ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAppointment Fee?
We received our packet 3 via email with our interview date. On one of the pages it states we will need to pay $131 fee. There is no other info given regarding the fee and I can not find anything else on it. Does anyone remember this part? Our interview is September 9.
jenkatxFemaleNigeria2011-07-14 22:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshelp me my fiance is in nigera and wants to come here
Yes the day my Honey went there were about 300 people, 3 were approved (old men). If I had known we would have never wasted our time/money on that route. I wish they would post their statistics for those things (if they do we couldn't find them anywhere) so we would have known!
jenkatxFemaleNigeria2011-04-25 12:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureshelp me my fiance is in nigera and wants to come here
My honey was denied a tourist visa as well, it cost us over $1000 & many many hours...they didn't even look at the paperwork he brought. I have traveled there several times & I am also curious why you can't go there? It is very easy to get a visa to Nigeria. It usually takes me just 1-2 weeks to get it approved & the cost is about $130 total. What part is he in?
jenkatxFemaleNigeria2011-04-25 11:30:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresStill No Case Number
Hello. What do you mean by approved? Did you receive the first I-797C or 2nd? Just asking as I received my first I-797C in May and am now waiting for the Interview which I assume is next.
JoandjoMalePhilippines2011-07-25 12:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresStill No Case Number

Hi guys goodmorning!!

we approved last June 24, 2011. but sad to say until now we dont have case number. my fiance keep calling NVC. but according to the operator they still dont have records on their file. and the operator suggest to my fiance to send the NOA 2 thru email. its just a normal? what we can do? Just to wait?


JoandjoMalePhilippines2011-07-25 12:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Style Photo
Ah okay, wonderful this answers my question. Thank you so much for the help everyone!
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-01 11:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Style Photo
I've just seen other people include a copy of their fiance's passport photo in the K-1 application - but I never read that it was required.
Was just trying to clear this up because if it helps the application approval process, I will go ahead and get it. Otherwise we could take
our time on getting her Mexican passport.

I suppose she will eventually need one after the K-1 has been approved.
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-01 11:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresK-1 Passport Style Photo
I have EVERYTHING ready to send off my K-1 Visa application - except for my fiance's passport.
She's a Mexican, and Its been tough for her to make an appointment to get her Mexican passport.
I know that the K-1 Visa requires a passport-style photo, but do I necessarily NEED to include
a copy of her passport? Does she even need a Mexican passport?

Thanks!
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-01 11:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresG-325A About to expire...
I'm about to visit my fiance from the 6/30/2011 through 7/4/2011.

Fiance has signed her G-325A, but it expires 6/30/2011 (the same day I leave).

Mine is a two part question: Will USCIS post the new G-325A on 12AM 6/30/2011 (the same day it expires to replace the old one).

And, will USCIS accept the G-325A if it is a version old?
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-13 20:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiance cannot recieve postal mail
Ok here's a follow up to this question -

My fiance and I have now put in serious thought of getting married in Mexico in a week - then having her come up on the CR1 app.

Now, I know that if I had gone with the K-1, I would have received everything she needed in the mail, and would not have to worry about her ever receiving mail in her remote ranch.

My question now is: If I'm going with CR1 (Spousal Visa) - will she then need a working mail address to be able receive her forms from the NVC? Or will I be sent this stuff too?


Thanks for all the help!
Ya'll are brilliant!
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-21 23:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFiance cannot recieve postal mail
My fiance lives on a ranch that does not receive postal mail. What the people of this ranch usually do is travel to the nearest town and pickup mail from friends or family. Now, I know a number of forms required in the K-1 Visa application require that I supply USCIS with my fiance's current home address.

Now she has a physical address (because they have SKY-TV and electricity) - which might suffice for a technical "home address."

But for the purposes of her receiving her packets once the K-1 is approved, she will be out of luck. Is there some way around this? Can I specify in my K-1 Application to send her materials to a specific address? Or should I risk providing an incorrect home address in efforts to get her materials to another mailing address?

Thanks!
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-13 21:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?

