ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
I just tried and no luck. Here's hoping for tomorrow.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-09 20:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
I agree, Marlea. Because I've had several operators tell me that the NVC doesn't even handle K1's and they're sent directly from the USCIS to the Embassy or Consulate. This is complete nonsense, but it just goes along with what I said earlier - poor training.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-09 15:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
Here's hoping, but you'd think the DOS would be able to find it.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-09 09:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
Ok, I'm officially getting cheesed off by these idiot operators at the NVC who don't know what they're talking about. "We don't handle K1's, they wouldn't come here." How many untrained operators are going to tell me this???

It's been over a week and my case still isn't logged into their system. Nobody else seems to be taking this long. I'm starting to get frustrated.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-09 08:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
Click on the link at the top of the VJ page that says "Portal" and it should take you to the India portal. From there click on the consulate information page and it should give you a link to that consulate's information/requirements.

My fiance will interview at the London embassy, so they require the DS-230 pt I, DS-156 & 156K, DS-157, and the checklist DS-2001.

They will need the 156, 156k, and 157 signed in duplicate (2 originals) as well as a copy of each.

From my end, I'm including a copy of everything that was in the I-129F packet for reference, a copy of the NOA1 and NOA2 (also for reference), my divorce decree, a new letter of intent to marry (notarized), and the I-134 for myself and my co-sponsor, tax returns & w-2's for each of us, letters from our employers & banks, pay stubs and bank statements. To prove an ongoing relationship, I've included 7 photos, copies of itineraries from our trips to see each other, copies of boarding passes, copies of our passport pages, copies of phone logs showing how much we call (THANK YOU, VONAGE!!!!), copies of a xmas card he sent me that said "To my fiance", copies of my wedding dress receipt to show proof of intent, and copies of a USPS receipt from where my mother sent him his xmas/bday presents.

I know that might be overkill on the relationship thing, but I'd rather send more than less. I'm also including the informational guide print out for his police certificate and medical exam.

For his forms, I'm including 2 copies of the ones he needs to sign twice, and flagging them with "Sign Here" tabs, as well as sticky notes with instructions to copy them.

I'm making this as idiot-proof as possible, and no, he's not an idiot... but he's a guy. Nuff said.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-08 16:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
Spoke to the DOS this morning - 202-663-1225 (Option 4 for Immigrant Visas, then 0 for an operator)

Very nice operator, their system was lagging this morning so it took her a minute to pull things up, but she apologized repeatedly for the delay and assured me it usually doesn't take long at all. She seemed very knowledgable about the procedures, and everything she told me reflected what I already learned here at VJ.

Unfortunately, my case still hadn't been given a case number by the NVC yet, so she wasn't able to pull it up. She told me that technically it CAN take up to 90 days to be logged in at the NVC, but that it usually doesn't take long at all, so I should keep checking back.

I've got all of my documents compiled to send to him and all of his forms filled out (with his help) and printed, with the exception of the DS-230 pt 1, which I'm still working on. I'm going to have them printed, tabbed and little "Sign Here" tags put on them so there's no questions. Hopefully that'll simplify everything.

Edited by Dodi, 08 July 2010 - 08:22 AM.

DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-08 08:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
I call every day, just to check. I just want to get the new case number so I can keep tracking it. I hate being in limbo.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-07 15:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long did it take your case to get to the NVC?
I received my NOA2 via email on 7/1, and it said it had been mailed on 6/30. Due to the holiday, I just received the hard copy yesterday. How long should I expect it to take for the NVC to receive my file? I know I should expect a delay from the holiday for them to get it as well, but what's the realistic waiting period there? They're telling me it takes 3 weeks to 3 months for them to receive it, which doesn't sound at all like the norm according to timelines here.

