Jan and Steve

Hi everyone,

I moved down to the states on a K-1 Visa in February. We have since gotten married and are about to file the AOS within the next couple of weeks. We also recently moved into a new home and I'm trying to figure out how to change my address with the USCIS. I was doing the online AR-11 and the first thing it is asking me is, "I am in the US as a... Permanent Resident, Student, Visitor, Other" I'm not sure what to select. What is my current status, if I have not yet applied for the AOS and I came to the US with a K-1? If I choose "Other" it wants me to explain. Please help!

One other thing... at the end of the form it says "If not a permanent resident my stay in the US expires on," what do I put here? If I apply for AOS a month or two after I was married, and I am waiting for it, what is my status? I'm totally confused.

Thanks for your advice.

Janny

Agreed. In Ohio, it states both parties need a SSN, but again, if you dont have one, you can't provide it, so you can still get a marriage license providing you entered the US legally. I would highly doubt Las Vegas, one of the largest marriage capitals in the world would without exception require a SSN for both parties. Call and check before you change your plans. Regarding the SSN, the law states one thing, but many offices, especially the smaller ones, dont deal with K1's often, so you may have a struggle to get one. I would just get it as early as you can and be done with it (or give yourself a cushion if they do question the non-USC's right to get a SSN)

your fiancee doesnt need a SSN for Vegas..

http://www.co.clark.nv.us/clerk/marriage_information.htm

We are getting married in Idaho on Monday, and here, a SSN is required to get a marriage license. However, if you don't have one, you can get a "denial letter". This is a letter that basically states that you can't get one for whatever reason (i.e. k-1 visa holder), and it waives the requirement. If you give this instead of your SSN, you can get your marriage license, no problem.

Good Luck!

Hi everyone,

I don't quite understand the AOS process and I looked in the guides for an answer to my question, but haven't come up with a solid answer yet. If I apply for the AOS and EAD right after I get married on a K-1, what happens when the I-94 expires? After the 90 days have passed to get married, and I have gotten married within that time, what is my status, while I am waiting for the AOS, and is there something I have to do?

Confused again.

Thanks!

Janny

You'll be out of status but it's ok as long as you have pending AOS... It's ok too even if you didn't file AOS right away as long as you got married within the 90-day period. The good thing about having an approved AOS is you can work, travel outside the country and live the American life freely.

--Mae

Yay! Thanks for your help.

Janny

I just thought of another question...

The EAD is only good for three months while still waiting for AOS, is that correct? So one would have to keep renewing it... and is there a fee for renewal?

Thanks again!

Janny

It is one fee $1010, regardless of whether you apply for any 'auxilliary' benefit (EAD, AP). The EAD usually gets approved before AOS happens and you get your Greencard, so I would recommend applying for EAD at the time you send in your AOS application. You can file as quickly after marriage, as you get either a certified copy of your marriage license, or once you get your marriage certificate in the mail, you copy that to send in for your AOS. So yes, you can apply as soon as you have proof of your marriage.

Good luck,

-P

Thanks for the answer!

I just got to figure out how to come up with the 1010 buckaroos and then apply for it. Yay.

Janny

Hi everyone,

I don't quite understand the AOS process and I looked in the guides for an answer to my question, but haven't come up with a solid answer yet. If I apply for the AOS and EAD right after I get married on a K-1, what happens when the I-94 expires? After the 90 days have passed to get married, and I have gotten married within that time, what is my status, while I am waiting for the AOS, and is there something I have to do?

Confused again.

Thanks!

Janny

So I've been living in the States for a couple weeks now, and it's great. We are just waiting for our rings to be engraved and then we will get married. I'm a bit confused about the Adjustment of Status. So once we get married... we can file for this, along with the Employment Authorization, right away yes? Will the EAD be approved before the AOS? I'm anxious to start a job.

I'm also wondering, is it cheaper to apply for the EAD now, and then the AOS? Or does the AOS fee of $1010 include the EAD?

Thanks for your help!

