BrianandMerne

Congratulations to the May09 couples who got approved in the last 5 days

The California Service Center is processing petitions like a storm and it keeps us all on the edge of our seats. Let's keep everyone in our good affirmative thoughts. A few weeks ago we all were anxious that CSC seemed too awfully quiet. And yet now, looking at the processing times at the USCIS site, they are all working on K1 petitions that have been received till May 31st, 2009. Let's keep those couples who filed at VSC in our good thoughts as well. They've been having delays, even the couples who lodged their papers in earlier than May. We're on the same journey and the best we can do is encourage each other. Pull one as we step up.

God bless us all

May I ask what the RFE was required of you both?

I think there isn't any rule of thumb of how this is essayed. The more significant fact is proving the qualifications this visa demands. Specifically, proving the relationship before meeting, the couple's meeting within two years prior the petition is submitted and the ongoing relationship after the petition's submission during the interview of the beneficiary.

Your thoughts are neither old school nor even primitive luckymom. It is knowing what each couple deserves in a marital relationship and that is to be devoted and faithful in all ways. To give respect when respect is due and to account for something which needs checking. While anthropology would suggest that the world and its populace have evolved in geography, culture and lifestyle, yet there are many things that remain as "non-negotiable" in human relationships. On top of this non-negotiables I believe is absolute honor to the commitment made between the man and his wife. I respect your values luckymom and for those who say that you are too idealistic, let me say this... for what are ideals. Aren't they the benchmarks for us to become better persons each day?

To Rebz: I am sure only of one thing. I believe you are a woman who knows what she brings onto the table, hence you should not be afraid to put your foot down. I believe you know what you deserve. And you are the wife for heaven's sake! There are behaviors that deserve respect as there are behaviors that deserve admonition. You will be the one to know what these are in your context.

Some wives, they consider their husbands' flirtation with other women as adding spice to their relationship. To me that is absolute cruelty on self respect and desecration on the vows you and your spouse took before the laws of man and of God. Be strong. Be you.

Hello Rebz... I am sorry this happened. As a woman, I know exactly how you feel. I am not married to Brian yet and I also have not married someone else in the past. But I have always believed that there should be no secrets between couples, especially those married already. I have grown up with parents who have no secrets between them and being an only child and daughter I always thought that this is the way to be. I really do not know what to say about this, but if you are asking what you feel is right or wrong, then what I will say is it is a feeling, an emotion and it is neither right nor wrong. This is an issue of trust. And yet, honesty in itself is truest when no one is looking. Hence, whether or not you share passwords, it really is not a big deal. As there isn't a thing to hide or is there?

Here's one thing I am sure of though... anything done in secret is most often illicitly "suspect".

True. What I learned from a lawyer we both know is that when checking data before was a bit task-intensive, all proof are needing no notarization due the online information being put together now are just a click or two away from any consulate around the world to do.

No there isn't any need to. Brian's employer however had it done anyhow. I suppose it is a standard operating procedure for their company. His letter of employment and his affidavit of support had graciously been notarized by his company's HR manager for him. But back to your question, no there isn't any need to notarize it anymore unlike in the past. I read it in the instruction of filling out the I-134.

Hello Rebz... I am sorry this happened. As a woman, I know exactly how you feel. I am not married to Brian yet and I also have not married someone else in the past. But I have always believed that there should be no secrets between couples, especially those married already. I have grown up with parents who have no secrets between them and being an only child and daughter I always thought that this is the way to be. I really do not know what to say about this, but if you are asking what you feel is right or wrong, then what I will say is it is a feeling, an emotion and it is neither right nor wrong. This is an issue of trust. And yet, honesty in itself is truest when no one is looking.

Here's one thing I am sure of though... anything you do in secret is most often illicitly "suspect"

I am sorry you are in a dilemma right now. This however will not amount to anything except resentments on each side of your significant others, your fiance's and your son's, when you decide either way. I only wonder however how is it possible that you decided to marry this person who seems, as you shared, quite unwilling to accept your children.

Have a good one at the interview. We are sure you would make it.

You will click on this link and it will show everything that you need to do and prepare for your interview. Included in this link from the US Embassy in Manila is the way how to call and set an interview appointment.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwfk1en.pdf

You have any other questions just message me.

Presumptively, your sending a new petition with everything corrected, you did preempt the post mail from them which should have contained the specific detail for their request. Just wait it out still and expect it to come, as it would surely do albeit very slow. Your NOA2 will come soon.

