XMen1

Can someone point me to the correct guide / information on what the steps are (acquire marriage license, etc.).

Thanks.

It has been a Herculean effort of 2 years to get to the point where my fiance and her small son can move forward with coming to the USA. To be honest, the process has worn me down.

I am looking for clear, step-by-step information on what to do in what order moving forward.

To actually have the marriage ceremony and get appropriate marriage license, what must be provided to whom?

Post marriage, what forms are required, where are they submitted, and when?

If this information exists already and I just have not found it, please paste here or provide a link where I can hopefully read and follow EXACTLY what I am supposed to do.

Thanks.

Not sure if it is different for different countries. In this case the child is 7 and it is Ukraine. Must the child come to the interview? Thanks.

3 full frontal photos 50mm by 50mm = 2" x 2" passport style pictures.

The fees aren't new. It's not a conspiracy. There are, as far as I can tell, no black helicopters involved:

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/fees.html

Good luck.

Never received either of the invoices they are disucssing.

Therefore, not sure how to get them paid (as they reference requiring the invoice number).

Thanks.

I am trying to work through the next steps --- medical and interview.

If I understand correctly, both my fiance and her young son require a medical, but he can come on her Visa (if approved) given his age (6).

One of the requirements is "3 full frontal photos 50mm by 50mm." To me that means head to toe, which seems ridiculous. Do they mean simply face and shoulders??

I thought I had paid every fricken fee imaginable, but when I was reading "Processing Fees" I found this:

• Affidavit of Support fee invoice - will be sent to the petitioner; and
• Immigrant Visa Processing fee invoice - will be sent to the applicant or the applicant's designated agent.

I've seen nothing about this and now am wondering what the heck.

I must admit, after 18 months of fighting this battle, including child custody issues, I am doubting whether it's worth it. I suppose that is goal of the feds. Make is to complex and so convoluted, and change it frequently, so that unless you are tenacious as hell and persistent to the point of being fricken relentless, eventually you wave the white flag and surrender and walk.

My fiance has a child. Do I need to pay separately for medical for her and also for her child?

Thanks.

I am very confused.

My understanding is that you need the following:

Two copies of the nonimmigrant visa application form DS-156 and one copy of Part I of Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration form DS-230 for each applicant, including children, must be submitted with proper photographs.

But, when I go online to try to schedule, they want a DS-160 filled out. Yet at the same time, it says you need a DS-156. That is not online. But it won't let you choose to schedule online unless you fill out the DS-160 form that you supposedly are not supposed to use.

Does anyone have a clue?

I am stuck.

OK.

So the K-1 was approved. I thought all of that documentation was difficult and time consuming.

My understanding was that my fiance (Ukraine) was going to get a packet with all the appropriate forms.

But no.

They have altered that.

Now she will only get a confirmation letter and must download (she has no computer) all the forms and fill them out. It seems like a near impossibility.

I read through this website:

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/supplements/K1/KEV_K1_ENGL_0808.pdf

where it talks about the forms that she'll receive (which she will not), and the link they provide goes nowhere.

I then went here and read 4 pages of information:

http://ukraine.usembassy.gov/fiancee-step1.html

I suppose the end goal is to prevent you from ever completing the process.

Had I known the complexity to get the end, even though I read through and also provided many, many, many pages of documentation for the K-1 so I knew this wasn't easy, I would have become a monk or bought a sports car or done extreme sports or something instead.

Has anyone completed this process with a fiance from Ukraine who can provide any clarification?

Thanks.

He will need the K2 visa applied for him before 1 year passes.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html#16

Thanks much. Per the above:

"Your children may travel with (accompany) you to the United States or travel later (follow-to-join). Like you, your children must travel within the validity of their K-2 visas. Separate petitions are not required if the children accompany or follow to join you within one year from the date of issuance of your K-1 visa. If they want to travel later than one year from the date your K-1 visa was issued, they will not be eligible to receive K-2 visas, and separate immigrant visa petitions will be required."

I filled out the K-1 with my fiance's son on the paperwork, passport photos, etc. She has been unable to get permission to take him out of the country, and it looks like a legal battle.

My understanding is that there is no way to extend the K-1 timeline.

If she must leave him behind with family, can she bring him later once the legalities of him leaving the country are resolved?

If so, what is the timeline limitation?

Is there additional paperwork required since he is on the original I-129F, etc.?

Thanks.

An acquaintance of mine, who failed for unknown reasons failed with his K-1 attempt (i.e. declined), actually believes it is worth pursuing getting a tourist visa so the woman he still wishes to marry can visit the USA. I just want to confirm that hell would have to freeze over for that to actually happen.

