Submitting the forms to the embassy/interview date

[nicole&efe 0]

Hello everyone- I'm just beginning my K-1 journey, so please forgive me if I don't have all of the information straight. I'm a U.S. citizen and my fiance is from Turkey. He just began his required military service, which ends in early May 2010. I'm hoping that we can submit the I-129F paperwork within the next few weeks, so that he can (hopefully) interview right when he gets out of the army. I'm wondering if this is a realistic plan.

From what I gathered, assuming that the case is approved (NOA2), the information will be sent to the embassy in Turkey. Then, the embassy will send him some papers, some of which he has to send right back to the embassy and some he will later bring to the interview. My questions are: will these papers have to be sent back by a certain date? Because he is currently in the army, he will have to do everything on the army's schedule, not his own. Maybe it will take him a few weeks more than 'normal' to send the forms. Also, when is the interview date assigned? Right when the case has been received by the embassy, or after he has submitted the forms to them?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[Justine+David 218]

I'll let someone who has been through the Turkey consulate give a more precise answer, but generally when USCIS approves the I-129F petition (the "NOA2"), there is a 4 month window before it expires.

Each consulate varies, but most (if not all?) will extend a petition if you request it of them whereas others will do it automatically, like the UK consulate.

The forms you are referring to are called the "packet 3" documents and they're available here on VJ to look at for reference and to gather the information ahead of time, such as a list of all the places he has lived since the age of 16, all the countries he has been to in the last 10 years, employment for the last 10 years, etc.

Welcome to VJ

[nicole&efe 0]

I'll let someone who has been through the Turkey consulate give a more precise answer, but generally when USCIS approves the I-129F petition (the "NOA2"), there is a 4 month window before it expires.

Each consulate varies, but most (if not all?) will extend a petition if you request it of them whereas others will do it automatically, like the UK consulate.

The forms you are referring to are called the "packet 3" documents and they're available here on VJ to look at for reference and to gather the information ahead of time, such as a list of all the places he has lived since the age of 16, all the countries he has been to in the last 10 years, employment for the last 10 years, etc.

Welcome to VJ

Thanks for the info! From what I gathered, I'm assuming that if we can't send packet 3 back to the embassy right away, it will be ok (as long as 4 months don't go by...).

[Justine+David 218]

Right, but definitely check out the regional forums here on VJ because every consulate has their own little minutiae for their procedures.

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

They automatically extend it after the 4 months, but I sent them an email requesting it anyway!

[esli33 0]

Hello everyone- I'm just beginning my K-1 journey, so please forgive me if I don't have all of the information straight. I'm a U.S. citizen and my fiance is from Turkey. He just began his required military service, which ends in early May 2010. I'm hoping that we can submit the I-129F paperwork within the next few weeks, so that he can (hopefully) interview right when he gets out of the army. I'm wondering if this is a realistic plan.

From what I gathered, assuming that the case is approved (NOA2), the information will be sent to the embassy in Turkey. Then, the embassy will send him some papers, some of which he has to send right back to the embassy and some he will later bring to the interview. My questions are: will these papers have to be sent back by a certain date? Because he is currently in the army, he will have to do everything on the army's schedule, not his own. Maybe it will take him a few weeks more than 'normal' to send the forms. Also, when is the interview date assigned? Right when the case has been received by the embassy, or after he has submitted the forms to them?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Hi Nicole

I wanted to respond because your situation seems a lot like mine. Great minds think alike. I started the process in December too because that is when Levent left for the army. He finished in May, and I was hoping he would be able to be here as soon as he got out. His interview is October 6th and I'm starting to panic and think of every possibility that he will be denied. We have enough pictures and flight tickets etc. but the i134 is freaking me out. When I originally submitted it, I had just recently graduated and therefore didn't make a lot of money in 2009. Now I have a full time job so I want to submit a new form with new supporting documents, but I'm afraid that the consulate will decide it needs further review. Do you think I should just send a new one with him to the interview, or submit it to the consulate again? Good luck on your interview!