AU9518

Hi Expats!

My fiance and I are getting married next year and will be using the K1 visa. We have read the Wiki but would like more clarification on a few steps.

I am a USC and he is a UKC.

We are aware the first step is for me (the USC) to file the I-129F petition. Does the I-129F need to be posted to my local US office or the London Embassy?

With this I-129F package I know we will need to submit passport sized photos however will they both need to be US sized or UK sized and will he need to send me his passport photo for me to send with the package or is this something he will need to do separately?

As for the passport page copies will they only need stamped pages or does "all pages" include blank pages as well?

ian-mstm

Correct.


If you're living in the US, it goes to the Dallas lock box. The specific address is on the USCIS web site.


If he can get US-sized photos, that would be best - and there are many places in the UK where they'll do that. He will need to send you a photo, and an original signed G-325A. Have you looked at the instructions for the I-129F (which is a separate form from the I-129F)?


All pages includes blank pages... but most people submit only the used pages without issue.

Ian

Noorah101

Have you read the I-129F instructions found at www.uscis.gov?

Rene

BenK91

When we sent off our package my fiancé (USC) sent in her passport photo which was obviously US sized and we used one of my passport photos which was UK sized. We didn't get a request for evidence but we were definitely nervous that we may get one for not having both photos US sized so I'd definitely heed Ian's advice and get him to send over some US spec passport photos.

Best of luck!

tom169

Most of the passport photo booths (like in Boots, Tesco etc) that i've seen have a "US Visa" option that produces photos to the US spec - albeit usually a few pounds more expensive.

A copy of the front and back of the US petitioner's birth certificate will also suffice (instead of the passport photocopy). It's much less pages to photocopy.

AU9518

Thank you for your replies it is much appreciated.

I was wondering for those BE members that had planned a wedding how did you go about choosing a date and how far in advance were you able to fully plan a wedding without knowing a date.

I'm aware visa timelines can vary but can anyone tell me the timelines that K1's are currently being processed?

We are looking at having a wedding in June 2017 do you recommend starting the process ASAP or waiting as I understand once a medical is done you have 6 months to enter is this correct?

ian-mstm

Start the process right now - immediately - by submitting the I-129F and all the supporting evidence required. It'll take 8-10 months for your UKC fiancé to get the visa. If you start now and you're lucky, you'll have the wedding in June 2017. Immigration is a 2-step process... it'll take 4-5 months to get approval for the I-129F and another 4-5 months for your fiancé to get the visa. He won't be having a medical until about January or February next year... so there will be plenty of time if you're aiming for June.

Don't make any firm wedding plans until he has the visa.

Ian

AU9518

Thanks for the reply Ian

Within this I-129F am I being assessed on my income at all as I have just started a new job and don't have a lot of pay stubs though I do meet the above 125% of poverty guidelines?

I also notice that you can fill out the PDFs online and then print them off (of course signatures need signed by pen) is this allowed or do you recommend to complete all forms by hand?

Noorah101

Not within the I-129F, no. The Affidavit of Support form I-134 comes at a much later date (he'll take it to the interview). So yes, your income is assessed, but not alongside the I-129F.

The I-134 doesn't use the same I-864P guidelines (there is no set dollar amount you need to be earning for the I-134), but since you are above that amount anyway, you'll be fine.

You can type on the PDF form and print it out. As you know, the signatures must be original.

Rene

tom169

For myself and the other half we decided to marry straight away at a courthouse and begin filing for AOS. To avoid family drama we have insisted in only parents and siblings coming to this.

We have then planned for a large ceremony next year.

Flexibility is the name of the game with this process. There are averages, but in the end there are plenty of anomalies too.

Type where ever possible to avoid any misinterpreted hand writing. The beneficiary will need to provide some details for the form, but remember that dates etc are to be in US format.

Before submitting take a copy of the entire pack. This is good for a backup, in case of tragedy, RFEs and to have a quick skim through before the interview. I (beneficiary) had a copy and my USC Fiancee also had a copy.

BenK91

Same as above, our plan is just to get married in a courthouse or Vegas with some very close friends and then have a 'proper' ceremony later in the year so we can begin filing for AOS.

Again as Tom said, you can type and print off the forms but signatures have to be wet. We don't have a copy of our I-129F as my fiancé sent it off in a bit of a hurry without photocopying it so definitely take a backup as we're trying to figure out how to get around the fact we don't have a copy!

Processing times vary massively, some people waiting 80+ days for the steps between NOA1 and NOA2 and some wait 50 days. If all goes to plan I would imagine you'd have your visa in hand February/March time!

AU9518

Thanks Rene

Thanks we are going to type it out and then sign as mentioned and will make copies for our own records. I think a courthouse marriage may be the route we opt for due to the uncertainty of how long these things can take.

Thank you we will make copies of our completed forms, here is hoping it goes quickly!


Currently I am looking at the G-325a form and I notice there is a family name for father and only a maiden name option for the mother? I have included my mothers former surname (maiden name)

Also for employment history the first row allows you to enter your present job as the Date To field says "Present Time". Though if you have two jobs would you complete it in the next row and leave the month/year To blank as it this job is also present?

My fiancee's nationality is British though for city and country of birth does it matter whether it is put example Manchester, England or should it be Manchester, United Kingdom.

Furthermore any fields that do not state for me to type None do I still write N/A in them or leave blank only.

Bottom left box tick Status as PR




I also noticed on the I-129F question 34a it asks how you met your fiance. I searched online and found various responses as to how much to write due to the limited space is this specifically the first interaction or the first face to face encounter?

In short we met online and then face to face a couple months later, do you state all meets and mention the engagement?

If I were to write a few short paragraphs do I do this on a word document and just write see attached document or is there another supporting document that is used for this information?

One last thing do I need both my US birth certificate (front and back) copies and every page of my U.S Passport or is only one needed, I was going to include passport pages that showed my visits.

BenK91

.

Noorah101

The G-325A is not looked at in any great detail. Just answer each question to the best of your ability. No one is going to check the answers.

For the question on how you met, you can be brief. Just say something like "met online in xx month, xxx year. Met in person in xx month, xxx year.

Don't forget you each need to write an original Statement of Intent with original signature. This only needs to state that you are currently single, free to marry, and intend to do so within 90 days of entry on the K1.

Rene

ian-mstm

Let me say this about that... the G-325A is a legacy form left over from the days of the former INS. It value is inversely proportional to the anxiety it causes. IOW, don't worry about it too much, because it's unlikely that anyone will look at it except to note that it's included in the paperwork.


You need either the birth certificate or the passport - but not both. At this point in time you need to prove only that you're a USC. US immigration has no interest in your travel history... it's irrelevant.

Ian