EricStephan

Thanks, you guys are awesome!

Hi folks,

My Fiancee and I are going to get our Marriage License today. We live in California. In California one has the option to change their name to that of their spouse at that time. Does anyone know if this is true for immigrants? Does changing the name make things more complicated at all further down the road during AOS. It seems like if she changes her name now then her passport won't match her social security card, driver's license, green card, etc.? Should we just go ahead and change her name today? We are thinking about using both names with a hyphen

Thanks,

Eric

Hi everybody,

My Fiancee was approved for her Visa! We are so happy and absolutely could not have done it without VisaJourney. I will submit a Consulate review soon. The whole process took a couple of hours. She said the interview was a little harder than expected. Read 'coming-soon' consulate review for details. We are so relieved. Keep the faith.

Thanks,

Eric

Hello again,

Maybe just one more question...

So my fiancee's interview is coming up on Oct. 18. She created a beautiful picture album/scrap book of proof of an ongoing relationship since we submitted our 1-129F. However, it is in a traditional picture album format, including pictures, hotel receipts, plane ticket, train tickets, etc. from the six months we recently spent together while I was in Thailand with her as well as of our trip to Laos and Cambodia. In sum, it is large. After reading most of the consulate reviews here it seems like she will submit this evidence through a slot in the glass to the consular official. I don't think the album will fit. Should she take everything out of the album and put it in a format that will fit through the slot? Does anyone have any experience of submitting additional evidence on the day of the interview?

Thanks again,

Eric

Hi everybody,

One last question. My fiancee has her interview coming up on Oct. 18. Recently (after Packet 3 documents sent to consulate) I rented an apartment for my fiancee and I to live in at some point when she arrives. My question: All of my official Packet 3 paperwork lists my address as my parent's address as that was my permanent address when I filed the I-129F as I was in Thailand when I sent off the paperwork. Upon my return I also stayed at my parents house through sending off Packet 3 to the Consulate. Also, my fiancee and I will stay at my parents house for a month or two after she arrives to help ease the transition, not only to afford an opportunity for her to bond with my parents but also so she won't be alone all day while I am at work. We will move to our new apartment together around Thanksgiving or Christmas (as I am a teacher and have long vacations at those times). So, if we will be living at my parents house at first, even though only for a short duration can she still answer honestly that that is where we will be living upon her arrival even though I have an apartment already rented for us to live in relatively shortly after she arrives? Does anyone see any snags here? I want her to be totally honest at the interview. Should I amend or send her a new DS-230 Part 1 with the address of the new apartment even though it won't be our immediate address but ultimately where we will be living together after a month or two?

Thanks,

Eric

Gentlemen, thank you for your responses. I appreciate it.

-Eric

Hello AGAIN,

I'm having trouble posting. I'm sorry if this question is now in triplicate.

My fiance received the email 'Packet 3' link about two weeks ago from the consulate in Bangkok. We had all of our 'Packet 3' documents ready to go. Accordingly, (and very, very happily) we sent ' Packet 3'. Yesterday my fiance received a 'Packet 3' letter from the consulate with another 'Packet 3' link. Both links are very similar but slightly different. The email 'Packet 3' link requested a 'signed check list' but no DS-2001. The link included for Packet 3 in the letter from the consulate has a link that requires the DS-2001, but no 'signed checklist.' In sum, we sent in the 'signed checklist' as instructed by the email 'Packet 3' link, but not the DS-2001 as instructed by the letter from the embassy 'Packet 3' link. The 'signed checklist' and DS-2001 seem to be very similar in their intent.

Has anyone else experienced this? Do you know if this will be a problem? If so, do you know of any way to rectify this problem?

Arrgh...so close, yet so far!

Thank you again VJ members. It has been a very special experience to share this journey with all of you.

Sincerely,

Eric

Thank you gentlemen, I will keep you updated. Good luck and I hope things are going well for you.

-Eric

Hello everybody!

I finally got my case number from NVC this morning. We are so happy. Does anybody know how long it now takes to get the Packet 3 link from the embassy? If you already have Packet 3 finished can you send it before you get the link? Anyway, I digress.

My questions in regards to the I-134 are the following:

-The most recent edition I could find was dated (Rev.) 05/25/11. Has anyone ever found anything more recent? Does it matter?

-Question #10 states "I have submitted a visa petition(s) to USCIS on behalf of the following person(s)" Then, it asks you to name the person, describe the relationship, and the date you submitted the petition. Should I put the the Received Date of the NOA 1 or the Notice Date of the NOA 2? I am submitting I-134 with Packet 3 as I did not include it with the I-129F.

