Zedayn

The I-134 that was already sent is fine. No need to send another.

Congrats!

The only thing required of question 34 is a statement from you of when and where you met. That is describing the circumstances of how you met. Simply this: WE MET ON [DATE] AT [PLACE].

Volunteer work is classified as charitable work you will provide to a non-profit organization, and that you receive absolutely no compensation whatsoever. Compensation includes ANYTHING that will benefit you: money, training, future job position, etc.
The Department of Labor establishes what they call volunteer work, which is loosely defined as "Individuals who volunteer or donate their services, usually on a part-time basis, for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives, not as employees and without contemplation of pay.." (Source: http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/docs/volunteers.asp)
I also found another resource to help you determine if it is truly volunteer work or if it is unpaid employment: http://www.nonprofitrisk.org/library/articles/employee_or_volunteer.shtml
Basically you answer these questions:
Is the entity that will benefit/receive services from the volunteer a nonprofit organization? Is the activity less than a full-time occupation? Are the services offered freely and without pressure or coercion? Are the services of the kind typically associated with volunteer work? Have regular employees been displaced to accommodate the volunteer? Does the worker receive (or expect) any benefit from the entity to which it is providing services? If you answer YES to the first 4 and NO to the last 2, then it is considered volunteer work.

I'll tell you what my wife told me before we started the process. We will always have some type of debt in our lives, but we can't let debt that debt rule our lives and force us to give up happiness. Live life every day, despite the debts, and work to be happy...not work just to pay off debt. Do what it takes to be happy.

You only need ONE signed G-325A form, ONE signed letter of intent, and ONE 2x2 passport photo. Nothing needs notarized.
Your birth certificate is also not needed. You will need the NSO birth certificate when you have your visa interview.
No she won't get an RFE. She sent everything to her fiancé that she needed to: G-325A, letter of intent, and passport photo.

There is no longer a need to wait, since the SAVE database is updated immediately after POE due to the now electronic I-94s.

You can apply for the SSN as soon as you can. Since the I-94 is electronic, the SAVE database is updated immediately following your POE.
If you file for the EAD before marriage, your category will be A6.
In consideration of filing early for the EAD, keep in mind this EAD will only be valid as long as your I-94 is valid. This EAD will expire 90 days after your POE, and will cost you $380. Also, it takes about 2 to 3 months to get approved.

There is no longer a need to wait, since the SAVE database is updated immediately after POE due to the now electronic I-94s.

You are right that there are no waivers for a felony criminal conviction for a controlled substance. According to the INA, he is completely inadmissible to the US...this is under an immigrant OR non-immigrant visa. The ONLY way he would be able to come back to the US is if the conviction was overturned and all charges dropped. Not sure what you mean by the latter part of your post, as the only thing to "get squared away" in his life would be to get the conviction off his record. Leading a good honest life, keeping good morals, setting a good example, etc. are nice things to do, but that won't get you a visa to come back to the US. Currently at this point there is no "he might be able to get one after a couple of years", its likely he won't ever get one for his lifetime.

The sponsor listed in part 2 question 13 is the person who is filling out the I-864 to which the I-864A will be used. Her parents are filling out the I-864 as joint sponsors, her father is filling out the I-864 and her mother is filling out the I-864A. In this case on the I-864A form, her mother is considered the HOUSEHOLD MEMBER and her father is considered the SPONSOR.
To help clarify, its easy to understand if you read the sponsor's promise in part 2 which says in part: I, the sponsor, in consideration of the household member's promise to support....agree to complete and file an affidavit of support.
This section basically means that the sponsor agrees to file an affidavit of support to which the I-864A can be used. As such, the SPONSOR is the person filling out the I-864, and the HOUSEHOLD MEMBER is the person filling out the I-864A. I hope that helps your confusion.
PS...I do not see your example I-864A.

You need a new I-134 for the embassy interview. There was no need to send in an I-134 with the I-129F, because you would have had to fill out a new one anyways after your petition approval.

