Rick1984

Treat AOS as a completely separate process.

The affidavit support form is different.

You'll need new evidence.

Just read the guides for help.

ahh but here's the thing; for the K1 i did an I864 because it was more stringent; to show more financials than they had anticipated and they accepted it as part of the package. that's why i am saying it doesn't seem that much different....

Hey all, sorry for the long go between updates. Long story short, I have been busy. I was in Ecuador a week ago for the interview, and they have approved it. The plan is that my fiancee will come in May. So now on to preparing the stuff for AOS. The thing is, for a K-1 visa, a lot of the AOS stuff they ask for is the same stuff as for a K-1 visa. hmmm... wonder if i can just recycle it?

Anyways, everything passed super smoothly. I wrote a brief consulate review on Guayaquil, but suffice to say, the horror stories I had read did not compare with our experiences there.

just got my NOA 2 on Monday, looks like it was approved the 22nd. I am a bit confused as to what happens next, as the letter from USCIS was rather vague. Do I do nothing and await them to contact her in Ecuador, or are there things I can/should be doing now and wait for them to contact me? I have found the following link, http://photos.state.gov/libraries/guayaquil/231771/PDFs/WEB%20PK4%20Visas%20K%20SPANISH%20_October%2017%202014__001.pdf, that I have sent to her with the instructions on what to start preparing for now...But other than that... I have no idea. I hope that we won't be scheduled for an interview until January because it will be nearly impossible for me to escape work until them... not that I want it to be that way, but that's just the way it is...

i mailed my package last week, and got my NOA1 today, the 15th... looks like i'm a may filer for sure!

just an update guys

mailed the paperwork in last week, and got an email notice that it has been received today.

the first step in a long road...

i hope and pray that all is smooth sailing... =/

Rick, what Slowlyman says about the letter of financial support is true.

What he says about front-loading though, disregard that. He didn't go through Guayaquil, and those of that have gone through and survived Guayaquil, know better. You should front-load your petition, not an all-inclusive description of your relationship, but rather some items that span your relationship.

i know it's not as simple as a letter; i know it's another standard form with more documentation required. however, my parents are both 100% in support of our relationship and have repeatedly stated they wish to help out in any way they can up to and including financial support. I'd rather use the resource at my disposal to avoid any questions or issues with Guayaquil than to have it rejected on the thought that i didn't need to have my father offer his declaration to the government...

if you read the reviews and experiences of the Guayaquil consulate, it is indeed a battle. many of those reviewers and couples experienced needless denials and delays just because. just like doing taxes, provide more evidence for them to support you than to deny you or suspect you is my interpretation of the facts of the bureaucracy that exists in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Remember, just because the government has a 'standard' form and a 'standard' process, does not mean that all reviewing officials are of the same 'standard'.

i work with the government and everyday it's a struggle. you'll get different answers based on who you ask and what time of day you ask even with the set standard...

thanks for the help guys/gals. sorry for the delay in response... been hectic at work and i've come home utterly exhausted.

here's a progress report. in reading and researching from this forum plus other advocacies, i've basically prepared myself for the possibility of waging a battle with Uncle Sam. That is, "prepare for the worst but hope for the best". I have my parents and brother preparing letters, my father is going to co-sign a financial support document (not that i NEED his support, i make more than 125% of the poverty line), my mom has a timeline of her experiences with Johanna when we went to meet them (literally, my mother kept a log which i did not know about until she shared it with me), preparing to buy bulk printing supplies (i have a VERYYYYY long email/facebook/skype chat log hahahaha)

on her end, since I obviously cannot be in Ecuador at the moment, Johanna is utilizing her English professor to help her with translating several of the forms I need from her (not the ones that officially need to be translated, but rather explaining the information required in the g125a form and filling it out as required) , and found out which FedEx/DHL facility is closest to her in Quito.

Bottom line, my philosophy on this matter is "don't give them a reason to say no, but give them every reason to say yes." I figure by front loading the application it will anticipate them asking the hard questions which ideally would make it easier down the line...

and yes i am planning on going to guayaquil with her whenever that time arises, which it won't for many months, but nonetheless, i will be there somehow.

Posted Today, 04:36 PM

thanks for the help guys. guess that means she should sign them and mail them soon then... cause who knows when i will actually get them then sigh...

Hey all, this is my first post to this forum. Needless to say, I am in the process of gathering all my paperwork and documentation necessary to begin the proceedings, as I am anxious to get my lady here. The concern I have is when one looks at this guide here, there are several additional steps listed that aren't on the official guides from USCIS/DoS. I'm not doubting the authenticity mind, just wondering that if I go above and beyond the call of duty as it were, would I be risking some sort of paperwork snafu, or does adding the additional documentation help ensure success that much more?

Another question I had is that whenever the time comes, and we receive our NOA2 for her visit to the embassy (I would assume embassy since she lives in Quito... wouldn't make sense for her to go to Guayaquil but then I work for Uncle Sam so I know stranger things have happened...) will she have to do anything in English? She is learning slowly how to speak it, but a government form is intimidating enough to those of us who do read and write it natively; I can only imagine someone who can barely say she doesn't speak English. I only worry because I would love to be there to assist with the interview, whenever that day comes, but I've heard conflicting evidence that it can't help and could actually hurt. Not certain, and as that day will be WAYYYYY in the future... it's a bit of a moot point at this juncture.

Last question I have is, due to the physical nature of the distance between us, is it acceptable to fill in the forms digitally, email them as an attachment, have her print them and sign them, then re-scan them and re-email them? I would hate to have to spend time waiting on the post to get a physical form to Ecuador just for a quick signature and repost (I sent postcards from Ecuador a week before I left and the recipients only got them a month AFTER I returned... Do not want to go through that wait just for a quick signature). Are there any official DHS forms available in Spanish anywhere, if only to give her a copy and have her follow along as it were? I know that for certain things there are official forms in Spanish, especially in the Southwestern border states, but I don't know about this k-1 visa process. I tried searching but found nothing.

I suppose a bit of background is in order here.

-She already has a multiple entry b-2 visa good until 2017

-We met when she was here on vacation a year and a half ago

-I speak/read/write Spanish, but not at an advanced/native proficiency (I suppose you might say it's sufficient to go on vacation and navigate Ecuadorian society but I wouldn't be writing any papers, reports, or technical manuals anytime soon)

-We already have numerous records of my visits to Ecuador and her visits here, including photos of her and I together, her and my parents together, etc. In fact, my parents are absolutely supportive and anxious to have a daughter-in-law...

Thanks in advance for any help! Eager to begin!