A few fiance K1 visa questions that're bugging me

[G. Rod 0]

Hiya, nice to be here; this place has been quite informative for me, so I thought i'd join to see what you fellas had to share with me in terms of a few questions I haven't been able to find answers to.

I am a US citizen filing a fiance K1 I-129F for my fiance who is frm Belgium. The consulate in Brussels doesn't seem to be quite handy with answers and don't seem to reply to e-mails regarding our questions.

Our petition has been approved and she just about finished getting everything required in her checklist to mail it out, so are the few things bothering me that I can't seem to find a direct answer to.

1. When she mails out her checklist signed and dated, does she just simply mail the checklist by itself to the consulate, or does she need to include the affidavit of support and such? I'm under the impression that she only sends out hte checklist and holds on to everything until the interview.

2. I probably don't make enough to support her, I receive social security benefits as well as disability but I live in a shared home with other relatives that would gladly come in as a joint sponser. How would I do this?? Would a family member also need an affidavit of support form?

Many thanks.

[Sandra G. 5,048]

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Edited July 2, 2012 by sandranj

[Sandra G. 5,048]

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Edited July 2, 2012 by sandranj

[Sandra G. 5,048]

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Edited July 2, 2012 by sandranj

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

1. When she mails out her checklist signed and dated, does she just simply mail the checklist by itself to the consulate, or does she need to include the affidavit of support and such? I'm under the impression that she only sends out hte checklist and holds on to everything until the interview.

The process at this stage varies from one consulate to another, but most consulates don't take the affidavit of support until the day of the interview. The consulate my wife went through only wanted a signed DS-2001 and a DS-230 with part 1 filled out. Everything else was supposed to be brought to the interview. Did she get any instructions from the consulate?

2. I probably don't make enough to support her, I receive social security benefits as well as disability but I live in a shared home with other relatives that would gladly come in as a joint sponser. How would I do this?? Would a family member also need an affidavit of support form?

Many thanks.

Your joint sponsor would also fill out an affidavit of support, include a copy of their latest tax return or a transcript of that return from the IRS, and include some document proving they are a US citizen or permanent resident. Their income must be sufficient for their own household size, which includes your fiancee.

[Kelly C 16]

Here is a link to the poverty guidelines. Good luck in your Journey.

http://www.uscis.gov...form/i-864p.pdf

Also if you update your timeline and display the country flag, this allows fellow VJers to give appropriate advise etc.

Edited July 3, 2012 by Kelly C

[G. Rod 0]

The process at this stage varies from one consulate to another, but most consulates don't take the affidavit of support until the day of the interview. The consulate my wife went through only wanted a signed DS-2001 and a DS-230 with part 1 filled out. Everything else was supposed to be brought to the interview. Did she get any instructions from the consulate?

Thanks for the reply. She did recieve info regarding which forms to fill out and everything and I believe everything is pretty done except the confusion we're having with what to do about the support issue. I keep hearing from people what you mentioned to hold on to everything and only mail back what they're asking for, which is the checklist that she needs to sign.

Your joint sponsor would also fill out an affidavit of support, include a copy of their latest tax return or a transcript of that return from the IRS, and include some document proving they are a US citizen or permanent resident. Their income must be sufficient for their own household size, which includes your fiancee.

Okay! Thanks for this! So should my relative who will be joint-sponsering her fill out a form I-134?

[G. Rod 0]

Here is a link to the poverty guidelines. Good luck in your Journey.

http://www.uscis.gov...form/i-864p.pdf

Also if you update your timeline and display the country flag, this allows fellow VJers to give appropriate advise etc.

Thank you for the link, I appreciate it.

Timeline! Will update that soon as I can, thanks again.

[HK12 273]

Thanks for the reply. She did recieve info regarding which forms to fill out and everything and I believe everything is pretty done except the confusion we're having with what to do about the support issue. I keep hearing from people what you mentioned to hold on to everything and only mail back what they're asking for, which is the checklist that she needs to sign.

Okay! Thanks for this! So should my relative who will be joint-sponsering her fill out a form I-134?

Yes, they would have to fill out the I-134.

As for the Affidavit of Support, I agree with what Jim VaPhuong said. The procedure differs from each consulate to the other. Over here in Germany, the consulate just recently changed the whole process; for many years, you did not have to send in any documents (except for the forms you had to fill out) - it was sufficient to present them at the interview. However, now that they have changed the process (since May I believe), you have to send ANY documents (including the affidavit of support, birth certificate, etc.) beforehand via snail mail.

If you cannot get a hold of the consulate in Belgium via e-mail, isn't there a phone number you could call to ask them?

