jagsfl
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Posts posted by jagsfl
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8 minutes ago, carmel34 said:
You sound like a careful person, you want the petition done right the first time. Read the guides here on VJ and do it yourself. Go over the petition a few times to make sure it's correct. Ask questions here on VJ. Gather your evidence and organize it according to the suggestions here. There are so many horror stories about people paying attorneys and they make mistakes, cause delays, forget to send a critical document, etc. etc. Some people use attorneys and have a good experience, but why pay an attorney (who will have their clerical staff do all of this anyway), to fill out forms for you? I found it much less stressful to do it myself and not have to worry about someone else making a mistake. It's a personal choice, but if you pay attention to details I suggest just doing it yourself. That way you're in control of the process, and that''s helpful. Also remember that using an attorney does not speed anything up, and usually slows down the process because it's one more office/bureaucracy in the chain. The only time attorneys are needed is when there are real legal problems in a complicated immigration case, such as previous deportations, waivers, criminal records, etc. Whatever you do, good luck!
That does make a lot of sense there. I didn't think of it that way. I also haven't seen the threads of the horror stories from attorneys making large mistakes.
I'm sure I can do it myself so I reckon that's what I'm going to do. I do have help here as you have stated and I need to use that as my cushion instead of just acting out on fear and getting someone else to do what I can do.
One of my concerns with doing it myself is that I am currently traveling abroad for the past couple of years with my wife. We met a couple of years ago and got married in December. My concern is, if I do it myself, how does the communication process take place with USCIS? Are they going to be sending me physical mail with what they need from me, and what the next steps are? Or can I do all of this over e-mail? If the whole process can be done over e-mail that would be great. If not, my 'physical living address' is back at my moms house and she can look out for the mail.
Also another question I have is when is it that I have to go do my interview in the states? Do I ever do my interview in the states, or would I be doing it in Indonesia with my wife?
Thanks big time! -
30 minutes ago, missileman said:
Our delay didn't happen in the first 6 months. It happened at the NVC stage, 9 months after the attorney submitted the first paperwork......in stead of the normal 11 weeks (at that time) at NVC, our case was stuck there for 23 weeks............delays can happen at any time during the 12-14 month process.
Oh I see. Got it... Thanks for your advice, I'm going to look a bit more into the whole process and decide from there. I'm no where hurting for money, and more or less want to have someone else do it just for sake of less anxiety worrying about it, and time.
Btw thanks for your service. I also was in the AF, did 6 years.
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3 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:
Oops, would be really useful to have the link, wouldn't it?
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognition-accreditation-roster-reports
Haha! thanks alot!
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1 minute ago, USS_Voyager said:
Here are the links to the lists
I don't see the links attached, maybe it didn't attach right
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7 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:
There are USCIS authorized representatives/providers. They must work for a specific nonprofit, religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization. The organization must be authorized by the Board to represent aliens. They can help you fill in the paperwork, usually at very little charge (a couple hundred bucks compares to thousands a lawyer would charge) or even free. I work with some of these guys before. They're pretty knowledgeable and usually themselves have gone through the process before personally.
https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/become-authorized-provider
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/accredited-representative
Would you happen to have contact info to anyone who could help me?!
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2 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:
There are USCIS authorized representatives/providers. They must work for a specific nonprofit, religious, charitable, social service, or similar organization. The organization must be authorized by the Board to represent aliens. They can help you fill in the paperwork, usually at very little charge (a couple hundred bucks compares to thousands a lawyer would charge) or even free. I work with some of these guys before. They're pretty knowledgeable and usually themselves have gone through the process before personally.
https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/become-authorized-provider
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/accredited-representative
Man that's awesome. Thanks for that tip! I'm going to give these guys a look, I really appreciate it.
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6 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:
If you are set with using an attorney, simply do a search for one in your local area that specializes in immigration. You can also look at visa services. Just keep in mind that those attorneys and visa services make mistakes as well (for example, not notifying a client of an RFE), and really you still have to be very vigilant with respect to how they are doing the work. Also, no attorney or visa service can speed up the immigration process regardless of what they advertise. I happen to agree with @missileman, if the case is simple, I would do it myself and bank the money for when my spouse arrives. Remember VJ is here to help.
