K1 Visa To Usa

[Ygg]

Hi guys,

I want to start the process for the K1 visa for my girlfriend. I am trying to decide if we should use an imigration law firm for this, or just do it our selves. If it were just me I would do it my self. But I realize she will have to do most the stuff. I know a girl who got one and she said it was easy and not to use a law firm. Then I have read things on the interent that say its better to have help. I am sure getting married and moving her here will cost a lot of money. I dont have a bad job, but then I don't have a lot of exta money ether. So I don't really want to pay the extra for the law firm if its not really necesary. Any advice you guys can give me about any part of this K1 process will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[DurianChips]

Hi guys,

I want to start the process for the K1 visa for my girlfriend. I am trying to decide if we should use an imigration law firm for this, or just do it our selves. If it were just me I would do it my self. But I realize she will have to do most the stuff. I know a girl who got one and she said it was easy and not to use a law firm. Then I have read things on the interent that say its better to have help. I am sure getting married and moving her here will cost a lot of money. I dont have a bad job, but then I don't have a lot of exta money ether. So I don't really want to pay the extra for the law firm if its not really necesary. Any advice you guys can give me about any part of this K1 process will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I've been through the K1 process with my wife also. Whether or not you should use a lawyer really depends on how comfortable you are reading legal (government) documents. Have you ever done your own taxes? If so, then you should be able to do the K1 visa paperwork. In fact, it's probably easier, because there is no math involved. Just read the paperwork carefully, make sure every blank is filled out. They will ask for a lot of supporting paperwork. Make sure you have everything they ask for, and you will be fine. If it says something needs to be notarized, make sure it is. Make sure all papers are signed, etc. If you're comfortable reading very closely and following the directions, you should be fine. Also, I wouldn't really worry about your fiance having trouble with filing the materials There's no reason why you can't just fill out the paperwork for her (minus signatures of course), then ask her for the needed signatures and supplemental materials (this is exactly what a law firm would do if you payed them).

I think the whole process is expensive enough as it is, even without a lawyer. With the new fee schedule, processing the fiance visa application is $455, I think. Then, when she arrives, changing her status is $1000, and if you want temporary travel documents or work authorization, almost an additional $1000. (It was less than half that when we went through the process)

So I think any reasonably intelligent person should be okay without a lawyer. Of course, you can always post for help here if you have any specific questions about the paperwork.

Also, make copies of EVERYTHING you submit

[usviking]

Hey Durian chips! Your exactly the guy I want to talk to! And why I just joined this forum.

I used a visa service in Bangkok for our K-1 application. I was working in Iraq at the time, and thought it would be allot easier on my girl. I'm sure I have made the wrong decision, because they have done nothing but make mistake after mistake. LOL Believe it or not, I finally received the I-797C, Notice of action this week.The USCIS has approved our application, and now it is time for the next step.

My girl went and talked to the people at the visa service yesterday, and they want me to send ALL of the same paperwork we did when we started all of this. And I mean all of it. Tax returns letter of employment....everything. Of course this got me seeing red. They allready have all of this. They even want her to go back to her village and get updated versions of her paperwork! What is going on here? Does she really need all of this stuff again? I know after she gets a case number, she will need to get a physical, and police report. But how much stuff is she expected to carry into the interview. She has hundreds of photos of us, and 3 years worth of DAILY e-mails. Is this all reall necessary? Needless to say, she is quite confused about all of this, as am I! I told her I would try and talk to someone who has allready been through it. And I really hope you can help.

On the day of the interview, how long will they talk to her? How many people are there to interview her? And do they really have the time to look through all of the stuff she was told to bring? I figured the US side was the difficult part.

I appreciate any insight you could give me!

[DurianChips]

Hey Durian chips! Your exactly the guy I want to talk to! And why I just joined this forum.

I used a visa service in Bangkok for our K-1 application. I was working in Iraq at the time, and thought it would be allot easier on my girl. I'm sure I have made the wrong decision, because they have done nothing but make mistake after mistake. LOL Believe it or not, I finally received the I-797C, Notice of action this week.The USCIS has approved our application, and now it is time for the next step.

My girl went and talked to the people at the visa service yesterday, and they want me to send ALL of the same paperwork we did when we started all of this. And I mean all of it. Tax returns letter of employment....everything. Of course this got me seeing red. They allready have all of this. They even want her to go back to her village and get updated versions of her paperwork! What is going on here? Does she really need all of this stuff again? I know after she gets a case number, she will need to get a physical, and police report. But how much stuff is she expected to carry into the interview. She has hundreds of photos of us, and 3 years worth of DAILY e-mails. Is this all reall necessary? Needless to say, she is quite confused about all of this, as am I! I told her I would try and talk to someone who has allready been through it. And I really hope you can help.

On the day of the interview, how long will they talk to her? How many people are there to interview her? And do they really have the time to look through all of the stuff she was told to bring? I figured the US side was the difficult part.

I appreciate any insight you could give me!