If you have adequate proof of a bona-fide relationship to file K-1, you should be OK for CR-1. Add her as a beneficiary to life insurance, retirement programs. You typically don't need SSN for that. You likely won't interview until early 2012 so you will also have a 2011 joint tax return.

I would say from a strictly immigration perspective the CR-1 is better. What is better for the two of you from a relationship perspective should be really what drives the decision.


Good way of looking at it. I'm much less intimidated by the CR1 process now.

Thanks again for all the great suggestions!
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-22 21:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?

Don't know how a situation like that would work on a K1, but for a CR-1, there is the DS-3032 that she would sign that can designate you as the agent. Being designated as the agent, you would receive all correspondence from the NVC.


Awesome! Solves that problem! Thanks Ryan
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-22 11:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?

I agree with everything said here with one important missed downside: CR1 is at least 1-2 months longer, which was important for me. In addition, CR1 requires more proof of ongoing relationship and often longer relationship than K1 does. If you do not care about your fiancee working from day 1, you can find the way to drive in most states. In most states you can apply for DL immediately, pass driving test, get married immediately. The DL will be valid until I94 expires. Most of the time if you do everything promptly by the time your I94 expires you will get EAD card and this is sufficient to get temporary DL for another 60 days until your GC arrives. The rest is the same as with GC.. bank accounts, etc.


Proof of ongoing relationship is a big concern for me as well. Since we went from being fiances to now possible newlyweds. We don't jointly own anything (or kids) - so the only thing we'd have is our visiting photos, affidavits from sworn parties (medical professionals most likely who are both family and friends), and a newly created joint banking account.

Just for the records, I haven't applied for K-1 yet or CR1. So I'm weighing my options.

Reading up on how the NVC sends the fiance applicant various forms for the CR1, this has been another area of concern for me, as she does not have a functional mailing address out on her remote ranch. I wonder if they would also send me all her required materials.
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-22 11:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?
Was reading up on CR1 in the guides and found this:

Note: Technically, a US Legal Permanent Resident can apply for this visa for their Non-US Citizen Spouse however the waiting time is up to five years. They can file and wait for a visa number to become available (again up to five years) or wait until they themselves become a US Citizen -- whichever comes first will allow the visa process to move forward immediately.


Can this really take up to five years?
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-21 15:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?
Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I'm going to research this a bit more - frankly I was feeling very comfortable with the K-1 process, but I'm sure if I familiarize myself with the CR1 it shouldn't be that much more difficult.
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-21 14:56:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?
Okay, then we may rethink getting married in Mexico.

I checked CR1 - looks very similar to K-3... Is the only difference the fact that CR1 gives permanent residence automatically? Sorry for delving into a newb question.
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-21 14:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?
We decided to get married simply because we thought it might be faster/easier than the K-1.

I guess this isn't the case?
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-21 12:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresGetting married now - still use K-1?
I'm going to be getting married (Civil) to my fiance in Mexico in a week.
Before our decision for this, I had everything ready to go with my K-1 visa application.

My question is, should I continue my plans to get her to the U.S. through the K-1 fiance visa, then marry her in the U.S.?

Or is it easier (or quicker) to get her up her through another application/process?

Bonus question: When we have our civil marriage in Mexico, will that automatically mean we are legit married in the U.S.? Will it stand for anything or will we have to have another civil marriage in the U.S. when she gets here?
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-06-21 12:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPassport style photo
Quick question. About to take my passport-style photo today for my I-130.
At the moment I have a nicely trimmed beard. Should I shave this off for my photo?
bigtex26MaleMexico2011-07-21 08:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMaking changes to your I-129F

Nothing you can do and if you do try to bypass the law, they will find out that they are sisters and you will be in DEEP trouble with the U.S. Federal Government (IE: Jail time and fine more than likely).

To remove her you should email or call USCIS and see what they say.



