ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUSC paying back taxes

Thanks so much Nich-Nick. You went way above and beyond in supplying me with more info. I totally understand that there are way too many scenarios for you to write anymore!
 
 
 



Maybe with that info, you and your Dad can tackle it together by printing off the forms and following the instruction book line by line. Your tax return will not be too complicated but you must use Form 1040 with the foreign income exclusion. There are short forms like 1040A and 1040EZ for simple returns, but they don't have a line for subtracting out the exclusion is why you need the full blown 1040. In your situation, you are mostly reporting worldwide Income to the IRS, but won't end up with taxes due. If you have specific questions, shoot me a PM so you don't put personal info in a public forum.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2014-09-24 14:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUSC paying back taxes

 
Thanks for your response.
 
I don't believe I was over the threshold ever. I was only making about 30 grand in USD. Do I still need to file for those years?
 
I need to investigate the foreign income exclusion as I believe that applied to me.
 
I have never filed my own, my Dad was doing it for me until 2010 but then stopped and I never took over.








You don't understand threshold for filing. See for example 2013 instructions. Chart on page 7. http://www.irs.gov/p...s-pdf/i1040.pdf

Single--$10,000 earned must file and so on according to the filing status found in the chart.
If you earned $30,000 equivalent, then you file.

Where you likely get off having to pay any tax is the foreign income exclusion Form 2555 or the easier form 2555EZ.

So you file and put in $30k income just like you earned it in the USA using Form 1040.
The foreign income exclusion 2555EZ allows you to report what was earned abroad and discount the tax you would owe on your $30k to probably zero. The excluded foreign $30,000 will be subtracted out on the tax form 1040.

Accountants don't all know how to deal with foreign income if they haven't dealt with it before. H&R Block locations tell people wrong info depending on who works on your file. They all aren't as informed as you would think. I have studied it using info on the IRS site. I have done back taxes for several people on VJ. I just can't teach you how to do taxes in a message post if you have no prior experience with taxes. Everybody has different earning, situations, and it would take me longer to write..if this, then this ...situations than I have time for. I would be typing until next week.

Get started by figuring what you earned Jan-Dec tax year for 2013, 2012, 2011
Make a list. Put down what in US and what in UK.
Married in that year or single the entire year?
Anybody doing your taxes will need that info organized.
Your UK income is self-reported. They require no proof on paper showing your income.
Convert £ to $ using the exchange rate for the year earned. Oanda.com has a way to look up historical exchange rates.

Those 3 years will be all you need. The IRS needs no explanation. No stories or excuses. You can mail in paper forms. As long as you don't owe taxes, they won't be bothered with it being late.





















Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2014-09-24 13:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresUSC paying back taxes
You will need to file for every year in which you earned over the filing threshold. If you qualify either on physical presence or bonafide residence in the UK, then you can take the foreign income exclusion. You probably don't owe the IRS any money. Download Form 2555 and it's instructions and try to work through that and see how you do with your actual facts and figures. I find that easier than reading the general concept page. Put in your dates, income, etc and take it line by line. Keep in mind that each year has a form for that year.

Have you ever filed your own tax return before?


Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2014-09-23 16:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresChange of Address
Unlike a K1, your CR1 case will remain at NVC long enough to get a change of address done with them. Couple of months maybe?? You may want to try that change of address again when they actually have your case in their system at NVC.

Your police certificate covers the whole of the United Kingdom so the address it was mailed to should not matter. Way...way back, people had to rely on local police stations based in all the towns where they had lived. Now all records are centralized and check you out for the whole country.


Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2014-09-26 08:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married, moving to US hope to bring my soon to be wife

Oh wow thank you!


And this is a UK specific guide written by one of our members. http://www.visajourn....php/DCF_London

Marry ASAP, even if you plan a bigger ceremony later. You can only file DCF if married and while you are resident in the UK. Then you can move.