Yes waiting is always hard, but you are lucky that you can see each other regularly. Imagine those that are thousands of miles apart and cannot. A suggestion to help pass the time would be to research further steps in your visa process. For example, read about embassy reviews, what documents are needed for your visa interview, etc. And also researching ahead to when you have to file for AOS.

Write your 2 jobs on a separate sheet, and add the total income from both jobs. Put that total income on the I-134 Form. On question 7 in the first blank, you will just write "SEE ATTACHMENT". Make sure your attachment sheet is labeled as a supplement to the I-134 question 7.

You do not pay the biometrics fee with the I-765. All you pay is the filing fee of $380 if filing before your AOS.
If you were denied, it is likely that denial is because your I-94 is expired. The EAD you applied for is only valid until the expiration in your I-94.

If you are using assets, remember they need to be at least 3 times the difference you are short. For example if you are short $2k, you will need 6k in assets. If you are using ONLY assets, you will need close to 60k in assets. If in doubt, bring a co-sponsor...they are accepted at the embassy in Bogota.
Colombia requires 125% of the poverty guidelines.

Once you arrive in the US with a K-1 visa, you will have to marry within 90 days. After you are married you will file AOS paperwork for your conditional green card, and also at the same time you can apply for EAD and AP. EAD will allow you to begin work in the US before receiving your green card, AP will allow you to return to the US before receiving the green card. It will take about 3 months AFTER filing to receive the EAD/AP card.

It is not fair for anyone to suggest it takes a year or more for "healing" after a bad relationship. Healing will take as little or as long as it takes, for some it could take a few days, weeks, months or years. Just like falling in love with someone can be love at first sight, or it could take years knowing someone before you finally feel you are in love. The point is, only the heart knows when it is ready and NO ONE can say otherwise. If the OP's friend is ready to start a relationship now, then go for it!

You are getting the I-130 (petition for alien relative...or spousal visa) confused with the I-134 (affidavit of support). You filed an I-129F petition for your fiancé. You do not get processed at NVC, they will not send you a bill and you pay nothing to them. You also do not fill out an I-130. Once your case is received at NVC, a case number will be generated for your petition and it will be sent off to the embassy where your fiancé will interview for the visa. Normally it only takes maybe a couple days before its in transit to the embassy. You can call NVC every day, ask them if they received your case yet and if so if they have a case number for you. They will ask for your USCIS receipt number. Once you have your NVC case number, you can track the case to see when it leaves NVC and arrives at the embassy. Track the case here: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw== Choose Immigrant Visa, and in the box below enter your NVC case number.
Once your case is at the embassy, your fiancé will need to do things to prepare for the visa interview. One of the things needed from you is the Form I-134 affidavit of support. You can print out the form for free here: http://www.uscis.gov/i-134
Here is the instruction packet for the K-1 visa for your fiancé's country: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/ukraine/895/pdf/K_Instructions_001.pdf
Here is also another guide from the embassy's website for fiancé visas: http://ukraine.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html

Wow congrats!! Hoping ours is soon too.

