May 2011 Filers

[Nicoco 26]

Thanks for making that list. Kind of knew some of it, but wasn't sure about the ds forms.

[Ran4jenny 3]

Thanks for making that list. Kind of knew some of it, but wasn't sure about the ds forms.

You're welcome I saw it many times many places, but just tried to streamline simplify it for me to have checklsit when the time comes, now all my may people have it too

[stronger 43]

I have a question about the tax copies.

I thought they wanted last 3 years? And some people I see have ordered a copy of their taxes from IRS. Why would that be? I have completed my taxes online the last few years. So I have digital printable copies. Does that work you think?

Last thing...I'm sure they'll update these forms soon. But Form DS 156 expired last month. And the DOS had this outdated one as the only form available on their website. Someone is not on the ball. lol

~Sabrina

[Ray-J 2]

I have a question about the tax copies.

I thought they wanted last 3 years? And some people I see have ordered a copy of their taxes from IRS. Why would that be? I have completed my taxes online the last few years. So I have digital printable copies. Does that work you think?

Last thing...I'm sure they'll update these forms soon. But Form DS 156 expired last month. And the DOS had this outdated one as the only form available on their website. Someone is not on the ball. lol

~Sabrina

It really depends upon what the beneficiary's embassy requires. Most do require the past 3 years of tax forms. However, Manila (for example) only requires the most recently filed tax return. It sounds like you would be okay with your printable copies. Be sure to sign them with a ball-point pen (black ink). What other people have ordered is their tax transcripts. These are different from tax forms since they are generated directly from government information systems after everything has been entered and verified. I've seen reports of some consulate officers asking beneficiaries for tax transcripts when they've brought tax forms (1040, 1040-A, 1040-EZ, etc.) to their interview.

As for the expired DS forms, check with your embassy's requirements. Some of the DS forms will be accepted even if they're outdated.

~Ray

[erica_itz 5]

guys,i've been worried about something. I was reading that what they really require is a proof of having met in the past 2 years. proof of ongoing relationship is optional. I sent a lot of proof of ongoing relationship (postcards, emails, phone history, e-tickest etc). However, I didn't have a lot to prove we actually met. I didn't have any boarding passes and I totally forgot to send a copy of stamps in our passports (the times i went there and went he came here). All I sent were lots of pictures of us together (including me and his family, he and my family) and a train e-ticket that had both our names in the reservation (meaning our names were in the same reservation). Do you think I'll have RFE? Cuz unfortunately there's no way to prove the dates the pictures were taken are the dates i'm saying they were (I'm sending pictures all the way from 2008 to 2011)...

Anyway, I'm just worried cuz I've been reading that lots of ppl send copies of stamps in the passport and borading passes...

[Ray-J 2]

guys,i've been worried about something. I was reading that what they really require is a proof of having met in the past 2 years. proof of ongoing relationship is optional. I sent a lot of proof of ongoing relationship (postcards, emails, phone history, e-tickest etc). However, I didn't have a lot to prove we actually met. I didn't have any boarding passes and I totally forgot to send a copy of stamps in our passports (the times i went there and went he came here). All I sent were lots of pictures of us together (including me and his family, he and my family) and a train e-ticket that had both our names in the reservation (meaning our names were in the same reservation). Do you think I'll have RFE? Cuz unfortunately there's no way to prove the dates the pictures were taken are the dates i'm saying they were (I'm sending pictures all the way from 2008 to 2011)...

Anyway, I'm just worried cuz I've been reading that lots of ppl send copies of stamps in the passport and borading passes...

You'll be fine. Pictures of the two of you together (at least 5) satisfy proof of an ongoing relationship and having met in the past 2 years. On the back of the pictures, a brief summary of where the pictures were taken, who the subjects in the pictures are, and where they were taken will help protect you against an RFE.

[I_Am_That_I_Am 46]

hello all!

FYI - i know someone who was approved with Form I-134 NOT notarized. and it has been mentioned here many times that it doesn't have to be notarized.

Some things are advised to be done AFTER the noa2 is actually there so it is current/recent, like the pay stubs for example. So, I would not do all of these ahead of time. But, here is the list I compiled for the petitioner to do...