Again, family members adopt each other in the Philippines. She told me it's not too uncommon. We were NOT trying to bypass any laws. My fiancee has raised her since their mother died. USCIS says a beneficiary can bring adopted children on a K-2. I told her to go ahead and make it official and just adopt her since you're already raising her. Seemed simple enough... Now today I am reading that just because it is legal there, it doesn't mean it would be legal here. SO I REALIZE MY MISTAKE NOW, THAT IS WHY I'M HERE ASKING HOW TO RESOLVE IT. We already spoke tonight, and she's going to be asking relatives starting this weekend if anyone can take her sister in when she leaves. We've already resigned to not bringing her sister, just since I realized my mistake - I called her right away (few hours ago). I wasn't even hiding that they were sisters on the application - they have the same middle and last names. I was oblivious to this rule...

My application hasn't had any activity yet, so I hope I can get this corrected before I get in that kind of trouble. So you say call USCIS, will they be able to transfer me to wherever my case so they can correct it for me? Who should I try to contact in the U.S. Federal Government to explain my mistake? Like what department or person? Thanks.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-02-05 00:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMaking changes to your I-129F

Holy! Relax. The OP is asking how to remove the sister from the petition. Not how to slip through any law.


Thank you! I am trying to correct a mistake I realized today that I made on my petition... Not slip through any laws.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-02-05 00:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMaking changes to your I-129F
Hello. In early November, I sent off my petition to bring my fiancee here. She is raising her 12 year old sister, and has been since the death of their mother 7 years ago. I included the sister on my I-129F because I had read on the USCIS website that a fiancee can bring their children, step-children or adopted children. So I told my fiancee to adopt her sister because it looks like that is the only way that she could come too. I didn't think it would be an issue since my fiancee has been raising her sister for seven years... Until today.

People have been telling me that even if she does legally adopt her sister in the Philippines, the US will not consider it valid and thus will not issue a K-2 for the girl because their father is still alive - making her not an orphan. I did not know about this orphan business until today.

So what do I need to do to revise my petition (remove the sister's name from the petition as a dependent of my fiancee)? My fiancee says she thinks she can leave her sister with an Aunt and some cousins; or if not, then find a good boarding school. Or do I just stop the adoption, let the petition run its course, accept the K-2 denial and hope all the above does not affect the K-1 decision? Basically, is it necessary to call and explain this to USCIS? My petition is still in Initial Review, meaning they've done nothing yet.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-02-04 21:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresFINALLY NOA2....WHAT NEXT??
Congrats! For me, almost 5 months now and not a peep from USCIS yet... :crying: I don't know the next steps either, but I'll be revisiting your topic whenever I get my approval if anyone answers here. This is definitely the longest, most difficult wait I've ever endured... And I have to break her heart almost daily now, because she asks me all the time, "Did you hear from the Immigration yet?".

Edited by KJamal99, 31 March 2011 - 05:28 PM.

Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-03-31 17:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresplease help we got RFE!

what you do is make copies of what you have, then take to your bank and get notarized that it is an EXACT copy of the original. As for boarding passes, you should always keep those. live and learn I guess. Look and see if you have the baggage claim tickets, bag tags from the airlines. Also, get a receipt from the airline, or contact the airline for a record of your flights and times. Also, print out a copy of your receipt, plus a copy of your bank statement showing the payment for the trip. Now I know why you got an RFE. No boarding passes, no clear evidnce of meeting. They want to verify completely and need certified" (aka notarized) copies of evidence you actually went there and are free to marry. Wait to get her NBI and cenomar until two weeks or so before going to the meabassy, get it as close to the embassy date as possible. You are going to have questions. Also, I would strongly strongly advise you to be at the embassy during her interview. You face conditions on the visa and possible denial if you are not there, One simple thing of not keeping boarding passes is going to cause you a lot of grief. Just be prepared to accept it. You raised a flag being out of normal. this is why you got the RFE. Find everything you can. You are really going to need to show proof. think of it as show me clearly, consisely, completely you went there. Your passport is your safest thing to show, as well as any payment for airline ticketes, and something from the airline showing you were actually on the flights, as well as bacnk statments, hotel statements, receipts for meals, taxis, bus, etc. Boarding passes are like gold in this process. Now you have to show with mountains of other evidence you went. Your sworn statement is not enough. think of it this way, you are proving you are guilty beyond a shadow of ANY doubt.


