Questions regarding K-1 packet and legal name change

[Mike and Atitaya 0]

Hello all,

My partner and I are finishing up our K-1 visa packet to do list and I wanted to make sure we have everything. One more somewhat obscure question. My partner legally changed her first name and has the legal document in Thai. Do we need to send this in with the I-129F packet and if so, I assume we need to have the document translated into English, correct? Any input regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

Now I would like to go over our packet to make sure it is 100%.

She will be sending me via FedEx (I am having her send me one extra original copy of everything just in case):

5 orginals of G-325A form with original signatures/dates.

2 original letters of intent to marry with original sig/date

2 passport photos

translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

I will send in

• Payment in the amount of $455

• I-129F

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Michael)

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Atitaya)

• Birth Certificate/US passport (Michael)

• Letter of Intent to Marry (Michael & Atitaya)

• Proof of having met in the past two years

• Proof of ongoing relationship

* Translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

In regards to G-325A form I told her to write in "I was a fulltime student and was not employed prior to May, 2007" so that the past 5 years of work experience (or lack thereof) are documented. We both put an X in the other (specify) box regarding nature of application and wrote in "I-129F". Her signature is basically her printing her name...I hope that is OK because it will look the same when she prints and signs her name.

On the I-129F form and G-325A form where it asks for "other names used" does she write in only her changed first name or should we write in her changed first name with surname?

Thank you all for any input and thanks to everyone who created this site. This is such a great resource and I will be updating out timeline once we get the 1st step in the mail. Hopefully I can help people too in the future.

Kind regards,

Mike

[daboyz 36]

Hello all,

My partner and I are finishing up our K-1 visa packet to do list and I wanted to make sure we have everything. One more somewhat obscure question. My partner legally changed her first name and has the legal document in Thai. Do we need to send this in with the I-129F packet and if so, I assume we need to have the document translated into English, correct? Any input regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

Now I would like to go over our packet to make sure it is 100%.

She will be sending me via FedEx (I am having her send me one extra original copy of everything just in case):

5 orginals of G-325A form with original signatures/dates.

2 original letters of intent to marry with original sig/date

2 passport photos

translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

I will send in

• Payment in the amount of $455

• I-129F

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Michael)

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Atitaya)

• Birth Certificate/US passport (Michael)

• Letter of Intent to Marry (Michael & Atitaya)

• Proof of having met in the past two years

• Proof of ongoing relationship

* Translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

In regards to G-325A form I told her to write in "I was a fulltime student and was not employed prior to May, 2007" so that the past 5 years of work experience (or lack thereof) are documented. We both put an X in the other (specify) box regarding nature of application and wrote in "I-129F". Her signature is basically her printing her name...I hope that is OK because it will look the same when she prints and signs her name.

On the I-129F form and G-325A form where it asks for "other names used" does she write in only her changed first name or should we write in her changed first name with surname?

Thank you all for any input and thanks to everyone who created this site. This is such a great resource and I will be updating out timeline once we get the 1st step in the mail. Hopefully I can help people too in the future.

Kind regards,

Mike

Anything you send to USCIS needs to be in English. Get the Thai document translated to English and make sure they put the official stamp at the bottom.

[rsn 135]

Hello all,

My partner and I are finishing up our K-1 visa packet to do list and I wanted to make sure we have everything. One more somewhat obscure question. My partner legally changed her first name and has the legal document in Thai. Do we need to send this in with the I-129F packet and if so, I assume we need to have the document translated into English, correct? Any input regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

Now I would like to go over our packet to make sure it is 100%.

She will be sending me via FedEx (I am having her send me one extra original copy of everything just in case):

5 orginals of G-325A form with original signatures/dates.

2 original letters of intent to marry with original sig/date

2 passport photos

translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

I will send in

• Payment in the amount of $455

• I-129F

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Michael)

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Atitaya)

• Birth Certificate/US passport (Michael)

• Letter of Intent to Marry (Michael & Atitaya)

• Proof of having met in the past two years

• Proof of ongoing relationship

* Translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

In regards to G-325A form I told her to write in "I was a fulltime student and was not employed prior to May, 2007" so that the past 5 years of work experience (or lack thereof) are documented. We both put an X in the other (specify) box regarding nature of application and wrote in "I-129F". Her signature is basically her printing her name...I hope that is OK because it will look the same when she prints and signs her name.

On the I-129F form and G-325A form where it asks for "other names used" does she write in only her changed first name or should we write in her changed first name with surname?

Thank you all for any input and thanks to everyone who created this site. This is such a great resource and I will be updating out timeline once we get the 1st step in the mail. Hopefully I can help people too in the future.

Kind regards,

Mike

Don't forget to send a cover letter, declaration of how you met in addition to the evidence that proves that, and a passport-sized photo of yourself. See the K1 guide for more info.

You definitely need a certified translation of the name change doc.

I believe we listed first and last name in our case for "other names". Better safe than sorry.

I don't know specifically about your signature question, but a signature is a signature. It doesn't have to be anything in particular I believe, it just has to be something that your fiancee writes whenever she is asked to provide a signature, per my understanding.

