biggish data

I strongly suggest you to follow the k1 route cause is the faster one, but you need to get married after getting the k1 visa and you only have 90 days after her arrival, but its ups to you

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-03-11 01:21:00

If you wish you guys can get married while she is here visiting. You can go to a court and get married but she should go before her i94 (the stamp) expires. If you decide to do this, you need to file for a cr1 or spouse visa instead of a k1 visa. If she comes with a k1 visa, she cannot leave the country until she adjust her status, so yes, once she enters to the US with a k1 visa and married within the 90 days after her arrival, she can happily stay.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-03-11 01:17:00

These things are okay, if she can come here as a tourist, and we can file for K1 after she gets here, as long as she leaves when here tourism visa ends, and waits for the fiance visa to finish. At least that reduces the amount of time we will have to spend apart.

Can you elaborate more on the process of her coming on a tourism visa and then us getting married? Also if I am correct after she gets a fiance visa and gets into the country on that, she doens't need to leave once we get married and wait for that to process?

Do you know how long a tourism visa is valid for, or for how much time she can stay on a tourism visa?

Obviously, it's a great tool as long as you give it the right use...just visit or do tourism! When I was waiting for my k1 visa I already had a tourist visa for ten 10 years (this time can be equal or less) and everytime I came here to visit my fiance or just visit I usually got my passport stamped for 6 month (which is highest amount of time that a tourist can legally stay in the US. But is not for everyone, I mean, you cannot asume she is going to get the 6 month stamp, is all depending of the immigration officer. Sometimes you can be stamps for 2 week or 3 month or 5 month... Once I got approved for 2 month but I usually never stayed that long, even if I was approved for the maximum time. Only the stamp on her passport during her arrival, can determinate how much time she can stay.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-03-11 01:13:00

Basically, she can't "adjust" to a fiance visa, you can file a petition which is way different. But yes you can send a K1 visa petition (fiance visa)WHILE she is in the US but she CANNOT overstay. Once she is done here, she should come back to her home country and wait for her visa to get ready. Once she has her visa then she can move. Well this is the RIGHT WAY and LEGAL way to do what you are planning to do. But There's another way (I hate it to mention it but I bet somebody else is gonna suggest it) that she can come with her tourist visa, married and stay. It's ok to get married with a tourist visa, what is NOT ok is getting marriedand STAY. Actually its pretty much illegal to immigrate with a tourist visa, but fir what I read, people does it all the time. Not only that but they successfully adjust their status to a green card holder (funny). The other legal way is getting married while she is here in the US, then she should back to her home and you need to file a spouse visa.

Edited by Andrea&Henry, 11 March 2013 - 12:51 AM.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-03-11 00:46:00

Consulate: do they already know they'll approve or not?

I don't know if is this true but It make some sense to me. My k1 interview was at Caracas Venezuela. I went with my fiance. They kept us waiting for hours until they called me and asked me for my documents. This lady didn't ask me any question. She told me to go back and have a sit and like an hour later, another lady called the both if us. She asked my now husband, maybe 4 or 5 questions maybe? And WITHOUT asking to see nor a single photo she said "your visa have been approved". I was very happy but I was wondering why they never made me a real interview. 4 or 5 questions to the USC petitioner is not an interview for me and she never request any kind of evidence. I remember when we started our process like 2 years ago, I read a topic about that while you are waiting to be interview, there's a bunch of hidden cameras recording and taping you while you are waiting, so if your waiting with your fiance by your side, they can see the "real relationship" ! I DON'T know if it's true but is not senseless after all. My husband and I are very VERY affectionate, is almost digusting hahahahah...and we were like that even during our waiting time during my interview date. So if you see us for less than 20 min it's pretty obvious we are madly in love with each other. So that's one of our theories that explains why we had such an easyyy interview, but now that you mentioned it, it makes sense...but in the end is all just theories

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-03-10 18:22:00

USCIS online costumer services tools will be Unavailable this Sunday

hahahahahahaha probably not

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-03-14 10:29:00

RFE ALERT SENT TO ME TODAY

So what was the RFE requesting??

Have you heard anything since then??

Edited by Mduenas, 09 March 2013 - 07:48 AM.

