New and Confused

[SimSim8 0]

Hello to all, first of all, I would like to say that I have been reading many threads in this forum, and I have gained a lot of knowledge about the process. This forum is very helpful. But now it's time for me to start asking some questions, as I still have some gray areas. So here goes.

I just recently got back from a trip to Syria, and ended up proposing to a girl i've known for 12 years or so.

We got all of the paper work for the marriage cetificate going on her side and awaiting it to be finalized. I am going file for an I-130 as soon as I have the marriage certificated translated and certified. Soon after I will file the I-129F. I have read the guidelines and know what is required of me.

What I don't know about is, what would cause me to get an RFE?

And if I do, what kind of evidence of my marriage, aside from the marriage certificate, do I need to provide to legitimately show that my marriage is in fact a serious one and not a sham?

Keep in mind, our marriage is only on the legal level, I plan on having the wedding after the visa is issued, so marriage pictures will not be available.

I do, however, have pictures of our engagement-ring ceremony where we are placing the rings on each other's fingers.

Please, any advice will be very appreciated.

Thank You

Edited August 4, 2006 by SimSim8

[simple_male 1]

First you have to decide whether you want to file for her before marriage or after marriage. You can file for her before marriage, which would be K-1 petition, fiance visa. You just need to file I-129F at the USCIS Service Center that has jurisdiction on you. But, you have to be engaged with her before you can file for fiance Visa petition.

If you want to file after marriage, then you will need to file I-130 petiton (immigrant visa for spouse) and after then you can file for I-129F (K-3 nonimmigrant spousal visa) with the proof that you filed for I-130. Filing for K-3 is optional by the way. It can help bring your wife in USA sooner while you wait for I-130 approval.

[Reba 2]

Sim, read the FAQ and Guides here about the CR1 and K3 visa processes.

Once you're already married, the only thing you send in with the petitions as proof of your relationship is your marriage certificate. Then your wife will be required to bring proof of relationship to her interview at the consulate. Its here she may be asked for photographs of you together (doesn't need to be a big frilly wedding, I showed one photo of me and hubby on our wedding day, and that was at a courthouse, in every day attire). The fact that you've known each other 12 years will help I think, as you'll have stuff from over the past 12 years to show.

Photos of the two of you with each other's family might help, stuff like that.

[SimSim8 0]

Sim, read the FAQ and Guides here about the CR1 and K3 visa processes.

Once you're already married, the only thing you send in with the petitions as proof of your relationship is your marriage certificate. Then your wife will be required to bring proof of relationship to her interview at the consulate. Its here she may be asked for photographs of you together (doesn't need to be a big frilly wedding, I showed one photo of me and hubby on our wedding day, and that was at a courthouse, in every day attire). The fact that you've known each other 12 years will help I think, as you'll have stuff from over the past 12 years to show.

Photos of the two of you with each other's family might help, stuff like that.

Thanks Simple and Reba for the prompt responses. So... the proof that she has to present doesn't necessarily have to be proof of marriage, it can be proof or relationship? So...then all our engagement pictures that we have taken, along with all my phone call records, along with the marriage certificate can establish legit proof?

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

Sim, first WELCOME to VJ!!! I hope that you will be able to find your answers here and feel at home. Secondly, remember this, if you file before you get married, then you are filing for the K-1 visa. After it gets approved, you then have 90 days from the time your fiance steps off the plane into America and gets her visa stamped to get married. After that, your new bride will be able to stay with you in the country while you do AOS for her. Thirdly, if you opt to get married BEFORE you apply, then you would be applying for the K-3 and or the CR-1 visa. BOth are different. THe K-3 visa is meant to bring spouses over quicker then you can do AOS..meaning they will be entering on a nonimmigrant visa. If you opt to go for the CR-1, which is the grand daddy of all visas, you and your wife will be apart for longer BUT...once approved, your wife will be able to legally work and all of that.

So...what have we learned? K-1===can be together during the whole AOS process. K-3/ and CR-1===you will be apart for some time. (generally you are apart longer while waiting for the CR-1). Hope this helps!!!

LJ

[SimSim8 0]

Sim, first WELCOME to VJ!!! I hope that you will be able to find your answers here and feel at home. Secondly, remember this, if you file before you get married, then you are filing for the K-1 visa. After it gets approved, you then have 90 days from the time your fiance steps off the plane into America and gets her visa stamped to get married. After that, your new bride will be able to stay with you in the country while you do AOS for her. Thirdly, if you opt to get married BEFORE you apply, then you would be applying for the K-3 and or the CR-1 visa. BOth are different. THe K-3 visa is meant to bring spouses over quicker then you can do AOS..meaning they will be entering on a nonimmigrant visa. If you opt to go for the CR-1, which is the grand daddy of all visas, you and your wife will be apart for longer BUT...once approved, your wife will be able to legally work and all of that.

