My Status (Updates on K-1 Process)

[b_k 0]

On June 08:
I joined my fiancee in Mumbai and we went to the VAC (Visa Application Center) to do the
Biometrics. We got there about 10 minutes before our appointment. There was a line of
10 people outside the building going to the main door. They let people in 5 or so at a time.
My fiancee stood in line, but I had to wait outside on the gate, I was not allowed to wait
with her in the line outside the building. They only wanted 3 items: a valid passport (new
and old, if any), Appointment Confirmation Letter and DS-160 Confirmation Page; as is
mentioned in the Appointment Confirmation Letter at the bottom under the section "For
a Visa Application Center (VAC) appointment". My fiancee went in and came out about
15 minutes later. They stamped the DS 160 Confirmation Page and put a sticker stating
her visa type in the back of her passport.

On June 13:
My fiancee and I went to the Consulate Interview at the US Embassy. We stayed at hotel
Trident. The US Embassy is right behind the hotel across the street! Took us 10 minutes
to walk there. We got to the front of the building right about 15 minutes before our
appointment. The guard outside looked at her passport and Appointment Confirmation
Letter and then let her in. I was not allowed to go with her (although I did not try by
showing my US Passport and saying I wanted to enter the US Embassy, who knows they
might have let me in...). The guard outside said it'll be about 2.5hrs. I waited about an
hour across the street on the hotel side. Walked around and got tired, then headed back
to the hotel. About 30 minutes later, my fiancee calls me on the phone and tells me she's
downstairs and calls me down for breakfast. I run downstairs and first thing I ask her,
"so, what happened?". She said she got approved for the visa:) They said she'll get her
passport, with visa in it, about 3-5 working days from interview at pickup location we chose.

I asked her about the whole thing:
When she entered the building, going through security, they looked at her passport and told
her where to go (based on the sticker from biometrics). There was no line for K1 visa,
everyone else there (many people) were waiting for other types of visas. She was told to go
to window #15, but no one was there, so she had to wait about 15 minutes.

First window (Hindu personnel, gentleman):
She had to provide: PCC, Medical, Birth Ceritificate, Appointment Confirmation Letter (Visa
Fee Payment Receipt) and DS-160 Confirmation Page. She did not have an original birth
certificate so they were concerned, but luckily we had an official duplicate birth certificate
from the hospital, which was NOTARIZED (important). They took the notarized birth certificate.
Then, they gave her a number and told her to wait for the first interview.
FIrst window took about 5-10 minutes.
She waited about 20 minutes for the first interview.

Second window (first interview, Hindu personnel, lady):
She was asked these questions:
--Interviewer said her name and had her verify it.
--Interviewer said her home address and had her verify it.
--Interviewer asked her for her phone number.
--Interviewer asked about the henna on her hands and asked if she got married?
----She replied that the henna was for an engagement held on June 10 (we were engaged
----on March 18, before I-129F petition, but decided to do the engagement ceremony later, 3
----days before the interview!!!).
--Interviewer asked why engagement was on June 10 when original petition said March 18?
----She replied Fiance did not have enough time (vacation days) so we decided to do it later.
--Interviewer asked for the Affidavit of Support, which she handed over and was given back.
--Interviewer gave her a document with her Rights on it for her to read.
--Interviewer told her to wait for second interview.
Second window, first interview, took about 10-15 minutes.
She waited about 15 minutes for the second interview.