Hello VJ friends,
This is my AOS interview experience, hope could help fellow immigrants
Brief info: I entered US on a K1 visa on April 17, 2014, got married May 2014 applied AOS June 2014 (my marriage certificate took a month to process ugh!) received Biometrics August and EAD/AP at the same month then scheduled for interview Sept 22, 2014 received greencard September 29, 2014 (fast enough for me yay!!)
AOS: AOS or Adjustment of status is basically an application for greencard (permanent resident) done after marriage or shall i say after receiving your marriage certificate (no RFE goal, photocopy the marriage certificate not the customers copy) to be able to legally work and travel in and out of US. You will sent a packet (like the ones sent on K1 petition). For more info go to USCIS website or other forums regarding AOS application
AOS interview: main goal is to prove bona fide marriage. Just picture yourself in a court trying to prove to the judge that you are truly married with pure intentions or rightful motivations (not just to go in the US). Many people kinda questions this process but I personally understands its purpose, it is to eliminate human trafficking and fraud.
*AOS interview letter will provide a checklist of requirements like marriage license, divorce decrees, birth certs, passports and others so i would like to emphasize on bona fide marriage proofs because it was not further discussed in the letter
PREPARATION:
PROOF of bona fide MARRIAGE
1. "Joint everything"
Joint accounts (bank or credit cards), joint insurances (car, life, health), joint house (lease agreement, utility bills) joint membership (gym etc)
Joint accounts: The bank will need 2 government issued IDs to join an account
My husband is a Chase member for so long so we figured it would be easy to join in there so I presented my foreign passport, with my maiden name so i also brought our marriage license, my foreign ID, and my EAD combo card. They asked for my driver's license (i still have none because I just got my EAD). In short, they didnt allow me to join into my husbands account because I do not have TWO US government issued ID. (sucks)
SOLUTION: apply to Bank of America. your Foreign passport and marriage license will work. add your EAD combo card if you already have it. So basically we opened an account for additional proof for the interview. My husband usually gives me cash since i cannot join in his chase account but again we need to prove bona fide marriage so we opened an account just for that, but we are using it now. I can say more convenient than cash haha
*you need to print ACCOUNT SUMMARY and BANK STATEMENT which includes both your names on the paper and you can also photocopy your atm/credit cards
Joint insurance
We printed benefit summary of his health and life insurances where my name is on it. always remember both of your NAMES must be indicated. You can also photocopy both of your health cards and also bring it to the interview
"Joint house"
In our case, we live with my in-laws so all the lease agreement and utility bills are named after them so we just decided to bring letters sent to us with same address. You can bring letters (like from government or health insurances, cards etc) sent to you individually with the same address (ofcourse) It is important because "truly" married people live together but we still need to prove it.
*some people without lease agreements came up with affidavits of people living in the same house signing a paper that they indeed live together
2. Pictures
We brought an album of our "entire" relationship, from courtship to marriage to our US trips. The interviewer only asked for the wedding pictures and those with each others relatives so might as well bring what you can, any of those maybe asked.
*it will be helpful to pose into a landmark of a certain place together, like welcome to las vegas so it will be obvious that you really went to that place, always keep in mind that they dont know us personally we need to prove them our genuine relationship. No room for doubts.
3. More more and more
You can bring "best wishes" cards or invites with both of your names, plane tickets or hotel reservations as long as it has BOTH OF YOUR NAMES on it.
OTHER DOCUMENTS/REQUIREMENTS:
* the interview notice is the most important document you should bring
*your husband (duh??) you may be interviewed separately or together
*cards (atm, credit card, health card) of those accounts you have joined
*house keys (some are asked if they have it to prove they really live in the same house) (brilliant huh?)
*SSN card, EAD card, passports (all other documents are stated in the interview letter)
INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE
When: Sept 22; 7:15am
WHere: Los Angeles
*parking is across the LA bldg. called LA MALL we were shocked it was 2.50$/10mins (it was the closest parking and most convenient) but the interview went very fast so we just paid less than 10$ all the parking areas near the place was closed it was very early but there are cheaper parking spaces around the block.
6:30am parked at LA mall
6:40am went in line at the right side of the entrance (i asked the guards inside if we were at the right line, better to be safe than sorry) there were about 6 people ahead of us and as time passes the line went longer and longer.. the earlier the better
7:00am they opened and we went through the take-off-your-belt-take-out-your-things-airport-type xray scan