Any ideas?
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-07 15:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConfirmation Email
Congrats! :dance: :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-14 09:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresStudent Loans

Thank god. I realized they probably didn't, but I get such high anxiety over finances. :(


Welcome to the club!! :blush:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-14 09:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresStudent Loans
They do not run a credit check. They will not see your student loans. If they did, most the rest of us would be hurting too.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-13 21:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswould this be a problem
Since his family's support is rightfully his primary concern, IMO, he should probably go ahead with the KSA work visa in the time being. A work visa outside of the US shouldn't hinder his ability to get the K1, and it's doubtful they'll even know he's applied for one. If they DID ask about it at the interview, he could explain the situation, just as you have, and tell them that he was simply trying to be prepared for the worst, should you guys be thrown into AP for an indefinite period of time, and he be forced to continue working there, and this was his contingency plan. That is a reasonable answer and would show them the amount of responsibility he is taking for his family.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-14 17:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAttorney worth it?
It also depends on which consulate/embassy you're using. Ecuador, for example, is a VERY hard consulate to get through. There have been horror stories from a few. The FSU countries don't seem to have as hard a time, as it is very common for women there to get fiance visas, so you'll probably find all of the info you need here.

In many cases, mine included, the wrong attorney can prove to be more of a liability than an asset. And attorney isn't required to take extra classes in law school to be able to claim a specialty in Immigration Law. They simply have to hang out a shingle, or pay a fee and join the AILA. If they don't really know thier stuff (and the K1 is a different animal to most) then they're really not much help. You will be filling out the forms for them and giving them the documentation, and they can't be present at the embassy/consulate interview anyway. The best they could offer is to go to the AOS interview AFTER your bride-to-be is already here.

Whatever you decision, best of luck to you! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-14 09:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow long does it takes for your embassy to schedule an interview?
We sent back our Packet 3 paperwork 2 1/2 weeks ago. It seems that it took London 2 weeks to log in our paperwork, but they haven't set an interview date yet, so we're still waiting as well. Hope you hear something soon. Good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-15 13:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMoral Turpitude
I agree with the previous replies. Your police certificate will only go back to age 16. If it happened before age 16 it shouldn't matter in this case. Here, most juvenile records (prior to age 17) are sealed, so I don't think they look at foreign juvenile records either.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-13 16:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-134 question 3
If he plans to follow her, within a year, you should include him. He must interview within a year of her visa issuance (or POE, don't remember which) and will have six months from the date of his visa issuance to enter the US.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-15 17:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA2 without being 'touched' poll
Technically I don't think my case was touched. The NOA1 date was 6/30, but it wasn't entered into the system until 7/1, so that was the date of last action prior to my NOA2 date. It took 22 days from NOA1 to NOA2 issue. I know that's not common, we were very lucky, but it can happen. Hope that helps.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-15 21:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresJust venting
It does seem ridiculous, doesn't it. I wish I'd known too. The idiot attorney we'd listened to prior to filing our K1 had told us that it would take twice as long and cost just as much to file a spouse visa (she still thinks they're using K3 visas) so she advised us to just do a B2 visitor's visa and get married on it, and she'd help us fudge it along when it came time to AOS. A LOT of good that did us. Cost us several months and an entire wedding's worth of deposits.

We filed for the K1 and THEN found VJ. I'm kicking myself now for ever listening to her in the first place. She even screwed up our K1 process, and to add insult to injury, her assistant called me a week ago asking for help in putting her own K1 packet together, because the attorney in question had given her the same bad advice. Some people never learn.

At least you're on your way now. Good luck with the rest of your journey.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-14 09:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTransferring K1 fees
I have a debit card on my Paypal account, so if we need to send money back and forth for anything (paying for the wedding, etc.) we can use Paypal and I can either take it out of an ATM or use the debit card itself. It only takes about a week to get one in, doesn't cost anything to get, and is very convenient.

