My Fiance is Immigrating from Venezuela

[Danilleeloo 1]

Hello all, I was recommended to try this website to get information and support from people who are going through exactly what I am.

I have so many questions and I'm sure they have been asked before, but please bear with me.

I met my fiance over the internet back when I was 16, and have visited him this past November and stayed for 7 weeks meeting his entire family and his friends, everyone is very excited for us and we both want to be together. At first we thought about being in Venezuela but we decided it was too dangerous for me to stay there for a long period of time seeing as both our countries are having severe conflict politically and economically. We have been going though getting all of our paperwork ready to submit the application to the USCIS and I am unsure just how much to include in the packet itself.

Here is what I know/plan to send with the application form:

1) "I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)"

2) Both his and my birth certificates (his to be translated officially)

3) His and my passport (including scans of each informational page and translated)

4) His letter of intent to marry, signed and scanned.

5) My certificate of single status

6) My plane ticket stubs form visiting/ scans of my visa and entry stamp into the country

7) Pictures of us together and my visit there

8) My proof of employment with an official company Letterhead (for example I work with OfficeDepot as a Supervisor)

9) 2 colored photos of both of us in 2x2" with a white background (passport style) taken within 1 month of sending in aplication

10) A statement of household income/ household expenses

11) Proof of relationship (letters written to each other, chat logs, proof of relationship longevity.

12) 340$ Money Order/Personal Check from my bank

My question is: is this more than what is required? Should I be providing more than they require? Do I need to have a place of my own before I submit this application? While I do work full time, I do still go to college and live with my parents. Is there any leeway so that I can still sponsor him but not have to list my current place of living as where he will be staying? I am very afraid of the change in presidency affecting our ability to be together, and I am trying to get this done as fast as possible to avoid future problems. I am doing this completely on my own without much help beyond supportive words from friends. He wants to be able to help but due to the instability of his country he is very limited in what he can accomplish, otherwise we would be working together on this more. Is it at all possible for the USCIS to grant him a K-1 visa without needing me to have a certain amount of income? My plan was to take out a loan with my closest friend as a cosigner to be able to get an apartment when my fiance gets his visa so we can have a place to be and start our life together, but I am being warned that we are not allowed to move at all from the address I give to the USCIS from the beginning of the application process.

I have an idea of how this is supposed to go, but I am reading and being told so many conflicting things and I think being able to speak with others who have been through the same thing (especially recently with Venezuela) would be incredibly helpful. I'm doing my best and I know people just tell me patience over and whatnot but it already has been many years since we started this whole process and I very much fear for the future and have been doing everything in my power to get him here, but I fear I am not knowledgeable enough about this process and I know I will not be able to afford a lawyer. Can anyone give me insight on how to make this possible? All I want is for us to be together, and it feels impossible very often. Please help.

[p-ana 933]

Start by reading the guides at the top menu on visa journey. Your list of documents has things that are not needed. I also suggest reading the forums first, then when you're comfortable enough with the the info, come back here and ask process is very straight forward and you'll do fine.

Good luck.

[Danilleeloo 1]

I have read the guides multiple times, I know there are things on my list that aren't in the guides but I have them on there because I have had people warning me I need to provide more information (like a certificate of single status and proof of employment) because of how the Venezuelan government is. I'm much more concerned about the living situation and what I can do with my current situation.

[p-ana 933]

In order to bring him here you'll need to show at interview time that you have enough income for your household size.

You can read the amounts here https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf (check the 125% column)

if you don't make enough, you can ask a friend, family member, to sponsor him - this person needs to make enough for his/her own household size + your fiancé.

Just so you know, there are a lot more spending than the initial $340 of filling the i129f. Medical, visa, trips, translations, vaccines, etc, all before him coming here. After, for him to adjust status will be $1,070 at once.

It doesn't really matter where you say he's going to live now, it can be changed up until the time he goes to the interview. You do not need to have a place on your own, you can rent, have roommates, in laws, whatever it works for you and your budget. If you move and you're still in the process, you'll have to contact uscis to inform your new address.

[Shauneg 762]

I have read the guides multiple times, I know there are things on my list that aren't in the guides but I have them on there because I have had people warning me I need to provide more information (like a certificate of single status and proof of employment) because of how the Venezuelan government is. I'm much more concerned about the living situation and what I can do with my current situation.

