U.S. Embassy requirements in Kiev

[JeffAtl 16]

We are waiting for an embassy interview (Kiev) for my Fiancee and she believes I have to provide all original bank statements, W2, tax return, etc.  My attorney says only a tax return.  Well, I did my taxes online, not with a local CPA.  Am I supposed to get Turbotax to send me a signed notarized original? My attorney hasn't answered this question.  My fiancee thinks he's incompetent and believes I need to provide a laundry list of documents for proof I can support her, and they can't be copies, which is really impossible.  What's the correct answer?  I don't want all my financial business out there.  Should I hire another attorney to make sure it's right or does anyone here know the real answer?  If 90 day fiance show is any indication, it can't be rocket science to figure this out.

[smile101 116]

5 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

We are waiting for an embassy interview (Kiev) for my Fiancee and she believes I have to provide all original bank statements, W2, tax return, etc.  My attorney says only a tax return.  Well, I did my taxes online, not with a local CPA.  Am I supposed to get Turbotax to send me a signed notarized original? My attorney hasn't answered this question.  My fiancee thinks he's incompetent and believes I need to provide a laundry list of documents for proof I can support her, and they can't be copies, which is really impossible.  What's the correct answer?  I don't want all my financial business out there.  Should I hire another attorney to make sure it's right or does anyone here know the real answer?  If 90 day fiance show is any indication, it can't be rocket science to figure this out.

I have a lawyer as well and said the same thing to me. I also filed with turbo tax and printed out my last 3 years of tax returns. It was definitely a lot lol. I also showed my last 6 paystubs and didn’t provide any bank statements. I used all that info and filled out the I-134 for my fiancé. Since getting the original to him is impossible for me to send so I just scanned it and will have him print it out for the interview.

[gregcrs2 1,778]

4 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

We are waiting for an embassy interview (Kiev) for my Fiancee and she believes I have to provide all original bank statements, W2, tax return, etc.  My attorney says only a tax return.  Well, I did my taxes online, not with a local CPA.  Am I supposed to get Turbotax to send me a signed notarized original? My attorney hasn't answered this question.  My fiancee thinks he's incompetent and believes I need to provide a laundry list of documents for proof I can support her, and they can't be copies, which is really impossible.  What's the correct answer?  I don't want all my financial business out there.  Should I hire another attorney to make sure it's right or does anyone here know the real answer?  If 90 day fiance show is any indication, it can't be rocket science to figure this out.

 Do you have access to your tax transcripts?  That's the best way to prove your tax filings occured is to provide a copy of your tax transcripts.  Anything you have provided, you should have the original available for the interview but it is highly unlikely they will ask for it.  Of course, like most stuff on-line, your can only provide the on-line version.  So don't be sweating it. 

[payxibka 10,045]

48 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

We are waiting for an embassy interview (Kiev) for my Fiancee and she believes I have to provide all original bank statements, W2, tax return, etc.  My attorney says only a tax return.  Well, I did my taxes online, not with a local CPA.  Am I supposed to get Turbotax to send me a signed notarized original? My attorney hasn't answered this question.  My fiancee thinks he's incompetent and believes I need to provide a laundry list of documents for proof I can support her, and they can't be copies, which is really impossible.  What's the correct answer?  I don't want all my financial business out there.  Should I hire another attorney to make sure it's right or does anyone here know the real answer?  If 90 day fiance show is any indication, it can't be rocket science to figure this out.

Kyiv has the requirements on the website.  Provide exactly what they require.  

 

BTW, copies are absolutely acceptable 

[JeffAtl 16]

The website is confusing.  It says the I-134 isn't enough, but doesn't say you need all W2s, bank statements, and tax returns.  Its ambiguous.  Of course my fiancee wants all my financials and I don't like sharing everything (after we're married I will) with her and the Embassy.  

