K1 Questions and India

[Nikita2Charles 33]

Welcome back Dilbert. We went the K1 route a few years ago through chennai.

If you chat under your name you can use the chat transcript(leaving out maybe some of the hot ones )

It's very very important as others have mentioned before to be careful about the engagement ceremony, it might be interpreted as being married. In the past it was not mandatory for people to register their marriage, so even though they might be married, there's no official documentation from the states(indian official) saying so. That's where the consulate get very picky, due to that loophole some people get the Religious wedding, then get married officially in the states. In the eye of the Consulate they consider the couple married even though they have not file with a marriage registrar.

That's where the culture will come into play, and into whether you go K1 or K3. Some parents and due to cultural reason won't feel confortable letting their daughters leaving or moving in with their fiance while other parents If they understand the situation will allow it but with some resentment.

So Getting the K1 is the fastest way around, and once here both of you can fly back to India for big wedding.

Other factor to take into consideration: As K1 when your fiancee gets here, she won't be able to work until she gets the EAD, the only place that used to give the EAD at the POA was New York JFK.

So for a few months your fiancee won't be able to work without and EAD, and Travel without the AOS, other routes are longer but you get your Green card right away, and no travel restriction.

Good luck to all with the process, As long as you follow the instructions, You guys love each other, people will see the glow in your faces. I didn't hire any lawyers, But I had 100's if not thousand of personal experiences of folks who had been through the process, going through it, so don't be afraid to ask any question, one way or the other, most likely someone else had already gone through it.

God bless

[dilbert30 0]

Thanks. I submitted plain photos not the engagement ones. Also, will need to think about the cultural aspects. Thanks for your suggestions. Are you from India or of Indian origin? I have added you as a friend and will ping you if there are additional questions. Thanks.

[classicrock68 0]

Dilbert/Mark/others -

I just filed my K1 petition Sep 11 and got my NOA1 (generated Sep 12 and I got it in the mail on Sep 19). Anyways, I traveled to India in June and got engaged to my fiancee. We had an engagement ceremony and I did send some engagement pictures. I picked some of those photos as our families were together and also folks were not as formally dressed (I sent both pics where I was wearing my jacket and others where I wasn't.. hopefully, if they look at pics they can figure out it was an engagement not a wedding. Part of me thinks I should not have sent those..oh well.....).

In any case, feel free to add me to your friends list and we can keep each other posted and encourage each other.

Also, my fiancee is from Kolkata (I was born there, too). But the Kolkata consulate does not process K1 visas. So, on I-129 I put Chennai or New Delhi as the consulates I would like to go to for my visa. Understand, Chennai is the fastest (there is no packet 3/packet 4), just one.

Good luck to all of us,

Timeline for K1 visa

9/11/2008 – mailed I-129F

9/12/2008 – Received at VSC/NOA 1 sent (mail stamp-9/16)

9/15/2008 – check cashed

9/19/2008 –Received NOA1

9/18/2008 – ‘Touched’ (for what ? Go figure)

[Nikita2Charles 33]

You're welcome, feel free to ask any question that I or lot of members out here can help out. I am not Indian, But did some projects in India for awhile, so I've been there many times, all around the country from the northern part, Vashi, Nerul around Navi Mumbai, Madras, and all the way down the pathanamtita, the back waters or Kerala.

You can never have too much documentation, so keep all records of your flights, chat, msn messenger has an option where you can choose to save a transcript of your chat.

Some phone card keeps record of your number and what number you call. but most important keep copies of everything, anytime you send something to uscis always have a copy.

Thanks. I submitted plain photos not the engagement ones. Also, will need to think about the cultural aspects. Thanks for your suggestions. Are you from India or of Indian origin? I have added you as a friend and will ping you if there are additional questions. Thanks.

Edited September 24, 2008 by Nikita2Charles

[dilbert30 0]

Classic Rock - When they cashed the check, did you see wha the USCIS website tell you with the WAC number at the back of the check? What was the message. My check is cashed yesterday.

Sent on 9/19

Received 9/22

Check cashed 9/23

However, since the WAC number is not clear (I think I got it right and tried a few combos as well), it tells me in the USCIS website that the petition is I129 for non immigrant worker. Could it be just a temporary glitch / manual entry. I am waiting for hard copy of NOA1. What will the notice say?

Please let me know. I am a little worried.