The spouse visa is CR1.
She can visit.
Proof of ties to the UK are a return ticket, a job, a house or flat lease, bank account, etc. If your visit plan is come for the full 90 days, leave a week and come back for 90 more days...probably not going to work. There is no specific time away and time in the US. It's up to the mood of the person in charge when she enters. Don't appear to be trying to "live" in the US more than time spent at home.







Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2014-10-02 22:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat do I file?

While visiting last week, my fiance and I got married ahead of what we planned.  I've looked online and it suggests that I file a I-130 and I-485 together? Are these right things so he can stay here?  Do I need to file or do anything else?
 
Is there any type instructions online that are a bit clearer than the ones on the government site?
 
Sorry to be a pain!




The guide posted above is for when your spouse is overseas. When both are in the US, this is the guide for filing I-130 and I-485 concurrently http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide2

And this is the forum you want http://www.visajourn...-tourist-visas/ because he is not applying for a spouse visa. He is adjusting status from a tourist visa (VWP) based on marriage to a US citizen..

Edited by Nich-Nick, 13 October 2014 - 03:15 PM.




Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2014-10-13 15:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Help!
If you want to have a backup co-sponsor, they do not have to reveal their personal financial details to you or your fiance. They can provide everything straight to the embassy or like the Thai family, in a sealed envelope marked "To be opened by consulate official only." Thai Dad wasn't keen on sending his SS# and tax return to the daughter-in-law. The son was going to the interview with his Thai wife and was going to turn over the envelope if they didn't feel his own proof was adequate.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-08-24 10:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Help!
There is a lady who posts under the name of Thai family who found a solution that worked for her son, who had no tax returns showing income because he had been a student. You might look for her posts. The son wrote a letter explaining his student status and showed a recent diploma and job offer and had that letter notarized. This was suggested to them by a man at the Dept of State info line. Explain you loans and grants and that they can support a wife. You only need something like $17,500 for two people. Explain your future income. The Thai family had a sealed envelope where the Dad filled out all the co-sponsor things to have as an emergency plan if the son's info wouldn't fly. It all worked out and they got the visa. I would think a future medical doctor would be able to convince the person doing the interview that he certainly had the means to support a wife. It's all about proving and not so much those specific documents on the list. Think outside the box.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-08-23 20:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSo I think I've screwed up...
Has anybody noticed K3s on Igor's list recently. There have been some fast approvals.
Ocelittle, there's hope for something faster based on these timelines

http://www.visajourn...l...l=&id=49787 I-129F approved 37 days

http://www.visajourn...l...l=&id=50282 35 days

http://www.visajourn...l...l=&id=50073 20 days

http://www.visajourn...l...l=&id=52148 20 days

http://www.visajourn...l...l=&id=52530 28 days

http://www.visajourn...l...l=&id=52640 38 days, already at consulate

Am I reading these wrong??

Edited by Nich-Nick, 28 August 2008 - 06:05 AM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-08-28 06:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat is POE Officer?
Agreed. They work for US Customs and Border Protection and sometimes are called CBP officers, or customs officers.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-10-24 06:28:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestions about taxes
Your filing status can be Married Filing Separately. If you choose Married Filing Jointly, you must include worldwide income from both of you.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-11-16 10:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurescan my wife visit
There's a Wiki article discussing it that you might like to read. http://www.visajourn...tion_Is_Pending
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-04 09:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures1040 and w-2
She can't actually file her 2008 income tax until she has her W2 statements from employers. Also she may have statements of interest earned from banking institutions. They have until Jan 31 to prepare those. It's all needed to file a complete return with the IRS. Did they say 2008 specifically or her latest return. At this time, the 2007 return is the latest because 2008 is not due until April 15.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-13 19:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresSeptember NOA1
Go right here http://www.visajourn...filers.php?cfl= and put in any search you prefer and you may find the answers you are looking for.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-13 07:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresVaccinations
The list http://www.cdc.gov/m...mmunization.pdf Pay attention to age appropriateness. You probably don't need much off this list.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-19 06:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswe confused and need answer abotu tax
Anybody's most recent tax return is 2007 right now. A 1040 tax form is not a complete return without an attached w2 form, except in some rare circumstances. The date the I-134 is signed is the date they are supposed to go by in determining what is the most recent return. So did they say most recent and you assumed that was 2008? Or did they write down 2008? If you want 2008, then you will have to wait until early February for the employer to issue the 2008 W2 and the sponsor file a true tax return. Current pay stubs could be shown as additional evidence if the sponsor works more hours, got a higher paying job recently, or got a raise.

