ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportsmy timeline jumped forward
The timelines are askew right now because very few petitions were processed in the last month and a number of those were expedites. The algorithm looks at the most recent approvals and the average time in processing then calculates your estimate. It is junk information right now since there is no good recent info.

Another post says that the reason there are few approvals is because of the dream act. Makes sense. Most of the petitions with NOA1 date of July 20 and later haven't yet been processed. That means nearly 6 months have passed for those folks still waiting. If the post about the dream act is correct they may have another month to go, for those from late July. Normal processing starting at that time would push us all out to about 7 months.

Not good news, but at least it explains the situation. It's not what we all hope, but it's the current reality. I'm in the same boat, good luck to all of us.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-01-11 01:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCalifornia service center-August Filer- any news on NOA2?
CSC seems to have slowed down significantly in the last month or two. It's very common that both Service Centers will speed up and slow down as adjudicators are moved from visa type to another. A year ago right now VSC was approving petitions in just 3 to 3 1/2 months, this year they are at 6 1/2. Last year CSC was at 5 months, this summer they were at 3 or so. Timelines fluctuate. Estimates are just that - estimates. For planning purposes I am counting on 5 months from NOA1 and hoping that holds, understanding that it could easily go to 6 1/2, or even longer.

It's frustrating to be sure. Long story, but I am doing the third K-1 visa petition of my life. I've waited through the process a couple of times already, but that certainly doesn't make it any easier this time around, other than my expectations are a little more grounded these days.

Good luck to everyone, and I am certainly hoping CSC and VSC both speed up. I'd like to see CSC crank through a month and a half worth of visas very quickly so that mine can follow.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-12-26 20:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC
I received a visa 7 years ago for my fiancee. She came the US and ultimately got her citizenship. We have 2 children together but divorced in 2011. Our entire social group, and the one I'm still in involved in moreso than my ex, is filipino. My filipina friends encourage me to get involved with their friend, or sister, or cousin, or niece back home. (I'm a reasonably decent catch, IMHO) After my marriage ended I met a filipina online. It was great, we got engaged, visa was applied for. It didn't work out... It was painful. The petition was canceled just after it was approved, prior to it leaving the NVC. So 2 previous approved petition, but only 1 approved visa.

I didn't want to do it again. After it was over, I took some of my local friends up on their offers to meet people they knew. I figured it would be safer than meeting random folks online. I have custody of my 2 sons from my previous marriage, one is filipino (I'd adopted the son of my now ex) and one is filam. I'd love for them to have pinay influence in their life in my home to retain the language and culture. I've been single for long stretches in my life and prefer not to be single, but dating locally is difficult for a number of reasons, one in particular is the time I have available due to the custody of my sons. So I'm going down the K-1 visa route again, with eyes wider open than my two previous journeys.

I wouldn't wish the wait on anyone... I've seen it first hand before. But given the options I consider, it is certainly one route available, so I've chosen this option again. The wait is horrible, the relationship at the other end, just as any relationship possibility, is I hope a good one. I feel I'm lucky to have met Airen. I don't like the wait, but I undestood it's part of the process from the beginning. Anyone who falls in love with someone from another country needs to realize the process involved isn't easy, speedy, or cheap. Would I choose it again, all other things considered? I think I might. Every relationship has a journey, ours just has the visa process involved. I don't like it, but I understand it. Just need to realize parts of it are out of our hands, and let go... Until we arrive at the other end.

Again, good luck to all.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-03-09 21:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC
Folks, I've been watching the K-1 processing on here extremely closely for well over a year as I've been directly involved with 2 K-1 processes during that time. Both service centers have had fast periods and both have slow periods. VSC seems to be going very fast, even for them. And CSC seems to have nearly stopped in place in the last few months. If you'd applied at CSC in the first half of July you would very likely have had your NOA2 in 3 months, faster than I've seen VSC in the last year and a half (although they were at about 3 1/2 months about one year ago). If you applied after the middle of July (sorry Mai and Timmy) then you likely still aren't approved even 7 plus months later.... There really is no rhyme or reason. However, my guess is that if you check back 6 months from now (which most won't as we will have been approved and will be further along in our journey) you'll see that things have slowed down again at VSC and sped up at CSC, at least at some point. They both go back and forth. People sending applications in last June who were sent to CSC were likely upset, only to be approved 75-90 days later while their counterparts at VSC were happy to have been sent to VSC, only to suffer a 7 month wait. Now it's flipped. No matter where you're sent, it's unlikely the visa process will take the time you originally expect.

