm sure is the case with most everybody else in this waiting limbo, we want to be together...badly!
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-20 16:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAn interesting "why" question...
I don't know if I'm "jealous" of the Vermont folks, but if the USCIS wants to make it "fair" that applications are processed/approved in the order received, you would think there wouldn't be a huge disparity between processing times at the CSC versus the VSC. 2.5 to 3 months versus 2 weeks for a couple of recent posters who filed at VSC. Ridiculous!

Edited by dj1981, 17 March 2007 - 10:00 PM.

dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-17 21:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAn interesting "why" question...
Why on earth is somebody who lives on the East Coast of the USA, North Carolina to be exact, required to send their paperwork to Texas, which then forwards application to California, wasting one week of time, and which is known to take an inordinate amount of time to approve applications. Vermont is a heck of a lot closer to NC than even Texas (I think), not to mention much quicker than CA. Why California, and why couldn't I just have bypassed Texas altogether since they don't process the stuff there anyway? That would have made me a February filer if it had been straight next-day aired to CA...now I'm thrown in with March 6th crowd (no offense to other March 6thers). OK, I feel better now.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-17 21:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresplease help..still married but filed K1

You have to be legally able to marry WHEN YOU FILE the I 129f. You need to withdraw this petition and then file again when the annulment has gone through.


I see two options. The one above, which is the safest and correct. If you chose that option, you want to withdraw your current petition, preferrably before USCIS approves it. (Where's your timeline?)

Option two is to pursue the annulment but keep your mouth shut about any former marriage unless it is mentioned at the interview. At that point, explain and show documents and hope for the best. If it isn't mentioned you lose no time. The risk with option two is that you start over at square one. The value judgment is yours. You made an honest innocent mistake. You haven't broken any laws. Just make sure you don't compound the problem by getting married before the annulment is completed.

I'm not making a recommendation. It's your call.


The Philippine embassy requires a CENOMAR certificate, which is basically a search through records of recorded marriages in the Philippines since 1949 or so, I think, and this is usually obtained by the embassy through the Philippine NSO, though the fiancée can also obtain a copy for herself. Jacki got one before we filed because we wanted to get everything we could, because we didn't know at first how much stuff we would have to send. I've got an original copy and she has two copies, I think. She's been doing a lot of reading on here, and she found that the embassy usually obtains the CENOMAR during their process. Regarding your paperwork, if you knew she was married before you submitted paperwork and didn't mention it on your I-129F or the G-325A forms, and you don't cancel your petition request upon finding out she was married before and is not legally able to marry (despite the situation you mentioned about her still being married to someone else before you), and the US Govt. is informed by the embassy that she was indeed married before, you could potentially be hit with a perjury charge and/or fines for "lying" on an official government form. I'd play it safe and re-file after her previous marriage is annuled and in the NSO records as being terminated.


Spooky situation - but - if a person had an annullment would that be considered as married? divorced?? or what? I agree if it is considered a marriage its best to refile before its approved as then they are dealing with IMBRA to refile. On the other hand...if there was an anullment and the embassy deals with this...wont there be enough time for the embassy to obtain the CENOMAR cert. because she technically was never "married" nor was she "divorced". She would have been single as she put on the petition.


The I-129F/K1 process is clear that both parties must be "legally free to marry" at the date of filing. While CENOMAR could potentially show the annulment, it could also show dates that indicate she was not free to marry upon submission of the K1 application. According to Jacki, there is little to no divorce in the Phils due to the widespread Catholic traditions of the country. There is only annulment. Governments go by paperwork, not by technicality...so I think things would lean toward this gentleman having to cancel his current application and resubmit.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-22 20:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresplease help..still married but filed K1

You have to be legally able to marry WHEN YOU FILE the I 129f. You need to withdraw this petition and then file again when the annulment has gone through.


I see two options. The one above, which is the safest and correct. If you chose that option, you want to withdraw your current petition, preferrably before USCIS approves it. (Where's your timeline?)

