newbie & confused

[FlowerLA 0]

hi everyone, I'm new to this whole process I've yet to meet my better half but will be meeting him in January. my confusion is once I get there I'm not sure as to whether or not we should wed, or if I should come back to the States I file for a fiance visa?? Unfortunately financially I'm not in the best situation I was unaware until I started reading some of the forums that a cosponsor is needed exactly how much money is needed in the bank ? & should I wed there or file for a fiance visa

[Josh and Grace 1]

Hiya!

I'm brand new to this process also but I thought I'd give ya my two cents since no one else has yet haha.

From what I have gathered, filing for a fiance visa is a much shorter process (generally speaking) If you look at the statistics from members on here, they all seem to support this theory. Something about all the i130s are being rerouted to a new center I believe?

As far as the financial part of it... you can check the uscis website where they have that info. Heres the link. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Good luck and enjoy your first meeting!

-Josh

[dwheels76 5,468]

hi everyone, I'm new to this whole process I've yet to meet my better half but will be meeting him in January. my confusion is once I get there I'm not sure as to whether or not we should wed, or if I should come back to the States I file for a fiance visa?? Unfortunately financially I'm not in the best situation I was unaware until I started reading some of the forums that a cosponsor is needed exactly how much money is needed in the bank ? & should I wed there or file for a fiance visa

Okay let me let you know this. You are dealing with Lagos and visits and duration whether you wed or not are paramount to a successful petition.

How long do you plan to visit for?

As far as should you wed or not that depends on alot of things. You say money is short well a Fiance' route is way more expensive and abit restrictive.

Does your fiance' plan to want to work right away? Well he won't be able top until he gets EAD that takes at least 90 days. The green card comes after you file Adjustment of status and pay $1077 and that can take now 8 to 12 months.

We going through Lagos front-load which means having your evidence upfront before interview.

Here is an example of a relationship timeline that is useful . Helps highliht key events wspecially visits.

Here is an example of a timeline.

RELATIONSHIP TIMELINE

Minnie Mouse– Petitioner Mickey Mouse - Beneficiary

• May, 2008 – Meet (put in names here) on the telephone via an introduction by my close friend, Goofy,
• August, 2008 – Started e-mailing, chatting on Yahoo Messenger and talking on the telephone.
• November, 2008 – Relationship progressing to a serious level. Made trip #1 to Osaka, Japan. Met his family and friends.
• January, 2009 – Mickey proposed marriage over the phone. I accepted. We are officially engaged!
• February, 2009 – I file an I-129F fiancé petition for Mickey in the U.S. on a K1 Visa. I have kids from my first marriage and we thought it would be considerate to have them meet Mickey prior to marriage and be present at their mother’s wedding, therefore, petitioning for the K1 and not the K3 or CR-1.
• February, 2009 – Trip #2 to Osaka, Japan. Our engagement party!
• May 2009 – I-129F petition approved by the USCIS.
• July 2009 – Mickey’s interview at the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan. Request made by CO for more photos and e-mails.
• August, 2009 – 2^nd interview at the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan. Present many more e-mails phone records and photos documenting our relationship. Mickey’s visa application placed in Administrative Processing status.
• September, 2009 – Trip #3 to Osaka, Japan. Sweet reunion.
• November, 2009 – Request assistance from my Congresswoman – Carolyn McCarthy - to make inquiries on my behalf to the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan regarding Mickey’s lengthy AP.
• December, 2009 – Case remains under Administrative Processing status.
• January, 2010 – I make a request of the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan to meet with the investigator handling our case in hopes of expediting the lengthy AP period. Request granted.
• February 8, 2010 – Fraud investigators from the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan pay a visit to Mickey’s parents house. His parents confirm that our relationship is genuine and that they support it.
• February 16, 2010 – Trip #4 to Osaka, Japan. Meet with fraud investigators at U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan. We are both interviewed separately and asked many questions pertaining to the details of our relationship. We believe all went well.
• March 2, 2010 – Mickey called to return to the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan on March 23^rd (after almost 8 months of Administrative Processing).
• March 23, 2010 – Mickey’s visa application is denied. Reason for denial: Investigator did not believe I was committed to marrying Mickey within 90 days of his arrival in the States on the K1 visa. Why? Because at the Feb. 16^th interview with the investigator, I stated that I filed a fiancé petition instead of a marriage petition so that my kids could meet him first before we get married and be in attendance at our wedding. Investigator interpreted my words to mean that I needed to “understudy” my fiancé and that I wasn’t sure about marrying my fiancé.
• April, 2010 – Attempt to overturn denial while case still at the Consulate: Letter sent from my attorney – Marc Ellis – to the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan along with affidavits from friends and family attesting to the fact that my intention was always to marry Mickey as soon as he arrived here on the K1. Attorney letter and affidavits never acknowledged by Consulate.
• April/May, 2010 – Plan our wedding.
• May 29, 2010 – Trip #5 to Osaka, Japan.
• June 1, 2010 - Get married!!!!!
• June, 2010 – Upon my return to the U.S., file an I-130 petition for my husband to come join me in the U.S. on a CR-1 visa.