Thank you HelloWorld and YuAndDan!

[/font]Hello to all. Although it will be some few number of weeks before the petition arrives at the consulate, will it be fine to just finish all the DS Forms (all download ready) required for the K1 now?

Thank you for the help!

Congratulations!

In a few weeks we will all have our news Let's keep the positive thought going!

Do our photos need to have dates on them?

We took literally thousands of photos together while I was over in the Philippines. But I didn't turn on the date mode of the cameras for any of the pictures. The photo files all contain the exif data which has the dates, but it doesn't appear when the photos are printed. I could easily add date text to the corner of the photos, but that might be considered doctoring the photos and might be illegal or against some protocol or just unnecessary, etc.

Some of the photos do have a date in them, because the banner behind us at our engagement party had the date in huge letters. Of the 14 I already printed, one shows "..H 17, 2009", another shows "...RCH 17, 200...". One could deduce that it says "MARCH 17, 2009". I suppose I should print the ones which show the whole date? Then what about the other photos without dates? Maybe I can just write the date and time on the back of each photo?

By the way, searching this forum is quite frustrating. I'm sure somebody has asked a similar question before, but I tried a lot of search terms and phrases without any useful results.

This is for the I-129F filing. Other evidence copies will be hotel receipts, my ticketless boarding pass info from the flight to/from Manila, other actual PAL boarding passes from when we flew together between Cagayan de Oro and Manila, my passport visa stamps, paperwork of my visa extension in Cagayan, and even receipts from my stay in the local hospital in her city.

Thanks in advance!

Hello... I am sending you a very detailed process on how to assemble to petition paper. You and your fiance can look into this. With it also, are specific document details that you will be reminded of getting. I hope this helps. This has been given to me by another VJ member and this helped Brian and I so much. God bless you!

Here it is:

How to make the I-129 F petition folder to send to Immigration: HOW I DID IT by gf97

Ok. This is what I had: the US Citizen will be the one doing all the work at this stage. All the foreigner has to do is sign 4 sheets of paper and submit passport pix to the US Citizen, so that the US citizen can start putting the application together.

First, I bought a manila folder, the kind that opens up, like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_folder.

On the cover of the folder I glued a sheet of paper that said, “ I-129F petition” . And I put our names on it.

Ok, now the inside of the folder:

First I put 2 holes at the top and I two hole punched everything, all the papers.

I fastened everything with the ACCO fasteners— http://www.instaoffice.com/2-piece-paper-f...992-ctn.0.7.htm

Then I had dividers, the kind you put in a Binder with the colored tabs, they are three hole punched on the sides, but I 2 hole punched the top.. these kind of dividers: http://www.jiffysupply.com/servlet/the-298/Dividers/Detail

With these dividers they come with the sheet of paper that allows me to write in what the topic is on the tab.

Ok, so now for assembling—everything I am saying applies to the US Citizen—

A. The first thing you will put in the folder will be the I 129 Cover letter. This letter will look like the following (look below for example - edit it based on your needs. And make sure you put the right USCIS address on it—vermont, Ca, or somewhere else):

US Citizen name,address, number

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Accurate address

Date

Nature of the submission: I-129F ORIGINAL SUBMISSION

To whom it may concern:

Enclosed please find my form I-129F, Petition for K-1 Fiance(e) Visa for (put your fiance(e) name here), and supporting documents.

Contents Include:

-Payment in the amount of $XX – whatever the current amount is—look here--it was 455, but it always increases:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

-I-129F Petition

-I-129F Supplement: Part B, Question 18, Explanation of meeting in person

-G-325A and Passport Style photograph (petitioner)

-G-325A and Passport Style Photograph (Beneficiary)

Letter Certifying intent to marry (Petitioner and Beneficiary)

Petitioners Birth Certificate

Petitioners Passport –(copies of passport and all the entry /leave stamps that sghow you visited your persons country)

-Letter Certifying intent to marry (Petitioner and Beneficiary)

-Proof of having met in person in the past two years (state the proof you are including)

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents to an immigration or consular officer at a later date.

Sincerely,

your name, sign it

---------------------

Ok, so lets talk about the contents of the package:

1. The petition –the I-129F petition- you the US Citizen will sign that petition.

2. i-129 F supplement: this is just a brief detail of how you met your honey.thats all—just type it up on a sheet of paper because that box they give you in the petition is too small. Sign it and date it.

