K1 Questions and India

[dilbert30 0]

Hello all -

A great website for family based immigration. I have read thro' the guides and it's fantastic. I am planning on applying for K1 after I get engageg to my fiance. I am a US citizen, naturalized.

1. Is K1 the fastest way to get my fiance to the US. In India we plan to have a religious wedding ceremony. We plan to register the wedding in US. I believe from what I have read that religious weddings are not legal. They are like church weddings. Right?

2. Is K1 a popular option for Indians?

3. I understand that after engagement that I need to file - Am I right?

1. I 129f

2. G325 A (one for me , one for fiance)

3. Proof of having met in last 2 years

4. Photo graphs (can someone give me a link to where I can find photo specs?)

Thanks,

Dilbert

[payxibka 10,045]

1) you will need to do more than register the ceremony in the US.. You will need to have a legal ceremony performed

2) It is a popular option for many people

3) The only required photographs are (2) standard 2x2 passport photos for each.

There are no specs for photographs of your personal meeting.

You will also need a signed letter of intent to marry from both

If previously married, evidence that both are currently free to marry.

Petitioner needs to provide evidence of US citizenship

[catknit 144]

I'm doing a K1 for my Indian Fiance too -

#1 - Fastest way? That's the rumor. Of course there are an absolute ton of variables but typically a K1 is faster. Keep in mind that once your fiance is here, he/she will need to get AP and EAD to travel internationally and work respectively. It takes time for those approvals to occur.

I would be super careful with any type of religious ceremony. If you have one - do not mention it, do not send pictures of, did not breathe a word of it while going thru this whole process. Because the marriage laws in India are so funky, just a religious ceremony that isn't registered can still, in the eyes of the consulate, be considered a completely legitimate wedding. You will be denied if the CO thinks you got married and told to re-apply for either a K3 or other marriage based visa. Look thru the Asia South forum for some stories on this - even engagement ceremonies/ring ceremonies [which are not marriages from most religious points of view] can lead to problems at the interview stage.

That being said all the Indian consulates are known for being tough - historically they were considered high fraud. You are going to want to have all your ducks in a row, if you will.

#2 - Not sure if it's popular but there are a few of us here trying to do it. All my NRI friends thought I was nuts, thinking it would be harder than marriage based. I don't know if that's true or not.

#3 - Check the guidelines - they are great with giving you the specifics. Yes - what you mentioned is roughly what you need. The G325A needs to be filled out I think 4xs per person. The photos need to be standard passport pics. Search some of the threads for ideas on what to collect and how to assemble your package.

[MarkGA 0]

I also just recently submitted for a K1 Visa for my fiance in India. This site and community was a huge help. I decided K1 over K3 because of the alleged time difference, and I wasn't sure if getting married in India or the U.S. would make the process easier. Didn't want to guess or rush things either.

Our plan is to get married in the U.S. once she comes here on the K1, then get an early parole so she and I can travel to India and have a wedding there. May not be the ideal situation, but for me it makes the most sense and limits potential problems from arising. The most important thing to me is for us to be together as soon as possible. The wedding ceremonies and traditions will come 2nd..but will happen because they are significant to us both.

Good luck to you and your fiance.

-Mark

[dilbert30 0]

Mark/ Milo - I think our situations might be similar.

a) I believe I am going to take the K1 path. We plan to get married here - legal ceremony/ registration. I will be careful about the religious wedding in India.

B) Mark - I am also not planning on using any lawyer. I am hoping that I could go thro' the forms on my own.

I have a question. Can you please let me know if there is any documentation that I am missing in the ones that I stated.

c) How do I fill out G325a - I have a fillable form. When I filled information in the first page it automatically populates the 4 pages. It says, one needs to be filled by the petitioner - the other by the beneficiary. Do I need to put my information in the G325A form for the petitioner or do I need to just sign for the petitioner with her information. The example G325A here was very confusing as it is pretty much the same details for both the beneficiary and petitioner. Thanks. I have follow on ?s w/ G325A but that is for a later time.

Mark/ Milo - stay in touch. I will let you know how things take shape. Good luck to both of you. I am going to read the rest of the relevant forums.