Just be patient, endure the process. It's my 3rd K-1 in my lifetime. Life will go on. The time feels hard while you're in it, just like most other things in life. Absolutely nothing we can do but wait, that's the reality. We can be frustrated and wait, or move forward in our life and try to be happy and wait. The wait is there, frustrated or happy is totally up to each of us.

Good luck everyone!
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-03-09 12:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2 approved
Thanks for the well wishes everyone... My journey was a bit different than many... Just happy to be near the end of a 20 month journey, that seemed to have a lot of issues...

Honestly, if the original estimate of 90 days at the CSC had worked out, my fiancée would likely have arrived about a week before her mom was diagnosed with cancer. She would have struggled terribly with homesickness. So all-in-all, the delay had an upside. Had it been a standard 5 months, my fiancée would have had to choose to travel near her mother's surgery. At this point it looks like her travel will be a couple months after the surgery, when hopefully everything is cured/stable. The delay by CSC, while painful and depressing, likely relieved a lot of potential stress and pain with her at home situation.

At the end of the day, we are just really happy to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Best wishes for everyone!
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-18 22:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2 approved
With the flurry of activity the last few days we'd gotten hopeful, and today it came. 7 1/2 months. Good luck to everyone else waiting, we'll continue to cheer for you.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-18 18:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsFrom NOA2 to MNL case number in 8 days

Hi u receieved my noa2 today whats next? Hehehe thank
You k1 filer here philippines also!!!

*i receieved


Best is to read one of Hank_'s posts about the next steps:

http://www.visajourn...er/117451-hank/


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-27 22:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsFrom NOA2 to MNL case number in 8 days
Actually I'm on a different track, K-1. So those forms don't apply to my visa petition. Good luck on your process.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-26 23:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsFrom NOA2 to MNL case number in 8 days
I received our NOA2 on April 18. I started calling the NVC daily only 2 business days later (yeah, I'm antsy). On the 6th business day, the 8th calendar day, I received the case number for Manila, our embassy.

If you are in a county where having the embassy case number can get you moving, as it does in the Philippines, the process can be pretty fast.

Good luck to everyone.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-26 22:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportsrecent approvals

Same for me, I got the MNL case number 6 business days after the NOA2 date.  Because it was a weekend in the Philippines we couldn't pay at BPI until the following Monday, but within a day of paying we had our interview date, May 14.  My fiancée already has her Cenomar, Birth Certificate, NBI clearance, and has completed the CFO.  The day after she receives her visa she can go get the CFO sticker then be on her way to the US.  Between receiving the NOA2 and the MNL number I sent everything I needed to via USPS and it arrived 4 business days later.  She will do medical this week, then have nearly a week and a half between the medical and the interview to ... basically print chat logs?  We've been preparing so all the pressure is off now.  She is printing the forms today and has already registered for the medical. 

 

We're hoping she can be here 2 weeks after the interview, putting her here the end of May, about 6 weeks after NOA2.

 

Good luck to everyone!


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-30 23:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAnyone who got their NOA2 the last two weeks called NVC yet?

When you call and your case hasn't yet been received by the NVC they will invariably tell you to wait 15 business days.  That's a standard answer.  DON'T listen to them.  Feel free to call every day.  I've had many variations of the wait statement: wait a couple of weeks, wait 10-15 days, wait 15 business days, even wait 15-20 business days.  Again, DO NOT listen to that.  Beginning a week after your NOA2, call every day until they have your number. 

 

When I got my number it was on the 8th calendar day, 6th business day.  They told me the case had been received but not yet processed and to call back in a few days.  I asked if they'd assigned the country specific case number, in my case MNL, and they said "sure, we have that" and they could give it to me.  Once they've received your case they immediately assign a case number.

 

The process is yours, not theirs.  The people on the phone know less about the process than folks here on VJ.  Sad, but true.  Drive the process as hard and as fast as you can, once you have the NOA2 in hand.

 

Good luck to everyone.


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-01 11:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsShe's on the plane now!

Her experience at immigration:

She got in the non-citizen queue.  After the citizen queue emptied, the citizen area processed non-citizens as well.  She ended up being processed in the citizen area.

