Getting the I-129 togather

[Cazwik 11]

So I am stationed in Korea and plan on trying to get my philippina finance back to the states with me on a K-1 when I go home. We are getting the paperwork ready to submit as soon as I get back to the states in September. I was filling out the paperwork and on the line that read " where does she intend to live" I came to a blank. I will be living in Colorado, Ft. Carson , but I was planning on ( if this gets approved ) to bring her to my hometown and take leave to marry her there when she comes. So would it be ok to put my parents address for the time being ? Because untill were together , I will be living in barracks... and I can't put that hehe...

Another question was for proof of relationship. We have a ton of pictures together , and I will have one plane ticket receipt for when I got visit her back in the philippines next month... Will that be enough? ( she was here working and went back in May) Should I dig out anything else or make any other proof of relationship?

Also I was looking around and I was trying to see the price for the Visa. Is it 1800 for the whole process ( not including the plane ticket and such ) and what if it is denied , so I have to submit a another 1900 to reapply ? Just trying to get my self mentally prepares... I m kinda nervous about the whole start of this...

Any advice or common mistakes to avoid would be great , Thanks for all your help in advance... I hope you guys will be with me through this process to come. Does the military usually have more of a headache when applying ? ( I know its a headache to try and get married here , thats why I am waiting till I go back to the states.

P.s , Could we actually submit the paperwork without me in the states to get a early start?

Edited May 28, 2011 by Cazwik

[militarygf 0]

Hello Cazwik,

my fiance lives in the single soldiers housing/ barracks in US. Dependents, friends, family are not allowed to stay there even for a night, as you may know. Thus, fiance arranged a living arrangement with a unit buddy living on a housing on-post for military members and their dependents. That is the address we included in our I-129F, and made an attachment explaining the above reason I stated, thus, making the arrangement temporary, and then he further added "....until my fiancee and I find a home that will suit our needs."

For proof of relationship, try to gather the primary evidences such as boarding passes, passport stamps, etc. We included ticket stubs of the places that we went to when I visited US, which were backed up by the photos we attached. Further, it may not be necessary at the I-129F stage, but we included a business card and affidavits of my fiance's recruiter and wife, whom I became close friends with during my vacation. That was upon the suggestion of an immigration lawyer. So if any of your NCOs met your fiancee, include any proofs that may show she is already a part of your future plan. Military stresses the importance of family and soldiers' welfare, I believe.

I think there had been an increase in the application fee for 1-129F since we filed in Dec. Other senior VJ members may help u better with your third concern.

I was told that USCIS handle petitions from military members like they do w/ everyone else. In our case however, we were extremely lucky that we never received any RFEs, and got approved for an expeditious processing of the I-129F. During my interview, I was not asked of any other documents aside from the basics (my CENOMAR, NBI and police clearances, my birth certificate, my fiance's 2010 tax forms and his LES). My interview w/the consul lasted 5 minutes max I think, and that was because i made some comments on the side while he was leafing thru our papers (as an example, when he asked if I would be marrying my man and living with him, i answered, "for sure. after almost 9 years in the relationship, its about time that we did, before my biological clock and his hair follicles give up on us" Both the Filipino interviewer and consul were chuckling while I was answering their questions. The consul's parting words to me were, "Well, I'll have to cancel your B2 visa since you won't be needing it anymore." Im not exactly sure if my experience was because the petitioner is a military member, or because of the presentation of documents both for I-129 F and interview proper (I was almost disappointed that they did not even ask to see the files I brought at USEM ) or because of the length of the relationship, or even because of the other visas stamped in my passport, but whatever it may have been, I'm glad that lady luck has been smiling on us since we started the journey.

Again, I am not in the best position to answer your end note, but it is to my belief that yes, you may file for the application while you are still abroad, and indicate through attachments the expected day of your unit's pull-out, arrival, and other plans. Ask a trusted family member to file it once you have completed the requirements. choose a trusted parcel carrier. Other VJ members are free to correct me on this.

I wish you the best on your journey!