Sure, no problem. We never used a visa service, so I can't speak on that. Regarding what comes next for you, as I recall, the US embassy in Thailand will send her a packet of information now that the fiance petition has been approved. It may take a month or so to receive this. Until then, there's really not much to be done. The packet will contain specific instructions on what to do next. I'm not sure what the visa service is trying to accomplish here. It may be that they misunderstand, and they think she needs to apply for another visa. Either way, there's really nothing to do right now but wait for the US embassy in Thailand to contact her. They will tell her what to do. My wife recommends www.usvisa4thai.com (btw, my wife's opinion of visa services in Bangkok is not good)

Take as much stuff as possible to the interview. Only one person will talk to her, but they will actually look through all of her materials. It sounds like she's on the right track with pictures, emails, etc. Everything else should be specified pretty clearly in the instructions she receives.

[daveh]

My now wife and I did it all ourselves. We still are, in fact, since we are now waiting for the removal of conditions from her status to finish processing.

It was not that difficult at all. You'll worry about what "evidence" to submit more than anything.

I always got the latest forms from the USCIS website in PDF form. I filled them out using Adobe Acrobat so I could save them electronically. For the forms my wife had to do, I simply filled them out for her and emailed them to her (I made sure she had letter sized paper to print everything on during my previous trip to Thailand). This way, I ended up doing all the work I would have paid someone in Thailand to do. For some things that could not be sent electronically, I sent via mail.

[usviking]

Thanks guys! Its really re-assuring hearing it from people that have done it, and are still going through it. Durianchips (you dont really eat that do you?555) your wife is right. The visa service my fiance used was recommended by a friend of a friend. Big mistake thus far. I am absolutely amazed that we got approved up to this point. We just received the approval this week. We first went to this guys office, and did all the paperwork in JULY OF '06!!!!!!!!

IMO they must have mis-understood the notice of action form that I scanned and sent them. Its maddening trying to deal with these people, and I strongly recomend to people, if you plan on using a service. Make sure you find one that can speak FLUENT english, and that they have dealt with visas for the US in the past. From what I have been told. Allot of services wont even try to do US visas since 9-11. This guy is Thai and only saw the money.

I will keep you all informed. And thanks again!

Hope you dont mind if I ask a bunch of questions the closer we get to the interview! 555555555

[Ygg]

Thanks a log guys,

Your response has helped me a lot. I am sure I will try it on my own now. It did not realize that I could do the paper work here for her. I also did not realize that it would be so expensive for the change of status and work permit. One other question, about how long should I expect this to take once I start? I will probably ask some more questions once I get going on this.

Thanks

Jim

[thaihome]

.... One other question, about how long should I expect this to take once I start? I will probably ask some more questions once I get going on this.

Thanks

Jim

You can get processing times here. The Calif Center is now processing K1 applciations ubmitted in Feb 2007.

TH

Edited August 30, 2007 by thaihome

[usviking]

.... One other question, about how long should I expect this to take once I start? I will probably ask some more questions once I get going on this.

Thanks

Jim

You can get processing times here. The Calif Center is now processing K1 applciations ubmitted in Feb 2007.

TH

They must not update those dates very often. I just received our I-79 notice of action (approval) last week. And according to that form, USCIS California service center didnt recieve our K1 application until April 23, 2007! LOL

[DurianChips]

Thanks a log guys,

Your response has helped me a lot. I am sure I will try it on my own now. It did not realize that I could do the paper work here for her. I also did not realize that it would be so expensive for the change of status and work permit. One other question, about how long should I expect this to take once I start? I will probably ask some more questions once I get going on this.

Thanks

Jim

I've seen those processing times posted on USCIS, but in my experience they don't reflect reality.

The initial K1 application, which you submit here in the US, is quite fast, probably only a couple months. Then, she receives her packet of info in Thailand, which probably takes another 1-1.5 months. She has her interview, and gets the visa soon thereafter. The K1 visa is single entry, and valid for 6 months. She must enter the US within 6 months. Once here, she must marry the person named in the K1 visa and file for change of status within 90 days. Change of status took 6 months for us, but I've heard it can take a lot longer. If she wants to work while her case is being processed, she needs a work authorization. Takes about 2-3 months to get. If she wants to leave the country, she will need an advance parole to reenter, which can take 3-4 months to get (if she leaves without the advance parole, she cannot get back in, and she abandons her case). Once change of status is granted, she is a conditional permanent resident. She has 2 years conditional permanent residency. Then she must apply to have the conditional aspect lifted.

Hope this helps give you can idea of the timeline.

[pumpuiman]

You can do it yourself. I went to a lawyer, after becoming worried I may have not done things correctly......they made copies, and sent me a bill!!

Supporting evidence will be the most important thing. Take lots of pictures. Pictures of both of you together, with family, friends etc....

Save copies of e-mails...letters...even package wrapping from the post office.

Save phone bills.

MAKE 2 COPIES OF EVERYTHING! Buy a file folder (a big one) and label everything...you will constantly be returning to look at paperwork...this helps tremendously.

I mailed my wife (then fiance) copies of everything as well...so we could discuss paperwork on the phone.

The forms are available on the USCIS website...there is a toll free helpline as well..a long wait to get through, but can be very helpful.

It's stressful, frustratingly maddening, and you will be pulling your hair out for months.

I started the process in 2003......we just received her unconditional permanent residence two weeks ago!!

Good luck, don't give up.

Best thing I've ever done.