Questions about the K-1

[Delilah'sMan 0]

Okay, so I've been browsing this forum a fair bit lately, because my girl and I need to get the K-1 Visa so I can finally live with her in the US. We've been in love for about 4 years, and the distance is so hard! (I'm from Australia)

I have a few questions, and I know I can find details on this site, but it's always better to ask in a forum.

1) I didn't complete highschool, due to personal reasons, but was getting good grades while I was there. I also intend on getting my GED when I live in the States, and attending community college. Will any of this effect my chances of getting the K-1?

2) My girlfriend lives with her parents currently, and doesn't want to get an apartment until she knows for sure that I have the visa. Will it matter if she just puts her current address? Is there a section on the forms that would allow her to mention this?

3) She's currently going to college, and will most likely still be doing her internship when/if I get my visa. Considering she wont be working (or not working a lot), will money we have in our bank accounts count for anything? She'll probably have around $20,000 from a damages settlement that she'll be receiving until she's 30 (Total over 150K), and I'll have around $10-15,000 in my bank by the time I leave for the US.

4) Can someone from my family be a co-sponsor? Or does it have to be someone in the US? Also how much will they need to be earning to be considered an acceptable sponsor? I doubt her parents will help, so it's either one of her friends or someone in my family.

5) Can she file a petition from NYC? and which forms will she need? I'd also like to know if she'll have to attend an interview for the petition, or does she just file it and we wait? Finally, with the G325-A (If it's still called that) do we both need to have filled one out BEFORE she files the petition?

Any information will help us SO much, and hopefully take a lot of the stress away. It's killing us to be apart, and since Australia is on the opposite side of the world, it makes regular visits very difficult. I've only met her once in person (July/August 2007) and we talk on the phone every single day.

[KarenCee 3]

Read the Guides....they are your friend

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

[Delilah'sMan 0]

Read the Guides....they are your friend

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=guides

I have checked that, thank you

I would still like some detailed answers to some of my questions, if possible

[Dan J 277]

Okay, so I've been browsing this forum a fair bit lately, because my girl and I need to get the K-1 Visa so I can finally live with her in the US. We've been in love for about 4 years, and the distance is so hard! (I'm from Australia)

I have a few questions, and I know I can find details on this site, but it's always better to ask in a forum.

1) I didn't complete highschool, due to personal reasons, but was getting good grades while I was there. I also intend on getting my GED when I live in the States, and attending community college. Will any of this effect my chances of getting the K-1?

2) My girlfriend lives with her parents currently, and doesn't want to get an apartment until she knows for sure that I have the visa. Will it matter if she just puts her current address? Is there a section on the forms that would allow her to mention this?

3) She's currently going to college, and will most likely still be doing her internship when/if I get my visa. Considering she wont be working (or not working a lot), will money we have in our bank accounts count for anything? She'll probably have around $20,000 from a damages settlement that she'll be receiving until she's 30 (Total over 150K), and I'll have around $10-15,000 in my bank by the time I leave for the US.

4) Can someone from my family be a co-sponsor? Or does it have to be someone in the US? Also how much will they need to be earning to be considered an acceptable sponsor? I doubt her parents will help, so it's either one of her friends or someone in my family.

5) Can she file a petition from NYC? and which forms will she need? I'd also like to know if she'll have to attend an interview for the petition, or does she just file it and we wait? Finally, with the G325-A (If it's still called that) do we both need to have filled one out BEFORE she files the petition?

Any information will help us SO much, and hopefully take a lot of the stress away. It's killing us to be apart, and since Australia is on the opposite side of the world, it makes regular visits very difficult. I've only met her once in person (July/August 2007) and we talk on the phone every single day.

1. Education is not considered for family visas.

2. She can use her parents address as her current address. Many do for various reasons such as not being able to receive mail where they are currently living.

3. She may be able to count the damage settlement as income, provided she shows documentation for this. Assets such as savings can be used if annualized over 3 years.

4. Needs to be a US resident or citizen.

5. Read the guides, only you will have to attend the interview.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Okay, so I've been browsing this forum a fair bit lately, because my girl and I need to get the K-1 Visa so I can finally live with her in the US. We've been in love for about 4 years, and the distance is so hard! (I'm from Australia)

I have a few questions, and I know I can find details on this site, but it's always better to ask in a forum.

Definitely read the guides at the top and read the actual forms to find out exactly what is required. Make yourselves a list of your own that you can then check off things as you acquire them. The more you learn on your own about this process the easier it will be on you.

1) I didn't complete highschool, due to personal reasons, but was getting good grades while I was there. I also intend on getting my GED when I live in the States, and attending community college. Will any of this effect my chances of getting the K-1?

Should have no impact on your eligibility for a visa.

2) My girlfriend lives with her parents currently, and doesn't want to get an apartment until she knows for sure that I have the visa. Will it matter if she just puts her current address? Is there a section on the forms that would allow her to mention this?

She needs to put the address where she resides when she files and where the NOA1 - approval notice will be sent. After the I-129f petition is approved everything is transferred to your end - Australia - for the K-1.

3) She's currently going to college, and will most likely still be doing her internship when/if I get my visa. Considering she wont be working (or not working a lot), will money we have in our bank accounts count for anything? She'll probably have around $20,000 from a damages settlement that she'll be receiving until she's 30 (Total over 150K), and I'll have around $10-15,000 in my bank by the time I leave for the US.

She needs to meet the minimum income guidellines of 125% of the annual poverty levels for a household of her size. If it is just the two of you then it is the figure for 2 people. If there are 3 people (ie. one of you has a child) then it would be the figure for three people. If she doesn't have sufficient annual income she is allowed to use assets at the rate of 3 times the income amount. I don't know if the damage award would be considered income or not, but it should meet the poverty level for 2 people if it is acceptable as a source of income. Your income is not counted towards your support.

4) Can someone from my family be a co-sponsor? Or does it have to be someone in the US? Also how much will they need to be earning to be considered an acceptable sponsor? I doubt her parents will help, so it's either one of her friends or someone in my family.

The co-sponsor has to be living in the US. The income requirement is determined by how large a household they are already supporting plus you.

5) Can she file a petition from NYC? and which forms will she need? I'd also like to know if she'll have to attend an interview for the petition, or does she just file it and we wait? Finally, with the G325-A (If it's still called that) do we both need to have filled one out BEFORE she files the petition?

A good idea is to download the form and all of the instructions. It will tell her exactly where to submit her application and what is required. I-I29fs are submitted to the service center responsible for that part of the country. I believe - but she should check - that New York residents submit their applications to the Vermont Service Center. Both of you need to complete the necessary number of G325-A (Biographical forms). The instructions with the form will say exactly what needs to be included with the I-129f petition. Include everything that is requested. There are a number of other documents that are required, first from her for the I-129f petition, and later from you, for the K-1 application.

Any information will help us SO much, and hopefully take a lot of the stress away. It's killing us to be apart, and since Australia is on the opposite side of the world, it makes regular visits very difficult. I've only met her once in person (July/August 2007) and we talk on the phone every single day.

One of the biggest requirements is that the two of you have met in person within the last 2 years, which you have obviously met. As proof of having met, your fiance needs to include proof of the two of you having met within the last 2 years with the petition, so you can send her copies of your passport page showing your entry to the US, copies of your ticket, boarding passes/ baggage claim checks, etc. If she was the one travelling, then she needs to show the same information proving she was in Australia at the time.

It is a good idea to make several copies of the forms and use one as a working copy, filling it out, figuring out what else you will need and then when you have everything that is needed, complete the good copy and submit the petition. Good luck.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Looks like it's all been covered so I'll just say, welcome to VJ!

[Delilah'sMan 0]

Looks like it's all been covered so I'll just say, welcome to VJ!

Thank you all very much!

I already feel a little better.

[Delilah'sMan 0]

If we get a co-sponsor and are still a little bit under what we need, can we use money saved to make up the difference? Is it for 3 years or 5?

[KarenCee 3]

If we get a co-sponsor and are still a little bit under what we need, can we use money saved to make up the difference? Is it for 3 years or 5?

The USC can use assets if necessary to make up the difference. Not sure what you're asking in reference to 3 or 5 years. Co-sponsor has to make enough to support his or her family plus the fiancé. Not sure how the combined assets and co-sponsor would work out.

[Delilah'sMan 0]

I read somewhere that the support is supposedly for 3-5 years, so basically if we're 2K under for each year, we'd need 10K in savings/assets to make up for it?

[Delilah'sMan 0]

Which form of ID will a co-sponsor have to provide? Is a birth certificate enough, and do they have to be living in the United States, or is it okay if they have dual citizenship with another country and are living there?

[Delilah'sMan 0]

Will forms DS-156, DS-156k, DS-157, DS-230I and IV-15 be mailed to be from the embassy before my interview, or do I have to get them myself? I'm curious as to what these forms involve, so any information would really be appreciated!

[nra19 0]

the answers to all your questions are in the guides or have been covered in the forum. I would suggest reading around a bit then asking questions if you have doubts.

good luck!

[*julez* 124]

Will forms DS-156, DS-156k, DS-157, DS-230I and IV-15 be mailed to be from the embassy before my interview, or do I have to get them myself? I'm curious as to what these forms involve, so any information would really be appreciated!

There are completed copies of all these forms here on VJ. Right at the top of the screen umder "Example Forms". You usually have to get these forms for yourself from the embassy website or USCIS webite. The embassy usually just sends you a checklist that details what forms you need to complete and what documents you need to bring with you to the interview.

P.S. Don't be scared about this process! Just educate yourself on what needs to be done and you will be fine. Its really very straightforward. Knowledge is power!

Edited March 10, 2008 by julezabelle

[Delilah'sMan 0]

Will forms DS-156, DS-156k, DS-157, DS-230I and IV-15 be mailed to be from the embassy before my interview, or do I have to get them myself? I'm curious as to what these forms involve, so any information would really be appreciated!

There are completed copies of all these forms here on VJ. Right at the top of the screen umder "Example Forms". You usually have to get these forms for yourself from the embassy website or USCIS webite. The embassy usually just sends you a checklist that details what forms you need to complete and what documents you need to bring with you to the interview.

P.S. Don't be scared about this process! Just educate yourself on what needs to be done and you will be fine. Its really very straightforward. Knowledge is power!

So I basically just download them off the site and I'm good to go?

P.S. Thanks again for answering my questions, you're too kind!