K1 application process: I have a few questions please!

[Michael_101 0]

Hey everyone!

To cut what could be a very long story short:

*I originally met my fiancée online Nov '09.

*Flew out to the US Feb '10 and met in person for the first time (approx. 2 weeks).

*My fiancée flew out to the UK Jun '09 etc (approx. 2 weeks).

*I left my job Oct '10 to spend approx. 2 1/2 months in the US with my fiancée, so we could both make sure we were making the right decision in.

*I decided I'd take some time off work once I returned to the UK, waiting for my fiancée to return to the UK so we could better decide which country we'd like to begin married life in.

*My Fiancée returned to the UK Jun '11 (approx. 2 weeks), we decided we'd like to start a life in the US. (We officially got engaged during this visit!)

*I'm now in the process of looking for temp/contract employment (not wanting to commit to an employer on a permanent basis under the pretence of wanting to remain in the UK) and we're close to submitting I-129F etc.

My questions!

1: I've now been unemployed since October 2010, during that time I've claimed nothing in the way of state benefit and can show approx. £28,000 in savings and zero in the way of debts.

Is it advisable I pick up a contract/temp job before we start the K1 process or would I be good to start the process now, considering my level of savings and being able to explain the reasons behind my choosing to not start new employment, until my fiancée and I had decided which country we'd like to apply for?

2: I've searched online and found some pretty contradictory information and hoped someone could clarify! I'm from England, however I'm not sure, for the purposes of the I-129F and G-325A, if I'm supposed to list 'United Kingdom' as my nationality or 'English'? Same with 'City & Country of Birth', City and Country of Residence' or any heading with the generality of 'Country'?

a) England or United Kingdom (or a combination of both)?

b) I'm from West Yorkshire, I'm assuming this would be acceptable for the section 'Province or State' on the G-325A?

3: I have both the I-129F and G-325A forms downloaded in PDF format. The G-325A has an expiry date of 06/30/2011. Any ideas as to where I can get an updated form? The 'expired' G-325A I have is from the USCIS website.

4: Is there a known preference for having either form typed or hand written? The reason I ask, I can't fit all information in some of the boxes were I to type the information.

I'm sorry if there is a little too much information there! Any help anyone can give on even one or two questions, if someone has the chance, would be greatly appreciated!

Michael =)

Edited July 22, 2011 by Michael_101

[Michael_101 0]

3: I have both the I-129F and G-325A forms downloaded in PDF format. The G-325A has an expiry date of 06/30/2011. Any ideas as to where I can get an updated form? The 'expired' G-325A I have is from the USCIS website.

Can't find an option to edit my original post, but think I found an answer to question 3 in the following from the USCIS website:

Edition Date :

06/12/09. Previous editions accepted.

I'm not sure how I missed that, think my head is on information overload right now!

Edited July 22, 2011 by Michael_101

[kunleseun 2]

1.)I would say start looking for a job....U may go the co-sponsor route too but just in case....(Find a job thats above the poverty line)

3) If you doing the process now...U can use the outdated form...

4) No preference,as long as its legible/written clearly.... I typed some of mine...and had to write some cos of the limited space.

Goodluck

[Michael_101 0]

1.)I would say start looking for a job....U may go the co-sponsor route too but just in case....(Find a job thats above the poverty line)

3) If you doing the process now...U can use the outdated form...

4) No preference,as long as its legible/written clearly.... I typed some of mine...and had to write some cos of the limited space.

Goodluck

Many thanks for your input!

I should mention that I'm the UK citizen in the scenario. My fiancée is the US citizen and is currently employed, her salary covering the requirements for being over 125% of the poverty line (I believe?)

My question was more, as the UK citizen, if my current employment status was of significant relevance, so long as I can show substantial enough savings etc?

Edit: Good to know we can combine type and hand written on both I-129F & G-325A if required though =)

Edited July 22, 2011 by Michael_101

[Piefre 15]

Is it advisable I pick up a contract/temp job before we start the K1 process or would I be good to start the process now, considering my level of savings and being able to explain the reasons behind my choosing to not start new employment, until my fiancée and I had decided which country we'd like to apply for?

Since it sounds like you are the beneficiary it doesn't matter whether or not you have a job or how much savings you have in the bank. Chances are, you will not have to explain anything about your current financial situation as the beneficiary. The burden to prove financial support rests on the petitioner's shoulders. So your fiance will have to either have a job that can support you both or your fiance will have to find a co-sponsor. In most cases, the embassy doesn't even care about the beneficiary's job or finances.

Is there a known preference for having either form typed or hand written? The reason I ask, I can't fit all information in some of the boxes were I to type the information.

There is no preference. I typed up on my side of the forms and my fiance hand wrote his. I would recommend you type up yours though. Doing that eliminates the chance of someone not being able to read your writing and you can make corrections on the form without having to print out another copy. If you can't fit all of the information in the boxes when you're typing it up, you should attach supplementary pages containing the information. Just make sure you sign your forms by hand in blue ink. There have been some issues in the past with people signing their forms in black ink.

You can get examples of filled out forms here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

[HeatDeath 431]

As the UK citizen, your finances are completely irrelevant to the K-1 process. They care about the US citizen's financial situation, not yours. The K-1 applicant can't use their income or assets to help the USC meet the sponsorship requirements, even if they want to.

[Michael_101 0]

Thank you both Piefre and HeatDeath!

