Triple checking myself on K1 process because I'm paranoid :P

[grrl77 1]

Hi! I'm going to apologize in advance for the amount you might hear from me in the upcoming months - not because I haven't read the info, but because I'm paranoid and want to make sure everything's right. The boyfriend and I are beginning the process for the K-1 Visa. I wanted to make sure I'm understanding the first part of the process correctly:

Looks like the payment for USCIS for the I-129F package is $550. I'll cut a check.

Everything else seems self-explanatory (I read the Assembling the I-129F package checklist) but I wanted to make sure that the only thing I need from him (beneficiary) at this point, is for him to do a letter of intent to marry, a passport photo, and the G-325A to be filled out. Is that right?

I noticed it says to make copies of the entire package - when I send him the package when it's time for him to review it (after I-129 is approved), does that have to be original as well, or can it be copies? Should I maybe do three copies of the package - original to USCIS, one for my own records, and one for him?

As far as proof of our ongoing relationship - it indicates using things like cell phone bills, letters, etc - a lot of our communicating is done through video chat on Skype, and it's how we talk about this whole process, for the most part. Would copying off time stamps on Skype help prove this?

Mainly I want to make sure that what he needs to send me at this point in time, is what I noted above. Thanks so much, in advance, for your help!

[vtomar 1]

I thought the fees was 340$. Correct me if I am wrong. I got the number from here.

http://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

[grrl77 1]

I thought the fees was 340$. Correct me if I am wrong. I got the number from here.

http://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

Nope, you're right! Thanks for the correction.

[baron555 934]

Hi! I'm going to apologize in advance for the amount you might hear from me in the upcoming months - not because I haven't read the info, but because I'm paranoid and want to make sure everything's right. The boyfriend and I are beginning the process for the K-1 Visa. I wanted to make sure I'm understanding the first part of the process correctly:

Looks like the payment for USCIS for the I-129F package is $550. I'll cut a check.

Wrong amount. Read the current instructions, do a Google search on "USCIS 129f instrucitons".

Everything else seems self-explanatory (I read the Assembling the I-129F package checklist) but I wanted to make sure that the only thing I need from him (beneficiary) at this point, is for him to do a letter of intent to marry, a passport photo, and the G-325A to be filled out. Is that right?

Yep

I noticed it says to make copies of the entire package - when I send him the package when it's time for him to review it (after I-129 is approved), does that have to be original as well, or can it be copies?

A copy

Should I maybe do three copies of the package - original to USCIS, one for my own records, and one for him?

That's suggested.

As far as proof of our ongoing relationship - it indicates using things like cell phone bills, letters, etc - a lot of our communicating is done through video chat on Skype, and it's how we talk about this whole process, for the most part. Would copying off time stamps on Skype help prove this?

You need more than that. How will you prove you have a legitimate relationship to a total stranger (the Embassy CO) unless you can show them what you talk about (the serious relationship stuff)? I'd suggest you purposefully generate all kinds of evidences that can document what you talk about. Email is best.

Mainly I want to make sure that what he needs to send me at this point in time, is what I noted above. Thanks so much, in advance, for your help!

[grrl77 1]

Hmm. We don't really have any e-mails talking about our decision to move forward with this process - I just spent two weeks with him over Christmas where we decided to go for it, and we talked about it in person, of course. A lot of the back and forth convos we have are via Skype, face to face - even going through the forms together. I understand what you mean by the consulate folks needing proof of the ongoing relationship - you're suggesting to just generate an email and just talk about our plans once he's here, or the process of all this for example? Something to reflect plans?

[baron555 934]

I understand what you mean by the consulate folks needing proof of the ongoing relationship - you're suggesting to just generate an email and just talk about our plans once he's here, or the process of all this for example? Something to reflect plans?

Not just the plans for obtaining the visa, discussion about the evolution and seriousness of your relationship.

This also depends on which country he is coming from. You haven't created a timeline or added this information in your profile therefore we can't help with that.

Look at it another way, "How would the Embassy know you are not committing visa fraud?" Your word alone is not good enough.

[grrl77 1]

Well... In my mind, I'm thinking showing the fact we laid out $1700 for him to come here over the summer for a week, and I just got back from there for two weeks, spending Christmas with him and his family shows seriousness. Going through this process alone paying nearly $2K shows some seriousness as well.

I'm not being argumentative here, don't get me wrong - I've got airline itineraries, photos of he and I in Amsterdam together (he's from the Netherlands), photos of his family which I've met, he's met my sister (I can provide a voucher letter from her) ... It's just when you talk about proving the seriousness of the relationship, to me, I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars to go visit someone and vice versa, if I wasn't serious about something working out, you know?

[naire37 53]

First off, congrats and welcome to the journey!

As far as proof of our ongoing relationship - it indicates using things like cell phone bills, letters, etc - a lot of our communicating is done through video chat on Skype, and it's how we talk about this whole process, for the most part. Would copying off time stamps on Skype help prove this?

I've sent 3 photos and 5 video screenshots showing date stamps from Skype. Not even logs (as, naturally, we talk in Russian). What matters most are the plain ticket stubs / visa stamps - actually showing that you two have had face-to-face time over the last 2 years. People seriously stress about the so-called "proof" too much. If your fiancee is in a low-stress country not high on the fraud list, you really can take it easy.

Remember: any piece of paper you send over is a piece of paper they need to review! Some people front-load their application with millions of small things, handwritten things, etc, but I think selecting just a nice clean representative sample and presenting it well* is actually better. You save USCIS time and don't risk any extra scrutiny and confusion over something minor.

--------

* for my return ticket, my initial mid-way connection flight was cancelled, and I changed the ticket twice! Writing this up in a presentable way and including the ticket stubs was a pain. But it payed off, no questions asked.

