Help with k1 fiance visa paperwork

[Joe98 31]

I haven't been on this site in many years. I don't want to make this long. I am in the process of getting ready for a 2 week trip to the Philippines to meet my girlfriend. I of course live in the US. I am hoping to return from my trip as an engaged man. I realize that you can do the k1 fiance visa paperwork yourself but I'm not comfortable with doing that. I honestly don't want to pay for an attorney to do the paper work because they are high. I am considering 2 other companies, one company is called cherry blossoms visa support and the other company is called rapid visa. I am asking if anyone can make a recommendation between the two companies and if they might know of other companies as well. Rapid visa is the least expensive but that doesn't mean they are the best. Neither myself nor my girlfriend have ever been married and neither of us have kids and neither of us have any criminal record. I'm hoping to get some recommendations about who to use for the paperwork. 

[Crazy Cat 44,445]

There have been some pretty awful experiences with Rapid Visa reported here......Just use the search function of this web site.  I would select the "ask a pro" and "VJ Partners" her on this web site.

[VNN 147]

I have zero experience with either two but I watched a video clip promotion from Rapid Visa and I considered it was a waste of my time. 

 

Anyway, if you concern about money as you have very limited budget, then I would highly recommend do-it-yourself by follow the instructions and ask VJ members to have the support along your way.

 

Have you read the instruction? If yes, you can start to ask questions about the parts you are confused.

[payxibka 10,048]

Worst places for immigration advice is YouTube,  FB, USCIS and the pinay grapevine 

[Mrsjackson 300]

The K1 paperwork is so easily done. The instructions are long and it’s tedious, but I can’t imagine paying someone so much to do it for me. It’s so easy and if you run into something you don’t know just hop on here and ask. I really encourage you doing it yourself. 

[SalishSea 18,462]

Follow the official instructions for the I-129f petition on the USCIS website and you should be fine.  Put in the time to read and research.  No one else, including a paid service, will have the same personal investment into your case as you will.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

26 minutes ago, Joe98 said:

I haven't been on this site in many years. I don't want to make this long. I am in the process of getting ready for a 2 week trip to the Philippines to meet my girlfriend. I of course live in the US. I am hoping to return from my trip as an engaged man. I realize that you can do the k1 fiance visa paperwork yourself but I'm not comfortable with doing that. I honestly don't want to pay for an attorney to do the paper work because they are high. I am considering 2 other companies, one company is called cherry blossoms visa support and the other company is called rapid visa. I am asking if anyone can make a recommendation between the two companies and if they might know of other companies as well. Rapid visa is the least expensive but that doesn't mean they are the best. Neither myself nor my girlfriend have ever been married and neither of us have kids and neither of us have any criminal record. I'm hoping to get some recommendations about who to use for the paperwork. 

 

To be honest, if I had taken the time before hand I could have done the paperwork myself for the I-129f especially with help of this site. But, I didn't and I used "EasyFianceVisa". here is there site: https://www.lawofficeimmigration.com/   it changed from what it originally was as I believe they have added other immigration matters into their services. It wasn't cheap, but wasn't ridiculous either. We had zero issues with them.

 

The whole process even on your own is expensive enough. $535 for I-129f filing, medical costs, interview/embassy visa fees, AOS is $1225 later on. Then postage, passport photos, airfare... it adds up again without even giving anyone else a cent.

 

We did do our own AOS paperwork though and it was simple. So again, honestly, take the time to look at everything and I bet just using this site you can get it all done on your own. Use the search bar up top to search for specific information you may need and read through some old threads. Lots of valuable information there. 

 

Also change your home country to "Philippines" and you can then use the Portals tab up top to go to the Philippines country specific forum and read about country specific things.

Edited May 18, 2019 by Ben&Zian

[NikLR 13,234]

off topic but can you change your profile country to the PI since your fiance is from there not Canada?

[JFH 12,195]

It looks more daunting than it is. Download an I-129F form from the USCIS site and read through each question carefully. There will be no question to which you do not know the answer. It’s a list of questions about you and your fiancé, not a Harvard entrance exam. Take it slowly, read the instructions and each question thoroughly and answer each question exactly as it is asked. 

 

Come me back here if you have any questions. 

