aguilayserpiente

Quien me puede aconsejar? Aun puedo reclamr mis derechos basado en que no estoy divorciada en Colombia?

Mi nombre es María y me gustaría comentarles mi caso. Me casé en Nov 20 del 2000 con un ciudadano Americano residente en NY. Entré a USA (NY) en Mayo 4 del 2001 a USA por petición de mi entonces esposo ante la Embajada Americana en USA. Desde un principio mi matrimonio fue marcado por abuso sicológico y constantemente el me echaba del apartamento donde vivíamos argumentando que quería “tiempo” para pensar (¿???) y que él no podía salirse porque ese apartamento era dado por su trabajo (él era Handyman en un complejo de apartamentos de Queens, NY) y que a la que correspondía salirse era a mi o sino él iba a llamar a la policía para que me echara. Con mi ignorancia de las leyes americanas, carecimiento total del idioma, sin familia y amigos, y bajo presión sicológica yo salía y me iba a la Florida y alquilaba un cuarto donde una conocida de Colombia. Trabajaba en trabajos como limpieza, cuidando niños, o restaurantes (a pesar de que en Colombia era Ingeniera Electrónica) para tratar de mantenerme mientras mi “esposo” se “decidía” a salvar el matrimonio... me salí. Entonces me mude a un cuarto alquilado, trabajando en diversos oficios, para poder mantenerme y mientras se llevaba a cabo el juicio, finalmente él llega a un acuerdo con la corte, se declara culpable, a cambio que se le borre “este incidente” después de un año de estar con orden de restricción (Cabe anotar, que mientras estuve viviendo en FL, asistí a terapias para ayuda de mujeres abusadas (tengo records). Después de esto, sumida en una profunda depresión, sin dinero, sin familia, sola, desubicada, sin conocimiento del idioma inglés, y habiendo perdido mi trabajo (renuncie por acoso de mi jefe)... decido regresar a Colombia. Este momento es aprovechado por mi esposo para meter una demanda de divorcio ...

...El contrató abogados en Cali para que yo firmara esto, solo que cuando fueron a servirme no me encontraron. Posteriormente el decide quitar esa demanda de divorcio y me presiona para que firme un acuerdo de separación por un año (2004) en NY. ..Presionada por él firmé. Después al año mete una demanda de divorcio basada en ese acuerdo y me presiona para que firme. Yo firme, sin saber que firmaba, no me tradujeron lo que estaba firmado...

...Me otorgaron la residencia americana en el 2004 basado la petición en (¿?), no estoy segura, porque yo le comente a un oficial de inmigración en Miami acerca de mi caso, reportes de violencia doméstica, orden de restricción, etc., y me fue otorgada rápidamente (sin necesidad de la presencia, ni entrevista, ni firma, ni de nada de mi ex). Me hice ciudadana americana en enero del 2008...

Lo siento por lo que le sucedió. Soy abogado, pero no practico. Hay varios temas y remedios disponibles. Arriba dejé los hechos mas relevantes a tu caso. En cuanto a si Colombia reconoce divorcios otorgados en el extranjero, eso es de menor importancia. Ni siquiera tengo acceso al Derecho de Familia de Colombia para verificarlos. Es mejor pedirle a la corte de Nueva York que retire la orden en cuanto a los bienes en el caso del divorcio. Lo veo bastante fácil:

1. Presunción #1 en los divorcios en NY: toda la propiedad adquirida después del matrimonio se presume propiedad matrimonial. One case had indicated that property acquired during the marriage was presumed marital, unless proven to be separate (Raviv v. Raviv, 153 AD2d 932 (2nd Dept. 1989). Basically this means that once it is proved that property was acquired during the marriage, the party claiming that property to be separate property has the burden of proving the property is separate.

Esto incluye todo tipo de propiedad adquirida con dinero matrimonial y con ESFUERZO del cónyugue. Bank accounts, IRAs, stocks and bonds, household furniture, automobiles, and all other property acquired during the marriage with marital funds are considered marital property, subject to equitable distribution.

The Court of Appeals, in Majauskas v. Majauskas, 61 NY2d 481 (1984), has determined that vested pensions acquired during the marriage (during coverture) are marital property. There are cases in the various Appellate Divisions that hold that all pensions, either vested or unvested, matured or not matured, contributory or non-contributory acquired during the marriage, are considered marital property subject to equitable distribution. A pension plan is sometimes referred to as a defined benefit plan.

