Amanda & Simo

Yes, I am. I will try again and see what they say.

Hello, VJ. I sent in my K-1 visa on the 23rd of May. I checked online with the tracking number they gave me and it said it left Madrid. I filed a complaint with the post office so their main offices could send me more details which is what the lady said to do. They then sent me an email saying it got there on the 5th of June. It is now the 26th and I have not received any email notification, text message or hard copies in the mail. What should I do now? I want to call USCIS but I've read on here that they don't give you any info about your case directly. Thanks in advance for any help!

You can also use Your bank checks instad of money order Its much easier and you can track when it was cashed!

I don't have any bank checks and with the money order, you can get a notification when it has been deposited. Thanks anyway!

I haven't posted in a while because so much has been going on, but I'm in dire need of some help!

I'm in Spain right now and am trying to do the money order to pay for the fiance visa petition (260€) and after speaking with multiple people in Banco Santander, they have no idea what I'm talking about. I looked for the translation for money order and it came out giro postal, but the woman said the only thing that exists is a direct transfer and that I need the account number, not just who it's addressed to... U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (She also said that the amount of money wasn't the same as what she looked up and could only be up to 190€ - definitely a different visa)

If anyone can help, thanks in advance!

Sorry, but I could only give you a generic answer to your generic inquiry. It is difficult to determine your specific visa situation without your timeline.

Are you sending in a K-1 petition to Texas lockbox, or DCF?

Glad that you found your answer.

Good luck.

No problem! I barely have time to log on here, so I might have overlooked my wording and I definitely did not have any time to make a timeline. Will post it now, thanks.

Sending K-1 to Texas!

Thank you!

I am not aware of any residence permits being needed at any stage of the K1 process. At what stage of the process do you think you might need those papers?

It's not required, but I would like to send in as much information as needed. I'm sending them in with the application.

I once read on the USCIS webpage that if you have more than one visa application, you can send it in the same envelope as long as it is clearly seperated. You can send up to five seperate visa applications in the same envelope.

You may have to double check to be sure, but I clearly remember reading this. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome to the forum.

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

Good luck.

I've read the guides. The link you sent me does not give me my answer. I looked in the DCF section, even though it's not available in Spain, and found what I was looking for. Thanks.

AP is additional processing or administrative processing.

It is my understanding that some countries/consulates require this. Which can extend the process out as much as 5 months, sometimes less or more.

I would imagine it would highly benefit you to go to your regional forum and post there asking for more relevant information regarding what usually works best for your country/embassy/situation.

That is probably where you will get the best information.

I am guessing this one is you:

Middle East and North Africa

My fiance and I are actually living in Spain right now. I'm in the process of getting my residency and he is a student here with a visa. We are going to go through the visa in Madrid! Speaking of, should we put in our residency information in with the application or just bring it to the interview?

Does anyone know if I would need to send in my residency papers, along with my fiance's in with the application?

I live with my fiance abroad in Spain. He was born in Morocco, but is a student in Spain. What else would I need to send in? Residency papers and our lease, or what?

I don't know if the OP's embassy requires AP but I went through the NVC in less then a month, most of which was just waiting for the case #.

Not to say everyone's experience is the same.

OP's decision. Look at the numbers and decide what will be best for you and your fiance.

Good luck to you!

What is AP? I've also heard about cases being auto-expedited because both fiances were living abroad together. Either way, it doesn't matter, because we both would like to just get there ASAP and stop the stress. We also prefer the fiance visa over the spousal visa. Thank you for all of your advice and input!!

The reason I say that is because when the I-130 is done your spouse will have everything she needs to start her life when you land in state side. She will have her green card, will be able to work, etc.

Get a civil union abroad to file the I-130 and then have the big wedding once you get to the states. Doesn't really change anything other then when you get state side you don't have a $1000+ AOS bill to deal with and your spouse is, more or less, ready to hit the ground running instead of having to wait months for their EAD, AP, etc.

Just my two cents.

Doesn't going the CR1 route require a longer time as a married couple, though? The money issue is a big plus, but I don't want to have to wait any longer than we have already

It's cheaper and makes more sense to get married and file the I-130 if you are both living abroad.

Just me.

Cheaper, maybe... More sense? Why do you say that? We both want to get married in the states, though.

We filed from Australia and encountered no issues using an overseas address, they will send everything to you, just add an extra week or so for the mail to arrive.

Good to know. The extra week is okay by me; a lot less hassle! Thank you!

Thank you for your time!

Hey, guys... Hope someone can help me!

As I'm living with my fiancé abroad in Spain, I'm extremely curious as to what address I have to put on the applications. I have an address I could use in the US, but I'd prefer my address here. Also, how do I explain my current situation (living abroad) do I write a letter and put it behind the cover letter or what?

There is no fast or easy route when dealing with Morocco.... What works for 1 couple may not work for another... What was an issue for one couple may not be for another... The whole process is enough to drive you mad..... Anyhoo... I wish you the best.....

Thank you very much!

Okay, thank you. Hopefully since he's a student, they'll be more lenient, I'm not sure. Since there is no DCF here in Spain, we might just do I-130 and specify that we're both living together and that we have been for a while.

