What to take

[nicklee 0]

Hello,

I am flying down to S. America next week and plan on asking my girlfriend of 3 years to marry me (making it official)

I would like to go the route of the Fiance Visa. I have read up here on the differences of the K1 and K3 Visas and I think the Fiance Visa would be best for us.

My question is, Should I take anything with me next week? For example is there any forms with my info that may be needed in her country?

Also, is there anything of hers that I should bring back with me to the US?

I also plan on going down around Christmas time, so I could take paperwork with me at that time as well. Ideally, I'd like to get started quickly as June or July of 2009 would be a perfect time for her 3 month Visa period to start.

Also, am I correct in thinking the paperwork and costs over the whole process are the following...

-I-129F $455

-Non-immigrant Visa application $131

-Medical Exam

-Fingerprinting fee

-Form I-485 $1010 (payable after we marry to adjust status to permanent residency

-I-751 $465 (file 90 days before temporary 2 yr visa is up)

I am thinking that it would be the I-129F and/or Non-Immigrant Visa application paperwork that I might want to take with me next week. Does that sound correct?

Thanks

[payxibka 10,047]

take several copies of the g-325a with you and have her prepare one set but sign several blank sets in case you discover an error.

have her prepare a statement of intent to marry and have her sign...

everything else she provides can be copies

[nicklee 0]

thank you fwaguy. I'm glad I posted this as I have never heard of a g-325a. I did not see that in the Fiance Visa section timeline.

So no need to take the I-129F or Non-Immigrant Visa application? Just the g-325a and that's it?

Does the g-325a need to be typed?

Should I bring back with me a copy of her ID or birth certificate etc.

Should I leave a copy of my ID, passport, or birth certificate with her?

What is a letter of Intent to marry? I Jane Doe plan to marry Fred Smith in the US in the year 2009, and have her sign it. Or does it need to be more elaborate? Written in Spanish or English? Does it need to be notarized?

I'm assuming when I get back I then submit the g-325a, a I-129F (which I'll prepare in US once I get back), and the letter of Intent to marry. Is that it for the first step. I.e. that should get us through to December without me needing anything else from her?

Thanks again

take several copies of the g-325a with you and have her prepare one set but sign several blank sets in case you discover an error.

have her prepare a statement of intent to marry and have her sign...

everything else she provides can be copies

[1HappyGuy 45]

It's a good idea to review the guides here to see if there are any documents that you can get copied when you visit that will help speed up the process. But, if you are planning to have her arrive next summer, then filing in December is probably a good idea. You could end up with little time on the visa if you file soon, although under the current speed of the USCIS you probably don't have to worry.

I would say, just continue on as you plan. The K-1 is definitely the way to go. This gives both of you a chance to be together here and decide that you want to continue forward. Unfortunately, some arrive here and find that they don't like it or are too homesick. It happens.

Best of luck. We look forward to your announcement of intentions on your return.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Any documents you submit will need to be in English. If they are copies of official documents, then they will need a certified translation.

Everything is submitted by you, so you don't need to bring any copies of your documents, unless you want her to have something to familarize her with your information. You will need to review the IMBRA laws to see if your situation requires special treatment.

The letter of intent is generally a description by each of you of how you met, when, where, etc. That you fell and love and intend to marry. It doesn't need to be one of those lovey dovey letters, but just stating the facts. If you comment on a time frame of meeting, make sure you have some documentation saved to prove this. It sounds like you have had a long ongoing relationship, so proving you have met should not be a problem.

There are certain documents that need to be notarized, but that will be on your end, not hers.

[nicklee 0]

Awesome.. thanks happyguy. It's all there, exactly what I needed.

2questions...

1) If my name is Richard Todd Smith, is that what I need to write on the Intent to Marry letters, or could we simply put Rick Smith? I.e. Do FULL names need to be on everything?

2) I have used my PO BOX as my "physical address for over 10 years." It's actually not a PO Box, it's one of those Fed Ex shops with mail boxes. Thus it's a physical address. This address is on everything of mine... Driver's license, credit card statements, address on file with credit bureaus, SS administration, tax returns, paycheck stubs... everything. I do not have a thing to my name other than a lease agreement from many years ago that have my true "physical" address on them. Basically, NO ONE knows where I live and I have no way of proving it either as my address is on NOTHING.

Should I put my real physical address, which I cannot back up with anything on all the paperwork or should I put the address I always use (my Fed EX shop mail box) address on all the paperwork?

3) If I were to want to put on her computer the G-325a and have her complete it and sign it, could she always fax it to me? Or are all the documents throughout this process going to demand ORIGINAL signatures?

