Helen Louise Pile

The consulate will tell you in the package they will send you once your case has arrived there. But you will need to send the W2, paystubs taxes transcript ( how many years, the consulate will tell you) and it wont hurt to also send the bank statement ah! and letter of employer )

It really is dependent on the individuals financial situation and the embassy.

For example, for our situation, in London. Only a letter from my husbands employer was needed, as stated in the I-134 instructions. Nothing else.

The OP should check the reviews from his/her embassy to determine what exactly is requested and what will be accepted.

Southcalhog, you shouldn't tell anyone anything 'as fact' because you really don't know the ins and out of their situation or the embassy they are going through. You might be right, but you also might be wrong.

For example, as per the I-134 instructions, tax information is only required if the person is self employed, however I have seen here that some embassy's ask do for them.

It depends on your situation.

Read the instructions first: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134instr.pdf

And check in your regional forum to see if the embassy requires you to bring anything in addition.

You take the I-134 to your interview with you.

Good luck!

Check on your regional forum for in for specific to your embassy. I was only required to bring the appropriate forms and evidence for specific forms, not anything for proof of relationship.

You do not need to do it within 90 days. But the sooner the better for her ability to work etc.

You can get the rest of the packet ready to go and just insert the certificate when you get it. We got our certificate 2 hours after we were married but didn't file until about 6 weeks after the date on my I-94. No problems.

Thailand and Cambodia have recently passed laws which discriminate against older men marrying younger local women and in some cases prevents it!

This is not a one way street.

As others have said, work on getting proof enough to satisfy the embassy and reapply. Your husband may be a genuine man and it may seem unfair but Nigeria is a high fraud country so you just have to wait it out and work extra hard.

Best of luck.

You don't just pick a country, any country.

I moved here because my husband is American. We lived in Scotland for a few years, now we're here. If there's ever an opportunity to live in Canada, we'd definitely take it! Especially if it was in BC or YT! I'd move almost anywhere in the world if the opportunity arose. Life is an adventure.

If I had no legal status here, I'd leave. Simple.

Hi All.. I did some searching but could not find the answer on the forum and timeline guides.

My Fiance arrived as K1 Fiance Visa.

After arrival nov 21st..we got married on Dec 13th

Today Dec 19th we went to the SSA office with our marriage certificate and requested a SSN and for them to make it in her new last name (she is taking my last name).

However the SSA admin told us we should NOT do that because there would be no SSN record because her I94 is in her maiden name. I went along with her suggestion and am now unsure how to make sure I get her green card in her married name. I don't know how to make sure her green card will be in her new married last name when filling out the i485.

TLDR: How do i get my fiance now wife a green card in her new last name..ssn is in her maiden name.

Fill in all further paperwork to USCIS in married name, include anew G-325 (biographical information) with the AOS packet to reflect the name change. On all forms where it says previous names used, you write her maiden name. When she gets her greencard you can change it with SSA. I had the same issue

Congratulations on your marriage!

...the petition procedure was not yet done because the girl wanted to proved that the love of the boy for her is real, not love for the papers only...

This sentence is perplexing.

If she had doubts she shouldn't have married him. This is very odd. How did he prove his love?

How long has it been since they were married? How long has he been out of status?

Being out of status for a while isn't necessarily a problem. It really depends on the situation. He can marryand adjust status while on a tourist visa if it was not his intention to remain here when he entered and he did not misrepresent himself at CBP. There are many many VJ posts on this topic.

Congratulations!!

You don't need to inform ICE. Just file AOS as soon as you can.

Have a great Christmas!

My foreign born spouse (the USC) and I enjoy introducing each other to lots of new experiences, in my country and in his.

Your picture idea sounds fun! Your ideas are great! You should have your spouse make a list too of fun things he can introduce you to.

One of our 'best dates' was when he took me wild camping in Scotland in November. (I think only a crazy Alaskan would do that!) or our 10,000 mile US road trip this summer (or the 4,500 mile one last summer). We've spent a lot of time driving here in the US and only seen 23 States (and 7 Canadian Provinces), the vastness of this land continues to amaze me.

Have fun!!

I think 2 hours is bare minimum.

I had 2 hours in Newark and I wish I'd given myself longer. I got off the plane (10 minutes), I queued at immigration (40 minutes), I was taken to secondary (20 minutes), I picked up my bags and went through customs (10minutes), I put my bags back on the belt and then ran through Newark (20 minutes) to clear security again (15minutes) before getting on my flight just before the doors closed. Newark was a blur. The only reason I made my flight was because the lovely lady at security eventually let me in the 1st class line.

All international flights into the US must collect baggage and clear security again, add immigration process to that and it takes a bit of time. Plus Newark is a large airport.

As Nick-Nich said, try to get a seat at the front of the plane.

And wear running shoes!

Good luck!!

My wife moved from Mindanao (southern Philippines) to Barrow, Alaska in the summer of 2010. Barrow is a polar climate with no windbreaks - the winters are very cold (not quite as cold as Fairbanks though), and the wind chill can be brutal (-70s - ouch!). But the humidity is usually very low, so it often does not feel quite as cold as the numbers indicate.

