ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI'm a Canadian Citizen and he's a U.S. Citizen currently in Prison
I am also noting one area of confusion - you cannot get married and then apply for the K-1 visa. The K-1 visa isONLY for a fiancee who has to be unmarried when she/he moves to the US and then gets married within 90 days. If you get married first, then you do not qualify for a K-1 and need to apply for a K-3 (spousal application) or a CR-I (immigration visa). For both the K-1 and the K-3 you must then apply to adjust your status from a non-immigrant to an immigrant.

If he is going to be incarcerated for another 23 months plus having to serve time in a half-way house and you are determined to get married now rather than wait until he finishes his prison term, then you are far better off to go with the K-3 or CR-1 and move to the States after he is out, rather than before.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-04-17 18:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed Help On Specifics for Filling Out G325A Form!
Hello,

I'm looking for some guidance on the G-325A. I have 4 areas around which I have questions:

My fiancé has held a number of part time jobs, including one that was a seasonal position for a clothing retailer that lasted a few days a week for a couple weeks, and one that was just a one weekend job helping with promotions giving out stickers and balloons to promote a product. During that time she held other full time work


I would include the part-time seasonal with the begin and end start dates and under occupation include 'seasonal. I would not put the weekend job, however others may differ.



If we do list those two positions, will she need proof or evidence (pay stubs, etc.) for those two jobs at the interview? Will she ever need those types of evidence for those two jobs? I'm trying to figure out how to fill it out correctly.


No - she is not going to need proof of any of her employment, pay stubs or stuff like that. Just list the start and end dates, even if they overlap, and put in the part time position that it was part time. I had a number of contract and part time positions that overlapped with full-time employment and each other as well, and that is what I did.

I checked the example G325A form on this site and it says to not leave gaps in time for employment. So we put a line with "Unemployed" under the "Full name and address of Employer" part for the gaps between jobs. During this time, she was a Student. Should we put "Student" under the "Occupation" part? She's concerned that writing "Unemployed" will look bad to the immigration officer(s) and that they wouldn't want to approve someone who hasn't been working (though I doubt they really care or will frown upon unemployment, and I think they just want a complete history). She thinks it looks better to write "student" but I get the feeling we are suppose to leave it at "Unemployed."


If she is a student, then she is not unemployed - she is working as a student although not for money, but for grades. When she was a student write 'student' . They aren't checking to see if she is a good worker or not - they are wanting her to account for her time to see if there are any discrepencies that might indicate covering up undesirable situations, ie prison time, and to ensure that she isn't in some sort of undesirable occupation (ie. supports self through gambling proceeds, etc.)

What would be the right way to fill those "Unemployed" lines out given that info? Should the Unemployed part go under "Occupation" with "None" put under the "Full name and address of Employer"? Somehow else? Should we include "Student" in there somehow?


When she was not working and not in school, write unemployed with 'none' under occupation and 'none' under address of employer, etc. When she was a student, write student, and include the name of the school

I don't quite know what to put under the part of "Applicant's last address outside the United States of more than one year." She was here in America with me on a J-1 Visa from June 2006 until September 2006 (last summer). She has been living with her parents since she got back to Ireland in September 2006. So that would be... 9 months. Before coming here on the J-1 visa in June 2006, she lived in an apartment away from her parents home for 10 months. Prior to living in that apartment, she was a child living in her parents home. Summarized here:
Her Parents Home: Sept 2006 - Present (9 months)
My Home on J-1: June 2006 - Sept 2006
Her Apartment in Ireland: Sept 2005 - June 2006 (10 months)
Her Parents Home: Aug 2001 - Sept 2005 (many years)

So my question is, the words say "last address outside of the U.S. of more than more than one year." Does this mean more than one straight year of residing there, in which case we should list the time she was in her parents home from Aug 2001 - Sept 2005? Or should we put her parents home from Sept 2006 to Present, since it is the home in which she has lived in outside of America for more than one year, though not one straight an uninterrupted year. My guess is that we need to put the Aug 2001 - Sept 2005.


I'm not sure what to advise here - others may have ideas, however, I would be tempted to record the addresses the way you have them listed, explaining that the last time she lived for a full year at one address was in 2005. It won't hurt to put in more information than is needed.

When she was here on the J-1 last summer, she was issued a temporary Social Security Number. The G325A form has a spot for SSN. I asked my neighbor who petitioned for his immigrant wife and her children and whom has much experience with visa filing and whatnot. He said, if there was a SSN for her at one point, put the number in, even if she isn't here using it. Is this correct? Should we put that number in, or would it be wrong to put it in since it was a temp number?


