ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresOut of the Blue.....
In the mean time, keep communicating with her. Grab her heart back.
Be strong. Be very strong. (F)

Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-03-08 13:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresThis is Goodbye.....
I'm sorry to hear it, time will heal everything (F) .

When an emotional injury takes place, the body begins a process as natural as the healing of a physical wound. Let the process happen. Trust that nature will do the healing. Know that the pain will pass, and, when it passes, You will be stronger, happier, more sensitive and aware.

- Mel Colgrove


Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-03-19 18:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 VISA applied already
Its not exactly clear what you are asking. But you can cancel a previous K-1 petition and file a K-3 visa. As far as speed, its not really any faster. The disadvantage is he would now have to start over.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-17 19:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNo notice sent yet for my 2-15-07 I-129F
Yeap, Call them. It's better than to wonder around. I hope you'd have good answer from them. Best wishes for you.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-21 03:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCanadian engaged to American... help!
The fastest way to get a green card is the CR-1/IR-1 option. Though its not nessiarly the fastest for you to get together with your fiancee. K-1 and K-3 require you to apply for AOS after you enter the US, which takes another 6 months or so. CR-1/IR-1 might take a little bit longer, but you get a Green Card right away.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-22 14:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCanadian engaged to American... help!
Depending which service center and consulate you go through, visa processing could take 6-12 months. Even more if you end up with problems with your petition.

If you decide to go with the K-3 route, you will first have to be legally married. You can have a wedding anywhere, Canada, US or even another country as long its considered a legal wedding. Once you are married, you will need to return to Canada if you were married in the US, and then have your USC spouse file for K-3. The waiting game begins.

You can travel to the US, while the visa is processing, but you will have a higher burden of proof that you have no intention to immigrate. Bring letters from your employer, lease agreements, and other proof that you will be returning to the PoE.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-22 00:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresShipping important package
You should be able to use any trackable service. Sometimes sending a package via EMS from another country gets delivered here with DHL. Mail systems have improved all over the world. In most places you dont have to worry about your package getting lost.

EMS is probably the cheapest option. DHL, fedex and UPS are all about the same.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-25 17:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImportant question regarding our wedding date before visa approval
You can have the wedding, IF its not considered legally binding. If you do have a legal wedding before you have your K-1 Visa, you have to start over from scratch with a K-3 or CR-1/IR-1 visa. You can still go ahead with the wedding, but it will have to be just ceromonial, then follow up with a legal wedding once you actually have the K-1 visa and are in the country. If you do this, you have to be careful with immigration officials. Dont wear wedding rings, dont refer to each other as husband and wife. Even though a non-legal cermony is perfectly fine, it can cause confusion and delays if immigration officals find out about it.

In order for your fiancee to enter the country under B-2 visa or VWP he will have to show ties to his home country. If he cant, he may be denied entry at the PoE.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-03 15:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresfake ceremony...

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

Yes but the OP is now talking about doing a K3 by getting "legally" married in Canada now and doing a "fake" ceremony in the States later. That's what confused me. Once you're legally married, there IS no fake ceremony later...its more of a renewal or reaffirmation of vows.


I think he or she means to have a courthouse wedding right away in canada to be able to file K-3 and have a ceremony for family and friends later. You can do that as well if its easier for you.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-27 19:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresfake ceremony...
Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-27 19:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHolding the ceremony outside of the USA?
That story doesn't really apply, as they violated the terms of the visa by trying to enter after they were legally married.

Basically, there is marriage as defined by tradition and customs, and there is marriage as it applies to law. Simply getting married as defined by your customs, does not mean that the wedding is legal under the law, normally you go through an extra step or two to have the marriage legally recognized. In the US its getting a marriage license.

If necessary due to your situation, you can do each part seperatly. The terms of the K-1 visa only are concerned with a legal part of a marriage. If you don't go through with that part, you have nothing to worry about. My fiancee's parents want to have a wedding before she leaves to the US. So we will be having a non-legally binding ceremony for her parents in Indonesian customs before we travel to the US together. Then we will have a legally binding courthouse wedding to satisfy the 90 day requirement and so we can file for AOS. Possibly then followed up with a wedding in more western traditions for my parents at a later date probably past the 90 days.

