How did you meet your Cuban fiancee in the last 2yrs???

[juana17 1]

OK, somebody here with good energy, help me along on the this. Privately if you want. I need to know how we answer this one and where really should I be.... I am not ready to believe that very many of US had licenses in hand when we met our novios/ novias. so how much info is enough, what is not enough. We don't make phone calls, we can't afford it. I dumped last years email records when I changed servers entirely. Please encouragement, Im not new to this, and cuban american which doesn't uhhhh help. I do want to get married here this year before too long. the $ to do it there and then still spend the same for my husband to come here for a visit is nuts. and I worry thatbhte same sticky questions exist. I never let it bother me in the past, now I am ready to marry mi media naranja and just want this endless waiting to be over. How much weight does any one isue carry over another ie. divorce ....? Has anyone every clainmed not to have met their fiancee because of the "hardship"? Forgive me if this is a beaten to death topic.... I am feeling like I need to connect with some other couples in the same boat, least its not a raft/Launcha!! anyway thank you, Joanna

[KimandRuss 0]

I'm sorry I don't think i'm understanding what it is you're trying to ask. Perhaps try posting one question at a time and the lovely people here at VJ will be able to help you better.

As far as proof of relationship goes... you need to have met in person within the 2 years previous to filing. You can try, but there isn't much getting around that one. Sorry.

It's hard to give you information about other proof since we don't know if/when you filed..etc. You have access to the internet, therefore, you have a way of communicating and proving that. Many people here chat via text/cam/voice right over the internet for no charge. Your fiance doesn't have any of those previous emails or chat logs?

Not sure what you want to know about divorce. Both of you have to be free to marry and you must be able to prove that. How the divorce is handled and how long it takes depends very much on the country and/or state where the divorce is filed. I had to wait 120 days from my court date to have my divorce decree in Massachusetts. Some states are quicker and some make you wait to marry even after you are divorced.

You cannot file for a K1 and get married in another country. You must marry in the US.

How long it takes depends on which service center you file with and which consulate you are dealing with.

Hope that helps a little at least.

[juana17 1]

[Hi, thanks so much fro at least trying to reply and answer my questions, yeah I know i went a bit over there, feeling so frustrated at that moment..

I took the time to read your initial or one of your first posts on your profile thing, sounds like we have some similar situations. I have a final divorce decree on May 14 all waiting done, I should have divorced long ago but just didn't do it and now I of course wish I had . because I worry it looks bad , so recent etc. nothing immigration hasn't seen before.. Any way. My big questions are much more specific because of the embargo on cuba travel. it is near impossible to get a license so not many of us do, we go and risk it because generally it works out. Here is my problem. I met my fiancee in 2006 and only met and talked , that was all. I saw him again last year and more of the same. No email, I was involved with my projects and conference etc. and that was that. I returned for more language course work again i n 2007 and immediately in January began our relationship complete, meaning we were both ready to commit and make a life together. Because I had no license to be in Cuba I want to know how do I answer that question, being person who wants to be honest but not stupid , this is hard. There is an actual clause that says you have to have met/seen your fiancee within the 2 years UNLESS it would incur some aspect of hardship or difficulty etc. I don't even want to ask any official this question. first , because of course i have met him and i am only trying to protect myself , and also his ability to come here.... then, the fact is that Cuba has such poor internet availability and even worse mail that we only have the flurry of email since I returned in March till now. very much about marriage etc. No , my fiancee has no way of saving or accessing records of anything else , saving emails was not possible until now. Cuba is different, for sure. Next, yes I know K-1 is for coming here to marry, which I think is preferable but I'm not positve... I am told I can marry him there and it is completely legal except the being there part!!! and then I would have to do a k-3, i don't know which is better , faster ?? these are my issus. i wonder what in fact might change for aldeki there if we married there,(for 850.US) if we would have the same incredible awful fees for his exit visa, carta blanca(130). and medical check ( 500 us) as well as the $$ here. hate to make it more expensive!!! oh well its only money right? money i want to put into our home and or tickets between our countries, as my husband is not looking to immigrate, only to be with his wife. We actually have much to work on there, and family both places ... so does that clear any of my presentation up. i hope so, I will try to re-write to the forums for a better chance at getting advice. I am set to apply asap after May when i have my documents in order perfectly. what should be filed online anything? and is vermont the only center for me being from maine? I saw that missouri was the center certain doc.s needed to go. Because cuba is cuba there is no embassy to go to there for aldeki, just then cuban interests section at the swiss embassy and immigration, lots of hoops and lots of money/// I only want to do the right thing, and it ain't easy, hahaha!

well I know this is long, so sorry , and really thank you so much

wish i was dealing with NZ, it might be a bit easier, you would think being half cuban would help but it actually is harder... ok , all the best, joanna

quote name=KimandRuss' date='Mar 31 2008, 04:54 PM' post='1711289]

I'm sorry I don't think i'm understanding what it is you're trying to ask. Perhaps try posting one question at a time and the lovely people here at VJ will be able to help you better.

