Barry and Lynn

She came to the US on a K1 Visa. We are now married. Is this typical or could they have made a mistake? 

Even some of my document are questionable.  I sent requests to various Vital Statistics Offices and received Documents with limited information on them.  In both cases I found the cases online from the official court websites and I am sending those as well.  Everything else is good.  I found a great resource on the USCIS site on how they like the application filed.  https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips some of the suggestions were things I had never heard before, like numbering the pages according to you list of contents, putting you name on each page along with your case number, To write Original Submission and the Form you are submitting on the envelope and Cover Page, and advice on what not to do.   Anyway, The package is ready to go.  I have heard that the Cenomar can wait until the interview but not sure about that either.  

This is what I got from the State.  It is not the Divorce Decree.  It really does not have very much information,  just our names, dates of final judgment and date filled, and Docket/Vol/Page number.  No Judges signature, just a signature of State Register.  And a heck of a lot of asterisks.

And Is it quicker with a K1 Visa?

54 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

fMy fiancee recently  got her annulment  too and we just filed our K1 packet  in  May. Annullment  in the Philippines is the same as single or annulled, but in a lot of the forms there  in the Philippines  there is no block to check for annulled so single is checked. To answer your question  I think as far as the USCIS is concerned our fiancees are considered divorced, I listed her married name under prior names used and I listed her ex husbands name and date marriage  termimated.

Your fiancee  will have to show her CENOMAR at the interview and on the CENOMAR it will clearly  say that  a search of  your fiancee name produced  one likely match and it will list the bride and the groom and the date of marriage but it will also  state that the marriage  is null and void, so yes treat her annulment as a divorce for USCIS purposes. Also you have to submit her CENOMAR  with your submission  of your I-129F

Thanks that is really helpful.  Is the CENOMAR  is what she can get after her annulment is Recorded at The PSA.   The Annotated Marriage Certificate is going to take a few months.  That certificate she will be able to present at her interview.  The CENOMAR is all I need to send in with my I-129f package.  I think it will work this way.  I have seen others here do that in the past.  I also plan on submitting both her present name and her maiden name, and those two last names for her children as well, and add an attached page explaining the situation.  Do you think that will work?

23 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

What country is this, Philippines?

Yes.

My fiance recently got an annulment, which (unlike divorce) voids her previous marriage.   So she is not divorce but single and was not married at all.  Does this possibly cause confusion in this process.  Though she is not considered to have been married the names of her and her children may be changed back to her maiden name.  Should she wait to have this done?  Should I put down the man's name who at one point was recognized as her husband.  Should both last names be included as the names for her children on the form?

I did a search on google and find a similar situation a few years back in this forum stating it is ok to just submit the record of the final judgment of the annulment.

So that is good news!

My fiancee's annulment has been approved and she is waiting for the annulment to be recorded at the NSO and PSA, but her annotated Marriage Certificate will take another 2 and a half month or so.  Do I need this with my K1 Visa application or will the record of her annulment be enough for the application to be approved.  Then at her interview she can present the annotated Marriage Certificate or do I have to wait ?

... what visa should I be considering?  It has been a long process for us.  We have known each other for 5 1/2 years.  Now that she has her annulment we can get married.  We were planning on getting a K1 Visa, but we will likely move to the Philippines in two years.  We could be together here in the US if I proceed with the K1 visa, but once we move to the Philippines after just a year here, her status as a permanent resident will be forfeited. Right? Should I just wait another year and get a visa to go there and marry her?

How long is she required to stay in the US after we have gotten married, and is there a time limit on her visit?

45 minutes ago, JFH said:

*~*~*moved to "off-topic" - question regarding accessing Georgia divorce records*~*~*

I am not sure why this was moved to "off topic" since divorce form are a required part of a K1 visa.  I am looking to see if others have had to go through the same experience of waiting 2 and a half months for the divorce records to be processed.

Today I sent off two forms for my i-129f, but for the one I need from Georgia the response time is 8 to 10 weeks through the mail or the same day for walk-in service.  Those are the only two options.  If that is true I am better off making the 7 hour drive to Atlanta to get the records I need.  Has anyone else had to deal with this?

My fiancee has two children.  One will start college this year in the Philippines, and the other will be graduating from high school next year.  I would like to get visas for both.  I am just starting out the K1 visa process, but I know her children can be part of her process if they are under 21.  Right now I am just trying to get all of the paperwork together for the K1 but I also will need to include them in the process at some point.  When in the process do I start  their application for visas?

On 5/22/2018 at 2:27 AM, TBoneTX said:

It can certainly come up in the visa interview.

That is what I am thinking because my fiancee lives in an apartment but has not had a job over the last 3 years.  I would think the question might come up.

30 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Not a problem we are always happy to help here on VJ.

 

My backstory is that I my wife while we were both working in Qatar and fell in love. I moved on to working in Afghanistan unfortunately. I went to visit her and her family in the Philippines and we talked it out and I told her I would support her if she stayed there so that we could work on us. Not to mention if she went back to Qatar we couldn't see each other while I was on vacation from work. So I supported her for 18 months until her visa was approved and we moved to the USA to get married and start a family together.

 

Just be advised that when you bring her over and y'all get married that she will still be expecting to send some money home every month. This is natural for Filipinos so don't get mad. What some couples do is say your wife works she will help contribute to the house and whatever extra she can do with as she wants, or you say pay xyz bills then after that do what you want with the money.