Good Luck!
Thanks... I guess the biggest thing is that I don't want one thing to be wrong on the forms when I'm doing it. One slight thing can get them to say "No" right? And as someone mentioned above, it can take months before you finally hear back from USCIS with them telling me so? So then I have to re-start the whole process all over again?
7 minutes ago, missileman said:There are certainly plenty of attorneys and agencies out there who will happy to take your money and do the "middle man" work. My attorney cost me $2000 and caused a 3 month delay..........
RFEs can occur at any point in the process.......so, until the visa is issues, approval and accuracy is not guaranteed
This kinda ties into my response to Bill & Katya, a 3 month delay can't really be a bad thing right? When the delay could be a lot worse if you were to do it yourself and USCIS doesn't let you know you've done it wrong for 6 months +?
Also, I'd like to point out that I work for myself so I have been living and traveling abroad for the past couple of years with my wife. Since I am not at home, could the process of going back and forth with USCIS in regards to RFE's and other sorts be a pain in the ***?
I wouldn't mind submitting things myself. I just have all of these concerns ^above^ that makes me think I wouldn't mind forking out 2 grand to have it taken care of for me without concerns. I can always make more money. -
5 minutes ago, missileman said:
If your case is not complicated, you can probably do it yourself. Most people here use the guides and ask questions. An attorney or visa service will only use the information and documents that you have to provide to fill in forms...then they submit the paperwork.........
This is true, and I've thought about it. I've done quite the research. But then I see the cases where people send stuff in and don't hear back from USCIS for months because something was wrong, and then I also see mixed info on it all.
I'd rather just have someone tell me exactly what to send them and have them do it, instead of worrying if it was done right. I guess that leads me to the question....
How long is it 'suppose to' take before you even find out if what you sent in was correct?
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Thank you all for the help. I've decided to go ahead and get a lawyer to help me out on this as I just want it done right the first time and don't want to mess anything up. Thanks so much though as it is still good guidance going through this.
If any of you can recommend a good one, that would be amazing. Thanks.
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Hey all,
I am looking for guidance in getting this CR-1 done correctly. I got married to an Indonesian December of last year. I was going to do it myself, but there is so much conflicting info, that I'd rather it just be prepared and sent in by someone who's been doing this for many people. I want it done right the first time without hick-ups. Any recommendations at good prices would be great. I know this isn't that tough of a job, and the little time spent on it isn't worth the quotes I've been hearing from some law firms trying to pull a fast one. Thanks.
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Btw: all I have for proof is that marriage book with the courthouse rep's Stamp, Signature, Date. It doesn't have the other info.
And I also have pictures in the courthouse of us getting married, (signing the marriage books), and pictures holding them up infront of us signed, inside the courthouse. -
Hey group,
I have been doing some research on the things my spouse will need to give me copies of, and forms to sign. I am flying out to the U.S. in a few days, where I'd like to bring whatever I needed from her so that I can finish up my side of adding documents, and then send off the envelope to USCIS.
From my gathering, I see what I need from her is:
- To fill out and sign the Form I-130A
- Copy of our Indonesia Marriage Certificate
- Copy of birth certificate
- Passport style photo
- Copies of passport, and the pages within
And then I also see that I need this:
- Evidence of the bona fides of the marriage, if petitioning for a spouse:- Documentation showing joint ownership of property
- A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence, meaning you both live at the same address together
- Documentation showing that you and your spouse have combined your financial resources
- Birth certificates of children born to you and your spouse together
- Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. Each affidavit must contain the full name and address of the person making the affidavit; date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit; and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired their knowledge of your marriage
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Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union
The problem is that we just got married recently. We don't have any joint ownership of property. We don't have a lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence (when I am in Indonesia with her, we're usually just staying at her home where she grew up with her parents). I have no document that shows we have combined financial resources. We have no children.
