New to the Forum - New to it all Actually

[Nicole_Michel2007 0]

Ok! Here goes!

First of all, thank you in advance to anyone who will read this and offer their input and support. It is GREATLY appreciated.

I met my Fiance (Micho) 7 months ago thru mutual friends/family who thought we'd get along - we ended up realizing we were meant to be together and couldn't wait to meet each other. We spent months on the phone and internet learning, laughing, loving. We both decided we needed some time together and couldn't wait to meet each other any longer, so I planned a trip with my family to Syria. We met, our families met, and instantly formed a bond. Not long after I reached Syria did we know we were meant to be. Having known about the K-1 process, although very little, we decided to get engaged and pursue the K-1 once I got back into the states. Let me clarify a bit - he and I had spoken of the possibilities and I started looking into the ways he could come into the US and the K-1 seemed to be it. I started researching and downloading files and filling out paperwork, making copies, highlighting phone records etc etc etc. I only wish I had found this site in the weeks I spent doing all of that.

I now realize that as organized as I thought I was, I am not. I don't seem to really be anywhere close. I should add that the day after we came back to the US we found out that my mom was no longer in remission from the cancer that broke her down years ago and is now undergoing extremely intensive chemotherapy. I need him here and by my side, not to mention want him here and this now seems waaay to overwhelming for me. I'm pretty sure I have all the paperwork I need put together just need the patience to sit and sort through it all. I am waiting on 2 papers I needed from him: 1. the paper from the church we were engaged in - stating we were engaged in the church 2. his criminal background check.

I have a ton of questions, although not sure where to start.

1. I was discouraged when I saw that syria was not listed in the statistics page under the countries.

2. Assuming all is submitted properly, whats the avg time from a middle east country.

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages

4. when providing phone records should they be from both sides (I ask bc as of today's date he has only received our first months bill - the billing cycles are strange over there)

5. Is it true I should have 3 original packages prepared?

6. What are NOA's i think you call them?

7. HELP!!!

Lets start there. I'm sure there will be more

Nicole

[Rings 10]

I will answer the best way I can for you, but input from others will be needed on some of these.

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages (Translate into English all forms by a certified translator)

4. when providing phone records should they be from both sides (I ask bc as of today's date he has only received our first months bill - the billing cycles are strange over there) (The more the merry)

5. Is it true I should have 3 original packages prepared? (YES - You will be hacked off if you don't because i didn't do it and I was hacked off)

6. What are NOA's i think you call them? (Notice of Action - Document that comes from the USCIS stating that they have taken some for of action on your case.)

7. HELP!!! (I Hope it helps)

[Dan J 277]

Ok! Here goes!

First of all, thank you in advance to anyone who will read this and offer their input and support. It is GREATLY appreciated.

I met my Fiance (Micho) 7 months ago thru mutual friends/family who thought we'd get along - we ended up realizing we were meant to be together and couldn't wait to meet each other. We spent months on the phone and internet learning, laughing, loving. We both decided we needed some time together and couldn't wait to meet each other any longer, so I planned a trip with my family to Syria. We met, our families met, and instantly formed a bond. Not long after I reached Syria did we know we were meant to be. Having known about the K-1 process, although very little, we decided to get engaged and pursue the K-1 once I got back into the states. Let me clarify a bit - he and I had spoken of the possibilities and I started looking into the ways he could come into the US and the K-1 seemed to be it. I started researching and downloading files and filling out paperwork, making copies, highlighting phone records etc etc etc. I only wish I had found this site in the weeks I spent doing all of that.

I now realize that as organized as I thought I was, I am not. I don't seem to really be anywhere close. I should add that the day after we came back to the US we found out that my mom was no longer in remission from the cancer that broke her down years ago and is now undergoing extremely intensive chemotherapy. I need him here and by my side, not to mention want him here and this now seems waaay to overwhelming for me. I'm pretty sure I have all the paperwork I need put together just need the patience to sit and sort through it all. I am waiting on 2 papers I needed from him: 1. the paper from the church we were engaged in - stating we were engaged in the church 2. his criminal background check.

I have a ton of questions, although not sure where to start.

1. I was discouraged when I saw that syria was not listed in the statistics page under the countries.

2. Assuming all is submitted properly, whats the avg time from a middle east country.

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages

4. when providing phone records should they be from both sides (I ask bc as of today's date he has only received our first months bill - the billing cycles are strange over there)

5. Is it true I should have 3 original packages prepared?

6. What are NOA's i think you call them?

7. HELP!!!

Lets start there. I'm sure there will be more

Nicole

1. Not as many people immigrate from Syria. But it does look like the US embassy in Damascus does process K-1. But you probably wont be able to get a lot of Embassy specific information for that country.

2. Depending which service center you file at, 1-3 months for the petition to be approved, about a month for the petition to be sent to the country (it goes through the NVC) and processing times do vary by consulate, anywhere from a few weeks to over a year. Most are within 1-3 months. Coming from the middle east, extra background checks and extra processing is common, which can add months and sometimes years to the processing time.

