Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-134 Help: Bank can't provide deposit information on account verification letter	Hi folks, I wonder if anyone else has dealt with this problem. The instructions in our Packet-3 from the Hong Kong Consulate clearly said they want form I-134 to be submitted. Instructions for I-134 ask for: A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions with deposits, identifying the following details regarding the account: 1. Date account opened; 2. Total amount deposited for the past year; and 3. Present balance. I called the bank and their account verification letter doesn't have deposit information, and suggested that I send statements. Further they said that this letter is fairly standard and deposit information is not normally requested. Does anyone know if this is necessary? And if I have to send statements do they need to be notarized? And if entire statements are required it will be between 100-144 pages that I don't know if I really need to send!!! Ugh! Take the letter from the Consulate to the bank to show them what is being asked of you. If they refuse to give you such a letter I would suggest you mention that your money will be leaving with you and going to a bank that believes in customer service. It is amazing how that threat will get you to the top dog at that branch or even a phone call to the local headquarters to resovle this issue so you keep your money at their bank. If you have to carry out the threat then you print out your statements for tthe last year showing the deposited amount and submit a letter as to why you had to do this and get the new bank to also write a letter about the account being opened etc. You must remind the bank that YOU are the customer and if YOU want a letter with this information it is up to them to provide it to you--they may charge you, but that is just a small amount compared to al the other fees and expenses of this process. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2012-03-08 16:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	higher air fare charge for K1 visa immigrants???	You can search for ONE WAY TICKETS through different website and you may find some good deal, for my perspective, buying a round trip ticket is wasting your money. I understand your reasoning, but let me give you our situation and you can then decide if I "wasted" my money. My wife received her K-1 visa in September. She wanted to finish out the semester at work plus get the permission to leave completed so she could retain ownership of her property. We decied that she would be leaving in December. One-way tickets in December were running $3200. Round-trip tickets in December were running $2300. So I bought a RT ticket and canceled the return leg which I picked to be 88 days after arrival. So I did not use half of the trip package, but I only spent $2300 verses $3200 for the using the entire trip package. So from your perspective did I waste money? OP: Go on-line search for a cheap ticket and buy the cheaper of a one-way or round-trip that meets your needs of travel time, layover times, connection times, number of stops, transit visa requirements (if needed but you should check) and price. Notice that I put price last as IMHO for this part of the visa process all the othr factors should come before buying just the cheapest priced ticket. My wife's ticekt was more expensive because I refused to have her go thru O'Hare where the cheaper flights are. This was based on her last two trips where she had problems in O'Hare and that was with a tourist visa. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-02-26 15:54:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	POE	Your point of entry is ALWAYS the first stop in the US. If your final destination is JFK but you have a stop over in LAX, then LAX is your POE. You wont have any problems. Correct. The only thing I would do is make certain there is plenty of time between flights to go thru the whole POE process. That can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours depending on several factors. I would leave about 3+ hours for a layover at the POE to handle most cases. Missing the connection is about the biggest problem that happens. Good luck and congrats on getting this far, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-02-27 09:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Travel on K-1?	Just curious if my fiance and I can plan a travel to Caribbean? Mexico? Central America? Canada? Anywhere? soon after she lands in the US??? Many thanks Gabru No. That is the main difference between the K-1 and the CR-1/IR-1 visas. The K-1 has 90 days to get married. Once married you file for adjustment of status (AOS) and employment authorization document (EAD) and advance parole (AP). The AP allows your wife to travel outside the US until the GC arrives. The EAD along with a SSN allows her to get a job. If she leaves the US before receiving the AP or GC then she will have abandoned her AOS and you will have to file an I-130 spousal visa for her while she waits in her home country. The question is always "can I leave" which is a very solid "YES", but the problem is re-entry to the US. To enter the US you need a US passport, GC, AP, or a valid visa--just so you know the K-1 visa is null and void once she entered using it. Sit back and wait for the documentation to arrive before she leaves the US or she will not be able to re-enter. Good luck, Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 04 March 2013 - 08:18 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-04 20:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-94 question	What if I removed the staple? I don't see a problem with removing the staple. My wife's I-94 was not stapled to her passport, but just stuck in between a couple of pages. I made a copy of it when she first arrived just in case we lost it. I had her put it in a safe drawer until the AOS interview where they kept it. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-04 20:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	dates on K1 forms	I have had a couple of financial setbacks that have prevented me from submitting my K1 Packet. A few of the dates on the forms are atleast a year old. I have since recovered financialy. Is this going to be an issue? It will be two years since we have visited in person in August. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Glen L. The only requirement for the petition to be approved is having met within the last two years and the petitioner being a USC. After that the process moves to the Embassy/Consulate in the country of the beneficiary and that is where it becomes specific and you may have to provide a ton of relationship evidence or very little. Given what I have read about the PI and the K-1 visa process, you may want to make another visit. If the dates you are talking about are for signatures, I would resign them with a more recent date as the date of the signature is saying that everything is true and correct as of this date. It is not a date I would want to cross out and change. YMMV. Good lcuk, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-08 11:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	estimating time of K1 process to set wedding date	I know the times may vary greatly and I have seen some posts that seem to go relatively quick and others that take a very long time. Assuming that everything goes well, I am wondering if a mid August wedding date is appropriate? We have only gotten as far as receiving the NOA1 on October, 10, 2012. The USCIS website says about 5 months to process. I wonder what recent experiences for other people are. Is it still 5 months or are there more delays to some of the stuff going on with immigration laws these days? Still waiting for NOA2 and trying to plan as much in advance to help expedite the process. thanks, wade Here's a thought. The K-1 visa is usually good for 6 months. So you have 6 months to enter the US. Then you have 90 days to get married. That gives you about 8 months to plan for the wedding AFTER the visa is issued. That is when I would start making concrete plans. Do not make any plans that cannot be changed or you may be out a lot of money if things don't go as planned. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-10 00:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Changing name on ss card	Thank you for the replies. Two more questions: 1) I should wait until she has her green card before we go back to SS to change her name on the card, or can we do that before she files for AOS? 2) Is there a form that we need to fill out at the SS office in order to change her name? Thank you... You can try, but it sounds like the people at your local SSA office are brain dead and do not know their own rules. I would go to the local office with the old SSC, Certified copy of the Marriage Certificate, and ID that proves who you are and ID that proves age. Complete the SS-5 form to get the name changed. I would note the location, time, how long you wait, and the name of the person you speak to and any supervisors. This is so that you can e-mail the main SSA office on their website to report that you have a SSC in your maiden name and want to change it using the Marriage Certificate, but the nim-rods at your local SSA office gave you the run around. Try to remember what they told you. You should get an e-mail that will educate the people at the locat SSA office. Think of it this way: Say I am a female USC who just got married and I go into the SSA office with my old SSC and Marriage Certificate to get the last name changed. Do you think they will ask about my immigration status or say that I have to be updated in theSAVE database and that the USCIS must have the same last ame as what I am changing it to? No, all IDs have my maiden name and I am trying to change it with the SSA. What do I do? I use my maiden name on any ID and my Marriage Certificate. Why should it be any different for a LPR? It is not. It is just too many employees at the SSA think it is. Good Luck, Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 17 March 2013 - 06:48 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-17 18:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Moving out of the country after getting married on a K1 visa	Hello, After much discussion with my fiance, we have decided that we would like to move back to Jamaica (if possible) after getting married in the US on his K1 visa. There are many reasons why we need him to come here first... he wants to adopt my daughter (I don't believe this is possible to do out of the country) and I will need help in the moving process (selling belongings, etc.) as I work full time, go to school full time, and I'm the sole caregiver to my daughter with no family for 500 miles. What we are visioning right now is that he will come here, we will get married and file for AOS, then work on the adoption process for my daughter, try to work on me and my daughter's citizenship for Jamaica and in the process start selling things and get ready for the move... I'm not sure how long all of this will take. Will it be possible for us to move back to Jamaica after getting married and filing AOS Or does he need to stay in the US? What parts of this process can be done outside of the US, if any, and what parts will we need to return to the US, if any? I still want to go through the complete K1 process so he can travel with us when we come back to the states with no problems. Any advice or guidance to where I can find these things out will be greatly appriciated! Thanks!! The only thing the K-1 visa will allow him to do is travel to the US so he can marry you within 90-days of arrival. He can then help with the packing and moving and then you both leave. I would not waste my time or money on AOS as a GC is for a LPR that intends to live in the US and he does not intend to live in the US. Continue as you are, do not file for AOS and when you both decide to live in the US than file for a spousal visa. If he was from a country that allowed freer travel to the US, I woould not even recommend the K-1 visa, but he will need that in order to get into the US to help you move and get married. You are really using the K-1 visa more live a tourist visa in this situation. Good luck, Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 14 March 2013 - 08:12 AM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-14 08:11:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-94 number?	