I, Minnie Mouse, declare under penalty of perjury that the above facts and the above timeline between my husband and me are true and correct.

_____________________________

Minnie Mouse

ADDRESS

CITY, STATE ZIP

[dwheels76 5,468]

And here is a Bonafide Evidence Checklist to consifder also. For Lagos Family, family, Family with pictures and friends also, the more acceptance the better and visits and duration. A good 30 days to a few months is key.

If you have Red flags you will want to have strong evidence of that also. Hopes this all helps

BONAFIDE EVIDENCE EXAMPLES CHECKLIST

1. Evidence of Communication Before and After Marriage

• Phone bills showing who called whom
• Letters
• Greeting cards
• Chat logs
• Emails / PM’s
• Delivery receipts (of gifts you send each other)

2. Evidence of Visits / Vacations / Meeting in Person

• Boarding passes
• Passport stamps
• Hotel receipts with both your names
• Vacation / honeymoon photos
• Receipts or bank statements showing remote ATM withdrawals (to show you were pulling money from that location at such time)

3. Evidence of Co-habitation During Marriage

• Birth certificates of any children born to you together
• Mortgage loan contract or lease contract with both partners’ names in it
• Utility bills with both partners’ names
• Receipts with both partners’ names in shipping/billing address
• Pictures of you two living together

4. Evidence of Joint Ownership of Assets and Shared Financial Responsibility

• Joint bank account statements
• Proof of joint credit card use
• Money transfer receipts
• Power of Attorney
• Wills (never used this)
• Utility bills
• Life insurance policy showing spouse as beneficiary
• Health insurance
• Car insurance

5. Photographic Evidence

• Photos of you two together
• Photos of you two with family (such as wedding, parties, kids’ graduation, etc.)
• Photos of you two in various locations and times

6. Evidence from Others in Support of Bona Fide Marriage

• Sworn affidavits of friends and/or family
• Letters/cards from friends and/or family

[dwheels76 5,468]

hi everyone, I'm new to this whole process I've yet to meet my better half but will be meeting him in January. my confusion is once I get there I'm not sure as to whether or not we should wed, or if I should come back to the States I file for a fiance visa?? Unfortunately financially I'm not in the best situation I was unaware until I started reading some of the forums that a cosponsor is needed exactly how much money is needed in the bank ? & should I wed there or file for a fiance visa

Money in the bank are for people who are usingh assets only and you would have to have what is required times 3. So if its just you and your man 2 people at 100% thats about $16000 times 3.

Here's is the poverty guidelines. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

I strongly suggest you read and read again the guides on both types of petitions I-129F and I-130 and decide from theer what is best. Either one you will need the evidence, the proof and the visit.

[suwon to nyc 3]

First off, you have not met your better half. Phone calls, emails, Facebook are great ways to keep in touch with another person, but to make such an important decision such as marrying another person takes time: face to face time, time to interact with each other and to get to know each other.

