England to USA, K-1 Visa

[Ikancity 0]

Hi Newbie,

I think you got all the answers but just want to add a little,

1. Make sure that all the pics you took or are going to take with your fiancee has the corect date and time imprint on it.

2. keep all the receipts of money transactions, that is, all the receipt of the money you have been sending to her either as a gift or support

3. Keep the receipt of the engament ring with you.

4. If possible arrange for to visit you you here in the UK, probably when she turns 18, it might help a lot

Lastly, don't rush anything so that you won,t make a mistake

[Robert&Karen 264]

Let me just say that you are in the right place for your journey. This board has been a fantastic help to me and many others. My fiancee is from the UK, we visited back and forth several times like you did. The printouts of the itineraries and passport stamps were fine for evidence. I did not include photos in my particular case and the I-129f went through right quick.

What you will love or hate depends on you. There are things I like about England and things that bother me. I am sure your list will be different than mine. Some of the things you may not even notice being different until you are gone.

If I were you I'd plan on a meeting after she turns 18. As of right now you are visiting a minor, and on a federal level I don't know if that counts as well as if she was over 18. They do require her to be over 18 to start the K-1 process, and technically she is ineligible for it before that. Maybe be here for then and submit the paperwork together while you are here? This may not be essential but is one more item for your case. I did not need photos to get K1 started but others have submitted entire albums and receive an RFE.

Stick around these forums, follow some timelines, and you see see what we have gone through and hopefully you can avoid some bumps that we hit. Good luck!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi Newbie,

I think you got all the answers but just want to add a little,

1. Make sure that all the pics you took or are going to take with your fiancee has the corect date and time imprint on it.

2. keep all the receipts of money transactions, that is, all the receipt of the money you have been sending to her either as a gift or support

3. Keep the receipt of the engament ring with you.

4. If possible arrange for to visit you you here in the UK, probably when she turns 18, it might help a lot

Lastly, don't rush anything so that you won,t make a mistake

None of this is actually necessary for a K1 through London. Maybe you've been reading suggestions for Manila or another embassy. To get the petition approved you have to have met in person in the last 2 years and be free to marry. You don't have to have an engagement ring or send money or have dates on a photo or visit the UK numerous times. And at the interview in London you don't bring any proof of relationship or engagement or photos or chat logs or your facebook page. They won't even look at them if you do.

[bigdog 376]

Keep good records, both of you have exactly the same documents, see the VJ guides and posts regarding K1 and Uk. Good Luck.

[Chris921 13]

None of this is actually necessary for a K1 through London. Maybe you've been reading suggestions for Manila or another embassy. To get the petition approved you have to have met in person in the last 2 years and be free to marry. You don't have to have an engagement ring or send money or have dates on a photo or visit the UK numerous times. And at the interview in London you don't bring any proof of relationship or engagement or photos or chat logs or your facebook page. They won't even look at them if you do.

what he says about any proof or relationship or engagement is true. i took all sorts of proof and such and all they asked for were originals and copies of my birth cert and police cert, my passport and the I-134 just of the fiance, because i was using co-sponsor and they said they didn't need that one

Edited October 6, 2011 by Chris921

[craig_b1990 1]

what Andie says is true for the last week since i got the notice for my interview for aos i cannot stop checking this website like 20 times+ a day, it is good for passing time. and helps qwell my nerves on no EaD. You're alot more prepared then i was when we started it, considering we were planning on her coming to the uk but changed my mind in july and we wanted to send in the paperwork in august, so yeah more organized but yes, i have no worries about your going through the process, you seem like you're good at planning and very organized, which is alot of paperwork to organize

Glad to hear of your notice of interview must be exciting, yet nerve-racking, and wow, that's very last minute, but I'm sure it will all work out for you Thank you for the compliments ha-ha, I think I'm a bit OCD when it comes to planning and preparing, but that is a great "skill" for this situation I suppose.

Gammon in essence is just of the hind leg of a pig, so it shouldn't be very hard to procure, (even if you have to go to a custom meats shop, it is just like a slice of the thigh of the hind leg)

Okay, thanks again i will let Melaina know, and look for it when I'm next there I'm sure. Would love some over Christmas.