Third window (second interview, American personnel, lady):
She was asked these questions:
--Interviewer asked English or ...?
--She then had her fingers scanned (so Interviewer can cross-check with biometrics).
--Interviewer asked her to raise right hand and give oat of truth.
--Interviewer asked her to provide documents, Affidavit of Support and all other documents.
--Interviewer asked what is the name of the petitioner?
----She replied.
--Interviewer aksed what is the petitioner's phone number?
----She replied.
--Interviewer asked where she was going to live in the US?
----She replied Las Vegas, Nevada (she did not say the entire address).
--Interviewer asked how did we meet?
----She replied. (Not how we first met in person, but how we first met in any way).
--Interviewer asked how we developed our relationship?
----She replied: emails, whatsapp texting, skype video chats and meeting in India.
--Interviewer asked when did we first meet in person?
----She replied.
--Interviewer asked if we planned our meeting in person?
----She replied that we planned the whole trip, places to go and where to stay.
--Interviewer asked if we were alone in our meeting/trip?
----She replied yes. (not throughout trip, but at various times, other times we were with family)
--Interviewer asked about the red bangles on her wrist and if they were for a wedding?
----She replied that they were a part of the engagement ceremony.
----She showed the interviewer the Proof Of Ongoing Relationship documentation.
--Interviewer asked to clarify various engagement pictures (the ceremony)?
----She replied explaining all different rituals in the pictures and told her it was not a wedding.
--Interviewer asked about the large engagement, was it a wedding?
----She replied the weddings are larger (more eloborate) (although we had 200+ people at the
----engagement, she explained that in the wedding there would be more than 400+ people!!!).
--Interviewer asked about her age?
----She replied.
--Interviewer asked her to give petitioner's birth date?
----She replied.
--Interviewer asked why both of us never got married ever, why so late?
----She replie that we never found anyone worth while until we met each other.
--Interviewer asked if we did a wedding due to all the henna in her hands?
----She replied that we only did an engagement ceremony and that a wedding would consist
----of more henna (all the way to the armpit instead of the elbow!!!).
--Interviewer asked what was written on the cake at the engagement?
----She replied.
--Interviewer asked what are our plans for wedding?
----She replied that we planned to get married within 90 days of coming to the US, but will do
----the wedding ceremony/celebration some time in December.
--Interviewer asked if she read and understood document given to her about her Rights in America?
----She replied. (depending on personnel, they might ask detailed questions about the document,
----such as what is the hotline number for help, etc...).
The Interviewer then said "All looks good so I'm going to approve your visa!".
Third window, second interview, took about 15-20 minutes.

It's best to stay calm, be honest and truthful in the interview.
If you showed enough proof and everything is legit, there is no need to worry.

NOTE:
Second Interviewer did not even look at the Letter Of Intent To Marry, but they did look at the Tax
Transcripts and W-2's. Get tax transcripts from here: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

NOTE:
Only concerns they had:
1. Why were we never married before, why wait so late?
2. Why did she have so much henna in her arms?
3. Did we get married? (due to the engagement pictures in our Proof Of Ongoing Relationship
documentation and all the henna.)

NOTE:
We had no red flags, concerns, or things that may cause delays,
or what they may consider those things to be (which is beyond me...), such as:
--We were never married and divorced.
--We don't have children.
--Our age gap is not big.
--Our religions are not different.
--We both have never been denied any visas.
--We both do not have any criminal activities.
--Am I able to support her financially.

On June 18:
My fiancee got a text message stating that her passport had been mailed and was
given the tracking number. It will arrive in our pick up location by June 24.

On June 29:
I'm gonna go pick up my babe and bring her home.

Can't believe it.
I mailed the I-129F petition on 04/04/2014 and fiancee is going to get her visa on 06/24/2014!!!
There were no glitches in the process, USCIS/NVC/US Embassy/Consulate never had to ask
us for any further information/clarification which would cause delays. It's good to be thorough
and include everything and some! VisaJourney.com is awesome and I'm very thankful to them!!!

[Angelmani 0]

Hello b_k, congrats on your approval,

I am having my interview coming up soon ..fingers crossed. I wanted to know about the form I-134 which they ask to bring as an affidavit of support to the interview if it was not submitted to the NVC. The petitioner had submitted the form I-864(AOS) during the filing of the K-1 petition in U.S. So , is there a difference between these two forms ...am i suppose to get I-134 filled from the petitioner or I-864 would be enough?

Will appreciate a prompt reply

Thanks

[Elizabeth+Fred 35]

Normally, they want to see an I-134 at that phase. However, they MAY be OK with the I-864, as this is "more" strict than the I-134 is.

