SparklePony

Some people get them in the middle of the day but late night texts/emails do seem to be common. It certainly happened to us - got all 6 NOA notifications late last night!  The checks were cashed this morning, too. What a relief - just shy of 3 weeks after sending it all in. 

Some people get them in the middle of the day but late night texts/emails do seem to be common. It certainly happened to us - got all 6 NOA notifications late last night!  The checks were cashed this morning, too. What a relief - just shy of 3 weeks after sending it all in. 

Thanks for moderating this chat @atuegwu !
 

I sincerely wish to encourage all of us as we have entered a new week, it is my fervent prayers that we shall have more great news pouring in and to those scheduled for biometrics, it shall go smoothly and they shall journey safely to and from the appointment. Cheers and good luck folks. Have a great week.

I think a lot of people who go the K1 route opt for a courthouse wedding, because it is easier to do within the 90 day period than arrange a full blown wedding. Not only is it not as expensive, but you don't know when the visa will be approved and delivered to you - mine was approved and I moved within four months, some people have a much much longer wait, and there really is no way to tell if you'll be one of the fast or slow ones. You typically need two people to witness for a courthouse wedding in the US, who can be family or friends. 
 
My husband and I met while he was playing hockey in Canada, we dated and lived together there for six months and then were long distance for two years. He visited me five times in Canada and I visited him ten times during our long distance period. I got turned away once at the border which made visiting a pain (still do-able) but pressured us to close the distance. My husband and I got married toward the end of January and filed our Adjustment of Status (as well as Employment Authorization and Advance Parole paperwork) the beginning of February. For now, I can't work or travel outside the country. It's hard to be newly married and living off one income. It's boring sitting at home all the time because I am no longer allowed to drive (sometimes I do anyway... I have a valid foreign license but am not supposed to drive on it anymore, I have to wait for my work authorization to get a license). I'm expecting my EAD/AP in May (fingers crossed) but there's no guarantee for that. 
 
The fiancé visa cost us around $2500 for: USCIS filing fees, passport photos, application for police checks/birth registration, travel to consulate for interview, Visa fee, and medical. I was lucky that my consulate was a six hour drive away, and we got a cheap hotel for the night. After the expenses of moving and the courthouse wedding (ours cost $225 for the license, ceremony and copies of our marriage certificate) you have to adjust your status. The adjustment of status costs $1225 when you initially apply for filing and biometrics fees. I am early in this stage still so I haven't had any other expenses, but two years after I get my green card I will have to remove my conditions to stay and three years after that I can consider becoming a citizen. All of these things have fees.
 
For the interview, your sponsor only needs to meet 100% of the poverty guideline and will fill out I-134 to show this. The instructions list documents you must present as proof. If they do not meet the guidelines or you don't have those documents, you can look into the embassy where you will have the interview to see if they allow joint sponsors (some don't). When you submit your AOS application, your sponsor will fill out the I-864 and must meet 125% of the poverty guideline. You can have a joint sponsor. For this step you must have tax returns from last year, or submit proof of why you weren't able to file. If that's the case then gather recent pay stubs for the past 6 months and a letter from their employer stating how much they make and the type of position (if it's permanent). However, that isn't always enough and I have seen some people get requests for initial evidence for tax returns. 
 
If you are serious about the K1 I would talk to your girlfriend about it and what comes with it - including the filing fees, travel and other expenses, and the inability to work. In addition, the sponsorship for I-864 for the sponsor and joint sponsors is a serious form, even if you guys divorce the sponsors are still held accountable should you become a public charge and may be sought for repayment or sued if you go on certain forms of assistance. 
 
It does take time to fill everything out, it's a huge waiting game with USCIS once you do, it is expensive and when you get here it may be quite stressful. Not to mention leaving your family and friends at home isn't easy. But I promise you that if your serious about your love, every single second of the process, and every single second apart, is definitely worth it when you get to be together. 

Like Ash said, if you receive any means tested benefits, such as welfare, the government can sue the sponsor for compensation of the moneys given to you. In case the sponsor can't pay it back, they will then sue the co-sponsor for that amount. This is valid until you become a citizen.
 
