ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhy the U.S.?
better opportunities to achieve our goals (save money, support her sister, etc). If I win the lotto...sure, I'll go back laughing.gif
spikeyflipMalePhilippines2009-02-03 23:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCase Complete!!
chaental,
any update, how is it going? !!!!!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-08-09 00:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCase Complete!!
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but after reading this thread I'm wondering, does NVC schedule the interview in the foreign country, or does the consulate? And how much advance notice do you typically get , ie for making plane tickets?
thanks everyone
oh, and anything you can share about guayaquil would be appreciated!
peace
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-08-05 12:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFinally I got the GREEN Light
CONGRATS!!!!!!!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-09-14 15:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 vs K-3 , which is better?
QUOTE (Corey-Mariya @ Mar 19 2008, 01:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well said Happy again! I agree with you! K1 is definitley going to be faster! Where do you live in the us kathie? What service center will you be sending your petition 2?


I live in California.
Thanks to everyone so far who's replied. This is very helpful!
Any ideas on why the first lawyer would say the fiance visa is taking 1.5 years and the marriage visa 1 yr-- completely the opposite of people's experiences here? The lawyer- met in office, paid $200, she had staff members check info for her...?
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-03-22 04:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 vs K-3 , which is better?
Saludos Amigos~
I'm posting in both K-1 and K-3 forums....looking for all points of view.

We are trying to decide which is better for us, K-1 or K-3. Any input would be great; I've spent hours reading this website and a thousand others, but I'm still not clear. You wonder how current a lot of info is.
Here is our story:
- me, US
--him, Ecuadorian, has passport, no visa, ie cant get a tourist visa to visit
-met Dec 2007. i was in Ecuador on a kayaking trip, he is a raft guide. Spent one week together.
-Feb 2008, i returned to Ecuador, spent almost the whole month with him.
-Feb 2008, im back in the US now, within a few days of being apart we realize we dont need to look any further. let get hitched!

Im hearing that the fiance visa is taking slightly less time (a few weeks) less the spouse visa. Is this accurate?

One lawyer I emailed says he is getting visas in 6 months, the processing times on USCIS look like 7 months, and the lawyer I paid $200 for a consult says current times are a year for spouses and a 1.5 yrs for fiances. Who is correct?

Also, a lawyer told me the fiance visa can be denied if they think its a sham, but they cant pull that with the spouse visa. Since we obviously had a very brief courtship (although we can document emails, phone calls, an expensive and long return trip, photos, as well as all my Learn Spanish type books and cds purchased after we met) I'm a little worried about going with the fiance visa. Can anyone advise- will our short courtship throw a flag? If so we are prepared to marry in Ecuador asap and start the K-3 instead.

On the other hand, we want to be be together soon! I'm 38, he's 37, and we want to start having kids asap. (Remember that line from that movie with Marisa Tomei... my CLOCK is TICKING?? :-)

Pros (?) WE ARE: same age, same interests, didn't meet thru internet or marriage service (no offense to anyone i dont know if this is a pro or not), I make enough money and I happen to carry a badge (maybe that will make me look more law abiding and less likely to attempt a sham marriage?), no drugs, no police records, no prior marriages or kids..... what else is important? He has some pretty sweet references- the mayor of his town, lawyers, and his state and national political representatives.

Hope this is neither too much no not enough detail to get a few good responses. Im posting this on the K1 and K3 forums. Thanks everyone, have an awesome day!
Kathie
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-03-19 00:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedurespassport photos
thanks everyone!!!!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-03-26 14:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedurespassport photos
About the passport style photos--
is it acceptable for my fiance to get his taken in Ecuador, and scan and email them to me? As opposed to sending me them in the mail, which would take weeks. I have photo paper and could print them out to look just like "normal" ones (I hope :-) )

Thanks for your advice!!!!! Hope you are all having a good night!
Kathie
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-03-25 21:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPHYSICAL ADDRESS or MAILiNG ADD? PLS.HELP
QUOTE (ZeeNusah @ Mar 26 2008, 06:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
G-325A: use the residential address.

I-129F: use mailing address.




Hey, I'm wondering the same thing! Do you mind if I ask how you determined this?
Thanks a lot for the help,
Kathie
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-03-26 14:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325A- fiance signature?
Hi everyone, hope you are having a fantastic spring day.