Just wanted to wish you luck in the process seems like all your questions have been answered! lots of luck to you ! It's a long process but worth it in the end

Thank you! I do look forward to the challenge of it, but my goal to reach, as you all know, is something priceless, something that cannot be explained.

I don't think you are biting back. Not at all.

I'm not all that far from South Carolina. At least not "far" as we consider that in the US. It's a lovely state. I can't see though that the employment picture is stellar there. North Carolina has ranked ahead of South Carolina for ages, and it's in the dumper now. Do you know that the unemployment rate in the UK is lower than in the US?

Have you researched the type of job you would need in the US to offer affordable health care? It's hard to decipher from an employment ad just what your underlying costs for health coverage would be. People in Melaina's area should be able to tell you which employer pays the most towards employee coverage. If you are researching health care costs in the US, you might want to google average family cost for coverage.

If you are looking at advertisements for government jobs, check to see if you as an alien would be eligible for those jobs. Most US Federal jobs require US citizenship for employment. State, County and City jobs - not so much.

I'd suggest you and Malaina have a discussion about what happens to a family in the US when a job is lost. How long unemployment compensation can be claimed in the US. Whether or not a family gets any help with their rent or mortgage in the event of a job loss. Whether or not they can go to the doctor or hospital when they lose the health coverage associated with that job.

You say you've discussed children receiving a US education. Education in the US is very much determined by the district the child lives in. And costs for a degree at a university are far more than costs in the UK. My son's bachelors degree in Music Education cost over 60K.

Thank you again, and okay, thanks I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making a bad impression, I am REALLY excited I found this site, and eager.

South Carolina is beautiful, I agree. Honestly, I haven't researched jobs in the way of including health costs and such costs otherwise, however I am fully aware of costs that are different to here in the UK, that I have to take into consideration. I also do realise that it is better in the UK, but from personal experience, where I am, there is nothing what-so-ever in terms of a promising career unless I move around the UK, and how I see it is, why should I move around the UK, I'll just stick out what I have now until I can hit the USA.

I have spoken to her friends/family about jobs, career prospects and income etc. I will do more talking to people about that as you suggested though, I can never have too much information here. I am just looking at jobs in general that are advertised, some do crop up where I (as an alien or as a foreigner without sponsor) can apply, so I do, but mostly I don't see those, however I use that to my advantage so I can see what the jobs are like at the moment, and which are the big employers. I do understand what you're saying and will certainly keep it in mind.

Again, I will take your advice on that conversation too, without a doubt. I know the cost of US education is greater than that of the UK, but from what I know and have seen so far of schooling, I think it provides a better education all round, from what they learn to how they learn it, I just admire it. (I know its through rose tinted spectacles at the moment, and not all people turn out like the people I have met), I may look into my personal education in a good few years, certainly nothing so soon after settling out there as I need to be realistic once I am there about starting life and my goals from there on out.

One thing I really really really LOVE about America (at least my experience so far), is that everyone seems polite, people hold doors for you, you have "please" and "thank you", no matter what, everyone is friendly, I mean no one knew who I was, yet I had people saying "Hi" to me as they passed, and being called "sir" that was a big shock, parents being called "miss....*name*), I just think all the little things like that are amazing about America and inspire me to be there, as well as my girlfriend ha-ha!. Whereas in England, (where I am at least) there are no manners, my job is working in an off licence, next to a council estate, so you get 90% of the customers claiming benefits, yet they drink 16cans a day, smoke 40 cigarettes (and marijuana, a lot of the time) and I work hard to save all I can and probably come out with less £ per week than a majority of those. Very few even give you the decency of looking at you when you serve them. However, I am always polite and courteous, its how I am, and I just look around me and see people who seem to have no ambition, no manners, no dreams and only care for themselves. I really sound like I'm painting England badly, I dont mean to, but just where I am at the moment could be better, especially with what my goals are. I think America provides that prosperity that i strive for. I could go on, but i wont.

Thank you again for the resonses, sorry for the novel above ^.

Just a few more questions?