First they opened her envelope (the one with the cut corner).  The went though looking for a specific form, don't know which.  It took them awhile to find it, she was getting nervous.  He checked her passport, checked the computer.  The she was asked the following:

Why was she coming here?

Where does her fiance live?

When will she get married?

Finally, her passport was stamped 90 days out and she was told she had to marry by that date.

Total process maybe 5 minutes.  No "special room".  Not a bad experience.

 

 


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-29 18:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsShe's on the plane now!

Thanks folks.  She's here now!  And she's more than what I remember. 

 

Life is good.

 

Wishing everyone the best.... and Good Luck!


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-29 16:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsShe's on the plane now!

My fiancée is on her flight now.  Soon she'll land in Japan, then a couple hour delay, then a direct flight to Portland where I'll pick her up in the morning.  Holy cow, it's been almost 9 months, so excited it's finally here!  I almost can't believe her flight with touch down here in 12 more short (or long? what if I can't sleep) hours.

 

Good luck everyone else in their journeys.  It's so nice to be at this step in ours.


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-28 22:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsRFE received: Circumstances of Meeting and Last Personal Meeting

 

To clarify, the primary evidence that I've submitted with my initial I-129F application included:

  • One passport page that shows my picture, name, nationality, etc.
  • Plane ticket receipt showing that I traveled to beneficiary's home country in 2010-2011

All other forms and letters (letters of intent) outlined on the VisaJourney guides were also submitted with my package. Also, I submitted a copy of an apartment complex rental history, showing both the beneficiary and petitioner's names on it. I thought this would've been a very strong piece of evidence, but it proved it wasn't. Maybe the date on the rental history missed the date range in question. (Rental history conducted on March 2010. Date range in question: October 2010 to November 2012)

I know it's been addressed mostly, but to clear it up for anyone reading this in the future, none of the above is actual primary evidence of meeting.   The passport page is information only, it doesn't demonstrate being together.  The plane ticket receipt doesn't prove that you were together, it just proves that you bought a ticket.  Whether it was used or not isn't clearly demonstrated just by the receipt (I've had tickets I purchased but then had to cancel, a receipt alone doesn't prove anything regarding having met).  Finally the lease agreement isn't proof of having met, it's just proof that you've shared responsibility of a lease.  From a third party perspective, you could have been responsible for a lease without ever having been in that location.  I've signed lease agreements when I was moving in states I hadn't even been to, but I had a lease agreement in place prior to my move.  And as you pointed out, even if was sufficient it falls outside the very strict time requirements. 

 

From a third party perspective, none of the above demonstrates primary evidence.  It's as if no primary evidence was submitted with your package, so it's pretty clear to see why an RFE was generated.  You're on the right track for the RFE; passport stamps are very strong primary evidence.  Make sure they were dated within the two years prior to your petition, and not after the petition date.  There are other primary evidence options, but passport stamps alone, with supporting secondary evidence are pretty strong proof.

 

Good luck!


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-22 01:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsRFE received: Circumstances of Meeting and Last Personal Meeting

How about:

 

"We met while attending the college in April 2011  Our last time together was April 2013 or now.    Obviously change the italics to the actual times.  Then show proofs of being together.  Those proofs should include visa stamps from passports, boarding passes, etc showing you were a) at the same place at the same time, and b) on a firm date within the last 2 years.  Also add photos as secondary evidence.

 

Essentially all you're trying to prove by this statement is that you've been, without question, in each other's presence and undisputably within the last 2 years (which is why photos are secondary evidence, who knows when they might've been taken).


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-17 14:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresInterview scheduled from NVC
Congratulations! So close now
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-11 21:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPregnant wife x-rayed
When my previous fiancee came to the US on a K-1 visa she was 6 1/2 months pregnant at the time of the medical. She had the x-ray, but with the stomach shielding. Absolutely no problem.

You can always point out what the online requirements are and tell them absolutely not. They can then point out that their procedures absolutely require it and deny you a completed physical. Good luck trying to win that pissing match. I don't know about the DR, but the Philippines website for the medical clearly says that the x-ray will be required in ALL cases. So I could have told them "no" (I was there for the medical) which would absolutely have meant a failed physical. I could have then fought tooth and nail for them to accept what the website says. Again, that is most likely not a winnable fight.

The possibility of having problems as a result is miniscule. So minor that 10 other things your wife does today will be worse. Don't worry about it. The stress won't have any positive impact so I'd let it go.

