RUSSandRACHEL

We've just mailed off our I-129F Petition today... Yay!!

And we'd just like to thank everyone including VJ creators for all their help and advice and continued help. We just don't know how we would have got to this stage without Visa Journey. Heres hoping our journey is a swift one. Good luck to everyone else!

What copied documents do we need to get notarized for the I-129F?

Myself and my fiance are compiling all the documents and evidence needed to complete the I-129F package for the K1 Visa and we are confused as to which (photocopied) documents we need to get notarized? And also, as I'm am from the UK, and have previously changed my name (my name on my birth certificate differs from that on my Statutory Declaration of Name Change), I will need to send my documents too. Can I get my copied documents notorized in the USA with my fiance or do they have to be done here? And if so, where can I get them done? Thanks in advance!

Myself and my fiance are preparing the I-129F package for the K1 Visa. Upon reading the checklist of things to send that is listed on VJ, it says we need to send photocopies of each page of the US Citizens passport - with a validity of 5 years. Does this mean my fiance's passport has to have another 5 years left on it before it expires?? Or does it mean he has to have had it already, for 5 years? His passport expires in 2012, meaning we only have 3 years left on it! What should we do??

As we'll be dealing with the Vermont Service Centre and hear their average time of processing is 6-7 months, (and obtaining the visa about 8) we feel our chances of obtaining the visa in 11 months is pretty good. Fingers crossed! We have just found a venue for our reception that we love that will be happy to take only a $300 deposit as opposed to everywhere else that want $2000! So I think we'll chance it. Hopefully, we'll be married by June 2010 and if not, it'll have to be put back. Its just the way it has to be. The worst is we lose $300.

Thanks again to everyone for their advice! I've been stressing about this all night. But its great to hear everyones opinions

I meant that the average time for the whole process, that is filing to visa in hand (for people from low-fraud countries where the embassies don't give trouble) is 6-7 months. VSC is currently processing petitions from December and January, so from 3-4 months ago. VJ currently estimates a late May approval date for January filers. Note that this doesn't mean that any one case can't take longer, and that things might change again until you file. But right now it looks like they are speeding up rather than slowing down. I personally think 11 months sounds pretty safe. But as I said before, it's your own personal risk (disclaimer!). Best of luck!

P.S. And now this all sounds like I'm the optimistic type... I'm actually not! I fret a lot about this and prepare for the worst... But rationally thinking I would say the odds are pretty good that things go smoothly, and this is why we decided to plan the wedding. Although we're not doing much besides booking a venue, and arranging for family travel.

Oh ok thats even better then! Well, the only major thing we need to book is the venue. And to let family and friends know (but I guess they'll be more understanding than vendors if plans get set back.) Everything else (flowers, cars, suits etc) can wait until we know what happening a bit more. I know that anything is possible and we may delayed, but its either risk a few dollars or have nothing arranged. I really dont want that. Just organising the wedding particuars is stressful enough! Without the headache of immigration. But we'll get there... its all worth it in the end! Thanks for the good luck we'll need it and... same to you!

For an applicant with a clear case from a low-fraud country it is certainly not correct to say that the whole process will "likely" take 13 months. Sure, it can happen, but the majority of people, even at VSC's current operating speed, seem to be done in 6-7 months. It is more likely to have the visa within eight months than not.

I agree, however, that you might save yourself a lot of stress and money if you hold off on the wedding planning at least until NOA2. It is your personal decision what risk to take. Nobody here will want to advise you to plan the wedding nine months from filing... not even I, even though I'm doing it myself.

and about the wedding, unless your case is very clear and very regular and you are at the CSC, you can likely plan for next august, if you begin the process in july.

or plan it then for 2011.

see, my sig.

Thank you for everyones help and advice! I dont really anticipate any problems with our case (although I know and have heard - prepare for the unexpected so we're keeping an open mind). We have both never been married before, have no children, no criminal convictions etc... We simply just want to be together We will be mailing off the I-129F petition in July beacuse thats when I plan to go out there for 90 days. After that, we both know that I might have trouble getting back into the US because our application will be in process and we dont want to chance it. So that'll be my final trip out there.

Thank you aswell for everyones help about wedding planning. I hear what everyone saying about a small ceremony and then a celebration afterwards, and its great that other people want to do that, but we just dont want to. Our marriage is only going to happen once and we want to do it as normally as possible, just the way we have always wanted and dreamed of.