Good to know my current employment situation is pretty much irrelevant for the process and takes some of the pressure off my finding employment immediately! My fiancée comfortably covers 125% of the poverty guidelines set by HHS, which I believe in this instance would be, as effectively a two person family, $18,388?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

My questions!

1: I've now been unemployed since October 2010, during that time I've claimed nothing in the way of state benefit and can show approx. £28,000 in savings and zero in the way of debts.

Your lack of employment doesn't matter. Say Unemployed on the forms. They don't care

[

b]2:[/b] I've searched online and found some pretty contradictory information and hoped someone could clarify! I'm from England, however I'm not sure, for the purposes of the I-129F and G-325A, if I'm supposed to list 'United Kingdom' as my nationality or 'English'? Same with 'City & Country of Birth', City and Country of Residence' or any heading with the generality of 'Country'?

Nationality is British

You have no state or province. N/A or Yorkshire is Ok if it fits. We used Oxford but not necessary

Country in address- England or United Kingdom. Either is OK.

3: I have both the I-129F and G-325A forms downloaded in PDF format. The G-325A has an expiry date of 06/30/2011. Any ideas as to where I can get an updated form? The 'expired' G-325A I have is from the USCIS website.

Forms don't expire. Sometimes they are changed. That date means something else. It's a review date by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB date) required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. Probably being reviewed now. Doesn't mean the form will change.

4: Is there a known preference for having either form typed or hand written? The reason I ask, I can't fit all information in some of the boxes were I to type the information.

I think typed is always best. Try to abbreviate. Try a printing. Sometimes a few more characters come through. that don't show on the PDF. Attach an extra sheet for anything you can't get on the page. Label what form and question it is.

Hint: Theres Example forms that are filled out you might find helpful. See the menu bars at the top of the page.

[N&S 32]

With regards to not fitting everything in I have found the PDF program foxit (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ ) very helpful. It's a free reader that allows you to insert text boxes and as you can change the font size easily it's possible to fit in more in the boxes that are too small.

If you need extra lines (like for previous addresses, employment etc.) you would best use a supplemental sheet as Nich-Nick suggests.

[Michael_101 0]

@ both Nich-Nick & N&S, thanks for the help/suggestions etc, greatly appreciated!

@ N&S, I'd been using Foxit to fill the form out, though I can't alter the font size using the Format Toolbar (seems the preferences for font size and type are locked? Oh well!)

[Rich&Vero 14]

The K-1 applicant can't use their income or assets to help the USC meet the sponsorship requirements, even if they want to.

It's my understanding that a K-1 applicant CAN use assests to supplement the sponsership requirements as long as those assests can be readily liquidated.

[little_g 35]

You don't need a job. She makes more than enough and that's all you have to worry about. Trust us on this.

My fiance is from Manchester. He put City: Manchester State: Greater Manchester. For City and Country of birth he put - Town/City: Glasgow and State/Country: Scotland Country of Citizenship: UK. Just to give you an example

Typed or handwritten doesn't matter. The computer is easier though.

Only question I have is this... she needs to do this and send it to a United States address, not you so are you doing this for her to then send to her? Cause you can fill out the PDF typed and email it to her to print. No where on the I-129F do you need to sign. Just letting you know. It's so confusing believe me I know. Just putting that out there for you. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need. It's all one big learning process.

[Michael_101 0]

Thanks for the info little_g!

Good to know my employment status isn't a concern, though I've been offered a job this morning (thought it might have taken longer, considering the economy!). Be nice to save some more cash to put toward a deposit on a house, ahead of a move to the US

Thanks for the info on what your fiancé put regarding State etc, useful to compare with what I have so far!

At this stage I've nominated myself to do the leg work! I'm aware my fiancée is the one who'll file the paperwork etc. Thanks for the thought and giving me a heads up though!

[little_g 35]

Thanks for the info little_g!

Good to know my employment status isn't a concern, though I've been offered a job this morning (thought it might have taken longer, considering the economy!). Be nice to save some more cash to put toward a deposit on a house, ahead of a move to the US

Thanks for the info on what your fiancé put regarding State etc, useful to compare with what I have so far!

At this stage I've nominated myself to do the leg work! I'm aware my fiancée is the one who'll file the paperwork etc. Thanks for the thought and giving me a heads up though!

Fantastic news about the job, you'll have a few months to earn some extra cash while you prepare and wait. Best of luck with all the filing etc!! Keep us posted on your progress

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

2: I've searched online and found some pretty contradictory information and hoped someone could clarify! I'm from England, however I'm not sure, for the purposes of the I-129F and G-325A, if I'm supposed to list 'United Kingdom' as my nationality or 'English'? Same with 'City & Country of Birth', City and Country of Residence' or any heading with the generality of 'Country'?

a) England or United Kingdom (or a combination of both)?

b) I'm from West Yorkshire, I'm assuming this would be acceptable for the section 'Province or State' on the G-325A?

I looked up our paperwork, which must have been ok since no RFE

G325a

Citizenship/Nationality: British

Birth: Bicester, UK

One of the parent's birth place: Northleigh, Oxfordshire, England.(I think we put what the birth certificate said)

Everything else on that form we put UK for the country (just the initials). Used Oxfordshire for the State/Province so Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.

I-129F

2.Oxford UK

3a. Bicester UK

3b.Country of Citizenship: United Kingdom (spelled out)