I guess we could get an affidavit, but it would be from the man who married us at the local courthouse? He gave us a marriage book that has his stamp, signature, date etc, but not really his full name, place of birth etc...
It does say: #6. Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union
Would the marriage book we got work? If not, I guess I would have to get a specific paper that he needs to fill out and sign again for this?
Also, am I missing anything here? I want to make sure I have what I need from her so I don't forget anything and she doesn't have to ship anything over to the states.
Thanks for your help,
jagsfl -
18 hours ago, Roel said:
You do need to provide proofs of income and taxes. Just give it to your fiance when she'll go to the interview...
And no. AOS process needs to be started after you get married. She cannot leave US until either her green card gets approved (about a year) or she receive advance parole card. Which usually takes 3 to 6 months into the AOS process.
If she leaves without that, she will not be allowed to come back to the US.
Oh ok gotcha! Awesome thanks. After doing some more research it really does seem like the spouse visa is the "easier" way around all of this. She would be able to get a drivers license pretty much right away, and would be able to leave the US a Lot sooner than with a fiance visa. We are quite possibly going to go the spouse visa CR1 route instead.
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5 minutes ago, Roel said:
You don't show anything and you're not the one being interview. Your fiance brings all the documents to her interview.
And seriously research AOS since it's part of k1 process. Without that your fiance /wife will not be allowed to work, travel and won't have legal presence in the US. AOS itself takes over a year to approve. And hope your fiance is ok with not being able to work for A while until she's allowed.
Ok so I never show proof of income ever. Got it. I've read over and over that I have to.
I will look into AOS right now and preparing for that. I imagine that there is nothing I can physically do for the AOS process though until after we marry in the US? She's fine with not having to work.
After the AOS is approved, is that when she will be able to leave the US to go visit family etc?
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6 minutes ago, JE57 said:
Reol's answers above are good so I won't re-visit those. Having been thru the process also while living abroad with my Fiancee (at the time) I'll tell you that there may be some additional requirements that you'll need to be prepared to address come interview time in months from now. Certainly regarding the validity of the relationship the fact that you are living with her in Indonesia should make that part relatively easy. However, you will need to prove that you are domiciled or intend to establish Domicile in the USA and prove that your income is from or will be from a US source unless you are using savings (which would require lots and lots) or you are retired and receiving retirement or some other type of structured payment that will follow you to the USA. Even so you'll want to make sure you have ties or proof of intent to establish ties to the USA prior to the interview. Things like you own a home in the USA or have a lease for an Apartment along with the income source should satisfy the embassy at interview time. If you've missed anything critical in the application you'll get an RFE. (request for Evidence) which would delay but not kill the process. If you followed the guide step by step it's very very likely that you've done it all right. Also in regards to the income and domicile questions I mentioned this too is unlikely to deny the K-1 but rather result in the Embassy asking for additional documents if necessary and a minor delay in AP processing. In our case the embassy needed some additional proof from my US company but graciously told my now wife that she was essentially approved and they just needed those documents.. (that was in HK though and every embassy differs so your mileage may vary). Good luck and God Bless
Thanks JE57. I'm still a bit confused as to when my interview is. Joel states that my fiance will only have the interview, not me. I think there is misunderstanding... I run my businesses online which is eCommerce and consulting. My taxes from last year reflect around 50k in profit income so I believe things should work out well in terms of my income standings (and this years will be more which I will be able to show at an interview when that time comes next year).. since it's all US based I think all if okay. I do not currently have a place of my own in the states, I essentially sold everything but a few essentials (in which I left at my moms garage, and her house I essentially call as my address now) and left traveling. I have not had a lease on a home since January 2017. I've been traveling since March 2017. I hope what I give them would satisfy them...
11 minutes ago, Roel said:Both. Once you get a case number you can also track the case online. But their update system is something bit inaccurate.
I've seen people brining financial documents to the interview, some include it in the packet.
Also if you're going k1 route it's a good idea to start researching AOS process and what you'll need for that.
Okay, that's good I can track it online even if it's not entirely accurate.
You mentioned earlier how the interview is for my fiance, not me... but when do I actually show my tax documents?
Awesome - I will look into AOS process too. Thanks!!
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Thanks Roel,
When you say that they communicate through regular mail, is this just to tell me where we are in the process? Or is them wanting me to send more things?
Ok so, for everything to get approved it takes roughly 10 months. And I do not have an interview. That's good to know, but, I've seen a few times where I have to show them my taxes. When/where do I do that?
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Hey everyone I'm about to send in my K-1 Visa application for my Indonesian fiance today, and I have some questions about the process, what to expect etc. If you could help answer any I'd really appreciate it big time.. Thanks!
1. I added everything inside the "Assembling The I-129F Package: Checklist" here at http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide. I am 99% sure I did everything right, however, if I am missing anything in there will I have to resubmit a whole new package, or could I just send them the one thing that they need? I've thought about hiring one of those consultants who help with this process, but I believe I've got it all.... If I'm missing something I can just send that one thing in?
2. How long does it take to hear back from them with my application approved and moving on to the next step? How do they contact me.... by phone? Email? Since I'm currently living out in South East Asia with her, I don't always have the best reception to receive calls, so I really hope that it's e-mail.
3. When is my face to face interview bound to happen? (How many weeks/months after sending the application)?
4. When will her interview be in Indonesia? I believe this is the last step correct? So that's roughly 5 or 6 months from when they receive my application?
5. When do they ask to see my tax documents? Is this during my face-to-face interview?
6. Before I send this thing in one last question I have is, would this whole process of her getting to the USA be easier if we got married in Indonesia first?
Thanks for anything you can chime in on. I'm sure I'll have a few other questions, any help you can give would really help my anxiety here with knowing what's going on and not having a head full of confusion that sucks.
Thanks!
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Yeah... I know it won't be ready by Christmas. I hope everything works out well after submitting it! Have you seen any cases where they denied K1?
Thank you for that link! That surely will come in use
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Thanks guys for the quick responses. I should add a couple of things in here to consider (I will also try editing the Original Post):
We met in March. When we met she had just recently quit her job. We started dating and ever since, we have been together traveling around South East Asia. I have been supporting her the whole time since then. (Therefor she does not have strong ties back home... hence no job.)
I can see why the tourist visa won't work out. We'll try anyway and hope for the best. If it doesn't work, then so be it... we will have the K-1 visa soon enough anyway.
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Hello, I'm new here and have a couple of questions!
I plan on sponsoring my (Indonesian) girlfriend (of over 7 months now) to come visit the US. We have done some research and seen that another Indonesian girl was denied a visa even when her boyfriend was sponsoring her. The reason she was denied (they say) is because they only knew eachother for 3 months. They had reason to believe she would not return back to Indonesia. So...
Is there a specific amount of time that immigration wants to see/have proof of us two being in a relationship for her to be approved to go?
Next question: I plan on marrying my GF as well. After doing a bunch of research I see the best route in doing so is with the K-1 Fiance visa. I want to go ahead and start this process because it apparently takes at least 4 months before she is able to go have the 1-on-1 interview to get approved. So...
If I started the process for the K-1 Visa now, would we be able to also apply for a tourist visa while waiting on the K-1 process to be finished?
The reason I ask is because the K-1 visa can be a lengthy process and I want to bring her to the U.S. for the Christmas/New Years holidays. Thank you in advance for any advice/contribution!
Recommended lawyer to help with CR-1?
in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures
Posted
That's great to know. Definitely helps calm my nerves a lot with going at this doing it myself without an attorney. I did hear from someone before that I would have an interview at some point. So that is entirely not true? I will never have to have an interview?
Thanks for your key points on what I need to gather. After I submit everything I will get onto gathering all of that together!
Thanks for that info! Question - would you happen to have a resource you can share with me that shows each step of the process and the approximate time through each step? Like maybe an image that shows it, or written... just something? That way I have an idea of what's happening?
Thanks for your input. After hearing this from a few of you I have decided to carry on doing this myself.