Very New to this entire K1 Process (in Bogota)

[Roxyroo 1]

Hola a todos--

Especially to those doing this process in Bogotá!

I am going to start this whole process this summer, to bring my fiance to the US, and I have some questions about doing it right. My main thing is that I have lived in Colombia for the past 2 years teaching high school. It seems that most people on this forum are living in the US with finaces/ees in other countries. So one thing I am wondering is how this will affect me.

One thing I am concerned about is having all the possible forms I would need here with me in Colombia. Most tax records and such are in my parent's attic in the States. However, I will be in the States for about 5 weeks this summer. So:

1. Can someone please give me advice about ALL the documents I should bring back with me to Colombia for the entire process, so that I have them here when I need them? What should I have notarized? Do I need to have anything apostilled?

2. I-129F: I am also curious about how we will demonstrate "proof" of our relationship. I have been in Bogota since July 2006 and we work at a school here together. Obviously, I am not going to be able to show plane tickets/hotel receipts/letters/emails, etc. I have an apartment and we have a totally normal relationship, sending text messages, talking on the phone, going on dates. What on earth do I use as "proof"?

3. Affidavit of Support: Another thing I am concerned about is when I get to the affidavit segment of this journey, as I won't have worked in the US for 2 years. Last year, the school I worked at paid only about $1000 US a month, but with a $8500 bonus as the end of the year. This year, I'll have earned about $24,000 US. Will showing the contracts and pay stubs from these schools be sufficient to demonstrate my income? My income from the year before I came to Colombia was not very high, as I was finishing my Master's half the year. And....to make matters worse, next year I will be self-employed, as I have decided to tutor privately here instead of working at a school. I expect to earn at least $30,000 US doing so, but it will be off the books....so how do I prove it? Is there someway I can demonstrate my projected income as a NY public school teacher when I return to the US, which will be $52,000? How much does what he earns here factor in?

We plan to send the I-129F packet this summer, and to be in the US by summer 2009, so I can start teaching the new school year there. A year seems realistic based on timelines I have seen here...is it?

Thanks to anyone who can answer any questions...I really appreciate it. Good luck to all of you...

[BigCityDave 0]

Hola a todos--

Especially to those doing this process in Bogotá!

I am going to start this whole process this summer, to bring my fiance to the US, and I have some questions about doing it right. My main thing is that I have lived in Colombia for the past 2 years teaching high school. It seems that most people on this forum are living in the US with finaces/ees in other countries. So one thing I am wondering is how this will affect me.

One thing I am concerned about is having all the possible forms I would need here with me in Colombia. Most tax records and such are in my parent's attic in the States. However, I will be in the States for about 5 weeks this summer. So:

1. Can someone please give me advice about ALL the documents I should bring back with me to Colombia for the entire process, so that I have them here when I need them? What should I have notarized? Do I need to have anything apostilled?

2. I-129F: I am also curious about how we will demonstrate "proof" of our relationship. I have been in Bogota since July 2006 and we work at a school here together. Obviously, I am not going to be able to show plane tickets/hotel receipts/letters/emails, etc. I have an apartment and we have a totally normal relationship, sending text messages, talking on the phone, going on dates. What on earth do I use as "proof"?

3. Affidavit of Support: Another thing I am concerned about is when I get to the affidavit segment of this journey, as I won't have worked in the US for 2 years. Last year, the school I worked at paid only about $1000 US a month, but with a $8500 bonus as the end of the year. This year, I'll have earned about $24,000 US. Will showing the contracts and pay stubs from these schools be sufficient to demonstrate my income? My income from the year before I came to Colombia was not very high, as I was finishing my Master's half the year. And....to make matters worse, next year I will be self-employed, as I have decided to tutor privately here instead of working at a school. I expect to earn at least $30,000 US doing so, but it will be off the books....so how do I prove it? Is there someway I can demonstrate my projected income as a NY public school teacher when I return to the US, which will be $52,000? How much does what he earns here factor in?