What timeline should i expect for the process? maybe what people have got so far. I have looked at the time line table and see it varies depending on the filing location, etc, anything from 180days to 300+days.

Also, with her being 18, and us being a young couple in general, do you think this could cause any hiccups at all?

Thank you!

[little_g 35]

Best of luck with going forward with your K1 Visa process down the road just remember it is a long process so be patient! You also mentioned working your '#######' off to save. I think it should be mentioned the process is VERY expensive so SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! The fee for applying is $340.00 then there is the cost of obtaining the Police certificate at 35 quid and the required London Knightsbridge medical which is around 245 quid depending on what you need in regard to vaccines plus you have to travel there from Leeds so I am assuming a Virgin train. Then at the interview you pay $350.00 for the visa and then the cost of shipping, dont forget the interview is in London (yes again and yes weeks after your medical) so you will need another trip down there. Once all is said and done and you have flown/moved over here and married your sweetheart you must then apply for A.O.S (Adjustment of Status) so that you can get your Green Card to stay and work in the USA as well as travel out of it and still be able to re-enter (k-1 is a ONE time use Visa, you come in and leave and boom you are back at square one!) Total cost of A.O.S.? $1070.00

I am not telling you this to scare you I am telling this to prepare you. I know a few of those costs threw me for a loop! Best of luck with your Visa Journey and use this site often, it's a life saver!! Especially the UK section

-Genee

[craig_b1990 1]

Let me just say that you are in the right place for your journey. This board has been a fantastic help to me and many others. My fiancee is from the UK, we visited back and forth several times like you did. The printouts of the itineraries and passport stamps were fine for evidence. I did not include photos in my particular case and the I-129f went through right quick.

What you will love or hate depends on you. There are things I like about England and things that bother me. I am sure your list will be different than mine. Some of the things you may not even notice being different until you are gone.

If I were you I'd plan on a meeting after she turns 18. As of right now you are visiting a minor, and on a federal level I don't know if that counts as well as if she was over 18. They do require her to be over 18 to start the K-1 process, and technically she is ineligible for it before that. Maybe be here for then and submit the paperwork together while you are here? This may not be essential but is one more item for your case. I did not need photos to get K1 started but others have submitted entire albums and receive an RFE.

Stick around these forums, follow some timelines, and you see see what we have gone through and hopefully you can avoid some bumps that we hit. Good luck!

Okay, thank you, We planned on not starting until she's passed 18 anyway, just because i knew that its better to be safe than sorry, and make sure everything is above board and legit, even if it means waiting a little longer, I would rather do it the right way. I think the idea of travelling and doing the papers together is something I will take up, its been suggested a few times, and is very sensible, and yeah no offence, but I want to learn from everyone's mistakes so I don't make them . I certainly will be sticking around here big time, I might even become somewhat an annoyance :S I'll try not to though

None of this is actually necessary for a K1 through London. Maybe you've been reading suggestions for Manila or another embassy. To get the petition approved you have to have met in person in the last 2 years and be free to marry. You don't have to have an engagement ring or send money or have dates on a photo or visit the UK numerous times. And at the interview in London you don't bring any proof of relationship or engagement or photos or chat logs or your facebook page. They won't even look at them if you do.

I will take that all on board, and try to remember it all, I think I will prepare pictures and logs etc, just for my piece of mind (I believe what you're saying) I'd just rather have something and not need it, than not have something at all, if that makes sense?

Keep good records, both of you have exactly the same documents, see the VJ guides and posts regarding K1 and Uk. Good Luck.

Already do, and will carry on doing so. Thanks!

what he says about any proof or relationship or engagement is true. i took all sorts of proof and such and all they asked for were originals and copies of my birth cert and police cert, my passport and the I-134 just of the fiance, because i was using co-sponsor and they said they didn't need that one

Thanks again! and that could be useful to know as I will be using a co-sponsor by the look of it too.

Also just noticed 'little_g' post, that is very helpful...was going to be by next question about costs... but you beat me to it. That is very useful to know of the rough costs. I'm already saving a good bit.... but I have fore fitted my love for 6 months straight...SOOOO hard to do, but its to save for what we need it for. I can't believe all the help I'm getting, thank you for such a great welcome!

