Starting K-1 Visa Process and have a few questions

[shtirlits 0]

Hello Fellow Members!

I am just starting to work on my K-1 Visa petition and have a few questions. First, some background. My fiance came to US on a work & travel visa and has stayed here during this past summer. She's a sister of my friend's wife and was introduced to me a few months prior to her arrival in US. Our first few conversations were actually on FB so technically that's where we have met. Over the summer we have developed a serious relationship and at this point I would like to bring her back to US so we can marry.

She had to go back to her country (Ukraine) at the end of her W&T visa so she could finish her last year of college. And hopefully if we file by the end of this month, it'll give her enough time to get her degree by the time the interview is scheduled.

Ok, here are my questions!

1. We have met multiple times while she was working here, but unfortunately I don't have much documentation to prove it. She was working in the neighboring state and I just used my car to drive over there whenever we had mutual days off from our jobs. Towards the end of her visa, she stayed with me for about 3 weeks. Would her visa stamp be enough to show that she was in US during that time and suggest that we have met here? I do have about 10 pictures from different places we have visited together. I have more, but they're just different variations from the same places, same clothes on etc. What else could we provide as a proof that we have met in the past 2 years? Would they think that our relationship is too short and we need more evidence? Looking back, I wish we had taken more pictures, but at the time, I wasn't aware of all of the K-1 requrements.

2. How much proof would they need of an ongoing relationship? We normally chat over the Russian's social network Vkontakte and Skype. No phone records unfortunately since we just video chat. I've read somewhere that I can submit a Skype screenshot, but since I just found out about it, it'll probably be a single one I can print out and translate some of our conversations. Vkontakte doesn't have a really great message format for printouts (about 20 per page), so to see a meaningful conversation, I'd have to print out a lot of pages. Do the agents actually care about the context of the conversation or do they just check that we had them throughout our relationship? Also, how many conversations would be a good number? One for every month? Two or three? Also, we're flying into Mexico next month so we can spend some more time together. Should I also send in our tickets and a hotel reservation, even though it's in the future?

3. Another thing I'm a little worried about is that my fiance applied for a tourist visa last month and was denied (not enough evidence that she would return back. That was somewhat expected but we thought we'd try anyway). Due to gas issues with Russia, Ukraine issued all of their college students a 2 month winter break and I thought it could be a great opportunity for her to spend some more time with me while the visa is getting processed. Would this denial show up at some point during the visa process and cause any suspicion? On her travel visa application the reason was to see her sister.

4. How much information would they need for question 34.a? Should I be brief and just explain how we met originally (on FB) and then in person and on what dates? They're probably not looking for a multiple page essay right?

This is all I have for now. I've actually called the USCIS customer service with a few other form questions and they were surprisingly helpful and there was no wait time at all when I called.

I want to thank you all in advance for your answers and I apologize if I've asked some questions that were already asked somewhere on this forum I just feel a little paranoid haha

And of course if anyone has any other input that might help us with this process, it will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[msbau764 245]

the answer to number two depends on you. Some people send in only the required evidence and others send in encyclopedias -- it depends on what you want to do. I must say though that the strongest evidence is boarding passes/plane tickets showing you have spent time together so I would definitely save everything you have regarding your trip to Mexico.

the answer to number 3 is no effect, unless she lied during the interview (in the sense that the CO will question discrepancies). even then, probably no effect.

the answer to number 4 could be one sentence; however you could also put "see attachment..." and attach a separate piece of paper with a longer explanation. read the guides, as the explain nearly everything.

welcome

[Yadeliz N Jairo 1]

So I see you are a little overwhelmed. Dont be just be honest and give as much information as you can do just as the step by step I-129f guid in the guids section. Any conversations are good and as far as photos go you just need a few photos there isnt any minimum or maximum on proof. As for the question 34a you can write as much or as little as you feel is necessary just be detailed and go in order, so that it makes sense to the person reviewing your case. Hope tjis helps

[shtirlits 0]

Guys, thanks so much!

[avrora9002 21]

Hello! Wow your story really is so close to ours... I also met my Fiance this summer when i was on WAT, then we became friends and eventually fell in love I would be happy to share my experience so far with you

1. For our proof of meeting, I send my plane ticket, my boarding passes (we were quite lucky i saved those, since i had no idea i will need them xD ) and my passport with US entry stamp.... we also didn't take many pictures, again not knowing we will need them... So I ended up sending 4 pictures and I was a little worried it's not enough, but our petition got approved with no problems :)

2. For this i agree it depends on you... I have yet to attend the interview, but I'm printing all of our skype conversations (since we use skype mainly) for the last 3 months... I doubt they will read all of it xD

3. It shouldn't have an effect... a lot of people get denied tourist visas and then get K1 visa

4. You don't have to write an essay, just explain how u met, how u became a couple, maybe mention the last time u saw each other in person... This is what we did, it was like 3-4 sentences

I hope this will be helpful to you, good luck on your immigration journey!