On the Biographic Information form, G-325A. I understand we submit one for me, one for him. Any advice on his signature? If I printed this and mailed it to him, and he mailed it back to me, it would put our filing date back a month or 2. How did everyone handle this?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Kathie
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-03-30 15:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresevidence of meeting
Regarding evidence of meeting and having a real relationship, what do you all suggest? Here is what I have:

I bought my plane tickets online, and tossed my boarding passes. But I do have the itineraries from 2 trips, as well as the stamps on my passport.

Most stuff I paid for in cash, I have only one credit card receipt for a hotel, but there's no reference to 2 people or my fiance.

The photos I took- I dont know how to get them to print with the date on them. I tried to figure it out .... I have about 7 pictures of us together, plus one of me and his mom, spanning 2 separate trips.

His mom and boss wrote letters saying they are happy we are getting married and that they met me while i was there. A mutual friend (American) did the same. My uncle, a minister, wrote a letter on church letterhead saying that he will be marrying us when my fiance gets here.

I have emails and phone bills too.

Any other ideas? Is this enough?
Thanks a lot.....after reading the RFE thread, I just really don't want to go there!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-04-12 02:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresbiographic info form G-325a
Thanks "pushbrk", I was actually hoping to get a reply from you!
Kathie
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-04-23 19:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresbiographic info form G-325a
Hi everyone!
Ok, I feel silly asking this---
On form G-325a, there is a big black box at the bottom. Above the box, it says,
Applicant: Be sure to put your name and Alien Registration number in the box outlined bty heavy border below.

in that box, it says:
Complete this box (Family name) (Given Name) (Middle Name) (Alien Registration Number)

I have the Nolo Press book on Fiance visas, and on page 67 it shows a sample G-325a, but that box is not filled out, although the written directions seem to say do fill it out.


question 1) Do I, the US citizen applicant, fill out this box?
2) If so, what do i put for Alien Registration number?
3) For the G-325a completed for my fiance, what do i put in the box, if anything- his info or mine & whose signature?

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!!!!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-04-23 18:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresprocessing times- work days or calendar days?
thank you!!!!!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-07-07 10:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresprocessing times- work days or calendar days?
Hi!
On the vj processing times page, are they talking about calendar days or only work days? For example, 151 days to NOA2 at CSC. Do i count all days in the month or just work days?
thanks a lot (i thought i knew this but i guess i forgot!)

all the best to you
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-07-07 09:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPOE Success, 10/9/08, Houston (Si, Man)
YAY!!!!!!!
Chamy and GatitaNot TellingEcuador2008-10-11 00:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNeed a Divorce now.
Here's some info for you to peruse. Nolo Press is a useful do-it-yourself legal resource.

http://www.nolo.com/.../child-support/
grinchusFemaleItaly2010-03-13 12:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my fiance visit me on vacation while our K-1 is pending
QUOTE (Nik+Heather @ Jun 22 2009, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Your question not covered in the FAQs - Don't worry about the number of visits being zero on the peititon. You signed and dated the petition. At that time, it was true. That's what matters. smile.gif

Good luck on the rest of your visa journey, and happy visiting!! biggrin.gif



Thanks so much for this further clarification about my question. I'm glad I don't have to amend the petition!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-22 15:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my fiance visit me on vacation while our K-1 is pending
QUOTE (payxibka @ Jun 22 2009, 08:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
daily question... please read the FAQ's



Oh, sorry. Thanks for referring me to the FAQ. I'm a newbie, obviously!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-22 13:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my fiance visit me on vacation while our K-1 is pending
Hi, my Italian fiance and I planned for him to visit me in August on vacation while waiting for our K-1 to be processed. Italy and the US have agreement whereby he can come here as a tourist and I can go there without a visa. Does the fact that we now have a K-1 pending change that? And if he can't come visit me, why is that? What is the legal basis for him not to come visit me as a tourist for 30 days just because we have an application pending?

He has already bought a ticket, but now we have been told anecdotally that he shouldn't come because we would risk having our whole application be denied. Is that true? We stand to lose money on this ticket, which is a true bummer.

If he can come, do I have to call and have the application amended, because when I originally filed it he never had been here, so I answered that particular question appropriately ("has your fiance ever been to the US?" = "no"). If he can come in August, "no" will no longer be the correct answer.

Thank you,
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-22 10:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust starting to put together our k1 visa
QUOTE (JimVaPhuong @ Jun 24 2009, 09:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (grinchus @ Jun 24 2009, 09:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Victor&Cory @ Jun 24 2009, 09:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you check the guides for K-1 you will see in item #5 an explanation of the letter of intent as well as an example that you can follow.

http://www.visajourn...mp;page=k1guide

PEACE.............