My wife and I married in late December and are sending out the documents tomorrow but Im having problems finding the I-94 number. There is a passport number, control number (14 digits with 3 zeros before the final digit), an A-number, and a red number beginning with the letter F. Nothing else other than those and all the numbers printed at the bottom. Only handwritten number is the A-number (alien number) Help is you can. Thanks. Nick It is the black printed number at the top. Right under "Departure Number" and above "Immigration and Naturalization Service I-94 Departure Record." Ours was 11 digits. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-17 21:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	a few questions about the process	My fiancée and I are planning to do the K-1 visa route instead of getting married, due my work and small hour windows with Mexican government offices, it's hard for me to get my permission papers. I do however have a few questions. Most are basic and I have seen many topics, FAQs and even info all been very helpful. We plan on sending our packet in the middle of April. It will be leaving from CA but how are the service centers dealt with after NAO1, is it random to the CSC and VSC? I rather prefer the Vermont center. Also given this type of visa, what are the projections of the Juarez Consulate MX of approving the visa? What timeframe are we looking at? Also on photos, how do most send them out? Like place 2-3 in a laminating sheet or like a clear paper pocket. Maybe just in a envelop? Any info will be appreciated thanks. You do realize that you mail the package to a lockbox facility in TX. Here is the address for USPS mail: USCIS P.O. Box 660151 Dallas, TX 75266 Which service center it ends up at depends on where you live: If you live in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, file with the California Service Center. If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and West Virginia, file with the Vermont Service Center. With digital photos you can print them out two per page and place captions under the photos. For prints, I would tape them to a plain white piece of paper with two per page and write the information under the photo. The easier you make it on the IO the better your petition will go. You may even want to photo copy them and include the photo copy as the prints will be bulky. Good luck, Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 08 March 2013 - 11:52 AM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-08 11:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	The "Has your fiancé(e) ever been in the U.S.?" question on the I-129F	Hey everybody, I searched and I couldn't find anything about this. If you answer Yes to "Has your fiancé(e) ever been in the U.S.?" on the I-129F, is it necessary to provide any additional information for the intitial submission? I see the next question saying "If your fiancé(e) is currently in the U.S., ..." which she is not, but nothing about previous presence in the US. Thanks! Why are you making this harder than it is? You answer the question as posed: Has your Finace(e) ever been in the US? Yes or No. If she has ever visited the US the answer is yes. If she has never set foot in the US then the answer is no. Do not worry, they will get the other information when you complete the G-325A form for her. What ever you do, do not over think the application form or it will drive you crazy. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-23 14:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Validity of K1 Visa	K visas are valid for six months from the date of the medical examination. For example, if you had the medical examination in January and the visa was not issued until April then the visa would be valid until July. FYI, that is not always the case. For us, the visa was issued in the middle of September and the visa did not expire until the middle of March--6 months later. I think it is the shorter of 6 months or 1 year after the medical. I have only seen here on VJ people talking about the visa expiring before the 6 month mark when they have been in extended AP. Not totally sure of this, but I do know that our medical was done a month before the visa was approved and our visa was valid for the entire 6 months. YMMV. Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-03-28 12:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Fiancé's name is wrong in immigration system	In Chile they issue all documentation as first name, middle name, father's last name and mother's last name. During our immigration process we filled out all the information as my finance's first name, middle name and last name. When he arrived at POE and they put him in the SAVE system they put his first name as his first and middle name together then his last name as his father's and mother's name together. When we got his social security card they told us we should change that through immigration and when we do we can change his social security card. How do we change this through immigration? Can it just be a document in the mail or do we have to go into the nearest immigration office? I called and USCIS told me we had to make an appointment Monday - Friday and go in but I work Monday - Friday and am the only one who can take my fiancé (the nearest immigration office is 2 hours away). Is there another way to change his name to what it's supposed to be or is going in our only option? Thank you. This is one of those things I think you will need to go to a CBP inspection location,at an international airport, and show them his passport, I-94, visa in the passport and then have them correct his name to what it is on the visa, I-94 and passport (as I assume they are all the same). Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-10 17:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Do I Need to Renew My Passport?	Hello, My Canadian Passport expires December 18th 2013. I filled on Jan 10th 2013 and are awaiting initial approval. My question is this; Should I renew my passport before I get my K1 VISA? Or will I not need the VISA in my passport once I'm married? Otherwise I would need the new passport to be available to me for put the K1 in and will be in the passport for five years. Thanks for any help. p.s. Can Canadians have interviews in Toronto? Given that you will need a valid passport for international travel in the future including returning to Canada, I would renew now as you will most likely not be approved for the K-1 before the 6 month limitation on expiration arrives in June. The K-1 visa is a single entry visa and once you use it, it is no longer valid. The I-94 you receive upon entry to the US is then what determines your lawful status. Once married, you file for adjustment of status (AOS) and when the I-94 expires while you wait for the EAD/AP combo card (assuming you file that with the AOS) or GC, you will be in a state of authorized stay, but unable to legally work or re-enter the US until you have the EAD/AP or GC. The only thing you need to worry about is the timing from visa approval to passport expiration. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-12 00:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	None vs leaving it blank	How crucial is it to type in 'None' when filling out the forms? On I-129F it says "A# (if any)", so if you leave it blank, is it ok? Another question is in Q18 (describe the circumstances under which you met), is it important to write See Attachment there, or leaving it blank and listing it in cover letter is enough? Both of these are addressed in the instructions so I would follow what they recommend in the instructions--they specifically say to write in "N/A" if the question is not applicable or "NONE" and if additional paper is required to write the applicant's name, A#, and the question number on the attachment. Also for Q18 it really should fit in the space provided as you just need to provided how you met, you do not need to write a novel. You might want to re-read the instructions to see what other items you have missed and you really should read the guides in this forum to help answer any questions. I only suggest this as it would appear that you missed these items in the instructions so it questions what other important information did you miss. This is a process where attention to detail is very, very important and following the instructions is also very, very important. Good luck, Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 16 April 2013 - 04:28 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-16 16:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	RFE received re: Last Personal Meeting	Hi everyone!   I know this is a long process for all of us and wish you all luck in your journeys.  I received an RFE earlier this week for more information regarding my last personal meeting with my fiancee, who currently lives in Italy.      We submitted the I-129F petition in November 2012.  I went to Italy to see Oscar in March 2012 (when he proposed) and again in December 2012 for New Year's. ( I have a trip planned for May 2013). With the initial application I sent in my receipts from my trip in March 2012, notarized letters from my soon to be sister and brother in law stating I was in Milan and stayed with them as well as pictures from the trip.  I realize now I should have sent in a copy of my passport but did not at the time.    So this is my current dilemma:   I don't have my boarding passes from my trip to Italy last March or over New Years 2013.  I do have copies of the receipt and proof that Delta gave me frequent flyer miles for the trip.  I also have my passport stamps but the stamps are from Amsterdam and Paris not Italy.  Because Italy is part of the EU, I didn't have to have my passport re stamped when I arrived there.   Basically these things are considered primary evidence.  Film-dated pictures don't count as primary evidence.  Although I submitted pictures and statements from Oscar's sister and brother in law that stated I was in Italy, apparently these don't count as evidence of meeting in person.    I have until July 12, 2013 to respond but obviously want to respond sooner rather than later.     Do you think that this is sufficient "primary evidence" or should I wait until after I go see Oscar in May 2013 and make sure I hold on to my boarding passes  from this trip before I send in the documents or if my passport stamps, delta receipt and Delta frequent flyer miles from the December 2012/January 2013 trip will be sufficient?   Thanks in advance for any thoughts and guidance!         Have you contacted the airline or travel service you used to book the tickets?  Sometimes you can get a copy of the ticket and that along with the passport stamps can show you actually travelled.  OR you can ask the airline if they will write a letter stating you were on each flight.  Other than that you will need some sort of receipt to show you were both in the same city at the same time.   You need to have the proof of meeting within two years before you submitted the petition or the petition will be denied.  You may want to submit all the primary evidence that you travelled to the EU and then submit the photos and have his brother-in-law and sister complete affidavitts attesting that you were both in Italy together.  Not just statements, but legally binding and sworn statements which carry more weight.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-28 17:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 Questions on Extending the K1 Visa	That was the solution I was trying to figure out buy you totally make sense.  So if my fiance in Brazil took her medical exam and interview before 8/18/2013 which would be when my I-127 (NOA2) expires THEN her K1 6month time would start from the day she gets approved from her interview.  