International mail timing?

[Zcomuto 16]

Hi everyone

I'm a UK citizen living with my American fiance in Japan, and we've recently filed an I129F for me to move to America with her. We sent it off via registered mail, and got an email notice on the 22nd January saying that it was received for processing and gave us a case number. That same day, we also had a notice saying that "The alien registration number has been changed" by using the tracking on the USCIS website.

I've searched the forums, and that change just seems to be a blip in the system that just sometimes happens from what I can find.

I know it's early days, but I've still not received any NOA1 or anything like that in the mail yet. I know it should be posted internationally, so does anyone know what kind of postage is used for the NOA1/2/etc?

Also, does anyone else have experience of filing for a K1 whilst living abroad with their fiance? Does it cause problems at all?

thanks!

[Jawaree 717]

Your file was touched (# created) not much more about it but to wait on the process now

the # allows U to check on things if the time goes over normal processing date for u.

[lost_at_sea 995]

They don't send it by special mail or anything if you're abroad - it'll be about as long as it takes a first-class stamped letter to normally get to you - one or two weeks or so.

On what basis is your American fiancé in Japan? Is she resident there? Is she still domiciled in the USA, earning money in the USA (for the purposes of the I-134 - do you have a joint sponsor lined up if not?)? If you could elaborate a little on your circumstances, some more advice can be shared.

[Zcomuto 16]

She, like me, has been living & working in Japan now for coming up on about 3 years. We're both mid-twenties, and have been living together here for about 5 months - previously, we lived apart but close together and have been dating for almost as long as we've lived here in Japan.

We have a sponsor lined up in the form of her parents, and we also have our own individual assets to ourself (In both the UK in my name and US in her name).

Edited January 27, 2014 by Zcomuto

[Zcomuto 16]

Also, out of curiosity - is a joint rental agreement and living together constitute as proof of an ongoing relationship or is more than just that needed?

Sometimes I think the case we have is quite straightforward... but then again we're both outside our home countries and it must complicate things somewhat.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Also, out of curiosity - is a joint rental agreement and living together constitute as proof of an ongoing relationship or is more than just that needed?

Sometimes I think the case we have is quite straightforward... but then again we're both outside our home countries and it must complicate things somewhat.

The rental agreement is good. Many fiancés do not live together due to distance or just being ultra-traditional. What did you send with your package? Most send a range of items - photos, chat logs, travel tickets together, gift receipts etc. Check the suggested evidence list in the K1 guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Edited January 28, 2014 by lost_at_sea

[Zcomuto 16]

We sent a set of plane tickets/boarding passes (originals) for a trip Japan-America just this christmas past, photocopies of a couple of passport pages country stamps/holdiays we had together from over the course of the relationship, 4 photos (with dates printed) and a copy of our Japanese residence cards showing our shared address.

We don't have anything like joint bank accounts (japan doesn't allow them) or phone records (Skype, facebook...) which worried us at the start, but we do have a lot of official documentation - our rental agreement, our car registration/ownership and whatnot.

Edited January 28, 2014 by Zcomuto

[lost_at_sea 995]

We sent a set of plane tickets/boarding passes (originals) for a trip Japan-America just this christmas past, photocopies of a couple of passport pages country stamps/holdiays we had together from over the course of the relationship, 4 photos (with dates printed) and a copy of our Japanese residence cards showing our shared address.

Probably all fine. There's no hard and fast rule for how much relationship evidence to send. That sounds good to me. At least you're able to show you live together, which is more than many are lucky enough to be able to do.

[Zcomuto 16]

Probably all fine. There's no hard and fast rule for how much relationship evidence to send. That sounds good to me. At least you're able to show you live together, which is more than many are lucky enough to be able to do.

Yea, true.

Considering we live in Japan, would evidence in Japanese be acceptable? That rental contract, as you could expect with us living here, is 100% Japanese including our names. Or, would that need to be professionally translated?

That's assuming, of course, I wouldn't need to return to the UK for an interview. I've been in Japan almost 3 years, but I'm not a permanent resident.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Yea, true.

Considering we live in Japan, would evidence in Japanese be acceptable? That rental contract, as you could expect with us living here, is 100% Japanese including our names. Or, would that need to be professionally translated?

That's assuming, of course, I wouldn't need to return to the UK for an interview. I've been in Japan almost 3 years, but I'm not a permanent resident.

Well, you've already sent it, right? They'll RFE you if they want it in English now, most likely.