After you have filed the K1

[surfndan 0]

Hi Everyone-

I have a couple of questions I hope can be answered. First off as a backdrop, we filed our k1 visa and received the NOA1 in the middle of April. My fiance lives in Kamloops, BC so she will be using the Vancouver consulate. Here are some of my questions...

1.) Now that we have received the NOA1, what do we do now? Wait to be contacted for an interview? What should I have prepared leading up to the interview?

2.) Provided we do not get any requests for more information, when do you think we would receive the fiance visa, given we filed it in the beginning of April?

3.) Once she is in the US with the fiance visa and we are married, can she start working right away? What is the process for her to start working? She is a hair stylist and we are hoping to get her started asap when she gets into the states.

4.) Once we are married, can she receive health insurance? Drive a car?

Sorry everybody, I have so many questions it is not even funny! I know you all will be a huge help!!

[payxibka 10,047]

1) wait for the petition to be approved...

2) depends which consulate.. vancouver has been much faster than montreal

3) well yes and no, K-1 is authorized to work for the first 90 days and then you must file for permanent residency (GC) & employment authorization (EAD) in order to continue to work. most people find the 90 day authorization unusable

4) health insurance is employer dependant, driving a car on a US license will probably not happen until EAD or GC card arrives

[SapphireDreams 71]

1.) Now that we have received the NOA1, what do we do now? Wait to be contacted for an interview? What should I have prepared leading up to the interview?

You wait for the Service Center to send you an approval notice - referred to here as NOA2 - once you receive that, your file is forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). It usually just passes through and is then sent to the Consulate. Once it hit the Consulate you'll receive what is called Packet 3. You'll be required to fill out a few more forms and start obtaining your long form birth certificate, police report, medical complete etc. Once you send back Packet 3 info (you don't need all those documents when you send it back, but you need them for the interview) you'll be notified of your interview with Packet 4.

2.) Provided we do not get any requests for more information, when do you think we would receive the fiance visa, given we filed it in the beginning of April?

Vermont usually takes on average 3-5 months to send NOA2 and then the Vancouver Consulate is pretty fast, so you'll probably get an interview not too much longer after that. You're probably looking at around 6-8 months total, barring any slowdowns. And, keep in mind it could take anywhere from 6-12 months, there is no exact time period.

3.) Once she is in the US with the fiance visa and we are married, can she start working right away? What is the process for her to start working? She is a hair stylist and we are hoping to get her started asap when she gets into the states.

No she cannot. The K1 visa is not work authorized. Once you get married and Adjust your Status, you'll apply for an Employment Authorization Document with your AOS. That usually takes around 90 days to be approved. So, plan for her to be unemployed for a little bit.

4.) Once we are married, can she receive health insurance? Drive a car?

Health insurance depends on your insurance. I can be added to my fiance's insurance as soon as we get married. But other places have different rules. Driving also varies by state, some require a new driving test, some only a written test, some will just switch her licence with no test. You'll need to research that by your state.

[Krikit 1,165]

Don't lose the NOA2! You will need this document in order to adjust status. Here are the forums you should look over in anticipation of the next steps. Welcome to VJ, Surfndan.

Adjustment of Status (AOS) Forum

Working & Travelling Prior to Greencard (GC) Forum

[TimandJoyce 1]

Welcome to VJ!! You have a great Canadian coming to be your wife!! ( Hee hee, I only say that cause I'm from BC too!!)

You've received the right answers already, and although I will tell you the time between NOA1 and the NOA2 varies, ( ours took 3.5 months), you may also want to check to see whether or not your State requires a SSN to register for the marriage license. That way, she'll know when she needs to move once she has her visa. I'll be moving to SC and will need it, so I'm moving a month before hand. (doesn't take that long to get it, just other factors cause me to move that far in advance.... not my choice!)

Best wishes for a speedy journey, and don't hesitate to read through the threads, as well as in the Canada forum. There is some great information here. I've learned a lot that I wasn't aware of.