Theoretically, if she gets approved 8/15/2013 for example we would have until 2/18/2014 for her to come to the USA and then 90 days to get married from that point.  Does this all seem logical?   I would think anytime in August before the 18th would work given your timeline.  If you have the medical in early August, then 6 months would be February if the visa is valid for 6 months based on the medical or even later if based on the approval date.  That way you do not have to have the Embassy extend the validity of the petition which they can do.  I would not wait until the 18th as that would add other issues and it would seem that having the visa valid beyond the 1st of the year is what you want and that would be any time after July 2nd.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-29 00:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2 Questions on Extending the K1 Visa	That is correct, with the exception that the 6 months start at the date of the medical examination, not the visa approval date.   Interesting.  As my wife's visa was valid for a full 6 months after it was issued and she had her medical exam 3 weeks before the visa was issued.  The visa was issued the 22nd of September 2010 and it expired the 21st of March 2011.  I am wondering if this whole medical and visa validity period is Embassy specific as I have seen others not from the PI state their visas were valid for 6 months.  Typically the medical is valid for 1 year for a K-1 visa and if you file for AOS (Adjustment of Status) within 1 year then you do not need to get another medical.  Wait for more than 1 year and you need a new medical when filing for AOS.   OP:  Have your fiancee wait to have the interview so it fits into your timeline.  You might also ask the Embassy in Brazil how long they issue the K-1 visa for and what determines its validity period--i.e. medical or is it valid for 6 months after the visa is approved.  Then plan accordingly.  My wife entered the US during the third month of validity without any problems.  Just make certain to have her arrive before the K-1 visa expires.  Hopefully you can get this to work into your plans.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-29 00:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Photographs	I have read conflicting stories about photographs used for proof of meeting. Some people report that their photographs were rejected because they did not have a time stamp on front of picture. Others report no problems. I used my camera to take our photographs, but it is a professional level camera ( Nikon D90) the date and time are imposed on the SD card, but can not be placed on front of photograph like simple point and shoots. I don't think anyone at USCIS will know how to pull the information off the SD card, and USCIS does not accept electronic media. Any suggestions? Would a notarized statement affirming that the photographs were taken of us while I was in the Ukraine work????????   You use photographs to enhance other evidence like boarding passes, receipts in her hometown, passport stamps that show you travelled to her country and were in her city and then the photos show you were together.  Think of it like proving something in a court of law where it takes several items to paint the picture and prove that you two were together.  It also depends on the IO as to what is acceptaboe or not--so in that sense it is really hit or miss.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-30 19:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	K1 Visa Expiry	Like they all said, you have to be here before it expires, then be married within 90 days. One other thing is to make sure to get your state I.D. Or drivers license before the visa is expired (7/10). We missed that one and couldn't get the state I.d.   State ID and DLs are very, very state specific.  Some will allow you to use the I-94 and issue you an ID or DL and others will do nothing until you have the GC (Green Card) in hand.  I would recommend that you get your SSC (Social Security Card) after waiting about 2 weeks after arrival.  You will need that number for all kinds of things here in the US and as a K-1 visa holder you are eligible to receive one while the I-94 is valid (up to two weeks before it expires).  You have until the I-94 expires to get married and after getting married you need to file for AOS (adjustment of status) which costs $1070.  The sooner you file AOS the sooner you can work and travel internationally.  It is recommended that you also file EAD (Employment Authorization Document) and AP (Advance Parole) as they are free when you file for AOS and usually arrive sooner than the GC.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-04-28 23:59:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Russian Girlfriend Just got Denied Tourist Visa	I am was born in the US and have been corresponding with a Russian woman I met online for a year now (email everyday, Skype on weekend, phone calls etc.)  We have met in person twice... The first was in Spain in 8/2012 and the second time in Switzerland 12/2012.  We had planned for her to come to LA for two weeks next month, but she was just denied in Moscow 2 days ago ( her 2nd-last one was 20 years ago...) I had to pay for her trip to Moscow from her home town. Other than her visit to Moscow it was a waist on my end. I am a little frustrated because there is a decent population of Russians in LA, and THEY got in... She is 38 and single, has no kids, never married and owns her flat. We think it's futile to try another tourist Visa. She purposely did not mention our relationship or that she was coming to see me to avoid immediate refusal. She said she just always wanted to see LA and the attractions..We love each other and have discussed possibly marrying in the future but now must do so for her to ever come visit me. She has never been to the states, or met my two daughters, and we were hoping to have her come over a few times to visit first to adjust to the lifestyle first. It is too pricey and I have to take too much vacation time to keep meeting in other countries...We have already been discussing getting a K-1 down the road and we have all of the necessary requirements to qualify my dilemma hear is this : Since she was recently denied a tourist Visa to LA, if we apply for a K-1 in several months, will the Embassy feel like she lied on her last attempt and interview? All of a sudden she wants to marry a guy in LA after just being denied a visit there?  