ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNoa2 for December 06 filer
YAY! Lots tonight!!! Congrats and hope the next steps go quickly and painlessly!!!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-28 00:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMy Case
At CSC, we usually see an early touch when they cash the check and then nothing for months (BOOOOO). You might get a few touches right before and after you are approved, but that doesnt always happen. Sometimes you dont see anything till you get the approval! Someone (currently FWAguy) does a list of who is approved in each month so when we get closer to Feb approvals (late april/may) check those out to see where approvals are. Welcome to VJ and the worst waiting game EVER!!!!!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-07 22:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAnother February Filer
Haha, I was in the same boat. Got my NOA1 Feb 1st. I figure that the silver lining is I most likely will be one of the first people in my month, rather than the last. Hoping to the be the first person posting my NOA2 for Feb rather than the last for Jan (No prayer thread for me I hope!!! :whistle: ). Good luck and welcome!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-03 00:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresKind of complicated story.. ideas appreciated~
Just a thought (been mulling over this for the last few days...) and please correct me if I have this wrong! Could you file for a student visa to do an exchange with an American HS and then while on the visa marry and do AOS? Not sure if this would be any faster (since you'd probably have to wait till August for fall semester)/possible on a HS exchange program. Just a thought! Sure wish my fiance could have stayed and adjusted his status on his J visa!

EDIT: And please dont think I'm telling you what to do, just a thought to give you more time to be together

Edited by msu17, 07 March 2007 - 11:11 PM.

msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-07 23:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresKind of complicated story.. ideas appreciated~

1) You'll need parental consent either to marry (and then file for a K3 or CR-1) or to come here at age 16 on a fiancée visa. Without that, you can't be legally married, or legally marry, which is the point of the visa.

2) I picked up the impression that one reason you're considering this is that your boyfriend can't often come here to visit you, and this would get you to the U.S. to visit him. Just keep in mind that the K-1 isn't a getting-to-know-each-other visa, and as an Australian, you can come over easily for tourism. So if anywhere you're thinking that your only way to the U.S. to be with your boyfriend is just marriage, you have other options.

3) This process will take some time. Figure between six-nine months for a K-1, about a year for the CR-1. This is not a fast process; you could even finish up your high school degree while filing.



Yay for #3! Please seriously consider getting your HS degree (or GED equivalent) before you move here. That is really great you have his family to work for, but what if you hate the job/get bored of it in 10 years. OR you are 35 and decide you REALLy want to go to college and become an accountant for instance. You will be SO glad you have your HS degree. You've got the time with the visa process, why not get the degree? You dont have much to lose, and you'll *probably* save yourself a lot of time in the future if you decide to get another job or go to college etc.

Edited by msu17, 06 March 2007 - 11:37 AM.

msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-06 11:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresKind of complicated story.. ideas appreciated~
If you are thinking the CR1 is the best, check out that forum. We can only really help with K1. Good luck on whatever you decide and I hope you have a wonderful visit with your SO!

at what point did i openly say that i wanted anyone to give me a "go get a K1!" response?
as far as i knew, at the point i posted the topic, this was the place that had the best chance of giving me some idea of which road i should head down, be it K1 or a different type of visa. i never said i was only open to one, and if you read the entire topic, you would have noticed that i posted a short while back saying that the CR1 option looked like the best idea, but i still wasn't sure how to go about it.
i'm not using my boyfriend as an escape, i love him and his family, and have done for almost a year and a half. i admit freely i want out of here, but who exactly are you to judge me when you don't know my exact circumstances at home?
in a couple of weeks he'll be here for two weeks, and then when my passport is renewed, i'll be visiting him for as long as i can stay on a tourist visa.
so right now, this isn't immediate.

thank you to everyone who has provided me with information i can use, as opposed to namecallers and people intent on analyzing my motives.
i won't be posting here anymore.


msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-04 00:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresKind of complicated story.. ideas appreciated~
I forgot about BUNAC! Good call Marina! I did the program this last summer. Your American boyfriend can look into this option. 4 months in Australia and I think a year in New Zealand. Its a fairly inexpensive visa and really easy to get. Not sure on how old you need to be to apply to come here for a summer to work.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-27 13:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresKind of complicated story.. ideas appreciated~
I would strong consider the student visa's. You know yourself, so its up to you to decide on marriage. With the student visa though you are not locked into anything permanent, you two can get engaged and married when it is right for you, not because this fiance visa process locks you into a timeline. The only thing to watch out for, is with some ( I believe its J-2) you might have to remain in Australia after the visa for 2 years. If you go student visa route, talk with the exchange program and try to get onto one that does not have this requirement. Not all J's require it though (my fiance was on it, but was not subject ot the 2 year requirement).
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-27 11:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBest Overnight Shipping to NSC
I sent my package on a Friday with priorty, not overnight and it got there on a Monday. I figure I'd rather save my money for a plane ticket :) Plus with NSC they still have to send it on to CSC, so you're not saving much time.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 22:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresOnly 4 days of meeting physically!
Dont know how much you've already done, but send love letters and e-mails. Make sure to keep the envelope to prove the date it was sent. You can cross out the naughty bits :) Phone records show contact, these show the feelings involved. If nothing else, you'll have an excellent collection to look back at in 10 years and get warm fuzzies hehe!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 22:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresObservation about people getting NOA2's
I wonder if there really is a trend in approvals, or if its just a VJ thing? Like do they all get drunk Tues night, dont do much Wed and then crank the rest out for the end of the week OR do we just happen to wind up all being on people's desk at the same time?
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 22:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresShould I use an Immigratio Lawyer?
First off, if you go with a lawyer, MAKE SURE you know they are credible, trustworthy and have a great track record. SO many stories on here of incompitent lawyers totally making a mess of the application and others who just wont give their clients any answers to this VERY stressful procedure. Lawyers cant make the process go any faster, however an experienced one *SHOULD* be able to deal with any craziness that happens. They should know which papers to send, what to sign etc. All of which you can find out on your own if you have the patience to do the research. If you have a complicated case then a lawyer may be the way to go. All in all, if you have a strait forward case, you do not need a lawyer and they will not speed the process up. If it makes you feel better etc. then thats most important. However most of us dont use anything other than the government websites, VJ etc and get through it just fine. Good luck on whatever you decide and hope you get through this and get to be together ASAP!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-03 21:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat constitutes a legal marriage after K-1 Fiancee Arrives?

A lot depends on your state and county.

Look for your local county registrar/recorder - many/most have websites now - and find out the requirements. Many places have same-day service for everything, license and ceremony/legal marriage. You can get it done right at city hall and sometimes walk out with the proof. Or if it needs to get mailed to you, it might take a week or two. Just don't want until day 89 to do it and you should be fine.


Is a wedding outside of the courthouse considered a legal marriage for the K1 visa?



You can get married anywhere, the same as normal couples do (hehe, both being USC!). As long as you have the certificate, the government doesnt care where you did it (well as long as the where is in the USA...). Park, city hall, vegas, church etc all are totally legit places
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-09 18:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLawyer and ISCIS errors, big delays
I am curious how horrible lawyers dealing with Immigration really are. Obviously a lot of people on here have had bad experiences, but if you had a good lawyer who kept you up to date on everything and you arent obsessive compulsive about the procedure, would you have found VJ and joined? Sorry all, taking my stats class right now so I have my mind on cause hehe!!!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-09 22:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed some suggestions on K1 process...

Well to start off, I received the NOA2 notice via email about a month ago, but somehow the post office was not able to deliver the approval notice and was returned to the Vermont service center. I called customer service and let them know and sorted out the address issue. It has been a month and they still haven't resent the approval notice. anyone knows what happens from here? BTW, the consulate in S. Korea received the packet and has sent all the necessary documents to my fiance for the K1 process.

