K1 Visa Process questions
 

Hi everyone

I've read up on the K1 process and have some questions. I recently got engaged to my girlfriend on October 28th. We have been together just under 6 months but the distance is hard and we know marriage is what we want. She is Puerto Rican and resides in Orlando Florida. She has an American passport, a well paid job and her divorce is finalised. Is there a minimum amount of time we have had to be together or we just have to have met in person in the last 2 years. That line always confuses me. We met on my holiday in May, she visited the UK in June for 11 nights and I just got bk from 3 weeks together in Orlando. We video chat and message everyday and have lots of pictures together.

To confirm the initial form costs $535?
How long is a UK Police check good for website says it varies depending on country your applying for?
I lived in Canada for a total of 3 years. Anyone know how to apply for a Canadian Police Check as the Canadian site is confusing and says they only accept biometric prints from within Canada!!!
How long does it normally take to get a date for your medical? You schedule the visa interview after the medical correct?
In regards to the medical vaccinations required are Flu shot, TDap (not sure what that is) and MMR. I know i had the latter as a kid hopefully my GP has vaccination records. But I read you don't actually have to have had these done by the medical for K1 visa?
Do I need the affidavit of support. says I-864 Form not required for K1 but should I get my fiancee to fill in the I-134 bit confused

What is the visa interview? like is it 1.5 hours?
What is the average processing time? 18 months?

Thanks in advance and sorry is this has all been covered in other threads. I love my fiancee and can't wait to be together so just want to get started now we are officially engaged.

Nikki

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

1. No minimum amount of time. Just have to have met in person within the past 2 years.

2. The cost of the I-129F can be found at www.uscis.gov.

3. The ACRO police report I believe is valid for 1 year, but you should wait until after the I-129F approval to order it.

4. For details on ordering police certificates from other countries, Google "US State Department Reciprocity Table".

5. I believe it only takes a couple of weeks to get the medical booked, but this doesn't happen until closer to the visa interview.

6. Yes, the visa interview should be scheduled for at least a week after the medical exam.

7. Sorry, I'm not up on what vaccinations are required, but all that information should be on the US Embassy London website.

8. Yes, you need the affidavit of support. Your fiancee should complete the I-134 and provide the supporting documents, and you take all that to the visa interview. Details are at www.uscis.gov.

9. "What is the visa interview"? It's when you appear in person at the USCIS Field Office at the US Embassy and they determine whether you qualify for the visa.

10. The interview itself is usually around 15 minutes long, although depending how busy they are, you could be there several hours.

11. Average processing time from filing I-129F to attending visa interview is probably 12 to 18 months.

Rene

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Steps for getting a certified criminal record check | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Here's the 'out of country' procedure for obtaining your RCMP records.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Thank you for responding to the OP, even if they don't thank you. :goodpost:

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Hey sorry didn't get a chance to respond but thanks for the advice everyone.
hat information does my fiancee need from me for her initial application?
he whole Canadian police check completely has me frazzled. Need to find out how long they last for as it sounds like a long process to apply for. Finding somewhere to do the ink fingerprints and then finding somewhere in Canada to submit them for the police check.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

www.uscis.gov. I-129F page.

Rene

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

thanks

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Biggest issue for most is the long wait on a K1 before you can start working.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Adjustment of status takes probably about a year.

Along with your I-485 you can submit an I-765 and an I-131 to gain employment authorization and travel authorization. Those will probably take about 3 months.

Best case thing to do would be enter USA, get married, and submit everything asap. I did so the next day after flying in. Start the clock.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Shipping questions should be asked in our main USA forum, please. You'll get a better response over there. Lots of existing threads on that topic there, too.

Rene
Moderator

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Currently more like 6 months for EAD/AP.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

So confused. My fiancee had an interview with an immigration lawyer, who advised her that we didn't need a K1 visa that we should just get married when I visit and then for her to file for a I-130 I=865, I-485, I-765 and G-365A whilst I stay in the country!!! He said K1 is for people who live in countries with no access to the UK. This doesn't sound like anything I have read before. Can anyone shed some light on this please.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

What he is suggesting is illegal and can possibly result in a lifetime ban from the US.

Fire him immediately. It is illegal to enter the US as a visitor when it is your actual intention to remain, marry, and adjust status.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

That was my thought too. she contacting other immigration lawyers

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

There is no need for an immigration lawyer at all. The K-1 is very straightforward. Why is she contacting lawyers?

Rene

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Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

I see. Just keep in mind that she is still responsible for the forms being correct, and as you can see not all lawyers give the best advice. Good thing you are asking here as well, please keep doing that.

Rene

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Free legal advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Nothing.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Just posted my fiancee my visa sized photo and photocopies of the stamps in my passport showing when I visited as well as my passport page. Then I think she has everything to send off the application. Then its a waiting game. I still don't know how far in advance to get my Canadian criminal record check. Such a long costly process. Getting fingerprints costs £79. Sending to a canadian company to digitise is $250 and the actual criminal record check is only $25 lol. Almost tempted to book a flight and get it done out there for alot cheaper lol. Its valid for a year. Just now sure how long the ink fingerprints are valid for?

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

So we received NOA1 a week or so ago.
Has anyone else from the UK had to get a police check from outside of Canada. Just looking at how it went for other people in regards of costs and timescale. so not sure at what stage to apply for this.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Well the vast majority of UK filers would need to do that, when I did mine took a couple of months, seems much shorter and easier now.

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This is for a Canadian Criminal Record check as I lived in Vancouver for almost 3 years. The UK police check is easy its the Canadian one thats complicated. You have to pay and get ink prints from the police, send them to a Canadian company to be digitised min $250 i've seen and then they send for police check which is $25 but looking for recommendation on company to send too and how long it took. hence asking if anyone else applying or who has been through the K1 process had to do this if they lived in canada for more than 6 months.

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Sorry no idea.

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

My understanding is that you only need a police report from a country that you have lived in for more than one year, after the age of 16.

Rene

Re: K1 Visa Process questions
 

Yep I lived in Canada for almost 3 years so will need a Canadian as well as a British one.