Can she head to court and get a quick and easy sole custody? With sole custody she doesn't need his permission.

Neither quick nor easy. She seems almost afraid of him, though she never said anything that implied he was abusive over the past couple of years.

Does the child have a K2?

Child was included on the K-1 paperwork.

Looks like her ex-husband is going to be a problem, even though he has not seen his child in 5 years, nor paid child support. We're 90 days from the expiration of the K-1 (i.e. she has to leave Ukraine and come to the USA within 90 days or it's toast). What does one do if one cannot get signed paperwork to allow the child to leave the country (in this case Ukraine)? Thought about holding the unpaid child support over his head, not sure in Ukraine if it even matters. What if the K-1 expires prior to getting this worked out? No way is she leaving the country without her child. If there is no way to extend the timeline, then is this all down the toilet?

I say this " Why take the chance of NOT being there? "

Think of it this way. You as the Applicant only had to submit and file documents. Not a whole lot of stress there. However, the beneficiary must appear in person during the interview. Not to mention, obtaining her background documents and medical documents. Talk about stressful. Especially if they are in a country where they are not main stream processes or broadband connected.

Do the beneficiary a favor, book a flight, collect all your documents, get on a plane, and be there for them.

Remember this, all the documents you filed with the I-129F, all the W-2's and 1099's, all the 1040's and tax statements are all familiar to you. THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR to your fiancé. No matter how much you try to define these documents; there is always a level of anxiety related to an unfamiliar document.

Can you imagine, the beneficiary sitting across the desk at the interview. The interviewer ask let me see the W-2. He / she can not place the documents in the file. The interviewer gets impatient. Now, you have set the tone for the entire interview. Don't risk it. There is simply too much at risk here.

Don't risk it.....your presence there will only make the beneficiary that much more relaxed and comfortable. And as a added bonus, you get to two of you her / him get to see each other while your there.

That's always a plus.

What??? Four trips, 32 flights, 100 pages of documentation, financial statements, etc., etc., etc. It's certainly been stressful for me.

Interesting.

I just received notice yesterday that it's on the way to Visa Control.

I guess I'll check in 2 weeks and see what the status is.

Thank you to all that replied. I googled ACCO binder and they look like they would be difficult to take apart when they disassemble our paperwork. Maybe the ACCO binder clips would be a better option. Thanks again It is a very exciting time! I want to make sure we are doing everything correctly.

When my packet was returned to me due a mistake, they had disassembled all the things I had done, including trying to separate things with color 8.5" by 11" sheets of paper. I returned it with the photos in a baggie and one binder clip.

Its for Argentina , it says we can be there I am just so stressed

Trying to figure out I guess I will make a descicon once we get our appointment and I will be trere somehow

I'm curious about Ukraine myself. Unlikely I can arrange being there.

They sent your case to the NVC... call them up in a week or two and ask for your new case number, they'll process it and prepare it and send it to your embassy.

Thanks.

Got the following via e-mail yesterday:

"On August 1, 2013, we shipped this approved or re-affirmed case to the Department of State for visa processing. For more information, please contact them directly."

So, which step is the above in the timeiline?

I'm unclear at this point.

Thanks.

I see your fiancee is in Ukraine, correct?

She will need a Schengen visa to leave the international area of the airport. They should give it without any questions since she'll have a US visa. Get the US visa first, then get the Schengen visa and show them the US visa (might be best to also have air tickets and show them the itinerary).

Here's some info from the French embassy:

http://www.francevac-ua.com/English/

Not sure how long it requires to get a Schengen.

But, you are saying get the K-1 Visa, then apply for a Schengen?

That takes at least 3 weeks, doesn't it?

I have never seen the form, but how would they know that she had a K-1?

If it might work I'm willing to give it a shot.

If they don't leave the airport, they won't need a Schengen visa.

Staying overnight in the airport may not be too much fun with a 6-year-old in tow. That's why I was hoping for hotel accomodations.

My fiance and her son will have to stop overnight in either Paris or Amsterdam.

It just occurred to me that she may be unable to leave the airport and stay over night in a hotel.

The only alternative I can think of is a Schengen (spelling?) visa, but I have no idea how long it takes to get it, cost, or likelihood for approval.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

First question:

I thought you had to send the original letter of approval, but the notes in the K-1 Step-By-Step Guide say a copy.

I assume that must be correct or someone would have changed the Guide.

Regardless, I have to ask.

Second question:

Since there is a child involved, must I send two copies of the same I-134?

Thanks.

The panel physician will determine what vaccines needed by your fiance's son. Just bring the baby book or any document that will show vaccines received by the child.

Thanks much.

XMen1