A little more information for the I-134: Income for the I-134 is what the person is making today, not the figure on their last tax return. The return is just evidence showing a pattern of income level. For example if somebody was a student and didn't start full time work until September at $2000/month. Their tax return would just show 4 months or $8000. But now that they are working full time, they make $2000 x 12 mo. So their income is $24,000 for the form. They would back that up with a letter from the employer and recent pay stubs and maybe a statement explaining they were a student for most of the last tax year.

I agree with Neonred that 2007 is the most recent right now in January. I would not send a 1040 unless it's complete with W2s.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-18 02:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestion...checklist on I-864?
I believe you need to show your father's citizenship status too. Send a photocopy of his birth certificate or the biographical page if he has a US passport.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 19 January 2009 - 12:44 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-19 12:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMEDICAL EXAM
There's a chart in this document that shows what ages are appropriate for each immunization. Most don't apply to adults. The list is for immigrants applying from any country. http://www.cdc.gov/m...mmunization.pdf
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2009-01-28 22:50:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresOne more question, Tax returns, which one do I need to take to the Interview?
QUOTE (Samanthajayne @ Apr 30 2008, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
They dont have this years tax returns, just the last two years.

First of all, the three most current returns would be 2005, 2006, 2007. I'm never sure if people are meaning the one due this year on April 15 (the 2007 return) when they say "this year's return." They should have just filed 2007 and have a copy. If you want official transcripts from the government for FREE, the form is here http://www.irs.gov/p...-pdf/f4506t.pdf
You can fill it in online, print, sign, and either mail or fax it in. I faxed in and got the transcripts in about 4 days. They can only order 2005 and 2006. The IRS wrote me a letter saying 2007 won't be available until November of this year.

People from London K1 interviews have been saying nobody has asked to see tax returns, but your visa is different and they may be more strict.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 30 April 2008 - 06:19 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-04-30 18:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMilitary Spouses - May 9th
rose.gif Bless you, military spouses, today and everyday.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-09 10:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedurestax question
I think your friend should have filed married filing separately since he was married in 2007 but only wanted to show his income.

He could also have filed married filing jointly with a ITIN Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for the non-resident alien spouse. But there are a lot of complicated rules. Like you have to count worldwide income that you both earn and report foreign bank accounts. I don't think you are actually taxed on her income if it wasn't earned from a US source, but you show it on the return and fill out lots of boxes to say it wasn't earned from a US source. That's why it's kinda complicated...more pages and boxes to fill in. This is a IRS Publication US Tax Guide for Aliens http://www.irs.gov/p...p519/index.html

If anybody wants to correct what they filed and change it, they file a Form 1040x corrected return. If the friend lived in Texas, he doesn't have a state income tax, so no worries about correcting that one.

Only an opinion here so don't take it as gospel truth: I also don't thing government agencies "talk" to each other much, so IRS wouldn't tell US Dept of State that he filed single and Embassy wouldn't tell IRS he made a mistake in his filing status. And the embassy probably might not even scrutinize it that carefully. They are probably just going to look at adjusted gross income to see how much it is. (I've read tax code where they want illegal aliens in the US to file tax returns. I asked a tax preparer why an illegal would claim in a form to be illegal. Wouldn't they be reported? She said, no, the agencies don't talk to each other. Weird)

Edited by Nich-Nick, 31 May 2008 - 10:45 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-31 22:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresESTA with a pending I-130

Hey guys,

so as you know, my I-130 is pending. My problem is, I need to change my passport to my married name (which im reluctant to do as it is still valid until 2015 but...)