We plan to send the I-129F packet this summer, and to be in the US by summer 2009, so I can start teaching the new school year there. A year seems realistic based on timelines I have seen here...is it?

Thanks to anyone who can answer any questions...I really appreciate it. Good luck to all of you...

Before I get to answering some questions, I would like to something to your awareness if you do not know about it already. There might be an easier way for you to do all of this because you live there.

That option is called a DCF, where you can directly file right at the embassy and skip the K1 or K3 process. Simply you would get married in the country you live in and move over to America with ease.

Do you know about this option? It might be even better for you.

[BigCityDave 0]

Hola a todos--

Especially to those doing this process in Bogotá!

I am going to start this whole process this summer, to bring my fiance to the US, and I have some questions about doing it right. My main thing is that I have lived in Colombia for the past 2 years teaching high school. It seems that most people on this forum are living in the US with finaces/ees in other countries. So one thing I am wondering is how this will affect me.

One thing I am concerned about is having all the possible forms I would need here with me in Colombia. Most tax records and such are in my parent's attic in the States. However, I will be in the States for about 5 weeks this summer. So:

1. Can someone please give me advice about ALL the documents I should bring back with me to Colombia for the entire process, so that I have them here when I need them? What should I have notarized? Do I need to have anything apostilled?

2. I-129F: I am also curious about how we will demonstrate "proof" of our relationship. I have been in Bogota since July 2006 and we work at a school here together. Obviously, I am not going to be able to show plane tickets/hotel receipts/letters/emails, etc. I have an apartment and we have a totally normal relationship, sending text messages, talking on the phone, going on dates. What on earth do I use as "proof"?

3. Affidavit of Support: Another thing I am concerned about is when I get to the affidavit segment of this journey, as I won't have worked in the US for 2 years. Last year, the school I worked at paid only about $1000 US a month, but with a $8500 bonus as the end of the year. This year, I'll have earned about $24,000 US. Will showing the contracts and pay stubs from these schools be sufficient to demonstrate my income? My income from the year before I came to Colombia was not very high, as I was finishing my Master's half the year. And....to make matters worse, next year I will be self-employed, as I have decided to tutor privately here instead of working at a school. I expect to earn at least $30,000 US doing so, but it will be off the books....so how do I prove it? Is there someway I can demonstrate my projected income as a NY public school teacher when I return to the US, which will be $52,000? How much does what he earns here factor in?

We plan to send the I-129F packet this summer, and to be in the US by summer 2009, so I can start teaching the new school year there. A year seems realistic based on timelines I have seen here...is it?

Thanks to anyone who can answer any questions...I really appreciate it. Good luck to all of you...

1. To know exactly what you need to bring. Take a look at the guides on this website. It gives you a list of every single document you need and gives instructions or examples on how to make it perfect.

2. Again, the guides will give great ideas as to how you can prove your bona fide relationship. However if your loved one attends the interview with you at the embassy then that will put the icing on the cake. yum.

3. If you meet the Poverty guidelines then you should be just fine. What the income is probably matters the most. From what you have said, if you are going off of a house hold of two then you will be sitting prettying with no worries.

[Izoom 0]

For questions #1 & #2:

As Dave pointed out, you can likely make the process much shorter by marrying and filing overseas via Direct Consular Filing. I would use the above advice and research into it some more to see if you and your fiance prefer that option over the K-1, K-3, etc visas.

[Roxyroo 1]

For questions #1 & #2:

As Dave pointed out, you can likely make the process much shorter by marrying and filing overseas via Direct Consular Filing. I would use the above advice and research into it some more to see if you and your fiance prefer that option over the K-1, K-3, etc visas.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it...I actually looked into DCF, because that seemed to be the easiest route, but read on many websites that that option is no longer available in Bogotá. Anyone know if that is true or not?

[BigCityDave 0]

If that option is no longer a possibility that is really unfortunate.

The only way you can find out is to email the embassy in the country you live in. I hope that option is avaiable for you becasue its the easiest route possible.

I would be doing the DCF....

