Starting this process--HELP?!

[zachl921 0]

So I recently went through the traditions of asking my Mexican girlfriend to marry me, and had the traditional family thing with that.

I drug my feet longer than I wanted to for some reason, and now I want to get the process of getting her Visa in her hands as soon as possible so that next year she can be here in Ohio with me. I need help. I have been reading, and reading, and reading, and reading about this stuff, and it all seems overwhelming. I had a consultation call this morning with an immigration lawyer in Cincinnati, and he gave the options that I have in front of me- K-1 Fiancé visa or a Spouse Visa.

I want her hear as soon as possible with me so I am choosing to go the route of the K-1. I have looked at the i-129f, the i-134 and a couple of others. I have a blank i-129f and i-134 printed out to begin filling those in. Are there any tricks?

The immigration lawyer said that this process with Mexico can take some time, and I would like to make it as smooth as possible.

Thanks!

Edited November 26, 2013 by zachl921

[kitthekat 1,317]

Welcome to VJ. The K1 guide has a step-by-step checklist of documents needed for the I-129F petition and sample forms. You don't have to submit the I-134 at this point, that comes after the I-129f is approved, at the embassy stage. The K1 flowchart will give you a better idea of the different stages. Good luck!

[Zedayn 486]

Just follow the guides here, look at some of the example forms, and dont be afraid to ask questions. You really don't even need a lawyer to file, just do it yourself. Good luck!!

[Dan from MI 23]

my thoughts for you is to talk with your girlfriend and decide together what is the best for both... not just you. The guide is excellent and explain the pros and cons. I know how you are feeling because I was in that boat too not long ago.

Let me know if you have any other questions- we all are here to help others.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Dan from MI

[zachl921 0]

after talking with the lawyer this morning to ask him questions i decided that i can do this on my own. it was nice to get the ideas from him, and some stuff that he explained made sense.

I will be talking with my fiancé tonight to see which she would prefer. i know that she wants to be here quickly, but she also wants to be able to work soon after arriving so she can stay busy after leaving her family. so that might sway her to go with a spouse visa. i can still go visit her in that process at least. i would guess that she would not be able to travel to visit me here if we went that route though due to her being married to me already at that point?

[zachl921 0]

when submitting the i129f i need both mine and my fiance's letters of intent, correct? will i need her to type on up, print, sign and mail it to me? or can she email that to me?

[Pitaya 2,580]

when submitting the i129f i need both mine and my fiance's letters of intent, correct? will i need her to type on up, print, sign and mail it to me? or can she email that to me?

Original signatures, not a copy

[zachl921 0]

thanks. I will have her type one up and mail it to me.

[Al422 221]

You can type the letter for her and email it to her, but it needs an original inked signature by her. So she will have to mail it to you. I don't know how reliable the Mexican mail service is, so check that before you use it. If it is really dismal like Russian mail (3+ months for one letter), consider spending the 80 bucks or so on DHL Express.

While you are at it, make sure that all docs she needs to sign get original lnked signatures. Again you can prepare them and email them to her, then she prints them and signs them. Also all docs in Spanish need translations.

Don't be afraid to ask questions here. We will usually answer them in a few days, much faster than making a mistake with USCIS, waiting for an RFE and responding to it.

.

[SparklePony 238]

Read up on the guides to see everything that she will need to provide to you, so she can send everything to you in a single packet. The letter of intent to marry needs to have an original signature as does the G-325 form.

[KayDeeCee 4,904]

when submitting the i129f i need both mine and my fiance's letters of intent, correct? will i need her to type on up, print, sign and mail it to me? or can she email that to me?

She will need to send you a letter of intent and G-325A with original signatures plus a passport photo that is 5 x 5 cm. The guide on VJ lists everything required for the I-129F petition. Follow it and you should be ok. The I-134 is not needed until later, when she would have her K-1 visa interview in Juarez.

Not sure what the lawyer meant by it taking some time for a fiancee from Mexico. Has she been in the US illegally? Had she accrued 180 or more days of overstay in the US and has a ban? That is the only reason I can think of that would cause a delay because a waiver would be needed to be filed to overcome the ban after the K-1 is denied for inadmissibility.

[zachl921 0]

maybe he was a just covering his firm if i went through them and it took some time. i have a friend that had to wait he says 9mos from start to finish. she has no violations of bans on here current tourist visa.

what all do i need her signature on? i will email her those docs to sign and mail to me with pictures and plane tickets and such

thanks for the help so far everyone! i'm feeling less over-whelmed already

[zachl921 0]

also- how do i know what addresses to put on the letter on intent? for embassy and filing location?

[SparklePony 238]

It's not important to have an address, but I would use the filling location.

[zachl921 0]

what address do i use for that? or where can i find that? or is it my address?