Just getting started on the K-1 visa

[Ashley and Manuel 0]

Hi, So I met my fiance in Ecaudor while I was there this winter on a school trip. We are just getting started on this whole visa process and it is more intense than I had initially realized. Is it suggested that I get a "professional forms preparer" to do this or can I do my petition myself. I feel like I have a solid understanding of the process. I am not really worried about getting rejected but is that something I should worried about? Is it often that petitions get rejected. Our story is very plain, we are about 3 years apart and we met by chance, we fell in love and were engaged before I left Ecuador and have been on the phone every day since I've been home. It sucks because some sort of guidance would be awsome, it feels like we are kind of left on our own to go through this HUGE process. I guess that is what this site is for thought! We are hoping to have our petition in by March and for him to be here by December or January, is that plausible? Are we overshooting?

[Inky 1,110]

VJ is a website for people to do this themselves. Most advise that it is bad to get a lawyer to help with papers because they have less time than you do, to check your paperwork and follow up with things if needed. Lawyers will make the same mistakes that we ourselves would but they would not check it as thoroughly as we would.

Print out the step by step guide and just cross off the items as you go, ask questions on VJ, use the example forms to help you fill it out and voila, save yourself 100s if not 1000s of dollars by not using a lawyer.

[Tero 105]

You do not need a lawyer. you can do it yourself and can always stop by here to ask questions. If you turn in your petition you have about 50% chance of getting through by December/January. Here are the links below to guide you. Good luck.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

[Roons & Toons 0]

@Tero

What are you talking about? "If you turn in your petition you have about 50% chance of getting through by December/January." K1 process usually takes between 3-6 months to get your petition approved. Recently it seems that majority of K1s get approved within 5 months time frame. So I don't know what did you mean by December/january

[Tero 105]

@Tero

What are you talking about? "If you turn in your petition you have about 50% chance of getting through by December/January." K1 process usually takes between 3-6 months to get your petition approved. Recently it seems that majority of K1s get approved within 5 months time frame. So I don't know what did you mean by December/january

What I meant: The OP is contemplating turning it in sometime in March. Say OP gets NOA-1 still in March (depending on what week the petition is sent), 6 months (safer to assume) from March would be September for NOA 2. Don't forget it still has to go through NVC and then to the beneficiary's consulate which may schedule the interview say 2-4 months (or more) from September, hence, December/January. I said 50% chance as there is never a time guarantee for any one person in this whole process. You never can tell what RFEs or other stuff might come up in the process.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Hi, So I met my fiance in Ecaudor while I was there this winter on a school trip. We are just getting started on this whole visa process and it is more intense than I had initially realized. Is it suggested that I get a "professional forms preparer" to do this or can I do my petition myself. I feel like I have a solid understanding of the process. I am not really worried about getting rejected but is that something I should worried about? Is it often that petitions get rejected. Our story is very plain, we are about 3 years apart and we met by chance, we fell in love and were engaged before I left Ecuador and have been on the phone every day since I've been home. It sucks because some sort of guidance would be awsome, it feels like we are kind of left on our own to go through this HUGE process. I guess that is what this site is for thought! We are hoping to have our petition in by March and for him to be here by December or January, is that plausible? Are we overshooting?

Hello and Welcome to VJ!

Don't you love it when you fall in love while in a foreign country and you meet the perfect man by chance?

Yes, the process is much more complicated than people think (and you may have initially thought). Having said this, it is entirely possible for you to complete the paperwork and the process by yourself. Most VJ members would advise you to do it on your own, particularly if you have thoroughly read the Guides and fully understand the process. There have been members who have hired lawyers only to regret their decision later; lawyers come expensive and many times make mistakes on the paperwork causing unnecessary delays.

Best wishes!

[Lari & Jhona 0]

Hi am new to this myself.i have a couple of months that i sent mines now desperately waiting.

Wish you the best of lucks for you and your honey.

[Ashley and Manuel 0]

What is an NOA1?

[Inky 1,110]

What is an NOA1?

It is a notice of action an I-797 paper from the USCIS and it basically says " we have accepted your petition and will be processing it at -whatever office it says- " Basically a paper saying they got your stuff and they will begin processing it.

[amykathleen2005 441]

@Tero

What are you talking about? "If you turn in your petition you have about 50% chance of getting through by December/January." K1 process usually takes between 3-6 months to get your petition approved. Recently it seems that majority of K1s get approved within 5 months time frame. So I don't know what did you mean by December/january

What are you talking about? People lately are taking 5-6 months just to get their NOA2 then on to NVC and to the embassy where you will wait weeks to a few months for an interview. I don't know what "recently" you are talking about.....

[Ashley and Manuel 0]

How much money are my fiance and I looking at in fees besides the $340 petition fee and the $110 medical examination and when will they be due?

[Messybrownhair 251]

How much money are my fiance and I looking at in fees besides the $340 petition fee and the $110 medical examination and when will they be due?

There is also a $350 fee for the visa interview, and once she is in the US and you file for AOS it will be %1070

What are you talking about? People lately are taking 5-6 months just to get their NOA2 then on to NVC and to the embassy where you will wait weeks to a few months for an interview. I don't know what "recently" you are talking about.....

I think he meant that recently K1 filers have taken approximately 5 months just to get the noa2 (not the whole process) so 5 months plus a couple of months for nvc and consulate would make December/Jan the safest bet

[Ashley and Manuel 0]

How much is it for the "adjustment of status" and when exactly do we file for it?

Edited February 14, 2011 by amcamp

[cedwards001 18]

amcamp,

I recommend that you start your journey by reading the Guides provided by that website. Once you are more familiar with the immigration terminology, please do come back and ask more questions (http://www.visajourn...content/k1guide)

I also recommend that you contact a fellow Visa Journey member by the name of "TBoneX". The reason I recommend this is because you will be dealing with one of the toughest Embassies in the world (Ecuador) in terms of getting a K1 visa.

[Inky 1,110]

How much is it for the "adjustment of status" and when exactly do we file for it?

Go to the instructions and read the guides and check the USCIS website, everything is listed, you need to read up on things so you have an understanding of it all.

AOS cost is $1070 USD. That includes AOS, EAD and AP forms.