3. the G 325 A- the Us Citizen will fill out 4 copies of it and sign each copy. The immigrant also needs to sign four copies of it and sign it. You will see how each copy says something different in the left bottom corner, like consulate, etc. Make sure you, the US Citizen send immigration the copies with the ORIGINAL signatures. So if you need to send the immigrant the forms to sign and then have that person send them back to you in the mail, that is what you will have to do.

Make sure you fill out these forms accurate and accordingly. Look here for

examples of how to fill out the form right.

This website is GOLD!!! Look at it because it gives you EXACT examples of what you will need: Look at how they filled out the I-129F petition and the G-325A.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=examples

4. You and your honeys passport pictures. Write your name in pencil on the back of your passport picture and on the back of the foreigners picture, write their name and “ No alien number” on the back of the foreigners pix cuz they probably dot have an alien number... When your foreigner goes to take his/her passport picture , make sure HE/She tells the photographer that it is for a US PASSPORT/Immigration, so that the photographer will give the foreigner the picture in the RIGHT size. It needs to be the right size.

So when you have the picture, and you have written on the back, stick it in a clear Ziploc bag. Zip up the Ziploc bag. Print a sheet of paper that has your name on it. Put the picture in the bag. And staple the bag to the sheet of paper that has your name on it. Do it for both pictures.

Proof of relationship:

You , the US Citizen, can include: used phone cards, copies of envelopes you have been sent through the mail, some emails, some Skype calls, pictures, your plane itinerary when you went to the foreigners country, the boarding pass, the stamps in your passport are proof, receipts of things you may have purchased while in the foreign land, the stickers they stick on your suitcase that show the destination, copies of the money receipts you have sent to the foreigner- like money gram or western union, post office receipts that show you sent something to the foreign country.

On the back of the photos, make sure you write your names, date, and where you were in the photo.

ASSEMBLING

So you will have the manila folder and all your stuff will be 2-hole punched at the top. Don’t STAPLE ANYTHING – only staple the Ziploc bag with the picture to a white sheet of paper that has your names on it. So you will only use two-3 staples.

Ok, you have your manila folder:And all your papers, including the dividers that are 2 hole punched at the top

1. get your cover letter , the one that says what is in the folder, example above. Type this letter (US citizen) and date it and sign it. turn it over.

2. get the divider and write i-129F on the white tab that comes with it. Turn it over.

3. get your 1-129F petition form. Make sure it is signed and dated by the US citizen, Hole punch it and turn it over. Take your 1-129F supplement, sign and date it and turn it over

4. get the divider and write G325A. turn it over

5. get the US Citizen G-325 As. There should be 4 with the same exact data,all with the original signatures and all signed. All 2 hole punched at the top . Flip them over get the US Citizen photo. Write the name in pencil on the back. Stick it in a Ziploc bag. Staple the bag (make sure you don’t staple the actual picture) to a sheet of paper that has the US citizens name on it. Flip it over get the foreigners G-325 As. There should be 4 with the same exact data,all with

the original signatures and all signed. All 2 hole punched at the top . Flip them over.

Get the foreigners pic. Write the name in pencil on the back and write ,”no alien number”. Stick it in a Ziploc bag. Staple the bag (make sure you don’t staple the actual picture) to a sheet of paper that simply has the foreigners name on it. Flip it over

6. Get the divider and write : Letter of intent on the tab

7. Print out the letter of intent to marry which should have original signatures by both of you. This is simply a three sentence letter stating that you and the other person plan on getting married within 90 days of receiving the K1 visa. The Us citizen can type the letter and email it foreigner. Foreigner prints it, signs it, and sends it through the mail to U S citizen. Then Us citizen gets that letter and signs his/her signature too—this way two signatures will be on the same page. Hole punch this letter and flip it over.

8. Divider – write birth certificate or passport . Flip it over on top of everything else that is flipped over.

9. Us Citizens birth certificate. If you don’t have it, you can submit a copy of the pages of your passport (copies- do NOT send the original of these document). On the copies of your passport pages, highlight the stamps which show when you visited the country of your foreign fiancée. Hole punch the copies and flip them over.

10. Get divider tab and write : Proof of relationship

11. Now, put a sample of your phone cards on a photocopy machine and photocopy the front and back, if you have any. Hole punch, flip over.

