Newbie in Portugal about to marry US military

[Starla 0]

Hello!!

I know you must be thinking, yuck, another newbie, why doesn't she read the FAQs before posting. Well, I did, and I'm even more clueless than I was before!

Anyway! I am about to marry my american military boyfriend and I need some clarification about what it is this process is....so far, I don't even know enough information in order to make questions that make any sense! But basically, i guess the first thing I would like to ask, how long does the whole process usually take? How much does it cost?

I have previously filed the K1 and married an american citizen and have since been divorced, that shouldn't be much of a problem though, yeah? I used to live in Canada. Oy. I'm too stressed to even continue this post!

Any help will be much appreciated!

[milimelo 4,546]

I can only tell you about our DCF experience (pre-Adam Walsh Act entering into force). From the filing of the petition to visa in hand took around 54 days. It would've been even less had I known that I will be called for an interview in less than a month.

Once you are married and you have your international marriage certificate (or translation of local one) your husband should call the embassy and set up the appointment for filing I-130. In the meantime, you two need to fill out G-325A and the I-130. Bring the pics from the wedding, have your birth certificates and you should be set to go. In the embassy they will first ask for payment and then you will have a mini-interview where they will look at the I-130, pics, ask for other documents, ask how you met, where, when did he propose and tell you if you're approved. After the A-W Act you will have to wait for around 10 days so they can check your USC husband but that usually clears fast.

After approval, you will receive a packet with your interview date and your case number as well as all the forms you need to fill DS 230 I and II for CR-1. You will need to obtain the police certificate from all countries you lived in for 12 months or more (no worried about US as they will do that check). The certificate can be in the local language so no need for English translation. You may wish to contact the Canadian embassy now and see what you need to get their police certificate).

If you changed your name you need the documentation to prove it.

In your case, you will have to bring and show them the original of your divorce decree, of which they will make a copy and return the original to you.

Cost-wise - submission of I-130 is $190. The visa interview/visa is $380. The medical exam price will vary from country to country - I paid mine around $150 in Croatia. If you have local insurance, you can go to your family doctor or clinic and have them transfer all the vaccinations you received to World Health Organisation WHO Vaccination card and bring that to the medical exam appointment. I know I did not have to have a single vaccination administered as they were all up-to-date (tetanus included) or it was not appropriate for me to receive them (Hep B). If you do have to get shots it may be cheaper to do it in a local clinic than at the medical exam (just make sure you bring proof you were given such and such vaccination on certain date).

Once you submit the I-130 and it is approved, your husband may want to start completing the I-864 - Affidavit of Support. He will need a letter from his commander that he is in the military, copy of his military card, last 3-4 pay slips, W-2s for the last 2-3 years, copies of filed taxes (if he has not filed taxes he can do it now and make a copy of filed returns - they will accept it without a problem). I-864 no longer needs to be notarized.

FYI - If you will take his last name - if you can, change your documents to married name as it will be easier when you have all documents in the new name. I know it took me only 2 weeks to change my National ID card, driver's licence and my passport (and my passport was good for another year but the did not care as I had a legitimate reason to ask for change). If you had previous US visas make sure you have old passports with visas in them at the interview.

If you have more questions feel free to ask.

Goodluck on your visa journey!