As we'll be dealing with the Vermont Service Centre and hear their average time of processing is 6-7 months, (and obtaining the visa about 8) we feel our chances of obtaining the visa in 11 months is pretty good. Fingers crossed! We have just found a venue for our reception that we love that will be happy to take only a $300 deposit as opposed to everywhere else that want $2000! So I think we'll chance it. Hopefully, we'll be married by June 2010 and if not, it'll have to be put back. Its just the way it has to be. The worst is we lose $300.

Thanks again to everyone for their advice! I've been stressing about this all night. But its great to hear everyones opinions

For more info google "marriage license requirements in NJ " I copied this for you:

Required documents when applying for a marriage license:

1. Proof of identity by presenting your driver’s license, passport or state/federal I.D.

2. Proof of your residency.

3. Your social security card or social security number.*

4. A witness, 18 years of age or older.

5. The $28 application fee.

*Social security number is required by law for US citizens and will be kept confidential.

Any documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Requested additional documents (these documents are helpful but not required):

1. A copy of your birth certificate to establish your parents’ names and related birth information.

2. If you are divorced, have had a previous civil union dissolved, domestic partnership terminated or have had a civil union annulled, please bring the decree(s) or the civil annulment documents.

3. If your former spouse/civil union or domestic partner is deceased, please bring the death certificate.

After you apply:

There is a 72-hour waiting period before the license is issued. The waiting period begins when the application is filed with the Local Registrar. There is no 72 hour waiting period for a remarriage; however, you must bring a certified copy of your existing marriage.

The marriage license application is valid for six months from the date accepted, unless the Registrar has given prior approval to extend the validity of the application to a maximum of one year.

Only one marriage license may be granted from a marriage application. If the license expires before being used, a new application must be made and another $28 fee remitted.

The only exception to this requirement is in the case where a civil and religious ceremony are to be performed on the same day. In this case, the Local Registrar will photocopy the marriage application, marking one “A” and one “B”, and issue the corresponding marriage licenses, marking them “A” and “B” as well. One copy will be used for the religious ceremony and the other for the civil ceremony.

Wow! Thank you so much! Thats so helpful. I didnt even think to look that up. You've been a great help!

Yes it is overwhelming to say the least. It took me ages to get my head around everything!

When you go for you interview you need to take a form called I-134 which is an affidavit of support. With this you need to provide 2 proofs of support.

From all the information I've read from the UK interview thread, it seems most people have been asked for the most recent tax return & either a letter from the employer or pay stubbs.

I would say you will need the tax return for the London Embassy. You could risk not taking it but then if you get the dreaded 'blue slip' (request for additional docs) then you'll need to provide the taxes or get a co sponsor.

Ok, so which do they take into account for whether he meets the requirements? His past situation or current? I would have thought current (ie his new job)

My fiance has been self employed for many years. He doesnt have tax returns to prove this and earnt very little during that time (not enought to meet the poverty line requirements). He now has a permanent job and by the time of our interview will have 6 months pay stubs showing a very good salary.

Upon preparing for the interview, would it suffice, having several pay stubs and his employers letter? Or does he need to give me a tax return? I thought that was only necessary for self employed people? If so, we need to do this now so he can get his tax return sorted as its already late April. And also, if they do need the tax return, how do they take into account whether he meets the requirements? By his current situation or his past?

Sorry for all the questions, just very confused...

Thank you so much for that. Very informative, if a little overwhelming.

Ok so if he had his 2009 tax return available plus his pay stubs, which would they take into account as to whether he meets the poverty line requirements? His past earnings or his current situation?

Also another proof of income would be his employers letter? Yes?

I didnt know that you had to present tax returns as well as pay stubs...

Why would he have to present a tax return for 2008? Because thats for last year. By the time the interview comes around we may well be into 2010. So wouldnt he have to present 2009's tax return instead of 2008?

Also, I was told, its not his past earnings that need to meet the poverty requirement, its his current and thats all their interested in. Is this right? So again, by the time of interview he will have had a job (and met the requirement) for 5 months+.

oops forgot to mention...you need W2's & 1099's to go with each of the tax returns.

Thank you for everyones advice. I see everyone has to kinda go through the same thing with deposits etc. No one ever really talks about that side of things.