 

Also there is a Philippine subforum if you have any Philippine specific questions. Where is your fiancé from in the Philippines if you don't mind me asking?

 

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/129-philippines/

She lives in Tarlac City.  Fortunately most of her family is pretty well off.  However her daughter will continue to stay in their apartment while she goes to college, so we will send her money.  After a few years here, we are planning to go back there to retire, by then my retirement should be enough to allow a comfortable life.  

10 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

I supported my fiance now wife but I never included that in package at all. 

Thanks.  I was hoping to find others who were in my situation and Its good to know I don't need to include it in mine.

I know this is a strange thing to post here, but this dog was so exceptional.  He was such a smart, well behaved, and caring dog.  I know the next few months will be rough because he was very much a part of their everyday life.   Just  awhile ago I was able to say goodbye to him before he went to the vet to be given final release from his suffering.  I wish I could be there with Lynn.  I wish I could tell you about Yogi but all I can say is that I have never known of any dog like him.  He was a special, one of a kind dog and he was loved very much.  He will be missed but he also will be remembered for all the joy and love he brought to their lives. I was so looking forward to him coming to the US with Lynn.  Now he is gone.  ( I hope this post doesn't violate any rules.  I am just very sad right now.)

2 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

For Philippines, I have seen some whom front load and have a file folder about 8" thick in their file folder at US embassy in Manila.  

 

Manila is considered one of the easiest places to get an approval, and front loading is not needed.  It don't hurt but don't waste a lot of time or effort on it.

 

If you get a chance go to the interview with your fiance, ask the Consular Officer (the American actually conducting the interview) if front loading is needed, he will also tell you it's a waste of time

Thanks, that is good to know.  I just want a good presentation: neat, organized; not extreme but thorough with due diligence.  Mind if I ask you about something else?  I have been supporting my fiancee for over 4 years (partly due to her 2 year annulment).  I have always believed she is frugal and trustworthy.  Besides I am glad to know she and her family have a safe and stable environment.  I am by no means wealthy but we have made it work.  I really don't want to complicate the process with this aspect but at the same time, I don't want to feel like I am trying to hide this from the powers that be.  Any suggestions how to deal with or approach this?

23 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

No need to front load for Philippines

 

If you want to front load add a copy of the baptism, but really that is not needed.......

Thanks that's good to know, I still might add just a few extra things.

20 hours ago, debbiedoo said:

I'm a big believer of more is better in this case.

 

we sent (and im sure im forgetting stuff, i looked for a copy of the cover letter which listed everything but it may be on my work computer cause i cant find it)

 

i-129 and other required forms/info

pictures (probably 20)

phone logs (we live on blue tooth and are on the phone upwards of 20K minutes a month - we rarely text anything other than 'good morning' or ...' i tried to call but got your voicemail 'cause ... were always on the phone, we sleep with the stupid thing on if it doesnt disconnect in the middle of the night. our running joke is that once he moves, the phone companies are going to send us condolence letters on our 'breakup' due to the sudden stop of phone time lol)

boarding passes for flights

print out of his record of crossing US border (he generally drives) - 26 visits in 2 years time. 27 now. next week will be 28  lol

receipts

joint sams club membership cards

passport photos for both of us

full copies of both our passports

divorce decree for him, my husbands death certificate for me

both our birth certificates, my social security card (not asked for at all but figured why not lol)

letters of intent to marry and how we met/first meeting - one each from both of us, all with wet signatures

 

im sure theres more but thats what i remember off the top of my head. our application package weighed in at 4 pounds lol

Thanks, I think I will include a most of these as well.

1 hour ago, Loren Y said:

I really don't think you want to show that you support her. It will raise the question that she is only into you for the money. They will think well she was getting along just fine for x years without your help, why would they need your support now unless it is just to be with you. Now, that said, I sent evidence of money that I sent my fiancee with my I129 package to show not that I support her, I really don't, but it shows I bought her things for her birthday, and her sons birthday, and that I sent her money as a gift for valentines day, etc. I think as long as you aren't paying for her whole life, just sending the usual gifts and money for specific times it is a good thing, it shows you have a relationship. I have seen many threads that go either way, and I guess it depends of the embassy she is going thru etc. I will let you know if it comes up at her interview if that ever happens, LOL, but I think you get the idea. You don't want them to think you are buying your wife, but you want to show you have a commitment to the relationship. I sent a copy of my summary page from transferwise showing the money I sent her because each transaction has a reason you sent the money such as Birthday gift, general living expenses. I sent proof that I paid for her English language school she attended, etc. So it is up to you, but I sent some proof of financial statements in my I129.

Thanks.  I don't know how I can get around it.  I hope it doesn't complicate things.

38 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I would avoid it personally. Money and love are separate beasts with only some overlap (money is needed to live, obviously). Focus on actual evidence of a relationship together.

Thanks

If you do, do you include financial statements in your F-129 package?

4 hours ago, becauseimVal said:

You may request a FOIA so you can learn about the immigration history they have on you and I know it’s free. You can download the form from the USCIS website.

Thank you. 

Back in 1977, I got my then fiancee a Visa and married her.  Do I need the exact date and previous form to send in with my F-129 form?  If I do how do I find that information.  I am having a difficult time finding anything on the USCIS website.