ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
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
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPacket Questions
This will help you understand the overall process better http://www.visajourn...amp;page=k1flow

This shows form examples. http://www.visajourn...mp;page=k1forms
There's six example forms (sorry I'm not going to type all those form numbers, just look at the page...first form listed, second form....)
1. You've already done and mailed to CSC
2. You start getting ready to send (snail mail) to your fiance for the Packet 3 stage
3. You sent with #1
4, 5, 6. For packet 3. Fiance fills out.

The checklist in Packet 3 is where they tell him to gather all these things and others like his police report, birth certificate, divorce decree, etc. When he has everything, he checks it off the checklist and sends it back to them. That lets them know he's got it all together and they will schedule the interview.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-07 20:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresassembly questions
QUOTE (Michael&Guli @ Jun 7 2008, 07:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
[but to confirm - once the package arrives at the service center - they will strip away the three ring binder and all the nice sleeves/sheet protectors, leaving just the paperwork itself? correct?

That is correct. They can't file everybody's pretty purple binders in their file system. Just the papers. Mine looked exactly like the picture above. I believe they punch at the top and put in their standard file folder. You just save them time by punching is my total guess and putting on the fastener keeps it together. I'm sure they will take anything, but will have to spend time taking it apart. My NOA1 was 1 day after arrival. Don't know if my submission made it faster or that was a fluke. Maybe there's a person assigned to taking apart all the plastic and binders and when they get finished, they pass it on to the receipt giver. I am totally making all that part up.

Here's the link about assembly found right here in Visa Journey. You should read every single thing in the guides tab. Look at every link. Read the Visa FAQ tab. Those are blue at the top of the page. http://www.visajourn...p;page=assembly

Edited by Nich-Nick, 07 June 2008 - 07:59 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-07 19:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresassembly questions
I would have to say I was ####### about putting mine together. I punched mine at the top (two hole) and fastened it all with ACCO or prong fasteners. Check was paper clipped to the cover letter. I didn't bind it in any type of folder, but slipped the bound papers into heavy folder and put a rubber band around it to hold it closed. It was just a temporary sleeve they could discard easily. I put that in the Priority Mail envelope from the post office.

Packet organization:
Cover letter was like a table of contents because I listed contents like the VJ sample

Photos- I had some old photo album pages, the clear kind where 3 photos pockets are on a page. I just cut some of those up to make pockets instead of using a zip lock bag. I printed a page with a title and stapled the pocket to it. ie, "I129F Photo of Petitioner Name" or in the case of showing a photo of us together the page would say "Names, Dec. 1, 2007, Rockefeller Center, New York City." I also wrote names, date, location on the back of the photo like suggested. I figured as long as I had to staple the photo to a paper, I would just print the info on the paper.

Tabs/Dividers- I used a few tiny stick on tabs at the bottom to make a few sections. I read somewhere in here they preferred the tabs on the bottom rather than the sides. (Maybe the former adjudicator said that on VJ) Didn't use that many, so not to appear too #######. I put one on the birth certificate copy since that was probably something they would want to find easily to verify. Another tab was on a Proof of Meeting in Person section. I made a brief summary on the page starting that section. It said:
I-129F Documentation of Having Met in Person (the title). "I have met Name on X occasions as noted below. I submit the listed documentation in the pages following this summary." (and I signed and dated that.) This list just had date, port of entry, documentation item. So it might say Jan 6-Jan 15, 2007; Newark, NJ; airline receipt, boarding pass, photo
I did that summary page just so they could have an at-a-glance view of meetings and it gave me something to stick the divider tab on.
I put my signature/date on pages like copies of passport stamps, but don't know why. Overkill I guess.

Highlighting- Like a previous comment, I also highlighted everything of importance like dates, or airports, etc.