If you are talking to me, I haven't yet gotten a RFE. I am in VSC, they probably haven't even gotten to my case yet. I was just asking if you guys thought I might get a RFE, based on the fact that I couldn't supply a boarding pass. I had everything else, including a hotel receipt with both of our names. Passport stamp, various receipts I had stuffed in my bag, pictures in front of landmarks, 9 years worth of letters/emails/chats, a few money transfer receipts, numerous load receipts - basically frontloaded. but I think the passport stamp, the hotel receipt, other (meal, ATM) receipts, and the photos SHOULD be enough. I pray they will be enough... After waiting 6+ months, a RFE would be devastating.

Going forward, I will definitely keep boarding passes. It's just that until I realized I that I wanted to marry Liezl, I never had any need for them. As far as I was concerned, once I was on the flight, they were trash. I mean, I can see how if you knew about this process and you knew you were going to get engaged prior to going there then you'd know to hold on to the boarding pass. However, that wasn't the case for me. I knew I liked her prior to going, but I knew nothing about this process. And I was just going to meet and spend time with a pen-pal I'd had for 8 years at the time of my visit. I had a great time there, came home, and months later is when we realized deeper feelings between us were mutual (we're both quite shy). That's when I started looking into this process and found this website.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-14 15:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresplease help we got RFE!

sounds like fun.

for number 3: they are asking for certified copies now. They want proof.

For number 2: the want certified/ notoraized copies of the boarding passes, passport, recipts, bank statments, etc. The copies need to be certified now. this is anything and EVERYTHING you have, can get ahold of , or can find to show your trip over there.

For number 1: Letter of intent: certified showing letter. signatures.


With an RFE: it is request for evidence. ORIGINALS or CERTIFIED copies ONLY. This is the sticking point. Just submitting evidence again will not work. Everything you send back now must be certified. Treat this as an inspection of Orginal documentation. Something tripped them, or you were selected for verification of process.



What is a "CERTIFIED" copy? Does that mean they want our ORIGINALS now??? So what if they "accidentally" lose our originals? Then I have no evidence... I thought it was copies were fine at first, then at the interview they want to see the originals? I was planning to keep my originals until I go back there to bring her over here... I do not want to take the chance of losing any of my original evidence.

PS. I don't have my boarding pass. I always leave those in the magazine pocket on the planes. When I flew over there and back, I didn't know I would need them, as I was just visiting a friend at that point. It was a few months after I returned that we realized we really liked each other more than friends... That's when I found this site. So those boarding passes were probably trashed like every other pass I've ever had. I DO however have my passport stamped, as well as some receipts that I stuffed in my bag so as not to contribute to the litter over there. And our pictures.... So I sent copies of all of that; then I front-loaded with 9 years worth of correspondence, receipts for adding "load" to her phone, the few money transfers from when she's been desperate... Is all of that enough to not get a RFE?
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-13 17:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresQieries regarding DS-Form pls reply..:)
Where are you guys finding the DS-156 form? I am looking for a current PDF to send to my fiance, can anyone send me a copy? I need to send her a "practice one" so I can make sure she won't mess up in the online one.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-23 20:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNVC / US Embassy stage
Are there any guides for this stage of the journey? We got approved on the 19th and are not sure what comes next. Are they going to send me a copy of whatever they send to my fiance? I'd like to be able to help her with the forms. Speaking of, where can I get a current, fillable DS-156 pdf? No matter where I try to download it from, I always end up at the same site where it wants me to fill it out online - yet it won't open in my browser.

So yeah, does anyone have any of that: a guide for this leg of the journey, a DS-156 pdf, or a copy of whatever is being sent to my fiance?
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-23 20:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresOnly three months to plan a wedding??

Our Fiance visa has been approved and we will soon be going in for the interview process. We want to plan our wedding together in the US but there is no way in hell we could do it in three months.

What constitutes a "marriage" in order to apply for a change of status to become a permanent resident?