Edited July 3, 2012 by HK12

[G. Rod 0]

Yes, they would have to fill out the I-134.

As for the Affidavit of Support, I agree with what Jim VaPhuong said. The procedure differs from each consulate to the other. Over here in Germany, the consulate just recently changed the whole process; for many years, you did not have to send in any documents (except for the forms you had to fill out) - it was sufficient to present them at the interview. However, now that they have changed the process (since May I believe), you have to send ANY documents (including the affidavit of support, birth certificate, etc.) beforehand via snail mail.

Wait, I'm confused, so both I-134's (the joint sponsor's and mine) need to be mailed to her Belgian consulate or taken with her to the interview? But wait, after re-reading this entire thread, it would seem that some consulates differ in some way. Her checklist noted to only send in the checklist and not any important document, so hopefully it's alright to hang on to her stuff until her interview.

If you cannot get a hold of the consulate in Belgium via e-mail, isn't there a phone number you could call to ask them?

E-mail hasn't seemed to have fetched us any results and there is a 15 euro charge for calling and speaking to a representative which we've done once and none of our questions were answered, we were asked to inquire via e-mail. Quite the waste.

On another note: Our approval notice expires in the beginning of August and I'm still in the process of aquiring the joint sponsor's tax transcript, still need to get this paperwork to her in Belgium for her to take to the interview. I'm thinking I'm going to need a letter asking to extend the approval date. Seems like we're cutting it pretty close and I wish to hear what advice you guys and gals have on this.

Edited July 3, 2012 by G. Rod

[HK12 273]

Wait, I'm confused, so both I-134's (the joint sponsor's and mine) need to be mailed to her Belgian consulate or taken with her to the interview? But wait, after re-reading this entire thread, it would seem that some consulates differ in some way. Her checklist noted to only send in the checklist and not any important document, so hopefully it's alright to hang on to her stuff until her interview.

Yes, the consulates' procedures differ considerably from country to country. Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you. If her checklist says not to send the documents and take them with her to the interview instead, then that is what she should do.

E-mail hasn't seemed to have fetched us any results and there is a 15 euro charge for calling and speaking to a representative which we've done once and none of our questions were answered, we were asked to inquire via e-mail. Quite the waste.

Wow! Over here the consulate's hotline costs €1.42 per minute I believe. I have heard they are pretty good at getting back to you in a timely manner at the Frankfurt consulate if you enquire via e-mail though. Seems like this is different in Belgium!

On another note: Our approval notice expires in the beginning of August and I'm still in the process of aquiring the joint sponsor's tax transcript, still need to get this paperwork to her in Belgium for her to take to the interview. I'm thinking I'm going to need a letter asking to extend the approval date. Seems like we're cutting it pretty close and I wish to hear what advice you guys and gals have on this.

Here is an example form for extending approval: http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

[bigdog 376]

Looks like your on the right track. Good Luck

[chidub 2]

I just sent my checklist to Brussels last week. The way I understood the instructions it was pretty clear that that was all they want before arranging the interview. Everything else I'll bring with me then.

[chidub 2]

Sorry for the separate replies...

I've found Brussels quite helpful generally. I had to get my file forwarded from Dublin as I moved during the process and this all went smoothly. They do say when you email them first that if your question can be easily answered in the instructions you receive or online then they won't reply.

We also extended our approval which expired in May. The required a letter from the USC petitioner to request extension. The one time they haven't been helpful actually is in replying to emails about whether the extension has been granted or not. We're thinking positively, and hoping that if there was a problem they would have replied. Guess we'll find out soon!

[G. Rod 0]

Here is an example form for extending approval: http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples

Yeah, I'm using the example letter to extend approval as a template to how I am typing up mine, but the part where the example states: "It is my understanding that pursuant to 9FAM 41.81 N3.1 (Period of validity}" has me confused. Is the period of validity my NOA date where the I-129F expires? I'm not sure what "9FAM 41.81 N3.1" means.

Sorry for the separate replies...

I've found Brussels quite helpful generally. I had to get my file forwarded from Dublin as I moved during the process and this all went smoothly. They do say when you email them first that if your question can be easily answered in the instructions you receive or online then they won't reply.

We also extended our approval which expired in May. The required a letter from the USC petitioner to request extension. The one time they haven't been helpful actually is in replying to emails about whether the extension has been granted or not. We're thinking positively, and hoping that if there was a problem they would have replied. Guess we'll find out soon!

Really? I think we've e-mailed them close to four times already and no response from them. I hope the extended approval for you gets granted.