[payxibka 10,045]

1 hour ago, JeffAtl said:

The website is confusing.  It says the I-134 isn't enough, but doesn't say you need all W2s, bank statements, and tax returns.  Its ambiguous.  Of course my fiancee wants all my financials and I don't like sharing everything (after we're married I will) with her and the Embassy.  

Its not confusing.   Read it literally.   They want an i134 and your most recent tax transcript and/or w2 as supporting evidence.  That's it.

[Gar & Ella 12]

19 hours ago, payxibka said:

Its not confusing.   Read it literally.   They want an i134 and your most recent tax transcript and/or w2 as supporting evidence.  That's it.

That's what we did and we were approved.

[JeffAtl 16]

How should I get these documents to Ukraine? With all my personal info she has to take to the interview, I want to make sure its secure.  DHL, UPS, or FedEx? What is the best one? It will need to be hand delivered to her, not dropped in a mailbox.

[payxibka 10,045]

15 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

How should I get these documents to Ukraine? With all my personal info she has to take to the interview, I want to make sure its secure.  DHL, UPS, or FedEx? What is the best one? It will need to be hand delivered to her, not dropped in a mailbox.

Scan, email, print locally

[JeffAtl 16]

16 hours ago, payxibka said:

Scan, email, print locally

I don't know if thats the safest thing either.  She has no way to print anything and also sending over the internet isn't safe.  If I protect it with a software here, she can't open there.  I think a courier is better.  Additionally, I find conflicting info here regarding originals with an original signature, not a copy.  Not sure what to believe.  We need to figure this out this week.

[payxibka 10,045]

9 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

I don't know if thats the safest thing either.  She has no way to print anything and also sending over the internet isn't safe.  If I protect it with a software here, she can't open there.  I think a courier is better.  Additionally, I find conflicting info here regarding originals with an original signature, not a copy.  Not sure what to believe.  We need to figure this out this week.

No conflict. I went through Kyiv 12 years ago.  Nothing original required from petitioner 

[Keithn85 400]

11 hours ago, JeffAtl said:

I don't know if thats the safest thing either.  She has no way to print anything and also sending over the internet isn't safe.  If I protect it with a software here, she can't open there.  I think a courier is better.  Additionally, I find conflicting info here regarding originals with an original signature, not a copy.  Not sure what to believe.  We need to figure this out this week.

This was one of the first topics I saw on VJ.  Basically halfway through the topic, the OP ended up emailing US embassy and they confirmed copies are ok.  This is also an excellent resource for a full process.  This all transpired in October, so very recent.  You can always email the embassy as they normally reply fairly quickly.

[JeffAtl 16]

I'm going with DHL I guess for my tax return (do I send all supporting docs as well or just the main part?) which is 30 pages.  I don't want to send all supporting docs as I think its unnecessary and will be more expensive.  I'll send 2020 W2 and proof of employment letter.  My fiancee is insisting I send originals as she is paranoid.  She is also having trouble with her document (DS-160).  There's a section where they ask if she has plans (including airline ticket) to come to the U.S. and the date.  Why would they ask that when we can't plan it until she's approved? Should she answer no or say yes and put a guess as to the date (June 15 is what we're hoping for)?

[Chancy 6,241]

47 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

There's a section where they ask if she has plans (including airline ticket) to come to the U.S. and the date.  Why would they ask that when we can't plan it until she's approved? Should she answer no or say yes and put a guess as to the date (June 15 is what we're hoping for)?

 

If I remember correctly, the actual DS-160 question is, "Have you made specific travel plans?"  Based on what you said above, your fiancee's answer should be "No".  If she is asked for travel dates, just put a tentative date.  If asked for an explanation, just state that she is applying for a K1 visa and that she will finalize her travel plans after the visa is issued.

 

The DS-160 is the same form used for other non-immigrant visa applications, such as the B1 business visa, where the applicant's specific travel dates may be more relevant.

 

Edited March 22, 2021 by Chancy
typo

[JeffAtl 16]

Update: I have sent via DHL to the tune of $150.  The money never stops flowing out!