The only thing you have to be aware of is when you go through the PoE, you are still engaged to be married. Although having a non-legal ceremony is perfectly fine, they may find a reason to delay or prevent you from entering if they suspect that you may be married, even though your not. Just don't give them any reason to think otherwise. If you used wedding rings for your non-legal ceremony, don't wear them through the PoE. And until you have a legal wedding in the US, your partner is still your fiancee.

A useless celebrity fact that is sorta related to this, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had a legal wedding at a courthouse in California before they went to Italy to have their big wedding ceremony, they had to do that because Italy doesn't recognize Scientology weddings.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-26 14:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBringing my Fiance from Thailand

She has a lot of calling records from her calling me...unfortunately, I use calling cards. Should I have her send copies of those records to me to include in the application? Should I have her send any proof of our relationship to me for the application?

Sorry if these are pretty dumb questions to ask but I feel a bit overwhelmed and don't want to make a mistake.


That type of information is more useful for the interview than the petition. With the petition, you mainly want to include evidence that you have met each other in the past 2 years. Pictures, passport stamps, airline boarding passes, receipts for hotels, and anything else that can put you in Thailand with your fiancee.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-28 13:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBringing my Fiance from Thailand
Changing job should be fine, but address might cause delays. Although you can call them to change it, they dont always get it in very quickly. It might be better if possible to use a friends/family address or get a PO box, if you anticipate moving sometime in the near future.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-04-27 19:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAbandoning AOS after entering on K1?
If no action is taken on the petition, they will simply consider it abandoned. But they will know if you are petitioned for again. It could reflect negatively on you.

You best approach is to disclose everything. I am assuming you divorced your first husband? If you haven't you cant start another petition until you do. I don't think a wavier is needed, but i don't know for sure. Your best bet is to talk to an attorney and see if they know of any obstacles.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-05 02:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 fees
Fees are expected to rise quite significantly but current costs are as follows:

I-129F filing - $170
Medical - Varies by country $100-$300
Visa - $100
AOS - $325 + $70 biometric fee
If you need AP or EAD they are $170 and $180 respectivly
Removal of conditions $275
Citizenship of you decide to do it $330

The new fees which are expected to be put into place sometime in the next few months, will double some of the fees that you would be required to pay. There are other costs which are not so easy to quantify. Sending documents back and forth. Printing and copying. Traveling. Also your fiancee would not be able to work right away once he or she comes to the US so you would need to be able to support them.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-05 16:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresEntering on visitor visa and getting married

Hello everyone!

I live in Europe, and my American military boyfriend of 2 years might be getting sent back home to the states immediately. I know I should have looked for what would happen but the overwhelming stress won't allow me to be concise while searching for information, so I thought I'd come to the forum that got through my first K1 application (that ended in divorce!).


What would happen if I entered the US on a visitor's visa and married my boyfriend, say, in Las Vegas or something like that?
Would I still have to come back to Portugal and file a K3, or is there any way to adjust the status once I am married?


Another hypothetical situation: what if I enter on a J1 for au pair, could I then get married and adjust my status without having to leave?


Thank you soo much!


You can enter and get married just fine, but you cant stay. You have to return, file for K-3 or CR-1/IR-1. Entering the country with the intent to get married and stay (File for AOS) on anything other than a dual intent visa(H1B), K-1 visa or another immigrant visa is considered fraud. If you were already in the country on a diffrent kind of visa and then decided to get married you could file AOS and stay, but you cant enter the country with that intent.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-05 02:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresrelatives in love?
Is this a case when uncle falls in love with his niece... or nephew...uh cousin
I'm confused :hehe:
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-08 07:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHelp! I have to cancel my wedding !!! ???
You really have to be flexible in this situation. My plan right now is probably to have 2-3 weddings. One in my fiancees country for her parents and family. A civil ceremony in the US to make the marriage legal, and possibly another wedding for my parents and family, or at least a reception. As much as I would like to have just 1 wedding, its not very cheap to get everyone to one country or another.