Good luck. Make a duplicate copy or two of the whole thing in case they lose it or you forgot what you sent and want to remember.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 06 June 2008 - 07:42 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-06 19:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage License
I found this on a website and it sounds like it might hold true for all of Pennsylvania, not just Allegheny County. Usually state law governs marriages, so I doubt individual counties could have different rules.
You must present photo IDs, your Social Security cards (or passport if you do not have a Social Security Number) and a divorce decree, if previously married. You will need to know the following information to complete the form:
  • Name, address, occupation
  • Father’s name, birthplace, address and occupation
  • Mother’s name, maiden name (if her married name is different), birthplace, address and occupation

This is the website: http://www.studentaf...es/marriage.cfm
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-10 20:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresInterview Questions
Look up at the top of this page under the photos of the people on the thin blue banner. There is a link called Reviews:Embassy/USCIS. Go there. Pick your country from the drop downs in the "Consulate reviews" box. You can find the embassy in Germany and people who have been to an interview there tell all about their experiences, questions asked, etc.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 12 June 2008 - 04:12 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-12 16:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresExamples
My ACCO fasteners are a generic. The box says:
OfficeMax prong fasteners
2 inch bases with compressors
2 3/4 in. hote-to-hole

The paper punch says:
OfficeMax 2-hole standard punch
padded handle
punch 50 sheets

You don't have to punch it. The big clip will work nicely too. Hopefully you can borrow something from work. I don't think the fasteners matter that much. The poster above Bex and I had very similiar timelines--filed March, Vermont, fiance England. I used prong fasteners and a few tabs, but no binder. They didn't clip it at all. Our approval times were comparable, hers being a little later than mine only because they filed a little later.

Here's a thread where I replied to someone asking about organization. I described some of mine. Sorry no visuals
http://www.visajourn...p;#entry1905980
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-14 09:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMultiple Visits
TXLady--just to throw in a little practical suggestion. I sounds like you're in that wowee, I'm so in love, infatuated stage where you just can't stand being apart. If you want to do the immigration the safest, least risky way (K1) like you said, then it's going to take some months to do. He's spending a lot of money flying back and forth. If you could just stretch out the visits a little longer in between, it would probably make the whole process go smoother because waiting is part of the game. If they decide he's been too much and deny his entry to visit, then you're stuck with a big chunk of time apart while the petition is getting processed. So I guess I'm just suggesting pace yourself. Be sure and read everything at the top of the page under the blue tab called GUIDES and the one called VISA FAQ so you understand all that's required...the fees, the documents, the translations, the proof that you make enough to support him. The K1 flowchart is a good overall picture. It's in the Guide tab.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-14 09:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPlease specify Notarized or Certified copies for us
Don't send originals. For example, I had to send a copy of my certified birth certificate. The birth certificate is signed by the county clerk and has an embossed seal on it. I made a color copy of that for K1 petition. NOTHING is notarized with a real ink signature for this step of the process. You can include in your cover letter a statement like
"Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular officer at a later date." That's from the sample cover letter in the guides.
(Your ink signature and date)

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-07 19:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureslawyers
QUOTE (rebeccajo @ May 31 2008, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well good for you Nich-Nick.

I'm glad that you are so highly skilled in the US immigration process that you are comfortable with advising people to not seek the advice of counsel.

It takes a colossal ego and an overwhelming misunderstanding of the process to make such statements.

**OUCH**
I don't think I advised the OP either way, so I'm very puzzled by your comment. I didn't use the words "do not seek counsel," nor was that my intention. I was just saying it takes alot of reading and time if you're going to do it on your own. How to proceed is a personal decision. I think many previous posts were lawyer bashing and I had no intention of doing that.

I am so sorry to have offended you.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-31 11:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureslawyers
Another thread on using lawyers
http://www.visajourn...h...130546&st=0

As I stated in that thread I think the key is to read all over this site. Some people jump into the forums without studying the guides, flowcharts, sample documents, tips on how to organize your packet, Visa FAQs, Wiki, etc. There's stuff scattered all over VJ and it was very confusing to me at first. Find the reports of your particular embassy to see how difficult the interview process is. There are so many countries represented here that anecdotal posts in the forum may not apply to you at all. I also read everything on the Dept of State website that I could find and the US Embassy London's website. It takes awhile to find all those things, but bookmark everything you find that applies to you. Make notes of phone numbers and info you discover that you might need as you progress through the journey. So far the process has gone quite smoothly for me doing it on my own.