EXCEPT, Important that you understand that once you set foot in America, it neutralizes any time you spent in the foreign country. Even if you lived there for 10 years. In Hungary, where my loved one is, I lived there for 2 years yet they still would not allow me to do a DCF. For me I have to live in Hungary for 6 months again and stay there in order to do the DCF which for me is not possible at the moment.

Hope this helps! If the K1 or K3 is the only route, it will be hard but worth it.

Edited April 6, 2008 by BigCityDave

[motu 6]

Hey Roxy: Look into the K3 option also - you will get married in Colombia and she will come on K3 visa. You don't really need anything to file the K1 petition - your proof of naturalization/birth certificate is about all you need, along with some proof of meeting e;g; pictures. Later on - before the interview - you will need to provide sponsorship papers - and I134 and supporting documents; if you do not make enough money then you will need a co-sponsor. Read up on all this in the meantime. Good Luck

Edited April 6, 2008 by motu

[Roxyroo 1]

Mostly for Big City Dave....

I think it is dawning on me what you wrote--What I understand is that when I go home to the States to visit my family this summer, my previous 2 years in Colombia will be wiped out? That is, when I return in August, it will be as if I have never been in Colombia before, even if the DCF is an option here (which I still don't think it is)? I start my "residency" in Colombia from that point?

[BigCityDave 0]

Mostly for Big City Dave....

I think it is dawning on me what you wrote--What I understand is that when I go home to the States to visit my family this summer, my previous 2 years in Colombia will be wiped out? That is, when I return in August, it will be as if I have never been in Colombia before, even if the DCF is an option here (which I still don't think it is)? I start my "residency" in Colombia from that point?

Yes that is correct. Once you set foot in America you have to start the residency all over again.

[Andres y Jennifer 1]

Hola a todos--

Especially to those doing this process in Bogotá!

I am going to start this whole process this summer, to bring my fiance to the US, and I have some questions about doing it right. My main thing is that I have lived in Colombia for the past 2 years teaching high school. It seems that most people on this forum are living in the US with finaces/ees in other countries. So one thing I am wondering is how this will affect me.

One thing I am concerned about is having all the possible forms I would need here with me in Colombia. Most tax records and such are in my parent's attic in the States. However, I will be in the States for about 5 weeks this summer. So:

1. Can someone please give me advice about ALL the documents I should bring back with me to Colombia for the entire process, so that I have them here when I need them? What should I have notarized? Do I need to have anything apostilled?

2. I-129F: I am also curious about how we will demonstrate "proof" of our relationship. I have been in Bogota since July 2006 and we work at a school here together. Obviously, I am not going to be able to show plane tickets/hotel receipts/letters/emails, etc. I have an apartment and we have a totally normal relationship, sending text messages, talking on the phone, going on dates. What on earth do I use as "proof"?

3. Affidavit of Support: Another thing I am concerned about is when I get to the affidavit segment of this journey, as I won't have worked in the US for 2 years. Last year, the school I worked at paid only about $1000 US a month, but with a $8500 bonus as the end of the year. This year, I'll have earned about $24,000 US. Will showing the contracts and pay stubs from these schools be sufficient to demonstrate my income? My income from the year before I came to Colombia was not very high, as I was finishing my Master's half the year. And....to make matters worse, next year I will be self-employed, as I have decided to tutor privately here instead of working at a school. I expect to earn at least $30,000 US doing so, but it will be off the books....so how do I prove it? Is there someway I can demonstrate my projected income as a NY public school teacher when I return to the US, which will be $52,000? How much does what he earns here factor in?

We plan to send the I-129F packet this summer, and to be in the US by summer 2009, so I can start teaching the new school year there. A year seems realistic based on timelines I have seen here...is it?

Thanks to anyone who can answer any questions...I really appreciate it. Good luck to all of you...

Hola!

COmo estas? Espero que bien! Pues solo te querria recomendar otro foro aqui en Visa Journey

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry1746845

Ahi hablan espanol y la mayoria son caso de Colombia y tienen mucha informacion!

Jennifer