Janny

Yay! Thanks for all the congrats! I posted my review of the embassy under my timeline

I wasn't working when I filled out the DS-156. In those fields, I put "NONE" which I figured sounded nicer than "UNEMPLOYED". I had no problems at all. They really only care about the petitioner I think, in terms of employment and ability to provide support. Also, in the "what do you plan to do" field... I just put "Graphic design" (my general area of interest) and also that I planned to finish up my degree at university.

Hope that helps a bit.

Hello Steph,

Check it out here:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list...da&dfile=No

It looks like Vancouver is taking about a week (if I read it correctly).

Yeah I got mine in about a week to ten days. Pretty quick.

Hey all,

Just an update. We had the interview today. It took two seconds, and was great. Tomorrow (Valentine's Day) we pick up my fiance visa! Yay! I am so happy. It doesn't feel real yet. We are goin to celebrate now.

I'll try and post a review of the consulate interview shortly.

Woohoo again!

:dance: congratulations :dance:

Thanks!!!!!! woohoo!

Hey all,

Just an update. We had the interview today. It took two seconds, and was great. Tomorrow (Valentine's Day) we pick up my fiance visa! Yay! I am so happy. It doesn't feel real yet. We are goin to celebrate now.

I'll try and post a review of the consulate interview shortly.

Woohoo again!

Good luck! I have my interview there on Wednesday! Looking forward to your review.

Janny

I just called USCIS and they told me that it didnt got o NVC but straight to the local consulate!! thoughts??

BTW thanks for all of ur help thusfar.

Let us know when you get that letter from NVC with your new case number

USCIS said the same exact thing to someone else a couple of months ago...they don't know what they are talking about

Yeah same thing happened to us. We called the USCIS on two different occasions and both people told us that it was forwarded directly to the consulate... but this is bologna, I don't know why they say that. It was sent to the NVC then to the consulate. A week later we got a letter from the NVC saying it was sent to the consulate.

You'd think someone in the government would know what is going on, but apparently not.

Hey Everyone,

I thought I would update the July filers. We sent our I-129F on July 11, 2007. And I have my interview at the Vancouver Consulate this Wednesday (Feb. 13, 2008). Yay!

Good luck to you all!

Oh congratulations! Nice to see some Canadian interviews happening within a reasonable timeframe. Good luck at interview!

Thanks!

I was surprised we got the interview so quickly. What happened was... we had faxed in the DS-230 Part 1... but for some reason the fax messed up and they only received the first page. So I got a call directly from the Vancouver Consulate asking me to re-fax the papers, and the guy said "while you're on the phone I can go ahead and schedule you for an interview". He asked what day I wanted and I said ASAP, so he gave me a date which was less than two weeks from the phone call. Crazy! I think we may have lucked out by accident because of the fax issues.

Just thought I'd share.

Hey Everyone,

I thought I would update the July filers. We sent our I-129F on July 11, 2007. And I have my interview at the Vancouver Consulate this Wednesday (Feb. 13, 2008). Yay!

Good luck to you all!

Yeah no worries on getting an RFE. I did the exact same thing, put Calgary as the consulate, and I was freaking out thinking it would cause delays, but it didn't. They just automatically sent it to the correct one (in this case, Vancouver since I live in BC).

Good luck!

That is incredibly comforting to hear! I'll stop worrying about it...as my fiance and I keep reminding each other: It's out of our hands now. All we can do is wait...if only that was as easily done as said.

Yeah no problem! It didn't even cause delays.

Thank you so much for finding that for me! I'll just keep my fingers crossed that they don't RFE it because I put the wrong consulate. I have the bad habit of worrying about things once they're out of my control.

Yeah no worries on getting an RFE. I did the exact same thing, put Calgary as the consulate, and I was freaking out thinking it would cause delays, but it didn't. They just automatically sent it to the correct one (in this case, Vancouver since I live in BC).

Good luck!