You can, and should, read up on all the guides here, flowcharts, comparisons, etc, heck, even sample forms, to get an idea of what you're in for. You can also do the same at the USCIS website and look at the forms, and the form instructions. And read threads on here, even if you don't reply, including the stickies - there is such a wealth of knowledge in the posts on VJ. It may seem daunting at first, and that there are so many detail;s to figure out, but tons and tons of members have successfully gone through the journey from visa to naturalization on their own, with no recourse to lawyers, just with the help they have gotten on here. It's totally doable as DYI.

Like Ash said, if you receive any means tested benefits, such as welfare, the government can sue the sponsor for compensation of the moneys given to you. In case the sponsor can't pay it back, they will then sue the co-sponsor for that amount. This is valid until you become a citizen.
 
You can, and should, read up on all the guides here, flowcharts, comparisons, etc, heck, even sample forms, to get an idea of what you're in for. You can also do the same at the USCIS website and look at the forms, and the form instructions. And read threads on here, even if you don't reply, including the stickies - there is such a wealth of knowledge in the posts on VJ. It may seem daunting at first, and that there are so many detail;s to figure out, but tons and tons of members have successfully gone through the journey from visa to naturalization on their own, with no recourse to lawyers, just with the help they have gotten on here. It's totally doable as DYI.

Her son needs his own separate forms for all - AOS, EAD (so he can get his own SSN), and AP, plus corresponding supporting documents and passport photos. He does NOT need a G-325A as he is under 14 and a separate I-864. 
 
There are are some good tips on the Guides as well as the K2 pinned thread. 

I know, you're so right. Today I'm giving myself a break from the bureaucratic stuff, and looking at pretty vintage wedding dresses ? My boyfriend keeps telling me to feel more excited than stressed, and he's right! 

Yes, we have, and trust me, once you're back together, it's the best thing and all the waiting will have been worth it. Keep your eyes on the end goal.

Your husband doesn't have to find work when he arrives in the US - that's why they want to make sure you, the USC, make enough money for the household.
 
I was unemployed by the time I received my visa, and I don't work now (became a stay-at-home mom) - it wasn't an issue with my visa and it wasn't an issue to get my greencard approved. You are overthinking this WAY too much.

Your husband doesn't have to find work when he arrives in the US - that's why they want to make sure you, the USC, make enough money for the household.
 
I was unemployed by the time I received my visa, and I don't work now (became a stay-at-home mom) - it wasn't an issue with my visa and it wasn't an issue to get my greencard approved. You are overthinking this WAY too much.

I happily and sincerely wish to congratulate our dear mates who got their NOA1 and checks cashed despite the delays and all. It is noteworthy that this team of March filers have had pretty good favors in their process ranging from sending out old forms and they were accepted to checks cashed and NOA 1 received and to biometrics scheduled. I say to all, be strong, keep it positive and hopeful.
 
To some of us who haven't heard from USCIS, do not be detered or have a troubled heart, keep it positive and always believe it will go through. 
 
To some of us who wish their field offices could be few miles away from them, I will humbly suggest we allow the free flow of wherever the send you to be, because with the slow pace of response from USCIS, one may not in my opinion love to have his/her case further prolonged because of that. It is part of the sacrifices that goes with this process.
 
Good luck to us all folks.

Yes, the 13th. When it arrived is not an important date at this point. 

A K-1 can apply for a EAD as soon as they enter BUT it will expire when the I-94 does and since it takes 3-4 months to get it would not make sense to pay the money to get it and it would not come in time so yeah.
 
SSN can be used for many other things so that's why people get it right away.

I don't think you can track money orders - that's why some people say checks are preferable...
 
I already have my greencard, but we sent the paperwork for my two daughters this morning, so we're March K2 AOS filers.

Don't forget though that some applications never make it to the field office and are processed and approved centrally. Mine was like that - we received a notice of potential interview waiver and within a few months the greencard was in the mail.

I don't think you can tell from the NOA1 addresses. The cases are created/opened at a central location, from what I understand, and then potentially get routed to the field office.

And get a TB test for yourself.

How so???

If you can stay in Chile while waiting for the CR1, why can't you do the same while waiting for the K1?

If you can stay in Chile while waiting for the CR1, why can't you do the same while waiting for the K1?

If you can stay in Chile while waiting for the CR1, why can't you do the same while waiting for the K1?

If you can stay in Chile while waiting for the CR1, why can't you do the same while waiting for the K1?

If you can stay in Chile while waiting for the CR1, why can't you do the same while waiting for the K1?