Ah, I see. Well, that wasn't part of the checklist in the book I'm using and I only discovered VJ this past Monday. It looks from the link you provided that we can do this at the embassy interview stage too. So far it hasn't been requested as additional proof of evidence. Hope that's OK.


Look at the I-129F instructions, page 3, paragraph 5B.

Provide original statements from you and your fiancé(e) whom you plan to marry within 90 days of his or her admission, and copies of any evidence you wish to submit to establish your mutual intent; and

http://www.uscis.gov...form/I-129F.pdf


Yes, I see that now. I included a statement to that effect in my response to question #18 and our intent is clear form our emails and chats. The line-by-line explanation of this in my book does not include providing an original statement, although as you say it is in the instructions to which you have provided this link. So far I have not received a request for extra evidence (which this would be). All I can do now is hope that it goes forward without it, or that they ask for it in a RFE. I think sending it now would be confusing.

grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-24 12:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust starting to put together our k1 visa
QUOTE (Victor&Cory @ Jun 24 2009, 09:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you check the guides for K-1 you will see in item #5 an explanation of the letter of intent as well as an example that you can follow.

http://www.visajourn...mp;page=k1guide

PEACE.............


Ah, I see. Well, that wasn't part of the checklist in the book I'm using and I only discovered VJ this past Monday. It looks from the link you provided that we can do this at the embassy interview stage too. So far it hasn't been requested as additional proof of evidence. Hope that's OK.
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-24 11:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust starting to put together our k1 visa
QUOTE (Jamie&Harry @ Jun 24 2009, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Im just waiting on his letter of intent... I would have had him do it here when he was visiting but...I thought for some reason it had to be postmarked.. sleep.gif anyways he is doing that and sending it tomorrow and then I will be able to send out the package.



Hi everyone, I'm confused about this "letter of intent" of which everyone is speaking. I am following my Nolo Press book to the letter about how to navigate the K-1 visa process to bring my beloved fiance to the US. Question #18 has a "describe how you met" question for which I provided an attached sheet of paper b/c I wanted to state in detail how we met, fell in love and decided to marry. But I, the "petitioner" had to write that. We also both turned in signed G325A forms. As additional proof of our love and intent to marry I included copies (and translations) of emails and chats between us discussing our love (really personal parts redacted!) and our plans to marry. According to the thorough checklist in my book (yes, I'm flying w/o a lawyer...doin' it myself w/ a book) there is no "letter of intent" - unless that's another name for a document.

grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-24 11:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSnail Mail -- Does My Fiancee Need to Send me snail mails?
I haven't been exchanging snail mail correspondence with my fiance. We email and chat every day and I printed out a bunch of those for my initial application. We also talk on Skype, cell and sms constantly. Unfortunately many modes of communication now don't leave a paper trail (Skype, cell phone using int'l calling card, texting). Paradoxically, if a relationship is sincere it's almost harder to produce the "evidence" of it because it, and the communications involved in it, evolve organically. I find that the most frustrating part of this process - besides the wait!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-26 11:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCopies of the emails and chat logs
A book I'm consulting says you can provide redacted emails in which you take out, for example, the most intimate stuff. Where I omitted, I wrote <snip> or something like that so it's clear something's missing. If they want to see originals, no they won't be exactly the same, but it will be obvious why I chose to leave out some stuff.
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-26 12:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresproof of citizenship
QUOTE (isabellamae @ Jul 3 2009, 08:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
But then, he forgot to make copies of ALL pages, and just the biographic information on the first page with his
Is it possible that we can get a RFE later since he forgot to send copies of ALL pages? I told him about this little problem but he asked me what do they need with BLANK pages of passport? Isn't the info page with signature and foreign country visa on his passport not good enough to prove that he is a US Citizen considering that on the foreign country visa it was indicated that his citizenship is US?


The entire passport is the legal document, not just the bio page. Also, they can't know the pages are blank unless you send them, that's why they want the whole thing.

It's possible they won't send an RFE, but you're right not to be surprised if they do.

grinchusFemaleItaly2009-07-04 12:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need to inform USCIS of new cell phone number?
QUOTE (gsebia @ Jul 15 2009, 09:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Please send me that Link - I have same problem with her Phone and Address

Gene abd Keila (Peru)

NAO1 5/1/09 VSC


Hi, sorry I can't send you the link to the online form itself, the USCIS website appears to be under maintenance - or at least that link is. But if you go to the USCIS site here

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

you will see on the left hand side a list of links under the heading "More Information", one of which is "Change Your Address with USCIS" (it's the 6th one).