Si tu ex tiene una pensión, esa proporción adquirida durante los años del matrimonio te pertenecen a ti. In Hansen v. Hansen, 137 AD2d 491 (2nd Dept. 1988), the court held that the pension of the wife should be distributed in a manner consistent with the parties' contribution during the five-year marriage, viz.: two-thirds to the wife and one-third to the husband. (The wife earned two-thirds of the parties' combined income).

Ahora, usted narra que se adquirió bastante propiedad durante su matrimonio con el Ex Déspota (ED). Esa propiedad no se ha distribuido. Si ud. mantuvo records o puede hacer un esquema en MS Word tables, eso servirá como evidencia ya que con "tracing" se encontrará el paradero de esos bienes en cualquier forma. Por ejemplo si ED vendío bienes matrimoniales y compró una casa, Ud. tiene derecho derecho a reembolso del valor de la casa.

2. Presunción #2 en los divorcios en NY: toda propiedad adquirida durante el matrimonio, incluyendo interés en propiedad que se madura en el futuro, se tiene que dividir de una manera pareja. It is marital property that will be equitably distributed upon the dissolution of the marriage. Marital property does not include separate property (as hereinafter defined). Separate property will not be distributed but will remain as the property of the one who holds title. Propiedad adquirida por regalo es propiedad separada.

La excepción a esta regla es que el valor aumentado por esfuerzo suyo de esa propiedad le toca a Ud.

http://www.divorcesource.com/NY/ARTICLES/nowak1.html

3. Manutención en NY: El hombre tanto como la mujer tiene el deber de manetener a su pareja, incluyendo por un periodo después de la disolución del matrimonio. Los factores que se consideran son los ingresos, la condición social, derroche de dinero, sacrificio de carrera, y otros factores. Domestic Relations Laws §236-B(6). Ud. narra que firmó un acuerdo fraudulento entregando sus derechos. Ud. narra que era la mas débil economicamente. Ud. sacrificó su carrera por casarse con alquien aparentemente sin escuela que le impidió ejercer su oficio. Otro factor es la violencia que sufrió, justificando extensión de la manutención y una porción mas grande de los bienes matrimoniales para que ud. saque su lic. de ingeniería en EU. Mas tenían un departamento ultra barato. Ud. tiene el derecho de tener una vivienda ultra barata por un periodo porque esa era la costumbre en su familia con ED. Le toca manutención fuerte. http://barrocasrieger.com/ChildSupportAndMaintenance.html.

4. Res judicata o temas que ya están adjudicados. The doctrine of stare decisis, or legal precedent, holds that a

court is bound to follow the legal holdings articulated by courts deciding similar issues in prior actions. See Eastern Consolidated Properties, Inc. v. Adelaide Realty Corp., 95 N.Y.2d 785, 788(2000). “Under res judicata, or claim preclusion, a valid final judgment bars future actions between the same parties on the same cause of action ... [and] ... [a]s a general rule, once a claim is brought to a final conclusion, all other claims arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions are barred, even if based upon different theories or if seeking a different remedy.” Parker v. Blauvelt Volunteer Fire Co., 93 N.Y.2d 343, 347 (1999) Citing Matter of Reilly v. Reid, 45 N.Y.2d 24, 27, O’Brien v. City of Syracuse, 54 NY2d 353, 357. Ud. tiene una orden de alejamiento. Esa orden es una decisión final de violencia, poner en temor, o malaconducta de la cual no hay redención social. Para comprobar una historia de abuso para alimony solo necesitas agregar esa orden como evidencia a tu moción para alimony. Para comprobar "duress" para comprobar que el acuerdo es inválido agrega la orden de alejamiento.

ED se dió culpable de algún delito relacionado a la violencia. El "guilty" o "no contest" plea o adjudicación es una decisión final y una admisión (admission against interest).

Para ambos propósitos, archiva una documento aparte que se llama "request for judicial notice" pidiéndole al juez que reconozca la orden de alejamiento y conviction criminal como documentos gobernamentales auténticos.

5. Fraud on the court/defraudar la corte. En NY, todo fallo u orden judicial contraído por fraude en inválido. NY Civil Practice Law and Rules section 5015(a)(3). Bajo NYCPLR section 5015(a)(3) no hay límite de tiempo para archivar una moción pidiendo que se retire el fallo en su contra. Ud. indica que no entendía el contenido del acuerdo matrimonial. El acuerdo matrimonial forma la base de una moción y orden basada en la moción conseguidas por ese acuerdo. Se basa la orden judicial negando su derecho a la propiedad matrimonial en un acuerdo fraudulento. Por lo tanto la orden se obtuvo por fraude.

