If you're here, then perhaps you are also contemplating...or in the middle of the vast world of immigration!! If you thought it would be filing a few simple forms...maybe having an interview...and then moving on with your life without government interference, then ya'd better wake up and have some coffee!! *LOL* Since Mike and I are still pretty much at the beginning of our journey, I'll have to keep changing and updating this information for you...but here's what we've learned so far...
***Please note that this information is NOT legal advice!!! If I were a lawyer, I'd be an expert at this stuff!! *LOL* Hopefully this page may help you along YOUR journey with the INS, maybe give you a few laughs, and if nothing else, provide encouragement that you're not alone!!! *SMILE*
First step....BE SURE!!!!
*LOL* this my seem too simple, but you're about to embark on quite a journey and if you're not prepared the ride could and WILL be bumpy!!! *Grin*
INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service)
Okay so they probably aren't big bad guys just sitting behind desks devising ways to make our lives complicated, but due to the nature of their jobs, it sure seems that way!! *LOL* So far I've never had to talk to anyone from INS and from what I can tell that's probably a good thing! *grin* BUT in order to begin your journey, you DO need them! First off you'll need (if marriage is your goal) to apply for a K-1 visa for your foreign fiance (all of this information assumes that you want to be married to a fiance that does not reside in the U.S and that you both want to live in the U.S. following the marriage).
The first site to visit is:
US State Department-Services-Visas
Here you will find links to explainations of all various kinds of visas...the one you're looking for is Fiance Visa under Marriage to Foriegn Nationals. You will get a basic idea from there what the process is like.
From there...visit:
US Immigration and Naturalization Services
Here you can find general information and specific information on forms and fees. Hmmm..did I mention fees??? *LOL* Well there are quite a few associated with this process so get ready for that!!! *Grin*
The form you will need to begin is called "I-129F", this is not one that you can download from the net so follow their "forms by mail" link to obtain it. The cost at this time for filing I-129F is $95.00 U.S. dollars, and I can tell you from my experience that they want the WHOLE enchalada up front!! *LOL* I accidently looked at the wrong chart and didn't send enough money....they politely packed up the entire application and sent it back to me to resubmit with proper funds! *LOL*
Be ready with lots of information from both of you, it's best if you can fill them out together as some of the wording is pretty tricky at some points and leaving a line blank is NOT in your best interests!! (another "learn the hard way" lesson for Mike and I *LOL*).
Once you've filled everything in, signed on the dotted line, and placed the proper funds with it...mail it all off to the address they tell you to and be ready to WAIT!!!!!! *LOL* Really they tell you to expect a wait of approximatly three months, and after you get a notification that they've recieved your application and it is being processed they tell you it's going to be about 82 to 112 days, just be prepared for it (we were lucky and they moved quite fast even with our little screwups!).
***Side Note***
You're going to need copies!! Of previous marriage certificates, divorce decrees, birth certificates, etc. Better to get that stuff together first!! I could NOT find one thing and had to go through the local courthouse to obtain it...forwarned is forarmed!!! *Grin*
After a lot of waiting...and waiting....you'll get notification in the mail of the determination of their process, we were lucky and everything went fine...in fact...we were very pleased!! No interviews, fingerprints, or extended waiting periods....we should have KNOWN better!!! *LOL*
Round Two!!!
The little form looks harmless enough...just contact the consulate in the country your fiance lives in to obtain his/her visa and then they can enter the country, work, and all you have to do is get married within 90 days! Sounds simple, but wait! There's something else! *LOL* After the marriage you must file form I-485 to change the temporary visa to a conditional permanate resident status..hmmmmm...okay...another form, another fee, but it shouldn't be too bad...right? WRONG!!! *LOL*
Form I-485 is the one that gives you all the things you were afraid of...the interview word...fingerprint appointments...and a fee of $220.00!!!!! OUCH!!!!! Never mind the fee waiver formalities because I didn't even get three paragraphs in before I gave up!! *LOL* But if you're interested in looking into it...it's also at the forms site.
That's where we stand right now....Mike's trying to tie up loose ends in Sweden and I'm working to get the house ready for the "male invasion" *LOL* As soon as we get through the next round of government forms I'll update here and let you know how it goes...keep your fingers crossed for us!!! *GRIN*
OOOOoooppppsss!!!!
Round 1-A!!!
Got a little ahead of myself there!! *LOL* There's a big part yet to be done, all the stuff you need to GET the actual visa!!! *grin* It's alot of paperwork AND that pesky I-134 Affidavit of support! It's got me worried but I've been folling some great links and found alot of helpful sites! To list them all here would be redundant so I'll give you the best link I've found so far! Nearly everything is there! *S*
K-1 FAQ
Make that link your first stop and you'll get a wealth of information!! TRUST me it IS necessary!!!
Okay....I'm off to work on the paper trail again *LOL* Wish us luck and I'll keep you updated!! *S*
Costs so far!!!
WOW! This is NOT a cheap thing to do is it??? *LOL* Here's the costs that we've incurred so far!!!
Form I-129 $95.00
Copies $15.00 (approx)
Mike's Costs in Sweden so far...
x-ray 300.00 SEK ($35.82 U.S.)
blood tests 65.00 SEK ($7.76 U.S.)
blood analysis 350.00 SEK ($41.78 U.S.)
vaccinations 300.00 SEK ($35.82 U.S.)
medical certificate 700.00 SEK ($83.56 U.S.)
visa 377.00 SEK approx ($45.00 U.S. approx)
And we're not done yet!!!!!! *LOL*
Since I tend to get disorganized if I don't work hard at it....I've developed our timeline and put it on a separate page *G* If you'd like to see it, just follow the link below! *S*
If you'd like to read our story, how we met and maintain a relationship so far apart, then you can visit the link below *S*
Our Story
You are visitor number
to view our site! Thanks for stopping by! *S*
Counter added July 26, 1999
| |||
|
| Previous | Next | Skip Next | Next 5 Sites | Random Site | |
|---|
~Just DJ~ ~Mike's Place~ ~Our Place~ ~K-1 Visa Info~ ~Mom's Page~ ~Tribute~ ~My Travel Page~ ~My trip to Sweden~ ~My opinion~ ~Meet my Friends~ ~Favorite Quote~ ~More Quotes~ ~POW/MIA~ ~Em and Zach's Place~ ~Betsy Mouse~ ~My First Homepage~ ~Kewl Stuff~ ~My Links~ ~Our Future~ ~Win My Award~ ~Award Winners~ ~Awards and Gifts~ ~Special Award~ ~Palms Resource Page~ ~SouthBeach~ ~Webrings~ ~E-Mail~
This
K-1 Ring of Gold site is owned by
DJ and Mike.
Want to join the K-1 Ring of Gold?
[ Previous 5 Sites ] Skip Previous ] Previous ] Next ] Skip Next ] Next 5 Sites ] Random Site ] List Sites ]