Mduenas

Female

Dominican Republic

2013-03-09 07:47:00

Wow! This part has definitely stressed me out the most since I honestly thought I was going to need to borrow money from people to have it in my bank account!!!

Thanks everyone!! You've all cleared up so much! I can finally sleep at night!!

Mduenas

Female

Dominican Republic

2013-03-10 11:04:00

Great!! Thank you so much!! :0)

Mduenas

Female

Dominican Republic

2013-03-09 09:43:00

Really?? That's it??

I make $40,000 at my job, plus I get $700 in child support each month (I'm assuming this accounts as income)...according to what you've just said...I'm fine?!

Why was I told (by someone that went through this) that is need to have assets and money to add up to like $150,000...I thought that sounded weird, but I was worried!

Mduenas

Female

Dominican Republic

2013-03-09 09:34:00

We have to show proof that we will be able to support our fiancé once they get here, right??

I have 3 children from a precious relationship. Once my fiancé gets here, we will be a household of 5. Can anyone tell me what I am expected to have in the bank? Or what my salary should be? I don't know to expect?!

On another note, my children have Florida Medicaid. I am a teacher so during the summers, I usually qualify for assistance from the state (food stamps and Medicaid for my household). Is this going to look bad when it comes to showing proof of support for my fiancé? Will this cause me problems??

God....I'm so stresses about this whole thing!!!

Mduenas

Female

Dominican Republic

2013-03-09 09:09:00

Try to find some topics here cause i read about so many peope here that are married to their 1st cousin and which visas had been approved...maybe you can contact them and they can give you a better approach. I know how you feel but cheer up! There is always a way good luck sweetheart!

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-28 00:32:00

I know! But in the marriage certificate doesn't says if you are related it to each other... Only says your names and dates. If you get married you marriage is legal everywhere, even if they dont agree. But I dont wanna give you a bad advice if your lawyer told you that is or something.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-28 00:29:00

I read an article about "forbiden marriage" base on those marriage that are highly controversial like 1st cousin marriage and same sex marriage. Both oh them are forbidden in most of the states, but that doesn't mean they cant do it. Like an example: if a gay couple got married in New York (which is one of the states that allows it) and the moved to Idaho (dont allow gay marriage) even though they are still married. You can file for a k1 visa and then get married in one of the 16 states that allows 1st cousin's marriage, and keep living in texas. Or married OVERSEAS and file or CR1. Either way, you marriage will be legal in Texas, as long you dont do the ceremony in there

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-28 00:15:00

As far as I know even if you get married overseas, your local office is still texas. And yes only 16 states allow marriage between first cousins! But I know that countries from the middle east, 1st cousin marriage are very very common, and I've seen here some approvals like your case. Try to read some reviews from middle east embassy, you are not the first case. Im also married to my cousin but he is my third cousin

Edited by Andrea&Henry, 28 September 2012 - 12:06 AM.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-28 00:04:00

What if??? Please help!

I think nobody here is an "expert" we just follow examples and instruction. If you download the i134 from the USCIS you will also find the INSTRUCTIONS, how to fill it step by step. You can also find an example here in VJ. Trust me, my now husband was a little bit confuse but is just a matter of mantain calm and read. The I864 is even harder but still just follow the guides. If you dont fill it properly you can have your interview rescheduale (in the best of the cases) but you can be put under AP and in the worst scenario, being denied. I know this is not an easy process and very nerve wracking, but trust noone was born knowing how to do it. Follow the instructions carefully and ask for help if you have questions! Stay positive

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-07-20 14:02:00

Expecting a baby :))

Welcome to the website! I hope you can find the help you need. Well, the k1 process is taking a lot compare to other years (6-10 months) unless you are part of the lucky ones who gets their approval in 3-4 months. But the truth is that it take a few months and there is no guaranteed that it will be on time. I know you said you planned but as a new mom myself (I had my baby 6 months ago), I just can't imagine going through my pregnancy while waiting on a k1 and without my husband, you should'd wait, BUT well the baby is already on it's way so keep your finger cross and hopes for the best.

There's no much you can do while you wait but you can keep working ahead like getting all the vaccines you need, gathering proof of your relationship so when the time comes, you don't have to wait any longer.