[extremerecluse 36]

So I am stationed in Korea and plan on trying to get my philippina finance back to the states with me on a K-1 when I go home. We are getting the paperwork ready to submit as soon as I get back to the states in September. I was filling out the paperwork and on the line that read " where does she intend to live" I came to a blank. I will be living in Colorado, Ft. Carson , but I was planning on ( if this gets approved ) to bring her to my hometown and take leave to marry her there when she comes. So would it be ok to put my parents address for the time being ? Because untill were together , I will be living in barracks... and I can't put that hehe...

Another question was for proof of relationship. We have a ton of pictures together , and I will have one plane ticket receipt for when I got visit her back in the philippines next month... Will that be enough? ( she was here working and went back in May) Should I dig out anything else or make any other proof of relationship?

Also I was looking around and I was trying to see the price for the Visa. Is it 1800 for the whole process ( not including the plane ticket and such ) and what if it is denied , so I have to submit a another 1900 to reapply ? Just trying to get my self mentally prepares... I m kinda nervous about the whole start of this...

Any advice or common mistakes to avoid would be great , Thanks for all your help in advance... I hope you guys will be with me through this process to come. Does the military usually have more of a headache when applying ? ( I know its a headache to try and get married here , thats why I am waiting till I go back to the states.

P.s , Could we actually submit the paperwork without me in the states to get a early start?

Follow the instructions in this website exactly. You will be eligible for an expedite. Yes, this process is expensive, but you will need to qualify for 100% of the poverty line for your household (2?). This will help you for all other non-military petitioners need to be 125% of the poverty line for a household. Study the guides here. Gather everything that is required as far as evidence of the meeting in person, letter of intent, the 129F form, G135 etc... Good Luck. BTW, where are you stationed on the ROK. I was in Ioujonbiu at Camp Stanley back in 1992-1993. B Company, 2nd Aviation BN, 2nd Division. I had a good time their although I was married at the time. And while you are visiting her later this year, try and get most of the paperwork completed. Some forms need her signature. This will save you so much headache down the road.

Edited May 28, 2011 by extremerecluse

[Cazwik 11]

"the instructions in this website exactly. You will be eligible for an expedite. Yes, this process is expensive, but you will need to qualify for 100% of the poverty line for your household (2?). This will help you for all other non-military petitioners need to be 125% of the poverty line for a household. Study the guides here. Gather everything that is required as far as evidence of the meeting in person, letter of intent, the 129F form, G135 etc.."

That was another question I had. where I have to show proof of being being able to provide , I'm sure the Embassy is aware of the increase of pay we receive to support our family in the military right ? Would I have to put something else to show that ? How do I go about the Expedite ?

Also another concern of mine is , I was recently in a marriage... Now divorced. That marriage was a disaster before it happened... kinda rushed and we both regret it. It took so long to end because of me being overseas...but we were seperated pretty much 3 days after we married....thats another story for another place.... Will that be a problem as long as i have the divorce documents?

"BTW, where are you stationed on the ROK. I was in Ioujonbiu at Camp Stanley back in 1992-1993. B Company, 2nd Aviation BN, 2nd Division. I had a good time their although I was married at the time. And while you are visiting her later this year, try and get most of the paperwork completed. Some forms need her signature. This will save you so much headache down the road."

I am in Camp Casey 2ID B 1-72 AR Infantry Attachment. I love Korea , its where I met my sweetheart. But I hate the unit! They work us to death here, I was going to extend to marry her , but my chain don't like us Marrying Philippinas ... there was a guy here who extended to marry and the chain took so much time , he is about to leave after 2 years being here and still is not married to his baby's mother. Thats why I am just going back to Carson and filing a K-1. Its to bad , because I really liked Korea , but the NCOS here and the leadership is horrible. I just did the Manchu march yesterday and my body is killing me! Thank god I am off today, first weekend off in like a month! and its a 4 day.. plenty of time to recover .

back to the documents ... putting where she intends to live - If I put my parents address in maryland and explain that is where Iwill be when she arrives (We plan to get married in my home town , and i was going to take leave when it went through , so thats where she would stay untill I got a home in Carson for us ) should that be ok ?

Thanks for the Info , its helping out alot!

P.S besides the Intend for marriage , what other documents need her signature? I can't seem to find the others?