As far as proof of relationship goes... you need to have met in person within the 2 years previous to filing. You can try, but there isn't much getting around that one. Sorry.

It's hard to give you information about other proof since we don't know if/when you filed..etc. You have access to the internet, therefore, you have a way of communicating and proving that. Many people here chat via text/cam/voice right over the internet for no charge. Your fiance doesn't have any of those previous emails or chat logs?

Not sure what you want to know about divorce. Both of you have to be free to marry and you must be able to prove that. How the divorce is handled and how long it takes depends very much on the country and/or state where the divorce is filed. I had to wait 120 days from my court date to have my divorce decree in Massachusetts. Some states are quicker and some make you wait to marry even after you are divorced.

You cannot file for a K1 and get married in another country. You must marry in the US.

How long it takes depends on which service center you file with and which consulate you are dealing with.

Hope that helps a little at least.

[Barbara y Alexis 1]

1. Must have met in person in last 2 years question.

Yes this has been asked before. I think it was Edwin and Mary, but maybe someone else. First they lied and said they had not met because of the travel embargo and tried to claim that met the "hardship" clause. Immigration did not agree that it met the hardship clause. So the person filed again and admitted that they had lied, that in fact they had been together with an unlicensed visit to Cuba. This time, the K-1 petition was accepted. I was advised that the immigration department will not hand you over to the State Department/Treasury Department for punishment under the embargo type laws.

2. Marriage there vs. K-1 Fiancee visa. Everyone says the K-1 visa as fiance is faster than the marriage visa. Not sure, but i've seen that stated by many people.

3. Recent Divorce. I have no idea. I think you may be right, Immigration has seen it before. People separate and drag their feet on divorces, until it's time to hurry up and get married. So you may be ok on that. I'm no expert.

4. Lack of "proof of relationship." Collect everything you can. Details of visits; photos; receipts of your past trips there (airline vouchers). Even write out a narrative of the first time you met, what you did together (like spent the afternoon walking and eating ice cream in such and such park; met his Tia Lisandra for dinner, etc.). They don't usually suggest that as "evidence" but if you have good details, it will help. YOu say your current emails are all about wedding details. Maybe send a few that are not about that but are sweet and caring letters, so you have some of those to print out also.

Hope this helps.

I agree with the other poster -- it would be easier to answer your questions if you make it a little more organized.

After you write, and before you post, go back and organize your thoughts...maybe number the questions. (sorry -- I'm an English writing teacher, I can't help myself!)

BEst of luck to you...stay on this board, it seems to help us all!

[juana17 1]

que bueno! gracias para todos.... I sometimes write more "stream of conciousness" than I should for others to read and respond to.... lo siento.

good to hear the advice on the meeting question, it has kept me up at night since I first saw it a long while back...

next , I am trying to get a final tally on all the fees on doing the K-1. because you are with a cubano, lets see if we looking at the same ahem.. remitances...

this is a big budget to make and try to hold down.....

We are applying for non-immigrant status, as we do not want to lose his residence.

I worry that we will have to put up a large "surety" money before his exit visa will be granted..

Had you ever considered marrying en cuba?

What are the best reasons not to?

Reasons to go to the interview there? it is all dificil, muy dificil.... es cuba...

My wondering of the time frame we are talking about is,

if we apply in MAY,( and god willing, it is approved) when does anyone think it is possible that Mi novio would arrive and for how long would he have the visa? 3MESES?

I of course need to know as RT plane tickets must have dates on the back end. And after our marriage, i want to register so that I can stay there with him for 6 months instead of 2...

complicado , eh?

Bien, this is a good start, to have this forum complete with real people from everywhere including the US. I had never seen it before last night, what a shock after all the constant searching I do, and to only have had a few canadian based sites etc.

My informacion from the consultorio y notarias is so vastly different that it is hard to do any comparative analysis with, but still, quizas because I am cubana americana culturally, I find myself weighing it all as if both side were equal... hmmmm....

well, I better stop now, my mind gets ahead of what I can do, because now its a waiting game. I will take the advice to get my letters together and try to organize them, I did see from one gentleman that had everything go very swiftly that he was meticulously together... hmmm.. documents are what you don't genrally save from cuba... we do hav a shared bank account, think that is a good thing? of course the bank book is there... ok thank you so much,good night for now!! joanna

[EdwinandMary 0]

First i like to say that i feel your pain.

