G325A - Russian Fiance Question

[banshee 0]

Hello All!

This is my first post here. I am beginning the process of filing a K-1 fiance visa petition. I noted that I need my fiance to fill out a G325A. A couple of questions --

* Where it says for him to write his name and address, can he write in Cyrillic or should he write using the English alphabet / transliterated versions of these things?

* It doesn't say on the actual K-1 instructions that I need to have an original signature for this document. Has anyone run into trouble if they use a copy / scanned version of the signed document?

I'm hoping I can do all of this myself and won't have to get a lawyer. =) All the paperwork is a little intimidating to me. Thank you to anyone who can help!

~ Samantha

Edited December 3, 2013 by banshee

[SparklePony 238]

He should use English characters. There's a place where he can use Cyrilic to write his own name and that's it.

I don't know if you could pass the G-325A without a signature, but he will have to sign and date a letter of intent to marry anyway, so why not do both and send them to you through snail mail?

And you will do fine without a lawyer. Study the guides here on VJ, and ask whatever questions you have. All the resources you need are on here. Good luck!

[clairegie 265]

* Where it says for him to write his name and address, can he write in Cyrillic or should he write using the English alphabet / transliterated versions of these things?

* It doesn't say on the actual K-1 instructions that I need to have an original signature for this document. Has anyone run into trouble if they use a copy / scanned version of the signed document?

I'm hoping I can do all of this myself and won't have to get a lawyer. =) All the paperwork is a little intimidating to me. Thank you to anyone who can help!

~ Samantha

Hey Samantha

1. Please have him write in English alphabet and then write in Cyrillic on the portion that says:

If your native alphabet is in other than Roman letters, write your name in your native alphabet below:

This can be found near the bottom of the first page.

2. Other couples have reported not having problems when they submitted scanned signed G325a's (remember you each have to fill out one). However, we still advise to send in Originally signed G325a's to avoid getting an RFE. An RFE can set you back weeks when you could've already been approved. You don't want to be put back at the bottom of the stack when you're already adjudicated right?

Like Pony said, you need to send him forms you signed anyway, so send an original one with the others.

3. With the support you get from this website, plus all the guides and sample forms available, you can do this on your own and save money. But if you are more comfortable acquiring the services of a lawyer, feel free to do so. It is very easy and you need to be more used to paperworks as this is only the beginning

Best of luck and Happy holidays!

[baron555 934]

Hello All!

This is my first post here. I am beginning the process of filing a K-1 fiance visa petition. I noted that I need my fiance to fill out a G325A. A couple of questions --

* Where it says for him to write his name and address, can he write in Cyrillic or should he write using the English alphabet / transliterated versions of these things?

Yes in English and I believe there's a place on the form where he would write his name in his native language if it doesn't use English letters.

* It doesn't say on the actual K-1 instructions that I need to have an original signature for this document. Has anyone run into trouble if they use a copy / scanned version of the signed document?

Original signature which shouldn't be a big deal since he has to send you his Letter of Intent with an original signature.

I'm hoping I can do all of this myself and won't have to get a lawyer. =) All the paperwork is a little intimidating to me. Thank you to anyone who can help!

~ Samantha

[banshee 0]

Thank you all for your help so far! =)

I have a few more questions now that I have looked at the documentation further:

* I noticed the sample "letter of intent" on this site has U.S. consulate and U.S. Department of State info set as the return address. Is this necessary? Can he just skip the return address part and write about the intent to marry within 90 days? Does anyone have a completed letter of intent that got approved that they could show me?

* In a block at the bottom of the G325-A there is a place for an alien registration number. What is that and how would he have that at this point in the game? =)

* I have seen mention here of 4 page G325-A forms, but the one I found is 2 pages. Do I have the right one?

* Russian mail is very slow to the U.S. -- on average 4 weeks. Does anyone have any expedited mail ideas from Russia to the U.S. so that he can get his original signatures to me quicker? Oh how I wish I had gotten them while in Russia! =)

Thank you so much for your help! I am so glad this site exists.

~ Samantha

[baron555 934]

Follow the Example Forms

Thank you all for your help so far! =)

I have a few more questions now that I have looked at the documentation further:

* I noticed the sample "letter of intent" on this site has U.S. consulate and U.S. Department of State info set as the return address. Is this necessary? Can he just skip the return address part and write about the intent to marry within 90 days? Does anyone have a completed letter of intent that got approved that they could show me?

We used the example form. Link near the top of this page.

* In a block at the bottom of the G325-A there is a place for an alien registration number. What is that and how would he have that at this point in the game? =)

This form is used for other visa petitions. He has none, at this time, so leave this blank.