Pasamos ahora a la invalidez del acuerdo matrimonial.

6. No contract is valid unless there is mutual assent/sin acuerdo mutuo ningún contrato es válido. New York es estricto en cuanto a las protecciones para las minorías de idioma. NY no ofrece excusa para la obligación de un interesado de reconocer sus limitaciones de idioma y buscar un intérprete. http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-3rd-circuit/1430705.html Vease Morales v. Sun Constructors, Inc., 541 F.3d 218 (3d Cir. 2008)(un analfabeto puede obligarse bajo un contrato que no entiende si no busca ayuda). Pero, hay excepciones. Fraude, "Such a person is bound, in the absence of fraud, if the person does not require the document to be read to him․" Id.

Duress. Todo ese contrato que se forma por amenaza o presión indebida es inválido. Contracts made under duress are invalid. Id; NY Domestic Relations Code section 236, Part B, f(3). Acuerdos matrimoniales formados bajo presión o amenaza son inválidos. Contratos matrimoniales que no revelan todos los bienes de ambas partes y las que constituyen bienes matrimoniales son inválidos. NY Domestic Relations Code section 236, Part B, f(4).

Ud. narra bastante violencia. Como está indicado arriba, issue o claim preclusion hace imposible que ED pueda defender en contra de toda teoría basada en la violencia, presión, o abuso porque ya se adjudicó ese tema.

Probablemente, ED no le explicó a Ud el contenido y/o le mintió sobre las consecuencias del acuerdo. Omisión y distorción son fraude en todo EU.

Por lo tanto, el acuerdo se obtuvo por fraude.

7. VAWA. La decisión de darle su mica/residencia legal se baso en VAWA. Use esa decisión administrativa como otra orden quasi-judicial en contra de ED.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ud. debe consultar con un abogado. Pero, le recomiendo que haga su demanda SOLA sin contratar a un abogado porque los abogados de derecho de familia son trinqueteros. Ud. puede lanzar su demanda desde Texas y presentarse a las audiencias telefonicamente. En la biblioteca de derecho puede repasar la guías de práctica de los abogados (practice guides) gratuitamente y utilizar Lexis o Westlaw para investigar las leyes de manera detallada. Ud. puede ir a la escuela de derecho local, poner un anuncio, y pagarle a un estudiante de derecho para que le escriba las mociones. Allí aprenderás el formato. Pero, con lo que le escribí arriba es mas que suficiente para retirar la orden y lograr algo justo. ¿Porqué? Porque los hechos un su caso son formidables a favor suyo.

Probablemente, le concedieron su mica/residencia legal rapidamente en base a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act).

Un tema aparte: habiendo tantos hombres de buen corazón, ya no se junte con nacos como ED. Buena suerte.

Write something in the box for question 18. Keep it short and to the point. If the beneficiary will be interviewing at a consulate in a high fraud country then it's a good idea to provide additional evidence and information. This is the two page document your attorney recommended. Back up whatever you say in your "story" with evidence (pics, boarding passes, receipts, etc.) Put it together in the form of an attachment to your I-129F. Append the phrase "See attachment" to your brief description in box 18.

I agree with the JimVaPhoung's thought. All K Visas carry with them the rebuttable presumption of fraud http://www.prweb.com/releases/K1-Visa/221g-Blue-Sheet/prweb4157044.htm . The petitioner and applicant must rebut with evidence. Toward that end or not, Box 18 is too small for a meaningful response to such an all important question. As JimVaPhoung said, include an attachment. I would add that when you write, "see attached," that attachment should be a declaration signed under oath ("I swear under penalty of perjury that the above statements are true and accurate to the bet of my knowledge and ability at the time that I made them"), with supporting evidence. Getting that supporting evidence into the hands of the Consular Officer well in advance of your interview means including the evidence with the I-129F. That is what Visa Journey Suggests:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

If you do attach a declaration narrating your meeting and ongoing relationship, make it meaningful without superfluous details. What does that mean? Try to avoid small details that can be used as a cross examination tool on your fiance(e) later, i.e. leave out your favorite TV show, "Green Acres." I and my fiancee drafted the declaration of how we met and our ongoing relationship together to avoid nasty surprises in the future. If you need any guidance on a declaration, let me know. Congratulations!