So...what have we learned? K-1===can be together during the whole AOS process. K-3/ and CR-1===you will be apart for some time. (generally you are apart longer while waiting for the CR-1). Hope this helps!!!

LJ

Thanks for all the help guys , one other thing I initially had..

The proof that she has to present doesn't necessarily have to be proof of marriage, it can be proof or relationship? So...then all our engagement pictures that we have taken, along with all my phone call records, along with the marriage certificate can establish legit proof?

[simple_male 1]

Please understand one thing clearly, if you apply after marriage, then your wife must show proofs of your marriage. That will include your pictures together at the marriage ceremony, thereafter and your email, phone records, etc.

[SimSim8 0]

Please understand one thing clearly, if you apply after marriage, then your wife must show proofs of your marriage. That will include your pictures together at the marriage ceremony, thereafter and your email, phone records, etc.

See that's just it...that is the problem I am facing.

We planned on having the marriage ceremony after the visa for her to come to the states was issued.

That way I would fly out there have the wedding ceremony and fly back with her afterwards. Wedding ceremony pictures will not be available until then. The culture out there is a little different. I will be married legally, however, the wedding ceremony will not come until later.

Is there something else I can do?

Edited August 4, 2006 by SimSim8

[Buttons 0]

Congrats !!!!!!!!! And welcome to VJ most people here are very helpful and knowledgable.

Edited August 4, 2006 by Buttons

[simple_male 1]

You have to be married in order to file I-130 (CR-1 Immigrant Visa) and subsequently I-129F (K-3 Spousal Nonimmigrant Visa).

If you plan on marrying her after her visa, then you only have K-1 option available. You need to file I-129F only.

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

Please understand one thing clearly, if you apply after marriage, then your wife must show proofs of your marriage. That will include your pictures together at the marriage ceremony, thereafter and your email, phone records, etc.

See that's just it...that is the problem I am facing.

We planned on having the marriage ceremony after the visa for her to come to the states was issued.

That way I would fly out there have the wedding ceremony and fly back with her afterwards. Wedding ceremony pictures will not be available until then. The culture out there is a little different. I will be married legally, however, the wedding ceremony will not come until later.

Is there something else I can do?

Do you have any pictures of you together at all?? What else do you have that would show proof of relationship? You will need all you can get so you can send to her for her interview. Phone bills, emails, snail mail, and gift receipts that you may have...engagement ring receipt etc...boarding passes from when you have been together..any of that will be a great help.

LJ

[SimSim8 0]

Please understand one thing clearly, if you apply after marriage, then your wife must show proofs of your marriage. That will include your pictures together at the marriage ceremony, thereafter and your email, phone records, etc.

See that's just it...that is the problem I am facing.

We planned on having the marriage ceremony after the visa for her to come to the states was issued.

That way I would fly out there have the wedding ceremony and fly back with her afterwards. Wedding ceremony pictures will not be available until then. The culture out there is a little different. I will be married legally, however, the wedding ceremony will not come until later.

Is there something else I can do?

Do you have any pictures of you together at all?? What else do you have that would show proof of relationship? You will need all you can get so you can send to her for her interview. Phone bills, emails, snail mail, and gift receipts that you may have...engagement ring receipt etc...boarding passes from when you have been together..any of that will be a great help.

LJ

LJ...yes I have all of those...

I have a bunch of pictures from our engagement ceremony where we are both placing weddign bands on each other's fingers, I have a lot of phone bills. I have my flight itinerary as well as the Syrian stamp on my US Passport to indicate I was in the country at the time of our engagement. I have the wedding band receipts.

Furthermore, once I send her the G-325a forms for her to fill out. I will have the DHL receipts and paperwork.

I will also have Western Union receipts from wiring money over to her..

Its just i think there is some confusion going on. The only option I have is a K3... I cannot persue a K1 because, by law, we are married through a marriage certificate. She is not my fiance...she is my wife. Even though we still have not had the formal wedding ceremony, we are married.

Edited August 4, 2006 by SimSim8

[aussiewench 9]

You have to be married in order to file I-130 (CR-1 Immigrant Visa) and subsequently I-129F (K-3 Spousal Nonimmigrant Visa).

If you plan on marrying her after her visa, then you only have K-1 option available. You need to file I-129F only.

simple_male

The OP is already married.

SimSim8

You can submit any photographic evidence at interview stage of a bonafide relationship. Many marriages take place at court houses etc where photos arent taken.