[sarah9 14]

It's such a shame that you have that picture of the UK! Like you said a lot of it is down to where you are living - but can I ask a question?

Is that where you have always lived? If it's all you've ever known, then yes life in the US is going to seem fabulous!

I'm not being negative, and feel free to ignore my post, but i just wanted to say a few things

How long were your stays in the US? I had 2 stays of 3 months each before i decided to make the move..... and i thought i knew what was awaiting me.... but I didn't!

When you are on holiday, life is different. When you LIVE here, thats when you really start to notice the difference! I honestly thought that i had researched..... but living here is soooooo much more expensive than i could ever have dreamt!

A lot of things are different from state to state, so there's no point in going into details - but if I knew then what i know now..... I think we would have made our life in the UK.

It made me smile when you said that everyone seems so polite and happy - that was exactly my first impression...... how I wish that was really what each day was like! I think it has a lot to do with the types of places you go to when you're a tourist compared to where you go once you're a resident People here can be just as rude as at home lol

As others have said it's an incredibly expensive process, and it takes a loooooooong time! We filed early Oct 2010, and my visa was approved June 2nd - I moved here 28th June!

Not sure if you've read up on the process yet - but if you do a K1, once you get here you can't work until you file for AOS, and either you get your greencard, or the EAD (EAD should come first in theory, but in my case it's looking like my greencard might arrive first!) So be prepared to support yourself for 6 months! It might not take that long - but it's already been 3 months for me! And that's only until you are ALLOWED to work...... then you have to actually find a job!

Like you've said - you're going to wait until she's 18, so you have plenty of time to save - but in my opinion - do some rough calculations of how much money you think you need...... then double it!!!!!! My husband works, and he pays all the bills (until i can work) but i don't feel comfortable letting him pay for MY things..... that's just the kind of girl I am! So I'm still eating away at my savings each week!

It entirely depends on how close you are to your family - but i'm very close to mine...... and a little something i had not factored in was the cost of buying & sending home birthday/christmas presents for everyone! I clearly came at the wrong time of year because i've had about 6 birthdays so far!!!! I'm becoming an expert at picking presents that don't weigh much!

But anyway, you are doing the right thing in asking questions early on, it's better to be prepared!

Just don't make the same mistake i did..... I thought that life here wasn't much different to life in the UK - BUT IT IS! It will probably be easier for you to adapt, as you're very young & haven't experienced a lot of responsibilities yet (not meant to sound patronising - i just mean things like buying a house etc) For me.... at the ancient age of 29.... I find myself saying "WHAT???? BUT THAT'S SO STUPID!" on a daily basis - everytime i discover something else that i think is easier in the UK

Ooooh one more thing - not asking about you're personal situation - but if you've built up a good credit rating - it doesn't transfer to the US. I'm only saying this as i'm guessing your girlfriends is non existant due to her age. If you do have one - remember you won't be able to get much in the way of credit cards/ car loan / mortgage - until you build up your score over here. Just another little thing I didn't think of before i moved!

So in summary..... save lots of money, and be prepared for the rose tinted glasses to fall off eventually.... not everyone will call you "sir" and have a big grin on their face...... but if i'm wrong and everyone is always happy..... i'm moving to your town

Good luck!

[craig_b1990 1]

It's such a shame that you have that picture of the UK! Like you said a lot of it is down to where you are living - but can I ask a question?

Is that where you have always lived? If it's all you've ever known, then yes life in the US is going to seem fabulous!

I'm not being negative, and feel free to ignore my post, but i just wanted to say a few things

How long were your stays in the US? I had 2 stays of 3 months each before i decided to make the move..... and i thought i knew what was awaiting me.... but I didn't!

When you are on holiday, life is different. When you LIVE here, thats when you really start to notice the difference! I honestly thought that i had researched..... but living here is soooooo much more expensive than i could ever have dreamt!

A lot of things are different from state to state, so there's no point in going into details - but if I knew then what i know now..... I think we would have made our life in the UK.

