newly engaged :D

[kalemma 0]

Hey everyone. I'm just here looking for some information. My fiancee (as of Jan 10!) is South African. She lives near Johannesburg. I'm from Evansville, IN. She's really wanting a Fall wedding. I'm aiming for October 10, since it's exactly 9 months after I proposed. Hoping to have enough saved to file the first form by early March. Think that's enough time? We'd hoped she could be here by late Summer, but we're definitely counting on Fall. What are the current fees for the forms? Anyone know how much I need to put aside for them? It's a little daunting to be paying for everything. I'm estimating 1000 bucks for the forms and interviews and med exams, etc. Plus her ticket. We both have passports. She's lived here before on a visa with her family for her dad's work. So I assume that means she has a birth certificate, etc. Is 1000 a decent estimate for South Africa?

Also, it seems we'd do the interviews separately. Is that right? Or would she need to come here and then go home until it's approved? What is the interview all about? I mean, we have enough cute kissing selfies to prove we're actually dating. I took a screenshot of a message she sent me saying we're engaged on Jan 10 (when I was in South Africa for 6 weeks visiting her, and we have plenty of souvenirs to prove that too). I want to do everything right the first time so we can get her here ASAP.

Also, what is the income guideline right now? I'm a student who gets pretty big refunds twice a year. I also work full time, but I doubt it's 20,000 a year. Is it taken into account that she wants to be able to work here? Or do I need to get another job? It's just so hard with the 8 hour time difference. I want to be able to talk to her at least some, and I also want to get her here soon. Leaves me pretty torn and frustrated. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Kalen

Oh, wait. One thing. I'm transgender, so I guess technically this is a same-sex marriage (meaning we have to get married in a state where that's legal, ie Illinois after June). Does that change anything?

[van1234essa 11]

Hey everyone. I'm just here looking for some information. My fiancee (as of Jan 10!) is South African. She lives near Johannesburg. I'm from Evansville, IN. She's really wanting a Fall wedding. I'm aiming for October 10, since it's exactly 9 months after I proposed. Hoping to have enough saved to file the first form by early March. Think that's enough time? We'd hoped she could be here by late Summer, but we're definitely counting on Fall. What are the current fees for the forms? Anyone know how much I need to put aside for them? It's a little daunting to be paying for everything. I'm estimating 1000 bucks for the forms and interviews and med exams, etc. Plus her ticket. We both have passports. She's lived here before on a visa with her family for her dad's work. So I assume that means she has a birth certificate, etc. Is 1000 a decent estimate for South Africa?Also, it seems we'd do the interviews separately. Is that right? Or would she need to come here and then go home until it's approved? What is the interview all about? I mean, we have enough cute kissing selfies to prove we're actually dating. I took a screenshot of a message she sent me saying we're engaged on Jan 10 (when I was in South Africa for 6 weeks visiting her, and we have plenty of souvenirs to prove that too). I want to do everything right the first time so we can get her here ASAP.Also, what is the income guideline right now? I'm a student who gets pretty big refunds twice a year. I also work full time, but I doubt it's 20,000 a year. Is it taken into account that she wants to be able to work here? Or do I need to get another job? It's just so hard with the 8 hour time difference. I want to be able to talk to her at least some, and I also want to get her here soon. Leaves me pretty torn and frustrated. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. KalenOh, wait. One thing. I'm transgender, so I guess technically this is a same-sex marriage (meaning we have to get married in a state where that's legal, ie Illinois after June). Does that change anything?

Hey first congrats on the engagement.

I think your timeline is very sharp. If you start by march you prolly won't make it till October. Can, but really tight. You'll need luck with that. And only she goes to an interview, that takes place in her country. You don't get interviewed.

1000 $ is a good estimate for the visa. But after you're married you gotta apply for her greencard. That's another 1070$. Take that into consideration.

You gotta meet 125% of the poverty limit.google it and see if you make enough a year. If not you either need assets or a co sponsor. No way around it.

And same sex fiancé visas are handled just like any others. No problems here. You might just get asked where you plan on getting married. It doesn't matter where you live tho.

Good luck!

[Cathi 5,849]

read the guides

[kitthekat 1,317]

Congrats on your engagement. Have you checked out the guide and flowchart for K1 visas? http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide and http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flowThat will help get you started.

Unless she has current legal status in the US, she can't stay with you and wait while the visa is being processed. She can visit, but she will need a tourist visa. Alternatively, you can visit her.

The first thing you need to prove is that you have met in person within the last 2 years. The best evidence is passport entry/exit stamps, receipts that show you made purchases in her country or vice versa, ATM withdrawal slips, etc. You can include photos in addition to those things, but the photos should not be the only evidence you rely on. You can show more proof of your relationship (more photos, emails/chats to each other, phone call logs, letters, etc) later, at the interview stage.

If you are a same sex couple then you should state in the letter of intent to marry that you intend to be married in a state where same sex marriages are legal. See this thread for more info on that: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/457520-avoid-unnecessary-rfes-same-sex-marriage-i-129f-petitions/

As to the cost, $1000 is not sufficient. The initial filing fee for the I-29F petition is $340, not counting the mailing, printing costs, etc. There will also be a $240 application fee for the K1 visa, a separate fee for the medical (varies by country) and her airfare to the US. Once your fiance enters the US on a K1 and marries you, it will cost $1070 to apply for a 2-year conditional green card, and 2 years after another $590 for removal of conditions. My fiance and I have estimated our costs to be around $5-6000 in total.

Income guidelines -- see this document: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf If you don't make 125% of the minimum income for your household size, you'll need a co-sponsor. Household size includes people you are financially resposible for, e.g. minor children (regardless of where they live), a spouse, dependents you claim on taxes. If you have none of those then it will be a household size of 2 (you and your fiance).

Edited January 28, 2014 by kitthekat

[kalemma 0]

Thanks so much. How exactly is proof of income done? I just got back to the States, so that's a month I wasn't working in January. Then if I'm filing in March, I'll really only have one month under my belt at this new job. Please tell me they do some math instead of needing a year's worth of paychecks! Sounds like I need to get a second job, like it or not. The 125 percent this year is 19662.50. I'd have to be making 11 bucks an hour at the nursing home to swing it. No idea as to whether my student refunds count toward my yearly income?

[kalemma 0]

Sorry, i'm on my phone. For some reason, it didn't show me the link to the guides

[van1234essa 11]

I'm addition to pay stubs you will also need tax returns and a letter from your employer stating your annually income, job title and when you started working there. If you haven't been in the job very long they might ask you for a co sponsor. But maybe you're lucky and your student payments get counted too. I don't know about that.

Edited January 28, 2014 by van1234essa

[kitthekat 1,317]

Thanks so much. How exactly is proof of income done? I just got back to the States, so that's a month I wasn't working in January. Then if I'm filing in March, I'll really only have one month under my belt at this new job. Please tell me they do some math instead of needing a year's worth of paychecks! Sounds like I need to get a second job, like it or not. The 125 percent this year is 19662.50. I'd have to be making 11 bucks an hour at the nursing home to swing it. No idea as to whether my student refunds count toward my yearly income?

You'll only need to show proof of income at the interview stage, so at least a few months from now, for sure. You'll verify it by providing a combination of your tax transcripts and W2s from the previous year, paystubs or a letter from your employer stating your income and type of employment (part time/full time).

I'm not sure about your student refunds, sorry. It seems like it might be a temporary thing? If so they might not put as much weightage on it.

[MayMay68 9]

We filed end of April and John arrived beginning of November. It's an expensive, long, frustrating process, but worth every bit of time, energy, and money to be with the one you were meant to be with. We'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Good luck!!

[kalemma 0]

Mayvancoller- any ballpark estimate on costs of everything in South Africa? The forms, I assume, cost the same for every country but do they take medical aid (I think that's the same as insurance) in South Africa since she has it? Or is the med exam out of pocket? Do I need to wire money somehow so she can pay in rands or can I pay for the med exam and interview from America? Any chance it might go faster because she's already lived here on a visa? Or is that more of an alarm than a benefit in our situation?

[Novembro 1,763]

I wouldn't start making concrete plans (or putting down payments) until you're approved. Too risky imo.

[TBoneTX 47,502]

You'll get far more out of VJ if you log off the phone and onto a PC.

[MayMay68 9]

Mayvancoller- any ballpark estimate on costs of everything in South Africa? The forms, I assume, cost the same for every country but do they take medical aid (I think that's the same as insurance) in South Africa since she has it? Or is the med exam out of pocket? Do I need to wire money somehow so she can pay in rands or can I pay for the med exam and interview from America? Any chance it might go faster because she's already lived here on a visa? Or is that more of an alarm than a benefit in our situation?

I know I posted about the medical somewhere, but if memory serves correctly the medical is R2500. I wired money to John to cover his medical and I sent R3000 just in case. You will also need to know your fiance once you have completed all steps and have the interview date will be in Johannesburg. For John it was a 13 hour drive, so he flew (another expense). We paid to have an unabridged birth certificate, legalized police certificate etc. But first things first, you need to file your petition to start the ball rolling.

[kalemma 0]

Thanks. My loan refunds come in in February, so hopefully very soon. I'm lucky - she's already in Jozi. Just hoping against the odds that the medical exam might be covered under her aid. With the extra flight excluded and not counting his flight here, would you say it was in the 1000-1500 ballpark for South Africa? Does any debt I have (medical bills, student loans) negatively affect this or not really?

[MayMay68 9]

Thanks. My loan refunds come in in February, so hopefully very soon. I'm lucky - she's already in Jozi. Just hoping against the odds that the medical exam might be covered under her aid. With the extra flight excluded and not counting his flight here, would you say it was in the 1000-1500 ballpark for South Africa? Does any debt I have (medical bills, student loans) negatively affect this or not really?

$1500 USD not Rand. There are a lot of little things, like passport photos, etc. so it might be more or less than that. Also, just in the short time that John had his interview things have changed as far as forms etc go. So, make sure you always keep tabs on what is required etc via Department of Homeland Security/Department of State/Consulate.