Just to be safe... be prepared to "overnight" a completed I-134 form. If you have time left, I would do that anyway.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Elizabeth+Fred

[b_k 0]

Hello b_k, congrats on your approval,

I am having my interview coming up soon ..fingers crossed. I wanted to know about the form I-134 which they ask to bring as an affidavit of support to the interview if it was not submitted to the NVC. The petitioner had submitted the form I-864(AOS) during the filing of the K-1 petition in U.S. So , is there a difference between these two forms ...am i suppose to get I-134 filled from the petitioner or I-864 would be enough?

Will appreciate a prompt reply

Thanks

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/476927-i-134-vs-i-864-affidavit-of-support/

http://www.us-immigration.com/blog/differences-between-affidavit-of-support-forms-i-864-and-i-134

I'd stick with the I-134 for the K1 Fiancee Visa Interview.

Good luck on your interview!!!

[Angelmani 0]

Thanks B_k ,

Do i need an original form I-134 from my petitioner or its copy is acceptable in the interview? Actually i have my intervw in coming 3 days its not possible that an original form reaches me on time.

[b_k 0]

My fiancee recieved the same emailed 'checklist' packet via mail about 5 days after the email.

So the thing to do:

soon as Consulate receives papers from NVC, call Consulate (via SKYPE call as

mentioned above, which seems to be the fastest) and tell them you would like to

make a Visa Interview Appointment, they will ask for Beneficiary's Name and

Passport # and the NVC Case #. Once they are satisfied that you are ready,

they can email the "checklist" packet and also mail it to beneficiary. This way,

you can proceed faster (as you don't have to wait for the mail). Just follow the

checklist and it's easy.

Once we finished Steps 1-4 in the checklist packet (which I attached in previous post),

we scheduled appointments (biometrics and visa interview) in Step 5. So we got to

choose our own interview date, but to my surprise, the dates were very limited.

We went online to make an appointment about May 19, and the only dates available

were the ones posted in previous post. Basically just 1 date in late May and two dates

in June, nothing in July/August!!!

Normally this is not a problem, but I want to be there with my fiancee on the interview

day, so now I have to make travel plans accordingly.

I have attached the Consulate Appointment Confirmation letter from email.

[b_k 0]

Thanks B_k ,

Do i need an original form I-134 from my petitioner or its copy is acceptable in the interview? Actually i have my intervw in coming 3 days its not possible that an original form reaches me on time.

Hi,

I attached the Consulate Appointment Confirmation letter from email in previous post.

As can be seen, it does not say "Original" Affidavit of Support, therefore I think it may be ok to have a copy of I-134.

I sent an original.

Items I had as the Affidavit of Support:

1 - Affidavit Of Support Cover Letter.doc

2 - I-134.pdf

3 - Naturalization Certificate - 1 - Front.jpg

4 - Naturalization Certificate - 2 - Back.jpg

5 - Letter From Employer.jpg

6 - Letter From Bank (Savings).jpg

7 - Letter From Bank (Checking).jpg

8 - Paystub 1 (May 02).jpg

9 - Paystub 2 (May 16).jpg

10 - Paystub 3 (May 30).jpg

11 - Bank Statement (Checking And Savings, March 2014).pdf

12 - Bank Statement (Checking And Savings, April 2014).pdf

13 - Bank Statement (Checking And Savings, May 2014).pdf

14 - W-2 (2011).pdf

15 - W-2 (2012).pdf

16 - W-2 (2013).pdf

17 - Tax Return Transcript (2011).pdf

18 - Tax Return Transcript (2012).pdf

19 - Tax Return Transcript (2013).pdf

20 - Mortgage Statement (May).pdf

As you can see, I went a little overboard!

Good Luck!

[b_k 0]

Got married (within 90 days).

Applied for AOS (adjustment of status) + EAD (employment authorization document) + AP (advanced parole).

Just finished with Biometrics (documents attached, front and back).

Also got all NOA1's for AOS+EAD+AP, but cannot attach them due to upload size limit on VJ.

Edited September 16, 2014 by b_k