Option two is to pursue the annulment but keep your mouth shut about any former marriage unless it is mentioned at the interview. At that point, explain and show documents and hope for the best. If it isn't mentioned you lose no time. The risk with option two is that you start over at square one. The value judgment is yours. You made an honest innocent mistake. You haven't broken any laws. Just make sure you don't compound the problem by getting married before the annulment is completed.

I'm not making a recommendation. It's your call.


The Philippine embassy requires a CENOMAR certificate, which is basically a search through records of recorded marriages in the Philippines since 1949 or so, I think, and this is usually obtained by the embassy through the Philippine NSO, though the fiancée can also obtain a copy for herself. Jacki got one before we filed because we wanted to get everything we could, because we didn't know at first how much stuff we would have to send. I've got an original copy and she has two copies, I think. She's been doing a lot of reading on here, and she found that the embassy usually obtains the CENOMAR during their process. Regarding your paperwork, if you knew she was married before you submitted paperwork and didn't mention it on your I-129F or the G-325A forms, and you don't cancel your petition request upon finding out she was married before and is not legally able to marry (despite the situation you mentioned about her still being married to someone else before you), and the US Govt. is informed by the embassy that she was indeed married before, you could potentially be hit with a perjury charge and/or fines for "lying" on an official government form. I'd play it safe and re-file after her previous marriage is annuled and in the NSO records as being terminated.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-22 20:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIn Philippines now and want to file

Yes, it's never the same. As what my fiance told me, there's a dimension missing when it's you're both not together in person. I truly understand how you feel as all couples here in VJ also do. The waiting will all be worth it (L)...I'm so glad I joined this site because I know I'm not alone...It makes me feel better eventhough it's frustrating.


Is there anyway to speed up this process? I have been home 4 days and miss her so much. I cant sleep and all I think about is her. We have been talking on the phone and text messageing but its not the same.


That is right, Jacki. Certain dimensions "seem" gone right now, but deep down in both of our hearts, we should both know and always remember during this time of separation that we still love each other and will be together soon. We're still here, we're still each other...and we still love each other. And we've got two weeks in May together in the Phils again, so let's make the most of that time together. I enjoy being with you and am so glad you came into my life. You'll be here soon...but not soon enough :( Come on USCIS...touch us again, already!!!!

David
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-03-28 20:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG325a

I never known the people could have two names. If she has two names, then should fill all of names that she has.


My fiancee is also from the Philippines and she has two first names, as well. On our forms, I kept her name just as she told me it was and put her two first names under "First Name," her middle name (mother's maiden name) for "Middle Name," and finally her last name as her "Last Name." She actually has another middle name that for some reason never made it onto her birth certificate, and we sent a clarification letter signed by her indicating that we colloquially use this name, but it's not a legal portion of her name and thus that additional name was dropped from our official paperwork. Anyway, really and truly, I felt that she should have one first name and two middle names on the forms, but to avoid any point of contention, I kept it as she indicated it needed to be. We just got our NOA2 this week after just one touch since the check was cashed in March, so no problems with having two first names on the forms whatsoever. Sometimes we Americans need to think "outside the box" more often. I learn that every day, and not in a bad way. It's the beauty of having a fiancee that is from a different country. Frankly, I think I'd be bored with an American woman. Didn't realize it until I met Jacki, but I truly believe that now. Best wishes-

David
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-06-09 14:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPaperwork for Interview

you dont need to send every single email all you have to do is prove a relationship try and relax but i do know how u feel my fiance interview is august 4th and i am nervous too hope all goes well