[Laura_and_IanM 0]

Please understand one thing clearly, if you apply after marriage, then your wife must show proofs of your marriage. That will include your pictures together at the marriage ceremony, thereafter and your email, phone records, etc.

See that's just it...that is the problem I am facing.

We planned on having the marriage ceremony after the visa for her to come to the states was issued.

That way I would fly out there have the wedding ceremony and fly back with her afterwards. Wedding ceremony pictures will not be available until then. The culture out there is a little different. I will be married legally, however, the wedding ceremony will not come until later.

Is there something else I can do?

Do you have any pictures of you together at all?? What else do you have that would show proof of relationship? You will need all you can get so you can send to her for her interview. Phone bills, emails, snail mail, and gift receipts that you may have...engagement ring receipt etc...boarding passes from when you have been together..any of that will be a great help.

LJ

LJ...yes I have all of those...

I have a bunch of pictures from our engagement ceremony where we are both placing weddign bands on each other's fingers, I have a lot of phone bills. I have my flight itinerary as well as the Syrian stamp on my US Passport to indicate I was in the country at the time of our engagement. I have the wedding band receipts.

Furthermore, once I send her the G-325a forms for her to fill out. I will have the DHL receipts and paperwork.

I will also have Western Union receipts from wiring money over to her..

Its just i think there is some confusion going on. The only option I have is a K3... I cannot persue a K1 because, by law, we are married through a marriage certificate. She is not my fiance...she is my wife. Even though we still have not had the formal wedding ceremony, we are married.

AHHHHHHHHHH ok...sorry about the confusion then. Ok, first thing is first..you need to relax ok? You can file for the K-3 and or the CR-1. You can use everything you have mentioned as proof of your relationship. If you are looking to get her over sooner, file for the K-3. Since you have to file the I-130 petition (which is for the CR-1) in order to file the I-129f for the K-3, you can always opt out of the K-3 at a later date. So lets say you apply for the K-3....it gets approved and your wife flies over to you, then your wife gets notice of CR-1 interview, she can fly back to her own country and go back for that and will be able to get work asap and not have to go through the time and hassle of AOS. Plus, I believe it saves money. Its upto you. Good luck with your journey.

LJ

Edited to add..the aussiewench up there is good for information as well.

Edited August 4, 2006 by Laura_and_IanM

[SimSim8 0]

Please understand one thing clearly, if you apply after marriage, then your wife must show proofs of your marriage. That will include your pictures together at the marriage ceremony, thereafter and your email, phone records, etc.

See that's just it...that is the problem I am facing.

We planned on having the marriage ceremony after the visa for her to come to the states was issued.

That way I would fly out there have the wedding ceremony and fly back with her afterwards. Wedding ceremony pictures will not be available until then. The culture out there is a little different. I will be married legally, however, the wedding ceremony will not come until later.

Is there something else I can do?

Do you have any pictures of you together at all?? What else do you have that would show proof of relationship? You will need all you can get so you can send to her for her interview. Phone bills, emails, snail mail, and gift receipts that you may have...engagement ring receipt etc...boarding passes from when you have been together..any of that will be a great help.

LJ

LJ...yes I have all of those...

I have a bunch of pictures from our engagement ceremony where we are both placing weddign bands on each other's fingers, I have a lot of phone bills. I have my flight itinerary as well as the Syrian stamp on my US Passport to indicate I was in the country at the time of our engagement. I have the wedding band receipts.

Furthermore, once I send her the G-325a forms for her to fill out. I will have the DHL receipts and paperwork.

I will also have Western Union receipts from wiring money over to her..

Its just i think there is some confusion going on. The only option I have is a K3... I cannot persue a K1 because, by law, we are married through a marriage certificate. She is not my fiance...she is my wife. Even though we still have not had the formal wedding ceremony, we are married.

AHHHHHHHHHH ok...sorry about the confusion then. Ok, first thing is first..you need to relax ok? You can file for the K-3 and or the CR-1. You can use everything you have mentioned as proof of your relationship. If you are looking to get her over sooner, file for the K-3. Since you have to file the I-130 petition (which is for the CR-1) in order to file the I-129f for the K-3, you can always opt out of the K-3 at a later date. So lets say you apply for the K-3....it gets approved and your wife flies over to you, then your wife gets notice of CR-1 interview, she can fly back to her own country and go back for that and will be able to get work asap and not have to go through the time and hassle of AOS. Plus, I believe it saves money. Its upto you. Good luck with your journey.

LJ

Edited to add..the aussiewench up there is good for information as well.

Aussi and LJ...You have no idea how much I appreciate your advice. Thank you both. This really helps me out and really helps me relax a bit.

Once again thanks...

And i will be sure to try and get a hold of both of you for any further questions I may have.

Once again...thank you.