[baron555 934]

I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars to go visit someone and vice versa, if I wasn't serious about something working out, you know?

Not if the potential immigrant was giving you a kick-back for your "cost".

Your argument that you wouldn't have spent all this time and money is proof enough of a relationship is all wrong.

That being said, he's not from a high fraud country, so the proof you will need should be quite low. Showing that you've traveled to each other's countries and met family and friends is great.

However, I would still suggest you do some other means of communications, sometimes, where you can document what you are talking about.

You should be talking about the visa process and then his new life in the US and what planning is needed for that.

[Limey 550]

He's from Netherlands, so its a low fraud country (I'm from UK, which is also a low fraud country).

We provided a number of photographs of us together from various trips, plus copies of passport stamps and boarding passes. I provided no chat logs or screenshots of skype calls (though we skyped almost daily).

Remember, initially you only have to prove that you've met in person at least once within the past 2 years. When attending my interview in London I bought a couple of facebook print outs announcing our engagement and showing us together in the US with her family at xmas - but they never asked to see these. The interview was very quick and I think they'd already made up their minds that it was a genuine relationship (people from western countries have little reason to marry for a visa as they are already living in a western country). I think if he is from Netherlands, you are similar ages and everything else checks out you won't have any problems.

Edited January 4, 2016 by Limey

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Well... In my mind, I'm thinking showing the fact we laid out $1700 for him to come here over the summer for a week, and I just got back from there for two weeks, spending Christmas with him and his family shows seriousness. Going through this process alone paying nearly $2K shows some seriousness as well.

I'm not being argumentative here, don't get me wrong - I've got airline itineraries, photos of he and I in Amsterdam together (he's from the Netherlands), photos of his family which I've met, he's met my sister (I can provide a voucher letter from her) ... It's just when you talk about proving the seriousness of the relationship, to me, I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars to go visit someone and vice versa, if I wasn't serious about something working out, you know?

$2k really isn't much for this process. The photos, passport stamps, boarding passes, family photos, and other details help more than saying I spent $2k on this process.

In the past year going to China to see my Fiancee on more than one occasion I have spent close to $12k, and she has also put in close to $4k.

You also need to be prepared for the rest of the fees, the total cost for a K-1 from start to Finish (AOS) costs close to $2000

[blessing247 0]

Hi, I had similar concerns. What if my fiance is from a high-risk country, say - Nigeria. Would you then front-load with alot of relationship evidence? If so, what types?

I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars to go visit someone and vice versa, if I wasn't serious about something working out, you know?

Not if the potential immigrant was giving you a kick-back for your "cost".

Your argument that you wouldn't have spent all this time and money is proof enough of a relationship is all wrong.

That being said, he's not from a high fraud country, so the proof you will need should be quite low. Showing that you've traveled to each other's countries and met family and friends is great.

However, I would still suggest you do some other means of communications, sometimes, where you can document what you are talking about.

You should be talking about the visa process and then his new life in the US and what planning is needed for that.

[lmihler 23]

Hi! I'm going to apologize in advance for the amount you might hear from me in the upcoming months - not because I haven't read the info, but because I'm paranoid and want to make sure everything's right. The boyfriend and I are beginning the process for the K-1 Visa. I wanted to make sure I'm understanding the first part of the process correctly:

Looks like the payment for USCIS for the I-129F package is $550. I'll cut a check. $340!

Everything else seems self-explanatory (I read the Assembling the I-129F package checklist) but I wanted to make sure that the only thing I need from him (beneficiary) at this point, is for him to do a letter of intent to marry, a passport photo, and the G-325A to be filled out. Is that right?

I noticed it says to make copies of the entire package - when I send him the package when it's time for him to review it (after I-129 is approved), does that have to be original as well, or can it be copies? Should I maybe do three copies of the package - original to USCIS, one for my own records, and one for him? Always good to have multiple copies!

As far as proof of our ongoing relationship - it indicates using things like cell phone bills, letters, etc - a lot of our communicating is done through video chat on Skype, and it's how we talk about this whole process, for the most part. Would copying off time stamps on Skype help prove this? I sent in a brief log.. over a few months. Just times called not specific conversations.

Mainly I want to make sure that what he needs to send me at this point in time, is what I noted above. Thanks so much, in advance, for your help!

As others have said before, in the long run the cost will be much higher than $2000.

I think we have spent closer to $7,000. Including traveling back and forth to see each other. Plus this is only the first phase of immigration!

[baron555 934]

Hi, I had similar concerns. What if my fiance is from a high-risk country, say - Nigeria. Would you then front-load with alot of relationship evidence? If so, what types?

Yes for sure. Look at the regional forums for more country-specific info.

[Unshakable Faith 493]

Hi, I had similar concerns. What if my fiance is from a high-risk country, say - Nigeria. Would you then front-load with alot of relationship evidence? If so, what types?

Definitely front-load for Nigeria.

OP, I think what people are saying about proving the evolution of the relationship is this- Believe it or not, people pay thousands upon thousands to get to America any way they can. So being devil's advocate about the situation- who's to say that going back and forth and spending money to visit isn't a front? How can you prove to them that you are actually skyping and "spending time" together instead of just turning on the cameras and walking away for a few hours?

You've got to prove that you have a true relationship and conversations are one way to show that. I was speaking with a Visa Officer and she suggested printing out a few pages of chat logs (we use Whatsapp) for each month that we've been in contact. So generally, it would should the progression of our relationship through our chats. Although that can be fabricated too- any proof is helpful.

Good luck on your process! Just take a deep breath and things should be fine!

Edited January 4, 2016 by FN&KO