K1 Visa Approval - now what?

[trecs 0]

Hi All,

Okay, so we got Approval for the K1 Visa on Friday after the interview and am just waiting on my passport back.

But it's dawned on me: now what?

I've been told i have to travel before my medical expires which is the beginning of September.

What items should i bring with me? what do i do once we're married? what do i need to start working?

I'm sorry if these are silly questions, and i do have a bit of an idea but i want to make sure i've got my facts straight so i would really appreciate any help you have to offer.

Many thanks

trecs

[deckerblack 1]

Hi Trec

When you go back for your visa the embassy will give you a package with all your documents needed to process your residence permit. This document is sealed in an envelope. You are to pay an amount of 165 dollar to USCIS or something before your embark on your journey to america. You are to present the package at the port of entry. This will be used to process your documents. You will need to apply for a SSN when your get there. You are also expected to marry within 90days else you will have to leave the country and go through the whole process again.

[Howeetest D 18]

You don't have to go back to the embassy. Either you'll receive your passport at home or you'll need to pick it up from the depot. Depending on which service you chose. I'm not sure what payment, Deckerblack is referring to. If you read the K-1 Guide it tells you exactly what you need to do. All the documents you need at the POE are your passport and the big white envelope that you'll receive with your passport. Even thoug it's quite tempting, do not open the evelope. If you do, you'll have to get it resealed by the embassy which will delay your leaving for the states.

Just read the guides and you'll be fine.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Hi All,

Okay, so we got Approval for the K1 Visa on Friday after the interview and am just waiting on my passport back.

But it's dawned on me: now what?

I've been told i have to travel before my medical expires which is the beginning of September.

What items should i bring with me? what do i do once we're married? what do i need to start working?

I'm sorry if these are silly questions, and i do have a bit of an idea but i want to make sure i've got my facts straight so i would really appreciate any help you have to offer.

Many thanks

trecs

You should prolly ask this in the UK forums as every country does things differently.

For Canada, as far as I know, he'll get his passport sent back to him at a courier location for pick up along with the sealed envelope, and then is free to enter at any time after that without any extra cost.

Other than that, yes, you'll want to apply for your SSN as soon as you can. Bring what ever you can, ship the rest if you can. Once my fiance is approved he planned on just shipping the larger stuff here, and then coming in via plane and bringing just the basics, as he'll have the rest of his stuff shipped by his parents once he's here.

After you're married, you're going to go and file for your AOS. That includes the application to allow you to work and to leave the country if needed.

You can see all the basics here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Edited July 13, 2015 by Ash.1101

[TBoneTX 45,498]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Moving to the US forum. ***

[Moderator hat off]

Collect official copies (plural) of any official document that would be expensive, difficult, or impossible to obtain from overseas: school transcripts, medical/dental/vaccination records, birth/divorce certificates, and anything else that you can think of.

[Limey 551]

As TBone says, make sure you have all official docs you will need.

Make sure you've closed down your life in UK as much as you need to, eg i switched my rolling mobile phone contract to pay as you go, made sure bank account addresses were changed to my parents' house, etc

I've just done the move to the US... fortunately I already had a social security number (lived in US on J1 visa in the mid nineties) but here is what I had to do after arriving in USA

1) got marriage license - was easy - we both went to a local office, filled in a form, paid the fee and got the license there and then. Check the rules in the state where you will marry

2) got US mobile phone - was easy on AT&T go phone (no contract, just monthly payment). Having a US phone number makes life much easier. Highly recommend their package - my wife was amazed that I'm paying half what she does on Verizon for a better package. My UK phone wasn't unlocked so I bought a cheapy AT&T smart phone from Walmart for 68 bucks - does everything i need it to, but I will get my windows phone unlocked as I love it.

3) got married (we had it all planned a month or two before) - was able to take in the completed marriage license to the registry the following week day and had marriage certificates (I paid for 3 official ones) while i waited.

4) went to social security office to update my details from 20 years previous, and request a new card (which has since arrived, currently has endorsement that i can't work, as obviously my green card/employment authorization isn't done yet)

5) went to DMV to obtain driving license - used my social security letter as proof of residency, plus marriage cert, i94, passport etc. Each state varies. Driving test was VERY easy compared to UK. If you don't already have social security number might have to wait a while to do this. I needed my wife to put me as named driver on the car insurance, but that was easy and actually reduced the monthly cost!

6) filed for green card, and temporary work permit (EAD) and advanced parole (permission to travel and return to US)

7) opened bank account - again no problems with ID, I had my social security number written down, they didn't need to see card which i didn't have.

So far its all been much easier than I expected. I've been able to do most of it in person at DMV, social security office, marriage registry etc, and the staff at these places have been helpful and friendly (Wilmington, NC).

Edited July 13, 2015 by Limey

[AnGeLxX 154]

Congratulations! As Limey says above me ^ Number 5 can be different in any state. I had to wait till my green card before I could get it. But other than that..Driving test/road test is very very easy lol

[alifarooq35 0]

we just checked from NVC about K1 FIANCE VISA. they forwarded our case to Embassy at 30 th June 2015. Now today i just filled up DS 160 form and submitted. But i am confused about DS 260. can you please confirm whether i should submit DS 160 or 260?.

[trecs 0]

Thank you, Deckerblack, Howeetest D, Ash.1101, TBoneTX, Limey and AnGeLxX

All really helpful information and has made me feel better. I'll take all these things in to consideration.

and also the point about copying my docs and even small things like Bank Accounts, phones and driving is very useful.

Really appreciate it

[Howeetest D 18]

we just checked from NVC about K1 FIANCE VISA. they forwarded our case to Embassy at 30 th June 2015. Now today i just filled up DS 160 form and submitted. But i am confused about DS 260. can you please confirm whether i should submit DS 160 or 260?.

You're applying for a K1 visa. You've submitted the right form. Do not submit a DS 260!