Another couple suggestions I need is that, before I sent the I-129F packet, I forgot to make copies of all the documents such as I-129F, G325, and etc. So I won't be able to sent copies of said items to my fiance, so that she can take it to her interview. How important is this and can I just refill out the forms and date and sign them? Also, is it really important to have a copy of the NOA2 notice during the interview, or is it more to be complete, just in case they ask for it?

Please give me some suggestions on what I can do to make this process smoother...thanks and take cares!
:blush:


Congrats on the approval!!! Since you have the embassy's paperwork, your visa is proceeding. Not sure if you need NOA2 for the interview, but you will need it when you file AOS after the marriage. Dont worry about the copies, the officer at the interview should have the packet. Mainly the copies are for your reference. I would definitly call Vermont again to get the NOA2 and then celebrate getting this far and wait for the interview!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-09 23:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYESSSSSSS a touch....I can't believe it!!!
About time for some NOA2!!! We've been approval free for too long now! Good luck, and you keep right on dancing!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 09:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 visa
Did you submit the other things as well? Ie. passport pics, evidence of meeting, letter of intent etc? If not, you might want to get that together at the same time as the G-325A's
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-10 22:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTrying to marry a french citizen, don't understand times
RFE is a request for more evidence. If you forgot to sign something, didnt send enough evidence of meeting/relationship, forgot photos etc. Basically if they dont have what they need to make a decision.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-10 22:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTrying to marry a french citizen, don't understand times
Hehe I can answer 2 of your Q's :) Each of you fill out all 4 pages. Make sure to sign each page as well. So in total, 8 pages of G-325A. It makes more sense if you see the original form they send if you call the center and have them send it to you. You get 2 copies of the G-325A and each has 4 carbon copy pages.

Vermont has the visa they've been working on the longest post as a CYA. The VAST majority of people (at least on this site) are getting approvals within 1 month. 2-3 month timelines are for california SC. You are lucky and get the shorter approval time!

Edited by msu17, 10 March 2007 - 10:20 PM.

msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-10 22:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTrying to marry a french citizen, don't understand times
Read the guides if you havent yet, they are very helpful. I dont know what you mean only 2 pages apply to you since they should all be the same and all 4 are needed. Make sure you have original signatures on the 2 G-325A's and the I 129f. You are lucky you are going through Vermont, they usually take less than a month for approval. Recently one filer was approved in 8 days! From there, time till interview varies and I dont know what the wait is for France. I am doing a co-sponsor as well. Very similar situation, a lot of people cant meet the income requirements so they co-sponsor. You can't expidite this visa. Since she is on the VWP, she can come be with you and then return for the interview/medical etc. She does need to prove ties to France if she comes while the visa is processing since it shows a higher likelyhood of staying. Lots of threads on this. Good luck on filing!

Okay, so I am filling the I-129f and G-325A form. First, do I need to send in all four pages of G-325A since only two pages apply to us?

I will be having a sponsor since I don't work (I am a student and I also receive SSI). Is this going to be a problem? Should I get a job quickly and keep it, or just use my sponsor (grandmother who makes more than enough money and has a lot of assets).

How long does the application take to process in Vermont? Then how long until she has her meeting? Basically, when can I get her to the US to marry? Is there another fee I can pay to speed things up? Can she be in the US without a visa, then fly back, and fly back to the US once the visa is approved? (I think you can stay in America for 3 months without a visa)

