A Few Questions from a Newbie

[sonnyboy0323 25]

Hello, brand new here. Nice to meet you all and thank you beforehand for your patience, help, and understanding.

 

So my fiancée and I are just starting our K-1 as of a few weeks ago. getting documents printed and organized, filling out the forms. And there's a few points I'm a little confused on.

I'm sure you are all bombarded with stupid questions regularly. So I'll do my best to keep it brief and once again thank you for your patience as I add a few more stupid questions to the forum.

 

1. for the "where to file" section, it shows two separate options, one for Dallas and one for Lewisville if you're using USPS or a courier. where i'm confused there is, in some of the K-1 process and advice videos i've watched, some of them put both on their package. so do i put both? or one or the other just depending on if i'm using USPS or a courier?

2. for 38.a to 38.h, it says "If your beneficiary is currently in the United States" to fill that section out, but then asks for all supporting information about her stay as in passport numbers and dates and whatnot. so if she is not currently here, but was previously here on a student exchange, do I leave 38.a to h blank and just send in the I-94 as a supporting document with the actual package? on top of that, do i also include her older passports, visas and stamps? or only her most recent.

3. so, we're pretty stumped about this. I FOUND her account on a dating site we were both using (IRIS), but she had her whatsapp number in her bio, so we completely circumnavigated the dating site and just messaged directly. we never matched or messaged or interacted in any way on the dating site, but that is how i found her and how i was able to find a way to message her. there's no real way to describe how we met without bringing up the site, but do you think i would be required to give the TOS of the site? and would it be considered an IMB?

 

that's all i can really think of right now, i'm sure i'm missing something, but its 2am and my brain is mush. and i failed miserably at keeping it brief.

thanks so much in advance in any help anyone can provide.

 

[Boiler 45,390]

IS there a particular reason you decided on the K1?

[sonnyboy0323 25]

Because my fiancée is in the Philippines (I proposed when I went there to visit for her birthday) and we want to be together again as soon as possible, so we've started the process. Why else? I'm confused by that response.

I already have a ton of documents, evidence and other supporting files printed. I have the I-29F mostly filled out and done, just a few loose ends I was hoping for some clarification on.

Edit: I proposed to her there. we didn't plan on getting married there, if that's what you're asking? from my (limited) understanding, the process for getting a spouse over to the US instead of a fiancée seems largely similar, just that she would get her green card quicker if it was spousal instead of fiancée, right?

Edited February 20 by sonnyboy0323
clarification

[Dashinka 24,429]

1 hour ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

Hello, brand new here. Nice to meet you all and thank you beforehand for your patience, help, and understanding.

 

So my fiancée and I are just starting our K-1 as of a few weeks ago. getting documents printed and organized, filling out the forms. And there's a few points I'm a little confused on.

I'm sure you are all bombarded with stupid questions regularly. So I'll do my best to keep it brief and once again thank you for your patience as I add a few more stupid questions to the forum.

 

1. for the "where to file" section, it shows two separate options, one for Dallas and one for Lewisville if you're using USPS or a courier. where i'm confused there is, in some of the K-1 process and advice videos i've watched, some of them put both on their package. so do i put both? or one or the other just depending on if i'm using USPS or a courier?

Use the address associated with your method of transmitting the form (USPS vs the private couriers), don't confuse entities like USCIS.

 

1 hour ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

2. for 38.a to 38.h, it says "If your beneficiary is currently in the United States" to fill that section out, but then asks for all supporting information about her stay as in passport numbers and dates and whatnot. so if she is not currently here, but was previously here on a student exchange, do I leave 38.a to h blank and just send in the I-94 as a supporting document with the actual package? on top of that, do i also include her older passports, visas and stamps? or only her most recent.

The key here is the first statement.  If she is not here currently, ignore this section.

1 hour ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

3. so, we're pretty stumped about this. I FOUND her account on a dating site we were both using (IRIS), but she had her whatsapp number in her bio, so we completely circumnavigated the dating site and just messaged directly. we never matched or messaged or interacted in any way on the dating site, but that is how i found her and how i was able to find a way to message her. there's no real way to describe how we met without bringing up the site, but do you think i would be required to give the TOS of the site? and would it be considered an IMB?

Not that I know of, this is similar to how I found my now wife, we started on a website, and used its system for about 2 messages and quickly transitioned to private email and video chats.

1 hour ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

 

that's all i can really think of right now, i'm sure i'm missing something, but its 2am and my brain is mush. and i failed miserably at keeping it brief.

thanks so much in advance in any help anyone can provide.

 

I agree with @Boiler, have you considered a spousal visa?

 

Good Luck!

[Boiler 45,390]

Wrong, it will take much longer.

[Dashinka 24,429]

5 minutes ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

Because my fiancée is in the Philippines (I proposed when I went there to visit for her birthday) and we want to be together again as soon as possible, so we've started the process. Why else? I'm confused by that response.