Hi Guys,

I really need your help. My I- I 29F petiton got denied due to lack of evidence. I got an email from USCIS

saying"our Case Status:

Decision On May 17, 2011, we mailed you a denial decision notice for this case I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). The notice explains why the denial decision was made and the options that may be available to you. If you have not received this notice within 15 days of May 17, 2011, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance. During this step the formal decision (approved/denied) is written and the decision notice is mailed and/or emailed to the applicant/petitioner. You can use our current processing time to gauge when you can expect to receive a final decision."

We got the letter and the reason why it got declined was due to lack of information, it's frustrating because I called them before submitting my petition and I was told to submit just the I- I 29F form ( that's it, I asked them 3 times) Anyway, on the denial letter, it say's we have an option to appeal and to submit additional information like (proof we met, forms etc)and to $600 fee. Should I refile again instead of submitting an appeal? I heard filing an appeal would take longer. If it's possible to refile, what do I need to do with the initial petition? Do i need to cancel it and send a I- I 29F petiton form? Please advise. Would appreciate your feedback

I am sorry for what happened. However, all is not lost and you may yet have some remedies. I am assuming that your petition never left the USCIS, i.e. was never forwarded to the embassy in the Filipines.

I remember a week ago some members heaping ####### on me for submitting 300 pages of supporting documents (for how we met, how our relationship progressed, meeting in the last 24 months, financial support of fiancee, etc). Let's take it step-by-step like any other legal case:

1. First, we really need more information as to what was actually included with your petition.

2. Second, we need to find out what is supposedly missing and why. For all we know you could have included the basics like proof of meeting and an ongoing relationship but the folks at USCIS lost it.

3. Who has reviewed your file.

4. Why were you not contacted via Request for Evidence for more information? I believe that USCIS cashed your check, but then decided to not take the time to contact you via RFE. It is possible that the USCIS ombudsman can help get your case back on track: http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0482.shtm . I have never contacted the ombudsman. However, paying $340 for no service is a rip off and falls short of due process.

5. Contact your local Senator or Congressperson for help. Each has staff persons dedicated to immigration issues. I have a sense that Senator Feinstein or Boxer's staff will be displeased that an agency took your money and did not provide you with notice and the opportunity to be heard per Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970).

6. Request review by the supervisors, keeping in mind any deadline for filing an appeal.

7. Request a refund. The Adjudicator's Manual has a section on refunds.

8. Keep track of any deadlines, e.g. appeal, meeting within the preceding 2 years, etc.

The USCIS Adjudicator's Field Manual, section 10.5, provides in relevant part:

It does not appear that the field manual has been followed. Therefore, make sure to obtain the PDF version and/or cite to the online Ajudicator's Manual when talking to the USCIS personnel or elected official:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.f6da51a2342135be7e9d7a10e0dc91a0/?vgnextoid=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&CH=afm

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.f6da51a2342135be7e9d7a10e0dc91a0/?vgnextoid=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fa7e539dc4bed010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&CH=afm

Stay strong and don't forget your timeline for appealing if you should decide to appeal.

Ridiculous. If you can't afford the fee, you have no business sponsoring an immigrant.

I have to agree. We've all had to provide proof that we can support our spouse (or whomever) fully. If you can't afford the fees, how can you be able to support your spouse?

This waiver is specifically designed [...] The alien then goes on Soc sec disability.

I wonder if people take the time to consider that there may principled reasons why one thing like a fee or requirement may be appropriate for some persons but not for others. For example, a fee waiver may be entirely appropriate for a veteran of the armed forces, who lost her eyesight in combat leaving her disfigured, has her modest veteran's benefits of $900 per month, and the veteran's Section 8 housing voucher valued at about $1200 per month, purchased a $200,000 home with the voucher, and happened to find someone abroad, who cared for her irrespective of her disfigurement and her modest life. For that person, who, through no fault of her own, is disabled, has a fixed income, for whom $1000 in potential visa/documents fees approximates 10% of her annual income, and has the non-income asset of the voucher, a fee waiver is appropriate.

The mind set behind "We've all had to" comply with some requirement lacks a principled reason in its entirety and is irrelevant. We are all prohibited from walking into a Federal Building and Courthouse with our pet dog. We all had to leave our dog at home. However, disabled persons may take their service animal with them into any building open to the public because our values codified in the American's with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act guarantee that no disabled person may be excluded from the services and facilities of government.

I think we can do better than think in sound bites.