I felt the same way about 8 months ago. When i originally filed my I-129f, and I thought i would be clever and use the hardship excuse that I couldn't visit my fiancé due to U.S restrictions. USCIS quickly replied and threaten to reject my petition until i provided evidence of meeting. I consulted with a lawyer, and he told me to reply back with the truth that made many trips to Cuba without a license. I provided the evidence - pictures, visas in Canada and Mexico, plane ticket stubs, luggage stubs, and a letter begging for forgiveness. And they approved my case with no problem. To be honest they do not really care if you go illegal. I have been there 3 times in the last 6 months. Twice i went to the U.S interest section, and never had a problem. In fact, they treated me very well. So do not worry about that. Although right now you might not have the emails to prove your relationship, but you can start sending emails to him and vice versa. Pictures of you two together are important, try to provide that. Phone bills, calling cards, letters, gifts are other examples. If you need any help, let us know...Edwin&Mary.

[juana17 1]

Oh thank you so so much for that...

I have been sweating blood over this, wondering what I should do and making my way to the process more slowly than i want because of the fear. I have also been 3 tims in the last 6 monthes, infact, I was there for 5 months ....wish I had not been such a scaredy cat about keeping stuff. Pictures of our bank book would be nice about now..

I really am nervous about the evidence because I have deleted so many photos it is sick, but although i have thousands of others and strangers and dogs, markets churches etc. i take very few of my boy friend back then, only now that I have digital... My plane stubs , i have some of course none from Mexicana which i could saywas the visit of my one fully hosted trip, almost entirely legal (I attended a conferencia of therapy and rehabilitacion) and so on....

can you tell me why you did not marry there? i am just trying to hear from as many persons as I can from US why this is the best, my case is that yes we want to be able to be here( very important), but that we must keep residency there as i am trying very hard to have a project there... So I really would love to hear what you know about our adjusted status after marriage to a cuban national. I ask because in the ministerio judicial i was told so many things that i do not know what to think....

Next question, does the medical "check " always cost 400. cuc?? is it possible any different from any different municipio or hospital/ dr.? I am well used to the hurry up to wait scenario en cuba...Es Cuba...... my biggest worries are in the waiting , needing to get money to him there for the next parts, I definitely would want to go in person , yet that is another huge chunk out of what we need to keep for this process. ! Que lastima!!! maybe i will let the good news of having found this board and some nice people settle in and feel happier, it must be the april fool's joke for me , a woman that loves to be warm to be on an island in Maine, where it is snowing!! not so fun, we all need some flores/flowers!! And at least now I am waiting for my loved one with a few friendly kindred spirits,right? If I could "see " examples of a really good format to present all of this that would b fantastic. Thankyou for helping another person feel encouraged, this is hard without help. one last question, Do letters of support from anyone important in state government help? I don't know if that is even possible but I would like to know just in case...

so, please , let me know the better approaches, all tips gratefully accepted!! And yes , i do have milions of questions, many of which are solely related to Cuba and the structure of the system,which is pretty complicated. Verdad! muchisimas gracias!! I am already feeling a bit better even though today is just as dark and cold as yesterday. I better put some music on and get going , lots to do!!

Joanna

I

First i like to say that i feel your pain.

I felt the same way about 8 months ago. When i originally filed my I-129f, and I thought i would be clever and use the hardship excuse that I couldn't visit my fiancé due to U.S restrictions. USCIS quickly replied and threaten to reject my petition until i provided evidence of meeting. I consulted with a lawyer, and he told me to reply back with the truth that made many trips to Cuba without a license. I provided the evidence - pictures, visas in Canada and Mexico, plane ticket stubs, luggage stubs, and a letter begging for forgiveness. And they approved my case with no problem. To be honest they do not really care if you go illegal. I have been there 3 times in the last 6 months. Twice i went to the U.S interest section, and never had a problem. In fact, they treated me very well. So do not worry about that. Although right now you might not have the emails to prove your relationship, but you can start sending emails to him and vice versa. Pictures of you two together are important, try to provide that. Phone bills, calling cards, letters, gifts are other examples. If you need any help, let us know...Edwin&Mary.

[EdwinandMary 0]

I decided that i would not marry in Cuba because i felt K-1 would be a faster process, and what i know about the adjusted status is that when she get here, we have 90 days to get marry and change her status to a resident of the US . The medical exam is 450 cuc. When your fiance/husband picks up the forms at the US interest section (after you case is approved at the here in the US), there will be a list of approved hospitals where he can go, must go to what they list. But before you even get that far in the process the first step is to gather all the evidence, forms and applied for the K1 or K3 petition. I hope I helped.

Oh thank you so so much for that...

I have been sweating blood over this, wondering what I should do and making my way to the process more slowly than i want because of the fear. I have also been 3 tims in the last 6 monthes, infact, I was there for 5 months ....wish I had not been such a scaredy cat about keeping stuff. Pictures of our bank book would be nice about now..