Unfortunately the self employed option is a no go area. My fiancee barely has any earning to show for and definitely not for the last 3 years. He has just had a really good permanent job offer, way above the poverty equirements and were thinking it would be SO much easier showing a few stubs then raking up the past with his self employed earnings. Does anyone think it would be ok to mail it off now and still have enough pay stubs to show by my visa interview? He starts his new job in June and will prob be paid, the first time at the end of the month.

Myself and my fiancee are trying to plan our wedding. He is american and I am from the UK. We havent yet sent off the I-129F Petition yet (we were hoping to do it this July whilst Im out there with him) because he has been self employed for years and in order to meet the poverty line requirements, he has obtained a new job. So we're waiting for him to rack up a few check stubs before we go further. However, we're looking at wedding venues and are told that so many get booked up so far in advance. Can anyone give any help/advice about how they went about booking wedding venues and vendors? Alot of places dont refund deposits and we dont know what to do. We are willing to take this risk if we have no other choice and we dont anticipate any problems with the K1 application.

So if we mail off the I-129F in July - does anyone out there think it'd be ok to book somewhere for a spring wedding 2010, say June?

Hi everyone. Just had to say that this website is fab and an absolutely essential tool of information for us!

Anyway, I am at the very beggining of the K1 process. Ive just got engaged to my american fiance. Im from Birmingham, England. We are just wondering, if anyone knows... Once you have the interview and visa in hand how do you go about applying for a marriage licence (we going to be married in the state of New Jersey)? Dont you need a Social Security Number to obtain it? And if so, how do you get one of these in advance? Im a bit confused. We were hoping that we travel back into the US together and get married about a month later in order to get settled and apply for the licence etc. Can anyone answer my query?

Hi Everyone! My boyfriend has been a cheerleading instructor in the United States for the past 5 plus years and has been self employed. Unfortunately, this has not paid him very highly because he has persued this career for a love of the sport, not the financial benefits.

We are compiling all the forms and documents together, needed to file the I-129F. I am going out to New Jersey in the United States to be with him this summer for three months and we're going to start the ball rolling and mail off the package then. However, I have some concerns about the Affadavit of Support needed and additional documents needed. I have been looking on the USCIS website and through the VJ website and it looks as though the 125% above the poverty line is needed only as his present financial status (not what he has earnt in past years).

Is it worth my boyfriend seeking permanent employment, so we have 'better records' on paper of employment - and if so, would it be ok that he would only be employed for 6-8 months by the time my visa interview comes up? Or shall he just carry on with his self employed job now and when it comes round to doing his tax returns in april 2009, for the past year, show that instead. What do you think will be the best?

Oh and can anyone advise as to what additional documents of proof of his earnings are needed for my interview? Ie - pay slips, bank statements etc... and how many months worth?

You are correct. CURRENT income is used. If he has an employment letter and a few check stubs, he is good to go. There is no qualification that he must have the job for any given length of time. I think if he has been there long enough to have 2 or 3 check stubs you would have no problem. If he has regular employement at the time of your interview, he will not have to give thre years tax returns (actually, even if self employed, he only needs one year for the interview but will have to declare for three years for the AOS). I would say you have enough time to decide this. If you will start the process in July you will likely have an interview late this year.

Thank you so much for your advice. I think it'll be easier if he has 'employment' so we can offer a few pay stubbs instead. Thankyou! Oh and does anyone know exactly what the 125% above the poverty line is now. For 2 people, would that mean the petitioner has to earn $20,000+? And what documents shall we prepare to prove this aside from pay stubs? Bank statements etc...?

Hi Everyone! My boyfriend has been a cheerleading instructor in the United States for the past 5 plus years and has been self employed. Unfortunately, this has not paid him very highly because he has persued this career for a love of the sport, not the financial benefits.

We are compiling all the forms and documents together, needed to file the I-129F. I am going out to New Jersey in the United States to be with him this summer for three months and we're going to start the ball rolling and mail off the package then. However, I have some concerns about the Affadavit of Support needed and additional documents needed. I have been looking on the USCIS website and through the VJ website and it looks as though the 125% above the poverty line is needed only as his present financial status (not what he has earnt in past years).

Is it worth my boyfriend seeking permanent employment, so we have 'better records' on paper of employment - and if so, would it be ok that he would only be employed for 6-8 months by the time my visa interview comes up? Or shall he just carry on with his self employed job now and when it comes round to doing his tax returns in april 2009, for the past year, show that instead. What do you think will be the best?

