Azborn

My fiancee and I are just beginning the K-1 process. I must say it seems quite over
whelming. I have read many of the web pages detailing others experiences. They
have been quite helpful and answered many questions. Naturally I still have
questions. I reside in Arizona and my fiancee in Ontario, Canada. If I may pose a
question or two ...

1. How has the process of obtaining a K-1 changed since the 9-11 event in New
York? If any.
2. With the INS splitting into 2 divisions are there any pitt falls we should be
aware of before filing?
3. Should we use an attorney or legal group to file the paper work?
4. We would like to get married now and then file. I know this is probably the
wrong thing to do. Any opinions??

My fiancee is the love of my life and I just want to do this right the first time.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Azborn (Barry)

Andy Platt

"Azborn" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected] om...
    > My fiancee and I are just beginning the K-1 process. I must say it seems quite
    > over whelming. I have read many of the web pages detailing others experiences.
    > They have been quite helpful and answered many questions. Naturally I still have
    > questions. I reside in Arizona and my fiancee in Ontario, Canada. If I may pose a
    > question or two ...
    > 1. How has the process of obtaining a K-1 changed since the 9-11 event in New
    > York? If any.

You can't get a K-1 in New York; if you lived in NY you would file at the Vermont
Service Center; since you live in Arizona you'll file at the California Service
Center. But the only changes post 9/11 is the introduction of an extra database check
that is slowing things down.

    > 2. With the INS splitting into 2 divisions are there any pitt falls we should be
    > aware of before filing?

When (if) they do we'll see.

    > 3. Should we use an attorney or legal group to file the paper work?

Up to you; most people on this newsgroup say no if there are no "issues". One person
says yes. That person is an attorney

    > 4. We would like to get married now and then file. I know this is probably the
    > wrong thing to do. Any opinions??

You can do this too but then you wouldn't be doing the K-1 process you would be doing
the I-130 process. If you want to be together quicker I would suggest carrying on the
K-1 process or studying carefully the following site's description of adjusting
status from a tourist visa:

http://www.mindspri-
ng.com/~docsteen/visainfo/visainfo.htm

Andy.

--
I'm not really here - it's just your warped imagination.

Mdudall

    >> 3. Should we use an attorney or legal group to file the paper work?
    >Up to you; most people on this newsgroup say no if there are no "issues". One person
    >says yes. That person is an attorney

Hi Andy. I hope you are not talking about me as I generally post that it is obvious
that many people go through this process without an attorney, and for some its
simply a luxury to turn it all over to someone with experience to do all of the
work for them.

Besides doing the obvious tasks of preparing the forms, submitting a well documented
petition (to try to reduce the chance of receiving an RFE), and being there to answer
the client's questions as they always come up along the way during a case; I believe
one of the most valuable things an attorney brings to the case is the ability to get
through to an INS office of Consulate to try to fix any INS or Consulate mistakes or
screw ups along the way. Nobody, myself included, submits a case thinking "I'll bet
the INS or Consulate is going to screw up "my" case", however as can be seen by
postings in this very news group, it happens more often that I'd like.

Regards, Matthew Udall Attorney ht-
tp://members.aol.com/MDUdall/fiancee.htm