What can I do now to prepare for when my boyfriend and I start the K-1 process later?

[Teacake 76]

4 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The I-129F is almost entirely about the petitioner. The only things you will need to provide are a signed letter of intent to marry and a signed G-325A. There are a few other optional documents but I doubt those apply to your case (see the guide for details). The rest is all on the petitioner. That said, proof of meeting at least once within the past 2 years should be done by both of you. My fiancee sent some documents and I provided some others. Just remember the goal is to show proof of meeting within the past 2 years. Photos are secondary evidence...proving a date they were taken is difficult...location can be OK if it's a well-known landmark that the CO recognizes (but I wouldn't rely on that). Screenshots from things like Facebook are also secondary (it's quite easy to back-date photos there). Keep it simple...just keep the goal in mind and you'll be just fine.

Thank you for all your information! I feel a bit less anxious about the whole process now!

[pantonia 39]

another thing I suggest you do, is checking out http://www.mrspresson.com/. I used this blog more than VisaJourney to make checklists and get a detailed-all-in-one-place explanation of the process. She also provides a rundown of the costs, which are pretty high, especially for a K-1 (compared to a CR-1) and even more now that the USCIS fees increased. As a personal suggestion, I'd say to frontload all your packages. I believe it can save you some scrutiny in the future and who knows, maybe you'll also have you AOS approved without an interview like I did! =D

[Teacake 76]

3 minutes ago, pantonia said:

another thing I suggest you do, is checking out http://www.mrspresson.com/. I used this blog more than VisaJourney to make checklists and get a detailed-all-in-one-place explanation of the process. She also provides a rundown of the costs, which are pretty high, especially for a K-1 (compared to a CR-1) and even more now that the USCIS fees increased. As a personal suggestion, I'd say to frontload all your packages. I believe it can save you some scrutiny in the future and who knows, maybe you'll also have you AOS approved without an interview like I did! =D

Sorry to bother you again, but what exactly do you mean by "frontload packages"? ? And thank you again! I'll bookmark that site right now!

[yuna628 9,676]

22 hours ago, Bunny1 said:

My boyfriend is a U.S. citizen and I am an Australian citizen. We have been dating for a year and 8 months and have met in person 3 times now. Each time, I have been the one to travel to him because it works out for our situation best. I'm  in my last year of university now, very beginning of the first semester and we are planning to begin our K-1 visa process once I finish my course in November. If all goes according to plan, by that time, he will already be working a steady job full-time and so the financial requirement for the sponsor shouldn't be a problem.

 

I'm very eager for the day that we can finally buy a one-way ticket and put all this long distance craziness behind us, but until that time comes, I was wondering what I can do -now- to hopefully help speed the visa process along once we get started. Does the beneficiary (me) need to send any evidence? My boyfriend has my boarding passes to the U.S. (a souvenir I gave him) and I have my boarding passes to get home.

 

Thank you!

Hi there: Things that you might need to send to your US fiancé are going to be stuff like the signed letter of intent, and a completed and signed form G325A - of course if you have photos, passport stamps, and any evidence of you being together that's all going to be important stuff to photocopy and email to your US fiancé.

15 hours ago, Bunny1 said:

Thank you both for your helpful replies! We're both quite camera shy and don't actually have a lot of pictures together so that is definitely one I will get on to during our next trip together. Are selfies okay? And is it better for the pictures to be taken at some scenic location or something (not just in the house, for example)?

Good getting more photos, but they are only secondary evidence. I'd say make the photos you send count - by taking them at recognizable locations, and back where you were together up by showing evidence of you being there at those locations. Say like tickets or receipts to an event or location showing you both went there. We did that a few times in our K1 packet, by providing ticket stubs for movies and events we'd attended together (photos also sent showing us there). While we sent a few photographs together at home with family and friends we did include photos of us going places. Make sure to marl who, what, where, and the date on the back. It's more important to have quality evidence, but also make the photos one piece of the puzzle that can be backed up by something concrete. Do you have a receipt for an engagement ring? Some people do choose to send in cards,letters, emails, and even chats. We didn't - the sheer number was too much over ten years. Whatever you send in the packet make it count. Front-loading is when you have a ton of evidence and usually something that is done when you have a very difficult consulate to go through. Australia should not provide you much difficulty, front loading should not be needed. What you do need is good quality evidence that honors the requirements of the USCIS. You can always take along more evidence to your interview.

