a few questions about the process

[mroctober430 0]

My fiancée and I are planning to do the K-1 visa route instead of getting married, due my work and small hour windows with Mexican government offices, it's hard for me to get my permission papers.

I do however have a few questions. Most are basic and I have seen many topics, FAQs and even info all been very helpful.

We plan on sending our packet in the middle of April. It will be leaving from CA but how are the service centers dealt with after NAO1, is it random to the CSC and VSC? I rather prefer the Vermont center. Also given this type of visa, what are the projections of the Juarez Consulate MX of approving the visa? What timeframe are we looking at?

Also on photos, how do most send them out? Like place 2-3 in a laminating sheet or like a clear paper pocket. Maybe just in a envelop?

Any info will be appreciated thanks.

[lost_at_sea 995]

My fiancée and I are planning to do the K-1 visa route instead of getting married, due my work and small hour windows with Mexican government offices, it's hard for me to get my permission papers.

I do however have a few questions. Most are basic and I have seen many topics, FAQs and even info all been very helpful.

We plan on sending our packet in the middle of April. It will be leaving from CA but how are the service centers dealt with after NAO1, is it random to the CSC and VSC? I rather prefer the Vermont center. Also given this type of visa, what are the projections of the Juarez Consulate MX of approving the visa? What timeframe are we looking at?

Also on photos, how do most send them out? Like place 2-3 in a laminating sheet or like a clear paper pocket. Maybe just in a envelop?

Any info will be appreciated thanks.

You won't get a choice about service centre. You send it to the Texas LockBox (you can't send direct to service centre), then they forward it on - it does appear it'll go to the one nearest to where the petitioner lives though, however, so I assume yours will end up at CSC. Time frames are about 5 - 9 months for petition processing + 2 to 4 months on the local consulate side (have a look for your local consulate, or other folks who've filed there recently). The big embassy list is here with reviews: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/

For photos, most people send real ones, with the names of people, date, location written on the backs and then put in a clear pocket thing.

Edited March 8, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Dave&Roza 748]

My fiancée and I are planning to do the K-1 visa route instead of getting married, due my work and small hour windows with Mexican government offices, it's hard for me to get my permission papers.

I do however have a few questions. Most are basic and I have seen many topics, FAQs and even info all been very helpful.

We plan on sending our packet in the middle of April. It will be leaving from CA but how are the service centers dealt with after NAO1, is it random to the CSC and VSC? I rather prefer the Vermont center. Also given this type of visa, what are the projections of the Juarez Consulate MX of approving the visa? What timeframe are we looking at?

Also on photos, how do most send them out? Like place 2-3 in a laminating sheet or like a clear paper pocket. Maybe just in a envelop?

Any info will be appreciated thanks.

You do realize that you mail the package to a lockbox facility in TX. Here is the address for USPS mail:

USCIS

P.O. Box 660151

Dallas, TX 75266

Which service center it ends up at depends on where you live:

If you live in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, file with the California Service Center.

If you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and West Virginia, file with the Vermont Service Center.

With digital photos you can print them out two per page and place captions under the photos. For prints, I would tape them to a plain white piece of paper with two per page and write the information under the photo. The easier you make it on the IO the better your petition will go. You may even want to photo copy them and include the photo copy as the prints will be bulky.

Good luck,

Dave

Edited March 8, 2013 by Dave&Roza

[Pitaya 2,577]

My fiancée and I are planning to do the K-1 visa route instead of getting married, due my work and small hour windows with Mexican government offices, it's hard for me to get my permission papers.

I do however have a few questions. Most are basic and I have seen many topics, FAQs and even info all been very helpful.

We plan on sending our packet in the middle of April. It will be leaving from CA but how are the service centers dealt with after NAO1, is it random to the CSC and VSC? I rather prefer the Vermont center. Also given this type of visa, what are the projections of the Juarez Consulate MX of approving the visa? What timeframe are we looking at?

Also on photos, how do most send them out? Like place 2-3 in a laminating sheet or like a clear paper pocket. Maybe just in a envelop?

Any info will be appreciated thanks.

Welcome to the forum.

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

Good luck!!

[mroctober430 0]

k thanks all. one more deal.

on the assembling packet checklist, do I and my fiancee fill out the G-325a? just wanna make sure

[BaBamSam 239]

k thanks all. one more deal.

on the assembling packet checklist, do I and my fiancee fill out the G-325a? just wanna make sure

Yes both of you fill one out and both of you submit a US passport sized photo with your form

[mroctober430 0]

I figure I just bump this up instead of making a new thread.

I'm done with our packet and soon be sending it as soon as I can have her sign it and date it where she needs to. I got a few questions, I don't want no problems and have to get a RFE. So with the packet I'm sending:

6 pictures of us together during various stages of our relationship and 1 with family. Also 1 current.

3 pages of her phone bill which is an American cell phone that I pay for and shows her international calling to my cell. So will show a payment and calling to my cell within' past 3 months.

1 page of toll tickets that I saved when me and her went with my mom and her husband to Nyarit Mexico for a week to show that we traveled together. No photos because all were lost.

Just wondering if this will be enough evidence of a real relationship?

Edited March 17, 2013 by mroctober430

[agrabs 250]

I figure I just bump this up instead of making a new thread.

I'm done with our packet and soon be sending it as soon as I can have her sign it and date it where she needs to. I got a few questions, I don't want no problems and have to get a RFE. So with the packet I'm sending:

6 pictures of us together during various stages of our relationship and 1 with family. Also 1 current.

3 pages of her phone bill which is an American cell phone that I pay for and shows her international calling to my cell. So will show a payment and calling to my cell within' past 3 months.

1 page of toll tickets that I saved when me and her went with my mom and her husband to Nyarit Mexico for a week to show that we traveled together. No photos because all were lost.