Regards,

Dilbert

[MarkGA 0]

Mark/ Milo - I think our situations might be similar.

a) I believe I am going to take the K1 path. We plan to get married here - legal ceremony/ registration. I will be careful about the religious wedding in India.

B) Mark - I am also not planning on using any lawyer. I am hoping that I could go thro' the forms on my own.

I have a question. Can you please let me know if there is any documentation that I am missing in the ones that I stated.

c) How do I fill out G325a - I have a fillable form. When I filled information in the first page it automatically populates the 4 pages. It says, one needs to be filled by the petitioner - the other by the beneficiary. Do I need to put my information in the G325A form for the petitioner or do I need to just sign for the petitioner with her information. The example G325A here was very confusing as it is pretty much the same details for both the beneficiary and petitioner. Thanks. I have follow on ?s w/ G325A but that is for a later time.

Mark/ Milo - stay in touch. I will let you know how things take shape. Good luck to both of you. I am going to read the rest of the relevant forums.

Regards,

Dilbert

I followed the step by step check list when I submitted my forms. Here is how I put my package together.

1) The cover page - signed and dated by me

2) the I-129F completed, signed and dated by me

3) Letter of intent to marry my fiance, signed and dated by me

4) Letter of intent to marry me signed and dated by my fiance

5)A G325A - all four pages with my info, signed and dated by me

6)A passport sized photo of me in a small plastic bag, labeled correctly and attached to a sheet of paper

7)A G325A- all four pages with my fiance's info, signed and date by her

8)A passoport sized photo of my fiance, labeled correctly and attached to a sheet of paper

9)A copy of all pages of my passport

10) Supporting documentation of having met in the past two years and our engagement that included color photos labled and in a bag attached to a sheet of paper, copies of airline tickets, boarding passes, hotel receipts, engagement ring receipts, etc.

Oh yeah...can't forget the check for $455.00 that I attached to the cover page. I didn't staple anything together, just used paper clips.

That's all off the top of my head, so I hope I didn't miss anything. But there are more experts here than me, but the guide is very easy to follow and very helpful. ...Drop me a PM if you want to talk further.

I too wish you all the best to you and your fiance.

-Mark

[catknit 144]

Dilbert -

I did the same thing as Mark - I didn't use an attorney either and we just got our NOA2 this week. Looks like we are on our way...

A couple things I did was fill out what I could on both the I129 and G325A and emailed them to my SO. He filled out the rest and signed where needed. He then mailed his signed copies to me. I think the G325A has a place to write the beneficiary's name/address in the local language if applicable? So he did that too...

Make sure you go step by step thru the forms as outlined here and ask if some questions come up.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

[dilbert30 0]

Milo and Mark -

I love this forum...Thanks a ton. Am new to this just like most of you..Will PM you - dont know how to do that - but for now my ?s are getting answered. It's only folks who are going thro' this who understand how stressful the whole process could be personally and on top of it to take care of this visa issues..!!!

Mark and Milo - I still don't understand where in G325 instructions do they ask for your information. How did you know that you had to fill out your information in G325A..I might be missing something very basic here...

[KimandRuss 0]

Hi dilbert, welcome to VJ. You're going to want to take some time to go over the GUIDES and K1 Flowchart. Also check out the rest of the links in the tabs above. Your portal page will link you with all other couples going through your Consulate once you have a timeline.

As far as the biographical data (G325) ... you fill out a form (you fill out one page... 4 pages are generated.. each needs an original signature and your fiance fills out a form (same thing). It's all in the guide. You'll find a checklist as well as other important information you will want to include with your petition.

good luck!

[dilbert30 0]

Milo and Mark -

I love this forum...Thanks a ton. Am new to this just like most of you..Will PM you - dont know how to do that - but for now my ?s are getting answered. It's only folks who are going thro' this who understand how stressful the whole process could be personally and on top of it to take care of this visa issues..!!!

Mark and Milo -Reg. G325 A, I looked at it again and wherever it asks for applicant, I end up filling the applicant's information in one form and in another form one should fill their fiance's name. Am I right? Also, toward the bottom of the form in page 1 it says "fill out applicant's name and A #" I am assuming that in my form, I fill my name as the applicant and in another form, I fill my fiance's name as the applicant or should I be filling her name in both the forms. It was a little confusing. Thanks.

I have added both of you as friends...don't know if that's what I need to do to PM..