I think I'll just print the 182 pages table view with the Autopreview of each e-mail and maybe send a few pages of that. It hardly gives any of the true content of the e-mail by doing that, but it'll at least give consular officer a feel for how much we communicate on a daily basis. I've known her for 538 days, and we've each 1500+ e-mails to the other, so 3 emails per day average is pretty good. I wish Jacki would get her interview soon. We just got our NOA2 on June 6, and I've been bugging the NVC many times per week since then to see if they have our petition on file yet. Nada yet. I hope she gets her interview before January!! I'm just working ahead and trying to get all this paperwork for us organized! It can be an agonizing, tedious, arduous task for a packrat like me who saves EVERYTHING. I even learned to demand an OR from restaurants and vendors, so now with this last trip, I have a receipt for just about everything we did or went to. I even have the old checked luggage name tags that you write up at the airport (but am not including that as it's irrelevant and shows no date)!!!
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-06-24 07:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPaperwork for Interview

Hello,
I was in sort of the same situation. This si how aI solved it. I went to my in box, and put the screen in view mode so I could see the e-mail that was hi-lighted on the right. But on the left it showed the e-mail, date and whom it was from.
I printed that. It was still 20-30 sheets, but each page had a sample of an e-mail. There they can see a date, whom it was from, and a sample.
Good luck.
'David


If you're talking about printing all the messages in Table Style withing MS Outlook, I just did that and we're looking at 69 pages of subject lines and dates only. There is no actual email content and I saw no way of printing partial email content that way...


And if Autopreview of emails (first two lines) within each Outlook folder is turned on, we're looking at 182 total pages. Better than 5000, but still.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-06-23 20:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPaperwork for Interview

Hello,
I was in sort of the same situation. This si how aI solved it. I went to my in box, and put the screen in view mode so I could see the e-mail that was hi-lighted on the right. But on the left it showed the e-mail, date and whom it was from.
I printed that. It was still 20-30 sheets, but each page had a sample of an e-mail. There they can see a date, whom it was from, and a sample.
Good luck.
'David


If you're talking about printing all the messages in Table Style withing MS Outlook, I just did that and we're looking at 69 pages of subject lines and dates only. There is no actual email content and I saw no way of printing partial email content that way...
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-06-23 20:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPaperwork for Interview

Due to security issues, they cannot take a CD or any document in electronic form.

Printing all of them out, would be way overkill. Not to mention you would go through a couple trees. For me, going through indonesia, 4 to 5 emails and 4 to 5 chats along with some calling card recipts and phone records was enough. Indonesia as far as i know doesnt deal with as much fraud.

But I think going way overboard can make you look like your overcompensating and covering for something else. Your best bet is to find a dozen or so emails/chats over the entire time period.


thanks for the quick response. I'll probably just add 5 or so more emails between us since February when we submitted our I-129F packet and go with that. Selecting a chat or chats will be difficult, as there are a lot of those, too. I've archived the vast majority of them, thankfully, but going through each of them for "relevant fiancée-related content" would prove to be a vast undertaking, too. The good thing is we always say "I love you" at the end of everything, even text messages, because that is very true for both of us. Anyway, thanks much for the tip on "no electronic documents." And I'll elect not to burn up a forest printing everything! Best wishes-
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-06-23 20:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPaperwork for Interview
I've been reading some forum areas and I just wanted to ask a simple question about paperwork to send to my fiancée in the Philippines for her interview. I already have three four-part binders full of receipts and other paperwork, and I already have to use a fourth binder, it looks like. I will not be able to attend the interview later this year (hopefully) with my fiancée due to work and financial reasons, so she obviously wouldn't have me to carry all this paperwork for her. My question revolves around e-mails and printing them out for her...between the two of us, we have sent 3713 emails to each other since January 2, 2006, and we've also chatted many mornings/nights, too. I don't know about the rest of you, but assuming the e-mails were to average 1-2 pages in length, how on earth would I survive the tampo from my fiancee if I were to send her 5000 pages of nothing but emails for her to carry all by her ownsome to an interview!? Chats would probably be another 300-800 pages, estimation...sure, I could go through the emails and chats and select the "best" ones, which is kinda what I did with our original submission (I submitted approx. 10 emails), but 3700+ is an awful lot to go through. I know fraud is rampant in the Philippines, but Jacki is a genuine person and I'm sure she'll do fine in her interview...so my question is, should I even bother printing off reams and reams and reams of emails for the interview? Or alternately, I have the capability of converting my entire E-mail achives to a chapter-style PDF file. Would a consular officer be wary of a disc of a huge PDF full of emails? Would they even have a PC handy to open such a PDF? I'd hate to waste trees, especially if they don't even try to read the emails...one CDR seems a lot more practical (and much less heavy). Thoughts anybody???
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-06-23 20:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 petitioning