Just wondering if this will be enough evidence of a real relationship?

you need proof of two separate things.

1). That you met in person within the last 2 years, so, copies of passport stamps, copies of boarding passes or plane tickets, and pictures. Pictures are not considered primary evidence.

2). show proof of on-going relationship, so, phone bill, chat logs, e-mails, cards/letters that you have exchanged, also any plane tickets, pictures, etc from any other trips together.

Congratulations and Good luck on your visa journey!

[Pitaya 2,577]

I figure I just bump this up instead of making a new thread.

I'm done with our packet and soon be sending it as soon as I can have her sign it and date it where she needs to. I got a few questions, I don't want no problems and have to get a RFE. So with the packet I'm sending:

6 pictures of us together during various stages of our relationship and 1 with family. Also 1 current.

3 pages of her phone bill which is an American cell phone that I pay for and shows her international calling to my cell. So will show a payment and calling to my cell within' past 3 months.

1 page of toll tickets that I saved when me and her went with my mom and her husband to Nyarit Mexico for a week to show that we traveled together. No photos because all were lost.

Just wondering if this will be enough evidence of a real relationship?

The VJ step-by-step K-1 guide information on relationship documentary evidence says it best:

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

"Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case.

1. Copies of all airline boarding passes, train passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps (make sure you can read the dates on the stamps), and other documentary evidence that you have met within the last two years. You may want to highlight or place post-it notes indicating the dates and locations on the copies (to make the adjudication easier) for the person reviewing your file.

2. Color Photo's of you and your fiance(e) together. Make sure you write your names, date, and location on the back of every photo. Provide two to five photo's. If you only have a single copy of the photo, then make a color copy and send that. If it is a digital photo, have it printed at a company such as kodakgallery.com. You can also make duplicates of photo's at your local photo store (Walgreeens, CVS, etc). Place photo's in a plastic bag or photo sheet and label the sheet. Note that you may not receive originals of photo's back.

3. The following items will not typically show proof of having met in the last two years however will show proof of an ongoing relationship: Copies of land line and cell phone bills, appropriate letters and emails, stamps on the letters (to document the date they were sent), and other written documentary proof. Provide a reasonable amount; two to four of each type. Pick a range of dates up to and including the present. You can also include a copy of engagement ring receipt (this is something that is a big optional - do not worry if you do not have a ring yet!)."

Suggest that you compare what you have to what the Guide recommends.

Good luck.

[agnesb 47]

I figure I just bump this up instead of making a new thread.

I'm done with our packet and soon be sending it as soon as I can have her sign it and date it where she needs to. I got a few questions, I don't want no problems and have to get a RFE. So with the packet I'm sending:

6 pictures of us together during various stages of our relationship and 1 with family. Also 1 current.

3 pages of her phone bill which is an American cell phone that I pay for and shows her international calling to my cell. So will show a payment and calling to my cell within' past 3 months.

1 page of toll tickets that I saved when me and her went with my mom and her husband to Nyarit Mexico for a week to show that we traveled together. No photos because all were lost.

Just wondering if this will be enough evidence of a real relationship?

You can save phone bills for interview stage, they are not proving you met thus cannot be used for i-129f petition.

[mroctober430 0]

The first is quite difficult because traveling by land US/Mex don't stamp your passport. Don't having boarding passes or plane tickets since all meetings been by car.

I can provide for some trips since we gone deep to Mexico and traveled from Sonora to Baja California got Puerta tickets. How could I prove I've seen her once a month. Gotta figure that part out.

Number 2, is easy, got our e-mails, photos, and phone bill.

[agnesb 47]

The first is quite difficult because traveling by land US/Mex don't stamp your passport. Don't having boarding passes or plane tickets since all meetings been by car.

I can provide for some trips since we gone deep to Mexico and traveled from Sonora to Baja California got Puerta tickets. How could I prove I've seen her once a month. Gotta figure that part out.

Number 2, is easy, got our e-mails, photos, and phone bill.

I think anything "officiall-ish" in your name, from mexico will be ok, also maybe card statements if you made atm withdrawals or card payments.

Remember that to file the petition you only meed to prove you met once in last 2 years. For interview you might need to prove ongoing relationship.

Edited March 17, 2013 by agnesb

[Villanelle 4,122]

They may not stamp your passport, but they do keep records. Theres a thread somewhere (youre going to have to search for it) where it talks about how to get the records, or if you live close enough to the border- you can inquire there in person. I vaguely remember someone saying something about getting a printout of all their border crossings, because they had the same situation- they crossed almost weekly by car.

[mroctober430 0]

I think anything "officiall-ish" in your name, from mexico will be ok, also maybe card statements if you made atm withdrawals or card payments.

Remember that to file the petition you only meed to prove you met once in last 2 years. For interview you might need to prove ongoing relationship.

I started looking through my statement and seen I had withdraws from San Luis, AZ which is right across from the Mexican bordertown where she lives. I'm going to print what I have, it's not much only have back to July of last year. But I'm going to put notes on each stating what it is.

They may not stamp your passport, but they do keep records. Theres a thread somewhere (youre going to have to search for it) where it talks about how to get the records, or if you live close enough to the border- you can inquire there in person. I vaguely remember someone saying something about getting a printout of all their border crossings, because they had the same situation- they crossed almost weekly by car.

Not a bad I idea, I know they have my records because they question sometimes why I drive 8 hours once a month. I might ask when I go at the end of the month to visit her.

[Denver422 10]

You can save phone bills for interview stage, they are not proving you met thus cannot be used for i-129f petition.

All evidence of a relationship is helpful, therefore, including only 3 pages of a cellphone bill definitely won't hurt.