No problem! I'm nervous too

I made copies of pretty much everything (to keep for myself, and also in case they decide they need to keep something like my vaccination records or birth certificate). The only thing we had notarized was the I-134 which is required to be notarized. I'm bringing photocopies and originals of the NO1 and NOA2... although I'm not sure they even need them, but just in case (again, I'm paranoid). And as for the intent to marry letter, we put one for the beneficiary (myself) and one for the petitioner, we used the same one we used for the original I-129F, just changed the dates and reprinted and signed.

Hope that helps!

Janny

Sure that helps!!! Thank you soo much. I guess I will do the same. I am not even sure if we have this long form birth certificate because I have never heard anything being long or short in the birth cert here. Hmmm.. anyways I will have to make copies of it since the original is like falling apart. Haha!

Once again, thank you so much for your help!! And all the best at the interview and don't forget to share the good news!!

Cheers!!

Thanks! Will do!

No problem! I'm nervous too

I made copies of pretty much everything (to keep for myself, and also in case they decide they need to keep something like my vaccination records or birth certificate). The only thing we had notarized was the I-134 which is required to be notarized. I'm bringing photocopies and originals of the NO1 and NOA2... although I'm not sure they even need them, but just in case (again, I'm paranoid). And as for the intent to marry letter, we put one for the beneficiary (myself) and one for the petitioner, we used the same one we used for the original I-129F, just changed the dates and reprinted and signed.

Hope that helps!

Janny

USD131 is the application fee right? There shouldn't be any fee for issuance of the visa after approval by the embassy, right? Hmmm....

Yes, $131 for the interview. $325 for the medical exam in Vancouver.

There is no fee for issuance of the visa after approval at the embassy.

I think it looks good too!!!!

Best of luck to you!!!!!!!!

woohoo! Thanks guys! I'll be back after the interview to post my experience with the Vancouver Consulate.

Don't forget the $131 in US for the visa fee!

Oh yeah, got it. I forgot to write that into the list.

I think it looks good too!!!!

Best of luck to you!!!!!!!!

woohoo! Thanks guys! I'll be back after the interview to post my experience with the Vancouver Consulate.

Hi All,

I have my k-1 interview at the Vancouver Consulate on Wednesday, Feb. 13th. We're just putting all our stuff together, and want to make sure we have everything.

1. interview letter

2. interview checklist

3. birth certificate, long form original and copy

4. 2 original police certificates

5. 3 notarized i-134

6. original and copy of of-167

7. supporting evidence of support: original and copy of employer letter, 2007 w2 original and copy, 2007 1099-misc original and copy, 2006 1099-misc, pay stubs and copies of end year pay stubs.

8. intents to marry

9. evidence of relationship: photos, cell records, emails, IMs, misc (rings receipt, venue contract, travel receipts, etc)

10. NAO1 & NAO2 (in case they need it)

11. ds-230

12. ds-156 (2)

13. ds-156k

14. medical results

Is there anything we are missing? I'm all paranoid about forgetting something. Thanks for your help!

Janny & Steven

Hey there! First off, thanks for reading and responding, I really appreciate it! I was just wondering, for those of you who have gone through your visa journey as a K1, did you all have your vaccines done? Was it mandatory? As I read it on the USCIS website, as a K1 we are classified as non-immigrants and therefore not subject to the vaccination requirements. It also says that the consulate can't deny a visa because the vaccination requirements aren't met if you are going through on this type of visa. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for your help! I appreciate it!

I have to catch up on a few vaccinations (chicken pox and tetanus) and I emailed the Woking Medical clinic (the only doc in BC that does K-1 medical exams) and they told me that I had to have the vaccinations before I would be issued a visa. I was able to get the tetanus but since I have never had chicken pox as a child, I have to be tested for immunity first before they will give me the shot... unfortunately I found all this out a week before my interview... so I'm waiting to find out the results. Thankfully though, they told me that "you must at least have one done before your interview". Which means, I can get the first chicken pox shot and the other I can get down in the States.

So if I'm understanding correctly. You have to get your vaccines before they'll give you a visa. I recommend emailing them to make sure though.

The Woking Clinic - Dr. Morgan (panel physician) email is: wokingmedical@telus.net

And the Vancouver Consulate email is: Vancouverk@state.gov

Janny