I ended up not using it because it really is for address changes, not phone numbers. So I'm not going to worry about the cell number change. I don't want to mislead them in this case by implying an address change when there isn't one.

Thanks everyone!

grinchusFemaleItaly2009-07-16 10:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need to inform USCIS of new cell phone number?
How do you let them know anything via email? Do they have an online form where you can send changes? Sorry for my ignorance! And thanks for the quick reply!

QUOTE (grinchus @ Jul 15 2009, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
How do you let them know anything via email? Do they have an online form where you can send changes? Sorry for my ignorance! And thanks for the quick reply!


Never mind! Found the "online change of address tool" on the website. Thanks again!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-07-15 19:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need to inform USCIS of new cell phone number?
Hi everyone,

My fiance and I have a K1 in process at the California Service Center. NOA1 only received so far - sigh! My cell phone died yesterday so I got a new one, but I had to switch plans AND numbers so as not to pay a hefty penaly for breaking my contract w/ my old cell phone company. My old cell number is what is on my application (my cell is my only phone), so do I have to file paperwork that my phone number has changed? I know you have to file a form (I forgot what it's called) if you move and thus your address changed, but do you have to file one for a change of phone number too?

If so, or if anyone here thinks it's going to be a huge problem, I can always go back and request my old number, but I'd rather not pay that huge penalty if I don't have to.

Thanksl!

Jenny
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-07-15 19:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAs I sit here waiting...
QUOTE (ndbbm @ Jul 30 2009, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My fiance is planning a visit to see me in August. She'll be here 10 days and returning home to sit out this process like I am. She lives in Sask, Canada and I'm in Pennsylvania. I've read several places that say it's a good idea for her to have proof of ties to Canada to aid in her being allowed to visit. I'm just looking for ideas as to what those things might be? A signed letter from her employer? Thanks!


My fiance is coming from Italy to visit me for the month of August. He's bringing a letter from his employer stating that he's expected back at work on September 1st, a copy of his rental agreement for his apartment, he'll also have his return ticket, plus a copy of our entire I-129F packet and a copy of the NOA1 receipt of payment for the K1 visa petition. The first two docs are to show ties to his country and his intent to return; the return ticket is to show he has a reservation to leave and go home; the copy of the visa-related docs are to show that we're going through the correct channels and have actually shelled out $$ to do so.

I should be picking him up at the airport at 7 PM on Saturday the 1st. I am hoping beyond hope that there are no problems with him getting through customs in NY!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-07-30 13:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisiting your fiance during the immigration process
I asked the same question back in June as to whether my fiance from Italy could come visit me. Thanks to this website I learned that he could, and I followed the advice here to have him bring copies of his apartment lease, a letter from his boss saying he was expected back to work on September 1st, and a copy of our entire K-1 Visa application and the NOA1.

He said that he got through the customs part really easily. He doesn't speak English very well (yet!) so he said as simply as possible that he was here on vacation, he gave them my name and address, and they smiled, stamped his passport and waived him through.

I'm in California and he flew through New York so he had to go through customs there. He almost missed his connection, but that didn't have anything to do w/ our pending visa, it's just that his flight arrived late from Milan, and he got singled out of the security line for a longer search. This was random, though, and again didn't have anything to do w/ the immigration process. Like I said, the immigration process itself was the easy part!

So I'm happy to report that he's been here since August 1st and that we get to be together for the whole month of August. We are having a wonderful time!

I don't know whether our experience is normal or not, I just wanted to share that it all went pretty smoothly, at least from a customs point of view. Good luck to all of you w/ your potential visits!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-08-10 13:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTwo different stories, one ruined wedding.
QUOTE (ambermiele @ Oct 25 2009, 12:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My fiancé is a US Citizen living in Michigan and I am a Canadian Citizen living in Ontario. Our wedding is in 3 weeks.

For the past 5-6 months my fiancé has been making calls to the USCIS and the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. After several inquiries he was told that we had two ways to go about the immigration process. The first way suggested was to file an I-129F form for alien fiancé. We looked into this form more and discovered that once it is filed it goes through two departments, and both when phoned told him they take up to 6 months each to process. Then we were told we had 90 days upon approval to get married. It seemed to us that this form is only for people who are looking to quickly “get hitched” with a Justice of the Peace because with such a large indefinite time window there was no way to plan a wedding.

