How prepared are we for a K-1?

[AliceWhite 0]

And yeah, definitely consider getting out of OK...even if they pass something that forces the state to do same sex marriages, is that really an environment you want to start your life together in?

Yeah we've already discussed moving to Washington or Vermont or some place better. It's just that my current employment is in OK and I don't want to screw up immigration or get in debt before I even start my life.

For ideas, experiences or specifics about the Canadian embassy, you should stop by the regional forum http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

Thanks so much on the recommendation! We'll be sure to lurk there. I'll make sure to get a scan of her passport stamp. Also she saved whatever ticket stubs or boarding passes or something and I am hoping she didn't throw away the baggage claim tag. We have some non-timestamped pictures we took together as well that might help tertiarily.

I, too, am a half of a same-sex couple with the beneficiary coming from Canada. We put together our I-129F package late September of last year without any legal help. We did not provide proof of the state that allows same-sex marriage we planned to marry in, not even a mention in our letters of intent, and did not get an RFE. Our petition was received October 1st; K-1 visa in hand January 17th.

Yeah, it would make more sense that you don't have to prove you'll marry in an appropriate state beforehand since the official documentation I saw just said you can get married anywhere in the US once you have the K-1. You don't have to get married in the legal resident state of the US Citizen. We'll be flying to Albuquerque New Mexico since it's super cheap ($25), you get the license and certification same-day, and it's the closest same-sex state to cut travel costs.

I plan to use my lunch break at work tomorrow to print the appropriate beginning forms and gather all of my data to be sent out ASAP. Thanks much for all the help! If anyone wants to keep sharing personal stories, I'm practically drooling for them over here. I'm getting super optimistic.

[AliceWhite 0]

Hi, I have some followup questions, due to ambiguous or conflicting data from places.

-G 325a for my fiancee, signed or unsigned? The checklist says signed while other places say unsigned. This makes the difference in whether she has to mail this to me or not

-It looks like the I-129F fee of 340 dollars can be paid in Money Order. Have any of you had experience with this? The check will take me 2 weeks longer to get going and the money order I can do now. I remember wondering if since the check needs my address if a money order is really okay since it won't.

-Evidence we met: we have boarding pass copies to and from my city and more than 5 digital photos we took together that we can color print. We also have scans of her passport stamp for that departure. Is there anything wrong with these? Is 3 not enough because I don't think we have more?

-Evidence of ongoing: I think we can start emailing each other but we really just use skype text/video all the time. We don't really write letters or emails. Would we be able to just start emailing?

-My Texas birth certificate has no backside and I'm told to copy that. It also will put VOID COPY on the front which I hope is okay?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Hi, I have some followup questions, due to ambiguous or conflicting data from places.

-G 325a for my fiancee, signed or unsigned? The checklist says signed while other places say unsigned. This makes the difference in whether she has to mail this to me or not

-It looks like the I-129F fee of 340 dollars can be paid in Money Order. Have any of you had experience with this? The check will take me 2 weeks longer to get going and the money order I can do now. I remember wondering if since the check needs my address if a money order is really okay since it won't.

-Evidence we met: we have boarding pass copies to and from my city and more than 5 digital photos we took together that we can color print. We also have scans of her passport stamp for that departure. Is there anything wrong with these? Is 3 not enough because I don't think we have more?

-Evidence of ongoing: I think we can start emailing each other but we really just use skype text/video all the time. We don't really write letters or emails. Would we be able to just start emailing?

-My Texas birth certificate has no backside and I'm told to copy that. It also will put VOID COPY on the front which I hope is okay?

G-325A must be signed in original. Also the letter of intent must be signed (one from each of you) so that will have to be mailed to you as well.

Money Order is fine. You don't have a personal check?

The passport stamp and boarding passes are good. The photos, not so good, they are not dated so when were they taken? It could have been 2.5 years ago (outside of the timeframe). Include the photos with evidence of relationship.

No, don't start to fabricate evidence now. Use the evidence you have (it's good enough, I promise). You should be able to print out a skype call log.

Plain photocopy is fine. Not sure why you want to put void on it, but I guess you can.

Good luck.

[AliceWhite 0]

G-325A must be signed in original. Also the letter of intent must be signed (one from each of you) so that will have to be mailed to you as well.

Money Order is fine. You don't have a personal check?

The passport stamp and boarding passes are good. The photos, not so good, they are not dated so when were they taken? It could have been 2.5 years ago (outside of the timeframe). Include the photos with evidence of relationship.

No, don't start to fabricate evidence now. Use the evidence you have (it's good enough, I promise). You should be able to print out a skype call log.

Plain photocopy is fine. Not sure why you want to put void on it, but I guess you can.

Good luck.

What is the one that we should have unsigned that needs to be signed in front of a witness for the interview?

I don't have personal checks because I don't use them. Ordering them would take 2 weeks so if a Money Order works, I'd rather use that.

Well the checklist said to write the date the photos were taken together on the back.I don't know, I mean it's probably not ironclad evidence but would it hurt to submit?