Good luck.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-05-31 09:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisits to the USA
Hi all,

I was thinking about this thread from this morning and other similar ones over the last few months since I became part of VJ. And since my fiance has a visit from the UK coming up soon, I decided to call the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who are the agents at the airport that approve your visit. I got a very nice and chatty man on the phone who spoke in an "off the record" manner many times.

I told him I have a fiance' in the UK and have filed a K1 petition, etc, etc. I told him that immigration attorneys (didn't want to get into the who VJ forum explanation) have advised that once you have filed for K1/K3 then you can not come to the US until you have that Visa in hand.

He said, that's silly. If wanted to come in illegally you wouldn't have bothered to file all that paperwork and pay those fees. There's no rule that says you can't come visit the US once you have applied for a non-immigrant visa.

I said my fiance' will come on the K1 in October, but he is coming to visit me in July. "Is there something on those computers at the airport immigration desk that will pop-up saying that he has filed for a non-immigrant visa." He said, "NO." The computer has databases of criminal activities, previous over-stays, terrorist links, FBI stuff, etc.

He said their only concern with people entering the US on VWP is that the intent of the person is to visit friends or be a tourist and go home when they say they are. Some of his "off the record" talk was about creepy looking people who look like they don't have enough money to buy a cup of coffee when they land and when questioned about "what do you do for a living?" can't tell them of any employment or full time student status. The officer has to get a sense that the person is a genuine tourist. He said if somebody enters the US, goes to another country for a week, then enters again, they may be questioned more strenuously. The Officer inspecting you will want evidence that you intend to go back home to your country of citizenship to live as opposed to returning again and again to the U.S. after visits to other countries.

And his final comments were about "creepy" immigration officers at the airport which get to make the ultimate decision and there have been some accused of being rude and unfair, but those are few and far between. There is, however, no guarantee ever that you will be admitted.

So VJers you will have to analyze your own status when you enter the US, but applying for a K visa is not something that keeps you out according to my buddy at the Border Patrol. If you look pretty normal, have a job or student id, have some money or credit cards on you and comfortably answer their questions; then you are probably fine. If you have overstayed, have committed serious crimes, been a drug trafficker, act mentally ill, or leave a couple of days and come back over and over again; then you might get scrutinized. It is a subjective interview with the CBP officer.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-20 16:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisits to the USA
QUOTE (marash @ Jun 20 2008, 07:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
whaaw 31 times. that's crazy smile.gif

Well not all to see me, but that many VWP visits to the US since the 1990s and no denials. The normal questions are "Why are you here? How long are you staying? What do you do for a living?" The longest stay was 3 weeks and normally around 2-3 months between visits.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-20 08:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisits to the USA
Hey there Mrs_sdp--

Nice to find you over here at VJ. My fiance has visited the USA 31 times so far.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-20 07:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPoverty Guidlines
If you will download the I-864 Affidavit of Support, which is the form used to adjust status, it gives alot more information in the instructions about sponsors, who is considered in the household, etc. The I-134 should basically fall under the same rules and instructions, but is a shorter version of a support affidavit. Once you get the visa and marry, then you will be doing the I-864.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-23 07:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresVisiting while on K1
I talked a Customs and Border Protection guy yesterday and asked alot of questions about visiting while the K1 is in progress. You can read my post about it here. http://www.visajourn...p;#entry1948785
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-21 07:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI need everyone's help PLEASE!
This page in the Visa Journey guides is helpful. http://www.visajourn...mp;page=k1guide

Include a cover letter.

Her birth certificate comes later in the process in her country. USCIS just wants to determine if you are a US citizen and have the right to file a K1.