[shtirlits 0]

Avrora, sorry, I was out during the holidays and couldn't reply earlier. Thanks for taking your time to share your experience! =) We do have her US Visa and boarding passes so we got that covered.

Now, I understand that we'll need a printout of our conversations for the actual interview, but did you send in anything like that when you filed your petition?

Oh and one more thing. Did you get any documents sent to you at all during this process? My fiance' currently lives in a dormitory and will be moving out in a few months, so I'm wondering what address I should use. There are 2 places to enter address on form i-129f. Mailing address and then one in native alphabet. I was thinking of just listing her parents' address in both places, even though that's not her current address.

Thanks again!

Edited December 28, 2014 by shtirlits

[baron555 934]

Our first few conversations were actually on FB so technically that's where we have met.

No....that's when your relationship first began....when you met means meeting in person.

1. We have met multiple times while she was working here, but unfortunately I don't have much documentation to prove it.

Purposefully generate all kinds of evidences.

Would her visa stamp be enough to show that she was in US during that time and suggest that we have met here?

It is one piece of evidence.

I do have about 10 pictures from different places we have visited together.

Good

Would they think that our relationship is too short and we need more evidence?

Maybe, see suggestion above.

2. How much proof would they need of an ongoing relationship?

Kiev is considered an easy Embassy.

We normally chat over the Russian's social network Vkontakte and Skype. No phone records unfortunately since we just video chat.

See suggestion above.

Do the agents actually care about the context of the conversation or do they just check that we had them throughout our relationship?

Content is key.

Also, how many conversations would be a good number?

Enough to prove you have a legitimate relationship.

One for every month? Two or three?

Depends

Also, we're flying into Mexico next month so we can spend some more time together. Should I also send in our tickets and a hotel reservation, even though it's in the future?

No, but use them for the interview.

Would this denial show up at some point during the visa process and cause any suspicion?

Yes to first part and No to second part.

4. How much information would they need for question 34.a?

Two sentences are all it takes.. Where you met in person.

They're probably not looking for a multiple page essay right?

Why overburden them?

[avrora9002 21]

Avrora, sorry, I was out during the holidays and couldn't reply earlier. Thanks for taking your time to share your experience! =) We do have her US Visa and boarding passes so we got that covered.

Now, I understand that we'll need a printout of our conversations for the actual interview, but did you send in anything like that when you filed your petition?

Oh and one more thing. Did you get any documents sent to you at all during this process? My fiance' currently lives in a dormitory and will be moving out in a few months, so I'm wondering what address I should use. There are 2 places to enter address on form i-129f. Mailing address and then one in native alphabet. I was thinking of just listing her parents' address in both places, even though that's not her current address.

Thanks again!

No I didn't... because i didn't have any xD We met in person, worked together and lived next to each other, so we didn't really chat much... We started using skype when i got back home

The only thing i got was a letter from the embassy with instructions on what documents i need and how to schedule an interview... I see no problem with using her parents' address

[shtirlits 0]

Baron, Avrora, thanks so much! =)

[shtirlits 0]

Two more questions guys, if I may.

1. In form g-325a (bigraphic info), what do we put for her employment in the last 5 years? Other than working in US this summer, she's been a student the entire time. So would something like this work?

Employer From To

None Aug 2014 Present

USA May 2014 Aug 2014

2. We've read somewhere that she can sign her forms, scan them and email them to me and I can print them out. Would they accept her signature that way? Or does it have to be signed in ink?

Thanks again!

Edited December 29, 2014 by shtirlits

[baron555 934]

Two more questions guys, if I may.

1. In form g-325a (bigraphic info), what do we put for her employment in the last 5 years? Other than working in US this summer, she's been a student the entire time. So would something like this work?

Employer From To

None Aug 2014 Present

USA May 2014 Aug 2014

Rather than None put Student.

2. We've read somewhere that she can sign her forms, scan them and email them to me and I can print them out. Would they accept her signature that way? Or does it have to be signed in ink?

Nope, the G325A and the Letter of Intent need original signatures.

Thanks again!

[shtirlits 0]

Thanks!