K1 process clarification help needed

[tdotca 41]

Hi , I am a newbie to this site so forgive me if my questions have already been answered in the many many many posted topics.

I have read so many sites/ posts/ blogs and I am still confused . I want to do this correctly in the 1st place and I am so stressed out ( I am a worrier as well).

1) US fiance received form I-797 saying that our I129F petition has been approved and is being sent to the NVC. This form is valid from Oct 20,2014 to Feb 19,2015. Question: what exactly does that mean? Other posts I have read says that in regards to K1 process , it means nothing. Other posts says that I need to apply for the K1 visa by Feb 19,2015. Isn't this entire process the K1 visa?

From what I have read, it seems that Montreal does alot of applications which means long waits for anything from sending off Packet 3 to interview date, so I am worried about this form I797 expiration date. Can this date be extended? If so, how does one do this?

ps: is this form I797 the NOA2 that I see everyone quoting?

2) while waiting to hear if the NVC sent our petition to the Department of State ( aka DOS) US Embassy/Consulate in Montreal , as well as waiting for Packet 3 , I was checking into what I need to send in and again, questions arises.

a) Again, some posts says I need to send in several forms(ds156, ds156k, etc) besides DS-160/I-134, however Montreal's US Consulate site does not have these forms on their checklist. So I am confused.

b)police check ... do I need to submit my fingerprints to get this check? RCMP's site says to obtain criminal history, need fingerprints which can be done via their accredited partners or my local police. The Toronto Police site says they don't do fingerprints and when they do the check, they check the RCMP's site anyways. So, do I only do RCMP or do I do both RCMP and local police ?

c) checklist lists things like marriage certificate and divorce certificate. I personally have not been married or divorced ,however my fiance has. Do I have to have his marriage/divorce certificates?

d) form I-134 (financial support) .. that is for me or for my fiance?

I am sure that I will have more questions so I do appreciate all replies/ help.

Thanking all in advance, V

[Al422 221]

I don't know all of them because some require Canada specific knowledge, but to the extent I can help, here goes:

1) US fiance received form I-797 saying that our I129F petition has been approved and is being sent to the NVC. This form is valid from Oct 20,2014 to Feb 19,2015. Question: what exactly does that mean? Other posts I have read says that in regards to K1 process , it means nothing. Other posts says that I need to apply for the K1 visa by Feb 19,2015. Isn't this entire process the K1 visa?

The visa needs to be granted by that date, but as long as you are pursuing it in good faith, the consulate will extend the deadline by whatever time you need, up to one year..

ps: is this form I797 the NOA2 that I see everyone quoting?

YES

a) Again, some posts says I need to send in several forms(ds156, ds156k, etc) besides DS-160/I-134, however Montreal's US Consulate site does not have these forms on their checklist. So I am confused.

Forms change all the time, and not everyone has all the answers. ds156 has been superceded by ds160. Send ds160 only, not156, 157, etc. Follow Montreal's checklist for the rest.

b)police check ... do I need to submit my fingerprints to get this check? RCMP's site says to obtain criminal history, need fingerprints which can be done via their accredited partners or my local police. The Toronto Police site says they don't do fingerprints and when they do the check, they check the RCMP's site anyways. So, do I only do RCMP or do I do both RCMP and local police ?

Read the checklist to see which one of these you need, and follow the appropriate instructions. Any accredited police agency can do prints for you.

c) checklist lists things like marriage certificate and divorce certificate. I personally have not been married or divorced ,however my fiance has. Do I have to have his marriage/divorce certificates?

Divorce only, and make sure the copies are certified

d) form I-134 (financial support) .. that is for me or for my fiance?

Fiance. He supports you, so he prepares this and sends it to you along with the required proof, typically his tax return and W2.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

With regard to #1 - it means nothing really - most time people go past that date before all processing is finished. It is extended without notice - they don't tell you or send you notification of it.

Stick with the guides and ask questions in the Canadian forum to get relevant country specific answers We don't bite!

[chiggins82 88]

Hi , I am a newbie to this site so forgive me if my questions have already been answered in the many many many posted topics.

I have read so many sites/ posts/ blogs and I am still confused . I want to do this correctly in the 1st place and I am so stressed out ( I am a worrier as well).

1) US fiance received form I-797 saying that our I129F petition has been approved and is being sent to the NVC. This form is valid from Oct 20,2014 to Feb 19,2015. Question: what exactly does that mean? Other posts I have read says that in regards to K1 process , it means nothing. Other posts says that I need to apply for the K1 visa by Feb 19,2015. Isn't this entire process the K1 visa?

From what I have read, it seems that Montreal does alot of applications which means long waits for anything from sending off Packet 3 to interview date, so I am worried about this form I797 expiration date. Can this date be extended? If so, how does one do this?

ps: is this form I797 the NOA2 that I see everyone quoting?

2) while waiting to hear if the NVC sent our petition to the Department of State ( aka DOS) US Embassy/Consulate in Montreal , as well as waiting for Packet 3 , I was checking into what I need to send in and again, questions arises.

a) Again, some posts says I need to send in several forms(ds156, ds156k, etc) besides DS-160/I-134, however Montreal's US Consulate site does not have these forms on their checklist. So I am confused.

b)police check ... do I need to submit my fingerprints to get this check? RCMP's site says to obtain criminal history, need fingerprints which can be done via their accredited partners or my local police. The Toronto Police site says they don't do fingerprints and when they do the check, they check the RCMP's site anyways. So, do I only do RCMP or do I do both RCMP and local police ?

c) checklist lists things like marriage certificate and divorce certificate. I personally have not been married or divorced ,however my fiance has. Do I have to have his marriage/divorce certificates?

d) form I-134 (financial support) .. that is for me or for my fiance?