Good Day Everyone,
I want to submit my K1 petition, i have over 1 inch of yahoo messenger chat, what would be the best way, to send copy of chats, being over a inch of paper work. Or should I just cut that in half?


Pick 4 or 5 of the best and include that, anymore is overkill. Also chats are more useful at the interview rather than the K-1 petition. The petition is concerned only with the evidence of your last meeting.

Ok, but you said, piick 4 or 5, what do u mean? 4-5 sheets of paper with chats, and also, when i do submit the yahoo chats for the interview, should i send that packet of over a inch of paper work showing our chats?


Chats are very low quality evidence don't rely on them to substantiate your case.....


My fiancee and I have 345 archived chats which I have added as Posts in an Outlook folder specifically for communications from Jacki. I have added nothing to this archive since submission of the K1, but the chats are still saved on my PC and on my other PC that crashed back in March. All of our 3000+ emails are in other folders. I read some responses to a post I submitted about printing emails for the interview and the folks that responded just said pick only a few e-mails. I agree that chats are low-quality proof. You may know via webcam that you know who you were talking to, but the government doesn't know that. And at least in the Philippines, electronic documents or electronic proof are not permitted to be brought inside the building. I asked about that, too, because it would have saved many trees, and I personally do not want my fiancee carrying 5000 sheets of paper all by her ownsome in to an interview where they won't look at probably more than a few sheets of paper not related to the forms they are looking for. Others suggested that by wanting to send every communication we've had that that might seem to the consular officer that we have a weak case which we are trying to bolster by mounds and mounds of paper. I can see that argument, too. Anyway, all that said, here's what I did with our petition. I randomly chose about 30 emails to submit with the paperwork, then I narrowed that down to about 10, mostly short one-pagers. I started from the very first e-mail Jacki sent me, continued with a later response from me, and then followed with others over time up until around the time my Dad passed away (16 days before I submitted the paperwork). I included ZERO chats, despite having 345 in the log. I did include voice chat logs (date, time, length) from Yahoo, which I took multiple screen captures of and pieced together into one long image that I then imported into MS Word, and printed as a regular document (4pgs). We didn't phone each other at all where I had any records yet, so this was our only voice contact outside of being together in person twice (now three times). I did include copies of cards and letters we've sent 9with envelopes, where available), again going from around the very first until the present. Those are very good proofs of ongoing relationship. And an engagement ring receipt certainly does not hurt one's case. In my photos section, I put 14 photos of us together and with her family...and put one in of us on our engagement night. So anyway, all that said, the USCIS needs to see that 1) you have a genuine ongoing fiancé/e relationship and 2) you've met in person and you love each other. Look through your case file as you've assembled it already. If you feel, after reviewing it, that you might not have proven those two points, add more proof, but don't overdo it. And remember, you have to prove this to someone who knows neither of you...put yourself in a courtroom situation...if, after the judge or jury reviews the evidence you've submitted, would they find you guilty on both counts? And don't forget the IMBRA requirements and if either of you have been married before, make sure you submit evidence that meets those requirements. Hope this helps.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-02 17:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduressize of passport picture

if you want to be safe, you could take the 2x2..

or just send what you have and hopefully you won't get a rfe


My fiancee was given negatives with her pictures, which the paper prints were also too small. So I would be to spec on her pics, I used the negatives that she gave me and had them transferred to a CD at Walmart. After that, I used one of the Kodak machines to make an "ID Card" print that met the very specific guidelines of the passport pictures as required for the Visa/application. Try to do that if you are able. Best wishes-

David
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-03 20:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedurespictures and g-325A

thank you very much.. i thought the picture goes WITH the G-325A.. thanks for clearing up that it just goes BEHIND it....


