Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Juggling timeframes	We received the instructions for package 3 and 4 a couple of days ago. So far, we've been running down the list and gathering the documentation that need a certain time to get prepared, ask questions about specific requirements, etc BEFORE scheduling our interview. I thought it would be best to get those out of the way and prepare the rest of our folder while we waited for the interview. It made me wonder, is there a specific time limit between getting the local case number and the scheduling of the interview at the Embassy? Thank you so much for your replies. J&A Edited by Jack&Ana, 15 December 2011 - 09:12 AM.	Jack&Ana	Female	Colombia	2011-12-15 09:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Translation of documents....	Hey So, I went to my interview with some documents in English and some others in Spanish. I didn't have any problems with either one of the people who handled my file. The 1st helps you to get your documentation in order. She was a Colombian woman, very friendly and helpful, she did not have any issue with them. Then the CO (American) reviewed my entire folder and it was the same. She didn't have any trouble with them and was also very nice. What I think is an issue is if you have any documentation in another language, other than Spanish or English. In my case, I have papers in French, so those SHOULD be translated by a certified translator. Even if you both speak the languages fluently, you have to think that anything you present to the Embassy become official documents and it's better if you treat them as such. Informality is not the best policy in this case, IMHO. Good luck!! (Let me know how you guys are doing )	Jack&Ana	Female	Colombia	2012-02-21 10:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	How much time to get to the NVC??	My NOA2 was on 9/20, NVC just forwarded the petition to Embassy on 10/13. Takes at least few weeks, no?	Visanese	Male	Japan	2011-10-18 13:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Did you use a lawyer	I used an attorney for our K-1 petition. If I knew of this website, I wouldn't have used one. However, my attorney did find few of my errors on the petition/supporting documents, so I'd say having a second set of eyes always help.	Visanese	Male	Japan	2011-10-16 22:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Getting prepared for interview- Evidence of engagement	Hi! I just wanted to let you know that my fiance and I had the same situation, we never had a formal engagement (with a ring and all), and it was not a problem at all. We provided lots of photos, conversations, Skype records, etc., and it was fine. Don't worry!	Roryta	Female	Mexico	2012-01-28 02:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	form ds-156	Electronic DS-156 Supplemental form with DS-156 Both links are from the State Department.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-03 19:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Birth Certificate, what is the deal????	Birth certificate is usually used to prove US Citizenship. Since you were naturalized, you would provide your Naturalization Certificate to prove citizenship. I don't think you need to provide your birth certificate.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-03 22:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Which is faster,getting married in China or US	In addition: Your friend and his fiancee might have to travel to the Provincial Capital of the province where her hukou is because some local marriage bureaus may not be able to register marriages where one of the parties is a foreigner. His fiancee will know what needs to be done in this regard.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-04 20:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Which is faster,getting married in China or US	To be officially married in China, your friend and his fiancee will have to go to a marriage bureau and register and then be issued the marriage certificate. It does not matter what takes place first, registering at the marriage bureau or having the ceremony. Prior to him making the trip, he will need an affidavit of single status that is certified by the Secretary of State in his home state and then the affidavit will have to be authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction for that state. After he returns to the states, he will file two I-130's, one for his wife, the other for her 12 year old.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-04 20:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	USCIS Online Case Status	Can/will I ever see a change in my case status up until my approximate NOA2 date other than "initial review". No	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-06 12:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	k1 notification	The Embassy will extend validity of the petition if need be. Your fiance (or you) could contact the Embassy and see if they have the file.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-07 15:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Petition from Pastor	The time to submit such a letter is when you initially file the I-129F. If you were to receive an RFE (something you DON'T want to happen), you could sneak it it with the response. Your fiancee could bring the letter to the interview at the Embassy, however, it may not be looked at by a CO.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-07 14:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I'm confused. Should I use the I-134 Affidavit or the I-864 Affidavit?	