In case you wonder, a baby on it's way is not a reason to speed up things with the USCIS. Unfortunately they only take action under very special circumstances.

Hope everything goes fine and you can be together soon!

Blessngs

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2014-08-03 14:22:00

DS-230 form-Part 1- "In what occupation do you intend to work in the US ?"

Sounds good but if have a profesional career that I want to keep working on , I dont want them to think Im lying putting "housewife", I know that I'll have housewife chores to do, and Im happy to do it, but is NOT what Im or what Im inttending to do. (Nothing against housewives btw)

would they think that I can become in a public charge if I put housewife instead of psychologist?

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-02-19 17:54:00

DS-230 form-Part 1- "In what occupation do you intend to work in the US ?"

I was about to ask the same thing. My fiance and I are in k1 visa petition. My interview its pretty soon and I dont know what to write on that question. Im psychologist, and I supposed to write that but I need an special permission from the US goverment to work as a psychologist(is NOT the regular work permission that everyone gets once you're marry). Im hoping that I can keep practicing my professional career, but at the beginning of my new live with my future husband maybe I have to work on something else while I can get this special permission. Do I have to put "psychologits" or leave in Undecided?

Thanks a lot

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-02-19 16:57:00

Overstay I-94 on tourist visa?

My advice: Dont let her stay, let her come back to venezuela and wait for her visa to be approved. American goverment is really really hard on people who commited overstay. When I went to my interview to get my k1 visa, a girl who was getting her k1 visa, get denied cause she overstay only for a month. They treated her almost like a criminal, and they were very inquisitive about knowing why she overstayed in the US if she knew she was in delicate process. Also in the ds 230 form, ask you several times if you commited overstay. There's is a part where they ask you several question about be involved with terrorist, or commited any crime, or be involve with narcotrafic, is the kind of items where you better say no to everything, well the first or second question have to do with overstay.

So I really really recommend you guys, not jeopardize your process when you are close to make it. US goverment doesn't need a lot of reasons to denied people, don't give them more reasons.

I know that being apart from your loveone is very very hard, everyone who is involve in this process knows how it feels, but getting a banner for the next 10 years is way worst.

Be patient and do the right thing.

Blessings

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-05-07 12:46:00

Basically, the k3 used to exist cause a few years ago, trying to get a cr1 could take years. Now that the process is way shorter I think is not necessary anymore

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 20:18:00

Thank you are right, is the NVC!

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 20:14:00

http://www.visajourn...rocessing-time/ i found this topic about several people who used the k3 recently. I found it very very helpful

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 04:36:00

Unfortunely, some people don't use the profile tools in the right way so they confused other users. You are not the first one. Or is people that their cases are from 2010 or older. I dont have the link when I read when I was searching my options when My husband proposed me. I was planning a wedding in my home town but then we decide to marry here cause the cr1 was a long period of time. I read a lot of cases like yours, that's why im sure. But maybe I could be wrong. Try to find recents topics of k3 and ask to somebody who's is dealing with it right now

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 04:21:00

If you checked the website the famous k3 was basically submitt the i 130 and the 129 together but your spouse qasnt aloud to work until AOS but used to help US citizen to bring their spouse in a shorter time. Since feb 1, 2010 USCIS decided that k3 was no longer avaiable. And determinated that: CR1 visa is ONLY for marriages under 2 years, IR1 visa ONLY for marriages above that time and K1 visa (i129) ONLY for foreing fiance's of a US citizen. The wrong use or application of any of this visas grant you a denial. If you check the USCIS website you will find this information.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 04:14:00

Sadly, the words "speed", "quick" "fast" are not very common for the USCIS people. Takes time and a lot of patient. The only way I know to appeal that, is only if the petitionary is a soldier, marine, navy etc. USCIS have an very very VERY well deserve special treatment for them and their cases usually takes less than 2 month. Maybe if you talk to a lawyer you will find other legals way, but if you decide to take this road, be prepare to wait! Cheer up

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 03:58:00

K3 doesnt exist anymore. In your case you need to apply for cr1 cause your marriage is under the 2 years. That would take between 8 to 13 month but the beneficiary will get everything. Althought, k1 (I 129) is the quickest one (in my case took me 6 month) is only for people who is NOT marry. That's why is a FIANCE VISA. If a US citizen has a foreign fiance, that's the kind of visa you use. Then after marriage, the beneficiary adjust the status to get the green card. You cannot use this one at all. I read cases of people who are already marry and submitted the k1 thinking that nobody will found out and they got caught. They had to appeal and refill the i 130 but they obviously had to wait much longer. So my adviced would be, apply the I130 as soon as possible and good luck

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-14 03:53:00

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT (AOS) INFO

What this checklist says?