We want to have more time together to plan our ceremony... I mean typically planning for a wedding take 6 months or more... so... help please!


Get legally married in a courthouse within a few weeks. Plan a ceremony for whenever... People who are already married renew their vows in ceremonies all the time. You could take a year or longer to plan a ceremony, if you wanted. You just need to be legally married within 3 months. We're planning to get married as soon as possible. Then later, when there is more money, we will have ceremonies here and in the Philippines.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-04 19:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConfused about fee's

Thanks for the replies, but Im trying to narrow it down..........the fee's. From what I understand the Petition fee is 340.00...medical for her and our daughter im going to guess will be about 350.00, but what is the other fee that is associated with the interviw........is there additional visa fee.....the petition fee doesnt cover any of that?

Thanks


Nah, petition doesn't cover any of that! That was USCIS's take for sitting on it 5+ months - stacking petitions is hard work.

At least you only had to pay $340. I paid like $455 or something, for my petition.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-09 21:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConfused about fee's

Hi all,

My fiance and I are really excited about starting the K1 visa process next month and I have some confusion about the fees.

I understand the petition fee for the K1 is $340.00, but once approved and its interview time..what do I have to pay for besides the medical. Anyone know the cost of medical exam in Manila?

I keep seeing about more fees for the Visa.......but not sure what those costs are? I know Im jumping way ahead but Im also aware of the AOS fee 1,070.00 (big one)

Any help is appreciated,,,,,just trying to be fully prepared. Travel for her and our daughter will be another big expense we are preparing for.

Thanks
Eddie



You probably have close to $800 in fees
$350.00 - Visa Application fee on her end.
$213.35 - Medical for fiance
$185.35 - Medical for daughter (assuming younger than 15)
$20 to $50 - for CFO Seminar (estimating)

That's over $700 right there.

Then add your fiance's living expenses while in Manila (including travel to and from)

Then include the flight expenses to wherever you are.

Optionally, include even more expenses if you are going to go get her and accompany her on her first flight over (like I'm doing).

This is no cheap endeavor!
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-09 21:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresConfused about fee's

K visa applicants who have been notified by the Embassy to prepare for their interview, must pay the visa application fee of $350 before they can request a visa appointment (http://manila.usemba...v/wwwh3023.html)


MEDICAL EXAMINATION FEES
USD 213.35 (15 years and older)
USD 185.35 (less than 15 years old)

St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic does not accept cheque or credit card payments. Fees must be paid in Philippine Pesos at the prevailing exchange rate. Exchange rates are provided by the U.S. Embassy Manila on a daily basis.
(http://www.slec.ph/u...ml#medical-fees)



CFO Seminar has a fee... You will pay a fee totaling PhP 650.00. The PhP 250.00 is paid as counseling fee at SMEF-COW or PRISM while the PhP 400.00 is for registration at the CFO. (http://www.cfo.gov.p...onals&catid=140)


Plus any miscellaneous fees/expenses for your fiance's week or so in Manila. I'll probably send about $800 - $1000 for (hotel, transportation, food, and anything else people can figure out how to charge you for in the Philippines)
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-09 21:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresMy I-134 questions
My apologies for any redundancy imposed by these questions... I did search "I-134" on the site and looked through numerous threads for my specific answers, but didn't find what I was looking for. I thought just asking would be faster.

1. It says on the form instructions to "Submit in duplicate evidence of income and resources, as appropriate". WHAT? Does this mean I need to submit two identical I-134 packages?

2. How far out can you send this form to your fiance? My fiance doesn't have an appointment scheduled yet - as we're waiting for some "appointment letter" or "letter of eligibility", among other things. Due to the rate of speed with which government entities operate in the Philippines, we may have to re-validate our approval anyway. I just want to know how "recent" the pay stubs need to be? Like if I send it next month, is that too soon - having no interview scheduled as of yet? Plus I need to account for the month that Philippine Customs will hoard the package... I just want to make sure she has this whenever she does interview.