G-325A has 4 pages for each person. All signed. Some people overlook that.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-23 23:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresk1 visa
QUOTE (jab1976 @ Jun 26 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I USED AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY TO FILE MY K1 VISA BACK IN MARCH 18 2008.

Have you called the attorney? I don't know anything about how it works since I don't have one, but would the RFE go back to the attorney or come directly to the petitioner? If it goes to the attorney, perhaps they are just sitting on it and forgot to let you know.

QUOTE (Steve @ Jun 26 2008, 08:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I wouldn't worry too much about not having received NOA2 yet. I've seen from other March filers that Vermont has slowed down a bit after they moved at lightning speed during the first quarter of the 2008.

I would be checking on it because 34 March filers with dates after his have their NOA2. Most with his same timeframe have had theirs a month now.

The best of luck to you jab star_smile.gif
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-26 21:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocuments
I sent 6 photos from different times and places for the evidence as meeting along with other things.

Don't forget to write the full name on the back of the passport photos.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-29 08:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTravelling to the U.S. for a holiday whilst application pending?
Fill out a timeline. Click "my timeline" under your name there in your post. It'll give you estimates based on hundreds of other timelines.

Igor's list is good too. http://cse.ssl.berke...ta/default.aspx

Edited by Nich-Nick, 30 June 2008 - 07:35 AM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-30 07:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTravelling to the U.S. for a holiday whilst application pending?
I called the Border Patrol people and posted my conversation in this thread.
http://www.visajourn...p;#entry1948785

He told me one's visa application is NOT in their database.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 30 June 2008 - 07:11 AM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-30 07:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresTo have an attorney or not to have an attorney
Have you looked at this page on VJ http://www.visajourn...mp;page=k1guide

It tells you step by step what to do, if you're worried that you don't know the process. You will have to give all of the information and proofs of meeting to the attorney, so you're still going to have alot of work to do. I like knowing that I'm filling out my own forms and I'm mailing things in a timely manner rather than wondering if somebody else got it done.

It all depends on you. Some people don't want to do those kinds of things. It's like if I posted on a forum about mowing my lawn. People would have all kinds of ideas about mowers, how to do it, how easy it is, etc. But in the final analysis, I choose not to mow, so gladly hire it out. I also choose to do the K1 thing myself, so I have enough money to pay the lawn crew. tongue.gif And I'm importing a Brit fiance to take over that job. (It's a joke Nick) rofl.gif

You know yourself best and what you can splurge on and where you need to cut back so you can hire people to do things you can't. You're doing the right thing by asking questions and weighing it all.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-29 19:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-134 Question..
I think the key is is...Does he claim Dakotah on his income tax as a dependent? That's pretty easy to answer by looking at his tax return.
If he filed jointly with a wife (2 people) and in the next section listed dependents (2 young kids and Dakotah) then sponsoring you makes 6 the answer for I-134. That's the biggest household size.
If he's not married (1) and lists only the young kids (2), then you (1) makes a total of 4 for the I-134.

Dakotah needs to look at the 2007 tax form he filed. It is possible for him to claim Dakotah if he provided more than half her support during 2007 and she's still a student. Also if you will look at the form I-864, which is another Affidavit of Support, it gives some better instructions about what determines household size
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-02 06:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQuestions on I-129f and mail courier's
I have read on VJ that you report the birth of a child of an American citizen to the Consulate in the country where the child is born. The child will get an American passport by virtue of his/her American father. So I don't think the child will need a visa. Research that angle or make a new post with that in the subject and somebody will point you in the right direction.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-06-29 19:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresService centres
Only two service centers process K1 petitions--California and Vermont. For Pennsylvania, you will file in Vermont. Read all the Guide information provided on this website and look at the K1 flowchart as it is very helpful to get an overall picture of the whole process. You will find that at the top of this page...blue tab that says GUIDES. The tab that says Visa FAQ also has helpful information. Also download the latest forms and read the instructions that come with them carefully. People have had delays because they used old information and mailed the petition to a different service center that no longer processes the I-129Fs or the mailed in the old fee, only to have the packet eventually returned. You could lose a month or two while they correct your mistakes. This is serious stuff so do your homework before you leap in. Good luck.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-13 07:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswhen is the background check for 16yrs and up needed
The person in France will present a police certificate from all places lived since age 16. That might be what you're talking about. I don't know about France. In the UK, it is now centralized for the whole country rather than contacting the police station at several towns. Some of the biographical information for the person in France will ask for places lived and schools attended. The things I'm talking about here are not in the original I-129F petition that the US citizen sends in first. They are part of the forms to are required by the Embassy in Paris(?) once the petition is approved (NOA2).

