UK - US - advice on interviews?

[k_arp 0]

Hey guys,

I'm sure you've probably heard all these questions before but my fiancé is about to go and file the I-294f (or whatever it's called) and I keep reading horror stories online about people waiting for months and months to get approved... I'm in the UK and will hopefully be joining my fiancé ASAP.

So my main concern is.... I went to visit him for 10 days but we didn't take any pics together when I was there because at the time he hadn't proposed and I didn't know I was going to try and stay. However, I have conversations logs from skype, whatsapp, facebook etc. Also will have receipts for rings and date at the courthouse booked.

Will this be enough for proof of relationship?

Thanks in advance!!!

[A'n'L 735]

You've only met once? You need to document that meeting in your I-129F petition (using passport stamps and boarding passes, hotel receipts and pictures are the most common). You might be fine without pictures, but most people have some.

For the interview in London, you will not need much (if any) relationship evidence, they are very laidback.

The process will take approximately 6 months from you send the first paperwork until visa in hand (assuming current processing rates and that you have no hiccups along the way).

Take some time to read the guides that are readily available on this site :-)

[baron555 934]

Hey guys,

I'm sure you've probably heard all these questions before but my fiancé is about to go and file the I-294f (or whatever it's called) and I keep reading horror stories online about people waiting for months and months to get approved... I'm in the UK and will hopefully be joining my fiancé ASAP.

Yes, plan for 10 months and be happy with 5.

So my main concern is.... I went to visit him for 10 days but we didn't take any pics together when I was there because at the time he hadn't proposed and I didn't know I was going to try and stay. However, I have conversations logs from skype, whatsapp, facebook etc.

Photos are secondary evidence.

Also will have receipts for rings and date at the courthouse booked.

Bad idea, booking the courthouse, you don't even have your visa in hand yet.

Will this be enough for proof of relationship?

No, but that is needed for the interview. For the petition filing you need evidence of meeting in person. Period.

Thanks in advance!!!

[yuna628 9,993]

Hey guys,

I'm sure you've probably heard all these questions before but my fiancé is about to go and file the I-294f (or whatever it's called) and I keep reading horror stories online about people waiting for months and months to get approved... I'm in the UK and will hopefully be joining my fiancé ASAP.

So my main concern is.... I went to visit him for 10 days but we didn't take any pics together when I was there because at the time he hadn't proposed and I didn't know I was going to try and stay. However, I have conversations logs from skype, whatsapp, facebook etc. Also will have receipts for rings and date at the courthouse booked.

Will this be enough for proof of relationship?

Thanks in advance!!!

There used to be two service centers that handled fiancé visas. Texas and California. Texas was a slow hell hole, and California was fast. After early last year, all newly filed cases go to California.

This means: in general, cases are handled pretty fast. Within a few weeks to a few months. Because they are receiving all cases now, I think they have slowed a little. Keep in mind the average time for the USCIS they note on their website is somewhere around 5-6 months. Also keep in mind that after the approval from the USCIS and the end of that process, a new one begins - as it gets routed to the NVC, London, and then you must complete additional paperwork and have a medical before an interview will be given to you. All of this takes additional time.

Was your only time visiting each other, your 10 day visit? In general the USCIS will want to see evidence in the form of copies of boarding passes, passport stamps, receipts for places you have visited together at the same time. People also generally send a few photos. Photos are secondary evidence. Read the guides to see other suggestions.

Chat logs don't prove that you were together in the same place, but only establish that you have some sort of relationship. The USCIS care about if you have had actual face time within two years of filing and if you can prove it. The London embassy rarely if ever at all asks for relationship evidence during the interview. Most people bring it just in case.

The government strongly advises against making any wedding plans until you have the visa. Therefore, I would not recommend sending 'proof' of a 'courthouse date'. I would also strongly suggest you cancel such a date - as you have no way of knowing when or IF you will be approved in the first place to make such a plan.

[k_arp 0]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

So am I right in thinking I need to send my evidence to my fiancé so he can send it with the form to California?

[JFH 12,196]

He will send everything to the Texas lock box in the first instance. All cases go to the lock box, which is like a big postal sorting room, and the staff there send the cases to California once they have made some preliminary checks (checked that the form is signed and that you have included the correct fee, for example).

[yuna628 9,993]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

So am I right in thinking I need to send my evidence to my fiancé so he can send it with the form to California?

You can send any evidence you have as photocopies via computer to your fiance if you can. Just scan it in and email. But you'll need to send a signed letter of intent to marry your fiancé and fill out the G325A, you'll also need to send a US size passport photo. You and fiancé should see the guide for more info, there's more to send than just the I-129F: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

As JFH mentioned, the place the application packet gets sent to is the Texas Lockbox: they sort it and will send it to California for you. The address is listed here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/direct-filing-addresses-form-i-129f-petition-alien-fiancee

[k_arp 0]

Wow I can't believe I was so naive to all of this, when I looked on the website DHS I swear it only mentioned the I-294f. I'm curious to know if I went over on an ESTA and we got married while I was over there if I can stay while we're filing for a K-3. Hmmm.

[A'n'L 735]

Wow I can't believe I was so naive to all of this, when I looked on the website DHS I swear it only mentioned the I-294f. I'm curious to know if I went over on an ESTA and we got married while I was over there if I can stay while we're filing for a K-3. Hmmm.

You can get married while on ESTA, return home and your husband file I130 for a CR1 visa, which takes about a year to process. You can continue to visit the US during that year. The K-3 visa is rarely granted any longer, and could only be applied for together with a pending I130 application anyway.

You can not travel on any visitor visa or ESTA to the US with the intent to stay there. That is considered fraud.

Educate yourself by reading the guides on this site - it is super helpful :-)