I really am nervous about the evidence because I have deleted so many photos it is sick, but although i have thousands of others and strangers and dogs, markets churches etc. i take very few of my boy friend back then, only now that I have digital... My plane stubs , i have some of course none from Mexicana which i could saywas the visit of my one fully hosted trip, almost entirely legal (I attended a conferencia of therapy and rehabilitacion) and so on....

can you tell me why you did not marry there? i am just trying to hear from as many persons as I can from US why this is the best, my case is that yes we want to be able to be here( very important), but that we must keep residency there as i am trying very hard to have a project there... So I really would love to hear what you know about our adjusted status after marriage to a cuban national. I ask because in the ministerio judicial i was told so many things that i do not know what to think....

Next question, does the medical "check " always cost 400. cuc?? is it possible any different from any different municipio or hospital/ dr.? I am well used to the hurry up to wait scenario en cuba...Es Cuba...... my biggest worries are in the waiting , needing to get money to him there for the next parts, I definitely would want to go in person , yet that is another huge chunk out of what we need to keep for this process. ! Que lastima!!! maybe i will let the good news of having found this board and some nice people settle in and feel happier, it must be the april fool's joke for me , a woman that loves to be warm to be on an island in Maine, where it is snowing!! not so fun, we all need some flores/flowers!! And at least now I am waiting for my loved one with a few friendly kindred spirits,right? If I could "see " examples of a really good format to present all of this that would b fantastic. Thankyou for helping another person feel encouraged, this is hard without help. one last question, Do letters of support from anyone important in state government help? I don't know if that is even possible but I would like to know just in case...

so, please , let me know the better approaches, all tips gratefully accepted!! And yes , i do have milions of questions, many of which are solely related to Cuba and the structure of the system,which is pretty complicated. Verdad! muchisimas gracias!! I am already feeling a bit better even though today is just as dark and cold as yesterday. I better put some music on and get going , lots to do!!

Joanna

I

First i like to say that i feel your pain.

I felt the same way about 8 months ago. When i originally filed my I-129f, and I thought i would be clever and use the hardship excuse that I couldn't visit my fiancé due to U.S restrictions. USCIS quickly replied and threaten to reject my petition until i provided evidence of meeting. I consulted with a lawyer, and he told me to reply back with the truth that made many trips to Cuba without a license. I provided the evidence - pictures, visas in Canada and Mexico, plane ticket stubs, luggage stubs, and a letter begging for forgiveness. And they approved my case with no problem. To be honest they do not really care if you go illegal. I have been there 3 times in the last 6 months. Twice i went to the U.S interest section, and never had a problem. In fact, they treated me very well. So do not worry about that. Although right now you might not have the emails to prove your relationship, but you can start sending emails to him and vice versa. Pictures of you two together are important, try to provide that. Phone bills, calling cards, letters, gifts are other examples. If you need any help, let us know...Edwin&Mary.

[Barbara y Alexis 1]

good place to get a general overview:

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

you asked if you could expect him to be here in 3 months after filing.

i think the answer is no.

the first part will go fast if you fill out the forms correctly.

you will get your Petition for K-1 approved in the US. (2 offices - first a regional one, then the NVC which is nationwide)

then your papers go to Havana.

then you request an interview appointment. I asked back in February and got the date of June 26, so yours will probably be in July or August.

sorry for that bad news.

when you click on the page/profile of a member like me, scroll down and on the left you can click on "Timeline" and you will see a neat list of when everything happened in the paperwork process.

it seems the Cuban "fake" Medical has always been $400. now Edwin is saying it's up to $450 and his fiance just went through it so I guess he knows. it is just another fee for their country to collect.

it is also $150 for them to apply at the Immigration Office of Cuba to get their exit visa. (though there are rumors the exit visas might be discarded, as one of the new changes by Raul)

good luck!

[alexitillo 0]

Hello I’m new to this forum, I am from Cuba and I need somebody who can help me with some doubts I have.

My girlfriend is from the USA and we met in Cuba, but she didn’t come here legally, she keep coming several times

but without her government’s permission and now she is 7 months pregnant and we want to apply for the fiancé visa.

I am student at the fourth year of the University and she doesn’t have a job.

I have read some post here but I still have some doubts, I will appreciate if somebody can help us with this:

1-Do I have to pay for these docs? and how much:

•Birth certificate

•Medical examination

•Divorce or death certificate of any previous spouse

•Police certificate from all places lived since age 16

2-What is the evidence of support? I am worry about it because I am just student and I haven’t work ever.

3-Can anybody tell me anything about something I read that said I have to be “above the poverty level”?

4-What is suppose I must say when they ask me if I belong to the communist youth organization? I do belong to it.

5-I know I don’t need a white card to travel if we prove in Cuba we have a son. Have anybody been in this situation

before who can tell me how do we prove the cuban gov he is our son?

6-Is it going to be a problem for us the fact that I was student until this moments and I haven’t work and that she hasn’t

been working for a while?

Thanks for any help...