The other option was to get married and then file a I-130 form. Based off what we were told in these phone conversations, we would be able to enter the USA, get married and then immediately file, and I would be able to live with him while we waited on the form to be processed. He called multiple times just to confirm this was correct because we wanted to do it right and for everything to go smoothly.
Well given the wedding is 3 weeks away, we had planned a 2 week visit to his place to pick out an apartment together and tie up other loose ends. We showed up to the border with car load of my personal things and told the officer we were there to visit for 2 weeks. He pulled us aside into the border office. We explained to them our situation, our intention, and tried to be as upfront and truthful as possible. It was at this moment the story we were told over the phone by the USCIS and Toronto US Embassy suddenly changed. The officer we spoke to said that once I file my I-130 I can no longer enter the US as a guest and must remain in Canada until it is approved. They also refused to give us entry into the US for our 2 week visit because they knew we had the intent to get married soon, and the intent that I wanted to move into the US. We ended up driving 3 hours back to my house that night, with the next 2 weeks of planning ruined.

My fiancé and I are very frustrated for 2 reasons:

1, Up to this point getting information on this entire process has been frustrating. Nobody seemed willing to help over the phone, not a single person we talked to seemed to have all the concrete details about how this all works with a lot of “I think so’s” over the phone. Everyone had a slightly different story, including the very same border we were just refused at when my fiancé asked them last week. So all the preparation we did to make this a smooth process ended up amounting to nothing because none of what we were told held up. If I’m not allowed to live in the US while I’m waiting on paperwork, fine, that’s the way it is. But had I known that was the way things worked we would have made very different plans.

2, We feel like we are being punished for being honest and trying to do things right. The chief at the USCIS said that if I were already in the US and filed my I-130 from over there, I would be allowed to stay until it was approved, but because they knew our intentions of getting married soon (not even within the 2 weeks) they refused us. In other words, had we neglected to mention anything about our engagement or marriage plans, we could have crossed the border fine for two weeks, and then again in 3 weeks I could have crossed, gotten married, and lived with him just like we planned. The only difference is that we were upfront and honest about our intent, and for that we are punished. As we were being directed back across the border in tears yesterday the officer walking us across said he didn’t agree with what they were doing and that it did seem like we were being punished for being honest and trying to do things right.

If there is anything anyone here has done in the same situation like us that could help us or give us pointers to get around this situation, it would be greatly appreciated.
We have already made a list of others to call and what questions and answers we need to ask and get. Anything else would be great. Thank you for taking time reading our problem.


Hi ambermiele,

When my fiance' and I got engaged we considered both options as well, whether to get married in Italy and go the K-3 (spouse) visa route or go the K-1 (fiance') visa route and get married here. For us the K-1 was better not because we wanted to "get hitched" quickly, but because in our case it was the route that was going to take the least amount of time. We would not have been able to get married until December 2009 anyway, and so the K-3 visa paperwork would only start after then, whereas the K-1 visa paperwork would start as soon as we wanted it to after our engagement. In fact, we filed in late April and we got approved 2 weeks ago, and now he has his ticket to come in early January - and we'll get married within the 90 days after his POE. Now, both my fiance' and I are definitely Justice of the Peace types anyway so not having a huge wedding is actually in our plans, but as people have said in this thread, you can have a civil wedding just to stay within the law and the 90 day time line, and then have a big wedding later.

You are correct that this route is not the one to take if you're trying to plan a big wedding. But setting a date for a wedding is difficult with any immigration case because you simply have no control over the vicissitudes of immigration bureaucracy. With the K-3 you do have more control over the wedding date part, but then your spouse has to return home to wait for the visa to come through, so you get to be newlyweds living in different places, which is not very satisfying, to say the least.

I'm sorry you did not get a clear answer from the USCIS, but with this kind of stuff you shouldn't take anyone's word for how long things are going to take. Every case is different, and until you have the visa in hand there's no saying for sure how long the process is going to take.

Since your wedding is 3 weeks away, it looks like your only choice is to get married (hopefully in Canada b/c as others have said, you can't come in on a tourist visa and then get married, which is illegal and might cause you problems during the visa process) and then do the K-3 visa route.