* I have seen mention here of 4 page G325-A forms, but the one I found is 2 pages. Do I have the right one?

The old form was 4 pages, the new form has less. Use the form found on the USCIS website.

* Russian mail is very slow to the U.S. -- on average 4 weeks. Does anyone have any expedited mail ideas from Russia to the U.S. so that he can get his original signatures to me quicker? Oh how I wish I had gotten them while in Russia! =)

I always used FedEx. The cost was understood and the total cost for foreign immigration and a new life in the US was well understood.

Thank you so much for your help! I am so glad this site exists.

~ Samantha

Please feel free to move on over to the RUB (Russia-Ukraine-Belarus) regional forum (lower down on the forums page) where you'll find tons of folks who have just begun, are into the process or have finished. You'll make tons of new friends who have country-specific answers and info that you won't get on the general K-1 forum here.

Yes you can do this yourselves.....lawyers are only guaranteed to take your money.

Phil

Edited December 3, 2013 by baron555

[banshee 0]

Phil, thanks so much! I definitely will move to the country-specific forum once I stop having questions about the G325-A. =)

He wrote his letter of intent yesterday and has the top part as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Texas, per the template on here:

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 660151

Dallas, TX 75266

^ Is that correct? I am confused by the template that says you have to put the Department of Homeland Security at the top. After that, he just starts with his letter using the same language as the template.

** On the G325-A, the addresses of his places of employment don't all fit into the box. And he has more within five years than are allowed on the form. How can he accommodate this? Can he just write it on a separate piece of paper? Are there any formatting instructions he needs to follow?

** Also, for some companies that he worked at, the headquarters are in Moscow, but he worked at a branch outside of Moscow. Which address should he put -- the address of the headquarters, or the address of the branch that he worked at?

** Also if we are paying for him to FedEx the above two forms to me, is there anything else that he will need to potentially FedEx down the line that you think he should include so we don't have to pay shipping twice? Any copies of documents, etc.? =)

Thank you so much. =)

~ Samantha

[clairegie 265]

Is that correct? I am confused by the template that says you have to put the Department of Homeland Security at the top. After that, he just starts with his letter using the same language as the template. - yes. dont worry too much about the address, its the stating of intent to marry that they want to see. dont forget, each of you need to make a letter of intent

** On the G325-A, the addresses of his places of employment don't all fit into the box. And he has more within five years than are allowed on the form. How can he accommodate this? Can he just write it on a separate piece of paper? Are there any formatting instructions he needs to follow?

this is a sample of the G325a : http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-G-325A.pdf

yes, you can use an additional sheet. see the sample for further instructions

** Also, for some companies that he worked at, the headquarters are in Moscow, but he worked at a branch outside of Moscow. Which address should he put -- the address of the headquarters, or the address of the branch that he worked at? - address of the branch

** Also if we are paying for him to FedEx the above two forms to me, is there anything else that he will need to potentially FedEx down the line that you think he should include so we don't have to pay shipping twice? Any copies of documents, etc.? =) - your fiance is the beneficiary, correct?

here is the checklist (see Assembling the I-129F Package)

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

anything beyond this (after approval), it would be the petitioner's (yours/US Citizen) job to send documents to the recipient for the interview.

Edited December 5, 2013 by iammrsregi

[baron555 934]

Phil, thanks so much! I definitely will move to the country-specific forum once I stop having questions about the G325-A. =)

He wrote his letter of intent yesterday and has the top part as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Texas, per the template on here:

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 660151

Dallas, TX 75266

^ Is that correct? I am confused by the template that says you have to put the Department of Homeland Security at the top. After that, he just starts with his letter using the same language as the template.

** On the G325-A, the addresses of his places of employment don't all fit into the box. And he has more within five years than are allowed on the form. How can he accommodate this? Can he just write it on a separate piece of paper? Are there any formatting instructions he needs to follow?

** Also, for some companies that he worked at, the headquarters are in Moscow, but he worked at a branch outside of Moscow. Which address should he put -- the address of the headquarters, or the address of the branch that he worked at?

** Also if we are paying for him to FedEx the above two forms to me, is there anything else that he will need to potentially FedEx down the line that you think he should include so we don't have to pay shipping twice? Any copies of documents, etc.? =)

Thank you so much. =)

~ Samantha

The address is fine. It's the statement and his original signature that they want.

Separate sheet of paper.

I'd list the different addresses, but could be convinced to just use the corporate address. This info is really not so important unless he puts down KGB or Russian Military or something else that could trigger extra scrutiny.

This should be all he needs to send you. You will be sending him more stuff when he has the interview scheduled.