But anyway, it sounds like your visa may be held up in administrative review. You might be able to push it along by calling your senator/congress people. I wouldn't panic yet, there are some things you can do or at least try.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-02-16 10:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHow to get a waiver on clause 18 of form I-129F
Unless there is something in you culture or religion preventing you from meeting before marriage, its unlikely a wavier will be granted.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-07 14:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting started questions
I think there might be a little bit of confusion as to what met means. The petition requires that you have met in person at least once within the past two years. They really dont care when you met and started the relationship.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-12 01:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMILITARY PETITIONER
Yes there is, but only if your fiancee will be deployed within a few months. Otherwise you have to wait with the rest of us.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-11 12:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVermont center processing time
The posted times on the USCIS website are the oldest cases that the service center is working on. Most people get aproved in 2-4 weeks with the Vermont service center. California averages about 3 months. If your case does get delayed however, they won't really do anything about it until it passes the date posted on the USCIS site.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-10 11:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswhat if you move after filing the visa?
You can but you could possibly get delayed. If your moving soon i would wait until after the move to file.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-13 11:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduressilly question of passport
AP means Additional Processing. It usually means something is not finished like background checks. If your fiancee had a successful interview, she will receive her visa in time. I do suggest getting on their case though, call weekly until you get the visa.

AR means Administrative Review. If the CO suspects that the case might be fraudulent, they will do additional checking and research before giving the visa. They may request additional information.

Those who get into either of these states are not in it for more than 1-6 months. But some have had their visa held up for a year or more.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-13 23:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed your help with making the least risky chioce
You can go ahead with a, if your not going to give the consulate officers too much information. But if you want the lowest amount of risk with the fastest turnaround, I would lean toward e. Just get married legally to begin the K-3 process, then having your real wedding in October.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-09 22:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 update

OMG...well good news is they are on Feb now.


How can you tell that they are on Feb??? When I look at the dates on the USCIS website for the California Service Center, it shows the date as October '06. Maybe there is a different place that I should be looking?


Thats the oldest petitions they are processing. Most people get through in a bout 3 months, right now, that means the people who filed in Febuary.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-14 22:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresA Canadian in the states on a TN visa, wants to switch to K...HELP!
Well, you wont need a new visa if you get engaged and married before your current visa expires. You can file for AOS on other types of visas provided that you didnt enter the country with the intent to marry and immigrate.

If you do take the K-1 route, you can apply for it while you are still here, but you will have to go back to Canada for the interview/medical. You may or may not be able to return until you have the K-1 visa.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-16 14:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresShould my South Korean fiancee and I cancel our K-1 visa application to use an F-1 student visa instead?
You will have to start with canceling the current petition and then getting married. Your AOS will be a bit diffrent from those filing for AOS from K-1 visas. There are a couple guides on this site that will help you. You will need to have a medical done here in the US.

http://www.visajourn...page=i130guide2
http://www.visajourn...p;page=otheraos
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-16 15:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresShould my South Korean fiancee and I cancel our K-1 visa application to use an F-1 student visa instead?

Thank you for all your responses! :thumbs: Unfortunately, there is a typo in my original question. My fiancee has been here on an F-1 visa for 4 and a half years. We were planning on going the K-1 visa route, but now we think it was the wrong way to go because we didn't file early enough for her to have her interview during our already-purchased plane trip to South Korea (leaving May 23rd, returning June 19th). Notice that the wedding we've planned for Korea is ceremonial only--not for legal purposes. So, did the K-1 visa application we filed ruin her chances of being able to return with me to the US on an extension of her F-1 visa even if she has a full-time post-grad class load scheduled? Should we cancel the K-1 and rely on the F-1 because we could get married in August like we've planned? Or should we go through with the K-1, even though we'd have to postpone the American wedding from August to a less convenient time for us and our guests? What advice do you all have for us now that I've clarified the issue? :help:


Your situation is a bit more complicated than most peoples, you may want to find a lawyer. But I'll see how I can help.

Ok that helps. Its possible she will not be able to enter on an F-1 visa with a K visa pending. Its up to the officers at the PoE. She may not be allowed into the country even if you didnt have a K-1 visa, just having a fiancee here would be enough to deny entry.

Student visas sometimes have a Home Residency Requirement of up to 2 years before you can file for another type of visa. It may or may not apply to your situation.

You do have the opportunity to skip the visa process and go directly to AOS. You can file for AOS on other visas provided you two were engaged after her last entry into the US. However, if you do take this route, you would have to postpone your trip to Korea (Airline tickets can be reschedule for free or for a fee depending on your fare class).

If you do however take your trip and reenter the country (F1 visa), you will no longer be able to get married and file for AOS, at that point it would be considered fraud and she may have alot of trouble getting or be denied a green card.

If you do follow the K-1 route, and you are able to enter the country after your trip on the F1 visa, she will have to return to Korea for the medical/interview. This could take some time. As well as visas are rarely granted the same day as the interview.