[MarkGA 0]

Milo and Mark -

I love this forum...Thanks a ton. Am new to this just like most of you..Will PM you - dont know how to do that - but for now my ?s are getting answered. It's only folks who are going thro' this who understand how stressful the whole process could be personally and on top of it to take care of this visa issues..!!!

Mark and Milo - I still don't understand where in G325 instructions do they ask for your information. How did you know that you had to fill out your information in G325A..I might be missing something very basic here...

I referenced the completed sample that they have listed here. If you can't find it let me know and I'll send you the link. I'd be glad to chat with you on yahoo or MSN messenger sometime and walk you through it.

The PDF for the G325 is easy to use. You need to know both your parents dates of birth and birth places. You need address for where both of you have resided for the past 5 years. You names and addresses of employers, job titles and dates of employment for both of you for the past 5 years. If either of you were unemployed for any period of time in the past 5 years note that in form. Do not have gaps in employment time. If you need extra space, you can put the info on a separate sheet and simply notate in the form to reference the attached document. This is all off the top of my head, but that is important info you will need to gather in order to complete the form.

I'd be glad to walk you through it if you need help, but if you reference the sample form available you should have no problem filling it out correctly. The key is having all the info you need before you sit down and fill it out. Each of you will need to sign and date all 4 forms with your individual information. I hope this helps.

-Mark

Edited August 14, 2008 by MarkGA

[KimandRuss 0]

Example forms link is located right under the search bar at the top of the forums.

Oh..and to send a PM just click once on a persons name. Third down on the drop list is Send Message. You can access your message center by clicking the (0 New Messages) link to it in the top right corner of the board.

[dilbert30 0]

Kim and Russ - Thanks.

Mark, Milo and other well informed folks - Can you please help me? Thanks.

1. For phone records - I have mine printed out even though I use calling cards. it has my number andher number. She is not able to get her phone records in India as she is usign a pre paid card. What's the solution to work around? What documentation can she show that the phone number belongs to her as her's is a pre paid model. Thanks.

2. Reg. skype - I am not able print out all the calls we have made i.e., I am able to view it on the screen but not print it out - Is taking screen shot the best way and also it uses screen names not actual names - will that be a problem?

3. Same w/ email as in skype - screen names rather than real names. What's the work around? I am thinking of putting together a sample of emails for the last several weeks - I am assuming it is the intent of showing continuity not actually showing that you communicated every single day.

4. Regarding engagement photos - If the engagement happens in my impending trip, since both of us are of Indian origin, the engagement will be a traditional Indian engagement. I have read that submitting pictures of such traditional engagement creates a problem. What sort of neutral pictures, should I plan on submitting. Should I have a picture for every one of the x days that I will be staying in India. Thanks.

I am planning on leaving to India in the next few days...Lots of questions, in my mind...I bet others have solved these issues. Thank you.

Regards.

[dilbert30 0]

Just got back from India and my girl friend and I decided to get engaged. Now, am planning to apply for 129f fiance visa forms.

Mark - This is specifically for you since you seem to have mentioned a similar situation - please help. I am putting together the package and for Q18, I am writing that I met my fiance thro' a matrimonial website such as shaadi.com where both of us had registered. Is this considered as an IMBroker agency? Are there any red flags in mentioning matrimonial website such as bharatmatrimony.com or shaadi.com. I am sending my package tomorrow. I need some feedback. Regards,

[sara..... 371]

Just got back from India and my girl friend and I decided to get engaged. Now, am planning to apply for 129f fiance visa forms.

Mark - This is specifically for you since you seem to have mentioned a similar situation - please help. I am putting together the package and for Q18, I am writing that I met my fiance thro' a matrimonial website such as shaadi.com where both of us had registered. Is this considered as an IMBroker agency? Are there any red flags in mentioning matrimonial website such as bharatmatrimony.com or shaadi.com. I am sending my package tomorrow. I need some feedback. Regards,

hmm i have seen that site before perviz and i met thru muslimmatrimonial.com and we were told as long as they did not charge u money to match u with someone that it is not IMBroker cuz the only thing those sites do is charge u a fee to use their email and chat program they have not input into who u contact or who is a match for u they dont set up the meeting or have anything to do with it ........if im wrong im sure someone will say so