If i do change my passport, I will need to apply through ESTA again for the visa waiver (my current one is valid until April 2011)

Is it likely they will deny me ESTA authorization based on the pending I-130. Im mainly basing this on the fact that I understand B2 visas are denied with a pending visa, so is it the same in this situation?

Thanks!


I'm not sure what the problem is so have some random "solutions."

You can keep your passport until 2015 and carry proof of your marriage to show the difference in names. I discussed that with the guy who checks passports/ESTA at Heathrow. He said that happens all day long here and as long as they have a marriage certificate to show the name change, all is good.

If you think you need ESTA for your move to the US, you don't. ESTA is visa waiver and you will be traveling on a visa. After that, you will be traveling on a green card in your married name and carrying your marriage certificate to show why passport name is different.

If you want a longer ESTA, can't you apply again now under your old passport like you were starting over? A lot of people don't keep their ESTA documentation (husband's daughter didn't) and do a brand new one good for two years.

And finally, I think the question asked on the ESTA application is " Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa or entry into the U.S. or had a U.S. visa canceled?" I don't think a pending application has anything to do with the question.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2010-12-03 08:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 Overkill

Is it completely necessary to overkill the I-130 packet with tons of emails, letters, pictures, affidavits, etc. or should we keep some back for the interview?


Actually London does not ask for, or look at, any additional relationship evidence at their interviews. If USCIS approves your petition, that's good enough for London. The interview part will be quick and friendly. The waiting will be a couple of hours.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2010-12-06 09:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresHelp please! Dont know were to start.
Here's a link for London specific DCF (Direct Consular Filing) http://www.visajourn....php/DCF_London

Your Dad can be a joint sponsor by doing a form I-864, so you don't have to get a job first. Your baby can get a US passport and won't need a visa or later greencard. Start on this page for the baby http://london.usemba...s/robirth4.html
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2010-12-17 07:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Clarification

London will accept your sole sponsorship if you can show proof of those current earnings. So you will provide a letter from your employer and 6 current paystubs to do that since your 2010 tax return won't cover the proof needed.

The other responses to your questions are correct, but you earn enough to sponsor without needing joint sponsors. Just show London your current income.


Adding: or show the NVC your income since you're doing the CR1.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2011-01-19 08:16:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Clarification
London will accept your sole sponsorship if you can show proof of those current earnings. So you will provide a letter from your employer and 6 current paystubs to do that since your 2010 tax return won't cover the proof needed.

The other responses to your questions are correct, but you earn enough to sponsor without needing joint sponsors. Just show London your current income.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2011-01-19 08:03:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresExtending our CR1 Visa!!
London website has this in the immigrant visa FAQs.

What if I cannot travel during the validity period of the immigrant visa?
You should return the unused visa to the Immigrant Visa Branch with a
letter explaining why you were unable to travel. Depending on the
reasons for you not using the visa, it may be possible to re-issue you
with a new visa on payment of new visa processing fees.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2011-02-27 23:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAll this talk about being denied at POE...
This discussion makes me have a few questions about entry on a Visa Waiver. We made travel plans and bought tickets before we even started the K1 process. I'm going to UK in May and he's coming here for his birthday in July...well MAYBE he is. He has no intentions of staying here. We're committed to just going through the process and not taking any shortcuts.

So my question is---How do they know if you're in the immigration process? Does it pop up on a computer screen because you're in the system? He's been here 3-4 times a year for years. They always ask "What is the purpose of your visit?" and he tells them "to visit friends." Sometimes they say "you come here alot", sometimes they chit-chat about his job with the police.

