Petition from Pastor

[EricandSheily2011 0]

I just spoke with the Pastor of my church who will be marrying Sheily and I. He said that he is booking up for dates this fall for a weddings. He asked if he could sent a formal letter stating the date that he would be marrying us. The letter would include the letter head from my church with his signature, my signature and my fiances signature. I called the USCIS today to ask them if this was possible. The first representative I spoke with told me I could send the letter to the VSC with my address and information from the case. Also include support that he would be part of this K-1 Visa process. I was then transferred to an immigration officer who told me this is not possible. The officer did not seem like she was to interested in discussing it. Pretty much cut me off and asked if I had anything else and the call was ended. So anyone have any advise in if I should sent the formal letter from my Pastor or not? Again another case with a different answer from 2 different people from the USCIS. I understand they are busy with a heavy case load but information needs to match between representatives and officers.

Sheily and I are now 87 days into our K-1 Visa process and continuing to patiently wait for our NOA2. We hope and pray we receive our NOA2 soon.

Edited June 7, 2011 by EricandSheily2011

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Really not understanding the purpose of the letter. Is the letter just informational? The letter will have no barring on the K1 process.

[EricandSheily2011 0]

Really not understanding the purpose of the letter. Is the letter just informational? The letter will have no barring on the K1 process.

Informational about our Pastor's intent to marry us. My Pastor asked for a set date and I told him with our fiance visa there is no way to know our date of approval or when Sheily will be arriving here in the US. The Pastor offered the letter to see if it'd be of any help in our case. I've never done anything like this before and I wanted to make sure I have every piece of information possible to bring Sheily and I together. Thank you, Life's Journey for your information. Sheily and I greatly appreciate it. This site has been great in helping us through our K-1 Process.

Edited June 7, 2011 by EricandSheily2011

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

The pastor letter will not have any barring on the process. So set a date far enough in advance to do the religious ceremony, and just get married at the justice of peace for the 90 requirement period.

[Ryan H 3,790]

The time to submit such a letter is when you initially file the I-129F. If you were to receive an RFE (something you DON'T want to happen), you could sneak it it with the response.

Your fiancee could bring the letter to the interview at the Embassy, however, it may not be looked at by a CO.

[Penguin_ie 5,985]

The letter will not be enough for an expedite, if that is your intention.

I agree with the others; do not send it by itself, it is unlikely to "meet up" with your petition. But if you get an RFE or whenever you send in the next round of paperwork, send it with, if nothing else, it'll go towards bonafides.

[payxibka 10,044]

there is no purpose to this letter as it relates to the i-129f... whether at the beginning, middle or end...

[EricandSheily2011 0]

there is no purpose to this letter as it relates to the i-129f... whether at the beginning, middle or end...

Thanks everyone who replied to my post. Appreciate everyone's help in getting us through this process. We have not done anything like this before and just want to make sure Sheily and I do things the right way and have every piece of information we need to successfully make it through our visa process.

[Love Eth 14]

Since you already sent the I-129f package, there is no need of sending it to USCIS now. However you can send it to your fiancee and she can take it to the interview and if she is lucky, she may get a chance to show it to the CO.

Good luck.

[katiemanny 64]

The letter will not help in anything, USCIS only cares about rather you and your fiance are free to marry and have a valid ongoing relationship, your pastor has nothing to do with this and wont help you get approved faster.

[payxibka 10,044]

The letter will not help in anything, USCIS only cares about rather you and your fiance are free to marry and have a valid ongoing relationship, your pastor has nothing to do with this and wont help you get approved faster.

actually the uscis does not care if you have an ongoing relationship, but that you have had a face to face meeting within the last two years

[Casprd 167]

Definately have your fiancee bring it to the interview. If you are going to be there with her then she can take your passport and have the letter folded inside. But even then, don't count on the VO looking at it. Certainly won't hurt your chances.

[Harsh_77 716]

If you are just trying to get the date when your Visa would be approved – based on the letter from pastor then that is simply not going to work.

USCIS or NVC would not put your case on top based on letter from your pastor and coz he needs the date…… sorry dude that’s not happening.

[J&N* 68]

I don't think the letter would change anything at all, they really don't care if you marry at a church or court as long as you marry within the 90 days. The government isn't based on church.

[Barbara J 115]

I just spoke with the Pastor of my church who will be marrying Sheily and I. He said that he is booking up for dates this fall for a weddings. He asked if he could sent a formal letter stating the date that he would be marrying us. The letter would include the letter head from my church with his signature, my signature and my fiances signature. I called the USCIS today to ask them if this was possible. The first representative I spoke with told me I could send the letter to the VSC with my address and information from the case. Also include support that he would be part of this K-1 Visa process. I was then transferred to an immigration officer who told me this is not possible. The officer did not seem like she was to interested in discussing it. Pretty much cut me off and asked if I had anything else and the call was ended. So anyone have any advise in if I should sent the formal letter from my Pastor or not? Again another case with a different answer from 2 different people from the USCIS. I understand they are busy with a heavy case load but information needs to match between representatives and officers.

Sheily and I are now 87 days into our K-1 Visa process and continuing to patiently wait for our NOA2. We hope and pray we receive our NOA2 soon.

I have to agree with the others the letter from your pastor will have no bearing on your case being approved faster or getting a date for interview either. As we all know this is just a waiting game. When in the fall would you like to get married? You could with a stretch plan for November. That's if you got approved in August

Edited June 8, 2011 by Barbara J