Starting The Journey Soon...Advice?

[Verdy 0]

Hi all! It's a pleasure to be greeting you, and I hope that you all are in good health!

So I've finally decided to begin the long but arduous process of bringing my fiancé to the US. My plan is to file the petition in the Summer/Fall of 2013. We have been in a relationship since August of 2009, and three years later, we are still very much in love and looking to finally be able to share a life together. I do however, have a few questions and hope that I will find some answers from anyone on here who is willing to help me out.

I am going to be filing the I-129F petition directly, with the guidelines I found here, and I have to ask whether it is necessary to file two G-325A forms, one for my data and one for his?

At the moment I do not own my own home, I live at my parent's and help them with rent and such. I am going to make an effort to get a small apartment before I file. But in the case that I didn't, would this have a negative effect on my petition?

In the three years that we have been together, I visited him in 2010, was not able to visit in 2011, but did visit this year in 2012 and will be visiting during the early months of 2013. Are we still eligible to apply for this petition?

Also, is there a certain quantity of photos together that is considered 'acceptable' for us to consider this petition?

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but I would appreciate any help that you all could give me! Thanks so much!

[X Factor 1,112]

Yes you each have to fill out a G-325. Take that down there when with him to sign it if you are going to visit him another time before you file. Also save any boarding passes, plane ticket, hotel bills, atm receipts that you have from Honduras within the past 2 years. I sent 6 pictures and was approved. At the back of the pictures put the dates and who is in the pictures. Make sure the pictures are a variety with the two of you in different settings and some with friends and relatives.

Also take his passport pictures when you visit him. follow the guides like you are doing. Also he has to sign the letter of intent to marry you as you get close to the time of filing. I wish you the best.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Mr Smiley

[TiklingGuy 211]

Goodluck on your journey!

[LeftCoastLady 441]

The number one piece of advice I can offer is to read the I-129F instructions thoroughly and then read them again. And then come back to them in two days and read them again. So many people going through this process miss some of the "little things" such as where to mail the petition or how much the petition fee is. It's important to go through this process knowing each detail and checkbox matters.

Since you're not planning to start the petition process until a year from now, it would be ideal for you to bookmark the USCIS website and check it in the event changes are made to the I-129F process, the petition forms are updated, etc.

[Verdy 0]

Mr. Smiley - Thanks so much for the info on personal items, next time I visit I will be sure to take as many photos as possible with family members/outings. I'll contact the airline I've traveled on to see if they can provide me with past trip itineraries or something similar. Would records of Skype calls and texts/instant messaging be useful?

Paramedic - Thank you! Fingers crossed that everything goes well!

LeftCoastLady - Thanks! I'll take your advice to re read everything and make sure I get all the fine details down. I know it's really early to start planning, but I want to be as prepared as possible when filing time comes around. I hate doing everything last minute, especially with something so sensitive.

I'm still wondering though if the living situation might affect me. I really hope not!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

You've already made the best move - finding VJ It's a life saver when it comes to this process. Good luck!

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Good luck to your upcoming journey! :dance:

[hamigirl710 112]

Mr. Smiley - Thanks so much for the info on personal items, next time I visit I will be sure to take as many photos as possible with family members/outings. I'll contact the airline I've traveled on to see if they can provide me with past trip itineraries or something similar. Would records of Skype calls and texts/instant messaging be useful?

Paramedic - Thank you! Fingers crossed that everything goes well!

LeftCoastLady - Thanks! I'll take your advice to re read everything and make sure I get all the fine details down. I know it's really early to start planning, but I want to be as prepared as possible when filing time comes around. I hate doing everything last minute, especially with something so sensitive.

I'm still wondering though if the living situation might affect me. I really hope not!

If you can't get the iteneraries copies of your passport stamps are good and also try to get the bank statements showing you purchased the tickets.

Living with your parents should not affext you too much especially if they are in approval. Have them write you letters of support saying how much they like your SO and are looking forward to him coming here to marry you etc... You also will have to meet financial guidelines with income to sponsor him. So a good paying job can be very helpful

Edited September 30, 2012 by hamigirl710

[Verdy 0]

Thanks Tintin and Evylin! All of this paperwork and planning makes me nervous

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Thanks Tintin and Evylin! All of this paperwork and planning makes me nervous

Don't worry, that's when the VJ community comes in

[Verdy 0]

If you can't get the iteneraries copies of your passport stamps are good and also try to get the bank statements showing you purchased the tickets.