I'm not fabricating evidence. We just would switch from constantly using Skype to using email sometimes. That's our own personal choice, I'm just asking if emails are good to have at this point. I'll try to get a skype call log though as long as it can be only calls and not have anything too personal in it.

I wouldn't put void on it, the birth certificate has special ink that puts VOID COPY on all copies. And it doesn't have a back side.

[baron555 934]

What is the one that we should have unsigned that needs to be signed in front of a witness for the interview?

None.

I don't have personal checks because I don't use them. Ordering them would take 2 weeks so if a Money Order works, I'd rather use that.

Bank MOs are fine.

Well the checklist said to write the date the photos were taken together on the back.I don't know, I mean it's probably not ironclad evidence but would it hurt to submit?

Yes do that. It's all part of the packet of evidence that when looked at a whole, establishes both of your presence in the same place at the same time.

I'm not fabricating evidence. We just would switch from constantly using Skype to using email sometimes. That's our own personal choice, I'm just asking if emails are good to have at this point. I'll try to get a skype call log though as long as it can be only calls and not have anything too personal in it.

I am a proponent of purposefully generating all types of evidences......that being said, it's content that is key to establishing a legitimate relationship or not. I advocate the drafting of a summary letter (all this for the interview) that can be title "Evolution of Our Relationship". It should state a summary of the beginning of your relationship, how it evolved from getting to know you, to desire to meet, to desire to marry and then live together. Besides the lovey dovey talk (which is to be included a bit IMO since most folks who desire to marry have some degree of affection) to discussions of the details of the visa process to life / planning for life in the US.

I wouldn't put void on it, the birth certificate has special ink that puts VOID COPY on all copies. And it doesn't have a back side.

If the back side if blank then just include a blank page if copying it would create some hidden watermark.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

What is the one that we should have unsigned that needs to be signed in front of a witness for the interview?

I don't have personal checks because I don't use them. Ordering them would take 2 weeks so if a Money Order works, I'd rather use that.

Well the checklist said to write the date the photos were taken together on the back.I don't know, I mean it's probably not ironclad evidence but would it hurt to submit?

I'm not fabricating evidence. We just would switch from constantly using Skype to using email sometimes. That's our own personal choice, I'm just asking if emails are good to have at this point. I'll try to get a skype call log though as long as it can be only calls and not have anything too personal in it.

I wouldn't put void on it, the birth certificate has special ink that puts VOID COPY on all copies. And it doesn't have a back side.

I'm not sure where you have read that you need an unsigned copy. It needs to be signed in original. Don't think about the interview stage now, concentrate on the petition stage and follow the instructions for the forms. And sure, MOs work just fine.

It certainly won't hurt to submit photos, and I suggest you do It's just they cannot be counted as evidence that you met in person in the last two years, because they are not impartial, third-party proof. You writing the date on the back, well, a person could lie, right? It's not an originally dated item. Make sense? You have all you need with the boarding pass and passport stamp.

All I am saying is that you don't need to suddenly change your communication method. You should be able to get a skype chat log and that'll be great.

Sounds you are well on your way to getting it sorted out and sent off! Good luck.

[AliceWhite 0]

On the cover letter and in the letter of intent, it asks for the address of the place you're filing, which I assume is the USCIS or DHS office? If so, I've so far got the Dallas lockbox address there. I don't know if that's wrong or what exactly. A lot of this stuff confuses me or is horribly ambiguous.

[AliceWhite 0]

Apparently cannot edit my posts. I just wanted to check and see if this is sufficient for I-129F section 34.a Describe how you met:

We discovered each other online through an internet message board. We met when she arrived at Tulsa International Airport (TUL) at baggage claim and spent 23 days together.

It doesn't seem we need the supplement attachment sheet...unless there are some details I should be including?

[Jsobased 5]

Apparently cannot edit my posts. I just wanted to check and see if this is sufficient for I-129F section 34.a Describe how you met:

It doesn't seem we need the supplement attachment sheet...unless there are some details I should be including?

That's fine just include the year you met. something like "We discovered each other online through an internet message board. We met when she arrived at Tulsa International Airport (TUL) at baggage claim in 20xx and spent 23 days together". I kept mines short and simple. Also yes you can include photos and hand date them on the back with a pen, that's what I did. I also included my trip itinerary and passport stamps to prove I was there at the time the dated pictures say.

[Jsobased 5]

On the cover letter and in the letter of intent, it asks for the address of the place you're filing, which I assume is the USCIS or DHS office? If so, I've so far got the Dallas lockbox address there. I don't know if that's wrong or what exactly. A lot of this stuff confuses me or is horribly ambiguous.

Yes, the Dallas lockbox address should be on the letter of intent and the cover letter. For the interview you'll need another letter intent, but this time you put your embassy address where you'll have your interview at.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Jsobased

[AliceWhite 0]

Thank you for answering my questions so thoroughly. I'll be sure to print the forms again with this year's date added in.