People doing the I-129F and the I-130 saying that they've been living separately compared to people who specify that they've been living abroad with their SO, the approval rate is extremely high and much, much faster. Thank you all for the useful information! It's helped tremendously!

As a few have advised, try to find out what is needed to satisfy the conditions that Casablanca tends to focus on. You have gotten some great links to go and read up on. IMO, you have been living together in Spain that could be very good proof that you two have an on-going relationship. Find ways to get that in writing, lease etc.. If its one thing I've learned from this site is there are members that are willing to give you information you are asking, and then there are those that have been through the process successfully and for some reason they are waiting for the opportunity to attack (perhaps they aren't happy) . You handled yourself well

Whatever decision you make , I hope that path brings you to a happy place!

Thank you, I appreciate it. I knew there would be a few who would probably be against it and have their own opinion, but no one's comment has influenced any of my decisions. I hope you have some luck on your petition!

Since everyone has read a little about my situation, do you think that we should do K-1 or I-130? I have a feeling we should talk to a lawyer Maybe I will just email the consulate in Madrid?

Very interesting situation, I really hope you don't let this thread die without sharing how you will proceed.

It sounds like you guys will be legally residing in Spain wether you choose to marry and do IR/CR or marry in the US using a K1, so as to avoid CASABLANCA (nightmare to many as I have read), that is already a big win if you ask me.

Only questions I have, you mention your parents are US residents, does this mean they are not US citizens? Also, have they or are they planning on filing US taxes from abroad?

I really wish you the best!!

I will let everyone know as soon as I do We just have to keep reading and comparing.. We just want the faster/easier route if there is one. If it becomes a mess, so be it, but hopefully it won't be.

My parents are both citizens from the US and Romania. My father is planning on filing taxes.

Thank you very much, I wish you the best of luck as well and hope you succeed on your path ))

I was thinking Washington State University, didn't realize Washington University was in St Louis. Thanks for clarifying the situation. Do you have the information you need for now?

No, thank you for even replying. This thread quickly turned into something it shouldn't have I'm a little more on track, though... Thank you very much.

Just wait until you're 18 to get married in Spain (as long as Spain allows you) since it's less than two months away. It just makes everything easier. If both the OP and the fiance are legal residents of Spain, I don't see why couldn't get married and do a DCF through the US embassy in Spain? OP, go look at the Guides and look at "Direct Consular Filing." It's generally much faster if you meet the requirements. You're also right: a co-sponsor who is in the USA would probably be required in your situation since it's unlikely that you'd be able to meet the requirements on your own.

Just make sure you're completely sure and completely trust each other before you get married. You need to sit down together and hammer out exactly what you both want out of life: careers, children, religion, life views, etc etc. 18 is pretty young, but it works for some people.

I'd like to thank you again... Your information was unbelievably helpful!!!! We will all have the affidavit of support established with the intent to reestablish domicile. THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH!!!!!!! Of course, I'll keep reading and see which route is better, but this gives me slightly more hope!

My mother is also moving back with us, as is my brother. They are both going to sponsor us. I'm still a tad bit confused on how that part is going to work, since they're not actually working there, but I might talk to a lawyer unless you know anything else about that.

Just wait until you're 18 to get married in Spain (as long as Spain allows you) since it's less than two months away. It just makes everything easier. If both the OP and the fiance are legal residents of Spain, I don't see why couldn't get married and do a DCF through the US embassy in Spain? OP, go look at the Guides and look at "Direct Consular Filing." It's generally much faster if you meet the requirements. You're also right: a co-sponsor who is in the USA would probably be required in your situation since it's unlikely that you'd be able to meet the requirements on your own.

Just make sure you're completely sure and completely trust each other before you get married. You need to sit down together and hammer out exactly what you both want out of life: careers, children, religion, life views, etc etc. 18 is pretty young, but it works for some people.

That helped with the amount of options I may possibly have. I didn't know I could do that. We're positively, absolutely, 100% sure about everything we're about to do. We've discussed all of those topics and many, many more. Thank you very much for the advice!!!

The age question was answered pretty concisely by Rob & Monika. The I-129F instructions state that if either petitioner or beneficiary are of an age that requires parental or judicial consent then they have to submit proof that the consent has been obtained with the petition. In Washington state the consent is both parental and judicial. If the couple are being married in Family Court then their parents or guardian can come in to the court with them, be sworn in at the same time as the couple are sworn in, sign the consent form on the back of the marriage license, and then present the form to the District Judge, who will certify the consent with his/her signature and court seal and then perform the marriage. An alternative is for the parents or guardian to sign a consent form and have their signatures notarized, and then the consent form can be presented the Family Court for the District Judge to sign and seal. Either way, she's going to have to go to a Family Court in Washington state to get the judicial consent. I doubt she can get this done before her birthday given that she's currently living in Spain.

Since she has less than two months until her birthday, it would be much simpler, not to mention dramatically less expensive, to just wait until she's 18.

I don't live in Washington. My home is in Missouri which doesn't require judicial consent. Thank you for replying!