3. Nope, only official forms, like police record and birth certificate and you will likely only need to use it for the interview. The embassy may accept documents just in the original language, but for the ones you will need later with AOS, they will need an English translation.

4. Its up to you, and you wont need that until the interview.

5. No, you don't need to do that. But having extra copies on file is helpful in case you run into trouble.

6. Notice of Action, its a form sent out by the USCIS when they receive your file, and again when they approve it. You need to save the second one for AOS.

7. Read the guides and research. If you are still not confident in your ability to go through this process, you can hire an attorney.

[Minya's wife 25]

I'm pretty sure I have all the paperwork I need put together just need the patience to sit and sort through it all. I am waiting on 2 papers I needed from him: 1. the paper from the church we were engaged in - stating we were engaged in the church 2. his criminal background check.

The Guides will give you a pretty good idea of what forms you need to fill out, and what documentation you need at this stage.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1guide

You will need to fill out, and have your fiance sign the G325A (a form which must be completed in quadruplicate, all w/ original signature at bottom) and the Letter of Intent to Marry. These two pieces must contain your fiancee's original signature.

The church documentation of your engagement can be submitted as supporting evidence, but if the document is not in english, you must submit a translation.

The background check is not needed at this stage of things...he will need that once your petition is approved here by USCIS and is sent to the Embassy/Consulate in Damascus where your fiance will have his visa interview.

Please check out this link as it gives you a flowchart to illustrate the general process:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k1flow

I have a ton of questions, although not sure where to start.

1. I was discouraged when I saw that syria was not listed in the statistics page under the countries.

A PM (private message) to Captain Ewok can get Syria added to the list of Embassies Consulates...and as you go along in the process, you can populate that information.

2. Assuming all is submitted properly, whats the avg time from a middle east country.

The process at the Consulate is different for each country. Perhaps if you ask this question in the Middle East/North Africa regional forum, someone can offer more detailed advice. You can also check the website for the US Embassy/Consulate in Damascus, where they may have some more specific info.

http://syria.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages

If you submit foreign documents to USCIS, they will need english translations. At the consulate, usually documents in english or the local language are accepted, but this may be something that depends on the consulate in question.

4. when providing phone records should they be from both sides (I ask bc as of today's date he has only received our first months bill - the billing cycles are strange over there)

The phone records are proof of "ongoing relationship" and will not be needed until the visa interview....so for now you don't need this, but at the time you do need them, they should be from both sides.

5. Is it true I should have 3 original packages prepared?

The 3 original packages, are for your peace of mind. One copy to send to USCIS, one copy for you to keep, and one copy to send to your fiance.

6. What are NOA's i think you call them?

NOA = Notice of Action (from USCIS) These are the 'receipts' you receive, showing a 'landmark' in your case. The NOA1 will be sent out to you once USCIS officialy receives your petition and gives it a case number. The NOA2 is your petition approval!

Good luck!

-P

[Minya's wife 25]

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages (Translate into English all forms by a certified translator)

"Any document not in the English language must be accompanied by a certified English translation" is the terminology used throughout the USCIS website. This means the translation must be certified as authentic, not that the translator must be certified.

-P

[Rings 10]

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages (Translate into English all forms by a certified translator)

"Any document not in the English language must be accompanied by a certified English translation" is the terminology used throughout the USCIS website. This means the translation must be certified as authentic, not that the translator must be certified.

-P

Gah she's right that's what I meant

[~Nini~ 2]

3. Does every form/paper have to be translated in both languages

Any official documents, such as birth certificates, should be certified. Emails and proof of relationship stuff generally don't need certified translations.

5. Is it true I should have 3 original packages prepared?

I recommend it - what my fiance Bee and I did was make three copies of each - one for him, one for me, and one in case we received an RFE (Request for Further Evidence) and needed to send one out to our local service office. That way we each had an identical copy to obsess over.

On a further note, I definitely recommend reading the guides. While they won't answer ALL your questions, it'll give you an idea as to what you're preparing for - and perhaps you'll get more questions along the way!

Good luck!

[pushbrk 14,373]

You already have good answers to most of your questions but here are three things you mentioned that I didn't see addressed.

1. Get the police report later. It is not submitted with the petition. You need it later for the interview and the fresher the better.

2. You don't need any paper from the church where you got engaged.

3. You don't need his phone bills for the petition. Later for proof of ongoing relationship at interview, they are helpful.

You will need proof of meeting in the past two years. Read recent threads in this forum for a discussion of that issue. If you want to give some examples of communication and a few pictures together in addition to the meeting proof, I think its a good idea.

[Jasman0717 9]

Welcome to VJ. Definitely read the guides here on VJ, they are so very helpful. Good luck

[NavarreMan 10]

Welcome to VJ. You have come to the right place!!! Congratulations on your engagement and good luck on your journey.

Navarreman

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showuser=17425

try talking to these people...looks like they had a successful interview in syria