aquiring needs during first meeting

[Abuchi&Denise 0]

Hi everybody, it's my first time to post. i met my fiance Oct 19,06 we became "officially (ring)" engaged mid April 07

Iam Ameican, he is Nigerian & we met for the first time in India (lol) I was with him for a whole month (March 15th- April 16th) in India, only took a few pictures together. He's still working in India, (not a citizen there) and now within a week, i am going back to India to be with him for 2 more weeks. I have not yet applied for any immigration thing yet becuz we are just getting started and i am just now realizing there are things we have to do. But i wanted to know if there was anything i needed to make sure that we do while Iam with him in India (like i saw from reading here that people are taking many photo albums with them to their interviews). He lives in Lagos so i'm sure that's where he will interview. are many albums required? and will our meetings in India even count toward it? Plz tell me what else i need to make sure i cover or get or do while im with him. please let me learn from ur experience, wat u wished u would & should have done. I will indeed go to Nigeria, before the end of the year, when he returns... for his family is waiting to meet me. We were planning on marrying while I am there in Nigeria, i hope thats a good plan, let me know if there is something better.

Also, i read many stories of couples being seperated for 2 or 3 years while they wait for the visa. Is it possible that i can live in Nigeria with him while we wait for his visa. I told him i am willing for citizenship there. is it possible for me to have citizenship in both our countries? i couldnt understand why couples are separated while they wait, there must be a reason.

thank you so much!

Denise

[Jennifer + James 0]

What a cool way for you two to meet!

How long will your fiance be in India? Maybe the first thing you should look into is if you can do direct consular filing there. Otherwise, you have to decide if you want to apply for a K-1 or K-3 visa. K-1 is if you are engaged and plan to get married after your fiance arrives in the US. K-3 is for if you are already married. So you can decide which process you like best. You can read a great comparison of all these ways in the guides section here on visajourney (see the blue tabs on top!)

It is important to try to document the time you spend together, no matter which way you go, I think, because you need "evidence" of your relationship for the petition. Taking photos when you are together whether in India or Nigeria, in groups and at well known places, is a great idea. If you can show somehow that your fiance is in India and you have your airline ticket to meet him, that could also work. I included a copy of my latest flight itinerary. We also included copies of emails to each other. If you talk to each other on the phone, try finding a phone card company that keeps a record of numbers you called (pingo.com is a good one!). That was another evidence we submitted. There are more suggestions in the guides section as well.

And definitely you can live in Nigeria while you wait for his visa. That will be a wonderful opportunity for you both!! I would never have left Ghana, except that I ran out of money and had to return for school. I will be going back in August, though, and have planned a study abroad semester so I can be there!

Good luck with everything! I remember feeling overwhelmed at first, but just take it one step at a time. And congratulations to you and your fiance!

[Zee Bee 61]

I would also recommend taking copies of the forms that need to be filled out and having him sign several copies of them (like the G325A).

Definitely have copies of receipts and stuff to submit as evidence. If you and him both have receipts (with your names on them) or train/airline receipts to show that you were at the same place that is also good evidence to submit with your petition.

Get copies of both of your passports that shows the visas/stamps for your entry/exit from India as well...that would go along with the airline stubs that you have.

If you have the opportunity to live in Nigeria with your fiance while going through this process then by all means go ahead. Just remember that you need to have an address in the US where USCIS will send correspndence so make sure that you can provide an address (parents or relatives).

This process is a long and taxing one and I think that for most of us, if we could be with our fiance(e) through this we would!!

Good luck on your journey and feel free to ask any more questions that may come up

Zee

[Abuchi&Denise 0]

What a cool way for you two to meet!

How long will your fiance be in India? Maybe the first thing you should look into is if you can do direct consular filing there. Otherwise, you have to decide if you want to apply for a K-1 or K-3 visa. K-1 is if you are engaged and plan to get married after your fiance arrives in the US. K-3 is for if you are already married. So you can decide which process you like best. You can read a great comparison of all these ways in the guides section here on visajourney (see the blue tabs on top!)

It is important to try to document the time you spend together, no matter which way you go, I think, because you need "evidence" of your relationship for the petition. Taking photos when you are together whether in India or Nigeria, in groups and at well known places, is a great idea. If you can show somehow that your fiance is in India and you have your airline ticket to meet him, that could also work. I included a copy of my latest flight itinerary. We also included copies of emails to each other. If you talk to each other on the phone, try finding a phone card company that keeps a record of numbers you called (pingo.com is a good one!). That was another evidence we submitted. There are more suggestions in the guides section as well.

And definitely you can live in Nigeria while you wait for his visa. That will be a wonderful opportunity for you both!! I would never have left Ghana, except that I ran out of money and had to return for school. I will be going back in August, though, and have planned a study abroad semester so I can be there!

Good luck with everything! I remember feeling overwhelmed at first, but just take it one step at a time. And congratulations to you and your fiance!