Put in the SSN that was issued to her. It will probably not be a temporary number but become a permanent number as it is already assigned to her.


Good luck! Remember to keep photocopies of the information you write down. You will be required to fill out similar forms with similar information further along in the process so it is good to know exactly how you wrote and worded things the first time, as well as not having to try and remember all of those start and end dates all over again.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-05-17 09:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPrevious Denials
I would suggest being proactive with this. Include in your written summary about how you 'met' that you first got together online and then wanted to get together in person. You thought that a good opportunity to do so would be with him here as a student since he was intending on continuing his education anyways. That way if the relationship didn't work out, you would have the chance to discover it early on and he could still continue his education so it seemed like a good approach. With the denials of student visas, you decided to try and meet in other countries where it wouldn't be as expensive to get to as travelling to Africa, thus he applied for visitor visas to other countries. (If you also had to apply for visas to these countries you might want to include that statement, or else say you would have applied for your visas after his were approved). However, you were not able to arrange visits in other countries and so you were finally able to afford to travel to Africa. Being proactive by showing you were trying to get together and meet will add some sort of longevity to your relationship that may be useful. Good luck.

Edited by Kathryn41, 22 May 2007 - 05:43 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-05-22 17:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiance Visa for canadian fiance
two other points: - if you do decide to get married while you are currently in the states and then apply to Adjust your Status (AOS) to a permanent resident - keep your return ticket. If you are questioned during the interview you can use it to help prove you didn't have the intent to stay when you arrived. It is up to you to prove your intent was to return home, and not up to them to prove that your intent was to stay so you can start collecting 'evidence' now.

and - also if you decide to marry and stay, do NOT leave the US even for a 'short' visit to Canada until you receive either your green card or an Advance Parole (prior permission to leave and return without abandoning the AOS application). The border authority won't let you back in and will insist that you go through one of the Consulates and apply for the proper spousal visa first. The AP generally takes about 90 days but that can vary; the green card (AOS) can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-06-21 07:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage License
Hi Uzume,

When you arrive at the POE you hand in your mysterious brown envelope that you receive at the interview. It is sealed - don't open it! That contains all of your immigration file from the consulate and will be used to continue your immigration file upon arrival in the US. The POE officers forward that information on to the office serving your area of residence. Upon receipt of that envelope you arrival is officially 'entered' into the immigration computer system (called SAVE). Once your name is listed in the SAVE system the Social Security Department can check to make sure you are legally in the country and eligible for a SSN. This generally takes about 2 weeks, so about 2 weeks after you arrive, head to your local SS office and submit an application for your SSN. It should arrive in anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks, although it can take longer.

If you plan to marry before that, though it may not say it on their website, you can call your local government that issues marriage licences (often the County) and explain that you do not have a SSN yet as you are a new arrival but do have a valid passport. In many cases they will accept a passport in lieu of the SSN.

Good luck at the interview.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-06-30 08:31:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTotal Cost Sheet
also, for the K-1 security and police checks are required and often have a fee associated with them; fees of obtaining a passport, copies of birth certificates,; costs of extra vaccinations if not already given - above and beyond the medical cost (which seems to vary from Doctor to Doctor). Afterwards, as part of the AOS application, she will need to obtain a vaccination supplement (copied from the vaccination worksheet from the K-1 medical) provided by a US Panel Physician - fees are set by the individual physician and can vary from $10 to $200 plus. Every application process seems to be person/country and geographic region specific which will involve different fees.

Edited by Kathryn41, 13 July 2007 - 02:28 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-07-13 14:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI forgot to make copies of the package
You can print out another blank form now while the information is still fresh in your mind and fill it in with the same information. Then you can keep a copy for yourself and send one to your fiancee. You don't need the form again but it saves you from trying to figure out some of the information again (addresses, dates, etc.) plus it helps if your fiance has that information available.

Edited by Kathryn41, 21 July 2007 - 12:51 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2007-07-21 12:51:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarriage or wait 4 fiancee visa??
QUOTE (Agnieszka @ Jul 11 2009, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you do get married in August, it's perfectly ok, but remember that if they ask you whether you entered the US with the intention of getting married, you have to say NO! It's legal to get married in the US as a tourist but it's not ok to plan it. It's kinda ridiculous and seems like it doesn't matter but they do ask about that during the interview!



It is a violation of TOS for Visa Journey to suggest, encourage or condone any type of illegal activity. Lying to Immigration about your intent to avoid pursuing the proper visa route is misrepresentation and punishable by a lifetime ban from the US. Do NOT suggest to anyone here that they lie to immigration. This is totally not acceptable.