7:10am we went into the room (at 6th or 7th flr sorry i forgot) and the guard lead us to window 1 the lady asked if all of the interviewee present, we said yes and we handed the AOS interview notice and then we sat and wait to be called
*some have lawyers with them for it is stated in the interview form that you have the right to bring your lawyer or interpreter with you so you have to wait for them before handing your notice, we didnt have a lawyer or interpreter
7:30am my name was called (i thought its just gonna be me) she asked for my husband (in our native language hooraayyy kabayan!!!) whew!
*i have read in some forums that some couples were interviewed separately to see if answers match
FLOW OF THE INTERVIEW:
She was a small lady very serious looking with a bulky folder with her (guessing it was our file)
*raise your right hand and repeat after me blah blah blah
*What is your name, address (MEMORIZE YOUR ADDRESS) and other demographic data was asked to me, the immigrant, while she was checking the AOS packet I think it was the form I-485 she was checking the part where have you been arrested yes or no questions.
*Do you work, do you drive? (immigrant)
*How long have you been working? where do you work? (petitioner)
*where did you meet? (we answer in chorus haha)
*when and where did you got married?
*can you show me some pictures? (i took out a magazine type album and some loose pictures, she opened the magazine and asked where certain pictures was taken)
*can you show me pictures of both of you with each other's families? (we showed her a lot but she told us we have provided enough on the k1 petition anyways so she didnt get anything, i kept them all)
*show me documents of any joint accounts, everything you have brought. (We gave her all our joint assets and a void bank check with both our names, she took all of them and stapled them on our file)
*she excuses herself and went out came back with a paper and told us.....
You have been approved congratulations (i shouted yehey a little haha she smiled ) and explained to us the content of the paper she was holding. it was an approval letter of conditional permanent resident and explained that we need to apply the conditions be removed after 2 years specifically 90 days before the date stated in the paper. She told us that the greencard will arrive through mail in a few weeks
*she saw our cards (atm and healthcard) still on the table and told us she needed it. she asked us to follow her near the door, there was a photocopy machine near there. we had a little chitchat about the Philippines and asked us if we have further questions while she copies our cards.
*she told us that the greencard must be brought at all times that I can now work and travel as long as I have that card with me and report immediately if stolen or lost. She told us to build more proof as time goes by so that it will be easier to remove the conditional greencard and make it permanent because most couples tends to forget that.
*we shook her hand and she sent us on our way it was just 10mins i think in total, very fast and light interview, we are truly blessed
in just 7 days i received my greencard!!! wohooo!!
TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:
There have been reported fraudulent marriages. Some are asked for hidden tattoos husband says none wife says there is, some presented a joint account found used in different cities proving they are fraudulent, some are asked even of room furniture. There are millions of possible questions but you will answer it right if your are REALLY MARRIED. We werent nervous, we will fight if we got declined, we will appeal. So no worries but prepare early to lessen the hassle. After passing, continue gathering proofs so that removal of conditions will be as easy breezy as AOS, keep cards, take pictures, use the joint accounts so we can present a yearly summary or accounts and not just recent months.
I hope I was able to help all of you. Feel free to message me here for questions or comments.
Good luck to all of us!
NEXT AGENDA: Drive and work. Wish me luck!!! :jest:

I'll tell you what my wife told me before we started the process. We will always have some type of debt in our lives, but we can't let debt that debt rule our lives and force us to give up happiness. Live life every day, despite the debts, and work to be happy...not work just to pay off debt. Do what it takes to be happy.

Yes, the embassy receives the entire petition you sent in. You should bring originals of copies sent in your petition, plus evidence you have accumulated from the time you filed.

You are not required to list your kids at this point in the process (assuming you are the petitioner). You only need to declare your kids when you are submitting the I-134 and it is for helping determine your household size. Of course your kids will come likely come up in the embassy interview, but its just so that they can tell if you have a bonafide relationship or not. Relax, you did fine.
It asks for children of the beneficiary. The petitioner does not need to declare children.

Each consulate is different in their requirements. The letter of intent is not on the list of requirements for USEM. They only want to see evidence of a genuine engagement. They give examples of what you can bring, such as letters, photos, etc. but a specific letter of intent is not listed.