Hope that helps! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-16 16:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPetitioner past divorce
The rule of the K1 is that you have to be eligible to marry at the time that you file, not how long you've been eligible. Since your divorce was final before you filed, you shouldn't have a problem. I'm not going to say you WON'T have a problem, there are no guarantees, but so long as you ARE divorced, and explain in your cover letters that you had issues with the divorce process and it delayed things, but that you had been separated for some time prior to filing, it should clarify things and make it easier.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-14 17:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion 18: "Has your Fiance(e) met and seen you within the two year...?"
Sounds like you did a good job. Did you also include a cover letter describing your relationship? Those usually help, especially when you get to the embassy/consulate section.

Good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-15 19:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWe got an Interview date!!!
I called the DOS, not the embassy. It's free to call the DOS and they've got the same info.

202-663-1225 (Option 1 for main menu, then 0 for operator) Be prepared to hold a while.

They can tell you when/if London has received your file and when/if Packet 3 was sent,etc.

There isn't a way to track your case online once it's left the USCIS, unfortunately.

No, calling didn't speed things up, I just wanted to stay informed every step of the way. I like ticking the checkboxes as each milestone passes. Oh well, it kept me in the loop the whole way!

When he called Knightsbridge to schedule the medical they scheduled him a week and a half out, so be prepared. Make sure your fiance has all of his shots prior to going (Tdap and MMR, if he's had chicken pox he won't need the Varicella) because it's cheaper and easier and he won't require the I-693 at AOS. The doctor was very curt and perfunctory at Peter's exam, but they did their job and sent him on his merry way afterward. (Sweating and shaking like a leaf from nerves... but he was done and out of there.)

Hope that helps! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-18 21:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWe got an Interview date!!!
The DOS is the Dept. of State. They don't cost a fortune to call, like the embassy does, so I've been calling there to make sure our paperwork got logged in correctly. Too many recent files being "lost" had me a little worried. I know I'm a bit of a control freak, but I like being informed. A lot.

They can tell you the last action taken with your file (whether forms were received, logged in, anything scheduled, etc.) AFTER your case has been logged in by the NVC and a new case number assigned.

We tracked our case from the NVC to the Embassy, and the DOS told me when the case was logged into the Embassy, when they issued P3, when they logged in the P3 forms we sent back, and when the interview was scheduled. I know they send out letters, but I don't always get them because they only send me a copy half the time. Everything else goes to my idiot attorney who sends me a copy if/when she feels like it, and from what I understand, retracting a G-28 is next to impossible at this stage. It wouldn't make a difference anyway, since the only thing we've got left to do is the interview.

What part of OKC are you moving to, Angel? Lesleysizeland and I are on the NW side of the city.

Edited by Dodi, 18 August 2010 - 11:38 AM.

DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-18 11:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWe got an Interview date!!!
On my daily call to the DOS I got the news today!!!

September 17th @ 9am!!!!!!!!!!

That'll mean 3 1/2 months from the time it got to Vermont till interview. We are so lucky!! :dance: :dance:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-17 19:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAfter marriage need to change to K3?
The SS office was dead wrong.

K3's are a different type of visa altogether, which are being phased out and replaced by the CR-1. Your fiance/wife is eligible to get a SSN now, based on the K1 visa she came in with, so long as it is prior to her 74th day in the country.

SSN Guide This guide should give you more information. Print out the info there, and check the SSA website for the list of "Visas eligible to work in the US". You'll see that the K1 is on it, (don't ask... long explanation as to why we can't). This allows your wife to have a SSN as a K1, regardless of the name change. You should only need to provide the I-94 and a copy of your marriage certificate.

If the clerk there doesn't give her one, ask for a supervisor. If they still persist, go to a different office, and file a complaint with the Inspector General's office.

Hope that helps! :thumbs:

Edited by Dodi, 18 August 2010 - 04:39 PM.

DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-18 16:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresUsing an attorney after filing
Honestly, it wouldn't really make much difference. Either you're making the call/writing the letter, or someone else is. It's usually not even the attorney, but a paralegal, etc. It's something you'd be spending $200/hr on that you could do yourself.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-18 11:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures6 weeks and no Packet 3!!!!
K1's in London use the I-134, the I-864 will be used at the AOS. You will need an ORIGINAL of this (at the interview, do NOT send it with the other forms for P3) along with a copy of your 2009 tax return (with W-2's), a letter from your employer and current pay stubs. They COULD ask for bank stmts and a letter from your bank stating your account balance and deposits/withdrawals for the past year, but that's usually not necessary (I included them just to be safe). If you need a co-sponsor (London allows them) make sure you have them fill out their own form, and include all of the same documentation, as well as a copy (front/back) of their birth certificate or info page of their passport if they have one, to prove US Citizenship.

He only needs the DS-157 IF the family member (child) is coming with him or following him within a year.

Yes, you will need 2 originals and a copy. Send one set of originals for Packet 3. Bring the rest of them to the interview.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-19 11:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures6 weeks and no Packet 3!!!!
If the DOS tells him it's been sent but he's not received it, he can get the LND (not LON anymore) and send in the forms requesting a new copy. He can also ASK Knightsbridge if they'll allow him to attend the medical without it under the circumstances. It's been done before.

If the DOS tells him it's been sent but he's not received it, he can get the LND (not LON anymore) and send in the forms requesting a new copy. He can also ASK Knightsbridge if they'll allow him to attend the medical without it under the circumstances. It's been done before.

My phone double posted. Can someone ask a mod to fix it?
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-19 09:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures6 weeks and no Packet 3!!!!
Yes, London has all of their forms online. You can't download your actual letter, but you can get the forms.

London K1 Packet 3

Go ahead and fill out these forms and send them in. Make sure to keep a set of originals and a set of copies to take to the interview.

That should get the ball rolling.

Call the DOS at 202-663-1225 (Option 1, option 0) and ask them when your file was accepted at London and when P3 was sent. When you submit the forms, in your cover letter explain that you didn't receive your P3 letter and you need another copy sent to you. Make sure you include a correct address JUST IN CASE.

You will probably need the P3 letter to take to your medical exam. If you don't get it, you can call Knightsbridge and explain and ask if you can go without it, so long as you have your case number. They might let you.

Good luck! :thumbs:

Edited by Dodi, 18 August 2010 - 09:17 PM.

DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-18 21:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat's the fastest the K-1 has been approved?
We're going through London and it'll be 104 days from NOA1 when he has his interview. The NOA2 only took us 22 days with no touches or RFE's. It took 2 days for the NVC to get our case, then 2 days to send it on, 1 week for London to log it in and send out Packet 3. Peter received Packet 3 one week later, and sent the forms back 2 hours later. It took London 2 weeks to log in his forms and another 2 days to schedule the interview. As soon as we knew London had received our case and mailed Packet 3 he scheduled his medical, and had the P3 letter in hand in time to take it with him. I also sent him all of our paperwork, filled out and organized in a file, prior to him getting P3, so they were ready to go as soon as he received it.

That's not COMMON, and we weren't expecting it to go this quickly, but are happy it has.

Plan on about 4 months minimum, and maybe you'll get lucky and get it faster.

Congratulations, and good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-24 09:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTravel/departure record never recorded by INS
You might try having a supervisor check the SAVE database and seeing if they can find him in there. Failing that, an infopass appointment may be your best bet if he can't get back to the POE with his I-94 to have them fix it.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-24 14:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresOver all cost of fiancee visa
For each country it will vary slightly based on their requirements as well as certified copies needed if you have prior marriages/divorce decrees, or criminal history you need to document.

For us:

$455 Petition fee
$100 FedEx to send package off to the USCIS
$20 (give or take) in office supplies for paper, tabs, partition folders, etc.
$5.25 Copy fee for my divorce decree
$47 to USPS International Express his Packet 3 forms, I-134, and all documentation for his interview to England
£10 Medical Records to prove vaccination history
£200 for the Medical
£30 Police Certificate
$350 Visa fee
£14.20 Courier fee

I'm lucky enough to work for a very laid back company that has let me use their color copier, scanner and laser printers mercilessly throughout this process for no fees. My idiot attorney (now fired) isn't going to end up costing me a dime because she's not actually DONE anything and her assistant is even asking me for help with HER K1 because the atty gave her the same bad advice she gave me. Peter got all of his necessary shots from his GP, so he didn't need anything else at the Medical.