Secondly, money in the bank is just a small part of the finances. It takes money to fly you and your other half back and forth. It cost money to apply for every step of the way:

I-129F - $340

I 485 - $985

I-765 - $380

I-131 - $445

I-751 - $590

I promise you I'm not trying to say money dictates your love life, but it has a great impact on it. The both of you need a place to live, food to eat and things to buy. The government will ask you how much you have and essentially sign a waiver saying that it will not support your relationship. Meet her in January and get to know each other. Fall in love with each other and get to know each other through the all the wonderful ways we can communicate with somebody halfway around the world. Get to know this person because you will live with them for the rest of your life. Know the good and the bad. Love each other, hate each other, laugh with each other and argue with each other and laugh again. Loving somebody when everything is good is easy, make sure you can love somebody when everything is tough and difficult as well.

If you have any questions, please keep posting on these forums. We all are on our way. Some of us are further along than other and some of us are just beginning, but we are all in this together. I am forever grateful from all the relationships I have seen succeed and fail on this website and I continue to learn to ensure that our own relationship continues to grow strong.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Here is the comparison chart of visas > http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Follow carefully what dwheels76 tells you about going through Lagos. It is a very tough consulate to go through no matter which visa you decide on.

~ Moved from K-1 Process to What Visa Do I Need- OP has not decided on which visa route to choose ~

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Marrying on a first trip is considered a red flag ( warning sign of a fraudulent relationship ) You would need to post bond weeks before a wedding so marrying on a short trip is problematic. People that have spent less than 30 days of face time together is another red flag, the woman being older than a man is a red flag, Being different races is a red flag, either party being married before is a red flag, Different religions is a red flag, Families not meeting is a red flag, Large differences in education is a red flag, A woman that is non child bearing is a red flag. Add up the number of red flags you have and that is the relative difficulty of getting a visa approved

If you do not make enough to support the intending immigration then you can submit a joint sponsor but the embassy could still deny you. You can use assets for income shortfalls. Assets must be certifiable for their value ( by means such as an appraisal and you must deduct any amounts owed ) Your primary residence and primary car are usually NOT allowed as they will cause you undo harm. The assets must be rapidly convertible to cash ( which may exclude investment properties in depressed markets )

[Darnell 8,478]

Nigeria? Marry on first visit?

No No NO...

If you must to marry in Nigeria, I suggest trip #3.

dWheels has posted the 'why' - but my summation, brief as it is, is a simple, resounding NO.

You do want an approved visa at the IV Unit on interview day, yes?

[Ladidinbaba 2]

K1 is a easier process. I sent in my application and got approved last month. Visa appt is next month.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

March 2, 2010 – Mickey called to return to the U.S. Consulate in Osaka, Japan on March 23^rd (after almost 8 months of Administrative Processing).

• March 23, 2010 – Mickey’s visa application is denied. Reason for denial: Investigator did not believe I was committed to marrying Mickey within 90 days of his arrival in the States on the K1 visa. Why? Because at the Feb. 16^th interview with the investigator, I stated that I filed a fiancé petition instead of a marriage petition so that my kids could meet him first before we get married and be in attendance at our wedding. Investigator interpreted my words to mean that I needed to “understudy” my fiancé and that I wasn’t sure about marrying my fiancé.

Yet folks still think the K1 visa is for them to get to know their intended.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

hi everyone, I'm new to this whole process I've yet to meet my better half but will be meeting him in January. my confusion is once I get there I'm not sure as to whether or not we should wed, or if I should come back to the States I file for a fiance visa?? Unfortunately financially I'm not in the best situation I was unaware until I started reading some of the forums that a cosponsor is needed exactly how much money is needed in the bank ? & should I wed there or file for a fiance visa

You don't know him enough to make those decisions yet, IMHO.

Go to Nigeria on a vacation in January (trip #1), enjoy yourself (it's a beautiful couontry with welcoming folks), spend time with your intended, preferably away from friends/family (you of course want to meet them in their houses and not in some hotel, yes?) you Guys get a suite somewhere and get to know each other. Feign an uninterest for migrating him to the US in any urgency. Instead show that you are thinking of moving to Nigeria to establish a business or seeking an oil contract job.

Come back to US, continue to develop your relationship and decide if he's the chap.

If he is then remotely engage and file fiance petition or (Gowons preference) go back to Nigeria and then get married (trip #2).

When he gets interview date then go thre with him (trip #3).

Have some got married or filed after first trip? Yes? But few and far in between. This is an expensive journey and you seek a first time approval.