Back in November my fiancee applied for a tourist visa to come visit the US and was rejected because they said that she couldn't provide sufficient evidence of her binding ties to the country. When we are submitting our information for the visa for the validity of the relationship, we are trying to decide if we should include this or not? On the once hand, we want to because it shows that she was trying to come visit me. On the other hand, we are worried that it may be looked upon poorly because she was rejected.

Thoughts on whether we should include this in evidence or not?

Hello. Your thought is creative. I agree with the perceptions of some of the folks who responded stating that there is better evidence that you can use to show a) when you met, and b) the quality of your continuing relationship. Of some but little value is the presumption that a tourist Visa candidate has immigrant intentions, when they seek a tourist Visa to see a family member or loved on in the US, i.e. immigrant intent is viewed with disfavor in the context of a tourist Visa.

No doubt you have a wonderful relationship and will collect stacks of evidence such as photos, emails, IMs, letters, cards, flight itineraries, communication between the fiance(e) and your family, etc. Don't overlook other key goodies like housing applications, money remittances, etc, listing the K1 Visa beneficiary. That kind of material has great evidentiary impact on a trier of fact. You will do well.

You will be denied, at which point a waiver will need to be filed. You should have really gotten married in the US and file for AOS, even though you had overstayed your visa the subsequent marriage to the US citizen AND not having left the country would have meant that your AOS could have been approved.

This is a very stressful time for the OP. The CBP field manual provides at section 15.15(e)(2)(A)& (B):

(emphasis added)

Aztec & Taino, given that the CBP field manual interprets INA section 222(g) as exempting those visa violators for whom there is no formal finding of violation, please share why the Field Manual's interpretation of the regulations and INA should not apply.

Even if there is no regulatory exemption for the OP pursuant to the field manual or explanatory letter's interpretation, I would like a citation to a regulation and/or case law indicating that the OP cannot apply for a hardship waiver simultaneously with the K1 Petition and/or that the OP would not be eligible for a waiver based on their circumstances. An application of the law to the facts would be very helpful.

22 CFR section 41.101 (b) & (c) indicate that a person can apply for a waiver abroad (if it is needed at all).

The 2 day overstay of the Visa is certainly supportive of a waiver, if one is even needed at all.

Well I guess it depends on the type of visa you had.

Here is the law:

7. Under the revised interpretation, aliens admitted for duration of status generally will not/not be subject to [iNA Act section] 222(g), regardless of their activities in the U.S., unless either:

(A) INS finds a status violation while adjudicating a request for an immigration benefit, or/or

(B) An Immigration Judge finds a status violation in proceedings against the alien.

Please research more (www.immigrate2us.net) or find a really good immigraton lawyer. Someone here suggested Laurel Scott, who specializes in cases like yours.

Your chances of bringing your fiance/wife back home are really high!

This is an excellent lead by CarolinaST. The OP would benefit by pulling cases or the Code of Federal Regulations at the practice guides, if any, applying the interpretive guidance. I located the CPB field manual confirming the interpretive position taken by the various agencies of the State Department: http://www.srwlawyers.com/Portals/0/CBP%20Inspectors%20Field%20Manual.pdf . With the case law and regs, the OP should feel more secure as to how to proceed and can defend that position if needed by citing to the law. Good luck.

I sympathize with how stressful this is for you. Some reasonable things to do are:

1. go to your local public law library or law school library to review Kurzban's practice guide. It and other immigration practice guides will identify BIA cases, which you can use to support your case. Carefully, review the grounds of inadmissibility to see which if any apply to you.

2. Carefully review and document your situation. No doubt it is complex and contains numerous factors in your favor, i.e. US citizen and child separated for a period of years, psychological detriment to all family members (documented by a psychologist, MFCC, etc), economic hardship for the child, educational detriment to the child, risk of severence of the familial unit, and extenuating circumstances for the visa violation (illness, injury, fear of returning to homeland, etc). There can be numerous facts and factors (e.g. will the mother be separated from the child who returns to the US as a derivative citizen?).

These appear to be the bases:

3. I perceive and may be mistaken but the waiver request is to be made at the consulate/embassy:

http://damascus.usembassy.gov/ina212.html

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=bb515f56ff55d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Try to take a deep breath. Remember, one of the top public policy considerations under the INA is family re-unification. In fact, the presumption supporting family unity petitions should be used by analogy to your K petition. Best wishes and congratulations.

Hello! Welcome to VJ!

My husband is from Lima too =)

Let me know if you have any questions.

Hello and thanks to everyone for their friendly welcome.

Reinita and Rey, I will definitely be contacting you. I would like to know more about what to anticipate at the interview in Lima. Talk to you soon.

I'm not sure how my comment was confusing. You linked me to a thread about someone being denied at an interview, not about USCIS denying a petition due to lack of evidence.

The OP has received no bad advice, so I'm not sure what you're upset about. People (like myself) commenting on a 300 page petition? The OP made a point to tell us, so expect people to comment on it. I am simply saying all that evidence is good for the interview, not the initial petition.

Taking a closer look, all of that commentary about how you feel about the supplementing documents when the question asked about G-325a was irrelevant and not helpful. The original question was about when the G-325 is to be submitted and what to do if it is missing, period.

But, coconuts, if you are truly interested in knowing why a person would include evidence with any legal document like a civil complaint, petition for writ of mandamus, or I-129F petition, it is to preemptively educate the trier of fact. As stated previously, this VJ website advises getting the hard documents into the embassy officials hands in advance of being scheduled; that is done by including it with the I-129F. Hence, the VJ website and others advise adding the supporting documents now.

For those folks who mentioned that the notes in the instructions to I-129F mention the G-325a, that is correct. While Form I-129F makes reference to G-325a, the USCIS general instructions do not, nor does the controlling law, 8 CFR § 214.2(k) and 22 CFR section 41.81.

I am glad for Tim/Mav and Faust Yusov taking the time to offer thoughtful guidance.

Bienvenidos Vero y Jeff,

Yo soy Mexicano y mi novia es Peruana que vive en Lima. Le acabo de mandar la petición a la migra. Les doy a saber que en este web sitio hay personas que se prestan a ayudar o que brindan apoyo moral. No se desanimen. Les deseo lo mejor.

you know that was very nice of you to offer some great personal opinion! after reading that I was thinking of starting to write a small little book about my feelings that me and my fiancee share and how we want to spend our life together and give it to the VO officer to read .

for the phone log, i've already highlighted my cellphone number along with my name thats on account page of the wireless service that i used. so they should be able to see that unless the VO office just take a second skim through and miss out on those small things.

Also, just curious, me and my fiancee took studio pictures the last time i visit but usually there are no time stamps on these photos (same goes with our original pictures), would that be ok? the next time i go back and take pictures, should i get a camera that have timestamp function? (you know some modern new cameras dont have the feature anymore)

I'm glad to lend support. For time stamps, no worry. You can scan your pics and then paste them into a MS Word document with a title on top explaining what the photos are and date, e.g. "Ken and Stacy Sweet at the Temple in Beijing, Nov. 2010." You can authenticate the photos via your declaration, "The attached photograph Exh. D depicts Stacy and myself at the Great Harvest on Nov. 2010." My digital pics were pasted into MS Word as done in the attached doc. I hope this helps. If it sounds unreasonable, ignore. Congratulations on starting your new life.

Pachacamac 2008.doc

I am going to do what Tim/Mav recommended submit a supplement upon receipt of the NOA. A few moments ago, I located the following directive guidance letter at the USCIS website:

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2005/i129f_g325a_110105.pdf

It appears that in any event the failure to submit a G-325a is not fatal and can be submitted later. Like Tim/Mav I would prefer sooner rather than later.

Thanks to Tim/Mav and everyone else who responded to help.

That thread you quoted was about being denied for lack of evidence at the interview. Not about USCIS denying the petition. USCIS does not need proof of an ongoing relationship, which is the evidence you named.

What?

Hi, my name is Ken and Im new here. I am ready to get my fiance whos in china to apply for a K1 visa. I met her last year in july 2010 whom her aunt introduce me to her. Her aunt's husband is a very good friend of my father. I am about to go back again in 2 months. I've already started gathering evidence to support our genuine relationship by gathering emails, phone logs, and a few pictures that we took the last time (which was just a few), western union receipts, IM chat logs, and boarding passes. As for the phone log, the account is under my parents name which is a family plan that have 3 separate phone numbers (each with a separate name which include my name), do you guys think the VO will raise a red flag because the account is not under my name?

Congratulations! That you are providing for your fiancee financially shows familial commitment according this society's norms. You already have done good work at compiling your records and should include:

1. Sentimental handwritten letters,

2. Copies of ecards (romantic, holidays, birthdays, etc)

3. Romantic emails,

4. Emails asking about family

5. Copies of gift photos/receipts,

6. Instant messenger log

7. Romantic pictures of the both of you together if you have them.

8. Letters of support from friends and family. Note: the form letters online are weak in this regard. Letters of support should show how the person knows you, how your life was prior to meeting your future spouse, how they feel about your future spouse, and how they perceive your life would change for the better by marrying your future spouse.

9. Letters/emails discussing practical goals in marriage: where you would like to live, children if any, care for elders, educational goals, etc.

10. Attach a declaration or explanatory narrative discussing each and every exhibit, e.g., "Sherry and I first met in person in Beijing (Exh. A passport). Our first date was at the the _________ (Exh. B, photgraph)." Guide the reader just like in a legal case or case study. Take that opportunity to express how you feel about your fiancee, how your life has changed, your hopes, what your real feelings are, how your family feels about the relationship, etc. In short, put a human face on the process.

10. How you met. You met via introduction. How wonderful! That's how people generally met before industrialization ground culture down into McDonalds. Explain the customs behind your meeting. In many traditional and kinship societies today, a man does not court a woman directly in such fine establishments as a disco. Emissaries from families meet to ask permission, a person of trust sends a communique to the woman or vice versa. Heck, America's affluent encourage their sons and daughters to join fraternities and sororities to ensure marriage of their children to and an alliance between affluent families via marriage.

I had to ask my fiancee's son permission to court my fiancee. Work that rich story into your declaration along with your familial letters of support. NOTE: humans are fallible; therefore discuss only so much detail about yourself as your fiancee certainly knows about you in an interview. That way she won't be put in a position of being quizzed on material which she might forget due to nerves, like who is your favorite rap star.

The Skype thing. Make it easy for the reader to understand who is calling whom. To keep from wasting your present Skype exchanges, write in your declaration, "Mr. Ken and number 123456 are my username and phone number on Skype (Exh. G). The Family_Stone and 7891011 are the username and Skype number used by my fiance Stacy Sweet (Exh. G). All communications via Skype are between us." I suggest a dedicated Skype account for each of you for the exclusive use of communicating with each other. That way you don't have to distinguish between calls to the dentist and your fiancee.

These are just some examples. Make a legal binder with the holes at the top with legal exhibit tabs at the bottom and start putting your evidence in order. As I recently discovered, the process is laborious.

Translations: The Code of Federal regulations requires that all documents in a foreign language be translated. I am guessing that you are bilingual; there is no regulation barring you from translating the documents. However, it is SO time consuming. You may want to hire translators in China to take some of the burden off of you.

Taking your time every day to do something on that petition will take a lot of pressure off of you. Good for you!

There is no logical reason for your petition to be 300 pages long. None.

It is not an application. It is a petition. All you need to do is prove that you're able to apply for the Visa.

Nobody needs 300 pages to prove that the petitioner is a USC, both parties are legally able and willing to get married, and have met in person in the last 2 years.

My question was about the Form G-325a. The question was based on the dearth of USCIS guidance either at their website or FAM as to when the G-325a is to be submitted.

With regard to the logic of including as much information as possible at the initial stage, this is the reason: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293777-denied/ . After participating in numerous agonizing asylum cases, turning on demonstrative and documentary evidence, I am sensitive to questions of evidence.

Having the embassy official review the hard evidence before hand to educate him/her is sound as it would be to submit exhibits with a civil complaint or petition for writ of mandamus to educate a judge. I belatedly note the following from this VJ website:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Nos. 1-3 above add up to about 300 pages along with an index and declaration explaining each and every tabbed exhibit, A through T.

Thanks to Tim/Mav I have some guidance as to how to tie up one loose thread by supplementing my petition with form G-325a.

our interview was yesterday and I was in attendance. we had all the standard proof of a relationship e.g. chat logs phone records text logs letters from family and friends. He was interviewed by a woman in english and then given the same questions by a man in arabic. he answered consistently and truthfully for over an hour. I was then interviewed by the same man for about an hour. We were given no specific reasons for denial just the usual "appears to be for immigration purposes" statement. i'm fairly sure that they did not like the fact that I had met him in may 2009 and went to see him in december 2009. the man said " that was quick!!" they also did no tlike our 15 year age difference. that's all i can think that it would be since we co,pared our answers to their questions afterwards and we gave the same

Dear KAA, I am sorry for what happened. Take a deep breath and move quickly with care. You are taking all of the right steps. In my past experience with political asylum cases, exhausting administrative remedies and contacting elected officials are sound approaches. Just Bob's comment is mistaken. The duty of elected representatives is to advocate and act on behalf of the people. They have a duty to take corrective steps. Elected officials have staff persons dedicated to immigration matters. Follow up with telephone calls or even a visit to that Senator or Congressperson's local office.

There is a lack of an express, written basis for the denial. You are right to note the biased comments of the interviewer. To a reasonable observer the 7 month period of time between becoming acquainted and meeting in person should not have negative significance. A K1 petitioner is required to meet the fiance(e) at least once in the preceding 24 month period. The "15 year age difference" comment reflects gender based bias prohibited under federal law, executive order, and the equal protection clause of the 5th and 14th Amendments of the US Constitution.

From a cursory review, it appears that Consular Review is one available administrative remedy, which should be requested immediately. I am going to consult the Kurzban practice guide at the law library. If you have a law library near you, you may want to check into an immigration practice guide to review one of the practitioner's points as to how to gain administrative review of an erroneous decision.

Another option that you may want to consider is contacting the USCIS Ombudsman, http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/editorial_0497.shtm#6 . The substantive remedy would be a negotiated correction of the erroneous denial and the procedural remedy would be to have the case returned to the USCIS for review. If you are able to have the case returned to the USCIS in the US for review, you will have more administrative remedies and remedies at law available to you.

I am sympathetic to your hardship. That is why I suggest contacting your local law school's immigration clinic, where thoughtful professors and students can assist you. I hope this note reaches you in a timely way.

Have her send "2" completed in ink and signed, you yourself as well. I would attempt what I wrote above ASAP. It maynot do anygood but you never know. As it stands now, you are really waiting for a RFE 4 to 5 months from now for not completeing the Required 325's. Good Luck

I will do that. Thank you.

I would take a LONG SHOT and try this. Have "2" 325's filled out by each of you. Make ALWAYS a Copy of the NOA1 and send that with ONE OF EACH of the Signed and Completed 325's. Save the Other 2 for a posible RFE. Always send a Copy of the NOA1 with any Supportive Documents.

That seems like a reasonable and practical procedure. Thank you.

Respectively, attached to what. The 129-F ? Get to your Fiance/Fiancee a 325 as soon as posible and have that filled out and you yourself. Also, make sure the dates on the Form(s) is current. (USCIS Forms have expiration Dates usually located at the bottem Right hand Corner)

The photos were in an envelope stapled to the I-129F. I will have my fiancee sign her form and mail it back to me.

I'm sorry to say this but, your application/petition will grow some cobwebs and when they feel like it, send you a RFE.

If a petition will languish in inaction ("grow cobwebs"), why can't I submit the missing G-325a form? After all, if USCIS sends RFEs (requests for evidence), the evidence must be sent somewhere to someone or something wanting that evidence. What is that process?

Your 129-F Petition is Incomplete lacking the 325's and also states passport photo to be attached to the 325. Did you send Passport Style Pictures?

Yes, passport photos were attached.

After a diligent search of the USCIS website, these forums, the Code of Federal Regulations, and commercial websites, I cannot determine when USCIS requires the submission of Form G-325a. The USCIS website does not mention it in its K1 Visa instructions.

This issue and others have me fretting. If I want to supplement or make amendments to my petition application, can I do so? How? My K1 application (with 300 pages of evidence) was submitted on May 12, 2011. Thank you for reading.

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum. I enjoy reading many of the posts. I reside in California, US/EEUU. The application which is the subject of my new membership is a K1 and K2 Visa Petition. My fiancee, Yoli, resides in Lima, Peru.

I look forward to learning more from you all. Even though, I took an immigration law course in the past and was an immigration paralegal, navigating the immigration service is daunting. If it's a challenge for me, I can only imagine how agonizing it is for folks without experience in the field.

Take care.

I've gotten a lot of mixed views on this but i'm not sure. I dont have any insurance currently and i'm waiting to get my ead card so i can work. Could i get medicaid for my pregnancy?

A K1 beneficiary or applicant for other types of immigration benefit will not be liable as a public charge for receipt of State Medi-Cal benefits derived from Medicaid. According to the USCIS/INS preamble explaining its own regulations:

Federal Register, FR Doc. 99-13188, Vol. 64, No. 101, Wednesday, May 26, 1999, page 28678, Column 1 (Clarifying and citing to proposed 8 CFR Parts 212 and 237).

Both Medi-Cal (which is the Medicaid program administered by the states) and public emergency medical treatment are exempt from benefits supporting liability for/as a "public charge."