A. Print phone records of the times you have called your foreigner or/anf when the foreigner called/texted the US American. Hole punch,flip over

B. Us citizen should photocopy plane itineraries, boarding passes, luggage tags. Hole punch the photocopy and flip over.

C. US Citizen should photocopy envelopes he/she has received from foreigner. Hole punch and flip over.

D. US citizen should photocopy money receipts he/she has sent. Hole punch and flip over.

E. US citizen should photocopy some emails that have been sent to each other. Hole punch and flip over.

F. US Citizen should photocopy receipts from post office showing he/she sent packages/letters to the foreigner.

G. US Citizen should submit pictures of the couple together – at least 2. Make sure you write your names and locations on the back of the pictures..Put these pictures in an envelope or a strong Ziploc bag.Seal the bag and punch two holes in the bag so you can fasten it. Flip it over.

That’s it. Now flip everything over and put it on the fasteners – the two pronged fasteners. Get a paperclip and attach your check/money order to the cover sheet in the folder. Everything is in order – make sure your pictures are not backwards. Make sure the check is the right amount.

Now, make two copies of this file—the petitioner and the beneficiary will need EXACT copies of the file. So now you, the US Citizen, will have 3 files which are IDENTICAL. Us citizen keeps one for themselves, foreigner will eventually get the other copy when the US citizen gives it to him/her, and the copy with the live check will go to USCIS.

Send it off in a waterproof envelope--staples has them. Send it through the post office and get some type of signature confirmation so that you know for sure that it was received.

Send it off and wait.

This has been kindly made in detail for us by a fellow VJ member---gf97.

I hope this helps... and Good luck!

Hi everyone! I have been following on this site ever since my fiance and i decided to get engaged and file for K1. It has been a month since he left from his second visit already, but he only filed the petition last week. When he was with me, we assembled the packet togther and made sure everything was in order (thanks to visajourney guide). However, I told him to enclose his birth certificate on the visa packet when he gets back to US. Since he can't find his BC, he sent copies of his passport instead. But then, he forgot to make copies of ALL pages, and just the biographic information on the first page with his signature, the stamps of exit and entry from his two visits, and the Philippine Visa he had on his passport since his second visit was more than 21 days in the Philippines. (it was a 3-month visit visa stamp to the Philippines which he filed at the Philippine Consulate in Florida).

Is it possible that we can get a RFE later since he forgot to send copies of ALL pages? I told him about this little problem but he asked me what do they need with BLANK pages of passport? Isn't the info page with signature and foreign country visa on his passport not good enough to prove that he is a US Citizen considering that on the foreign country visa it was indicated that his citizenship is US?

I hope you can give your opinion on this. Well, should they need ALL copies I guess we will be getting RFE then... But I just hate delays already. And I am sure everyone here knows how it feels to wait and be away from your loved one.

Thanks for your time!

Isza

Congratulations for your both! And hopefully you and your fiance are going to be together soon.

As for your question.... yes most likely an RFE will come. Many a VJ member couple had been asked for it mainly because of the concern you are presenting now. I know exactly how you feel. But hang in there, many miracles happen on a daily basis.

Just check the following:

1. All documents that need a signature must be sent in original signed forms and not photocopies ok?

2. The boxes that needed marking, check whether or not they are responded to (meaning: ticked). These are the YES and NO responses in the I129F and the G325A forms.

3. Don't forget to sign your check )

I am sure you are all good!

You can do it yourselves! VJ people have a lot to offer to direct you and your beloved on the process and the details along with it. We'd also encourage you and your fiancee to do the paperwork together and be knowledgeable of the steps associated with the process. It is one way to keep your anxieties associated with the "WAITING GAME" less daunting for both of you. I am speaking of our personal experience that is. By being aware of what lies ahead, there is less frustration.

Which reminds me, THANK YOU TO THE VERY KIND AND GRACIOUS PEOPLE OF VJ. The paperwork isn't as complicated as it presents itself to be. Your direction have been so much helpful.

So DO IT YOURSELVES, robmd!

Thanks BrianandMerne for the reply.

Since I didn't live in Singapore for 6 months and more, it's fine if I don't include it in the list of residence for the last 5 years then? Ok, that makes sense...Thanks so much for that info.

About the passport, actually it wasn't stamped by the Singaporean Immigration with "exited" or whatever. Checking it out awhile ago, I realized that Singaporean Immigration didn't even stamp my passport when I exited. I'm guessing it could be due to the multiple entry visa given to me, which means I could go in and out of Singapore in that one whole year.