Hope this helps! Good luck to you! :thumbs:

Edited by Dodi, 01 September 2010 - 10:46 PM.

DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-01 22:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshey lill help pls
The DOS number is 202-663-1225. Press 1 for Main Menu, then 0 for operator. They can look it up by your USCIS receipt number and give you your new case number as long as the NVC has logged your case in. They can also tell you if/when it was sent to the embassy and give you updates after that.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-02 20:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLost Birth Certificate
You can send a copy with the AOS application, the USCIS usually expects copies of everything except required forms anyway. You'll probably just need to pay and get a new birth certificate in the end, though, in case you ever need it in the future for something else, or just in case.
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-03 11:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures2 Questions on K1 submission (photo and change of service center)
Sounds like you have all your ducks in a row. Send it as it is and you should be fine. Good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-06 21:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresExtremely difficulat K-1 visa issues Please Help
First, let me say I'm sorry for what you've gone through in both instances. :(

Second, as for the second husband, you can write a letter to the USCIS/ICE and let them know what has happened. If your husband still had his conditional green card, there's a chance that they would look unfavorably on him when it came time to lifting the conditions depending on how long you were married, etc. but there's really not much else you can do. It is up to the USCIS/DHS whether or not to lift the conditions without you being involved. I have a friend who came here from the UK about 15 years ago and he was married to another friend of mine from college. Their marriage fell apart after about a year and a half, but he was working, supporting himself, and able to lift the conditions on his green card on his own. He's still here, has never moved back to Belfast. It's also gone the other way many times for others, so it really just depends on the situation. If you believe that this man was using you just to get a green card, and have proof of this, then you can put together a casefile, send this with a cover letter to the USCIS/ICE and they may choose to investigate the matter.

Third, the Guides section of this site will tell you everything you need to know about filing a K1 petition. I will say that having 2 previous immigrant spouses where the marriages were terminated within a short time after a green card was received may raise red flags on a new application, even though you didn't file a K1 for the first husband.

What country were each of these men from? What country is the new fiance from? This will help us better give advice for your new journey.

Hope this helps, and good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-06 21:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNOA 1 received, now what?
Go to the Phillipines portal on this site and look through the documents required for her interview. You can be getting these filled in and printed out for her to sign and send in. Also make sure she has all of the info to order her police certificates, and for her medical exam. If she needs any immunizations, it's best if she can get them there to go ahead that way you don't have to pay for a civil surgeon to administer them here.

Good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-06 21:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-129F Fiancé Letter of Intent ???
My fiance scanned his letter of intent and emailed it to me. He'd signed it in blue ink. We printed the scanned copy and sent it in. No problems, no RFE's. I was trying to send in everything as quickly as possible and didn't have time to wait for him to mail one from the UK. I also used my photo printer to print high-quality digital copies of his passport photos onto photo paper (the good Kodak kind, glossy) and used those to keep from having to have him mail more over. They worked fine, but I highly recommend them getting digital copies on a cd from the photographer who does their passport photos instead of scanning them in. They're too distorted if you scan them.

Good luck! :thumbs:
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-07 10:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresInterviews
Depends on the embassy/consulate. In most countries, no. In Ecuador, yes. Where will you or your fiance be interviewing?
DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-06 22:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMissing Vaccination Records!
He will only need the ones that are age-appropriate for him. If his doctor doesn't have records at all for him receiving any vaccinations, then he can check this link and have his GP go over the list with him to see what is age-appropriate for him now. This will cut down on what he might need to get re-jabbed for.

Hope this helps! :thumbs:

Edited by Dodi, 07 September 2010 - 08:13 PM.

DodiFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-09-07 20:13:00