I-134 is used for K1 petitions at the Embassy or Consulate. I-864 is used for AOS and spousal visa petitions when the file is being processed by the NVC.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-11 00:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K-1 cost break down ???	It was $355 in July 2009 to apply for 129 and the fees have gone up so need to check these fees on USCIS site or with your attorney USCIS reduced the filing fee for I-129F this past November. The fees that I, Daniel&Theary, and pushbrk quote for I-129F and AOS are quoted directly from the USCIS website. The visa fee is quoted directly from the State Department's website.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-12 12:02:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K-1 cost break down ???	I-129F: $340 visa fee: $350 AOS: $1070	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-11 17:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Initial I-129F Package Questions!	Does a USCIS employee really look through evidence of an ongoing relationship for a low fraud country, though? I'm honestly curious. It's not one of the requirements for the initial filing. Evidence of an ongoing relationship is also not required for an initial filing if someone is going to interview in Lagos or Casablanca either. Just because it's not a requirement doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Furthermore, just because a country (such as the UK) has lower incidences of fraud doesn't mean a petitioner should hold back on the evidence. This is just one person's opinion.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-12 17:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Initial I-129F Package Questions!	OP: If you want to ensure that a CO sees your evidence, then the best time to include is when you file the petition with USCIS. This way, it becomes part of the file that a CO sees prior to the interview. As Coconuts said, evidence is rarely asked for at the interview by a CO, and that is not limited to London. IMO, the interview is not the time to be submitting new evidence, I'm not suggesting going to the Embassy or Consulate empty handed, far from it. I'm only syaing the best time to submit evidence is with the initial filing of the petition.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-12 14:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	which forms are in packet 3?	P3 forms: I-134 DS-230 DS-156 DS-156K DS-157 This link is the complete K1 instructions from the Embassy in Ankara.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-13 15:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-864 Affidavit of Support Question	Should we still put "1" on 21c No	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-16 11:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Taking forever for pkt 4 and noa2 expires in july	You don't need to worry about the expiration date, the Embassy has the ability to re-validate the NOA2 if need be. Edited by Ryan H, 13 June 2011 - 11:23 AM.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-13 11:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K-1 INITIAL Beginning Stages	filing fee has gone up. It is now $430 for 129 F Wrong. Filing fee for I-129F is $340. This USCIS website confirms what the filing fee for the I-129F is. Yeah and dont forget the letter of intent from both of you. Good catch paojack. The letter of intent you both have to write states that you intend to marry the other within 90 of arrival in the US on a K1 visa and that you are legally able and willing to do so. Edited by Ryan H, 15 June 2011 - 02:44 PM.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-15 14:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K-1 INITIAL Beginning Stages	Start with form I-129F, you fill that out. Both of you fill out your own G-325A. Filing fee for I-129F is $340. Mail the I-129F, both form G-325A's, the fee, and your evidence to the lockbox in Dallas. The address is on the instructions. The sponsor/co-sponsor forms (I-134) won't be needed until the file reaches the Embassy. The posted time from NOA1 to NOA2 from USCIS is 5 months. May be longer, may be less. After USCIS approves the petition, they will send it to the NVC where it will be assigned a case number and then shipped to the Embassy in London. I don't know how the Embassy in London schedules K1 interviews. Others who do can chime in. I would say a good ballpark figure from filing to arrival is 6-8 months. Best wishes! Edited by Ryan H, 15 June 2011 - 02:26 PM.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-15 14:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	How late can my fiancee wait to come to the US after receiving K1 visa	The visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. However, check the expiration date; sometimes the validity is less if the medical exam validity expires sooner than 6 months. It is true that CBP determines entry but that other thing you heard, sounds like a bunch of BS to me.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-17 00:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K1 Visa and Fees	Here's a question. You send in your 129F packet to the service center with a check in US dollars to begin the process. You send the I-129F to the lockbox facility in Texas, not a service center. Edited by Ryan H, 17 June 2011 - 05:46 PM.