We don't want to break any rules, and the intention of his visit in July is to see friends and go back home, not immigrate. Do any of you see that as a problem or lying on the Visa Waiver card? Do you have any first-hand knowledge of a similar situation. I'm just curious about what your thoughts are.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-04-12 20:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHoping to marry in three weeks
This explains SS benefits and living outside the US including the USC's Medicare coverage (our national health of sorts)
Basically
1) yes, you get your SS payment while living in Canada and
2) you can get Medicare hospital coverage if you return to a US hospital, but not the other part of Medicare which is like medical insurance.

http://www.socialsec...pubs/10137.html

Does anybody think it might be better if they don't marry and just shack up? blush.gif (Sorry)
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-03 22:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLive with my fiance while waiting
QUOTE (AshLynx @ May 7 2008, 03:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I hope it gets approved soon sad.gif


I think you're due to be approved. Have you been checking your case status online? At least 21 K1 petitions with dates later than yours have been approved. The people with your exact same dates---sent and NOA1--- were approved yesterday. Another couple with late February dates were approved today. Your file has to be in the same box with theirs. It looks like VSC jumped ahead and got a lot of us mid March people and this week somebody found the late February people and are working on them. Just a hunch.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 07 May 2008 - 05:00 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-07 17:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLive with my fiance while waiting
Looking at your timeline, you should be getting the NOA2 very soon (like any day now.) Many Vermont filers with March dates have gotten theirs. Before you hop on a plane to stay in the USA for 3 months, be sure you're prepared for the next part: your police certificate, birth certificate translations and immunization records...things you might need to be at home to arrange.

Visiting shouldn't be a problem if you just say "I'm coming to see friends."
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-07 14:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 or K-3?
Hello TX Lady. I'm assuming you're from Texas. So am I. You will file at Vermont, where approvals are taking less time. I filed (K1 process) March 10 and just 2 months later have the approval and the papers are already to the embassy stage in London. We could probably be finished in 6 more weeks if we weren't needing to stall the interview until late July. I don't know how fast Denmark moves when it gets to the embassy stage.

Right now Vermont isn't really dealing with approving K3 petitions. You can look at the dates of NOA2 (which means the approval) in the lists on this page called Igor's list http://cse.ssl.berke...vjdata/vsc.aspx
The first list shows the last 20 approvals for K1s and the second list shows last 20 K3s. I'm not really familiar with K3 process, but I don't see approvals happening for months now.

Hope some of this information helps. I was lost when I first tried to sort through this website. People use so many abbreviations and I found the website very difficult to navigate when it was all new to me. "Look at the timelines, look at the guides..." and I honestly was clueless where to find or how to use those things.

Just wanted to give you a more specific recent Texas person's timeline. Also as far as travel during the process, we have decided it's fine, but my fiance only visits for 3 weeks at the longest. If your guy just goes through immigration line at the airport and says I'm here to visit friends, and doesn't go into the whole visa/marriage/fiancee story, he should be fine. If he comes too often and stays a long time, he could be denied if they got suspicious he was wanting to not go home and become an illegal.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-22 17:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 visa in passport. Does it need to be used the next entry?
Most likely not. The K1 is in the passport, so it's not like you can save it to be presented later. It's a one time use only so most likely that one use would happen with the June entry. There might be some tricky begging you could do at POE to say I don't want to use this now, but it would be kinda risky opening that kettle of fish and possibly messing up the whole process.

Edit: We are delaying our interview until after an early July trip to the US for that reason.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 26 May 2008 - 10:55 AM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-26 10:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHi-lite and translations--quick question(s)
I was approved and did the following:

I highlighted names and dates on copies. (Did not send in any original docs) I also made notes in red pen in the margins of what I was trying to show if needed. "These receipts show X & Y were in Best Buy in Houston TX on the same date." The copier page had two receipts that happened to show our names from the credit cards. I highlighted names, dates, and location to show evidence of being together. I did not highlight hundreds of phone calls...just the person's name on the phone record and the date of the record.

I put together the papers with an ACCO fastener. I didn't bind it to a folder because I figured they had their own standard folders. I did slip it into a thick folder and put rubber band around it just to provide a wrapping of sorts.