Edited by Grant n Karleen, 19 March 2012 - 03:30 PM.

Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-03-19 15:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHusband failed marriage from a ex-filipina and now married to another filipina .... a red flag and possible denial?
I am filing a second fiance petition. I filed one 6 years ago and married my fiancee. She ultimately left me after getting her citizenship.

I don't know how this one will go, but I previously posted a question about any impact, and there were a number of people that have gone through it more than once who told me it shouldn't be a problem. Both of mine are Philippines, and some of theirs were as well.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-03-21 13:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAlready has tourist visa
While it is possible, the scenario you illustrate is illegal. You can't come on a tourist visa with intent to marry and adjust status. If there is any whiff of that (like possibly posting that intent on a board somewhere) and you get asked, prepare to run into major problems. It has happened that people came to the US on tourist visas, married, and adjusted status. It's the intent that is the biggest problem, and the intent you have is to commit fraud.

Go the legal channels, it is the safest and least expensive if you were to get caught. The legal route can be a tough wait with time apart, but having it done legally offers a lot more certainty that you can be together without raising the government's ire.

Best of luck.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-04-03 22:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVaccines
Many people who attend the medical at St. Luke's don't have a vaccination history. In a number of cases they review the history and still give vaccines anyway as there are sometimes concerns about how the original vaccines were administered.

Don't worry about it, just go to the medical and they will determine which vaccines are needed.

Good luck!
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-01-10 11:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresInteresting information on taxes
When you file taxes you look at your status on December 31 of the year and you use that as if it were the whole year. That's why people get married on December 31, so they can claim Married Filing Jointly for the whole year. If a baby is born on December 31, you claim the exemption the whole year. Since you are a US citizen, if you get married during the year to a foreign national, then yes you would claim the total family income, although the foreign income would likley be exempted.

By the same token, if you're married to a foreign national who has no income, and you do it before year end, even if they're not yet in the US yet, you get to claim them for the whole year and likely save money in taxes. It does go both ways.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-01-28 19:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswhy do so many of you guys advise to call visa offices??
You might be talking about calling the NVC offices. After NOA2, the next step for fiancé visas is the NVC where total process for fiancé visas is only 1 day, then they are forwarded to the country where the visa portion of the process takes place. In some countries, having the visa case number, assigned at the NVC, allows you to start processing immediately without waiting for 1) the documents to arrive in that foreign country, 2) that country to sort out the information received, c) the embassy to send out letters and d) possibly having the letter delivered from the embassy. Calling the NVC offices daily until your petition is processed and the case number assigned allows you to streamline and possibly takes weeks or even months out of the process.

I guess that's one answer. And it wouldn't work for all visa types or necessarily for all countries, but it absolutely works for others. Again, this is the NVC stage, not the CSC/VSC stage.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-04-18 23:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVaccinations

If you have records you can take them.  Any immunization history may or may not affect the immunizations your wife will need.  Even if immunizations have been given in the past that is no guarantee your wife won't be given those same immunizations again.  Many, if not most, people going through St. Luke's get the full round of immunizations as they either have no records or the records aren't sufficient.

 

Don't worry, it won't be 55.  There is a pretty standard set of immunizations and it's all done at the same time on the same day.  The normal process, even with no medical history records, is only 2 days.

 

Good luck!


Grant PDXMalePhilippines2013-05-17 23:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImpact from previous K-1 filed 6 years ago?
Thanks Gary and Alla, to quickly address a couple of those items. My ex is now a US Citizen. I adopted her son from previous relationship. And I have custody of that son and the one we had together. My current family size is 3 (those two boys are my only children). Affidavit of Support requirements won't be an issue, luckily my income would cover any necessary amount.

My fiance knows everything about the situation, I was clear when we met online that I was not yet divorced, but was in process. The divorce was final over a month before we met in person. She has had a fair amount of camera time with my 2 boys (ages 5 and 6) and frankly, the look on her face when she first saw them helped seal the deal. I have kept nothing from her and she should be fine with any discussion in the interview.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-01 15:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImpact from previous K-1 filed 6 years ago?
I'm a newbie to this website, and have found it very helpful. Although I'd sent my petition prior to finding the site, it's encouraging to see everyone else in the same boat and I know I'm not the only one waiting (and waiting, and waiting).