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-17 17:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 - and NVC	So I received my NOA2 hard copy about a week ago, and it says on the NOA2 that the petition was sent directly to the consulate, which in my case would be the Embassy in the Philippines. Everything I have read before said it will go to the NVC first, however when I called them today, they said they do not have it and it was sent directly to the consulate. Is this normal? And who do I contact to see if its at the embasy. Nothing goes straight to the Embassy or Consulate from USCIS. In the case of a K visa, the NVC is nothing more than a mail stop. They received the file from USCIS, assign it a case number, and ship it to the appropriate Embassy or Consulate.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-18 01:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Australian Consulate - Melbourne or Sydney	This is definitely a mistake. On the I-129F form where is asks where your fiancee will apply for a visa, did you put Melbourne? Regardless, the file will ultimatley end up in Sydney and your fiancee will interview there.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-04-28 17:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	How do I properly write a supplemental sheet?	Hello all again. How do I properly write a supplemental sheet to add work address history and residential address history that does not fit in form I-129F & G-325A? Also very important. What should I write were the address goes on the for? "See Attachment" or "See supplemental form" "See attached sheet" ? I am sure I can't just leave that space black. I want to make sure I use the correct terminology and avoid confusion or mistakes. On the form itself, I wrote "see attached." On the supplemental, I clearly stated what the section was before writing the information. At the bottom of the page, I made a signature and date line and signed it.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-20 17:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Lawyer and 125% of poverty Level	For some reason, the HHS link didn't post in my original reply, here is the link: 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-05-05 13:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Lawyer and 125% of poverty Level	[quote name='Désirée689' timestamp='1304619423' post='4648026'] Bonjour, Hello.... I am from Tahiti, French Polynesia My very very fist post in the forum, and my very very first action in this website [/quote] Welcome! [quote name='Désirée689' timestamp='1304619423' post='4648026'] is it true that a lawyer will make everything faster and will guaranty an approval ? [/quote] No on making things faster and no on the guarantee. You will see many posts here from people who used lawyers only to have the lawyer screw things up resulting in delays. [quote name='Désirée689' timestamp='1304619423' post='4648026'] how long did it take you to get approved ? [/quote] Whether or not you use a lawyer, the posted time from USCIS from NOA1 to NOA2 is 5 months. After NOA2, there is the time it takes to have the file shipped to the Embassy or Consulate overseas and then having said Embassy or Consulate schedule an interview, that can vary. A best case scenario timeframe is having an interview in December. [quote name='Désirée689' timestamp='1304619423' post='4648026'] My other question is the Financial requirement. I read my fiancé has to make at least 125% of the US poverty level for a houshold of 2....i have been trying to look for a number, buti can't find anything about it. [/quote] That is true. I found "]this information from the US Department of Health and Human Services. Other may want to comment if this is the right place or if there is a better source. Congratulations on your engagement and best wishes going forward! Edited by Ryan H, 05 May 2011 - 01:33 PM.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-05-05 13:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K-1 Interview	i do have another question .. does somebody knows if my interview wil be in Inglish or Spanish at Juarez Mexico's Consulate? You will have a choice between the two.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-19 09:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Denied Entry	Could anyone please explain what impact, if any, this will have on our K1 visa application. I'm guessing it will be fine, but would like to make sure. Other than possibly being questioned about it at the K1 interview, it will not have any bearing on your application.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-20 12:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Got REF, need some help...	I have several questions: 1. I did submit the copies of passport pages which show the identification page and admission stamps. However, I got my citizenship on February 2011 and I used my Chinese passport for traveling. Do I need to do notary for it? This one confuses me, you entered China using a Chinese Passport. Is it standard for China Immigration Inspection personnel to stamp passports of Chinese citizens? 2. I did not keep the airline tickets stubs and all my tickets were booked by travel agents. They sent me the receipts and e-tickets via emails. Can those receipts and e-tickets be counted as evidence? Those only show you bought a ticket, not that you actually went. The actual boarding passes (which by your own admission, you do not have) are proof you actually showed up for the flight. 3. My fiancée and I did not take many photos together. In some of the pictures(took when we visited SHANGHAI EXPO last year), she was wearing sunglasses. Can those photos be counted as evidence? Photos are secondary evidence. The photos you describe can be used and should be submitted. 