-Question #11 is that tricky question that asks "I intend" or "I do not intend" to make specific contributions to the support of the person(s) named in item 3. I am just putting what the visajourney example form indicated "N/A (K1 visa process for permanent residence)" Has anyone had any luck with that answer. Will it suffice? Does it pass muster?

Thank you very much,

Eric

As always, thanks again for your help everybody. I really, really appreciate it.

-Eric

Hello again!

Well it looks like I will have ample time to put together packet 3 while I am waiting for NVC case number so that is what I am doing. However, I have become hopelessly confused.

For a couple of months now I have been scouring the Bangkok Embassy website for Packet 3 information. For awhile there I thought I had it figured out. Can anyone tell me what my fiance and I need to send in for Packet 3? The embassy website seems to say two different things in two different parts of the website. It looks like there are two different sets of somewhat conflicting "Packet 3" instructions.

For a month or so the following is what I thought I had to send (and the rest my fiance would bring to the interview):

-'Signed checklist' (DS-2001?) certifying that I had gathered required documents and was prepared to interview

-DS-230 Part 1

-Two frontal photographs

-Photocopy of passport photo page.

Somehow I have been reading some other 'K visa' 'Packet 3' instructions on the embassy website and to my understanding there is a list of about 15 things they want with Packet 3. About half of those documents may or may not be applicable depending on one's situation.

So, what did you send in? How did it work out? Which directions did you follow? What is the date of the most recent packet 3 instructions? Am I crazy?

Thank you so much for your hard work,

Eric

Good Morning VJers,

Well, I am anxiously working away on forms DS-156 and DS-230 Part 1.

On the DS-230 Part 1, question #32 it says list all employment for last ten years and then it gives room to write. However, beneath that it says "In what occupation do you intend to work in the US?" How do we answer this? DS-156 question #32 is also confusing to me when it asks, "Do you intend to work in the U.S.? If so give the complete address of us US employer." My fiance does intend to work at some point in the US, but as of now, without the visa not to mention the adjustment of status, she has no specific plans as of yet. Should she just answer 'no' on question #32 on the DS-156? How about question #32 on the DS-230 Part 1, should she write 'none' 'n/a' or leave it blank? I guess I am confused because she is filling out a non-immigrant visa form and an immigrant visa form at the same time.

Any nudges in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Any NOA2-July 6 folks get a case number yet from NVC?

Thanks in advance.

Happy trails,

Eric

Howdy!

Quick question: Just getting ready to print out the completed G-325A. My fiance (beneficiary) noticed the question "Applicant's last address outside of the United States of more than one year." Now we're confused. She's lived in Thailand her entire life and has many addresses where she lived for more than one year outside of the United States. Does this question really apply to her? Or, does it only apply to myself, the US citizen?

If it does not apply to her should she put 'none?' If it does apply to her I guess she would put the last address she lived in Thailand for a year?

thanks,

Eric

Correct. You would actually use your parents address as you current residence though. You are only visiting the UK. If you list your current address as foreign, they won't accept the petition.

Hi, I'm really glad someone is talking about this...it has got me to thinking. On the I-129F I am using my USA address, but on the G-325A I have my current address as Thailand where I am currently living with my fiance until August. Will having a foreign address on the G-325A complicate things at all? Will they accept the petition?

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Eric

Hello from Chiang Mai (beautiful day by the way),

Thank you for all of your help with my previous questions. Hopefully, this will be it for awhile as the I-12F is almost ready to go.

So, my fiancee (Thai citizen) did change her name when she was 15. Currently we are in the process of getting the original birth certificate and name change certificate translated by a certified translator. After translation, are we now ready to include these with our petition? My fiancee says that now we must send the originals and translations to Bangkok so that they can then certify that the translation is correct and then put their official government stamp of approval on it. Has anyone heard of this? Do we really need to do this last step for the I-129F or are the certified translations without the government endorsement enough for now?

Your experience and expertise is greatly appreciated,

Eric and On

Hi, Hi, Hi,

From all the I-129F directions I have read, guides, and forum posts (except for one??) I have read it does not say anything about the beneficiary needing to send in copies of a passport or birth certificate (except for name changes). My fiancee does have a passport. Should we copy it and send it in just for the heck of it? We did read one forum post on another website (visa4thai.com) that said a copy of the passport was required.

We are closing in on the day when we will send off the I-129F...so happy.

Thanks for your help,

Eric

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate your advice.

talk to you again soon,

Eric

Hello!

silly question. By the end of this current trip to Thailand (I took a leave of absence from my job) I will have been living in Thailand a little over 6 months (Double-Entry Tourist Visa) visiting my fiance. I know I should check with the American Consulate in Bangkok regarding their specific policies on DCF, but I am wondering even if they would accept us doing Direct Consular Filing is it realistic to think I could could complete and submit the paperwork at the 6 month mark and then leave and return to my job in the US a few days later? It seems like I would have to stick around for something or other? Yes? No?