It made me smile when you said that everyone seems so polite and happy - that was exactly my first impression...... how I wish that was really what each day was like! I think it has a lot to do with the types of places you go to when you're a tourist compared to where you go once you're a resident People here can be just as rude as at home lol

As others have said it's an incredibly expensive process, and it takes a loooooooong time! We filed early Oct 2010, and my visa was approved June 2nd - I moved here 28th June!

Not sure if you've read up on the process yet - but if you do a K1, once you get here you can't work until you file for AOS, and either you get your greencard, or the EAD (EAD should come first in theory, but in my case it's looking like my greencard might arrive first!) So be prepared to support yourself for 6 months! It might not take that long - but it's already been 3 months for me! And that's only until you are ALLOWED to work...... then you have to actually find a job!

Like you've said - you're going to wait until she's 18, so you have plenty of time to save - but in my opinion - do some rough calculations of how much money you think you need...... then double it!!!!!! My husband works, and he pays all the bills (until i can work) but i don't feel comfortable letting him pay for MY things..... that's just the kind of girl I am! So I'm still eating away at my savings each week!

It entirely depends on how close you are to your family - but i'm very close to mine...... and a little something i had not factored in was the cost of buying & sending home birthday/christmas presents for everyone! I clearly came at the wrong time of year because i've had about 6 birthdays so far!!!! I'm becoming an expert at picking presents that don't weigh much!

But anyway, you are doing the right thing in asking questions early on, it's better to be prepared!

Just don't make the same mistake i did..... I thought that life here wasn't much different to life in the UK - BUT IT IS! It will probably be easier for you to adapt, as you're very young & haven't experienced a lot of responsibilities yet (not meant to sound patronising - i just mean things like buying a house etc) For me.... at the ancient age of 29.... I find myself saying "WHAT???? BUT THAT'S SO STUPID!" on a daily basis - everytime i discover something else that i think is easier in the UK

Ooooh one more thing - not asking about you're personal situation - but if you've built up a good credit rating - it doesn't transfer to the US. I'm only saying this as i'm guessing your girlfriends is non existant due to her age. If you do have one - remember you won't be able to get much in the way of credit cards/ car loan / mortgage - until you build up your score over here. Just another little thing I didn't think of before i moved!

So in summary..... save lots of money, and be prepared for the rose tinted glasses to fall off eventually.... not everyone will call you "sir" and have a big grin on their face...... but if i'm wrong and everyone is always happy..... i'm moving to your town

Good luck!

No, dont worry about it, i take it all on board, none of it i see as patronising, i asked for advice and help, and that is what i am getting, i want it as real as i can get, i need to know what to expect. It's late and i have work early in the morning, but i have read all you said, and tbh i agree with a lot of what you say, and if not, then i certainly see your points, i will take EVERYTHING on board to help me, i have no credit rating, i read up about it, and found it to be pointless if im going to move, besides i HATE credit cards anyway. Haha, the glasses will fall off, but i hope i will take it all with a pinch of salt and carry on taking every day as it comes, hoping the effect wont wear off too quick, although i realise it will hit reality with a bang. You are right about me and me being younger, i realise i have no responsibilites, i have no house, children, im selling my car because of the ridiculous cost of being a young driver. So im more or less "free" to be who i am, and i want to take the plunge and move to the USA to be with my girlfriend whilst i am still in this situation. If we decide we dont want to be there all our lives we have the choice of returning here, but the way i look at it now, i have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Thank you for all the advice, and words of wisdom, i do take it all on board, i dont take any offence what so ever to any of it, i realise i am young and inexperienced really, but that is why i am asking and have asked for help, and i am so grateful for what you have all given me

[JoannaV 174]

Your young ages shouldn't be a problem. It's really not something the Embassy considers at all. So long as everything is legal and you don't forget her name (lol) they don't try to deconstruct your relationship.