Oh and can anyone advise as to what additional documents of proof of his earnings are needed for my interview? Ie - pay slips, bank statements etc... and how many months worth?

Hi Everyone! My boyfriend has been a cheerleading instructor in the United States for the past 5 plus years and has been self employed. Unfortunately, this has not paid him very highly because he has persued this career for a love of the sport, not the financial benefits.

We are compiling all the forms and documents together, needed to file the I-129F. I am going out to New Jersey in the United States to be with him this summer for three months and we're going to start the ball rolling and mail off the package then. However, I have some concerns about the Affadavit of Support needed and additional documents needed. I have been looking on the USCIS website and through the VJ website and it looks as though the 125% above the poverty line is needed only as his present financial status (not what he has earnt in past years).

Is it worth my boyfriend seeking permanent employment, so we have 'better records' on paper of employment - and if so, would it be ok that he would only be employed for 6-8 months by the time my visa interview comes up? Or shall he just carry on with his self employed job now and when it comes round to doing his tax returns in april 2009, for the past year, show that instead. What do you think will be the best?

Oh and can anyone advise as to what additional documents of proof of his earnings are needed for my interview? Ie - pay slips, bank statements etc... and how many months worth?

Hi everyone! I'm new to VJ. Me and my boyfriend are just starting to compile all the info needed together to file the I-129F and get things moving this spring. However, I have a dog, a labrador called Honey and have the worry of taking her over to the US hanging over my head aswell as all the other worries I'm sure you all know about. Does anyone have any experience or tale to tell about travelling over on their K1 with a dog in tow. Also any info about the process. Rabies shot, pet passport etc?? We'd all like to be fully prepared on the process. We'll be flying with Continental from Birmingham btw.

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

Everyone needs to relax. I dont know where that info came from but think the quotation needs to be not taken offensively and so literally. I surely hope that I wont have to deal with such issues. I am white (from the UK) my boyfriend is black (a US citizen). We are currently compiling all the documentation needed for him to file the I-129F petition and we also have a 15 year age gap (he is older than me). But, we are completey in love and cannot wait to be together. Us being of different racial backgrounds is the last thing on my mind to be honest and the least of my worries. Everyone should just try to think positive and going by what I have read from other members on this website, people arent just refused the K1 because of such a ridiculous invalid reason. I'm so interested in the success stories and can see that by reading them that by showing that you're commited and in a true and loving relationship, and that you meet the relevant criteria, it WILL happen.

Good luck to everyone.

Oh and does anyone have any advice about what we can start to prepare in advance now? Ie - have ready birth certificates etc... We want to avoid discovering we need stuff later, so we really want to be prepared.

Thankyou!

Thank you so much for your reply, Melchior55! Well done on getting the k1!! Congratulations to you and your fiancee.

I meant (about travelling back into the USA), once I actually have my K1 visa, that I would like to do it with my boyfriend with me - who shall be travelling back home after visiting me in the UK. I understand he will not be able to be with me at the POE and whilst I go through my documentation with the officials, but can he be out of his country whilst the application is in process after he files the I-129F?

Hope thats clear.

Thank you!

My boyfriend and have both decided we are going to apply for the K1 visa and are, at the moment, compiling documents etc in preparation for sending away the I-129F petition.

We both stumbled across this website and have found it so, so helpful. At first you feel as if you're the only people in the world having to go through this, but its so good to hear from all the other people out there experiencing the same.

Russ plans to visit me for the months of May & June this year. On his trip home, I will travel with him to visit for the 90 days, so whilst I'm there, we are both thinking of mailing off the I-129F package and finally starting the process then.

Once I arrive home in September/October, does anyone know if we are able to continue visiting each other whilst our application is in process. I've heard of possible problems with me travelling over to the USA, but would he be able to travel here, instead?

And eventually when we have reached the stage whereby I have my interview date at the US Embassy in London, does anyone also know if he is allowed to accompany me and then afterwards travel back to the US with me aswell. We'd both like to re-enter his country together before we get married as I also have a pet dog I'd like to travel with and it'd be much easier (and less stressful and nerve wracking) if we could do it together.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Good luck to you all. Its so inspiring to read all of your stories!