I already have a ton of documents, evidence and other supporting files printed. I have the I-29F mostly filled out and done, just a few loose ends I was hoping for some clarification on.

Edit: I proposed to her there. we didn't plan on getting married there, if that's what you're asking? from my (limited) understanding, the process for getting a spouse over to the US instead of a fiancée seems largely similar, just that she would get her green card quicker if it was spousal instead of fiancée, right?

Because K1s and spousal visas are taking about the same amount of time, and a spousal visa is much more superior than the K1 particularly when it comes to the beneficiary, but also cost.

[sonnyboy0323 25]

9 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Quote

Not that I know of, this is similar to how I found my now wife, we started on a website, and used its system for about 2 messages and quickly transitioned to private email and video chats.

so do you think just a brief mention of the site being the starting point of how we met, but not having really used its features, would suffice?

8 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Because K1s and spousal visas are taking about the same amount of time, and a spousal visa is much more superior than the K1 particularly when it comes to the beneficiary, but also cost.

I see, I was not aware. I will be sure to look into this further, thank you for your help.

 

[Dashinka 24,429]

1 minute ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

 

For my now wife and I when we were going through the K1 process, we mentioned how we met in our personal statements.

 

Good Luck!

[sonnyboy0323 25]

2 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

For my now wife and I when we were going through the K1 process, we mentioned how we met in our personal statements.

 

Good Luck!

man, i really messed the formatting of that last post up, my had haha.

thank you very much. 

2 more quick dumb questions if you don't mind

1. for the letters of intent to marry, they should have a date on them right? should the date be when we intend to file? or whenever the letters were written?

2. i know its way later in the process, but i live in a house with 2 others, but am only responsible for myself, i am not supporting them. would that alter the poverty wage range i'm expected to be in to qualify for sponsorship?

 

thank you

[Dashinka 24,429]

11 minutes ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

man, i really messed the formatting of that last post up, my had haha.

thank you very much. 

2 more quick dumb questions if you don't mind

1. for the letters of intent to marry, they should have a date on them right? should the date be when we intend to file? or whenever the letters were written?

I would date them with the date they were written.

11 minutes ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

2. i know its way later in the process, but i live in a house with 2 others, but am only responsible for myself, i am not supporting them. would that alter the poverty wage range i'm expected to be in to qualify for sponsorship?

If you are not financially responsible for your housemates, it should not impact anything.

11 minutes ago, sonnyboy0323 said:

 

thank you

Good Luck!

[JeanneAdil 6,443]

38 is left blank/ she is not here 

and do not include a local office on any form /that is also for those who are already here , 

 

we say K1 is expensive as the cost to adjust status once in the US is costly,with fees going up April 1st;  the immigrant can not work or travel outside the US until the AP is approved /all this makes it harder to get SS # ,  DL ,,  add to bank  account 

[Redro 4,611]

@sonnyboy0323 

K1 vs Spousal is a personal choice.

But, be aware after April 1 fees are going to increase. 
You should also educate yourself on what will happen after you file the K1. I believe processing times have sped up for K1 (which is a positive).

But once your fiancé arrives in the US you will have 90 days to marry and file adjustment. 
The cost for the green card will be $1540. If you want your partner to have the ability to work (and in some states drive)  or leave the country while waiting for the green card (which can take up to a year or even longer) you will have to pay a separate fee: $260 and $630. 
But, some people receive the green card before they receive work permission or ability to travel while AOS is pending so you will have to once again deal with USCIS and their inconsistent and capricious processing times. 
If you don’t have any plans to see your fiancée in the next couple of months though I would personally file K1… just prepare yourself for every step of the process and it can be exhausting and very expensive. 

[widude 38]

 Good luck with everything. 

[sonnyboy0323 25]

9 hours ago, Redro said:

@sonnyboy0323 

K1 vs Spousal is a personal choice.
The cost for the green card will be $1540. If you want your partner to have the ability to work (and in some states drive)  or leave the country while waiting for the green card (which can take up to a year or even longer) you will have to pay a separate fee: $260 and $630. 
But, some people receive the green card before they receive work permission or ability to travel while AOS is pending so you will have to once again deal with USCIS and their inconsistent and capricious processing times. 
If you don’t have any plans to see your fiancée in the next couple of months though I would personally file K1… just prepare yourself for every step of the process and it can be exhausting and very expensive. 

Thank you very much for the information. Most of what you said my partner and I knew already, we're doing our best to do our due diligence, research and prepare because we both know this can be a painstaking process and a big step forward for both of us.

I was vaguely aware that it might be somehow possible for her to work while we wait for her greencard to arrive and the whole AOS process, but I'm unsure on the specifics of it, because the places I've checked (and even the USCIS site, if i'm not mistaken) don't really mention the work permission factor, just skip to AOS and the greencard.

do you know what the Work Permission filing is called and maybe a brief explanation on how it might work?

I'm in California if that helps at all. 

thanks so much.

[Boiler 45,390]

EAD

File for it along with adjustment.

Currently on average takes about 6 months.