If you will look at the top of this page. There's a big blue tab that says GUIDES. Click that then look for the link to the K1 flowchart. Step 9 is where those things for the foreign fiance start to come into play. You don't want to do those things until a little closer to the time you will need them, not before you file the initial petition. Also prior to getting to the embassy stage, look at the top for a link to the "Embassy Information" and you can read about specifics for France since each country has slightly different ways of doing things. You will have a lot of time to research that part during the long wait for the NOA2, so don't worry about it too much now but know it's there for when you need it later.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-15 18:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHelp understanding USCIS Processing Times
Sinpisto,

I see you have already returned Packet 3 to the consulate and only await an interview date. This is information on your Embassy found at the top of this page under "Embassy Info" http://www.visajourn.....=San Salvador
It will talk about specifics for your country. It says that sometimes they don't even send things to the Salvadoran but to the US citizen. Kinda strange. But the USC can call the Dept of State and make inquiries at this point because it's been a long time since you sent things back. They can tell you if the Embassy has your petition in the system, if an interview has been scheduled, what your new case number is if you don't already have a letter from the NVC with that on it. The caller will have to give either the new case number or the old USCIS EAC08xxxxxx number and the names of both people and their birthdays. Usually you get a very, very helpful person. Once I talked to a grumpy. Call every other day until they have an interview date to tell you.

Dept of State phone number (202) 663-1225 Press 1 for English, then 5 to talk to a person. They are open early in the morning and answer the phones until late at night. I think I talked to them around 10:45 pm Central time.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 16 July 2008 - 01:15 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-16 13:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-129F -Q. 18, detail??
My question 18 box says: See attached statement

The page I typed for the attached statement looks like this:

I-129F Petition, Line 18 (further explanation)

Statement of how I met my fiance:

I became aquainted with xxxxxx xxxxxx in 2002 when...........

(I wrote about 3 short paragraphs detailing becoming aquainted, circumstances/dates of first in-person meeting, reference to x number of other visits in each others homes without giving a long list of dates and places, ways we communicate, and reference to knowing each others families. I would say it just painted a short picture of two people who know each other well.)

I signed and dated that page.

I put a similiar title on some other pages using the same format:
I-129F Petition Cover Letter
I-129F Petition Fiance Letter of Intent
I-129F Petition Photo of Petitioner xxxxx xxx xxxxx (I stapled the photo holding bag to a paper. Name was also on back of photo)
Etc.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-20 23:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCo-sponsorship
Very good suggestions Thai Mom from somebody in the same boat. Sending my best wishes for your son and daughter-in-law with the interview. So glad it's all coming together for them. And it's nice to catch up on somebody who was asking the questions not so long ago, and now has worked out a plan and moved on to the "final exam." good.gif
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-21 14:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCo-sponsorship
One more thing~~

Have you looked at the Guides at the top of this page on the big blue tab? It has step by step exactly what goes in with the I-129F petition. If you study those carefully, and look at the example forms, and read the Visa FAQ (also at the top of the page) then it will become more clear to you what you have to do. Just click around at the top of the page because there is lots of great information.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 21 July 2008 - 12:08 AM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-21 00:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCo-sponsorship
The co-sponsor fills out the exact same form as you and provides evidence to support the financial statements he makes on the I-134 like 2007 income tax return with W2s or IRS transcript, letter from employer, etc (whatever evidence is suggested in the guides or from your Embassy).

