...Totally confused...About to send I-129F Packet

[Roxyroo 1]

Ok....now I am totally, totally confused. I have been planning for months to file K-1 and just about have the whole package ready.

As far as I understand it, I can do the K1 petition legally. I live and work in Colombia but I do NOT have residency here. I have been here for 2 academic years (I teach high school) but I go home every Christmas and summer. As I further understand the requirements, I know that unless you reside in a country for more than 6 months without setting foot in the US, you cannot be considered a legal resident of that country and are still considered a resident of the US. I have bank accounts, etc, in the US and receive mail at my parents' address there.

Furthermore, I am almost positive DCF is not an option in Colombia.

I will be back teaching school in New York Fall of 2009 and will leave Colombia for the US late Spring-Summer 2009. So, I am indeed petitioning to have my fiance "join" me in the US, which is the purpose of a K-1 visa.

Because I was already here, I decided to stay on as we complete this process (aside from my visits to the US) and so will also be having a sponsor, as I already understand that because I am not working in the US, I cannot satisfy the affidavit of support.

So, please, someone tell me if I am crazy and after having done all this work and research am doing totally the wrong thing, and should really be finding out if I can do DCF or a K-3...?

If I am not crazy and not going about this all wrong, the concern over having things sent to me from the USCIS was and will remain my main concern, as they will not send them to my Bogota address.

Otherwise, I may have much much bigger concerns, because I leave for the US in 4 days and we weren't exactly planning to get married right this minute.

So that is......

How do I do that? Can I have things sent to my sisters address and she can forward them on to me? (My parents' address is not an option as they still haven't even adjusted to me being in Colombia, let alone starting this whole process with a Colombian...sigh.)

What exactly would I need to attach in my I-129F packet to make this mailing situation clear?? Does anyone know if this will be looked at weird in any way, or it's obvious that this is my option because I am not legally a resident of Colombia? Will it be weird to use my sister's address and not my parents'??

Thank you all so much for any help or advice. I really appreciate it.

[Roxyroo 1]

If I can add to this....

If I am indeed able to use my sister's address, should her address appear on every letter (cover letter, letter of intent, etc) I send in the I-129F packet?? I wouldn't want to do that, as it is in no way a residence, but is that the only way to make clear where I want all correspondence sent?

[UAL1739 0]

If I can add to this....

If I am indeed able to use my sister's address, should her address appear on every letter (cover letter, letter of intent, etc) I send in the I-129F packet?? I wouldn't want to do that, as it is in no way a residence, but is that the only way to make clear where I want all correspondence sent?

Hi... just want to ask you first...are you US citizen ? only US citizen can use K 1.

[Roxyroo 1]

I am indeed a US Citizen...no issues with that.

[BigCityDave 0]

I am indeed a US Citizen...no issues with that.

What was your address in the United States? Can you still use that?

[Roxyroo 1]

Guys, I really appreciate the quick replies. Today was supposed to be "day to finish up the *%&$# I-129F packet" .....and now, needless to say, that is kind of stalled.

My address in the US was in New York City, but my roommate has since moved and so I can't use that address.

Like I said, I still receive mail at my parents' address, but as they will not take kindly to this engagement information, I will have to wait awhile to break it to them. That's why I thought of using my sister's address.

[pushbrk 12,908]

Guys, I really appreciate the quick replies. Today was supposed to be "day to finish up the *%&$# I-129F packet" .....and now, needless to say, that is kind of stalled.

My address in the US was in New York City, but my roommate has since moved and so I can't use that address.

Like I said, I still receive mail at my parents' address, but as they will not take kindly to this engagement information, I will have to wait awhile to break it to them. That's why I thought of using my sister's address.

K1 is definitely doable for you. Just file as if your sister's address is yours. You'll perhaps want to arrange for the post office to know that's your address, so she actually gets your mail. She can then courier it or repackage it for you and mail it. You have US domicile by virtue of your bank accounts, driver license and an address.

You are likely to need a co-sponsor because your income will not continue from the same source in the US and you'll still be in Columbia when she interviews for the visa. That's easy enough to deal with months from now.

I would simply follow the same procedures you would use if living in the US, with the exception of having your mail manually forwarded by your sister. If all goes well, you'll only get two notices and she can just hang onto them until you arrive. You won't need the originals in Columbia. Scanning or faxing will do.

[Roxyroo 1]

K1 is definitely doable for you. Just file as if your sister's address is yours. You'll perhaps want to arrange for the post office to know that's your address, so she actually gets your mail. She can then courier it or repackage it for you and mail it. You have US domicile by virtue of your bank accounts, driver license and an address.

You are likely to need a co-sponsor because your income will not continue from the same source in the US and you'll still be in Columbia when she interviews for the visa. That's easy enough to deal with months from now.

I would simply follow the same procedures you would use if living in the US, with the exception of having your mail manually forwarded by your sister. If all goes well, you'll only get two notices and she can just hang onto them until you arrive. You won't need the originals in Columbia. Scanning or faxing will do.

Thank you so much for the sound (and quick!) advice. I really appreciate it, and feel relieve to know I won't have to start everything all over.

My only real question now is--though you may have just answered it--so, on all correspondence I am sending in the packet (cover letter, letter of intent, supplements, etc) I should list my sister's address as mine, with my "signature"? Just to make totally clear that that is where I want all correspondence sent?

I can also use her address as the answer to #14, fiance's intended address in the US, as we may spend time with her before going off to New York City to find an apartment.

And yes, I should have a reliable co-sponsor lined up already, as I know my Colombian income in the next year won't count for diddly.

Thanks so much....

sigh of relief...

[BigCityDave 0]

Good luck with the process.

[pushbrk 12,908]

Yes, use your sister's address as your own but arrange so the post office knows that too. There's a form your sister can fill out indicating the names of all authorized to receive mail at her address. I would have her list your fiancee's name as well. The carrier will then have this on file.

[reeses16 8]

Hey, I responded to your earlier thread. Its fine to use your sister's address. Yes, be consistent on all of your USCIS forms. They should all list her address. I also suggest changing your mailing address with your bank, that way (in the future) when you provide supporting evidence to USCIS it will all match. You can do this all via phone or online account management.

[Roxyroo 1]

Thank you all again for all the great advice. I so appreciate it. I will change everything over to my sister's address so everything is consistent and that will be an easy (relatively) solution to all of this.

[paisita411 0]

Have you contacted anyone at the embassy in colombia to inquire about DCF???? There are phone numbers posted and if you call they will assist you. I'm fairly certain that in your case, working 2 years in Colombia, you are considered to be 'residing' in Colombia for 6 mos and can skip the K1 process. If anyone fits DCF requirements its you! I have some phone numbers and email addresses at the embassy. PM me and I'll give them to you.

Dre