Just joining in : )

[Tumbleweed 0]

Hi all,

I just wanted to introduce myself, not sure about the protocol here, but I am here for the long haul. My name is Deb, from Arizona, and just last week married whom I believe to be the most wonderful man in the world, who is a citizen of England. We are going through a lawyer to assist with all of the steps to get him here, to the US, so we can truly start our life together. However, going through a lawyer is still completely confusing to me, so I'll be around here a bunch maybe asking questions and looking for teachers of patience We are in the final stages of collecting the last of the documents needed for the I-130, then I guess it goes to a K-3 visa from there? Our lawyer has done his best to explain the process to us, but its still overwhelming...and even though he just left only 5 days ago to return to England, I am terribly impatient and while I realize this could all take up to a year, I am missing him terribly. But I guess we are all going through the same things...which is why I am really, really happy to be here! I'll be going to England in March to visit him, but in the meantime, I am hoping to learn, find peace and sanity, and hopefully remain optimistic for all of our sakes

My main frustration right now is that the I-130 won't even be able to be filed for a few more weeks, so I have a feeling its going to be a looooong time for all of this...but I'm committed to him, the process, and making the best of the time between now and him stepping of the plane here in the US for good.

Look forward to being here with you all!

[patient2010 93]

WELCOME Kick back relax and ask away!!!!! Good luck on your journey

[Mrs Green 6]

WELCOME!!! Trust me after being here a few weeks u will realize that u do not need to pay a lawyer, as everyone tries to help each other.

Hi all,

I just wanted to introduce myself, not sure about the protocol here, but I am here for the long haul. My name is Deb, from Arizona, and just last week married whom I believe to be the most wonderful man in the world, who is a citizen of England. We are going through a lawyer to assist with all of the steps to get him here, to the US, so we can truly start our life together. However, going through a lawyer is still completely confusing to me, so I'll be around here a bunch maybe asking questions and looking for teachers of patience We are in the final stages of collecting the last of the documents needed for the I-130, then I guess it goes to a K-3 visa from there? Our lawyer has done his best to explain the process to us, but its still overwhelming...and even though he just left only 5 days ago to return to England, I am terribly impatient and while I realize this could all take up to a year, I am missing him terribly. But I guess we are all going through the same things...which is why I am really, really happy to be here! I'll be going to England in March to visit him, but in the meantime, I am hoping to learn, find peace and sanity, and hopefully remain optimistic for all of our sakes

My main frustration right now is that the I-130 won't even be able to be filed for a few more weeks, so I have a feeling its going to be a looooong time for all of this...but I'm committed to him, the process, and making the best of the time between now and him stepping of the plane here in the US for good.

Look forward to being here with you all!

[Tumbleweed 0]

Thanks to both of you I really appreciate the welcome!

[RightClicK 17]

awwww....no worries.....we will all help ya ...btw i have payed for a lawyer and he has screwed me and made many mistakes in my papers that made many delays...Wish best luck for you ...if you need to know anything ...send me your contact to my private because am not always here and i would provide you with all of the info you need.

Sam

[Elham 1]

Welcome!

You don't need any lawyer. Just stay here and study every case and you'll handle it yourself easily. That's just a waste of money!

Good Luck!

[LADYDARE 28]

Congratulations on your wedding and best of luck on your visa journey.

[Tumbleweed 0]

Thank you everyone I really, really appreciate the responses!

[Tumbleweed 0]

OK I already have a question, heh ; ) I was just looking over the I-130 filing checklist, and our lawyer has almost all of this ready to go, but I am just now seeing this:

11. Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)

Note: Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage

The USCIS now requires that when filing an I-130 for a spouse that you include evidence of a bonifide marriage. They list examples of acceptable evidence as: 1. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or 2. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or 3. Documentation showing co-mingling of financialresources; or 4. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, thepetitioner, and your spouse together; or 5. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties havingpersonal knowledge of the bona fides of the maritalrelationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the person makingthe affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner ofbeneficiary, if any, and complete information and detailsexplaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or 6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that thereis an ongoing marital union.