You don't do these for the petition (I-129F). The support evidence is months down the road when the beneficiary goes to the Embassy for the interview. Prepare for it now if you like but complete it closer to the interview. Maybe you'll have a job by then. smile.gif

It's okay if you don't have a job. State your savings and anything else you can fill in and have a co-sponsor and you're good to go. On line 7 you could put: I am employed as or engaged in the business of (recent graduate seeking employment) with n/a

The I-864 instructions gives a better explanation of the Affidavit of Support so I suggest you download it and read it's instructions. That's the form you provide later for adjustment of status after marriage.

Edited by Nich-Nick, 20 July 2008 - 11:59 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-20 23:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat documents does a co-sponsor provide if he's retired?
Tell the man that he can mail everything to the embassy himself if he doesn't want to share his income and tax records with you and your fiancee.

This is from London Packet 3, bottom of page 8:

If you do not wish for the person to see this affidavit, you may send it directly to the Embassy with a covering letter giving the applicant's full name, date and place of birth, and case number. (That would be your new case number LNDxxxxxxx. NVC or Dept of State will tell you the number.)

Thai Family had another solution for the privacy of the co-sponsor. He sealed everything is a big brown envelope and marked it "To be opened by Consulate Officer only.)
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-22 00:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat documents does a co-sponsor provide if he's retired?
If a retired co-sponsor gets a pension check or sociial security check, that's income. He can get a letter from the pension department that says Mr. xxx gets $xx.xx monthly for the rest of his life.

If he doesn't have a pension, then what does he live on? Perhaps he has tons of assets and a hefty 401k or IRA. Assets can be used. I don't remember the poverty numbers, but for example if $20,000 was needed, then Mr. Sponsor would need $100,000 stashed away in savings or investments. (5 times amount needed).
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-21 18:57:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresworried about rfe for divorce papers
I believe the original poster is talking about a Texas divorce, not a UK divorce. So nisi and absolute aren't applicable.

In Texas one party files for a divorce...a petition. At least 60 days must pass even if both parties agree to everything. A Divorce Decree document is drawn up stating all the agreed upon (or court ordered) things like property, custody, visitation, child support and the decree is signed by both parties. When the court date comes up, the judge reads all the document and if it's in order, the Judge will say the magic words "Divorce granted, and all agreements approved," and will sign the Decree of Divorce. Done. So I think the long document is the only "Divorce Decree" in the state of Texas.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-23 11:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresworried about rfe for divorce papers
Here's some official Texas info but it doesn't help that much. http://www.dshs.stat...faq/mardiv.shtm Divorce records come from the District Clerk's office of the county. She call call them and ask if there's anything shorter.

Birth certificates can be ordered online now. http://www.dshs.stat...ified_copy.shtm
I have 3 old copies of my Texas birth certificate, but they all have a place where the county clerk signed and dated that it is a certified copy...just a little stamp on the side, not a separate paper. It also has one of those impression marks with the seal of the county. She just needs to photocopy the birth certificate for sending in. One of mine has a back side, one doesn't, and the other (since I was born before dinosaurs and apparently Xerox) is some kind of micofilm print I suppose. But they are all certified copies. I don't know what the new computer age copies look like.