I emailed the consulate in Bangkok my questions but they did not write back

Thanks,

Eric

Hi,

Well, here goes...

I am about to send off my K-1 I-129F petition.

Ultimately, my fiance and I would, someday, like to spend 6 months in the US and 6 months in Thailand each year. That is the 'dream' scenario.

Does anyone know how long it will take until she would be allowed, risk-free, to spend 6 months out of the country each year.

After she comes to the United States we would like to live in the US for two years on a year-round basis, but I have read some other posts that say it could be up to four years until she could come and go with me from the United States as she pleases. Does anyone have any thought about how long it would really be if we were on top of our paperwork and had no delays ?

Would getting married in Thailand and then using the K-3 Visa speed up the process wherein she can leave the United States each year for 6 months?

Thank you,

ERic

Hello again...

My fiance changed her first (given) name (cultural, social reasons) when she was about 15. Does she need to declare this and send appropriate documentation of this on question 7 of the I-129F Petition? Her passport will have her current name on it. Does she need to send a copy of her passport with the I-129F petition? I guess I am confused by the instructions for the I-129F (#6,C). It says:

"If either you or the person you are filing for is using a name other that that shown on the 'relevant documents,' you must give UCSIS copies of the legal documents that made the change, such as a marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order."

I am confused by the 'relevant documents' part. At this point what are the 'relevant documents?' Again, her current passport and Thailand ID card have her current name on them. Do I still need to send legal proof of name change when I send off the I-129F Petition. This will not be a problem, just wondering?

'relevant documents'???????

Thank you!

Eric

the barcode is not for you it's for the uscis computer system,

Hi,

Thank you very much. I guess more specifically my question is: After I fill in the I-129F and print it, does the barcode need to be visible at the bottom of the page when I send it?

thanks again,

Eric

Dear VJ community!

What would I do without you...

I have a question about bar codes on the I-129F Petition.

How come, depending on what computer I use, sometimes I can see the barcode on the bottom of the page and sometimes I can't. Even opening the petition (expiration: 02/29/2012) on the UCSIS website sometimes I cannot see a barcode. Is this a computer, software issue? Does the barcode have to be on the bottom of all the pages?

Thank you for helping with another one of the small but countless hurdles on this journey,

Eric

Hello, hello, hello,

I'm wondering if anyone out there sees any potential complications with my process. I am getting ready to send my I-129F petition from Thailand (I have been here two months and will be here another four before I return to the US). I think it goes without saying that I will be back in the United States before the whole process is completed. On the I-129F form should I put my permanent address in the United States as my mailing address as opposed to my current address in Thailand? As well, my fiance will be moving to another location in Thailand when I leave for the United States. Should she also use a permanent mailing address in Thailand? Will it look odd if we are using different mailing addresses instead of our current address? Also, the check which I will be using to pay the petition fee will have a different address than my permanent address as it was my address before I came to Thailand. Any problems?

...and a question about Service Centers. In the fiance 'letter of intent' template in the Visa Journey K-1 guide it gives a space to put the address of your service center. Do I know this yet? I live in California. Is it safe to assume this will be the service center reviewing my petition?

...also, in the Visa Journey K-1 guide for sending off the I-129F packet it says that I should include a G-325A Biographic information form for both myself and the beneficiary. Do I send one for myself at this time as well or only for the beneficiary. I saw somewhere elso that I submit the petitioner biographic info. at a later date. Can anyone lend any clarity to this issue.

Thanks everyone,

Eric

Hello!

I am a bit confused, imagine that! In the K-1 Visa guide by visajourney on this website it has a template for a letter of intent to marry. In the letter it has a space in the business format of the letter to write my service center address. I live in California so I am assuming it is the California Service Center? At this point do I know my service center or will I not find that out until after my I-129F petition has been sent? If my service center is automatically California does anyone know the address...I'm having a dog of a time finding it on the internet or by calling USCIS/

Also, does anyone know if my fiance and I met on a dating website (Thailovelinks) do I have to declare that on the IMBRA question on the I-129F?

Finally, I have been living with my fiance in Thailand for the last two months and we will live together here for another four months. However, I will almost certainly be back in the United States before this process is over (haven't even filed I-129F yet). Where it asks for my address on the I-129F should I put my permanent address in the United States? What about the 325A Biographic information form, do I put my current address in Thailand on that?

Thanks everybody,

Eric