Thanks Jennifer, I appreciate all your insite, I only wish I had used my brains (my head was in cloud 9, lol) for the first visit to keep all that stuff and get more pictures I only got a few. I'm going back to visit him by this weekend, I can't wait, I miss him so much, I will try to get more pics, maybe of us outside our motel room, in the taxi, & public places, but all his friends & family are in Nigeria so those pics have to wait till I get there.

you said you would have never left ghana, except for you ran out of money, did you have to be self supporting while you were there? I am under the understanding that my fiance's family will care for me financially while Iam there. Besides that, is there something more that I need to know?

Again thanks,

Denise

[Abuchi&Denise 0]

I would also recommend taking copies of the forms that need to be filled out and having him sign several copies of them (like the G325A).

Definitely have copies of receipts and stuff to submit as evidence. If you and him both have receipts (with your names on them) or train/airline receipts to show that you were at the same place that is also good evidence to submit with your petition.

Get copies of both of your passports that shows the visas/stamps for your entry/exit from India as well...that would go along with the airline stubs that you have.

If you have the opportunity to live in Nigeria with your fiance while going through this process then by all means go ahead. Just remember that you need to have an address in the US where USCIS will send correspndence so make sure that you can provide an address (parents or relatives).

This process is a long and taxing one and I think that for most of us, if we could be with our fiance(e) through this we would!!

Good luck on your journey and feel free to ask any more questions that may come up

Zee

Thank you Zee, that was very helpful, I will try to keep my head out of the clouds while I visit him this time, lol very hard to do ya know! to help with those clouds, I will make a list of things to do while Iam visiting again. If you think of any other tips please message me, I'm thankful for all you give me.

again thanks!

Denise

[Divine Mercy 0]

You will read these things so many times you will know it all by heart and in no time you will be offering advice to a newbie I wish we all had the ability to go live w/ our loved one while we waited. If you can, then DO! I can't because I have children from a prior marriage in America and I can't take them abroad to live because of a custody agreement. We all have some reason or another for staying here while waiting. Enjoy your time with him and have a safe trip!

[Jennifer + James 0]

Thanks Jennifer, I appreciate all your insite, I only wish I had used my brains (my head was in cloud 9, lol) for the first visit to keep all that stuff and get more pictures I only got a few. I'm going back to visit him by this weekend, I can't wait, I miss him so much, I will try to get more pics, maybe of us outside our motel room, in the taxi, & public places, but all his friends & family are in Nigeria so those pics have to wait till I get there.

you said you would have never left ghana, except for you ran out of money, did you have to be self supporting while you were there? I am under the understanding that my fiance's family will care for me financially while Iam there. Besides that, is there something more that I need to know?

Again thanks,

Denise

I wasnt thinking of gathering evidence when I was with him either! That is why I wanted to make sure to tell you to keep it in mind. You will have a much easier time this way. But also keep enjoying yourselves, dont get preocuppied with visas!

Yes, for me I was supporting myself. It is wonderful if your fiance's family can support you. As long as you have established this with them, you should be fine. Have a wonderful time back in india!

Jennifer

[Queen Jenn 0]

Take LOTS of pictures. It will be helpful if you have a camera that will automatically date the pictures. Aside from that, also get a newspaper (one in english if you can find it) and hold it up in the pictures so that you can see the date on the newspaper. That way, it is documented that you have met in the last two years.

[Queen Jenn 0]

Also, you have to be able to prove an ongoing relationship (by the time he goes in for the interview). So get a calling card that has call details (as in the number you dialed from, the number you dialed to and the date, time and length of the call). I use the flying colors card from www.zaptel.com.

Save ALL your e-mails and IM chats. Save letters and postcards (with the postmark).

The consulate in Lagos has been known to have problems with people who don't have sufficient evidence of an ongoing relationship. SO SAVE EVERYTHING.

[Abuchi&Denise 0]

You will read these things so many times you will know it all by heart and in no time you will be offering advice to a newbie I wish we all had the ability to go live w/ our loved one while we waited. If you can, then DO! I can't because I have children from a prior marriage in America and I can't take them abroad to live because of a custody agreement. We all have some reason or another for staying here while waiting. Enjoy your time with him and have a safe trip!

Kathryn hello and thank you.

Im trying to make sure that i do everything right, lol, i dont know for sure, maybe u or someone else does, but, since my family is going to sponcer my fiance, i feel like i'm free to go on to nigeria & marry him & stay with my new family until his visa clears, i wonder tho if there is anything that i will need to be in the states for, cuz i can't afford to run back & forth, can i follow the visa journey from Nigeria, or will there be things i need to do here? Hope everyone reads this and replies!

anyway, kathryn, thanks

Denise

[Abuchi&Denise 0]

Also, you have to be able to prove an ongoing relationship (by the time he goes in for the interview). So get a calling card that has call details (as in the number you dialed from, the number you dialed to and the date, time and length of the call). I use the flying colors card from www.zaptel.com.

Save ALL your e-mails and IM chats. Save letters and postcards (with the postmark).

The consulate in Lagos has been known to have problems with people who don't have sufficient evidence of an ongoing relationship. SO SAVE EVERYTHING.

Jenn thx for the ideas, that is a brilliant idea about the newspaper & date u mentioned in ur previous reply... and i will save my emails & chats for real and phone bills with all the calls listed., you all have great tips, tell me more if you think of any more!

Smiles,

Denise