Copy of NOA2

An EXACT copy of the petition he sent in to CSCIS

ds forms:

1. 2 COPIES DS 156

2. 1 COPY DS 156K

3. 2 COPIES 157

affidavit of support

- Notarized Form I-134

- Employment Letter

- 2010 Tax Copies (Tax Transcripts and E-filing)

- 2010 W2 Copies more than one i think

- 3 Recent Pay Stubs / Copies

- Bank letter/statements

More Recent examples like what was in the Petition

newer letters/cards sent

newer email

newer im

newer phone card

newer money gram

newer letter of intent

ring and/or ring receipt

I almost forgot that its a good idea he send the 'originals' not just copies of the k1 petition package sent to USCIS

[southcalhog 43]

hello all!

FYI - i know someone who was approved with Form I-134 NOT notarized. and it has been mentioned here many times that it doesn't have to be notarized.

You Right!

[Nicoco 26]

@Erica- I have heard that passport stamps and boarding passes are really important. Maybe you should send in the copy of your passport stamps?

[simplynice12 1]

@Erica- I have heard that passport stamps and boarding passes are really important. Maybe you should send in the copy of your passport stamps?

this is true. we sent the passport stamps and boading passes. i believe this is a primary proof of having met in person within 2 years prior to the submission of I129F.

[Nicoco 26]

Now I'm getting a little worried, too, but for the opposite reason of Erica.

We went way overboard with the evidence, but I organized it well so if they wanted to throw out something, they could. We had money transfer records, cell records, Skype records, facebook messages and wall post records, apartment bills with both of our names on it, receipts from when I went to Thailand, boarding passes from when I went to Thailand and when he studied in America, passport stamps, his whole F-1 student visa petition, some photos and two letters (one from school advisor and one from family). This is more like stuff that we should present at the interview, now that I've been more educated. I hope it's alright since I organized them into sections that have a description of each topic, so they can throw out unnecessary items...

Edited June 9, 2011 by Ni-ing & Ice

[erica_itz 5]

Now I'm getting a little worried, too, but for the opposite reason of Erica.

We went way overboard with the evidence, but I organized it well so if they wanted to throw out something, they could. We had money transfer records, cell records, Skype records, facebook messages and wall post records, apartment bills with both of our names on it, receipts from when I went to Thailand, boarding passes from when I went to Thailand and when he studied in America, passport stamps, his whole F-1 student visa petition, some photos and two letters (one from school advisor and one from family). This is more like stuff that we should present at the interview, now that I've been more educated. I hope it's alright since I organized them into sections that have a description of each topic, so they can throw out unnecessary items...

You're absolutely fine!!!

And well, I did everything Ray-J said about the pictures (a brief summary for each picture) and let's just hope he is right and I'll be fine! I'm just gonna wait and see what happens, but hopefully i'll be alright..

[usaf&cop 4]

I finally decided to sign up here in VJ coz this site is very informative and a good tool for communicating to other couple who are also applying for K1 process.

Anyway, me and my fiancé were a May filer also. Sent the petition last May 14, and received at Dallas by 16th, a week after check was cashed, we didn't submit the form for e-notification so we can not receive email or text then, we are so worried now coz till now we didn't get mail yet from the USCIS. When I read all of your timelines here it seems everybody got their NOA1 after a week or two, and it's been almost a month for us and no notification yet, can someone here enlighten us if our case is just normal? Thanks for the reply.

[southcalhog 43]

Now I'm getting a little worried, too, but for the opposite reason of Erica.

We went way overboard with the evidence, but I organized it well so if they wanted to throw out something, they could. We had money transfer records, cell records, Skype records, facebook messages and wall post records, apartment bills with both of our names on it, receipts from when I went to Thailand, boarding passes from when I went to Thailand and when he studied in America, passport stamps, his whole F-1 student visa petition, some photos and two letters (one from school advisor and one from family). This is more like stuff that we should present at the interview, now that I've been more educated. I hope it's alright since I organized them into sections that have a description of each topic, so they can throw out unnecessary items...

You will be fine!

[ascxvz 4]

Hi guys! we filed our K1 last May 12...Hoping for the best for everyone