Good luck you you!
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-10-25 19:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGoogle Wave and translation bot
Hi everyone,

I just watched a demonstration of a new Google tool called Google Wave. I don't know how widely available it is yet, but according to this demonstration (link below) there is also a translation robot that they're working on that can translate chats in real time. The part demonstrating Rosy the translating robot starts at minute 6:48 of the video (but you should watch the whole thing because it's cool!). I don't know whether the translating bot is ready for prime-time or how many - or what languages - it incorporates, but something like this could be a great help to couples who speak different languages to communicate via chat, and to prove to doubting officials during the visa application process that you really CAN communicate with your sweetie and that language is not a barrier to love!

Let's hope this kind of technology continues to develop.

http://wave.google.c...using-wave.html

P.S. Dear administrators, I posted this in the K-1 forum but please feel free to move it anywhere you want.
grinchusFemaleItaly2009-11-29 10:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThe RFE Master List
QUOTE (lucyrich @ Mar 6 2006, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Stefanie @ Mar 6 2006, 12:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
+ Always send in the LONG version of the birth certificate (USC) - not the short one. If you only happen to have the short one, include copies of ALL pages of the passport of the US citizen.


That may be excellent advice for some situations, but not "always". In our case, we went through the whole process without ever sending in the USC's birth certificate at all (we used the passport to provide proof of citizenship). Also, some places issue only one form of birth certificate, so there's not always a distinction between "long form" and "short form". Just telling folks they have to file the "long form" may be more confusing than helpful if there is no "long form" option in their place of birth. Finally, some USC's were born abroad, so they don't have the option of using the birth certificate to provide proof of citizenship.


I also sent it in without a birth certificate because the book I read (Fiance & Marriage Visas: A Couple's Guide to U.S. Immigration by Illona Bray, Nolo Press) said that the passport in and of itself is proof of citizenship. I sent a copy of every single page, plus front and back cover!. I've only received NOA1 so far, no RFEs yet asking for birth certificate.

Edited by grinchus, 23 June 2009 - 02:52 PM.

grinchusFemaleItaly2009-06-23 14:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestax and income info

Technically, the consul just want to see if the petitioner files taxes. What you really need is employment letter and recent paystubs to determine your income.


Am I reading the information about employment letter and recent paystubs incorrectly from the link provided above:

"If estimated current annual income appears significantly higher than past reported income, or if the income varies widely from year to year, it will likely raise suspicions with an adjudicator. In those cases, expect the USCIS or consular official to request additional proof, such as pay stubs or an employer's letter. Otherwise, those employment records are no longer required to be submitted with the affidavit of support."
bobbMaleRussia2007-04-10 18:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures325a signature question

You may want to fill out your profile better so that when people read your posts that they know better your situation.

Also since you mentioned China you may want to join A Candle For Love, http://candleforlove.com that board specializes on the process in Guangzhou and all things Chinese/American.


I just updated my profile. Thanks for the suggestion on Candle for Love. I've just recently bookmarked Asiawind.com, but it sounds like Candle for Love will be a better site.

I was all ready a couple years ago to do this with a woman from Ukraine, but never even got to the stage of actually completing the I-129F and G-325a. I am
very familiar with what will be needed and how to fill out most parts of the two forms.
bobbMaleRussia2007-02-04 02:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures325a signature question
Even writing this sounds like a stupid question. Does a Chinese fiance sign her signature in chinese on the G-325a and also enter her name just below in her native alphabet?
bobbMaleRussia2007-02-03 01:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNew divorce paper ?
QUOTE
Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________
Date Typed Name
Address

If the address of the translator was from China would this possibly be a 'red flag' and might they ask me for more information?
bobbMaleRussia2008-09-21 23:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNew divorce paper ?
I am just preparing for the possibitlities of my trip to Saint Petersburg, Russia in October. I would rather know now, than waste time later. You're right I could at least enter the country, even though I haven't filed anything yet, and may not.
bobbMaleRussia2008-09-18 17:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNew divorce paper ?
QUOTE (YuAndDan @ Sep 18 2008, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As long as the translation has a notation by the translator that it is a true translation and is signed and dates by the translator then you should be fine, if not, if you know someone who is conversant in both languages and can read and compare translation and origional and can confirm that the translation is acurate then that person could sign the translation.

QUOTE
Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________
Date Typed Name
Address
http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Send simple photocopies of the papers not originals.

One other note: If you will be dealing with the consulate in Guangzhou, you should join and use "A Candle for Love" that site specializes in immigrations maters for China. http://candleforlove.com


Thanks, There is no notation by translator as you mention at top of your post. I should be able to find someone where I live to do this. I have no need to deal with anyone in Guangzhou. My divorce was from Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.
bobbMaleRussia2008-09-18 16:40:00