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-09-26 12:38:00

How long does it take to be able to travel?

In my case took me 2 week to recieved my package. But when I finally got it it was on monday...I was in the US by friday (same week) i wanted to go next day but I couldnt find it

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2012-10-05 19:58:00

HELLO USA!!!

Congratsssss! And welcome to the states!!! You will LOVE this country. Yes basically wait for your SSN. Once you have your greencard and SSN in hand go and get your driver license, open or join her bank accounts, get your credit and debit card, health insurance and start living and enjoying your life here

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-02-22 09:13:00

New to this - where do I start?

I'm sure answers to all my questions lie within these forums, but I'm just so confused by all of it. I am a Canadian citizen and am planning to marry my US citizen girlfriend, then move to Ohio to live with her.

I've been searching the web for about a month just trying to find a couple basic things regarding the process; First, a step by step of all the forms and procedures in chronological order from step zero to green card in hand, and being a permanent US Resident with no more immigration processes to go through.

There are so many forms on all the websites and they are all mixed in with various other applications and forms for all types of visas. It makes for a very confusing read. I just want to know, step by step, which forms and applications need to be filed and when.

Also, and this probably goes hand in hand with the step by step, we'd like to know all the associated fees for the forms we're filing.

Most every form and application pertaining to this process seems to have a price tag on it, but most seem to just say 'there is a fee' and direct you to a table of fees that doesn't always tell you what costs what. We're just trying to save up to do this, but we have no idea what its going to cost beyond the initial $420 to file the I-130. I'm sure if things we explained in plainer english I would get this much more easily, but researching is just frying my brain and making me more confused, and lawyers around here are charging $200/hr just to ask a few questions... Please help...

Well, I know it looks very overwhelming but it's very simple.

First you need to decide which route you want to pursuit. You have 2 options:

k1 visa (for a fiance of an USC): Usually takes between 4 to 8 month to be process, once you get to the US you need to get married within 90 days. Then you need to apply for AoS
CR1 visa (for a spouse of an USC) takes between 8 month to a year. Once you arrive the GC card is send to your mail.

with both you will receive a CONDITIONAL GREEN CARD, after 2 years you need to apply for a Removal of conditions so you can become in a PERMANENT green card holder. After a year you can apply for citizenship. Usually you need to be married at least 3 years to become in a US citizen.

But don't worry about that yet...

Once you decide what route here are the step by steps guide:

http://www.visajourn...content/k1guide K1 VISA GUIDE

http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide1 CR1 GUIDE

if you decide to take the k1 visa I can give you a hand...

good luck

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-02-25 22:44:00

Getting ahead of the game.....

A chest ray it's a part of the medical examination for the immigrants visas, but a pregnant women can't expose her body to x rays. A friend of mine took her ob gyn report to her appointment and she avoided this part.

Well, while I was waiting my now husband and I worked on our proof of bonafide relationship (pictures, emails) and by the time I got my NOA 2 i was pretty much ready. You can or not wait til the NVC stage to get your paperwork but you should wait, cause in some countries, documents like the police records, has expiration date so you want to have it as fresh as possible.

I guess you are in your homecountry, so you can work on things that doesn't necessarily has something to do with your visa. In my case I was working, so when I got my noa2, I talked to my boss and explained him that I was planning to quit (he already knew I was in k1 journey) and he asked me to help him found someone to replace me, not only that but, but get all organized before I leave.

I also sold and gave in some of my furniture and belongings, but mostly I wanted to spent time with my family friends.

I also went to my university to get all my students documents, so I can work and apply for master's degree here in the States. I don't know but moving to another country can be very very overwhelming, so Thanked God I worked out things with plenty of time, so when the time comes (when I received my k1 visa on april 16) I took the first flight I found, and moved to the States with my love.