My wife has adapted well and actually likes Barrow because she's used to small town living. The key for her was to get a job at the school, where she has made friends and can be around children. The climate isn't so bad if you have the proper clothing and equipment, and a nice cozy apartment. We snuggle and keep each other warm at night!

I went to Barrow last July and it was 30F and extremely windy when most of AK was 70's!

Alaska airlines has good deals to Maui from Anchorage or Fairbanks when it gets too cold!

It looks like it depends on who you ask which explains the confusion. This website says that the K1 visa is enough to get a SSN and work without the stamp but it would obviously require someone who understands the system better than I do to confirm this. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211420#g1

Wow, this is misleading! At least when a K1 receives their SS card they will see the restrictions that apply. No wonder there are so many topics about this question.

OP - you cannot work for pay without GC or EAD. You may volunteer.

No offense, but "Anglo countries" do that too.

I know right.

OP - When you marry someone from a different country this is part of the deal. If you didn't discuss it before hand then that's too bad but have a conversation about it now. You can be kind and willing to compromise while still making your feelings known.

Good luck with everything

I am always cold. I have found that wearing good clothes and having a well insulated house make all the difference.

My husband is from Fairbanks, Alaska so to him, everywhere in the contiguous US is warm!

I trade the damp cold of Scotland for the many hours of winter daylight here in the lower 48! I can't believe how great is it that the sun rises before 8 am every day here in Vermont, even if it's much colder than Scotland!

I think adjusting to hot temperatures is more of a challenge.

As I sit and wait for my NOA2, I can't help but think about the K-1 process. I've been on VJ for several months now and I've read numerous success stories but also numerous horror stories. I know I need to be informed of the worst case scenarios to be prepared but I can't help in worrying that for some reason my legitimate relationship may not be approved because the country my fiance is from is high-fraud and the CO did not like the way he said "the".

As I've read different journeys I've realized the proof of the relationship is not necessarily in the "pudding". I feel the CO wants to see how much money are you willing to spend to validate and prove you have a legitimate relationship. Have you gone to see each other several times spending thousands of dollars in airfare, hotels, etc? Have you spent hundreds of dollars sending letters or packages to your fiance across international waters (are we not in the 21st century?!?) when you could just send an e-mail or wait to deliver the package and gift when you actually visit them?

Does quality not mean more than quantity? Why would $$$ be an indicator of authenticity? If someone was trying to "buy" their way into the US, don't you think it would be via $$$ (bribes)?

Why is religion such a red flag when one of my freedoms as a USC is freedom of religion? Can I not love someone from another religion? Even two USCs from different states could have such different beliefs and different cultures it would be comparable to being from a different country.

Why don't they read some of the e-mails or text messages that go back and forth between the couple? You can't make up that type of conversation between 2 people in love. Why don't they care about the details?

As I digress, I am at the discretion of the US government and will follow this process if I want to have a future with my fiance in the US. I will provide as much evidence as possible that they deem valid, but I can only hope and pray that my fiance and I have a smooth journey and that we can get married in August 2012. I can only dream that this will be my last holiday season alone and that next year, we will be able to celebrate our first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's together as husband and wife.

As another poster said...they are not malicious, they are just a bureaucracy.

Each case is different. The only time money was part of our visa process was paying for visa and medical costs and the I-134. They had no interest in anything like packages or gifts.

You just have to be organized and ready for any questions they may have.

You learned a valuable lesson from your first attempt, look at it that way

So when you enter with K1, know what they are looking for. If they say "When will you be married', you say something that corresponds to 'within 90 days'. If you say "Oh I don't know...I'm not really sure' then it may raise suspicion. K1 is not a guarantee for entry at POE. But make sure you know what to have with you and what to expect and you'll be fine. They just want to make sure you are not going to circumvent the law.

Good luck!

Did your wife come here on a K1? Are you asking how to cover up that she illegally worked?

She was not able to work, her SS card stated that clearly, unless she had DHS approval.(Her EAD or her greencard)

I don't know what you should do now. I hope someone can help you.

If you don't want to be with him fine...but to leave and take his baby won't happen. First its morally wrong that you would want to do that and unless he let's you it won't happen. See if he wants the child...if he does then have the baby then leave. But to take his child you should be ashamed.

You have no idea what this woman's relationship is, so please don't judge.

OP:

You are only 8 weeks pregnant so you have time. Have you started working yet here in the US? Coming on a K1 and waiting for AOS is tough on your relationship and your feeling of independence and self worth. Many here know that. Can you wait for AP and take a trip home to visit your family to clear your head? Can you go to counselling with your husband and try to figure something out? What does he think about the situation? Does he want to work things out?

I wish you all the best. Please ignore the nonsense some people have posted. Your baby will not hate you when it is 18 because you left the father. That is just ridiculous and rude. What ever you choose will be for the best.