3. The form on the USCIS website expires 5/31/2011. Where is the new version, so I can begin working on this?

4. What is the difference between a tax return and a tax transcript? I see many of you using the wording "tax transcript". Is this being used interchangeably with "tax return"? Like when I go into TurboTax and reprint what I filed to the IRS (for past 3 years), is that what they want?

5. If income is sufficient, must you still list and provide supporting documentation of all of your other property/assets? It doesn't say that these questions are Optional. Do they REALLY need to know the value of my stocks, home and life insurance? I would think my tax returns, W-2s, and pay stubs would be enough.

6. Why does the statement from the bank need to be from an officer? What does this need to say? Why can't I just go online to my bank and filter the direct deposits so that they can see the amount deposited is my income. I do all of my banking online. Is this item really necessary?


Thanks for your answers!
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-14 14:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresHELP k1 Affidavit of support form Expiration

I-134 form in USCIS site will be expiring on May 31,2011.. does anyone here who has an idea if when this form will be updated? I cant decide to when im going to set my interview date but we want to be 1st week of june, But my city is plane away from the embassy so my fiance needs to send the papers 10 days b4 the interview date via Fed-Ex.. im getting paranoid cause we are after on our estimated date for me to arrive in US.. please anyone has any idea? Thanks



10 Days?!?! Are you sure? Any time I send something to the Philippines via FedEx, it sits in Philippine Customs for AT LEAST 2 or 3 weeks.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-14 14:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresI-134 question 10
So this wouldn't be the day you went to USPS or FedEx to send/submit your petition?
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-21 17:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresLength of time dating before marriage proposal
I was introduced to my fiance back in 2001. We were both college students, but in different countries. I met her Aunt, who asked me several times if I would like to correspond with her niece. I finally said yes, got the address and sent my first letter. About a month later, she wrote back! We maintained this pen/email/text (and a few calls) friendship all the way to May of 2009, when she finally convinced me to visit her. Within hours of being in her presence, I knew she was the woman I had been praying for the whole time. I was there for two weeks, proposed a few months after visiting and immediately began researching how I could bring her here...

We haven't really "dated" in the true sense of the word, as we live in different countries and are both busy working adults with little time (vacation days) and money. But we're banking on the fact that they'll see our 9 year friendship + 2 year engagement and hopefully not be doubtful of the legitimacy of our relationship. If all goes well, we'll be here together in August.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-21 14:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresNeed Some Advice on course of action

Hello everyone!

I need some advice on the course of action.

According to the consulate, packet 3 was sent on 5/9 but fiancee has not received it. It has been 12 days.
My fiancee can print packet 3 forms and take them to the consulate her self.

Supposedly after packet 3 is received, packet 4 will be sent.

How can I find out if packet 4 has been sent out and the interview date?

Is this something that the DOS/NVC would know and can tell me?

I'm worried about my fiancee not getting packet 3 or 4.

Any information on this would be really appreciated.

Thanks much!



What are packets?
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-05-21 14:20:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmeeting wit hLocal USCIS office

went to phoenix office... thye ad no information to give me, just in processing. told me to file a service request.... AHAHA.... called to file a service request.... not out of the timeline.... is there a way to request a review... no. who decides the expedite? the ADJUDICATOR DECIDES in reviewing the case. THERE is NO DENIAL issued, the case follows NORMAL processing. If there is NO DENIAL issued, the supervisor or director DOES NOT review the denaial... it just goes quietly on by.... And no matter how hard you beat down the door, you cannot get through to anyone for a review of the ajudicator's decision NOT to expedite your request. So if you filed an expedite and hear nothing, it is the "silent" way of keeping things in process.... it keeps work out of hte supervisor's hands having to review the rejects.....


In a way I feel so beaten.... each day I keep on hoping, and hoping this wlll be the day.... but I am realizing that the day will not be for another 90 days.....and ten there is the process after that which takes another 90 days, and the process of waiting for hte visa.... guess I am just having a very, very, very blue monday after being over at her relatives house seeing everyone who is from her village but not her... meeting friends of her dad, people who knew her...