Edited by Andrea&Henry, 25 February 2013 - 06:10 PM.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-02-25 18:01:00

Will significant age difference pose a problem in interview date? Please help!

That's right, neither of them have done anything illegal, provided they got married in good faith. They are not proposing to circumvent any laws or do anything else questionable. The OP has been pleasant and willing to listen. We may not agree with them, but we owe them every consideration.

exactly! Couldn't say it better

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-04-27 11:11:00

Will significant age difference pose a problem in interview date? Please help!

I think our job here as vj members is to help and guide not to judge. She is here requesting our help for her immigration process, I didn't read anything about she requestiong our opinion or our thoughts about her life desicions or why she married her husband. It's her business not ours. Even when is unusual it doesn't mean she entered in a fake marriage. I married my 3rd cousin

and he is the love of my life.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-04-27 11:05:00

Will significant age difference pose a problem in interview date? Please help!

Do you have a fb page? Guessing for his age I bet he doesnt have one, but one of the proof I took to my interview were facebook printpages, mostly of the day I changed my status to "engage with" and I uploaded the photos of our engagement party with our family and friends. So you can see the comments and good wishes. I also took with me: photos (not only of the both of us but also with friends and family), receipts from phone calls, hotels, restaurants, rent cars, flight itinineraries, copies of boarding passes, airplane tickets, guide tours, passport stamps, emails, letters, cards, receipt of my engagement ring and sworn affidavits of our family and friends that we are truly in love (3 of each side) and print pages from facebook and skype. Copy of money transfers and western union. The funny thing is that even though we prepared a huge amount of evidence, it was never requested during my interview. My interview lasted less than 6 min and I was approved. But I just want to share my list of evidence cause we had our red flags ourselves, too. My now husband and I are related (we're 3rd cousin), he is 11 years older than me and he was divorce. Actually the only real issue was the fact we're related so we were advice, we should have as much evidence as we can. In the end, thank God we didn't need it at all but at least we were sure we had plenty of it. I know you are not a photo person but to be truly honest in my 2 years of being a Visajourney member, never saw a huge gasp of age difference like the 2 of you, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. So the next time, take some envelope with you so you can storage every single receipt and take as many pics as you can.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-04-27 10:24:00

Question about needing a Birth certicate for my wife for this process.

Her tourist visa has nothing to do with this new process. There are separate process and separate purposes! One is for tourism the other one is for immigration processes. Is she already living here with a tourist visa?
Actually when I apply for my fiance visa, my tourist visa was completely cancelled.

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-07-09 14:17:00

When will I be able to work in US? (After Entering US)

as far as I now you are entering with with a spouse visa so you can work as soon your green card arrives by mail. Usually takes 2-4 weeks

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-08-08 11:25:00

spouse visa philippine wife in china now pregnant

I totally understand cause Im pregnant myself but the reality is the she is probably having her baby outside the US. A pregnancy is not considered a reason to speed up things according to the USCIS standards. Only a few cases like being part of the US militar. The thing is if you filed 4-5 month ago she is probably getting her visa by early 2014. Is not the first time when the beneficiary gets pregnant without been done with the process, usually most of them end up accepting the fact of giving birth outside the US (there's a lot of threats in vj you can search about this topic). my thoughts to you not only as a vj member but also as almost 6 month pregnant woman, is try to accept the fact she is mostly likely giving birth in china if she definitely cannot go back to the phillipines, try to look for the best healthcare for her (do you work for a transnational? Do you have a health insurance?) try to talk to other americans about which is the best option in terms of health care etc. once your baby is born you need to take his/her birth certificate to the embassy so you can register it. Your baby will get it US passport and documents even if its born overseas. I know you both must be very concern, and unplanned pregnancy can be very stressful too but she needs to be relax. I hope you can work things out and try to enjoy it, this baby is a wonderful miracle and and you will see in long run, there's nothing that cant be fix

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-09-03 07:47:00

Moroccan bf living in Dubai, does he have to return to Morocco for us to begin the Spouse Visa process ??

Yes ! Thank u so much. We really didn't want him to leave his job in Dubai and be jobless in Morocco

your welcome! good luck

Andrea&Henry

Female

Venezuela

2013-08-23 18:12:00