[Rick & Apple 233]

On 5/18/2019 at 2:52 PM, Joe98 said:

I realize that you can do the k1 fiance visa paperwork yourself but I'm not comfortable with doing that. I honestly don't want to pay for an attorney to do the paper work because they are high.

Neither myself nor my girlfriend have ever been married and neither of us have kids and neither of us have any criminal record.

I'm hoping to get some recommendations about who to use for the paperwork. 

As @JFH said, download the I-129F form. Print the checklist from the guide on this site. Also download the example intent to marry letter. Make one for you and your girlfriend. (We included that we had never been married.)

Take the letters and the I-129F with you when you go to see her. Fill out the form together.

Take an envelope to use for collecting receipts and ticket stubs. If you take a ferry to another island, keep the ticket stubs. They will have your names, seat location and date.

Take photos at locations that match your receipts.

Get a passport photo of her.

 

Neither of you have been married, have kids and no criminal records makes it a simple case in one of the easiest consulates. 

 

All of the above needs to be done, whether you file yourself or you use a service. Follow the guide. Ask questions here.

I think after your trip, when you look at the checklist, you will be asking yourself what do these visa services actually do?

 

 

 

[themcmc 0]

You can complete the paperwork yourself, without having to pay the added fees of an external source. Totally achievable. 

 

My advice is to plan how you will fill out the 129f before you start. Layout how you will put it together (tabs, binder, etc), how you will complete the addendums, make a list of everything you might need after reading the application very carefully. And absolutely get any and all proof of meeting (especially during this trip) such as travel receipts, etc. And it's helpful to go through the K-1 and write down all the questions you have regarding the 129f so that you don't get caught up later. 

 

Go through the application with your fiance. They'll help immensely with remembering details and ensuring you respond honestly. 

 

I spent far too much time and was more stressed than necessary. Find and ask questions on here, there's so much help. 

 

TIP: Fill in every single blank 

N/A = not applicable to you 

None = response to a numeric question is zero or none  (ex: how many children do you have...?) 

 

Best of luck to you!

 

Cheers, 

[themcmc 0]

Just now, themcmc said:

You can complete the paperwork yourself, without having to pay the added fees of an external source. Totally achievable. 

 

My advice is to plan how you will fill out the 129f before you start. Layout how you will put it together (tabs, binder, etc), how you will complete the addendums, make a list of everything you might need after reading the application very carefully. And absolutely get any and all proof of meeting (especially during this trip) such as travel receipts, etc. And it's helpful to go through the K-1 and write down all the questions you have regarding the 129f so that you don't get caught up later. 

 

Go through the application with your fiance. They'll help immensely with remembering details and ensuring you respond honestly. 

 

I spent far too much time and was more stressed than necessary. Find and ask questions on here, there's so much help. 

 

TIP: Fill in every single blank 

N/A = not applicable to you 

None = response to a numeric question is zero or none  (ex: how many children do you have...?) 

 

Best of luck to you!

 

Cheers, 

12/~19/2018 : Met Online via Instagram 

02/23/2019: Drew Visited Me in US, first time meeting in person ❤️ 

02/25/2019: Engaged!!!! 

04/05/2019: Went to Meet Drew's Family in CA

05/09/2019 : I-129F Packet Sent

05/10/2019 : NOA 1 Received

[AndrewF 69]

I filled out my own I-129f and had it approved in 4 months with no RFEs.  That said, I use to be an attorney a long time ago (graduated law school in 1996 and practiced corporate law from 1996 to 1999) before quitting being an attorney so I do have a legal background.  

 

I found the I-129f  instructions to be pretty comprehensive and easy to follow.  Whether it is worthwhile to get help depends, I think, on your personal situation and how far it is from an "ideal" application.  If you did not use an marriage broker, don't have any red flags (criminal convictions, fiance is from a country that may draw additional scrutiny, didn't spend much time together in person, etc.) then I think you could probably get by doing it yourself.  

 

The application process itself is rather straightforward.  The issues come, my what I've read, from providing sufficient evidence of a real relationship.  If you don't have the evidence of a real relationship, paying someone else to do the administrative aspect of your application isn't going to help.  Also, if you do it yourself, reading this and making sure your file your forms in this format is helpful:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips