T-Mo

Fiancée (now wife) came on K-1 and we got married within 90 days. Still within 90 days and preparing to submit everything for AOS.

1. The only copy we have of my wife's birth certificate is a scanned copy of certified original. Can we print this and submit it with the AOS?
2. Also how do people translate non english birth certificates? Is there a specific format that should be followed? Who is an acceptable person to do this translation?

NOTE: Wife is a Colombian national... birth certificate is in spanish.

Thanks in advance for any help with this matter!

Pretty sure he meant in the immigration lines at the airport lol. Go to the non us passport holder line with her...no problem.

Shauneg thanks... that was what I was looking for!

I am the U.S. citizen who is the sponsor to my fiancée who is a Colombian citizen. We will be traveling together from Bogotá to Norfolk, VA, with the POE being Atlanta. She has her approved visa, sealed packet (delivered with visa), her copy of the K-1 petition, and various proof of relationship items (photos, hand written letters between us, etc.).

When we land in ATL what happens next? (from all the times I have traveled I know I have to go through customs)

How long can I stay with her?

When will we be separated?

After separated, when and where can we reunite?

Is there anyone I need to tell in particular that we are traveling together?

Those are just some of the questions that come to mind as we prepare for our trip. Any pointers, advice, info on this would be greatly appreciate. I have been searching through the forums but have not been able to find anything that addresses specifically traveling together, points of separation/reunited etc.

Thanks,

T-Mo

this...

It may even be misconstrued as fraud. Because you try to enter the US under a VISA which does not apply.

Definitely not trying to go down that road... just trying to do something for her family as well. Hopefully a party before we come to the states is sufficient. Thanks.

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Sorry if I am asking too many questions... I am doing so, in order to not screw anything up. The longer I am involved with this process the more I learn that at times, clarification is a fine line. Trying to call UCIS is nearly helpless when using their call center, hence me turning to visa journey. Sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way with my follow up questions.

thanks to everyone for the quick responses... went with K-1 to avoid the hassle of waiting longer for her to come to the states with K-3 method. I have read a lot of posts and information with people stating that they did a second ceremony for the fiancé(e)'s family in their home country, but never knew the specifics of the "second" ceremonies. So sounds like it is always a non official ceremony without paperwork.

So thus before or after makes no difference (with no papers)?

So what you are both saying is that basically the wedding in Colombia can never be official, before or after K-1 entry?

My Fianceé wil be having her K-1 visa interview the first week of June in Bogotá, Colombia. Assuming it goes well for her, I was going to fly out to see her in late July or early August. We wanted to have a wedding ceremony for her family in Colombia before we return together to the United States. Once here in the states, we would do a courthouse type wedding U.S. legal formalities/ AOS purposes (nothing fancy since we did that with her family in Colombia).

If the wedding in Colombia is a legitimate wedding by Colombian standards, is there any issues with that? I am definitely in favor of this as it would give my fiancée's family the opportunity to be a part of the process and we would still be doing the required wedding for K-1 purposes in the states.

Thanks in advance.

It's always useful to read the pinned threads.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/538432-process-for-the-mailing-and-receiving-of-i-129f-petitions/

Cody and Daisy... Thanks for the link, good stuff. I understood the dropbox mechanism but I didn't understand the TSC aspect of it, as I was still under the impression that the petition would go to Vermont. So TSC it is...

Now after doing a little more research I have learned that the CSC is noticeably quicker than TSC with I-129Fs. Anyone have any insight to why this is the case? Definitely seems like a bumb deal that solely based on your residence will determin your wait time time on the NOA2. Thoughts/ explinations?

Regards and thanks in advance,

T-Mo

Not even close to accurate. There most definitely is a pattern.

Is one better than the other? What is the pattern based on?

Hi there,

Petitions for K1 are only being handled by California or Texas. Since you are from Virginia, you will be processed unfortunately by Texas. The Lockbox is not the same thing as a service center. Think of it like a distribution hub. Everyone's petition goes there, and then it is sent off to the appropriate service center handling the case.

Thanks to the quick reply (to you both)... you say "will be processed unfortunately by Texas". Why unfortunately Texas? Is it because they are are slower than California?

Today I received my first NOA (I-797C) for the I-129F that I submitted (I am the petitioner). The NOA is notice of "receipt," and states the following: "The I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance(e) has been received by our office for the following beneficiaries and is in process".

In the bottom left corner of the I-797C is the Texas Service Center address. Is this is service center which will be services the I-129F? I only ask because I was of the understanding that I-129F petitions were serviced regionally corresponding to the petitioners physical residence. If this is in dead true, it would make sense that my I-129F be serviced by Vermont because I am living in Virginia.

So I am confused... is the Texas Service Center servicing my petition or are they just responding because I submitted the I-129F to the Dallas Lockbox?

Any help/input on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Regards,

T-Mo

This came up on another thread, petitioning her to become a Permanent Resident means she lives in the US, if she heads back to Columbia every time you are deployed is that practical?

I understand what you are saying... If I knew that the within the first 9-12 months that she is in the states that I wasn't deploying then it wouldn't be an issue, as I would be here to help her adjust and learn everything in my area. I am just trying to prepare for all possible scenarios and eliminate all possible difficulties or undesirable situations.

Hopefully somebody can steer me in the right direction and thank you for taking the time to read my post...

I am new to the visa process and it feels as though the more I learn on my own, the more I become confused. Fortunately I stumbled across visajourney.com, which has been extremely helpful in opening my eyes to the abundance of information and paths that are available for obtaining visas. I will list the facts that comprise my current situation, followed with the dilemma we are facing.

SITUATION:

• I am in the US Military and my fiancé is a Colombian citizen living in Colombia.
• We want her to move to the United States.
• We are not dead set on getting married in the United States (more than likely we will do a ceremony Colombia for her family even if we chose to get married in the United States).
• The earliest we could get married (United States or Colombia) would probably be July, as I have to update my security clearance with my intent to marry a foreign national, which takes roughly 120 days to process this update.

UNDERSTANDING:

K-1 would more than likely the quickest method to bring her to the united states, with the following stipulations:

• Marriage would need to happen within 90 days, and a subsequent Adjustment of Status (AOS).
• Once the AOS is filed she cannot leave the united states (and return) unless she has been granted Advanced Parole (AP), which can take upwards of 90 days to be granted.

INITIAL FEELINGS:

• Initially I was sold on the K-1 method because I could realistically get the ball rolling and submit the I-129F for the K-1 in the next couple of weeks, by February 14th, 2015 once I receive her forms. The paper trail would be started while I am waiting for my security clearance to be updated. The K-1 route would, as it appears, get her in the United States the quickest. My only, and its a HUGE concern, is her ability to return to Colombia during the waiting period for approval of AOS. It is more than likely that I will have to deploy during this time frame of waiting for the AOS approval and I do not want her to have to sit her waiting the whole time I am gone. I would like for her to be able to travel back to see her family and be with them until I return from deployment.
• If I go with K-3, or IR-1 I would have to wait until we get married (no earlier than July) to submit any paperwork to USCIS... obviously this slows the process down from the beginning. Onto the positive side of this method, I understand that a K-3 would allow her to travel back and forth to Colombia for 2 years (or until a IR-1/AOS is approved). And obviously if we waited for IR-1 approval, there would be no waiting for travel as well, just the waiting for filing (post marriage) and then approval.

QUESTIONS:

If we go the K-1 route, and once the AOS is submitted can we request expediting because I am in the military?

While doing the K-1 route, is AP a reliable method for allowing her to go back to her family in Colombia, while I am on deployment or gone for a long time, or is there a chance she will not get to reenter the United States (even if she has AP approved)?

Again thanks for taking the time to read my post and I look forward to learning and hopefully obtaining a better idea as to the best route for my fiancé and I to take.

Regards,

T-Mo