Thanks,
Ephesus


msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-10 21:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresblue ink?
I signed mine in blue and black so they knew they weren't copies :)
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-10 22:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow much is toomuch
Good post Aussiewench! In my statement, which was 3 paragraphs, I wrote how we met (1st paragraph) the dates of visits (2nd paragraph, a few details of each visit) and a concluding paragraph. Then I submitted boarding passes/passport stamps for each trip, a picture from each trip (of us together) and the evidence to show we were at MSU at the same time. I then sent in a few e-mails/letters/engagement cards. Hope this helps :)
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-11 18:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCSC\NSC\TSC Time lines
Hehe you're right I do need to get a life! No offense to FWAguy, but I took his info online and made a spreadsheet so I can sort a bit easier. If anyone wants it PM me and I'll e-mail it. Thank you SO much FWAGUY for all your help! You are helping make me even more obsessed with approvals :)
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-10 22:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiancee Does Not Work
No problem, lots of us are in the same boat. My fiance is graduating in May and I am doing my masters and then med school, so no income for me for 5 years!!! Woo hoo, go loans!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-13 16:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshow about it
Hehe that's my birthday, so it's a lucky day ;) CONGRATS!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-14 14:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures-newbie question- official Fee chart?
Check the site listed above for the filing fee for 129F, which is currently 170$ but may be going up in October. You will the have to pay to translate documents into English, get a medical and pay for the actual visa, all of which vary by country which is why there is no link to a site.

Just remember if you go the K1 route, you can't be married until you enter the US on the K1 and then must marry within 90 days. If you have your heart set on a wedding in Argentina you will either have to wait till you get advanced parole after filing AOS OR do the K3. And if you enter into the country with intent to marry on your B2 that is considered visa fraud. It would be very hard for you to prove that you didnt intend to marry since you and your SO have to been together so long.

Most of us say dont bother with a lawyer unless your case is complicated. My SO and I met in the US, neither of us have been married before, no kids, no criminal records etc so we really dont need a lawyer. I definitly wouldnt pay for a kit that just gives you the forms, since they are all available online for free. But if you feel more comfortable with a lawyer, make sure to research them and find someone experienced with K1 visas, and not just immigration visa's in general.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-14 17:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHealth Insurance

I am getting my fiance health insurance. One question asks are you a US citizen or Legal resident??
We just got married and have not received greencard yet. Is a K1 holder considered a legal resident? Question did not ask if permanant.

Please help.

Allie

Oops - I should have said husband, not fiance (only been married 1 week)


Congrats on the wedding! I would put legal resident. You are filing for the greencard and he is legally allowed to be living in the US. To me that makes him a legal resident :) I'm sure the company doesnt want to give insurance to illegal residents, which he isnt and so the best option would be legal resident.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-14 17:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNEBRASKA AND TEXAS DOWN???

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE I-129F FORM. FOLLOW THEM.

Why is this hard?

Do lots of parts of the process suck?

Yeah, totally.

But you still have to follow the instructions, which are very clearly written and easy to understand when it comes to where to send your forms.


:lol: Filing to Nebraska then having it forwarded to Cali doesnt really add that much time. My petition got mailed on the 26th of jan, was recieved on the 29th and I got my NOA1 on the 1st. It maybe only adds 2 days.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-14 17:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhere are the NOA2's

I'm a January filer, and I'm unpatiently waiting for NOA2 :whistle: . I have not seen many approvals this week. Has any petitions been approved since Monday?

CSC PLEASE HURRY :crying: :crying: :crying: with our approvals.


I'm only 5 days behind you so I'm waiting impatiently with you. I wish we lived in Vermont. They will come in due time and someday you will look back at this process and laugh about it. It's also going to be a good story to tell your grandchildren. You know you really love someone when your willing to go through THIS process. Hang in there. I'm right there with you. Ken



Haha, thats what I keep telling myself! If I EVER hear my kids/grandkids complaining about love they are going to hear this entire story from start to finish and then back again :) I am really curious about divorce rates for people who go through this (well at least after the first year when people get homesick etc). If nothing else we should have better communication than most "normal" couples and know that if something is this wonderful its worth waiting for...
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-14 17:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBad News I-129 Watch the Dates
I was lucky enough to get mine in before the expiration date, but the only difference I could find is on the question that asks something like have you ever been accused of ... and listed like 3 crimes. They added a box to check no. Kind of silly to cause such a ruckus over a check no box, but hey, as said, is the US government! Ok, maybe not so silly since I was thinking, I didnt do any of these and I want to check no... Haha
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-14 17:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI dont see many Vietnamese people in here
To find other ppl from Vietnam, go to Immigration Timelines up at the top. Then go to timeline search under the timeline function heading. Then in the drop down boxes go to the country one and click on Vietnam. Click search and it will bring up lots of timelines. Then click on the 2 little people on the right of each name. It will take you to their profile and you can PM them and look at their posts. Click on the name in the timeline search function and it will show you when they filed, how long it took etc. Check out HuskerKiev's post (1st post by former NSC adjudicator). He does a great job of outlining the process there, what they look for, and says how many petitions they usually approved (Just at the service center, you still have many other steps though). Good luck!

