New to the site

[perez525 8]

Good Afternoon,

I came on here to see others experience in this hard road and how they managed to hold a smile and continue on with life. I have been dating Leury for almost 2 years and we are looking at our options to be together here in Boston. We are looking at the Fiance Visa. I came on here for the support and advice from everyone.

Thank you for listening

Hi Yoly! Welcome to VJ!! This is the best thing you could have ever done. I'm from Philadelphia and filed the I-129F petition for fiance (K1 Visa)...it was the best option for me, because of the processing time it takes for him to come, etc... Like the rest of the members have said, it's importat you find out what's the best option for you. We are all here to help and the guides and the members share everything you need to know. I have met people who filed the I-130 /CR-1, and have helped me so much in every way...I had sent my petition before I joined the site, and even though everything went through perfectly (without the use of any lawyer), I wished I had found out about it before because there were some things I thought were wrong with my petition and it really overwhelmed me. So unless you feel that this is something you can't handle, don't waste your money on a lawyer. Any questions you may have feel free to ask away...everyone is super friendly and supportive.

Good luck on your journey!

[perez525 8]

I had posted this on another member's question about how to prepare her I-129F petition

you should send these documents with the petition, if you do decide to go to K1/K2 route.

Hope it helps

*cover letter detailing what's included in the package and outlined*

-I-129f (if he has children and they are not coming with him, make sure you list them anyways)

-G325A (4 copies of each signed and dated petitioner/beneficiary)

-G1145 (so you can get notified by text & email once they receive it, send RFE, or approval notice)

-personal check,money order or cashiers check payable to US Department of Homeland Security for $340

-passport style photos (2 of each, petitioner and beneficiary -make sure you write your name on the back)

-letters of intent to marry (signed and dated for each petitioner/beneficiary)

-proof that youre a USC (birth certificate copies, passport copies)

-birth certificates (copies for K1 & K2, even though it's not needed I still sent it)

-pictures (i sent like almost 20 pictures all of them were of him,his baby, and myself and some with our families)

-copies of passport stamps showing each entrance and exit into the country (including first page with photo & issued and expiration date)

-copies of airline tickets ( i didn't send the boarding passes because I usually trash them but I purchase all my flights through cheaptickets.com and they keep records of my flights since 2005 plus they match my entrances and exits into Santo Domingo according to my passport)

-copy of my state DL (just did this so they can match my home address)

-divorce certificates (if you or him have been married in the past)

-phone records (only sent about 2 - 3 months worth of cell phone billing statements)

-calling cards (only sent 3, but then I highlighted all the times I call the same number on the back of the card on my cell phone bill because it shows I bought over 50 calling cards in 3 months)

I typed everything and printed at least 3 copies of each, and also saved it on my computer and emailed it to myself. It makes it more clearer for USCIS to read.

Question #18 in the I-129F, when you describe how you guys have met, you don't have to send a whole story, I simply wrote when & where was the first time we met, my following trips, and what date we were engaged. All they care about is the dates and that you guys have seen each other in person within the last 2 years. meaning that if you send your petition today you have from May 2010 until May 2012 to have seen him in person atleast once.

I didn't send any letters, nor emails because we usually talk through MSN, facebook,and whatsapp. Another thing I didn't send was the letter of intent to marry and this had me stressed out so much because I thought I was going to get a RFE but thank God I didn't. However, It's mandatory for the interview. Now, just to be on the safe side, I will send it because you don't know what rep is going to go through your package.

It's not mandatory for you to send their birth ceriticates either, I did it, and translated it his daughter's wrong and was also scared about that. Thank God they didn't notice, or realized it wasn't needed.

Another tip is that you must not leave any questions blank. If it's not applicable make sure you write N/A, or if it's in regards to any experience or numbers write NONE. Make sure before you send it you review it to check nothing is left blank.

You can also google samples of cover letters for I-129F that way is organized and they know what they're looking at when they see your package and God willing you can get a response within 4 to 5 months with no RFE.

Hope the information I gave you helps and remember every case is different and everyone uses different ways of communicating with one another, just giving you my input on what I sent out, and thank God this is how I got approved in exactly 4 months. Any questions you have all the members will be happy to help you as they have done for me.

[~Yoly~ 4]

I recently got back from DR not to long ago and my next trip is in October so I am going to wait to go back to talk about everything! I am more aiming for the K1 but I want it to be mutual!

[MarielManuel 0]

Ok, I am going to have to do just that to be safe! Thank you!

i had calling cards from 08 and 09 and i took like 250 cards but i didnt really use them but tienes k ir super preparadaa and you would like to know that K1 are investigated more and they give them a little more of a hard time but CR1 are very smooth..theres a couple of us with CR1 that had intervies this month like Steph, alia and me were CR1 you can read our reviews and have an idea..and then there were a couple of others with K1 like perreira and domrepmiami so you can read theirs...y ver cual te conviene mas

[~Yoly~ 4]

Mucha gente me dises not to do the CR-1 porque no soy de aya and they gonna think something is up! Thats why I always thought of the K1.....

ME voy a tener que ir pa casa and read stories on here from home so I can have a clear mind.

[jolusa 1]

Welcome Yoly!

I say skip the lawyer and practice patience! Like everyone else has said, all you need to do is read and most likely your answers can be easily found, and if not, just ask.