About #6 in the embassy link, my fiance didn't serve the military.

The last link is an error page...

My fiance and I were really worried that we might end up waiting for more days to file the I-129F if I'll have to send him a new g-325a signed form. Not only it will cause us a delay, it's also really expensive to send documents overseas. I know how expensive it will cost my fiance for him to bring me there so as much as possible, I don't want to add anymore expenses...

I really appreciate all the help. Thank you so much.

No thank you needed Girl! Anytime. Sorry about the error on link I don't why that wouldn't work Nevertheless, that #6 is only to have you not worry about the Singapore residency question you have prior. Hmmm... Now about your "exit" stamp it seems weird to me that you have none. I have been to Singapore numerous times and have always been stamped EXITED. I just went again to Singapore May 2009 and spent the whole month there. Though I do not have your "extension" condition. As far as I have known over this past 10 years I have been going back to Singapore, visitor's visa had never been required.

I do have a multiple entry visa in another country and each time I go and come back home, I always get stamped for both entry and exit.

I wonder only though...

Also...checking now my old passport, it said "VISIT PASS with no permit to remain until August 2008 or enagage in any business profession without the work permit"...And I've read in another thread that extended trips are not included in G-325a, that's the reason why i'm so confused...I just really want to make the filing as easy and as efficient as it can be.

Anyone who was in the same situation, pls?

Thanks to all again...

Sorry, i think it's i messed that up...What I meant was the VISIT PASS was good until August 2008 with no permit to engage in any business profession without the work permit...It's a one year multiple entry visa.

Hi. You were never a resident in Singapore. You were only a tourist hence you are not liable to state in the biographic data form regarding your 10 week Singapore stay. Resident means you stayed at least 6 months in a different country other than the Philippines. Moreover, your passport was stamped by the Singaporean Immigration in the airport as "EXITED" when you left Singapore. Please read this link "http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3217.html" so you will get an idea on what is expected of you as the applicant of the K1 visa at the US Embassy in Manila. Please read #6.

For more ideas about the I-129F follow this link from USCIS: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD ... Underneath you will find the instructions on how to file and the petition form itself.

For more accurate information, click on the FORUMS link here on VJ and you will have a more than ample amount of information and sample forms to use for the K1 visa application.

For an idea how to collate all the papers together read this thread... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2886924

Good luck to you and your fiance!

Hello po!

I'm new here.

My fiance and I are hoping to send the I-129F this coming week. Kaya lang may problem...

Sa G-325a ko, I wasn't able to put Singapore in the list of the last 5 years of residency. 10 weeks lang ako nag-stay sa Singapore via 1 year visit pass, multiple entry, kaya hindi ko na sya nilagay. Should I include it or not?

Pwede bang pa-print na lang ako sa fiance ko ng same document with the corrected part and have him paste it in that part of the signed form? Or any suggestions? It's expensive to send another set of documents kaya ayoko sana...

Also, sa passport pic, is it required that the ears are exposed? Natakluban kc ng hair ko ung ears ko and I also realized that even if i had my hair made up na hindi rin kita talaga ears ko.

I would appreciate an immediate response. Thanks.

Hi. You were never a resident in Singapore. You were only a tourist hence you are not liable to state in the biographic data form regarding your 10 week Singapore stay. Resident means you stayed at least 6 months in a different country other than the Philippines. Moreover, your passport was stamped by the Singaporean Immigration in the airport as "EXITED" when you left Singapore. Please read this link "http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3217.html" so you will get an idea on what is expected of you as the applicant of the K1 visa at the US Embassy in Manila. Please read #6.

For more ideas about the I-129F follow this link from USCIS: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD ... Underneath you will find the instructions on how to file and the petition form itself.

For more accurate information, click on the FORUMS link here on VJ and you will have a more than ample amount of information and sample forms to use for the K1 visa application.

For an idea how to collate all the papers together read this thread... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2886924

Good luck to you and your fiance!

More than sufficient! Reminders: Letters of Intent to Marry with Original Signatures, Signed and dated forms, Check responses in all forms (ticked appropriate boxes, written N/A on questions without significant responses, Correct mailing address of appropriate service center, Cheque amount and named appropriately, etc etc)...

DEFA17 hi...we know what you are going through... so please read this thread and your life will be free from confusion

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=194145&st=0

send a message if you want more questions we're going to be more than happy to answer you...

brianandmerne