Also check out this website: http://www.guiadoimi...ia/aboutus.html

hope these help someone....


Sorry to see that you're hurting man; but we tried to tell you that you were, in a sense, going to slaughter (meaning your meeting would only make you feel worse). We all tried so hard to warn you... This process takes MANY months, not just a few. This website, and the timelines therein are evidence of that. As painful as it may be, you just have to wait. There is NOTHING we can do. But good things come to those who wait... I'm in the VSC November group, and guess what? This morning I got my email that my petition was approved!! After only 5 months and 2 weeks. That is a miracle for VSC. Somehow, I got to be one of the Novembers that slipped through with the mid-Octobers they currently seem to be processing there.
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-19 17:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmeeting wit hLocal USCIS office

So what you enumerated might seem like an "ordinary" condition to most Filipinos in the provinces or even in the slums in Manila. My life or your fiancee's life may seem like a sad soap opera/novel, but it's REALITY to millions of Filipino families. That's why many of us try so hard to finish education and find a decent job. The last thing I want is some pity party. :)

It'll be really hard to convince people at the embassy/NVC to believe extreme poverty/rebel fighting as legit reasons worthy of an expedite.



Exactly... My fiance is also from a province. I have been to the Philippines, to her home. I can identify with EVERYTHING the OP has suggested as reasons for his expedite, except for the rebel fighting and the fishing village. But everything else, yeah... From what I witnessed there, all of that is pretty common outside of the bigger cities - heck, even within cities in some cases. I saw entire communities living under highways in Cebu City. And it has been that way forever there... Whenever I express concerns about some part of her way of life/standard of living, she always says, "Oh, don't you worry Kris, we're use to it". So what we are trying to understand is how is your case any more urgent than those of many other people petitioning a fiance from the Philippines or other developing/third-world country? It's an impoverished country... Many, many, many more people are in your fiance's same living situation. She is not the only one.

Good luck requesting your expedite... I will tell you this though. I also wanted to expedite my case AFTER I hit the 5-month mark. When I called in, they told me that I didn't really have a good case for an expedite. All they would do was take a service request; but even then, they told me I was still "within normal processing time, because 5-months is just an estimate" and that I would need to give them 30 days for a response. All we are saying is, you just described the situation of millions of Filipinos over there. However deserving of an expedite you believe your case to be, it just isn't likely. So yeah, go in with high hopes! But also prepare yourself for a "please wait in line sir". It's incredibly difficult, waiting. However, you may need to accept at some point that you have no choice. Good luck...
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-14 11:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresmeeting wit hLocal USCIS office

Hi all,


Friday I meet with local USCIS office. I was advised to meet with local office when calling in to followup on expedite request and why no answer. The expedite inquiry was sent with this letter:

Your request for expedited processing has been received. After careful review and consideration, it has been determined that the request does not meet the expedite guidelines established by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. As such, the case will be adjudicated in date receipt order.

Again calling, was advised to meet with local office instead of placing another query into the CSC. Stated the forms are not adjudicated there for I-129F. Was told by call center to go into local office anyway.

wonder what is up??? anyone got any ideas? Just wondering what may happen on Friday.



According to your signature, you JUST got your NOA1 on 3/10/2011 - that's just one month ago...

USCIS states that normal processing time is 5 months; and when you call them, they say "well that is just an estimate". If you're lucky enough to get into CSC, it seems 5 months is a pretty close guess-timate. For some of us, however, our case is held hostage for 6+ months by VSC! These are just their "normal processing times". And then, from other posts I've read here, you can't really successfully get an expedite until your case has gone AT LEAST 30 or 60 days (not sure which one) beyond "normal processing time". Or at least that is what people report their Congressmen/Senators were told when they got them involved.

Again, it has been just over a month since you got your NOA1. I am wondering on what grounds you are using to justify your expedite request? Surely they will be asking you why YOU should not have to endure the same wait everyone else is... May I ask what is your reason for the expedite request after one month? I'd love to know, especially if it works! :lol:
Kris & LiezlMalePhilippines2011-04-13 19:53:00