32 minutes ago, Bunny1 said:

So that would mean scanning the stamps page of my passport, right? Also, I'll definitely keep money in mind. I hadn't realised how important it would be to save. I read through the guide and am just confirming now: only the sponsor sends the evidence through during the initial stage of the visa process right? (And possibly again if hit with an RFE, if I understand correctly.) I won't be sending any evidence on my part?

Passport stamps, boarding passes all are very helpful. And yes, saving is very important in the long run. I'd encourage everyone to take as much time as needed to save up. You're going to need it. Healthcare here is not cheap and you'll be eligible to obtain it nearly immediately after landing (that's one big bill every month), there's the application fee for AOS once you marry, and you won't be able to work right away. Your US fiancé will be sending in the paperwork and all evidence. If an RFE should happen they will continue to be the person sending everything in. Paperwork that you will have to complete will only come after the application has been approved - such as obtaining a police certificate, long form birth certificate, vaccination records, medical stuff, DS160, and of course the interview.

Edited March 5, 2017 by yuna628

[Teacake 76]

2 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

Hi there: Things that you might need to send to your US fiancé are going to be stuff like the signed letter of intent, and a completed and signed form G325A - of course if you have photos, passport stamps, and any evidence of you being together that's all going to be important stuff to photocopy and email to your US fiancé.

Good getting more photos, but they are only secondary evidence. I'd say make the photos you send count - by taking them at recognizable locations, and back where you were together up by showing evidence of you being there at those locations. Say like tickets or receipts to an event or location showing you both went there. We did that a few times in our K1 packet, by providing ticket stubs for movies and events we'd attended together (photos also sent showing us there). While we sent a few photographs together at home with family and friends we did include photos of us going places. Make sure to marl who, what, where, and the date on the back. It's more important to have quality evidence, but also make the photos one piece of the puzzle that can be backed up by something concrete. Do you have a receipt for an engagement ring? Some people do choose to send in cards,letters, emails, and even chats. We didn't - the sheer number was too much over ten years. Whatever you send in the packet make it count. Front-loading is when you have a ton of evidence and usually something that is done when you have a very difficult consulate to go through. Australia should not provide you much difficulty, front loading should not be needed. What you do need is good quality evidence that honors the requirements of the USCIS. You can always take along more evidence to your interview.

Passport stamps, boarding passes all are very helpful. And yes, saving is very important in the long run. I'd encourage everyone to take as much time as needed to save up. You're going to need it. Healthcare here is not cheap and you'll be eligible to obtain it nearly immediately after landing (that's one big bill every month), there's the application fee for AOS once you marry, and you won't be able to work right away. Your US fiancé will be sending in the paperwork and all evidence. If an RFE should happen they will continue to be the person sending everything in. Paperwork that you will have to complete will only come after the application has been approved - such as obtaining a police certificate, long form birth certificate, vaccination records, medical stuff, DS160, and of course the interview.

Oh my gosh, you are such a big help! Thank you!! This is all such handy information! I'm actually unemployed because it's incredibly hard for undergraduates without work experience to find even part-time jobs here if they don't have inner connections. ? I'll try to figure something out though to start making some money so I can help support my boyfriend through the process. This is another thing I'm wondering about: do you need to be officially engaged to do the fiancé visa? We both intend to marry but he hasn't officially proposed yet...

[pantonia 39]

Just now, Bunny1 said:

Sorry to bother you again, but what exactly do you mean by "frontload packages"? ? And thank you again! I'll bookmark that site right now!

It's just putting all evidence that you can even if not strictly required. For example, for the I-129f process, you are required to prove that you have met at least once in the last two years. I did that, but I also added passport stamps and a few photos of ALL of our trips so far. Then, in the AOS process (once you are already in the US and married), you'll have the send the package which strictly speaking only requires to show the marriage license, but a lot of us think it's good to just go ahead and send more evidence then too. By that time, I already had a joint bank account with my husband and photos of our wedding, so I sent those, plus photos/stamps of trips made since last package I sent. Overall, between the I-129f, the evidence given at the embassy interview and the frontloaded package of the AOS, they had plenty of evidence from me, so I think that helped my case and they approved my conditional green card without making me go to the interview. 