But I am not a total newbie to the process. 6 years ago I filed for a visa for my then-fiance and brought her and her son to the US in 2006 from the Philippines. We had another child... but have since gotten divorced, after nearly 5 years of marriage.

Once separated I went online and began chatting with other folks and met and "fell in love" with another filipina. After several months of chatting I traveled to the Philippines, spent a week with her, and her and my friends and family. I believe our application is complete and solid (I did the 6 year ago application without help and it seemed to sail through, and I've followed the same basic process so far this time).

My question is this: Has anyone else done this multiple times, and has the first visa complicated the second? I don't know if I am on the same 6-7 month timeline as first time filers, or if there is some other path I find myself on.

I appreciate any feedback.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-01 14:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedurescalling uscis
The people you are talking to on the phone are not the people adjudicating cases. They are a paid telephone service. They have a list of answers to a number of questions, but don't have any detailed information. If it feels like you are talking to a brick wall, you basically are. Until your case is at the top of the stack you won't hear anything. If everything is complete and meets their criteria, you get a NOA2 and it moves to the next step. If not you generally get and RFE. But as others have noted, until it's at the top of the stack there is no information to give you.

It's frustrating for all of us. But it's part of the process we entered into, willingly. I agree it's more agonizing than many of us might have anticipated, but it's the process we have.

Best of luck! As someone else said, keep yourself occupied doing something else as much as possible. This week I'm keeping myself occupied reading a lot of positive stories on VJ. Even though mine is a long way off, seeing other people getting results at least lets me know that things ARE moving, albeit slowly.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-02 15:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhen and Where...
By the time they are reviewing the petition she will be back in the Philippines I would guess, based on current timelines and assuming it is at CSC. I would use the home address in the Philippines as the stay in Oman I would consider temporary. And I would say that to anyone who asked :whistle: .
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-04 02:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBirth Certificate Questions
At filing you just need a photo copy of the certified copy. You don't need to send the certified copy. References to originals means "certified copy". Actual originals at time of birth are not required. At the interview they may ask to see the certified copy. I would send that and photo copies, so if they ask to keep one she can offer the copy and keep the certified one. Of course, if any official told me they had to have a certified copy I would have one available and offer it up. They cost me around $15 per certified copy, which is peanuts compared to making that official even the least bit concerned.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-07 12:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresBest Method to obtain copy of Birth Certificate USA
Vitachek is used in quite a few states. In at least one state that I've tried to order documents it's not possible to walk in and get one, at any price. The options are generally snail mail or through Vitalchek. The 2 states that I've used push you to Vitalchek from their own websites. They charge a fee per transaction, so I usually order several of whichever form, so I don't have to multiple transactions in case I ever need the form again.

So for speed and convenience I believe you have the "best" method. If you don't mind the process taking longer you can look into snail mail directly with the state and you could save a few bucks.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-07 18:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMY Fiance(e) is Pregnant
When I filed a petition for my first fiance, she was pregnant when I filed and we both knew. We petitioned and received her visa and she was able to be in the US for the birth of our son. It didn't have any negative interference, and in fact it might have been sped up by the fact that she was pregnant (I asked my senator to give it a nudge because of the pregnancy, and the whole process took 5 1/2 months).

This was 6 years ago, things might have changed. But it didn't have negative consequences at the time.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-09 00:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNo Letter of Intent
Thanks guys. I feel good about everything else... but I hate to add additional time to the process. I had Karleen send me a couple of copies, just in case... But I guess I'll wait.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-09 23:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNo Letter of Intent
I filed my petition prior to finding VJ. I believe I filed a very complete petition, excluding 1 item, Letters of Intent to marry. I read the instructions prior to sending a number of times, but the way I read that item it didn't seem that we needed it. Now that I read all the guides and posts, and read the instructions again, it seems that I missed it and should have sent it.

On my first day here on VJ I saw a related post where someone mentioned not having sent one and that it wasn't a problem. My question, how many folks are there who didn't send a letter of intent, and was it an absolute RFE in your opinion? Assuming the rest of my package exceeded the minimum requirements, is this absolutely going to be a problem? In the meantime, Karleen wrote and mailed me LOIs and I can push mine out within a day of receiving and RFE if it comes. Should I try to send LOIs and try to get them matched up, or wait for an RFE in one comes?

Thanks in advance for your input.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-09 23:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat! 18.7 Month(s)?
Inky responded to the original post. The OP changed their request as Inky was responding.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-12 22:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresImmigration Lawyers..Worth it? Issues with them...
Frankly the process is not difficult enough to necessitate an attorney, unless the case is special for some reason. I've been through it once without a hitch, even before I found VJ. I'm going through it again 6 years later and filed the petition before finding VJ. It is not a very difficult process.

That said, there are some situation that are not straightforward situations. If there have been denials for cause, deportations, anything major then I would recommend an attorney.

All of the posts on VJ about attorneys that I've seen have been neutral to very negative. I've read posts where they've slowed and complicated the process, and for that they can charge quite a bit. I haven't seen one post that was a straightforward petition that an attorney would have done anything except make the whole thing more expensive.

In short, get an attorney if you have a major obstacle. Otherwise avoid them like the plague.

But that's just my opinion.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-11 23:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWaivers
Sorry, it was not a serious suggestion. I've known guys who went "shopping" in the Philippines and other places and it has always rubbed me wrong when they narrowed it to a "short list". Apologies to the OP but I thought I smelled some of that here (and it looks like some others did as well). Again, I'm sorry.

Back to the post. It doesn't seem to meet the threshold in the instructions as linked above. However, if a few of us felt that, it's possible that the USCIS adjudicator (who is a real person) may feel that as well, if a petition were filed very soon. If a new petition was filed shortly after another petition was filed/canceled I personally would include a letter outlining the situation as it if were a waiver. Not "offically" required but the situation itself might raise eyebrows.

Believe me, I've met my share of bad seeds. I'm going through the K-1 process for the second time, but my first time I completed it, married my fiancee, have 2 kids and the relationship just ended with a divorce.

Sorry that you had to go through that. And good luck.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-13 17:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWaivers
I guess one way to avoid this type of problem would be to go with a "shotgun" approach. File petitions for the number of "possibles" then you can honestly say you haven't had filed or approved petitions in the past. Then pick which ever one get approved first. You can stop any "bad seeds" prior to NOA2.

Just a suggestion. Not for you, but for anyone else that might have a similar issue in the future who might have a few possibles, but not be entirely sure which of their fiancees is the right one at the time of filing.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-13 14:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWaivers
Just to confirm, you filed in September 2011, so your NOA2 would have arrived in January or February within the last few weeks? Just before that NOA2 arrived you cancelled and have now found a new fiancee and are ready to file again?

The verbiage in the instructions is:

"Filed 2 or more at any time" - so if that was your only 1, it doesn't trigger a waiver OR
"Had a K-1 visa petition approved in the last 2 years" - so if your petition was approved you would trigger a waiver.

If I were you, I would treat it as the 2nd case, unless you know for sure it got stopped before leaving the USCIS. The USCIS may look at the NOA2 as an approval in their system. I don't know if this is true, but there are probably very few stopped at that step so there might not be a lot of people with that experience to help.

The USCIS may very well be concerned if they see the petition as approved and you are reapplying for a new fiancee within weeks of the first being approved. I think a waiver letter would make sense. The waiver is discussed in item 2 of page 2 of the instructions http://www.uscis.gov...-129finstr.pdf.

My opinion only.

Ah, I see in your timeline that you had an RFE 1 month ago that you didn't complete, so no petition was approved. However they did have you in their system, so a waiver letter might still make sense. From the instructions it seems that the waiver is just a letter with evidence showing why it should be granted.

Edited by Grant n Karleen, 13 February 2012 - 01:13 PM.

Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-13 13:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI134 supporting evidence of income
I can't speak to embassy specifics for Australia, but I would suggest sending any supporting evidence you can get your hands on. I would ALWAYS send the tax return because it is pretty good evidence of your income for the year(s). If you can reasonably get something send it. The best possible scenario in an interview is to be able to hand the interviewer everything they ask for. Bad scenario is not to be able to give them evidence they require. If it's anywhere in the list and you can get it, send it.

I always tell myself "I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."

My two cents...
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-16 13:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHELP! COMPLETE change of personality.... :(
Is the OP even still reading? :unsure: Haven't seen him post for awhile.

If you are still reading, please take all the advice here and move on. Cut your losses. We are supportive of YOU, but not supportive of her behavior or of you continuing to chase a lost cause. There are women in the world who will treat you as well as you treat them. It's not that hard, especially in the Philippines.

Find one. Then post your success story! Can't wait to read it.
Grant PDXMalePhilippines2012-02-17 12:18:00