You sound like you know a lot about the process already, and are clever enough to work out what is needed as you go. So my main advice would be to not spend too much time on this website :B Other than finding out a few of the things you can do in advance (eg vaccinations) you will do fine just getting the forms from uscis.gov and following the instructions. You don't need to be over-thinking anything. What I'm really saying, is there is no need for you to go reading all the posts from people applying from other countries where the interviews are stricter. If you can remember that what they're saying doesn't apply to your situation then that's fine :-)

Did you consider the possibility of marrying her and then applying for a spousal visa (which would allow you to work immediately once you moved there)? Of course I can understand if you rejected that possibility, not everyone wants to spend their first months of married life in separate countries!

The only other thing I'll say is that you both will have to give some thought to health insurance before you move over there. Not only for you but for her. If she is currently covered under her parents' plan then I think once she marries she will lose that. So y'all will have to work out what you want to do about that, and how much you're prepared to pay for what.

Haha and I was just thinking, you guys don't really have a choice of where to live initially. The UK decided you both have to be 21 to get residency based on marriage :-(

[craig_b1990 1]

Your young ages shouldn't be a problem. It's really not something the Embassy considers at all. So long as everything is legal and you don't forget her name (lol) they don't try to deconstruct your relationship.

You sound like you know a lot about the process already, and are clever enough to work out what is needed as you go. So my main advice would be to not spend too much time on this website :B Other than finding out a few of the things you can do in advance (eg vaccinations) you will do fine just getting the forms from uscis.gov and following the instructions. You don't need to be over-thinking anything. What I'm really saying, is there is no need for you to go reading all the posts from people applying from other countries where the interviews are stricter. If you can remember that what they're saying doesn't apply to your situation then that's fine :-)

Did you consider the possibility of marrying her and then applying for a spousal visa (which would allow you to work immediately once you moved there)? Of course I can understand if you rejected that possibility, not everyone wants to spend their first months of married life in separate countries!

The only other thing I'll say is that you both will have to give some thought to health insurance before you move over there. Not only for you but for her. If she is currently covered under her parents' plan then I think once she marries she will lose that. So y'all will have to work out what you want to do about that, and how much you're prepared to pay for what.

Haha and I was just thinking, you guys don't really have a choice of where to live initially. The UK decided you both have to be 21 to get residency based on marriage :-(

Ha-ha, yeah i certainly have done my reading up on this and im fairly confident about what i know, i will stick to only reading relevant posts (k1 visa to the USA) otherwise its pointless information as you say. We did consider the spousal visa, but as far as i know it isnt much quicker? plus, the fact we wouldnt want to be apart straigh after marraige like you said. I will look deeply into the insurance for us both, i didnt know she would lose hers, so that is next on my agenda to figure out i suppose, and yeah, we dont have much choice with it being 21 for the UK, but my will to move to the US is bigger than hers to be in the UK for now, we have both agreed we will come back to the UK for my family etc as much as we can, and we have discussed other things such as moving back here in the long term future possibly. But nothing is set in stone with that, its just a plan to have the best of both worlds i suppose. Thanks for the help! Also great to know the age wont play a big part, we wont knock down our relationship obviously, but just wanted to check about our ages etc. Thanks agian!

[JoannaV 174]

We did consider the spousal visa, but as far as i know it isnt much quicker?

Sometimes one is slightly quicker, sometimes the other. The main difference is that with the spousal visa once you enter the US you have a green card and can work and stuff. With the fiance visa, once you enter the US and get married you then have to pay out another $1000 to adjust your status and get your green card, and it would be at least 3 months until you could work. But you may feel these differences are not worth being apart after marrying.

[kennym 275]

Guys,

Sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advise and some people want to dscourage you about things in the US...

My only advise is this;

Dont over analyze this..

The US can be whatever you want it to be.. If you're commited to each-other, then you can make it work regardless of what life throws at you.. Don't be discouraged by the comments regarding the US, frankly the bad stuff can be found regardless of where you live..

The reasons for your descisions are "Your Reasons", the only question is, are you commited to each other and can you work through whatever life throws at you together? If you answer that question, then it doesnt matter where you decide to live.. There are millions of people happy here in the US, just like there are in UK, and any other country..

What makes you happy??

In terms of the immigration, there are a lot of good advise and resources here.. Good luck..

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Kenny -

People who are moving to the US from another country had better "over analyze" it. It's a big decision.