Again, welcome and good luck!

[MarielManuel 0]

Mucha gente me dises not to do the CR-1 porque no soy de aya and they gonna think something is up! Thats why I always thought of the K1.....

ME voy a tener que ir pa casa and read stories on here from home so I can have a clear mind.

bueno no se que decirte i opted to do CR1 because it was the best for e since we were togehe for three years when we married y nos casamos and i filed de una vez..it doesnt eally matter if youre from there or not as long as you have all your evidence of your relationship your good and also CR1 i believe its less money that you have to spend soo pero cualkiercosa ya tu save you can send me a messag lo k sea k necesitess

[~Yoly~ 4]

Marie, te voy a mandar un mensaje mas tarde if thats ok with you

[StephanieM 60]

I recently got back from DR not to long ago and my next trip is in October so I am going to wait to go back to talk about everything! I am more aiming for the K1 but I want it to be mutual!

Sounds good, take your time. If he loves you he will wait for you. This process is not only painful because of the distance, it is VERY expensive, so the more you work and save the better.

Mucha gente me dises not to do the CR-1 porque no soy de aya and they gonna think something is up! Thats why I always thought of the K1.....

ME voy a tener que ir pa casa and read stories on here from home so I can have a clear mind.

Who told you this? And what do you mean you are not from over there? This has nothing to do with it.

At first I was going to do K1 also, but then I read up and saw that CR-1 is significantly cheaper in the long run. Processing times are not that much different than K1 (maybe one or two months, sometimes the same). The BIG benefit CR-1 has is that your fiance (or husband if you do CR-1) will be able to work almost immediately after entering USA. He will receive a social security card and green card within 4-6 weeks after arriving here. This is not the case for K-1 where you have to adjust status in USA and he will have to wait at least 6 months before he can work. This was what sold me (and the money of course!), so I opted for CR-1. I am so glad I did. I am not trying to steer you in any direction, just telling you my experience in choosing the best option. But you can read up like others have said and compare the two.

[fantonledzepp 159]

I read the Link! Thanx!

Is it best to have a lawyer help you out with it! (just because it does look for confusing

I just want have everything go smoothly!!!!!!!1

Absolutely no need for a lawyer. If you do your homework and triple-check everything, and then check it once more before sending your package, you'll be fine. I read the guidelines here and on other websites, (this one was the best), and I got my approval in four months. No request for evidence sent.

Best of luck!

[MarielManuel 0]

Sounds good, take your time. If he loves you he will wait for you. This process is not only painful because of the distance, it is VERY expensive, so the more you work and save the better.

Who told you this? And what do you mean you are not from over there? This has nothing to do with it.

At first I was going to do K1 also, but then I read up and saw that CR-1 is significantly cheaper in the long run. Processing times are not that much different than K1 (maybe one or two months, sometimes the same). The BIG benefit CR-1 has is that your fiance (or husband if you do CR-1) will be able to work almost immediately after entering USA. He will receive a social security card and green card within 4-6 weeks after arriving here. This is not the case for K-1 where you have to adjust status in USA and he will have to wait at least 6 months before he can work. This was what sold me (and the money of course!), so I opted for CR-1. I am so glad I did. I am not trying to steer you in any direction, just telling you my experience in choosing the best option. But you can read up like others have said and compare the two.

You are so right steph at first i wanted to do K1 dike ma rapiido but hey it takes almost the same time and its way more money to do K1 y tambn CR1 has its advantages like the quickness of the SS and GC and of course the money plus i think that K1 es como doble trabajo because the Adjustment Of Status and hey cuando ese hombre llegue va a querer trabajar de una vezz so thats why i opted for CR1...me and hubby discussed about it and he told me he didnt want to come and sit for a good 6 months sin hacer nada SO YOLY TALK TO YOUR LOVE AND TAKE WHATS BETTER FOR YOU GUYS

[~Yoly~ 4]

Thank you guys for all of the input and the support! My love said the same about the C1 para trabajar de una ves! I think that is a good benefit for the C1! I will keep you guys posted! I just cant wait to go back in Oct

[GAFL 16]

My question,

Someone suggested the CR-1 visa to me too when I first joined. Could someone who has experienced the CR-1 process explain to me the difference between that and K-1?

Thank you.

[MarielManuel 0]

My question,

Someone suggested the CR-1 visa to me too when I first joined. Could someone who has experienced the CR-1 process explain to me the difference between that and K-1?

Thank you.

Hi...i dont know as much of K1 as i know of CR1...i did CR1, and my husband just came with me last saturday..CR1 is I130 from and you must file Affidavit Of Support and DS230...i opted for CR1 beccause to my beliefs CR1 is cheaper because its the first fee which i paid $420, then $88 for AOS, and then $404 for the Immigtrant visa application, which is the DS230. When your husband or wife gets in the US he will wait for his documents no longer than a month, it could take longer but the most important the SSN takes about 3-6 weeks. On the pther hand, K1 takes longer and of course when the SO enters the US Adjustment Of Status has to be requested...IF IM WRONG SOMEONE PLEASE CORRECT ME but i personally beiieve that it is more paperwork and the same amount of time for K1 and of course more money spent..im so glad i did CR1

[Terca 6]

Welcome Yoly, another consejo is to keep your "timeline" up to date. When you have questions people can refer to it to better help you.