If I were you, I would postpone the trip to Korea, get married at the courthouse, file for AOS and then make the trip to Korea once AP has been granted. Thats probably the shortest and maybe cheapest route to same goal. With or without a K-1 visa pending, there is no guarantee that she will even be able to re-enter the country after your trip to Korea on the F1 visa..
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-16 13:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresShould my South Korean fiancee and I cancel our K-1 visa application to use an F-1 student visa instead?
Is your fiancee in the US right now? Did you get engaged before her last entry into the US? If so the best course of action would be to immediatly get married and file for AOS. In this case, she will not be able to leave the US and return unless she either receives her green card or advanced parole. But this is the shortest path to immigration.

If not, then your only option is to take the marriage/fiancee visa route. If you intend to legally get married outside of the US, you cannot use the K-1 visa. You have to file for K-3 after the wedding. Its also possible that she will be denied entry on the J1 visa since she has a fiancee/husband here and may intend to immigrate.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-16 01:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion about prior petition
There are some restrictions in filing for multiple K-1s, but I dont think you should have any trouble with your situation. Consulting an attorney is probably a better idea than asking for help here for your situation.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-16 17:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarine in Japan
Im not exactly sure how the being in the military aspect plays into this. But you do have several options, depending on what you prefer. K-1, you file as an engaged couple, takes about 6-12 months depending which service center you file with and which consulate you go through, sometimes longer for some consulates. Once you get the visa, your fiancee can travel to the US, and you can get married.

If there are reasons you want to get married before hand, you can file for a K-3 or CR-1. K-3 is pretty similar to K-1, as far as time and forms. CR-1 can sometimes take longer, but I think you come to the US as a permanent resident and do not have to file for an AOS. I don't know the specifics of this path as my fiancee and I are applying for a K-1 visa. But again, there are alot of guides on this site to help you out.

Reguardless, applying for a visa is a long process that involves alot of waiting. If you have specific questions, you can probably find the answers on this site or at least find someone with a similar experience.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-03-04 01:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarine in Japan
The guides will tell you most of what you need to know. Do you know which type of visa you are going for?
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-03-04 00:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQUESTION ON i129F
I dont understand what you mean? K-1 has to be sent to Nebraska Service Center. (or other service center depending where you live)
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-16 19:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed Help On Specifics for Filling Out G325A Form!
4. Once you are issued an SSN. Its always your number.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-17 13:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDo I need to translate the Portuguese emails to English?

Hi. I think I understand this portion of the Fiance Visa instructions application but I just wanted to ask to make certain. In the translation instructions it states the following:

"All documents neither in English nor in Portuguese must be accompanied by certified English translations done by a Sworn Public Translator."
The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the:
• Translation is accurate, and
• Translator is competent to translate.

Does this mean that translations are only required for languages other than English or Portuguese? For example if our emails were in Chinese then we would need to get the translations to either English or Portuguese? But since our emails are in either Portuguese or English then we will NOT need to translate all the Portuguese emails to English. Is this correct? Thanks.


No, you don't need to translate emails. Translations are only required for languages other than English or Portuguese. The Consular doing your Interview speaks english. Since the native language of Brazil is Portuguese and the interview is in Brazil, nothing needs to be translated.


If the consulate doesnt require translations, you may need offical documents particularly birth certificate translated for AOS.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-17 01:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImmigrant vs Nonimmgrant Visa
Technically its a non-immigrant visa, you dont automatically get PR status upon entry. But you are able upon marriage to adjust status and attain PR status.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-17 01:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiancee/Fiance Letter of Intent
Im pretty sure I took it off. Its only an example, so you can edit it to suit your needs. I edited mine to be a letter from my fiance and I instead of including seperate letters.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-17 17:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresa k-1 visa applicant will need a passport to come to usa ?
Of course. Visas are attached to the passport.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-17 22:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat is AOS and interview questions
Not knowing a common language is definetly a red flag. But no, the interview can be in english or the official language of that country. In most cases anyway.

The interviewer will most likely ask questions to establish the validity of the relationship. They will ask questions about you to make sure your fiance knows you. Unless you have a criminal record, most of the questions should be easy. If you do have a criminal record, they will likely ask your fiancee if she knows about it.
Dan JMaleIndonesia2007-05-17 19:46:00