Divorce and leaving the US is a big decision. Make sure it's the right one for you if that's what you choose.

Take care,

Helen

I have a family member like this.

In my opinion the best thing to do would be to calmly talk to your husband about your concerns about your step daughter and how you are going to help her reach her full potential as a mother. You are not helping her by taking responsibilities away from her. That should be clear to your husband. You could tell his that you want to make sure your grandson is safe and that he has a mother who can be proud of herself. To do that, you need to let her find her own way, but still support her.

It seems like the first thing you need is for your husband to be on your side and to show your step daughter that you are a united front and that you care, but will not be taken advantage of. You need to expect more from her and show her that she can live up to your expectations. Her life doesn't sound fun. It sounds like she is avoiding responsibilities, perhaps because she doesn't think she can handle it.

I am just speculating.

I wish you luck. I know it can be hard to deal with!

Hi everyone! This is my first post, so hopefully it's OK I start a new topic. I've been reading all the posts here and it's really helpful as I begin the process of bringing my love here I'm a U.S. citizen (born/raised in Chicago) and my fiance is a British citizen (born/raised in London). Right now, we're getting ready to file the I-129F and start everything.

Here is my question:

Knowing all of the timeframes involved with this process, here is my issue. My fiance's lease is up on his house as of January 28, so realistically, even if we filed everything today and the fact that expedited processing with USCIS isn't guaranteed, would he be able to come here as a "tourist" after the 28th, and stay the 90 days he's allowed (without working, etc. just as he would while visiting me). Then, after the 90 days, he could return to England for any applicable medical exam, interview, etc.? Basically, will the fact that we're applying for this process impact his travels here in any way?

Let me know what you think, thanks!

Hello,

This is exactly what we did.

Filed on 6th May, I entered the US on the 13th May on VWP for 89 days. When I got back my packet 3 was waiting. I stayed in Scotland for 7 weeks while I got my medical and interview etc. Then I flew back to the US in October.

I read VJ a lot, so I took a letter from my employer saying 'See you in 3months' and cards from my parents saying the same thing. My fiance and I had just moved out of our flat in Scotland so I didn't have a lease, I was going to stay with my folks when I returned. I was also very careful about what I packed, so that nothing could be misinterpreted!(No documents I didn't need, no wedding dress!)

I told CBP that I was visiting my fiance for 3 months. There was no problem, they did not ask for proof of my return, other than my return flight.

They asked me about visits at my K1 interview in London and they had images of me when I entered the US at this point in my file too. I think it was seen as a positive thing because the interviewer asked me about my amazing 3month summer trip to Alaska.

Be prepared for questions and be careful about what she packs and take proof of her return! You should be fine.

Good luck!!

ps. If you file asap then she can may be able to take a copy of the NOA1 with her as proof that you are pursuing a legal route for immigration.

Is there anyone here who had their interview November 23, 2011 with their passport already? I'm sorry I'm so looking forward to have it this week because I already booked my ticket December 6 (I know it's not right but I was trying to get the discounted airfare). Now I'm a little nervous on having to rebook the flight because I don't have the visa with me. I called 2GO and they don't have my passport yet. It's been 3 working days already of course I counted November 24.

Don't count the 24th, it is a US holiday and the embassy in Manila was closed. (The embassy is also closed on Wednesday)

I also booked my ticket (well,my husband did) before I had my visa in hand. I'd wait a few more days before getting worried, since there are holidays and a weekend it's only been 1 working day since your interview. I'd also look into what you need to do to re-book your flight, just in case!

Best of luck with everything!

Hello all. I am new to all of this and am feeling pretty down. I have not filed yet for theK1 but, will soon.

I have a question. Does anyone know a good calling card or phone plans that are at a good rate?

I have been using my cellphone and am really upset how high the bills are.

I feel like the process is draining me physically,financially and emotionally.

I need advice what service of phone cards work?

On average how long does it take to approve or not if I am petitioning someone from the middle east to comes to the US?

I am also concerned financially since, I am still looking for employment!

If this visa works and he gets to the US, how soon can he work here?

I am so bummed out and am wondering if this is the best thing for me.

Help!

I am sorry you are down! Everyone here can understand your frustration with the long distance!

I don't know anything about calling cards, but Skype is free and very good!

As you are doing a K1 it will be a while before your fiance can work in the US. If you were already married, he could work as soon as he arrives and gets his GC.

You don't have to file your income until his interview which will be after the initial petition is all approved, so you have some time to find a job and earn some money. (5+ months)

Since you haven't filed yet, I'd suggest researching all your options. We were going to get married in Scotland and do a Spousal visa since we were already there but after a lot of research and talking we decided a K1 was better for us and we changed our plans.

Good luck with everything!!

Check your status every day?!!

I didn't check mine at all during the K1, and when I checked it during AOS it still said 'Initial review' when I had my greencard in hand. So I wouldn't put too much faith in whatever it says there.

Just be patient. You can keep an eye on VJ to see how long it is taking for the service centers to approve people if you are so inclined.

Good luck, I hope you are approved soon