Also, all of "documentation of proof of relationship" is prior to her recent tourist visa denial. We have talked about starting our correspondence from scratch from the date after her rejection, visiting each other again, once or twice, then applying for the K-1 in 6-8 months... Any suggestions? Also, if we ever do get married she would like to split time between countries, 3 months here, 3 months there in the beginning of the marriage. Partly to adjust (she has lived in Russia her whole life and it is scary for her) and partly because her mother is older and lives there. I know we will need to start the AOS process and if she leaves before she gets a green card or apllies for advanced parol, she will have to get a visa to come back in... I want to be with her and just want to show her my city and meet my family...   My wife applied for a tourist visa and was denied.  Two weeks later she applied again and was approved.  The only differences were a new IO, a new letter from a female friend inviting her to visit the US, and my friends contacted their representative.  She was able to get a second tourist visa a year later and then the K-1 visa a year after that.  Sometimes I think they deny people the first time to see if they are willing to spend the money for another try.  You can try again, meet in another country again, or go to Russia and see what her life-style is like--you will find it very different from the US that I can assure you.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-03 13:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	RFE Letter of intent	Hi guys, it's me again... We got an RFE, it says we didn't submit the beneficiary letter of intent (oops! I guess we got confused assembling the package) Anyway, the letter says: "Provide an original statement from the beneficiary (...) You may submit the original document or legible photocopies of the originals" So... can I make one and scan it and send it to my fiance by email so he can print it and forward it to VSC? the thing is that would be the faster way. When I send letters to him it usually takes a whole month to make it from Ecuador to the US, now there's DHL and it would take 5 days, but they charge $80 (yes, I asked) Thanks for your answers and good luck to all!   The signature must be original.  No photocopies or scans.  I do not know about faxes.  I would pay the $80 and send it via DHL or FedEx so the signature is original.  I suppose you could try the photocopy of original, but usually when a signature is required the USCIS will not accept a copy.  Given how important this is, IMHO it is worth the $80 which is a drop in the bucket compared to the other costs of this process.  I spent $100 each way to send and receive the documents needed for the interview phase.   Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-03 16:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Tax returns and W2's	You may want to go ahead and order tax transcripts from the IRS for the I-864 form you will have to submit at the AOS phase.  For the I-864 a COMPLETE tax return is required which is the form, W-2s and all supporting documents.  Whereas a tax transcript is considered a complete tax return for the USCIS.  It takes about 5-10 days to receive and they are free.  I used them for the I-134 form too.   Good luck,   Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 04 May 2013 - 12:55 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-04 12:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I-134 question - re: 2012 return on extension so unavailable	so you did not submit tax form by April 15th?   do you have copies of previous? check stubs.. ?? letter of employment.. ?   That is what an extension is for.  You get another 6 months to file your tax return, but you still have to pay the taxes you owe or are getting a refund or incur interest and a penalty if you fail to pay.  Some people have tax returns that depend on others filing a return and getting them the information.  If they wait until the 15th of April to file then you will not be able to file yours by April 15th and need an extension.   OP:  This is the I-134 form not the I-864 form.  There is no requirement for tax returns for the I-134 unless you are self employed.  You need to prove that you have sufficient income from a job and/or bank account to prevent the beneficiary from becoming a public charge.  Most people use tax returns as they are required for the I-864 form and you might as well order tax transcripts from the IRS and use them for both forms.  The most important evidence you can supply is a letter from your employer and copies of paystubs.  Then a letter from your bank stating date opened, deposits for the past year and current balance (these are A and B under evidence to submit in the instructions).  I would not worry about the lack of a tax return now.   Good luck,   Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 07 May 2013 - 02:54 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-07 14:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	DS-156 - Signature date format	Thanks Dave. I suppose we will see. I called him (his assistant) and they insisted that they do this every day and it is not a problem. He used 6/30/2012. Yeah, in that case the date is obvious so I am betting you will be fine. I hope I am right for your sake. Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2012-07-30 16:43:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	DS-156 - Signature date format	So my gifted attorney signed the DS-156 form at line 40 and used the wrong date format. The form specifically indicates that the format should be dd-mmm-yyyy. He used d/mm/yyyy. I am probably nitpicking, but just to be sure, I ask - Is this a problem? I know that we insist on doing just about everything in the US differently than the rest of the world (d/m/y as opposed to m/d/y) but I really want to be careful to avoid ANY mistakes or problems that could mess this up. Like a couple of crazy people, we have scheduled the wedding 3 weeks after our interview date. (When we were making the arrangements, we thought we would have plenty of time to spare, but unfortunately that turned out not to be the case) I would have moved the date but it's a big affair. And now I am rambling......... So - dates: Does it really matter? If he used numbers for the month then it could be a problem as they wanted 30-JUL-2012 and it would appear that he used 30/07/2012 that would be confusing if it was 2/07/2012 for July 2, 2012. It looks like February 7, 2012. If the day is greater than 12 it will not be as confusing. It will depend on how picky your reviewer is at USCIS and whether they care about the attorney's signature or not. Sorry I cannot be of much help, but you'll just have to see what happens. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2012-07-30 16:06:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Letter of intent to marry.	Also, regarding form G325A, when filed by the US citizen is it ok to write 'none' at applicant's last address outside the US for more than 1 year? What about the 'this form is submitted with an application for'? Do we write I-129F in both?     Yes and Yes.  For the how we met part on the I-129F form, keep it to date, time and place which should be supported by the documents you submit with the petition.  All you have to do is satisfy the requirement of having met in the past two years.  State that very succinctly.  You can add the time line as proof of bonafide ongoing relationship.   Good luck,   Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 07 May 2013 - 04:02 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-07 16:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Documents needing to be notarized	Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone can tell me what documents need to be notarized before we send off our petition.   None.  Everyone thinks notorizing is some magical thing a person does to a document.  All having a document notorized does is tell the person looking at it that the person who signed the form did so in their presence and they have proven to the satisfaction of the notary that they are who they claim to be.  The USCIS does not require this at any point in the process.  They do want original signatures on all forms that require a signature so no e-mail, or photocopies of forms requiring a signature.  No originals are required unless specifically asked for, photocpoies are fine as long as they are legible.    Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-11 13:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Negative consequences of using a co-sponsor?	I currently am working full-time and making more than enough to sponsor my fiancé on my own. However, due to pretty extreme circumstances going on in my fiancé's life, I am thinking about the possibility of going to Costa Rica to live there until we have his visa. To do so, I would obviously have to quit my job (which I have only had for a few months). I have read that the Costa Rican embassy does accept co-sponsors, however, I am worried that it makes things more difficult and look less legit at the interview stage. In my case, the co-sponsor would be providing 100% of the income since I would be unable to work while living abroad. Is having a co-sponsor a risky move?    IMHO the poverty guidelines are very, very low and if you cannot meet them, you should really look at what your standard of living will be with a family of two.  You might want to look a the I-864 form that the co-sponsor has to submit and see who you would want "on the hook" until your soon to be husband completes the requirements.  Does the co-sponsor want to inform the USCIS every time they move?  Do they want the financial risk associated with completing the form?  I know I would not, unless your were my child and even then I might suggest you wait until you can fiancially support your new husband.  If you are going to move to his country, you might want to look at the IR-1/CR-1 visa instead.  Then he can work upon entering the US.  There is no risk to the visa process for having a co-sponsor as that is why the USCIS has that option.  I am one of those that thinks the co-sponsor should be eliminated and you have to qualify on your own merits, but that is me.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-12 15:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	QUESTION ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVED ON THE G325 FOR VISA K1	HELLO   I LIVED AT ANOTHER RESIDENCE BUT DID NOT RECIEVE MAIL OR ANYTHING THERE AND MY LICENSE AND MY TAX FORMS ALL HAVE MY MOTHERS ADDRESS ON THEM WHERE I REPORTED I WAS LIVING SHOULD I LIST THIS ON THE FORM     Residence is the place where you intend to return to.  Not receiving mail or listing it on income tax returns does not make it any less a residence.  You need to list all location where you have lived, resided, called home, dwelled, left your shoes under the bed, etc.  Why would you not want to list it?  Even long temporary stays at a friends house can be considered as a residence.  Based on the way you describe this living arrangement "I LIVED at another residence..." tells me that you considered this your place of residence not your Mother's home and as such I would list it.    Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-14 16:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Affidavit of support Help needed please	It sounds like you have enough in current income to qualify. For a family size of 3 the income requirement is about $24,000. You cannot use your home as it is the primary residence and would cause you undue hardship if you had to sell it. The poverty guidelines are here. Now each Embassy/Consulate is different and some may require more, but you at least meet the guidelines and should be fine. You will need proof of your CURRENT income in the form of an employment letter and paystubs. Good luck, Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2012-09-29 14:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Tax transcripts and privacy concerns	I'm not worried about USCIS or the US post office. I know from experience mail is not secure in Thailand. I just worry about the wrong person getting all my personal info.   