4. Last question... During the time I visited my fiancée, She and I had a 3-day trip in China. I saved the hotel and the airline ticket receipts. I did not do translation for those receipts and I am going to do word-for-word English translations. Do I need to do notary for the translations? Submit copies of the original receipts and keep the original receipts. Whether or not you translate them is up to you.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-20 18:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Getting married now - still use K-1?	Reading up on how the NVC sends the fiance applicant various forms for the CR1, this has been another area of concern for me, as she does not have a functional mailing address out on her remote ranch. I wonder if they would also send me all her required materials. Don't know how a situation like that would work on a K1, but for a CR-1, there is the DS-3032 that she would sign that can designate you as the agent. Being designated as the agent, you would receive all correspondence from the NVC.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-22 11:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Getting married now - still use K-1?	(K-3 is dead and buried) This is the only part of your post that is not correct. The provision of the LIFE Act that created the K3 has never been repealed and there have been recent instances of the USCIS sending an I-129F that was filed in conjunction with an I-130 to the NVC so it arrives there first, thus the K3 goes forward. Agree with everything else you wrote.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-22 02:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Getting married now - still use K-1?	I checked CR1 - looks very similar to K-3... Is the only difference the fact that CR1 gives permanent residence automatically? Sorry for delving into a newb question. CR-1 and K3 are spousal visas, similarities end there. CR-1 is an immigrant visa, a green card is issued on arrival in the form of an I-551 stamp, the actual card arrives in the mail a short time later. K3 is a non-immigrant visa requiring adjustment of status after entry. IMO, I don't think the K1 is any faster or easier than the CR-1. Posted times by USCIS from NOA1 to NOA2 are identical, 5 months. Granted the CR-1 involves processing at the NVC whereas the NVC is only a mail stop for K1. However, if managed properly on the petitioner's end, processing at the NVC can move quickly (you can't control what happens on the NVC end). Choose the path that you are the most comfortable with and the path that suits your situation best.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-21 14:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Getting married now - still use K-1?	I'm going to be getting married (Civil) to my fiance in Mexico in a week. Before our decision for this, I had everything ready to go with my K-1 visa application. My question is, should I continue my plans to get her to the U.S. through the K-1 fiance visa, then marry her in the U.S.? Or is it easier (or quicker) to get her up her through another application/process? Bonus question: When we have our civil marriage in Mexico, will that automatically mean we are legit married in the U.S.? Will it stand for anything or will we have to have another civil marriage in the U.S. when she gets here? When you get married in a week, the K1 will no longer be available to you. You would have to file the I-130 for CR-1. "Bonus question" answer: you do not need another civil marriage in the US after her arrival.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-21 12:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Necessary Translated Documents for K1 Visa in Ukraine	OP: I have read your timeline and from what I can see, the petition has already been submitted to USCIS (correct me if I'm wrong). While translations are necessary for USCIS, if the Embassy instructions say documents submitted to the Embassy in Kiev that are in Ukrainian and Russian are acceptable as well as English, then tranlations to English from Ukrainian or Russian should not be necessary.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-22 15:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What is Packet 2, 3 and 4?	So as for packet 3 you can print out the required documents online? how would we know what is required? The forms that would be included in a P3 can be found here. I think the Embassy in Islamabad will send a P3 because I looked at the medical exam information for Pakistan and it said something about needing documentation issued by the Embassy showing the visa category when going in for the medical exam.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-18 00:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What is Packet 2, 3 and 4?	Packet 2 is an old term. It means the same as NOA2. Packet 3 is the instruction packet. Packet 4 is the appointment packet. Since you printed and filled out all the forms you are supposed to; you should be good to go.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-17 20:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	how do i Enter the USA under k-1 Visa??	You do not have to cross at Juarez. If you wanted to fly straight to Dallas or any other US City that has direct flights from Mexico, you can. The second part of what I said is important, if your final destination does not have direct flights from Mexico, all immigration procedures will be done at the first US airport you land at.	Ryan H	Male	China	2011-06-23 16:05:00