Preliminary K1 Visa Help

[Adventine 3,216]

2 hours ago, powerpuff said:

Wow.  I wonder if it would be easier and cheaper for the gf to travel to Venezuela and get the passports there… unless they also sell it black market price in the country as well.

 

It's very sad, I remember reading an article about passport renewal issues in some countries in crisis like Venezuela, Lebanon and Syria. Passport renewals can cost hundreds of dollars or not be available at all because the government doesn't have the budget for it.

 

But apparently Venezuela has extended the validity of expired passports and this is recognized by the US Dept of State, at least according to this source. I couldn't find an official Dept of State announcement about it, though:

 

ABA Banking Journal: Venezuela Passport Expiration Date Extended for Five Years.
https://www.aba.com/news-research/news-articles/venezuela-cip

Edited June 5, 2022 by Adventine

[Family 4,254]

SAIME ,  is the government’s online system for passport applications and hopefully OP  can begin and keep at it till successful. 

The Venezuelan embassy ( US) also has a post on how in 2019 Venezuelan passports have an extended 5 year validity recognized by the U.S. ( I can read Spanish, so I devoted a bit of effort)

 

And the Wiki page link indicated that in 2021, the “ official “ cost of a Venezuelan passport is $200 per adult and $150 per child…

 

Thank you @Adventine
for the effort , hopefully VJ members from Venezuela can see post and help . OP, you can also look at consulate / country specific forums on VJ and try DM ( direct messaging) members from Venezuela for referrals/ advice 

[powerpuff 6,748]

9 hours ago, Adventine said:

 

It's very sad, I remember reading an article about passport renewal issues in some countries in crisis like Venezuela, Lebanon and Syria. Passport renewals can cost hundreds of dollars or not be available at all because the government doesn't have the budget for it.

 

But apparently Venezuela has extended the validity of expired passports and this is recognized by the US Dept of State, at least according to this source. I couldn't find an official Dept of State announcement about it, though:

 

ABA Banking Journal: Venezuela Passport Expiration Date Extended for Five Years.
https://www.aba.com/news-research/news-articles/venezuela-cip

It really is sad. This way you’re forced to pay these insane prices for passports (and they might not even be able to provide them) 😟 That’s truly terrible. 

[Calabama 2]

12 hours ago, Family said:

SAIME ,  is the government’s online system for passport applications and hopefully OP  can begin and keep at it till successful. 

The Venezuelan embassy ( US) also has a post on how in 2019 Venezuelan passports have an extended 5 year validity recognized by the U.S. ( I can read Spanish, so I devoted a bit of effort)

 

And the Wiki page link indicated that in 2021, the “ official “ cost of a Venezuelan passport is $200 per adult and $150 per child…

 

Thank you @Adventine
for the effort , hopefully VJ members from Venezuela can see post and help . OP, you can also look at consulate / country specific forums on VJ and try DM ( direct messaging) members from Venezuela for referrals/ advice 

Thanks. I knew the prices she was given sounded strange.

[Loren Y 2,756]

15 hours ago, Calabama said:

Venezuela has a lot of drama/unrest right now and she's not willing to go back to Venezuela.

This is putting it mildly. Not sure if it has gotten any better in the past 3 years since I was there, but I know a bunch of people that do private security there, and After my trip, needless to say I won't be back anytime soon. Probably better off with a trip to the front lines in Ukraine. From my experience it is difficult to obtain passports in Venezuela the right way. I haven't looked in a few years, but it was taking a year to get a passport issued in country. I have never researched getting a passport issued at one of their embassy in another country, but that may be an easier path. You can file K1 or CR1 whatever you decide, then start on the whole passport thing, you will have time.

[K1visajourneyec 3]

21 hours ago, Calabama said:

Hello,

 

My girlfriend is a legal citizen of Venezuela, but currently lives in Peru with her 2 kids. I am about to start the process of moving her to the USA. I have already researched and understand the K-1 visa process, but I am lost on the passport requirements portion...

 

My girlfriend has an expired passport and we need new passports for her children. She spoke with someone in immigration that quoted her $250 for her passport renewal and $350 each for new passports for her children. I thought that sounded really expensive so I thought the guy in immigration might be trying to pocket money.
 

Is there anywhere online where I can apply for passports on my girlfriend's behalf?

 

And do those prices sound correct?

My Venezuelan fiancé living in Chile got a five year extension on his expired passport by going to the Venezuelan embassy in Chile. Even though the US recognizes expired Venezuelan passports, we opted to get him an extension to avoid any possible issues with using an expired passport. 
 

He applied online through the Venezuelan embassy’s website and then went in person to pay the extension fee. It was less than 100 USD. Not sure about the price of a new passport though. It took about five months to receive his passport extension, so be aware that applying for it abroad will probably include a long wait.

[Calabama 2]

44 minutes ago, emmamccain said:

My Venezuelan fiancé living in Chile got a five year extension on his expired passport by going to the Venezuelan embassy in Chile. Even though the US recognizes expired Venezuelan passports, we opted to get him an extension to avoid any possible issues with using an expired passport. 
 

He applied online through the Venezuelan embassy’s website and then went in person to pay the extension fee. It was less than 100 USD. Not sure about the price of a new passport though. It took about five months to receive his passport extension, so be aware that applying for it abroad will probably include a long wait.

Okay great. I will look into this.

[martinzl 91]

From CBP webpage

 

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1411?language=en_US

 

 

[Kyleandandrea 16]

My and my Finance who is a from Venezuela, we live in panama together. We just renewed her passport for 150 bucks, online, then the embassy charged her another 100 in "cash" to pick it up. Its super simple just go on the government site, pay the 150 and they send it to the embassy. The embassy people will take a cut too and get you for 100 bucks or so to pick it up but it is what is. It took less than a month to get a new passport much faster than the USA. Also the USA will accept passports that have expired up  to five years  from Venezuela.

 

The renewal process is easier and faster than the USA we were both surprised how easy it was.