I am new to this site and I am totally clueless on this entire process. So, I will try to explain a but to you of what is going on with my situation. First off due to being misguided by friends who had married prior to me I have delayed filing my case for my husband. I suppose if I had applied my visa paperwork by now we may we may already have recieved an approval. We married in 11-07 and still have not started the papers as of yet. We are very eager now to get the ball rolling. I got a few questions: how to start? do we need a lawyer? will a lawyer speed up the process? what do i need from him or he need from me to establish proof of a bonafide relationship? I need any help you can provide. Also, I was previous married and on our marriage certificate in Pakistan it does not list me as divorcee it lists me as widower. So, I think this may cause issues in our case??? If so, how can I fix this problem? Do I have to go back to Pakistan and remarry or am I able to re-submit the marriage paperwork? Please help me..thank you.

First step is to decide which you want to file for as married K3 or Cr1. Go the the instrustional guides on this site and read and learn all you can, this will help you to decide. Once you have decided then just take one step at a time and solve one problem, come on here to ask if you have certain question and move to next step it will all begin to make sense and fall into place in time but to learn is the first step. Find someone on here that comes from your region and embassy and they will be glad to help also im sure. This process is not fast and will take time probably around a year.

Hi BK... Use the Guides here on VJ to help you get started with your K3. Also, use the USCIS website: www.uscis.gov to get the most up to date forms. First, you have to file your I-130 and wait to receive your notification of action (NOA1). While **waiting** you should prepare your I-129F. After you receive your NOA1 for your I-130 then you will submit your I-129F.

** Prepare your I-130 EXACTLY as described in the Guides here on VJ and you won't run into any mistakes that can add more time to your wait.

** The G-325a must be completed by both you and your husband. So your husband will have to complete this form and send it to you. Have him to do two sets as it is a requirement for both the I-130 and the I-129F.

** Before you send you I-130 make certain you make an exact copy of it as you will need it again later in the process. Same goes for the I-129F.

Hope this helps you get started. Take this one step at a time.

I pray your visa journey is smooth and quick

Peace
~Kris

Well, thanks now what about the divorce issues?

I would think that you would need to go back to the one issues divorce certificates and get it changed. You will be using the words divorced thru out the process not widow and you do have to list and give copies of so the wording needs to match (my opinion)

Hi, ask your husband to send you photos (2X2). Ask him to send four photos. Any professional photoshop can assist him here. Ask him fill to G325a form. Preferably more than a set. All this information is found on this forum and the USCIS website.

As for your previous' marriage issue, I think this might get you in trouble because one, it has to matche with the facts and two, you will need to submit your divorce decree or death certificate of the spouse. Either way with a previous marriage, one of these two certificates are mandatory with the other documents and you will be needing them till the end of the process. Now you will need to work this out because its common to make such errors during the time of nikaah when men of the family end up writing weird things in the contract. You will need to sort this out. Either you provide USCIS with a death certificate of your x-husband or if he is alive and it has been a divorce then your divorce decree will be needed. Also, this certificate is complicated as I remember reading that the document if issued in Pakistan have to be from a particular office and not by the local nazim's office. please read on that. Also I am surprised you waited that long to file for the visa but anyway its never too late. Please sort out this previous marriage status before proceeding with the petition as this can cause trouble and even if USCIS does not notice this and even NVC might slip this, your husband will have a really tough time at the interview....Allaah forbid.

Anyway I hope this is helpful.
All the best to you.
Sara.