I would suggest using the Priority Mail envelope which is provided free at the post office. Get a return receipt added if you want evidence that it was signed for mailed back to you.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-26 11:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresInterview without Police certificate....yes or no?
I would go. All they can do is say no. It's a for sure no if you just sit at home. Maybe when you turn in the one from Israel, they will just mechanically move on through the process without realizing you lived in Argentina after age 16. I wouldn't bring it up until they said, "Where is your police certificate from Argentina?" Tell them you can't get one because it was 20 years ago and you have no ID. Maybe they will come up with some kind of suggestion of what you can do to make up for the inability to get a document from a country half a world away that you left 20 years ago. Be calm and confident and maybe it would work out in your favor. Just my opinion, but I've gotten around all kinds of things by being super nice, yet confident, about what I wanted accomplished. If that isn't working then I cry and sometimes that helps. rolleyes.gif At least you would be face to face with a person to find out if the K1 can be extended, how you proceed from there, etc.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-28 11:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHave you used a Lawyer/Law firm and if so who?
No lawyers.

Started the process with Google and was gaining piecemeal bits of info til I found VJ quite by accident. At that point I was 100% certain I could do it myself. Being a control freak, I wanted to check and double check every piece of paper rather than trusting somebody else to put it together. I had lots of time to do it and had done other things myself like probate two wills in court without using a lawyer. (I love to save money if there's something I can do myself)

I think the key is to read all over this site. Some people jump into the forums without studying the guides, samples, FAQs, Wiki, etc. There's stuff all over this site and it was very confusing to me at first. So far the process has gone quite smoothly.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-30 11:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresprinting form G325A messes up
I had the problem when my entry was too long to fit the space. I figured out the + meant there was more information than showed in the field. But since it wouldn't print and the + covered up things, I just did what I could to shorten the name with abbreviations until I got what I thought would be acceptable and fit in the space.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-05 08:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresOur K-1 isn't being worked on yet
Looks like the average number of days right now to the NOA1 is 12. I remember when I got the hard copy in the mail, I realized that the actual NOA1 date on the USCIS receipt was a week or so earlier than the date I got it in the mail. The USCIS receipt date is the one I entered on the timeline. So if it's averaging 12 days, plus add on a week or more before you get the hard copy, then you're not really as late as you think. I know how you feel. Until you actually get some kind of verification that the process has started, you can't help but wonder if everything is okay. Actually you will continue to wonder that each step of the way. LOL

Good Luck!
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-30 10:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK1 vs. VWP?
QUOTE (Hopeful5 @ Jun 5 2008, 10:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We plan to have him come over in mid-December 2008 and marry early January. The lawyer said that at any time the US can reject his visa waiver.

I believe the official US stand on that is it's visa fraud. At least that's what I was told that by an official at the USCIS when I asked that question. The reason is the VWP is for tourist purposes only. They fill in the form that says they are here for that reason. So if the intent is to be married, then they basically lied on the VWP form which I suppose could come back to haunt you. I think there are many people who do it the way the lawyer said and get through it fine, even if it borders on the risky side. It's your choice about how you want to go forward and the chances you want to take.

Depending on where where you live in the US, thus whether you file in Vermont (currently faster) or California, he could have the K1 anyway by your wedding timeframe if you filed now.

About visits from the UK to the US. My fiance' has visited on VWP about 29 times since 2000 with no problem. His visits have been short 1-2 week stays. He always says I'm visiting friends. He doesn't go into girlfriend, fiance' talk, etc. Sometimes they have said, "you come here alot" and he says, "yeah, I like it here. I always have fun" or some small talk like that. They don't have to admit anybody, but I just wanted to give an example of many visits with no problem. I think part of the key is to look like a happy, casual tourist and not like the cat who ate the canary when he comes to visit you.

You should look at the top of the page where the blue tabs are and read the Guides, look at the flowchart for K1, and read the FAQ and get a good picture of how the K1 process goes if you're not sure. It might help you figure out what to do or help you understand things better if/when you select a lawyer.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-05 12:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTimeline on Medical Exam
I found this thread that might help you http://www.visajourn...showtopic=98127
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-06 20:03:00