I'm sure 1 will do fine, but I read somewhere, I think in the guides, that you're supposed to put 2. I also did mine and Jacki's in a bag taped behind the G-325A forms.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-03 20:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresquick question about g-235a

i definitely think nothing can replace reading the guides, but they dont have all the answers...i just think that it can suggested in a little bit of a nicer way...the poor kid feels attacked because you made it seem like the most ridiculous question that you had ever heard in your life...how would you feel if you asked a question in school and your teacher made you feel like a moron...you would never want to ask a question again

play nice.


Why not have the Admins redo the forums section and break the K1, K3, CR, etc. questions forums up by form types and requirements needed for each? Yes, this is done in the guides, to some degree, but grouping the questions by form # and document type, etc. could help new visitors to be able to find their answers much easier. Having to scroll through pages and pages of stuff or fiddle around with a search function that doesn't always find exactly what you're looking for just to find something about the G-325 can be a bit much for a new user who wants a quick answer. Perhaps even on the forums, within say the K1 questions section, and in the proposed section for the G-325 forms, have the admins or a moderator clip a basic information section at the top that would address most of the commonly asked questions about this form. If their question is not answered there, then they can post their question for others to answer. When I was working on mine and Jacki's packet, I found it a bit cumbersome to get to the guides for our forms and what needed to be submitted with them. But I found them, all the same. Still, I wish it were somewhat simpler to navigate around here. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good, useful, and yes, helpful site.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-04 14:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresquestion about "proof oh having met within 2 years"

There are lots of ways to organize and answer question 18. First I wrote a short paragraph explainging our relationship. I just explained how we met, when we moved in together and where we traveled together. Below that I put three sections and explained the evidence in each. Mine were 1.) Proof of living together - this including copies of ID's and bills witht the same address 2.) Passports - This established that we traveled on the same dates and that I had a valid Japanese visa for the time I claimed we were together. 3.) additional items - I included my work contract, travel itineraries and pictures. The last picture I added was of the two of us holding our completed I-129F.

There is no right or wrong way to address this question as long as you include primary evidence in an easy to follow form.


I organized our original submission into four main sections. One was a sort of administrative section that I titled "Forms And Intent," which included the TOC, the main cover letter, the I-129F form pages, our letters of intent, and a letter on name clarification that both Jacki and I felt needed to be addressed to avoid confusion.

Section 2 I titled "Biographic/Citizenship Establishment Paperwork." Here I included my G-325A forms, with 2 passport pics in a bag immediately behind, followed by my birth certificate, a copy of my passport (with color copies of ID page and visa stamps), then her G-325A forms, her 2 passport pics in a bag, her original birth certificate, a certified copy of her birth certifiate, and a photocopy of her passport.

Section 3 I titled "Proof of Travel to Philippines & Meeting Each Other in Person within Last Two Years." Here I included several bank statements (acct. #'s blacked out) indicating travel to/within and/or purchases made in the Philippines, followed by airline itineraries, ticket stubs and receipts for flights, then hotel invoices and receipts for the hotels we stayed at, and finally a color photos section.

Section 4 I titled "Proof of Ongoing Relationship Between David _ & Jacki _." Here I included engagement ring receipts, an engagement photo card, newspaper obituary for my father where Jacki's name was included as "fiancée"), then selected e-mails from the date we first started communicating until near the present date (around 20th of Feb.), then 4 pages of Yahoo Voice chat logs between us, then selected letters sent between the two of us, and finally numerous cards sent between the two of us.