[Cazwik 11]

Hello Cazwik,

my fiance lives in the single soldiers housing/ barracks in US. Dependents, friends, family are not allowed to stay there even for a night, as you may know. Thus, fiance arranged a living arrangement with a unit buddy living on a housing on-post for military members and their dependents. That is the address we included in our I-129F, and made an attachment explaining the above reason I stated, thus, making the arrangement temporary, and then he further added "....until my fiancee and I find a home that will suit our needs."

For proof of relationship, try to gather the primary evidences such as boarding passes, passport stamps, etc. We included ticket stubs of the places that we went to when I visited US, which were backed up by the photos we attached. Further, it may not be necessary at the I-129F stage, but we included a business card and affidavits of my fiance's recruiter and wife, whom I became close friends with during my vacation. That was upon the suggestion of an immigration lawyer. So if any of your NCOs met your fiancee, include any proofs that may show she is already a part of your future plan. Military stresses the importance of family and soldiers' welfare, I believe.

I think there had been an increase in the application fee for 1-129F since we filed in Dec. Other senior VJ members may help u better with your third concern.

I was told that USCIS handle petitions from military members like they do w/ everyone else. In our case however, we were extremely lucky that we never received any RFEs, and got approved for an expeditious processing of the I-129F. During my interview, I was not asked of any other documents aside from the basics (my CENOMAR, NBI and police clearances, my birth certificate, my fiance's 2010 tax forms and his LES). My interview w/the consul lasted 5 minutes max I think, and that was because i made some comments on the side while he was leafing thru our papers (as an example, when he asked if I would be marrying my man and living with him, i answered, "for sure. after almost 9 years in the relationship, its about time that we did, before my biological clock and his hair follicles give up on us" Both the Filipino interviewer and consul were chuckling while I was answering their questions. The consul's parting words to me were, "Well, I'll have to cancel your B2 visa since you won't be needing it anymore." Im not exactly sure if my experience was because the petitioner is a military member, or because of the presentation of documents both for I-129 F and interview proper (I was almost disappointed that they did not even ask to see the files I brought at USEM ) or because of the length of the relationship, or even because of the other visas stamped in my passport, but whatever it may have been, I'm glad that lady luck has been smiling on us since we started the journey.

Again, I am not in the best position to answer your end note, but it is to my belief that yes, you may file for the application while you are still abroad, and indicate through attachments the expected day of your unit's pull-out, arrival, and other plans. Ask a trusted family member to file it once you have completed the requirements. choose a trusted parcel carrier. Other VJ members are free to correct me on this.

I wish you the best on your journey!

Thank you for your info! I noticed your timeline went pretty quick , was this because he was military as well?

Also I notice you went and lived with him in the Us for 6 monthes, How did you acclompish that ? My fiance tells me a tourist visa for her is almost impossible to get??

[militarygf 0]

Yes, fiance is in the military and we were approved for an expedite for military reasons.

To get a B2 visa here is really not an impossibility as long as u can show ties, meaning u have every reason to go back home. I certainly do, and cheesy as this may sound, but love is the only reason why I agreed to relocate.

If it would help your fiancee, I submitted the following documents for my tourist visa interview, a few years back:

1. my business registration, permits, and taxes for 2 years,and other documents pertaining to business including lease contract, bills, assets.

2. bank certificates and statements both of my personal and business accounts

3. assets and properties under my name

4. photocopies of the individual B2 visas of my family, who had been going back and forth the US. I also included the arrival/ departure stamps.

5. both bank accounts of my parents

6. authenticated birth certficate

7. old passports which bore my tourist visas from the other countries I've visited.

8. sense of humor and confidence lol

nos. 7&8 may have been the cincher, since the consul hardly checked the supporting documents, but smiled broadly when he saw my other visas, and remarked that i have been to several countries, to which I replied that some were university scholarship grants, then side trips; the others were a form of escape from the nitty gritty of operating my own biz. He said great, then added I don't see why you shouldn't visit US too.

During my k1 visa interview, the Filipino interviewer asked me if my other travels were for tourism alone, and i simply answered yes. no further questions asked aside from the name of the petitioner, and when was the last time we saw each other.

I sincerely hope that your journey will be a smooth one. I must say that the unnecessary stress of waiting for a K1 approval is something that military members should not be burdened with.

[Cazwik 11]

Thanks for your help guys. This helps a Little. To be honest , I'm still a little lost but hopefully I'll get through this!