With all that copying, I'll pass on a life-saver to me getting organized. I bought a new HP all in one printer, scanner, copier, fax. That made life so much easier because there's alot of copying to do. Beats hauling stuff back and forth to work or even worse Kinkos where you have to pay. I would think of something else needing copying and I could just do it in my jammies at midnight when I thought of it. I should have thrown out the old printer and separate scanner a long time ago. Maybe she already has one, but if not, think about getting one because there's still more paper work to come like Affidavit of support, AOS, EAD, AP, XYZ. LOL laughing.gif
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-22 19:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support
Me again. I found some of the Thai Mom's posts about her son the student. Some good ideas in there.
QUOTE
When I called the visa information line (not the same as the NVC) regarding an I-134 question, they told me to have my son write a letter explaining his situation and have it notarized. He is a new college graduate who did not file taxes in 2007. So a notarized letter briefly detailing your circumstances might give the CO a clearer picture. We will know more after the interview Thursday. There's a sealed letter (I-134) from Dad in the bottom of the file if it is needed. If I were a CO I think it would be helpful to see a concise explanation of the situation with any documentation, so I could make a more informed decision. We included his college transcripts and diploma, proof of his VA education benefits (which were the source of his income) and even his cumulative SS earnings statement.


QUOTE
My son was in a similar situation. He did not file taxes in 2007, as he had no taxable income, but has good income this year. I ended up calling the DOS visa information line here in the states (not the NVC) only after the embassy did not respond to emails. They told me to have him to write a letter and have it notarized explaining his situation. He included everything imaginable to try and show that his wife wouldn't become a public charge, including his cumulative SS earnings statement, proof of his GI bill income, two letters from his employers, a copy of his college diploma and transcripts, pay stubs from this year and a copy of his last tax return, which was from 2005, as he was a full time student. He also had letters from his banks and statements. My husband also filled out an I-134 and sealed it in an envelope with the supporting documents. We wrote on it "To be opened by consular officer only if additional sponsorship is needed". Another VJer suggested the latter, which advice was very much appreciated. My DIL will give it to them if my son's info. isn't enough. On the 24th we will know the end of the story.

QUOTE
Getting a co-sponsor is the safe way to go; however, you may be able to go it alone. The GI bill counts as hard earned income, but since it is not taxable you have to prove receipt of it (letters from the VA, deposits to bank accounts). It also helps if you can show how many more months of it you have coming. The visa information center (not the same as the NVC) told my son to write a notarized letter explaining his situation and to include supporting documentation. In the bottom of the file is a sealed envelope from Dad to pull out if additional proof of financial support is requested at the interview.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-23 23:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support
Well considering you will send your petition to the California Service Center, you will have a longer wait than Vermont. It could easily be January before you got approved by the USCIS if you mailed it today. Then there's a couple of months to transit to London and the interview stage. You could be ready to graduate and have a job offer letter to show by then. You don't need to have the Affidavit of Support until she goes to her interview in London. She hands it in at the interview.

I don't really know the answer to the grants, loans, stipends question. Is the grant and stipend just like cash money they give you that doesn't have to be repaid? That sounds like income to me. A loan doesn't. You can claim money from the government as income---like social security payments or disability payments. You can't claim welfare payments or income you get because you're poor like food stamps. There's a difference. I've read about this somewhere, but can't remember and can't search now. It was on a government website so research there. Like Health and Human Services or a government website where they are talking about 2008 poverty level.

A member called Thai Family has had some good posts about her son being a student and not having much income or a tax return. He wrote a notarized explanation of his lack of a tax return. Up at the top there's a link on the right called forum search. If you do an advanced search you can seach for a specific members posts. I believe her daughter in law's interview was today in Thailand and she might have an update of how it went by now.

And you have many months from now to line up a co-sponsor. Any friends who could? The poster called Thai Family---her husband didn't want to be a co-sponsor for their son. I told her that they could send their info to the Embassy directly if they didn't feel comfortable giving their personal financial records to a foreigner. So the dad did a co-sponsorship and put it in a sealed envelope marked "to be opened by consular officer only." He gave that to the girl for her interview rather than mailing it to the Embassy. If the son's Affidavit wasn't good enough, she was going to pull out the envelope from dad and present it. So we can see how it went because that happened today.