Edited by Kathryn41, 11 July 2009 - 08:31 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-11 20:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarriage or wait 4 fiancee visa??
Not a problem - it happens all the time. That is one of the reasons we have Organizers and moderators who can move posts to the proper forums.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-11 10:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarriage or wait 4 fiancee visa??
Moving this topic to CR1 as it doesn't belong in DCF and OP seems to be heading in that direction now
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-11 10:01:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSpouse immigrant is Awol from PNP, will he be denied IR-1 Visa???
moved from citizenship forum
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-07 16:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPicture and fingerprint with CR-1 Green-Card???
moved as requested by the OP
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-18 16:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAny one case complete in June
moved from citizenship forum to CR-1 forum
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-24 13:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGOT AN INTERVIEW WITH RADIO STATION
I listened to the first half as well - until my husband came home and other things took precedence. Well done, Suzie and others!

Tafeagans, our prayers are with you for a speedy approval now things are finally moving. My mother entered hospital with a condition not known to be fatal on the same weekend Joe and I became engaged; she unexpectedly died from it a month later. She never got a chance to meet my fiance/now husband. I hope your Mom gets the opportunity.

Edited by Kathryn41, 08 February 2008 - 07:13 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2008-02-08 19:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat should I do
moved from K-1 forum as not a fiancee visa
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-26 19:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresInterview help (what papers?)
moved from citizenship to CR-1 forum as more likely to get the necessary information here.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-07-30 12:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdenied entry and i 130
Absolutely. When it asks if you have ever been denied entry or anything like that, it needs to be mentioned. Being turned back for not having evidence of ties to Canada to show she wasn't intending to immigrate happens all of the time. Lying or failing to disclose information is considered misrepresentation and can actually result in a lifetime ban. Whatever you and she do, never ever lie by omission or prevarication or false information. It will come back to bite you far worse than having been turned back at the border. Remember, they probably already know about her being turned back as well - it will be in their records. Honesty is a necessity of getting through this immigration process successfully. Good luck to you.

Edited by Kathryn41, 04 August 2009 - 10:33 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-04 22:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130
post containing personal information and post quoting same have been temporarily removed at OPs request

Edited by Kathryn41, 08 August 2009 - 10:10 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-08 22:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Sent . What next?
moved from Effects of Major Changes on Immigration forum
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-14 22:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresASC appointment notice letter after 2 weeks in the states
It could be possible that the fingerprints they took when he arrived at the POE aren't good enough to use so they are requesting him to redo them. There is a finger or thumb print that is actually part of the green card.

Moving to the CRI forum from ROC forum

Edited by Kathryn41, 15 August 2009 - 08:41 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-15 20:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMy photo book was sent back to me!
May I remind everyone that this topic is in an Immigration Forum and many of the comments here are more appropriate in the OFF TOPIC forum. Please keep the off-topic comments out of the thread as they make access to the useful information in this thread difficult.

To the OP - the 1-800 line is 'affectionately' known as the "Misinformation Line". It is manned by call center employees, not Immigration Officers, and yes you can call 5 different times and get 5 different people and 5 different answers - and all 5 could be wrong.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-21 14:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo USCIS and NVC know about VJ?
post removed at the OPs request
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-14 09:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSPOUSE REQUESTED TO ATTEND NEXT INTERVIEW
Inappropriate post removed

Thank you all for supporting the OP, and just a reminder that those who have nothing useful to add to the discussion should just not add anything.

Edited by Kathryn41, 08 August 2009 - 08:19 AM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-08 08:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAfter 7 years we finally got our IR6!!
Wow - congratulations! I'm so pleased that you've finally prevailed.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-29 13:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-864 (AOS) Help
duplicate posts merged
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-07 10:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswhat is next
moved from US citizenship forum
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-09 19:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDoes petitioner needs to send anything after AOS package?
Duplicate thread removed
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-10 20:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNVC WANTS LETTER FROM POLICE
I agree with Malrothien, these type of comments are totally unnecessary. Individuals have many reasons to be living and working in countries other than their countries of origin that have nothing to do with US immigration, and the OPs motivation is not open to speculation. It is a requirement of US immigration that individuals present police certificates from the countries in which they have lived and worked for more than 6 months since the age of 16, otherwise the OP would not be experiencing this particular situation. So, if you have nothing useful to add to the discussion then do not say anything rather than making comments like this.

