REALLY a Newbie

[ZansGirl 0]

Hi there... I am Tangie and my fiance and I are REALLY newbies at this..in fact..we have yet to applied for the K1. I do have a few questions regarding forms and such.

1) I have not yet received my Canadian Passport. Do I need this in hand before filing??

2)I am recently divorced, and I know I need my Divorce papers, but do I need the original Marriage Certificate as well?

and finally...silly question #3 How detailed do you have to be answering the question describing how you met???

Thanks in advance and I am sure this site is going to become my constant companion!!!!

Tangie

[payxibka 10,045]

Hi there... I am Tangie and my fiance and I are REALLY newbies at this..in fact..we have yet to applied for the K1. I do have a few questions regarding forms and such.

1) I have not yet received my Canadian Passport. Do I need this in hand before filing??

2)I am recently divorced, and I know I need my Divorce papers, but do I need the original Marriage Certificate as well?

and finally...silly question #3 How detailed do you have to be answering the question describing how you met???

Thanks in advance and I am sure this site is going to become my constant companion!!!!

Tangie

1) NO

2) If yor name has changed from birth you need to provide document that changed your name and for most it is a marriage certificate.

3) Just the facts... not the love story

[YuAndDan 153]

1) NO you need it in hand before visa interview which is months after filing the I-129F

2) NO only the divorce papers, they need evidence that you are free to marry.

3) You do not need to go into a lot of detail, only how you met, and dates when you met in person.

[raymaga 25]

For my K-1 Visa interview in Vancouver, Canada, I DID need both the certified copies of our marriage certificates, as well as certified copies of our divorce decrees.

[payxibka 10,045]

1) NO you need it in hand before visa interview which is months after filing the I-129F

2) NO only the divorce papers, they need evidence that you are free to marry.

3) You do not need to go into a lot of detail, only how you met, and dates when you met in person.

From the I-129f instructions:

If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents, you must give USCIS copies of the legal documents that made the change, such as a marriage certificate,adoption decree or court order.

[ZansGirl 0]

thanks for the responses!!!

another question...for those living in Canada, how hard is it to keep crossing the boarder to visit while all this waiting is going on?? We usually use the Blackball Ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. I think what scares me the most is doing or making a stupid mistake that could cost us months more in waiting!!

Tangie

[payxibka 10,045]

Your original question has been answered... I am moving this thread to the Candian Forum as you may get better answers to your followup question.

[LadyJane 1]

Hi there... I am Tangie and my fiance and I are REALLY newbies at this..in fact..we have yet to applied for the K1. I do have a few questions regarding forms and such.

1) I have not yet received my Canadian Passport. Do I need this in hand before filing??

2)I am recently divorced, and I know I need my Divorce papers, but do I need the original Marriage Certificate as well?

and finally...silly question #3 How detailed do you have to be answering the question describing how you met???

Thanks in advance and I am sure this site is going to become my constant companion!!!!

Tangie

I can't answer as to 1. But, when we filed the I-130, I included a copy of my marriage certificate from my first marriage. Why? Because there were still documents (i.e. ID's, bills, etc) that were in my other married name. So I included copies of: birth certificate, marriage certificate from 1st marriage, copy of divorce decree, and marriage certificate from 2nd marriage. I'd suggest including a copy of your 1st marriage certificate. It's just one more piece of paper and it will serve to show good faith on your part that you are providing all the relevant details in the petition.

#8 on the I-130: "If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other than shown on the relevant documents, you must file your petition with copies of the legal documents that effected the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order."

As for #3: I'd recommend a 1-2 page Word document that highlights how you met and some photos from trips together or family gatherings. Be specific but don't overwhelm with too many details. We also included a few representative postcards, phone bills and travel tickets: spanning a period of over a year.

[Carlawarla 1]

thanks for the responses!!!

another question...for those living in Canada, how hard is it to keep crossing the boarder to visit while all this waiting is going on?? We usually use the Blackball Ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles. I think what scares me the most is doing or making a stupid mistake that could cost us months more in waiting!!

Tangie

I don't know about your specific crossing, but a lot of Canadians have crossed the border during the process. However, ALWAYS bring proof of ties to Canada with you. Examples of this are copies of lease agreements, a letter from your employer, utility bills, copy of house deed...whatever you think you might need to show that you're not coming to the US to stay...that you have obligations in Canada and that you're returning. I had trouble even before I started the process, so always had a letter from my employer stating who I was, where I was going, when I was expected back, and my employment history (saying I'd been there for 25 years etc.) I had to produce the letter once, and that's all they seemed to want or need.