Issues filing I-129F Abroad?

[gjrhopkins 0]

Hi

I've been reading this website for a few months now to try and prepare for this visa application. It's been so useful so far!

So I have 2 questions:

My girlfriend and I are committed to getting married, however, I have not formally proposed yet - will this present a problem for example if during the interview they ask me (the beneficiary) when we got engaged etc and say we only got engaged 5-6 months after initially filing the petition?

The other, main question I have is regarding the fact that my girlfriend will be living in France when we file the petition. Would it be ok for her mother to file the petition - obviously with all our original signatures where needed. - We have gathered all the evidence needed and plan to file around November

Can anyone think of any problems that we may face if my girlfriend is not in the US for the entire visa process. (she will be in France from October-April and then in the UK with me from May-August or so) ?

Thanks for the help!

[kehills 217]

You would only file the K-1 if you've agreed to get married. So, you either "formally propose" now and start calling her your fiancé, or you wait until whatever formal thing you want to have happen.

If she isn't living and working in the US, how is she going to show proof of income to support you? Does she have a co-sponsor?

[gjrhopkins 0]

Well we have agreed to married, for all intents and purposes we are engaged except I haven't got down on one knee with a ring. We''ve been doing long distance for 3.5 yrs and so the end goal has always been me moving over there, so we have constantly talked about it and it has come together that towards the end of next year we'd like to get married and me move over there.

She has a co-sponsor yes - her father.

[kehills 217]

You don't have to get on one knee to be engaged. Basically, when you file, you're saying you're engaged and getting married.

Keep in mind the rule: don't plan for a wedding until you have your VISA in hand. :-)

[gjrhopkins 0]

So there are no other issues that anyone can think we may encounter from filing while she is abroad?

Would it present a problem if the current address is not the one she will be living in in France (so that any correspondence is sent to her mother) or does she need to put her French address and we could request correspondence to an address in the US? I guess what I'm effectively asking is if her mother can be the person taking care of the petition (if my fiancée can manage to get all documents needed ready and sign the necessary documents)

So she's is going to be a teaching assistant in France from October - April with a monthly stipend that will put her at below the poverty line. As she has a co-sponsor (her father) who is comfortably over the poverty line, does she need to provide proof of this role? Having had experience of French bureaucracy, this would be a real hassle as well as to get whatever documents she manages to get translated. Or would it suffice to use all the proof that her father will provide of his income?

Sorry for all the questions!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So there are no other issues that anyone can think we may encounter from filing while she is abroad?

Would it present a problem if the current address is not the one she will be living in in France (so that any correspondence is sent to her mother) or does she need to put her French address and we could request correspondence to an address in the US? I guess what I'm effectively asking is if her mother can be the person taking care of the petition (if my fiancée can manage to get all documents needed ready and sign the necessary documents)

So she's is going to be a teaching assistant in France from October - April with a monthly stipend that will put her at below the poverty line. As she has a co-sponsor (her father) who is comfortably over the poverty line, does she need to provide proof of this role? Having had experience of French bureaucracy, this would be a real hassle as well as to get whatever documents she manages to get translated. Or would it suffice to use all the proof that her father will provide of his income?

Sorry for all the questions!

Just some general info and thoughts for you from a old timer who has finished everything.

This process is not romantic. Don't worry about getting down on one knee. If she files a petition along with the letters of intent that say you are free to marry and intend to marry within 90 days of entering the country on your K1 visa....you are engaged for immigration purposes. You don't have to announce it to Granny and Cousin Fran on that date. Our personal example-- we did not get "engaged" on a specific date, I got no engagement ring, we didn't have a formal wedding, we don't have wedding rings, I didn't change my name to my husbands. Yet we moved right through immigration to citizenship with never a question about those things or any requests for further evidence.

Your consulate in London will not want to see your photos, love letters, Skype, etc. The interview is a easy chat. If they say "when did you get engaged.", it is perfectly okay to say "we decided together we wanted to get married in January or February last year." If they say "how did you propose?" It is okay to say, "well I really didn't propose as such. We just decided together we wanted to get married in January or February last year. I guess I am a boring boyfriend, but I couldn't afford an engagement ring at the time. I did surprise her with a ring for Christmas." That will not in the tiniest way get you denied in London. In London it is a very informal chat. Just tell your story.

So on to filing. If you have looked at form I-129F, there is a way to fill it out with an "in care of".

Fiancés name

In care of her mother's name

Her mother's address.

Is that where the fiancé lives right now?

Then there is form G-325A where she lists addresses and background. If you mail this off before October, then there is no French address to list, right? Her mail will go to Mom's house. That will be her receipt and her approval. If she leaves something out, then a request for evidence would go to Mom, but she isn't going to make any mistakes, right?

For Affidavit of Support-- London will accept one just from Dad. Nothing from her. Really, they do that in London. Or if you have a bunch of cash, you can sponsor yourself.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Nich-Nick

[gjrhopkins 0]

Nich Nick. I'm aware the visa process isn't romantic - I know that from all the conversations we've had already! That doesn't mean I don't still want to propose sometime before the wedding - to keep the romance!

But yeah thanks for all the help that's been really useful. We've brought forward our timeline and she is going to file before she moves to France.

Then I can start my Visa Journey timeline too!