That's may be true but none of this stuff goes to the Venezuelan government.

[Elvis&Sky 26]

Hi! welcome to the forum!, I know the whole process seems overwhelming, the money, the papers, etc! just take a deep breath, gather the papers you need for the I-129f and send it!,

some of the documents you mentioned in your post are not needed it like:

2) Both his and my birth certificates (his to be translated officially) -you have to send yours only, he will need his the day of the interview and it doesn't have to be translated.

8) My proof of employment with an official company Letterhead (for example I work with OfficeDepot as a Supervisor) - You don't have to send it with the I-129f, you can send it directly to your fiancé just before the interview, and he will show it to the interviewer if it is asked.

10) A statement of household income/ household expenses - The same as above.

The important thing to remember is that you have to submit as much proof of relationship as you can! that's the key! plain tickets and pictures are a must!, if you are tight on money now, don't worry! you only have to pay 340$ for the moment, then you will have some months to save and pay the rest of the things your fiance have to do like the medical, police records and the visa fee!, because of the tremendous and increasing inflation and high depreciation of the Bolivar (Venezuela's currency) your fiance will have a hard time paying all of that because the minimum wage is very low, the good thing is, that you can use the exchange rates in your favor to get a lot of bolivares for a few dollars.

My recommendation for you given your fiance is venezuelan is to act quick! if you are sure you found the love of your life and you want to marry him, send the I-129f as fast as you can!!!, things are changing over the night in Venezuela, prices of things are increasing every week and the political situation is very unstable, so you will find a lot of obstacles on the road that other couples from other countries don't have.

I hope my response will help you and you can ask for some help whenever you want!.

[Danilleeloo 1]

Thank you! This was incredibly helpful, as far as his medical examination goes, would it be enough just for him to get the exam from his doctor at one of the government run camps with medical facilities or does he need to go to an actual hospital like the one in Maturin?

[Elvis&Sky 26]

Neither of those! he strictly has to go to the ones that the embassy dictates in their website, one is in Maracaibo and the other one is Caracas, the one in Maracaibo is not working so he will have to go to Caracas, but don't worry about it now, you have to get the case number from the NVC before doing the medical so you still have some months ahead.

[Danilleeloo 1]

Do I need to have proof of no marital records for either of us? How do we even get that kind of information, neither of us has ever been married.

[Elvis&Sky 26]

Do I need to have proof of no marital records for either of us? How do we even get that kind of information, neither of us has ever been married.

If you and your fiance never have been married before you don't have to prove you are single.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Hi, Former venezuelan k1 visa holder (I'm the beneficiary) here:

My question is: is this more than what is required?

Kind of but it won't hurt you at all. The key here is variety over quantity and el certificado de solteria is not a requirement. I paid a bunch of money to get mine and It was worthless.

Should I be providing more than they require?

It wont hurt your case, but make sure not only to keep a copy of everything you send but also to keep gathering items (like emails, pictures, skype/whatsapp/ fb/instagram logs, letters, phone call records, pictures not only the 2 of you but with family and friends, passport stamps, hotel/restaurant receipts, boarding passes, itineraries, western union receipts etc etc) Im just sharing the type of things we showed as proof. Is important for you to know: For the 129 F visa, you need to send proof of meeting in person within 2 years, that means sending stuff that shows you guyes were in the same geographical spot at the same time, like pictures and boarding passes. For the actual interview you need to proof you guys are in a bonafide relationship, that means you have a genuine romantic relationship and you want to get marry. Cards, emails, pictures, whatsapp conversations etc are great for this purpose. So don't go crazy sending a huge package and keep the majority of your stuff for the interview.

Do I need to have a place of my own before I submit this application?

No

While I do work full time, I do still go to college and live with my parents. Is there any leeway so that I can still sponsor him but not have to list my current place of living as where he will be staying?

You need to make sure you do enough money for your household. There is a minimum income requirement (poverty guidelines) per family size and state, if you find youself making less that the guidelines you can always send submit the petition along with a co-sponsor without any issues. I remember in my case, for a couple in Florida was a minimum of 22,000 per year so, is very reachable.