Edited August 10, 2009 by rsn

[Ning 619]

Hello all,

My partner and I are finishing up our K-1 visa packet to do list and I wanted to make sure we have everything. One more somewhat obscure question. My partner legally changed her first name and has the legal document in Thai. Do we need to send this in with the I-129F packet and if so, I assume we need to have the document translated into English, correct? Any input regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

Now I would like to go over our packet to make sure it is 100%.

She will be sending me via FedEx (I am having her send me one extra original copy of everything just in case):

5 orginals of G-325A form with original signatures/dates.

2 original letters of intent to marry with original sig/date

2 passport photos

translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

I will send in

• Payment in the amount of $455

• I-129F

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Michael)

• 4 copies G-325A and passport style photo (Atitaya)

• Birth Certificate/US passport (Michael)

• Letter of Intent to Marry (Michael & Atitaya)

• Proof of having met in the past two years

• Proof of ongoing relationship

* Translated document regarding legal name change (if necessary)

In regards to G-325A form I told her to write in "I was a fulltime student and was not employed prior to May, 2007" so that the past 5 years of work experience (or lack thereof) are documented. We both put an X in the other (specify) box regarding nature of application and wrote in "I-129F". Her signature is basically her printing her name...I hope that is OK because it will look the same when she prints and signs her name.

On the I-129F form and G-325A form where it asks for "other names used" does she write in only her changed first name or should we write in her changed first name with surname?

Thank you all for any input and thanks to everyone who created this site. This is such a great resource and I will be updating out timeline once we get the 1st step in the mail. Hopefully I can help people too in the future.

Kind regards,

Mike

The following is the criteria from USCIS. There is no requirement for a stamp for example. Anyone meeting the criteria is considered to be " certified ".

The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification. A suggested format is:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and ________ languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date Typed Name

Address

[daboyz 36]

To add to this conversation, I was able to go to the local Wat and a monk translated a document for me. It had the official stamp and all. Gave them a $20 donation.

[Mike and Atitaya 0]

To add to this conversation, I was able to go to the local Wat and a monk translated a document for me. It had the official stamp and all. Gave them a $20 donation.

Thank you all for your responses. I have the document regarding my partner's name change scanned on my computer. There are 3 Wats located nearby, so I plan to go and see if I can get this documented translated by a local Thai person (monk, etc..). I will ask about getting the document stamped to show the translation is legitimate, correct? Wow I did not even consider this option...thank you!

Mike

[Ning 619]

To add to this conversation, I was able to go to the local Wat and a monk translated a document for me. It had the official stamp and all. Gave them a $20 donation.

Thank you all for your responses. I have the document regarding my partner's name change scanned on my computer. There are 3 Wats located nearby, so I plan to go and see if I can get this documented translated by a local Thai person (monk, etc..). I will ask about getting the document stamped to show the translation is legitimate, correct? Wow I did not even consider this option...thank you!

Mike

The USCIS format is depicted above. If you can find the need for the stamp then you need to do whatever it takes to get a stamp on the document. There is no official stamp.

The idea of have a monk from a Wat do the translation is fine but makes no difference who does the translation in the end as long as they are qualified.

[daboyz 36]

To add to this conversation, I was able to go to the local Wat and a monk translated a document for me. It had the official stamp and all. Gave them a $20 donation.

Thank you all for your responses. I have the document regarding my partner's name change scanned on my computer. There are 3 Wats located nearby, so I plan to go and see if I can get this documented translated by a local Thai person (monk, etc..). I will ask about getting the document stamped to show the translation is legitimate, correct? Wow I did not even consider this option...thank you!

Mike

The USCIS format is depicted above. If you can find the need for the stamp then you need to do whatever it takes to get a stamp on the document. There is no official stamp.

The idea of have a monk from a Wat do the translation is fine but makes no difference who does the translation in the end as long as they are qualified.

Sorry. "Official looking stamp" Can't hurt.

[Ning 619]

To add to this conversation, I was able to go to the local Wat and a monk translated a document for me. It had the official stamp and all. Gave them a $20 donation.

Thank you all for your responses. I have the document regarding my partner's name change scanned on my computer. There are 3 Wats located nearby, so I plan to go and see if I can get this documented translated by a local Thai person (monk, etc..). I will ask about getting the document stamped to show the translation is legitimate, correct? Wow I did not even consider this option...thank you!

Mike

The USCIS format is depicted above. If you can find the need for the stamp then you need to do whatever it takes to get a stamp on the document. There is no official stamp.

The idea of have a monk from a Wat do the translation is fine but makes no difference who does the translation in the end as long as they are qualified.

Sorry. "Official looking stamp" Can't hurt.

I agree but I have seen many here that come to believe they have to have some stamp on the docs that doesnt exist. The term certified translation leads people to think that means some stamp as well.

There is no "legitimate" stamp.

[thongd4me 69]

To add to this conversation, I was able to go to the local Wat and a monk translated a document for me. It had the official stamp and all. Gave them a $20 donation.

Good suggestion. I am well known at the local wat in NY but my main monk man

(I was exchanging Thai for English with him but I think he got the best of that deal)

is now in Texas but we are still in contact. Wats are good resources for both Thai

and farang.