We've only been married for 11 days...although our relationship began well back into last year...but how come our lawyer hasn't asked for any of this? He has been really thorough in getting all the documents ready so we can file, but never has asked for anything evidence related....should I put my husband's name on my house? Is all this evidence really needed right now? I am stressing. I just want this FILED so I can hunker down and settle in for the wait.....

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Hi Tumbleweed!

You will be filing for a CR-1 visa, not a K-3... the K-3 is basically unattainable now... I hope your lawyer realizes this. (I-130 is the correct first step in any case). *yeargh, I can't find the link explaining why K-3 is no more!*

For proof of a bonafide relationship, if you can add him to your house, that would be great. You can also have your friends and family write affidavits that attest to your real relationship and their relationship to both of you (the more personal the better, I think). At least when they met your husband, were they at the wedding, etc.

[Tumbleweed 0]

Thank you Harpa...and you are right indeed, I talked to my lawyer late yesterday and said he is doing just a straight Immigration Visa, CR1 I guess I don't belong in this forum Thanks for the response!

[carolynhotstuff 252]

Hi again Deb, for proof of bonifide realationship my lawyer sent copies of my boarding passes and passport stamps to Pakistan, wedding pictures, affidavits from friends and letters from my husband and I giving a timeline of our realationship. I did not have to put my husbands name on my house or show co-mingling of finances.

[Darnell 8,479]

OK I already have a question, heh ; ) I was just looking over the I-130 filing checklist, and our lawyer has almost all of this ready to go, but I am just now seeing this:

11. Evidence of a bonafide marriage (see note below for what to include)

Note: Evidence of a Bonifide Marriage

The USCIS now requires that when filing an I-130 for a spouse that you include evidence of a bonifide marriage. They list examples of acceptable evidence as: 1. Documentation showing joint ownership or property; or 2. A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence; or 3. Documentation showing co-mingling of financialresources; or 4. Birth certificate(s) of child(ren) born to you, thepetitioner, and your spouse together; or 5. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties havingpersonal knowledge of the bona fides of the maritalrelationship (Each affidavit must contain the full nameand address, date and place of birth of the person makingthe affidavit, his or her relationship to the petitioner ofbeneficiary, if any, and complete information and detailsexplaining how the person acquired his or herknowledge of your marriage); or 6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that thereis an ongoing marital union.

We've only been married for 11 days...although our relationship began well back into last year...but how come our lawyer hasn't asked for any of this? He has been really thorough in getting all the documents ready so we can file, but never has asked for anything evidence related....should I put my husband's name on my house? Is all this evidence really needed right now? I am stressing. I just want this FILED so I can hunker down and settle in for the wait.....

Lawyers don't read the instructions - that's why the web portal VisaJourney exists.

You can 'go nuts', as I had to, after you review http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=218775&st=0&p=3324240&hl=Rusticentry3324240

*** not a K-3 visa topic, moving to IR-1/CR-1 forum ***

[truebrit 4]

hi

personally id ditch the lawyer....(just my opinion)

you'll read plenty of posts about rip offs...

congrats with your marriage and good luck with your journey!

[Ribs & Beans 19]

Thank you Harpa...and you are right indeed, I talked to my lawyer late yesterday and said he is doing just a straight Immigration Visa, CR1 I guess I don't belong in this forum Thanks for the response!

Tumbleweed,

You ARE in the right forum (at least now)! Stick around!

In regards to evidence, I've read of quite a few CR-1 petitioners who have had their I-130s filed by lawyers withOUT including the evidence that you mentioned, and they ended up getting hugely intricate Requests for Evidence later on. Anybody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that SamOnline went through that situation. I say INCLUDE THE EVIDENCE WITH YOUR PETITION NOW (or insist that your lawyer do it). I would hate to see you wait 5, 6, 7, 10+ months for approval, only to receive that horrible RFE...

Good luck!