I have two additional packets in the works for Jacki now for her interview. A packet 2 includes all other miscellaneous trip and/or gift receipts.

Packet 3 includes or will include Administrative documents plus I-134-related forms and letters, to include delivery confirmation and copies of check for DHS I-129F appliation, canceled check printouts, NOA1, NOA2, NVC letter, a few other things, followed by a section of all bank statements since 1/2006 (thank God for eStatements!!!), then section 3 is Pay Stubs since April 2006, and section 4 will be tax documentation.

I'll likely toss the out of date/irrelevant materials out of the packets to save Jacki's arms on Interview day! But anyway, the above illustrates mainly my original I-129F submission. I know I need to tone down the other additional packets. But we really want to try to have all of our documents in one place, hence the packets containing everything I've been able to lay my hands on related to us...we want to show our children one day about our early days...I'm sure the kids will get bored if we ever show them the email archive I've amassed...well over 3000 emails between the two of us so far!!! But one day the kids might appreciate it. Oh well...I ramble...
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-05 23:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresquestion about "proof oh having met within 2 years"

Should I explain what I am sending as a proof of having met him within 2 years? For example, on the letter its says we met on this restaurant he works at, so im sending pictures of us in front of this restaurant, and a couple of my credit card bills showing ive eaten there a few times. whould i explain this to the USCIS and if so, where should i do it ?

thanks!



No need to explain what you are sending, you can write ___ Restaurant, Brazil xx/xx/2006 on the back. Also, boarding passes & passport stamps are most important!


What I did with mine and Jacki's was to provide bank and credit card statements (I blacked out all account numbers) showing the bills for the International Travel via plane to the Philippines. I also included the travel itineraries for the first two trips, as well as boarding passes. I labeled each section and subsection of our packet as to what exactly they contained, but I did not go into great detail other than dates and what was included in that section. Almost a Table of Contents would be what I would call it. Color photocopies of passport stamp pages showing the passport stamps of entry into and exit from beneficiary's country, and also for entry back into the USA is also helpful. Photographs of the two of you together are in my opinion, the best evidence. But you should bolster that with travel information as I noted above. Hope this helps.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-04 14:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLetter of intent to marry to be notarized?

no, you do not need to have the letters of intent notarized. I can't think of anything in the 129f petition that needs to be notarized.


We didn't notarize anything with ours either. I know for the interview the I-134 has to be notarized, but I think that's it.

Roy or anyone who's been through this process with Manila before...Side-topic since you've been through this before. It appears that the tel. # for the Manila embassy is a pay-for-use service number. Similar for web site queries. Is there a free way of getting information from the embassy or state dept. or whoever that can let me know that Manila has mine and Jacki's petition? Thanks.

Edited by dj1981, 08 July 2007 - 01:09 PM.

dj1206MalePhilippines2007-07-08 13:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLetter of Intent question
QUOTE (beckypua @ Aug 30 2007, 09:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (bszoom42 @ Aug 30 2007, 02:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (dj1206 @ Aug 30 2007, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I can't see rush-mailing one piece of paper when a consular officer might not even look at it.

You should do whatever makes you comfortable. I know that I would not hesitate to rush mail one piece of paper to my fiancee even if I only thought there was a 1% chance of it being used.
DITTO
No one knows what the COs will look at and what they use to make a decision on whether there is a bonafide relationship or it's a scam.
More ammo the better!


I guess I'll FedEx her a new letter of intent. There shouldn't be any cause for the CO to think she's a scammer, though. Her intentions have always been very clear, and J did not expect to even be engaged to an American, much less with plans to even travel to visit America nearly two years ago when we first started talking. We're not what seems the typical Fil-Am couple. We're only 3 years apart in age, and we met with the intention of being only friends (no personals site or anything like that), then we discovered over time that it could be what it has turned out to be, and I know that we're happier than we've ever been.
dj1206MalePhilippines2007-08-30 21:05:00