I am sure that I will have more questions so I do appreciate all replies/ help.

Thanking all in advance, V

1. The date means they expect that you'll have your K-1 by then (ie interview and get approved), but if you need to, you can extend the date. Once you get the K-1 it will have a new expiration date (~6 months from medical). If you need to extend it, just contact the consulate. I was through Vancouver and was able to extend it by emailing. They told me that they will automatically extend it though if you are just off by a bit.

2 a. DS-160 and I-134. I know there is some out dated info on here for the consulate info. You can go to the Montreal consulate website and download the packet 3. That is what you require.

2 b. If you don't have a record, you don't need fingerprints in Canada. Just go to your police station or RCMP and bring the packet 3 with you. They need to make sure they search the national databases

2 c. Believe so but I am not dealing with so others can advise

2 d. The I-134 if from your fiance.

Also something that trips people up, you need to get new letters of intent (not copies) that are signed and dated within a month of the interview date.

Cheers

[tdotca 41]

Hi Thanks to all who replied!

I see from some timelines 'status changed' or " alien registration number change"

Question 1: I presume I now have an alien registration number. Is that the number on the I-797/ NOA2 form under section Beneficiary that says Axxx xxx xxx? If so, why not call it that? sigh . If not, where do I get this from?

Question 2: when do I change this? I don't have any information that says I need to do this .. at least as yet.

Note: just found out this morning ,after a long wait on hold with the NVC, that on Nov 5, NVC forwarded my petition to montreal and now have a MTL #. My fiance has not received any email ( initially we signed up for email notification) or snail mail as yet stating this fact. oh well. at least we can now check the status on the CEAC site.

Ps: I hope I am replying correctly to this topic/post and all can see it.

V

[chiggins82 88]

Hey,

Sometimes USCIS will show on their online status "Alien registration number changed" From what I have seen on here, that just means that someone probably touched the file. Because your petition is already approved, you are done with USCIS for now.

On your NOA2 - the official letter that shows your I-129F was approved, there will be an A ### ### ### on it, next to the beneficiary. That is the A number people refer to. I don't think they ask for at the consulate stage other than it will be with your paperwork, but I believe you need this number for AOS, so make sure you hang on to your NOA2

I have no idea why they can't just make it clear for everyone.. I don't know if you will ever get an answer on that!

To make it more confusing, when you do the DS-160, they will give you a confirmation number too and it begins AA. This is not the same as the USCIS...

Now that your file has gone to NVC, they will always be asking for the MTL # you have as a way to track your case.

Now Question 2 - I am not sure what you are referring to about changing something... So I can't really answer... but if your case is at Montreal, it should be soon that you get the Packet 3 mailed to you and it will tell you to go online and complete a check list and email it back to them... again just follow the instructions. If you are impatient, you can just go get the checklist now and get started! Up to you!

[tdotca 41]

Hi All, I got my packet3 now I am trying to do the DS160. I am already stumped on the 1st field ..surname. It states that data must be exactly as it shows on your passport. Well, my surname has a hyphen in it however the online form does not allow/accept hyphen. My only option is to take out the hyphen and have a space between the 2 words but that is not how my surname shows on my passport. I don't want to be rejected/denied based on something like this.

The hyphen is not printed on airline tickets and has never been a problem so this might be the same ,however I need to be very sure on this.

I searched but can't find anyone running into such a problem. Who can I contact about this and what is the quickest method? I did send an email to montreal-niv@state.gov but not sure how long it will take for a reply;.

Other question :"do you have documentation to establish that you have received vaccinations in accordance with US law?" How can I get the vaccinations when I am not allowed to schedule/do the medical? Packet 3 says don't schedule interview or medical until I have received their notification that they have received my packet3 info. I have read other entries that said that I don't need vaccinations . Should I have gone and gotten all the vaccinations since I started this process ( form i129)? This is all so confusing.

Thanks again.

[chiggins82 88]

Hi All, I got my packet3 now I am trying to do the DS160. I am already stumped on the 1st field ..surname. It states that data must be exactly as it shows on your passport. Well, my surname has a hyphen in it however the online form does not allow/accept hyphen. My only option is to take out the hyphen and have a space between the 2 words but that is not how my surname shows on my passport. I don't want to be rejected/denied based on something like this.

The hyphen is not printed on airline tickets and has never been a problem so this might be the same ,however I need to be very sure on this.

I searched but can't find anyone running into such a problem. Who can I contact about this and what is the quickest method? I did send an email to montreal-niv@state.gov but not sure how long it will take for a reply;.

Other question :"do you have documentation to establish that you have received vaccinations in accordance with US law?" How can I get the vaccinations when I am not allowed to schedule/do the medical? Packet 3 says don't schedule interview or medical until I have received their notification that they have received my packet3 info. I have read other entries that said that I don't need vaccinations . Should I have gone and gotten all the vaccinations since I started this process ( form i129)? This is all so confusing.

Thanks again.

I did not have to deal with this, but I would think leave the hyphen out would be fine. I don't see any trouble coming from it. You could totally email the consulate and it likely would take a while for a response though.

For vaccinations, I just got my record from our provincial health and it was super easy. I just called and they mailed it to me. You can also get a blood test I believe to prove you have immunities if you had no records for some reason. I would try to get them first. Not sure how Ontario works (Guessing that T Dot means that is where you are!). If you don't have all your vaccines up to date, I would book an appointment to get them up to date before your medical. Again in Alberta, we can just go to our doctor, a walk in clinic or a travel clinic. Ontario is probably similar. Yes, they say don't book your medical until you finish Packet 3, but that doesn't mean you can't get these things ready.

I googled and found this for Ontario, there is a contact number you can call: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=94685dc06f002410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD