CESep

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with the US consulate in Belmopan, Belize (the only consulate in Belize). It doesn't have any reviews, and it is even missing from the drop down list when I created my I-129F timeline, so I can't add or search for any info about it. Thanks!

Unfortunately, not a lot of people on VJ are from Belize. I asked them to add the Belize consulate, but I guess they just added it to the consulate page, not the timelines.

I have a friend who went through the IR1 process for his Belizean wife. He told me they were very friendly and responsive, and liked dealing with them far more than any type of US agency. Of course I'm sure it all depends on who you talk to at the consulate. My man's experience with his visitor visa interview was not so great several years ago, but the more recent application went smoothly. Overall, I haven't heard any horror stories from anyone, so my impression is that it will be fine as long as you are telling the truth and have the paperwork in order.

does she HAVE to have the vaccinations before getting her visa or can we take care of that when she gets here before doing the AOS?

According the the state.gov website - No, you don't have to get vaccinations for the K1 Visa, just for the AOS. Tim/Mav mentioned that this option would be more expensive though.

From http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html#7:

"K visa applicants are encouraged to get the vaccinations required under U.S. immigration law for immigrant visa applicants. Although such vaccinations are not required for K visa issuance, they will be required when adjusting status to that of legal permanent resident following your marriage. Applicants are therefore encouraged to fulfill these vaccination requirements at the time of the medical examination. See Vaccination Requirements for IV Applicants for the list of required vaccinations and additional information."

I wish I could hear the explanation of why they don't balance the workload better. I've seen posts that they sometimes switch a person's center, so it can be done. I thought that was the whole point of adding the Texas lockbox, so they could send the applications where it works best for them.

Things that make you go hmmm...

Mods move if this is in wrong thread....thankyou

Correct forum (K-1 Fiance Visa Process), but it's best if you start your own topic instead of replying to someone else's, since you have a slightly different question. On the K-1 forum, you will see a "Start New Topic" button on the upper right. Use that to post this on a new thread.

Thanks for all the advice. Now I need to talk to my fiance & continue researching what is best for us. I'll probably be back sooner rather than later with more questions.

Sometimes it feel like the more I try to learn, the more confused I get. My mom is a college professor and last night she happened to be at a work party where she met a colleague who immigrated from Colombia. My mom talked to her and told her about our situation and that we were considering the Fiance/K1 visa. Her response was: "no no, tell her not to do the fiance visa...do the tourist visa, I have an attorney...we'll do lunch this week". Also, a few weeks ago my fiance talked to an attorney in Bogota who also recommended a tourist visa. Why on earth are people recommending a tourist visa when they know we are in a serious relationship? Do a lot of people just come to the US on the tourist visa, get married and get an attorney? As I said before, we don't want to break ANY rules. I'm just confused why these smart, educated people who have been through the process are suggesting a tourist visa.

I'm not sure why they are suggesting that. The tourist visa is a valid option, but it is only legal if you go to the US on the tourist visa not intending to get married (e.g. they're here for valid touristy stuff, but then get swept away and marry). This obviously doesn't apply to you. If your fiancee entered the US on a tourist visa now, she would have the specific purpose of getting married to you and then adjusting status. That is considered deceiving the US, since she would have the intent of immigrating using a visa specifically for temporary visits.

Maybe your mom's friend doesn't realize it is deception to enter on a tourist visa with the intentions of getting married and adjust status. The attorney, maybe s/he was just trying to make some money, because a K1 application with no special circumstances does not really need a lawyer. Hard to say for sure..

Good luck with your decision on the K1 vs CR1 route. I like that link John & Mari posted to compare your options, its the most straight forward I've seen.

Is you employer ok with you working out of the country? I try to be careful about that when I visit Belize. I work remotely as well, but my job expects me to be somewhere in Florida. One time I had asked to visit and work in another state for just a month and they told me know because of their company policies (and something about taxes).

But if your job knows and doesn't care, nevermind then

Money wise K-1 is cheaper than CR-1.

Not in the long run.. With the K-1 app you also have to file the AOS (around $1000) which adds up to be more than the CR-1.

DO i need her birth certificate too? and Im a us citizen and i just made a copy of my passport, or i have to attach my birth certificate aswell? thanks.

You (the USC) can use either your birth certificate or passport (be sure to copy every single page) as proof of citizenship when you submit your I129F petition, as long as you were born in the US. You don't need your fiance's birth certificate at the petition stage. She will need to bring her original birth certificate to the interview at the consulate.

I'm still getting the May 31, 2011 one...

Make sure you have deleted the old one from your hard drive, and try clearing the browser cache. I've had issues before with online pdfs being updated. They get stuck somewhere in the browser cache, and sometimes won't clear properly. Worst case, try someone else's computer.

Here's the link to the description page to the form, which includes the same pdf link you posted. Notice the edition date says "05/25/2011" (this is when it was made, not when it expires - expiration date is 5/31/2012).

http://www.uscis.gov/i-134

Buy whatever is cheaper! The one-way usually is, though not always. I bought my fiance's (now husband) ticket one way and it was already expensive enough!

It's strange how they price tickets... Just to see I checked the one way vs. round trip on a flight from Belize, and the one way was $100 more than the round trip!

The I-134 Affidavit of Support that I find expired on May 31, 2011 http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf. Where did you find the version that expires May 31 2012?

Thanks!

It's the same link. Download it again, they must have just posted the new one a few days ago.

not harsh at all, my passport has stamps of all trips there i thnk thats the concrete evidence that will drive the secondary evidence to get an approved ! thankss I sent it out yesterday i was so nervous all of yesterday. and even got a headache....this is a big step!!!!!!!!!!

Oh good, glad to hear you had passport stamps. You didn't list that in your original post, that's why I was concerned.

The K1 package asks for a copy of a birth certificate. Does a photo copy suffice, or do they require an original birth certificate? Kind of confusing. Thanks in advance for your help.

A photocopy is fine for the I129f petition. Make sure it includes parents' names on it.

Personally, since it was only $12 to get a certified copy from my state, I'm turning that in so they can't complain. I'm also including a full copy of my passport, partly for the stamps, but also partly as a backup proof of citizenship.

i have been trying to schedule the medical exam with the apprived doctor but nobody answers the phone.. do you need an appointment?

I don't know about Peru specifically, but in general, you need an appointment.

Do they have an answering machine? Do you know what their hours are?

Maybe stop by if you are near by and can't get them on the phone.

Then you are set to go and wishing you loads of luck

Thanks!

Don't forget the 325 signed by both of you and letter of intent from both of you .

Yes, I have those.

So my questions are the following:

1) Are the boarding passes from my latest trip enough, or do I still need proof about the other trips?

2) Should I send copies of my and his passport as evidence of the other trips? Are passport stamps enough proof without boarding passes?

3) If I send copies of my passport and his passport... do we really have to send in ALL the passport pages? Or can we just send the first pages and the stamps?

1) The actual requirement is that you met at least ONCE in the past two years, so it should be ok.

2) Yes, definitely. The stamps are still helpful even without boarding passes.

3) I would send all pages, better to be thorough.

I've read a lot of the other forums about "front loading" the I-129F petition, but can't really decide if it is necessary or helpful in my case. We will be doing our interview in Belize, which I plan to attend.

Here is what I plan to submit for my petition:

- My passport, showing 7 visits to Belize (since Sep 2010)

- His passport, showing 3 visits to the US (since Sep 2010)

- 5 sets of boarding passes for some of these visits (we didn't keep all of them)

- Receipt of my staying at the resort he works at, and employment verification showing that he works there (this is how we met)

- Receipt from a hotel we stayed at together in Belize (only has his first name on it)

- Busch Gardens season pass tickets (they have our names on them and required ID to purchase), and receipt for buying them.

- One or two photos for each visit

- Flight itineraries for all visits (since I didn't have boarding passes for every one)

- Frequent flier mileage statements for all visits

I hadn't planned on submitting any emails or phone logs at this point since that isn't required until the interview stage. Do you think I would benefit from adding these items? Would there be any disadvantage to adding these items to the petition?

If anyone happens to know any specific information about the consulate in Belize, that would be extra helpful.

Thanks!

The general answer for liability is

1. The immigrant has accrued 40 credits (10 years) of Social Security entitlement through working in the US. This time can be shortened substantially if both immigrant and USC spouse are working, and combining Social Security credits.

2. The immigrant has become a US citizen.

3. The immigrant has lost their legal status, and is no longer living in the US.

4. Either the immigrant or sponsor has died.

Also, please note that another affidavit of support has to be filled out when you apply for AOS (adjustment of status), which would be less than 3 months after you enter on the K1 visa. The AOS affidavit requires 125% of above poverty line, while the K1 affidavit requires 100% (they use different forms).

The G-325A that I need to provide for the petition, do I sign it then mail it to my fiance before he files?

Yes, that way it has an original signature. It's also advisable to do signatures in blue ink so they can tell the difference between real and a copy (the rest should be filled out in black though). You may want to send him two with your original sig so he has a backup.

Is there an actual K-1 Visa form or is that jst the name of the visa recieved?

No, there is no "K-1 Visa form". That is the name of the visa you will receive. Some will refer to the I-129F as the K1 visa form, since that is the one called "Petition for Alien Fiance". But that is just the initial petition form (step one of the whole process). Then there are the visa application forms that you give to the consulate in your country after the petition is approved by USCIS.

Good luck! And don't be afraid to ask lots of questions!

Also, I find it helpful to use the search bar on VisaJourney before I ask a question on the forum because a lot have been answered before. But no harm in asking again if you don't understand or kind find the specific answer.

Do they send them to service centers based on where the petitioner lives, or is it random?

I've got bank statements showing the purchase of my tickets for the past 2 years traveling ....I have the itineraries, photos, webcam print screens, facebook print screens, conversation histories sprint screens showing the amount of conversation history i have witth him compared to anyone else, I've got google voice call print screens,and regular conversation print screens.

ahh ghee i dont have those but great idea, I think i have enough evidence 60+ pages in the packet

I'm not sure you do have enough evidence of meeting.

These items: "webcam print screens, facebook print screens, conversation histories sprint screens" are evidence of an ongoing relationship, not of meeting. These items: "bank statements, itineraries, photos" are all secondary evidence of your meetings, but you have no primary evidence.

Primary evidence of meeting would be: passport stamps, actual boarding passes of the flights, hotel receipts, etc. The flight itineraries and bank statements only prove you bought the ticket, not that you got on the plane. That's why they like to see boarding passes, they are only issued after you check in. With photos, its hard to prove when they were taken, so they don't generally take these as primary evidence of meeting, they like to see more concrete evidence.

Why don't you have passport stamps?

Hope I don't sound harsh.. I'm trying to help keep you from an RFE!

They could be asking for copy of passport to view passport stamps from traveling as proof of meeting but generally Canadians do not get passport stamps when crossing to the US.

Ug, no stamps for Canadians? That's a disadvantage!

I've submitted flight itineraries when we visit family in a different state, pictures(she typed the date and the activity we did on the back) of us, movie tickets in the past. I don't understand what more do they need? I sent copies of the flight info pictures of us with both sides the family. Do they need the original flight info?

Did you send copies of any of the actual boarding passes or did you send just computer printouts of the flight itineraries? I have seen in other forum posts that they don't like itineraries as much as actual boarding passes because it doesn't show you got on the plane, just that you purchased the ticket.

Pictures are good, but only as secondary supporting evidence (it is hard to prove the dates of these photos, now that we're in a digital photo age).

What about passport stamps? Did you submit copies of her US immigration stamp when she comes to visit you? They like to see these, as well as passport stamps if you have traveled to Canada.

Correct, K1 has nothing to do with a prospective employer.