Thanks

It's a good idea to review the guides here to see if there are any documents that you can get copied when you visit that will help speed up the process. But, if you are planning to have her arrive next summer, then filing in December is probably a good idea. You could end up with little time on the visa if you file soon, although under the current speed of the USCIS you probably don't have to worry.

I would say, just continue on as you plan. The K-1 is definitely the way to go. This gives both of you a chance to be together here and decide that you want to continue forward. Unfortunately, some arrive here and find that they don't like it or are too homesick. It happens.

Best of luck. We look forward to your announcement of intentions on your return.

Edited September 10, 2008 by nicklee

[TBoneTX 46,126]

Two pieces of forward-thinking advice, amigo:

1) Before you send in your I-129F package, include some (some, not a boatload of) "proof of relationship" -- e-mail logs, copies of letters back & forth, copies of telephone bills -- from the beginning of your relationship through the time of I-129F filing.

2) Whatever else happens during and after the paperwork-approval process, put it on your calendar that whenever her consular interview is scheduled, you will BE THERE. Even if you're not allowed in her K-1 interview, be on the consular premises. I cannot emphasize this strongly enough. Do not listen to ANYONE who tells you differently, or that "the interview will be a snap, and you don't have to be there." If you heed no other advice on VJ ever, heed this.

In what country does your fiancee live?

[nicklee 0]

Thanks for the replies Happyguy and TBone.

Proof of relationship, I don't have letters back and forth but I have a zillion plane tickets, I can bring my Vonage call log (though she has a US number because she has Vonage as well), and a few thousand photos over the last few years. Now you are saying send all this in "before" I send them the I-129F?

I will absolutely go to the interview... thanks for the advice.

She's from Colombia

No one answered regarding my "physical" address question... any advice out there?

One last issue that just came to my attention. 10 years ago (when I was married), I had an incident with my now ex-spouse. I wsa taken to jail as she said I pulled her hair. To make a long story short, it was either her or I that had to go with the police to jail as they said even though there doesn't appear to be a problem it's best we are separated for a few hours. I went with them and was cited with a misdeamor assault.. spent 3 hours in jail. Showed up for court the following month and was put on "probation" for 6 months and had to pay a $200 fine. Probabtion being that no tickets of any kind in the next 6 months and all is good. My court paper said, assuming no tickets in the next 6 months I do not have to return to court, but I also do not get my $200 back. About 7-8 years ago I had a position that required extensive criminal and financial background checks. I was told that my criminal records were 100% clean. Now, 10 years later do I need to bring this "pulling hair" incident up as I'm unsure what this IMBRA is looking for. Better safe than sorry, and I certainly don't want to lie. I just don't really know if this is what they are looking for... I.e. pulling of the hair. Though it was cited as assault. "Assault" sounds so demeaning when in fact it never even happened (which I guess is irrelevant anyhow). Thoughts? Is this somehting they would want me to put on the application? Is it going to hurt the approval chances?

Two pieces of forward-thinking advice, amigo:

1) Before you send in your I-129F package, include some (some, not a boatload of) "proof of relationship" -- e-mail logs, copies of letters back & forth, copies of telephone bills -- from the beginning of your relationship through the time of I-129F filing.

2) Whatever else happens during and after the paperwork-approval process, put it on your calendar that whenever her consular interview is scheduled, you will BE THERE. Even if you're not allowed in her K-1 interview, be on the consular premises. I cannot emphasize this strongly enough. Do not listen to ANYONE who tells you differently, or that "the interview will be a snap, and you don't have to be there." If you heed no other advice on VJ ever, heed this.

In what country does your fiancee live?

Edited September 12, 2008 by nicklee

[TBoneTX 46,126]

You're sure luckier being in Bogota than elsewhere, but take no chances.

No need to send ALL, or MOST, or even VERY MUCH "proof" evidence -- just some of the most compelling and objective, to cover the timespan of your relationship.

Others can comment more authoritatively about your possible IMBRA requirement and about your physical address.

[KimandRuss 0]

go down the K-1 checklist and mark off things as you go. Use the example forms for reference.

Your p.o. box is fine.

If you're going for a visit soon why not start the process soon? You do know it's going to take several months to complete? Also, don't have her date the documents too much before you send the packet.

Fill in your timeline and then you can visit your portals link (at the top) to find others who have gone through your Consulate. Every Consulate is very different in how they handle the interview stage of thie process so it's best to learn from others who have walked in your shoes. Sometimes it's better to send overwhelming evidence initially and sometimes they could care less.

Just be honest on the forms. You will want to check the IMBRA forum for more specific advice on how to deal with pass charges although, I believe you just need to note it on the form.

good luck.