Good luck to the OP on your interview and I hope that the Consulate is satisfied with the documentation that you have.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-29 09:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCanadian Police Clearance
Hmm, the RCMP used to do this - they did mine in Windsor, however they don't show that option any more on their website - only the fingerprint based criminal record check. Try going to your local Police Station and ask them for a "Canada Wide Name Check Police Record". As long as it is done Canada Wide it should be fine.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-14 14:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarrying U.S. citizen. I am German (EU).
thread closed at the OP's request
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-20 18:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWife traveled to the philippines with an expired green card help!
Actually, the number that is on the back of your cheque when USCIS cashes it doesn't work for the ROC - it will work for all of the other applications but not the ROC. It is an internal number only used for USCIS number. You should receive the NOA very shortly and then you will be able to get the necessary documents for your wife's return.

One other bit of information - the number written on the back of the cheque will be the same number as on the NOA. She should receive a biometrics notice shortly afterwards and you will see that it has a totally different case number. That is the number you will be able to use to check your case status.

Good luck and I hope your wife will be back in the US very soon.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-08-27 19:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNeed advice ASAP...divorce after husband arriving here
Inappropriate comment and post quoting same has been removed. If you have nothing useful to contribute to the discussion, please do not say anything.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-21 18:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOUR AP =(
Duplicate thread moved from Philippines Regional Forum to CR-1 forum and merged with existing thread in CR-1 forum. It is not necessary to start more than one thread on the same topic and it is important to post the threads in the correct forum so you will get the correct information.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-25 15:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAYUDENMEEE
duplicate threads merged. Please do not start new threads on the same topic and allow time for people to see your post and respond.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-09-25 15:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCrossing the US Border during the CR-1/K-1 process
There were many Canadians married to Americans who were able to visit during the CR-1 process (and the K-1 process too). The important thing is that when you arrive at the border - either air or land - you have with you proof of sufficient ties to Canada. This includes such things as a letter from an employer allowing for the time off (if you are going over for more than a few days/week) and advising when you are to return to work; a lease or mortgage for which you are responsible; ongoing bills (utilities, insurance, etc.) for which you are responsible; proof of enrollment in a university, etc. It is also a good idea to carry a copy of the CR-1/K-1 paperwork including any NOAs to show you are pursuing the proper immigration course. It is up to the border official each and every time you cross the border to decide if your evidence is sufficient. If they believe you are actually 'living' in the US rather than visiting, or if your ties are insufficient they may turn you back. Now that passports are required to enter they do record the passports into the system. It is hard to say whether they keep track of the 'I am visiting" or "I am shopping" or whatever reasons are given or not. I would presume on the safe side that yes, they do keep track of that type of information.

While it is possible for a Canadian to visit the US for up to 6 months, it is up to the border official to approve the request to visit. It is hard to provide evidence of ties to Canada if you are in the US for 6 months at a time. Generally, you should be able to provide evidence of a lease or a mortgage you are maintaining, utilities you are maintaining during that time, and explain how you are supporting yourself if you are away from work (or unemployed) for at least 6 months. Don't be surprised if you get turned back at the border if you plan an extended visit.

You need to be in Canada not just for the interview but for the medical examination, and to obtain the necessary documents requested by the Consulate. You would be better off to plan to spend the last part of the waiting process in Canada, not the US. You are also better off planning shorter trips during the process rather than spend extended amounts of time in the US.

You may wish to post your question in the Canadian forum where other Canadians who have pursued a CR-1 visa can give you the benefit of their experiences.

(Moving this topic to the CR-1 forum from the K-3 forum.)

Edited by Kathryn41, 07 October 2009 - 07:43 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-10-07 19:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresInterview Date
posts removed at OPs request - as well as post quoting removed post.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-10-13 21:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWife has got VISA and living with me, what now?
Moved from Citizenship Forum to CR-1 forum
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-10-27 18:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPlease Help! Thought I understood visa steps. New to this site.
Welcome to Visa Journey. smile.gif

I've moved this thread from the K-3 forum to the CR-1 forum as you are following the CR-1 process right now. I've removed the duplicate thread already in the CR-1 forum as this thread had the answers posted and the other thread did not.

Sarahq, you will want to go back into your membership profile and change the information there. You show that you have filed for AOS (approved) but you really have filed for the CR-1/IR-1 visa. It will be less confusing for those offering advice if you can correct that information there so they don't get give you incorrect information.

Good luck.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-11-30 22:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIm ready to give up
Please watch it with the off topic type of comments here - it isn't helpful to the OP and adds nothing to the discussion.
Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-12-09 18:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCanceling K1 and going CR1 Question..
Thread closed due to multiple TOS violations. The OP has received advice to her question and this thread has degenerated into a series of personal attacks.

Posts containing multiple personal attacks and insults have been removed.

Edited by Kathryn41, 16 December 2009 - 07:57 PM.

Kathryn41FemaleCanada2009-12-16 16:12:00