K1 or tourist visa. And guestions about the process.

[Wheeler 0]

Hi all,

So I am in the US she is in Accra,

We are just now starting the process. I have lots of questions.

We are looking at applying for a tourist visa first.

OR as suggested by someone else go straight for the K1. We have never meet in person. So it seems to me that the K1 isn't for us? At not at this point in time. Am I correct in my assumptions?

Bringing both her and her son to the US. But that is double of what it would cost for me to visit her. So the jury is still out on that. Money is very tight.

First with the medical,

She needs to get the medical for both her and her son before she interviews correct?

Can I pay for them from over here via a Credit Card?

Is there a time constraint between when you get your medicals and when you need to interview?

We are looking to clean up a few things over here first before she interviews. Maybe a month or two.

Income.

I am recently divorced. Because of that I would not want to show my Bank account to anyone.

But I make a good living. Can I substitute my pay stub instead?

Also on the bank accounts and pay stubs I was thinking to black out account numbers is that standard practice?

Sponsorship. The guide lines suggest that I have $5000.00 for each person set-aside for when they are here? I don't have that kind of funds lying around. I can buy the tickets and everything that it takes to get them here. I need to sell some stuff to do that. So the money isn't just sitting in an account.

Since money is tight. I thought that I would run through the charges that I am expecting and seeing if you guys could tell me if I missed anything. Thanks

Medical: $300.00 US each

Visa application: $300.00 each

Agent: She really wants one. There is a lot riding on this for her. We both want to get it right.

Passport ????? Is this a need or is the visa enough?

Plane tickets: $1200.00 to $2000.00 each I've seen prices all over the place.

??

??

As I said the budget is tight. Am I reaching too far by only getting up enough to get them here? And relying on my income to support them while they are here. With little or no contingency money?

Thanks

Tim

[canadian_wife 1,823]

You MUST meet in person before you can petition for the K-1. Not meeting in person and petition for the K-1 is just as good as flushing your money down the toilet. RARELY is there exemptions for the not meeting in person - only really going to those severly disabled.

Good luck

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Hi all,

So I am in the US she is in Accra,

We are just now starting the process. I have lots of questions.

We are looking at applying for a tourist visa first.

OR as suggested by someone else go straight for the K1. We have never meet in person. So it seems to me that the K1 isn't for us? At not at this point in time. Am I correct in my assumptions?

Bringing both her and her son to the US. But that is double of what it would cost for me to visit her. So the jury is still out on that. Money is very tight.

First with the medical,

She needs to get the medical for both her and her son before she interviews correct?

Can I pay for them from over here via a Credit Card?

Is there a time constraint between when you get your medicals and when you need to interview?

We are looking to clean up a few things over here first before she interviews. Maybe a month or two.

Income.

I am recently divorced. Because of that I would not want to show my Bank account to anyone.

But I make a good living. Can I substitute my pay stub instead?

Also on the bank accounts and pay stubs I was thinking to black out account numbers is that standard practice?

Sponsorship. The guide lines suggest that I have $5000.00 for each person set-aside for when they are here? I don't have that kind of funds lying around. I can buy the tickets and everything that it takes to get them here. I need to sell some stuff to do that. So the money isn't just sitting in an account.

Since money is tight. I thought that I would run through the charges that I am expecting and seeing if you guys could tell me if I missed anything. Thanks

Medical: $300.00 US each

Visa application: $300.00 each

Agent: She really wants one. There is a lot riding on this for her. We both want to get it right.

Passport ????? Is this a need or is the visa enough?

Plane tickets: $1200.00 to $2000.00 each I've seen prices all over the place.

??

??

As I said the budget is tight. Am I reaching too far by only getting up enough to get them here? And relying on my income to support them while they are here. With little or no contingency money?

Thanks

Tim

You are jumping the gun. You have to have met IN PERSON within the last two years prior to filing the I-129 F Petition for Fiance(e) Visa. Do that first and worry about the rest of the process later, as it happens. Better yet, get a second job NOW and save as much money as you can. This is definitely NOT a cheap or quick process.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yeah, you are really putting the cart in front of the horse here. You cannot file a K-1 visa petition because you have not met in person. Focus on that now. She can apply for a tourist visa by herself at the US embassy in her country, or you can go visit her. Yes, all of this is expensive. Even after all of the plane tickets, tourist visa, passport, K-1 visa, for her AND her son, you have to apply to adjust status in the US, which is right now $1070. Good luck.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Since the issue of meeting in person has been addressed I'll answer some of your actual questions:

First with the medical,

She needs to get the medical for both her and her son before she interviews correct?

Can I pay for them from over here via a Credit Card?

Is there a time constraint between when you get your medicals and when you need to interview?

We are looking to clean up a few things over here first before she interviews. Maybe a month or two.

Generally the medical needs to be paid for in cash at the facility contracted by the US Embassy to do them.

You want to get the medical as close to the interview as possible since the Visa will be valid for 6 months or the validity of the medical (which ever is shorter).

Income.

I am recently divorced. Because of that I would not want to show my Bank account to anyone.

But I make a good living. Can I substitute my pay stub instead?

Also on the bank accounts and pay stubs I was thinking to black out account numbers is that standard practice?

