Best way to go about all of this...

[Cheg 0]

So i have the usual story. I'm 19 and from England, and met a 24 year old woman in America. We now want to marry each other, but are so confused by every different website telling us different things we need and to what to get.

I want to move to America, marry her, and begin working there for the rest of my life, but am confused where to start. Could anyone give me a list of the things i will need, or need to do, without linking me to some website?

So far all i know is i need a K-1 Fiance Visa? Then before 90 days is up, we get married? Then what?

Thankyou to anyone in advance.

[no name 1]

So i have the usual story. I'm 19 and from England, and met a 24 year old woman in America. We now want to marry each other, but are so confused by every different website telling us different things we need and to what to get.

I want to move to America, marry her, and begin working there for the rest of my life, but am confused where to start. Could anyone give me a list of the things i will need, or need to do, without linking me to some website?

So far all i know is i need a K-1 Fiance Visa? Then before 90 days is up, we get married? Then what?

Thankyou to anyone in advance.

Please read the FAQ: http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

They will help you immensely.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Welcome.

Up towards the top of the page is links to the Guides and Visa FAQ. I recommend spending an evening or two going through them and then come back to board if you have any further questions. Pretty much everything you want to know is up there in those things.

Sidenote: If you aren't willing to follow some links and do some digging and research of your own, this process certainly isn't for you.

Good luck!

Cass (bebop the great)

So i have the usual story. I'm 19 and from England, and met a 24 year old woman in America. We now want to marry each other, but are so confused by every different website telling us different things we need and to what to get.

I want to move to America, marry her, and begin working there for the rest of my life, but am confused where to start. Could anyone give me a list of the things i will need, or need to do, without linking me to some website?

So far all i know is i need a K-1 Fiance Visa? Then before 90 days is up, we get married? Then what?

Thankyou to anyone in advance.

Edited July 26, 2006 by bebop + rocksteady

[sbgwolf1 0]

So i have the usual story. I'm 19 and from England, and met a 24 year old woman in America. We now want to marry each other, but are so confused by every different website telling us different things we need and to what to get.

I want to move to America, marry her, and begin working there for the rest of my life, but am confused where to start. Could anyone give me a list of the things i will need, or need to do, without linking me to some website?

So far all i know is i need a K-1 Fiance Visa? Then before 90 days is up, we get married? Then what?

Thankyou to anyone in advance.

1st is have you met in person. If not, you need to do that before anything. 2nd, this is probably the most informative site on what you need to do. Your 'fiancee needs to be the one to file for you, you cannot'. 3rd, I hate to say this, but your post sounds less like love and more of opportunity. I hope I am wrong (its ok if everyone flames me for that question). You said not to lead you to links but most of the information is in the links above and very clear. Any questions we will be happy to help out with as best we can.

Edited July 26, 2006 by sbgwolf1

[Cheg 0]

Yeah, we have met person, and are doing so again on Sept 7th. We do love each other, even if it sounded like i didn't then, i'm pretty stressed from looknig through site after site of useless info, lol. I'll check out the guides that were linked, and report back in a few.

[Mew 0]

We're all linking you to this website... The other posters are right. Read through the guides and it'll give you a better view of the K1 process.

[Robor007 0]

As others have said, you're going to have to do a lot of reading to understand the long and complicated process. You're probably going to have 'visa overload' soon. When you understand it come back and explain it to me! Seriously though, I was told to get an overview of the entire process but focus on one step at a time. It's a long road and you want to make sure you don't make any mistakes to make it longer. Good luck and welcome here!

[sbgwolf1 0]

Glad to hear. The process is pretty straightforward. Just make sure you follow the steps accurately. Print and check things off and make sure you have plenty of documentation of a 'relationship'..aka photos, phone bills, letters, ect. The early stages of the paperwork is pretty simple. Also a quick tip. The form the G325(?) needs 4 copies from each of you. Instead of wasting hours doing it, the form from the USCIS site can be filled out online. If your adobe is updated you can fill it out once and it will print all four copies for you. Just know you CANNOT save it so print it upon completion.

[Cheg 0]

K1 and K2 Visa Process Outline:

The K1 visa is not an end in itself. It is only a single step in a procedure for obtaining permanent residency (a green card) based on a marriage to a US Citizen after entry. The steps involved in immigrating to the US via a K1 visa can be generally described as follows:

* 1. The US Citizen files the I-129F petition for the foreign fiance(e) with the USCIS. The I-129f is filed at one of four Service Centers in the US (where you file depends on where you live). The petition phase is very straightforward. Approval timelines vary with each Service Center, with the processing times ranging anywhere from one to five or six months. Go here to see a list of current processing current times.

* 2. After the I-129F has been approved, the petition is sent to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) where it is processed and forwarded to the correct embassy and consulate. The process of sending the approved I-129f from the Service Center (through the NVC) and arriving at the embassy takes about a month. The fiance(e) has 4 months from the time the I-129F was approved at the Service Center to obtain the K1 Visa at the US Consulate in the foreign country. This time period can be extended by a consular officer if required. The visa application process is generally similar in all countries, although each Consulate will vary a bit in their requirements. Every K1 applicant will have a unique story to tell about how they got their visa.

* 3. Once you have the K1 Visa it is good for only one entry into the United States within 6 months of the issue date. A K2 Visa holder (child of K1 Visa holder) may enter up to one year after the K1, but a K2 Visa holder may not enter the U.S. prior to the K1.

* 4. Once in the United States, you have 90 days to get married (see "Special Note" at question 3.7)

* 5. Immediately after marriage, you must apply for an Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, to become a permanent resident. You may also apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to work (required until your I-485 is approved) and "advance parole" in case you want to travel outside the United States and re-enter before getting your green card (I-485 approval).

.....And then...

* 6. If your I-485 is approved prior to two years after you were married you will be issued a "Conditional" Permanent Resident status (green card) which is valid for only two years. If you are interviewed and approved greater than two years after you were married you will get a full normal Permanent Residency with no conditions valid for ten years. The time it takes to approve an I-485 depends on where you live and the nearest local USCIS office's processing timeline.

* 7. If you were given a "conditional permanent residency", after two years from the date you were granted this status, you will have to apply to have the "Conditional" status removed; if approved you will get a full 10 year green card. If you had a full permanent residency status without conditions then this step is not required.

* 8. Further on down the road, you can apply to become an American citizen (naturalization).

Okay - so what i understand is this:

My Fiance files the I-129F petition in the service centre closest to Virginia.

Once approved, it gets sent to NVC, and then the relevant embassy.

Within 4 months of this approval, i apply for the K-1 Visa at London.

I plan another trip to America, during which we express our love, and get married, within 90 days.

Once we are married i apply for an Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, to become a permanent resident, and an Employment Authorization Document so i can work.

If the I-485 is approved within 2 years of marriage, i get a conditional permanent resident status card, valid for 2 years. But sometimes this may be a 10 year green card?

Edited July 26, 2006 by Cheg

[Robor007 0]

Glad to hear. The process is pretty straightforward. Just make sure you follow the steps accurately. Print and check things off and make sure you have plenty of documentation of a 'relationship'..aka photos, phone bills, letters, ect. The early stages of the paperwork is pretty simple. Also a quick tip. The form the G325(?) needs 4 copies from each of you. Instead of wasting hours doing it, the form from the USCIS site can be filled out online. If your adobe is updated you can fill it out once and it will print all four copies for you. Just know you CANNOT save it so print it upon completion.

Just a note... You can save it if you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat. Or at least I was able to save mine.

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

1 - There are specific service centers for specific states. They are listed on the I-129f intructions on the form.

2- Yes.

3- You don't "apply" for a K-1, she already did that. You go to an interview to validate your ability (legally and otherwise) to marry.

4 - Yes.

5 - Yes.

6 - On a K1 I think you are (always) given an 2 year conditional green card. However, I am not NEAR this process so others can answer this better.

As recommended by the poster above, I say geta general understand of the process, and then completely digest each stepping stone when you get to it.

I recommend looking the flowchart over intently.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k1flow

Cass (bebop the great)

Okay - so what i understand is this:

My Fiance files the I-129F petition in the service centre closest to Virginia.

Once approved, it gets sent to NVC, and then the relevant embassy.

Within 4 months of this approval, i apply for the K-1 Visa at London.

I plan another trip to America, during which we express our love, and get married, within 90 days.

Once we are married i apply for an Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, to become a permanent resident, and an Employment Authorization Document so i can work.

If the I-485 is approved within 2 years of marriage, i get a conditional permanent resident status card, valid for 2 years. But sometimes this may be a 10 year green card?

Edited July 26, 2006 by bebop + rocksteady

[Cheg 0]

Okay, here are three questions i couldn't seem to find an answer for.

Can i stay in America whilst we are waiting for the fiance Visa?

What happens if we file it all at the consulate, instead of by mail? Is this faster?

What happens if we just get married on a visit, without a Fiance Visa?

Edited July 26, 2006 by Cheg

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Tis all in the guides grasshopper.

In America while applying for K1: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1visit

File at the consulate:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=dcf

Married on a visit:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k3guide

or

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide1

Look HERE: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

For the comparision of the different kinds of visa and options you have.

It's pretty much all there if you spend a little more than 5 minutes.

Okay, here are three questions i couldn't seem to find an answer for.

Can i stay in America whilst we are waiting for the fiance Visa?

What happens if we file it all at the consulate, instead of by mail? Is this faster?

What happens if we just get married on a visit, without a Fiance Visa?

[no name 1]

- Nope! but you can visit for a bit if you prove you have ties to the UK.

- not sure you can do consular filing in London.....?

- That's a tricky one - it's visa fraud if you have intent to marry when you come in as a visitor.

[Mew 0]

Okay - so what i understand is this:

My Fiance files the I-129F petition in the service centre closest to Virginia.

Once approved, it gets sent to NVC, and then the relevant embassy.

Within 4 months of this approval, i apply for the K-1 Visa at London.

I plan another trip to America, during which we express our love, and get married, within 90 days.

Once we are married i apply for an Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, to become a permanent resident, and an Employment Authorization Document so i can work.

If the I-485 is approved within 2 years of marriage, i get a conditional permanent resident status card, valid for 2 years. But sometimes this may be a 10 year green card?

The first stages go (UK people, correct me if I'm wrong):

Your fiance files the I129f packet (letter of intent, proof of having met within 2 years, G325a) in the service center indicated for Virginia.

It'll take a few months to get it approved.

It's sent to NVC and then forwarded to the consulate/embassy in London.

Some time goes by and they'll send you instructions to attend an interview that will be scheduled. They'll ask you to collect some forms (evidence that she can support you, police certificates for you).

You'll tell them you're ready and have gathered everything you need.

You'll be sent packet 4, at which point you'll have to have evidence of ongoing relationship, some forms, and medical exam.

You attend the interview and if approved, you go to the U.S. and have 90 days to get married.

After that, you apply for adjustment of status (which will take some months).

Also, it seems to me that you're kind of in a hurry to understand all your options and everything about the process... Take your time. Read everything you can. Reread if you need to. Browse through the boards. Read the FAQs. And ask questions when you have doubts.

The first thing you have to learn if you want to marry your girlfriend is this: patience. I think all VJs will agree with me.

Edited July 26, 2006 by Mew