And one last thing...I have a copy of the page London mails out talking about the support thing. If you will look at the last part, it tells about having a job offer (the foreigner) and how to show that. I would think you could modify those guidelines of what they want to show your job offer. SO get those on-campus recruiting things going so you'll have an offer before graduation. Motivation to get crackin'.
[attachment=7894:IV15008.jpg]
I think the London Embassy website gives the same info here http://www.usembassy...faffidavit.html

Edited by Nich-Nick, 23 July 2008 - 11:15 PM.

Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-23 23:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLot's of questions, please help
Nobody answered her first question
QUOTE
1: How do I show my criminal background from the time I lived in America?

I think she's wondering about the police certificate from all countries you have lived since age 16 required at the interview. Any ideas?
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-07-13 08:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my Fiancee Visit?
QUOTE (HajimeOwari @ Aug 10 2008, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I will be submitting our I-129F soon. My question is, can my fiancee visit from Japan in November while all this processing is going on?

YES
Here's a copy of a post I made several months ago on this subject after I called the Customs and Border Protection to query them.
QUOTE
I was thinking about this thread from this morning and other similar ones over the last few months since I became part of VJ. And since my fiance has a visit from the UK coming up soon, I decided to call the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who are the agents at the airport that approve your visit. I got a very nice and chatty man on the phone who spoke in an "off the record" manner many times.

I told him I have a fiance' in the UK and have filed a K1 petition, etc, etc. I told him that immigration attorneys (didn't want to get into the who VJ forum explanation) have advised that once you have filed for K1/K3 then you can not come to the US until you have that Visa in hand.

He said, that's silly. If he wanted to come in illegally you wouldn't have bothered to file all that paperwork and pay those fees. There's no rule that says you can't come visit the US once you have applied for a non-immigrant visa.

I said my fiance' will come on the K1 in October, but he is coming to visit me in July. "Is there something on those computers at the airport immigration desk that will pop-up saying that he has filed for a non-immigrant visa." He said, "NO." The computer has databases of criminal activities, previous over-stays, terrorist links, FBI stuff, etc.

He said their only concern with people entering the US on VWP is that the intent of the person is to visit friends or be a tourist and go home when they say they are. Some of his "off the record" talk was about creepy looking people who look like they don't have enough money to buy a cup of coffee when they land and when questioned about "what do you do for a living?" can't tell them of any employment or full time student status. The officer has to get a sense that the person is a genuine tourist. He said if somebody enters the US, goes to another country for a week, then enters again, they may be questioned more strenuously. Then Officer inspecting you will want evidence that you intend to go back home to your country of citizenship to live as opposed to returning again and again to the U.S. after visits to other countries.

And his final comments were about "creepy" immigration officers at the airport which get to make the ultimate decision and there have been some accused of being rude and unfair, but those are few and far between. There is, however, no guarantee ever that you will be admitted.

So VJers you will have to analyze your own status when you enter the US, but applying for a K visa is not something that keeps you out according to the guy at the Border Patrol. If you look pretty normal, have a job or student id, have some money or credit cards on you and comfortably answer their questions; then you are probably fine. If you have overstayed, have committed serious crimes, been a drug trafficker, act mentally ill, or leave a couple of days and come back over and over again; then you might get scrutinized. It is a subjective interview with the CBP officer.


My fiance and many others have visited while K1 process was ongoing. As mentioned above she should say she's on vacation to see friends. If she has a student id or work id, that would be great to have. My fiance has never been asked for id other than the passport.
Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2008-08-11 08:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat forms do Household members fill out to help sponsor? I-864A?

 
1) Father fills out I-864, not I-864A
2) If your father meets the threshold on his own, then your mother does not need to fill out an I-864A


This also in my opinion the cleanest way to do it. He doesnt have to do an I -864A just because you live with him. He can do his own I-864 along with your I-864.

Because you are claimed as a dependent on Dad's taxes, you will be in his household count. Be sure and provide some proof of Dad's income like an employer letter because the joint tax return with Mom lumps all income together. They need to clearly see that he earns enough by himself to cover his household + the immigrant.



Nich-NickNot TellingUnited Kingdom2013-05-05 13:55:00