[pantonia 39]

1 minute ago, Bunny1 said:

Oh my gosh, you are such a big help! Thank you!! This is all such handy information! I'm actually unemployed because it's incredibly hard for undergraduates without work experience to find even part-time jobs here if they don't have inner connections. ? I'll try to figure something out though to start making some money so I can help support my boyfriend through the process. This is another thing I'm wondering about: do you need to be officially engaged to do the fiancé visa? We both intend to marry but he hasn't officially proposed yet...

Not necessary. Going through the invasive, hard and expensive process of K-1, plus giving the required letter of "intent to marry" is proof enough. Engagement ring receipts/engagement party photos help as bonuses, but definitely not a requirement. Our "proposal" basically consisted of a skype call where we both said something like "well, I already know I wanna marry you and spend my life with you, so we should go ahead and get the k-1"... and we bought our wedding bands right before I moved here. No engagement ring since the immigration process used all of our money.

[Teacake 76]

3 minutes ago, pantonia said:

It's just putting all evidence that you can even if not strictly required. For example, for the I-129f process, you are required to prove that you have met at least once in the last two years. I did that, but I also added passport stamps and a few photos of ALL of our trips so far. Then, in the AOS process (once you are already in the US and married), you'll have the send the package which strictly speaking only requires to show the marriage license, but a lot of us think it's good to just go ahead and send more evidence then too. By that time, I already had a joint bank account with my husband and photos of our wedding, so I sent those, plus photos/stamps of trips made since last package I sent. Overall, between the I-129f, the evidence given at the embassy interview and the frontloaded package of the AOS, they had plenty of evidence from me, so I think that helped my case and they approved my conditional green card without making me go to the interview. 

Oh, that's fantastic! Congratulations! You are literally living my dream right now, haha. That's a good idea, we've been together in person several times so I'll make a note to send evidence from each trip! Thanks again!!

[yuna628 9,676]

3 minutes ago, Bunny1 said:

Oh my gosh, you are such a big help! Thank you!! This is all such handy information! I'm actually unemployed because it's incredibly hard for undergraduates without work experience to find even part-time jobs here if they don't have inner connections. ? I'll try to figure something out though to start making some money so I can help support my boyfriend through the process. This is another thing I'm wondering about: do you need to be officially engaged to do the fiancé visa? We both intend to marry but he hasn't officially proposed yet...

No, no formal engagement is needed, so don't worry about. But if you have an engagement ring receipt I was just suggesting it could be something to think about adding in. We were engaged for five years by the time we filed our K1.. it's funny he kept the engagement receipt in his wallet all those years.. it was so faded but we sent in a photocopy. Wonder if the officers had some giggles.

[Teacake 76]

1 minute ago, pantonia said:

Not necessary. Going through the invasive, hard and expensive process of K-1, plus giving the required letter of "intent to marry" is proof enough. Engagement ring receipts/engagement party photos help as bonuses, but definitely not a requirement. Our "proposal" basically consisted of a skype call where we both said something like "well, I already know I wanna marry you and spend my life with you, so we should go ahead and get the k-1"... and we bought our wedding bands right before I moved here. No engagement ring since the immigration process used all of our money.

Phew, well that's one less stress! Thank you; you're a lifesaver!

[Limey 551]

On 04/03/2017 at 11:09 PM, Bunny1 said:

Thank you both for your helpful replies! We're both quite camera shy and don't actually have a lot of pictures together so that is definitely one I will get on to during our next trip together. Are selfies okay? And is it better for the pictures to be taken at some scenic location or something (not just in the house, for example)?

It wasn't deliberately for this purpose, but we had a photo taken during one of my trips to the USA at a tourist attraction - one of those over priced photos where they superimpose the date and branding of the tourist attraction. At the time I thought it was a bit cheesy and overpriced but my fiancee (now wife) liked it and wanted to buy it. Of course it was quite useful to include in our k1 application - since it showed us together, in the US on a specific date (tied in with my passport stamps and boarding passes for that trip). Photos together are good evidence of a meeting but don't really prove what date the meeting was, so anything that can help that is good. Eg if you have photos of you at a well known landmark, and can show 2 tickets with dates etc, that all helps.

 

You're Australian... Australia like Britain is low risk of fraud, so I doubt you'll get too many issues.

 

Re engagement... we did get engaged during a trip to Canada, but this was after we'd applied for k1, and it was in process, so didn't form part of our application. The letters of intent are sufficient. There is no formal requirement that you give a ring, etc.

 

Good luck!

Edited March 6, 2017 by Limey