Maybe email is the best option.   You worry about sending them via a postal service where no one knows the contents unless opened, yet you do not think twice about e-mail.  E-mail has a much better chance of being intercepted and the information used against you.  I would send them via FedEx or some other carrier instead of standard post or fax them before I would e-mail them.  I send all information to my then fiancee via FedEx after she sent me everything to look over--it cost us $200 to do this but I would rather my tax transcripts be inside an envelope that a government official opens for inspection verses out on the internet where a copy may float around for years.   YMMV.   Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-16 21:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	My fiance is upset	Actually you will get as far as the Embassy with her.  She will have to enter the Embassy all by herself and go thru the entire process with you waiting for her outside---and this is after spending all that time and money to get there.  Unless the PI is different.  The Consulate in Almaty does not even let USC in unless you are there for a specific reason and usually you need to call them in advance to make an appointment.   So she will still attend the interview alone.  She will still have to navigate the process within the Embassy alone.  You will have to endure the waiting alone outside the Embassy.  After presenting this to her, ask her how your traveling there will help.  Save the money and spend it on a nice trip once she is in the US .   Good luck and she will be fine,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-17 09:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Concerns of job changes during processing -- Needing advice	I'm into 6 months now waiting for USCIS to approve my petition to have my Japanese fiance come over on a K-1 Fiance Visa, and I'm wondering about a possible problem that may be caused, or if I shouldn't worry.    Main thing is, I'm looking to change jobs from what I'm doing now which is a highly technical, a Linux Systems Engineer, to another job exactly identical without any down time, just the only difference is my start date will of course change.    Does anyone think that this may become a problem for when processing continues on to the NVC, or should I be relatively safe in this regard?   The main reason I'm looking into this is because the company I work for kinda decided to stop supporting the main product I support, which means in about a year, or less, this job will be cut pretty extensively.. More so, Linux stuff will be cut extensively more leaning on Windows, which I don't care to professionally support, nor have the time to try to catch up with what they've done in the past 20 years.    Any advice is appreciated.. If there's no concerns regarding the manner of this, it's also good to know.    Eric       I always tell people to live their lives as they see fit and not to satisfy the USCIS.  As long as you have previous proof of sufficient income--paystubs, tax returns, bank account statements showing deposits, etc--and the new job will have sufficient income you will be fine.  The I-864 is when you really need to prove the income which comes at the AOS phase.  People move and change jobs all the time.  My assumption is that you are well above the poverty guideline currently and with the new job so this will not be a problem.   Good luck,   Dave Edited by Dave&Roza, 20 May 2013 - 02:13 PM.	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-20 14:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Over 6 months later they want more evidence? WTF	We got a letter saying they want me to provide an "original" statement to establish intent to marry? Our lawyer already sent that why would they need another one? What do you guys think this should look like? I am so upset!      Since they are requesting an "original" they must believe that the first one you sent in was a photocopy or that only one of you sent in an intent to marry.  The intent to marry must be submitted by both parties and they must be original--i.e. no photocopies.  That is why most people sign in blue ink, but given color copiers these days that is no guarantee.  The USCIS employee must have looked at the paper and cannot see when the pen made an impression on the paper.  I would get two new letters of intent ready, you sign yours and your fiancee signs hers and get them to the USCIS ASAP.    Good luck,   Dave	Dave&Roza	Male	Kazakhstan	2013-05-20 16:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	manila embassy applicants help! what happened to my interview?	You will ur permanent residence card and social security after u get married then apply for adjustment if status.	Hershey888	Female	Saudi Arabia	2013-01-28 09:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NEED HELP!! Interview less than a month away.	I think u have a problem. If u used a lawyer u better tell them and ask wat to do. Second do u knw war kind of tb? Did they tell? My brother had one but took medication and it was gone. Sorry	Hershey888	Female	Saudi Arabia	2013-01-29 14:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Just beginning the K-1 process	U need to seek legal advise i guess.. Try this website. Www.rapidvisa.com am using this site to help me answer all questions i might have on my petition.	Hershey888	Female	Saudi Arabia	2013-01-28 20:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Just beginning the K-1 process	U need to have a co dlonsor since both of u doesnt have income. In terms if address, i know embassies uses DHL or fedex no worries about that...	Hershey888	Female	Saudi Arabia	2013-01-28 19:21:00