As long as your annual adjusted gross income on your Tax returns exceeds the poverty level for your household size (count yourself, any dependent children and all immigrants) then all you will need is 3 years of Tax Returns/Transcripts, recent pay stubs & a letter confirming your employment & pay amount.

Don't redact these documents.

Sponsorship. The guide lines suggest that I have $5000.00 for each person set-aside for when they are here? I don't have that kind of funds lying around. I can buy the tickets and everything that it takes to get them here. I need to sell some stuff to do that. So the money isn't just sitting in an account.

What guidelines? This isn't a USCIS requirement but I can tell you from my own experience that there are a lot of little unexpected expenses in that first year after immigrating to the US.

Since money is tight. I thought that I would run through the charges that I am expecting and seeing if you guys could tell me if I missed anything. Thanks

Medical: $300.00 US each

Visa application: $300.00 each

Agent: She really wants one. There is a lot riding on this for her. We both want to get it right.

Passport ????? Is this a need or is the visa enough?

Plane tickets: $1200.00 to $2000.00 each I've seen prices all over the place.

Agent is a useless fee, the process isn't overly difficult if you don't have any major issues to overcome (previous immigration violations on the Alien's side or history of sex crimes on the US Citizen's side).

All intending immigrants will need to have a passport, that's where the Embassy puts the Visa and also the document that allows them to travel internationally.

Don't forget about expenses after they arrive such as Adjustment of Status for both of them and then in 2 years removal of conditions.

[Wheeler 0]

Thanks guys. This has been a big help.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

For a visitors visa no medical is needed. However it is rare for a visitors visa to be granted to a single female and her child for any 3rd world country, so I woulnd't plan your future meeting around her getting a visitors visa. the fee for a visitors visa is 140 USD. I am not sure what you mean about agents because there is really nothing a 3rd party can do to make things go better. Your airline fares are about right. They will each need a passport and the child will need written notorized permission from the father , or the mother will need a copy of the certificate of death. Most likely you are going to have to travel there , and most of the same applies only in reverse. If your honey is talking BTA fee and agents and you never met in person you may want to google romance scams.

[Harsh_77 718]

As most post said – she is not eligible for K1 anyways (we are assuming you are USC). If she will apply for B1, she will have to get the B1 on her merit. You can pay for her tickets that is not a problem, whenever you file visa for her – you will have to disclose your tax returns (so there is no point in hiding anything).

You will also have to disclose about your previous marriage and divorce.

So there is no point in hiding any info, more you hide more chances of getting a rfe, which delays everything.

[Wheeler 0]

Are there any good agents that we could hire to help us though this process?

[Harsh_77 718]

Agents cannot do anything - unless you are looking to commit a fraud.

What most ppl said on here are the rules and regulation.

[TJ 4EVER 40]

Hi all,

So I am in the US she is in Accra,

We are just now starting the process. I have lots of questions.

We are looking at applying for a tourist visa first.

OR as suggested by someone else go straight for the K1. We have never meet in person. So it seems to me that the K1 isn't for us? At not at this point in time. Am I correct in my assumptions?

Bringing both her and her son to the US. But that is double of what it would cost for me to visit her. So the jury is still out on that. Money is very tight.

First with the medical,

She needs to get the medical for both her and her son before she interviews correct?

Can I pay for them from over here via a Credit Card?

Is there a time constraint between when you get your medicals and when you need to interview?

We are looking to clean up a few things over here first before she interviews. Maybe a month or two.

Income.

I am recently divorced. Because of that I would not want to show my Bank account to anyone.

But I make a good living. Can I substitute my pay stub instead?

Also on the bank accounts and pay stubs I was thinking to black out account numbers is that standard practice?

Sponsorship. The guide lines suggest that I have $5000.00 for each person set-aside for when they are here? I don't have that kind of funds lying around. I can buy the tickets and everything that it takes to get them here. I need to sell some stuff to do that. So the money isn't just sitting in an account.

Since money is tight. I thought that I would run through the charges that I am expecting and seeing if you guys could tell me if I missed anything. Thanks

Medical: $300.00 US each

Visa application: $300.00 each

Agent: She really wants one. There is a lot riding on this for her. We both want to get it right.

Passport ????? Is this a need or is the visa enough?

Plane tickets: $1200.00 to $2000.00 each I've seen prices all over the place.

??

??

As I said the budget is tight. Am I reaching too far by only getting up enough to get them here? And relying on my income to support them while they are here. With little or no contingency money?

Thanks

Tim

Hi,

The likelihood of your sweetie getting a visitors visa from Ghana is VERY slim. You will be taking a great risk in losing your money by even filing a visa for her and her son. If you are truly in love (which it sounds like you are because you are talking marriage) perhaps you should spend your limited resources on planning a trip out to Ghana. The cost would definitely be cheaper for you, you two will have to meet face to face anyway before you can file for an I-129f anyway. This will also give you an opportunity to see for yourself if this is true love. Ghana is a beautiful place and I am sure you two can enjoy one another presence there and after that if things remain them same you can file for your I-129f petition. This is a long and expensive process. Just take one step at a time, trust in God and everything will work out just fine.