Jump to content
sallymcp

New to the process!

 Share

5 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
Timeline

Hey everyone!

So thankful to have found this community. I apologize in advance if some of these questions have been asked already, feel free to direct me to a sticky somewhere if need be!

A little about me and my SO-- we met almost four years ago when I studied abroad in the UK for a year (he's a UK citizen). We've had several visits since then, including a four month visit when I interned at the U.S. Embassy in London. He's finishing up a Master's degree over there and we'll get the ball rolling once he's finished that!

My questions are as follows:

  1. SO and I are planning to get married in the fall of 2017. I'm a southern girl so we're talking about a pretty big production as far as the wedding goes, and it's kind of important to me to have the celebration and ceremony be the real deal (as opposed to getting married legally then having the celebration when visa stuff gets settled). When should we apply to ensure that he'll be here in time?
  2. I'm currently living in an apartment my parents own. Is that going to be a problem? Do they need to know my housing situation when I apply?
  3. I've lived in different apartments pretty much every year for the last five years (college apartments, studying abroad, moving for internships and jobs, etc.) but my permanent address has always been my parent's house. Do I need to include the other addresses?
  4. I also had a few temporary jobs while in college-- waitressing, babysitting, etc., but only two real careers since I left college two years ago. Do I need to list those short-time jobs as well?
  5. Is there a cheat sheet somewhere that explains what all the abbreviations mean? NOA1? NOA2? I-29F? G-35a? When I see all the letters and numbers my brain starts getting jumbled and I get sweaty palms!
  6. Is it worth getting a lawyer to help with all this?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the super long post!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

http://www.visajourney.com/content/us-immigration-abbreviations

Check this site out on a PC w/ a real browser. Theres links everywhere, sometimes a few can be hard to find.

If you have to have a big production (fiscally, I encourage not to, but I digress)

Since hes from UK, I'd think the most prudent, practical thing is he comes here on a VWP visa, have have your big bang and then he goes back to UK and you apply for the Spouse Visa.

If you paid taxes on that income and have w2; I'd include them.

I would not have any gaps in your residences.

Aside from living with them, you guys need evidence of fiscal stability.

This is a DIY site, invest the time and effort to learn how the available process affect you as you are the most vested in it. Consulting w/ a lawyer is free oftentimes and you can gauge how much help you and your particular situation may need for your comfort level.

Check and join the UK subforum....etc.

Edited by heo luoi
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Sweden
Timeline

Hi there!

You have found the right place to get your answers. You can find pretty much anything you need on this forum, but we also found this book really helpful (even though it is very long) http://shaad.info/Tmp1/MarrVisa.pdf

2. I do not recall the application(s) asking in any way for an explanation as to why you live where you do, rather they just want to know where exactly it is and for how long.

3. On the application you will need to provide all places that you have lived for the past 5 years. It can be tedious, but it's better to include everything. Sometimes it wont all fit in the application, so you can make an extra sheet listing the different addresses and dates that you lived there. That's what we had to do.

4. The more accurate the information, the easier your process will be. Include anything you can. But, if for example it was a babysitting job you had 10 years ago that you worked twice a month, I would say it is not necessary.

5. Everything seems very overwhelming at first with this process, but I would say save your money for your big shindig wedding celebration instead. You have quite some time until you are getting married. With a lot of patience, time and research, it is completely doable by yourself.

Good luck!

09/07/2013 Entry on F1 visa
01/05/2015 OPT started

09/07/2015 Married :luv:

10/31/2015 Applied for AOS/EAD
11/10/2015 Date on NOA. Text Message received 11th, mail the following week
12/03/2015 Biometrics Appointment

01/08/2016 Received letter for Interview scheduled on 02/04/2016

01/21/2016 Received New EAD card

02/04/2016 Interview at USCIS: APPROVED!! :) Received Approval Notice at Interview.

02/09/2016 Received Approval and Welcome letter in mail

02/11/2016 Received Green Card in the mail!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
Timeline
  1. SO and I are planning to get married in the fall of 2017. I'm a southern girl so we're talking about a pretty big production as far as the wedding goes, and it's kind of important to me to have the celebration and ceremony be the real deal (as opposed to getting married legally then having the celebration when visa stuff gets settled). When should we apply to ensure that he'll be here in time?

So is it OK if he arrives way earlier than the planned date? If so, then probably file by the end of this year.

  1. I'm currently living in an apartment my parents own. Is that going to be a problem? Do they need to know my housing situation when I apply? No
  2. I've lived in different apartments pretty much every year for the last five years (college apartments, studying abroad, moving for internships and jobs, etc.) but my permanent address has always been my parent's house. Do I need to include the other addresses?
  3. I also had a few temporary jobs while in college-- waitressing, babysitting, etc., but only two real careers since I left college two years ago. Do I need to list those short-time jobs as well? Yes
  4. Is there a cheat sheet somewhere that explains what all the abbreviations mean? NOA1? NOA2? I-29F? G-35a? When I see all the letters and numbers my brain starts getting jumbled and I get sweaty palms! Look at the Wiki link at the top of this page and then search on Acronyms.
  5. Is it worth getting a lawyer to help with all this? No, unless one of you has a criminal past.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Jamaica
Timeline

Congratulations!!

I would agree with all the above posts. I had initially talked to an attorney but after finding VisaJourney

decided it was doable on our own. Please print and read: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide . I keep it by my computer

along with spiral notebook where I keep track of everything. I also printed blank forms and filled them out just to practice.

It takes time, diligence and attention to detail. There may be setbacks and frustration, keep your eye on the prize.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...