Living with your parents should not affext you too much especially if they are in approval. Have them write you letters of support saying how much they like your SO and are looking forward to him coming here to marry you etc... You also will have to meet financial guidelines with income to sponsor him. So a good paying job can be very helpful

So I should just run my passport through a scanner and get copies of the stamps? The statements won't be difficult to get And as for my parents - they are fully in approval of our decision to do all of this. They absolutely adore him since my dad has known my fiancé's family since his own childhood. He's made quite a good impression on them. I'm looking for a good job right now, I work at Chick Fil A, but I really want to have a decent savings account when I file. That's my biggest fear that the income issue will prevent my petition from getting approved

[hamigirl710 112]

So I should just run my passport through a scanner and get copies of the stamps? The statements won't be difficult to get And as for my parents - they are fully in approval of our decision to do all of this. They absolutely adore him since my dad has known my fiancé's family since his own childhood. He's made quite a good impression on them. I'm looking for a good job right now, I work at Chick Fil A, but I really want to have a decent savings account when I file. That's my biggest fear that the income issue will prevent my petition from getting approved

Just make copies of the passport with a copier. Your parents can help you sponsor him if they have income.

[Verdy 0]

Just make copies of the passport with a copier. Your parents can help you sponsor him if they have income.

Would I have to fill out any extra paperwork for them to help me sponsor him?

[jenniferjones101 19]

Just some additional advice...before you decide to go with a K-1 Fiance Visa, take a look into an IR1/CR1 Spouse Visa (where you get married first, then file your visa paperwork). Some find it's a good option since, at the moment, it's taking around the same amount of time to go through the entire process. My husband (who's a UK citizen) and I chose the Spouse VIsa route because when all is said and done, he will enter the country as a Legal Permanent Resident and does not have to file any adjustment of status or any work eligibility paperwork. It ends up being a little less paperwork and less fees in the end. The downside is that we've had to spend some time apart as a married couple, but we married in April 2012, filed at the end of April 2012, and his interview is October 15...so our entire process from filing to POE is going to be right at 6 months and when he finally gets back home to California, all we have to do is wait for his Green Card to arrive in the mail and get his SSN, then he can live and work here with no extra paperwork or waiting.

I know the CR1 Visa may not be the option that best fits every situation, but we are happy we did it this way. Just wanted to share another option that may fit you better...or at least give you something else to look at. I've seen K1 visas take as long or longer to get approved and then there's still the marriage, AOS filing, and Work Eligibility filing that takes several months afterward. Good luck on your journey!

[Verdy 0]

Just some additional advice...before you decide to go with a K-1 Fiance Visa, take a look into an IR1/CR1 Spouse Visa (where you get married first, then file your visa paperwork). Some find it's a good option since, at the moment, it's taking around the same amount of time to go through the entire process. My husband (who's a UK citizen) and I chose the Spouse VIsa route because when all is said and done, he will enter the country as a Legal Permanent Resident and does not have to file any adjustment of status or any work eligibility paperwork. It ends up being a little less paperwork and less fees in the end. The downside is that we've had to spend some time apart as a married couple, but we married in April 2012, filed at the end of April 2012, and his interview is October 15...so our entire process from filing to POE is going to be right at 6 months and when he finally gets back home to California, all we have to do is wait for his Green Card to arrive in the mail and get his SSN, then he can live and work here with no extra paperwork or waiting.

I know the CR1 Visa may not be the option that best fits every situation, but we are happy we did it this way. Just wanted to share another option that may fit you better...or at least give you something else to look at. I've seen K1 visas take as long or longer to get approved and then there's still the marriage, AOS filing, and Work Eligibility filing that takes several months afterward. Good luck on your journey!

Jenniferjones101 - Wow, I really had no idea that the IR1/CR1 Spouse Visa existed...It seems like it's a really great option...Where did you and your husband get married? In the UK? And trust me - spending some time apart after almost 4 years wouldn't be much of a hassle! I'll definitely look into this, thanks so much!