applying K1 while away

[ranchomesa 0]

Hi everyone, I am a USC and my fiancee is Indonesian. I am planning to file for K1 visa. Before I am applying, i have few questions. I am planning to send the package this month, but then I am planning to go back to Indonesia to be with him next January'09 until the US embassy issue the K1 visa for him. Do u think this will be a problem? I am just wondering on affidavit of support cuz I wont be working while im away. If I find a family member that will help to sponsor us or part of the affidavit of support, will it be a problem? if they only need this year income tax, my income will be enough to support both of us. Any input? any suggestion? thank you....

[YuAndDan 153]

Not a problem if you have a co-sponsor. Affidavit of support has to do with current and future income.

One note make sure that you dont give up US domicile, you may be required to provide evidence that your living over-seas was "Temporary".

[himher 634]

I can only tell you what our experience was, and you can judge for yourself.

At the interview at the Embassy in Jakarta, they wanted up-to-date pay stubs, employment letter, and proof of previous year's income with the I-134. Ours was in Early January 2008, so they wanted 2006 tax return, the last pay stub from 2007, recently dated employment letter (mine was from December), and recent bank statements (I think they asked for 2-3 months?). I am not sure what would have happened if we had not been able to provide this information as up-to-date.

The up side is that the embassy there is very good to work with as far as speeding up the process. They allowed us to do our document check in October, 6 weeks before our 129F was approved. We had recent records of everything including pay stub/2006 taxes with the I134 at that time. It was at the document check that they asked us to bring up-to-date information when the interview was scheduled.

They emailed our Packet III to us in late October, so my wife was able to get her medical done and sent to the embassy before the I129F was approved. We did that about 2 weeks before we received our NOA2.

The day after our package arrived from the NVC (3rd week of December), my wife was able to do her visa application and drop off all of the documentation that was previously checked. Her interview was scheduled for about 2 1/2 weeks later (2nd week of January).

So, knowing that they will ask for and probably require that you show current income/employment information, it might not be a good idea to not be working for the last few months before the interview. Hope that helps.

[villaspurs 65]

One thing to think about when filing the petition... I filed when I was in the UK with my fiance, but put my permanent U.S. address on the applications. Because I was in the UK for a long period of time, however, I had my mail forwarded to my parents' house. Around mid-August, I received a notice that my NOA-1 had been returned to CSC as undeliverable--turns out, they won't forward any mail from USCIS. So far, it doesn't seem to have caused a problem, but it could possibly delay things.

[ranchomesa 0]

if you dont mind me asking, how long does it take for your wife to get the visa? I am just wondering whether what is the best route to get the K1 visa or K3 since I am planning to live in Indonesia with him for a while anyway.... thanks for the input

[himher 634]

It was 7 months and 3 day from the time we filed to the time my wife's plane landed in the US.

if you dont mind me asking, how long does it take for your wife to get the visa? I am just wondering whether what is the best route to get the K1 visa or K3 since I am planning to live in Indonesia with him for a while anyway.... thanks for the input

[tetris 0]

Get a co-sponsor just in case.