My plan was to take out a loan with my closest friend as a cosigner to be able to get an apartment when my fiance gets his visa so we can have a place to be and start our life together, but I am being warned that we are not allowed to move at all from the address I give to the USCIS from the beginning of the application process.

Let me give you an advice, the k1 visa process is just the very beginning of kind of expensive process. You need to take into consideration not only the visa fee but other things like embassy fee, the embassy physicians are not cheap either, clerical fees, flight tickets etc etc. Once your fiance gets here you only have 90 days to get marry and then he must apply for his adjustment of status to get a formal green card. The sooner you guys get married, the fastest he can work and support you. The thing is that the adjustment of status is another additional $1070 (on top of all the visa fee, previously mentioned). Plus think that he needs a mode of transportation, and other stuff.

I know getting married and live with your parents doesn't sound too appealing for a newlywed couple but in your situation is important to know the facts and realities about bringing a love one to the States. Not only is finally demanding but facing money issues during the 1st months of marriage is an unnecessary weight for you guys. Moving also imply money, plus you will need to get furniture, appliances, kitchen, bathroom accessories etc etc.

I've been in this forum for 5 years and I've seen it pretty much everything, specially couples that spends a lot of money in huge weddings and then they don't have a single dime for the rest of the process (not saying this is your case, but renting a new place is also a huge expense).

I would strongly suggest you to stay with your parents and safe money for your new life and your future's husband adjustment of status etc, get married as soon as he gets here, apply for his Greencard so he can get a job soon. Once he has a job plan your moving.

I know you didn't ask for my opinion but I think that having clarity in the process, specially from someone who went through all, will give you the chance of taking an inform decision.

The best of lucks for you

[Danilleeloo 1]

I have finally put together my entire binder with all the forms filled out and completed and all the evidence looking presentable and labeled. Now my question is, do I have to send this to the address provided on the USCIS website for filing? Or can I send this to the California facility instead? I'm seeing that the Dallas one has been taking a very long time to process visas and that California is faster. And as far as the check goes who do I make it out to?

[p-ana 933]

The Dallas address is a lockbox and not a service center.

All petitions must be sent there and from there their routed to the respective centers. Almost all of the i129f are routed to the California service center (only read a case it was sent to Potomac center) since the end of March 2015. It's not up to the petitioner to choose.

Read the filing and instructions, you can also read the guide here to see who do you make the check out to

[Danilleeloo 1]

Thanks! That's what I assumed but it's hard to be absolutely sure when friends of mine tell me different things. Am I correct in my assumption that I must make the check out to the US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY?

I have read their website instructions many times but I want to be absolutely sure before i send this in that what I am doing is correct.

[annel&morgan 0]

Hello,

We are working on the K-1 visa to get married next year. We have a question about the criminal records process in Venezuela. Right now, things are very difficult to do anything in Venezuela and we want to make sure that we do not do something that we later regret. We heard several people wasted their trip to Caracas to get the criminal records, simply because they didn’t write the correct name. Which name should we write "Embassy of the United States of America, or Embassy of the United States of America in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela". We heard that the Embassy name was changed and we want to make sure we write it correctly.

This process is not easy in Venezuela due to political issues and we do not want to have any delays in K-1 visa process.

Thanks,

Annel and Morgan

Hola,

Estamos estamos investigando acerca de la visa K-1 para casarsnos el próximo año. Tenemos una pregunta sobre el procedimiento para obtener la carta de antecedentes penales. En este momento, las cosas son muy confusas en Venezuela debido al gobierno y queremos asegurarnos de que no hacer algo que luego lamentemos. Hemos escuchado a varias personas perder su viaje a Caracas para obtener los antecedentes penales, simplemente porque no escribieron el nombre correcto. ¿Qué nombre debemos escribir "Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América o Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela". Hemos oído que el nombre fue cambiado recientemente y también se debe añadir República Bolivariana de Venezuela. Sin embargo, algunas persona dicen que no es cierto.

Este proceso no es fácil en Venezuela, debido a cuestiones políticas come he mencionado y no quieremos tener ningún retraso en el proceso de la visa K1.

Gracias,

Annel y Morgan