Edited by msu17, 26 February 2007 - 12:36 PM.

msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-26 12:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresSurprise! Surprise! Surprise!!!!!
[/quote]
Just got home from work. The nonchalant is actually a face I am trying hard to put on. My heart is breaking and I do not know how to tell my daughters. They were really excited thinking Nerissa would be here for them. Life sucks today.
[/quote]

Seems like a knee jerk reaction now. I sure hope you can get a good reason from her in the coming days and weeks and that the trip to the PI goes well. I do hope you can talk to her and find out what is going on. I'm so sorry, especially for your children. Maybe a little less talk about the money though ;)
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-02-22 20:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresIt is true!!!
Wow, that is amazing!!! Congrats! Totally jealous though!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 16:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat To Do If Your Fiance Is Already In The USA
Here's the site with information for extention of I-94 if you can do that.

http://travel.state.....html#Extension
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 01:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat To Do If Your Fiance Is Already In The USA

And frankly, not a damn day goes by when I don't wish the fates had aligned sooner to allow us to go that route rather than this one - and I would hazard to guess that most people here would agree. And that's not encouraging cheating or cutting in line or anything illegal. It's a legitimate process by which someone could remain in the country and that it exists offers a glimmer of hope that the government does take into account basic human history and nature: people meet and fall in love! Poof! Some just have better timing than others.

Again, the key to the OP's situation here is the facts underlying their own timeline - which again, is between them and the government.



Haha, ya... I wish I knew this process better when I first met my fiance! He even wanted to stay and finish school here and I was the idiot who convinced him to go home and finish cause it was faster to get his degree!!! :bonk:
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 00:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat To Do If Your Fiance Is Already In The USA
Because we'd be entering with the intent of marrying which IS visa fraud. That's why when our SO visits on VWP they have to show lots of evidence they are going to return home. However had my fiance and I gotten married when he was here on his student visa (since we met when he came in on this), we could have filed directly for AOS since he did not enter with intent to stay.
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-08 00:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresbirth certificate - foreign fiance - why?
If I were you, I would just submit your packet on Monday. Go ahead and get the Birth certificate translated and get a copy in case you get an RFE, but I personally would rather chance that I dont get an RFE and have the paperwork in earlier than wait. Plus, if you do get an RFE for it, you wont really spend any more time waiting for the request and then sending in the translated BC than if you wait to get it translated and mailed now. But thats just me :) Wow, way too many "waits" and "RFE's" in that haha!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-17 14:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresevidence..s enough?
I think your evidence sounds pretty good as evidence of meeting. My fiance was also here on a J-1 so I sent in the documents that showed we were at the same university at the same time (not sure if it helps, but I had them so I jsut sent them). I also sent pictures and the passport stamps as evidence of meeting. Then I sent some evidence of having a relationship, ie letters, e-mails, reciepts etc. Good luck!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-18 17:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRedirected I-129f Petition = confusion
Only thing I can think is you are filing from a state that's in the East that's supposed to go to Texas or Nebraska.. If that's not the case that REALLY SUCKS!
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-19 10:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed HELP with your opinions!!!!!!
I'll be understanding up until the point he tells people he hopes their marriages go to hell... That's inappropriate no matter what the situation
msu17FemaleUnited Kingdom2007-03-18 10:34:00