An addendum to the previous post

[joellevand]

If our petition fails, we may consider just forgoing the whole student application process and get married in the US. What, if anything, is required for a k-1 visa? I've been to the site and saw what's at the site, but I know some countries make you bring proof that that couple will live on their own (no parental support) and that they make a

Comments

[anerise]

*hugs* Immigration sucks. Especially US Immigration.

http://www.visajourney.com - they're friendly over there and should help to answer your questions about the K-1.

good luck!

[arosoff]

Usually, you need 125% of the poverty line for your family size to sponsor an immigrant. (or assets worth 5x that amount). I know that's what I need for a K-3 (bringing my husband to the US). You can get a co-sponsor. That person(s) is legally bound to support you, if necessary, until you become a citizen. For a family size of 2 (sponsor + immigrant) you need $16,037 per year. Job offers do not count, they want tax returns.

Have a look at http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-outline.html

Beware: People in the US on a K-1 who are waiting for Adjustment of Status to Conditional Permanent Resident may NOT leave the country without permission, IIRC, which is not guaranteed and they can refuse to let you back in!

I've heard that they're trying to speed up AOS so people aren't waiting 2 years, but I don't know if this is for K-1s or only K-3.

[joellevand]

Job offers do not count, they want tax returns.

My tax return for last year should show more than that, but I'm no longer at that job and wasn't even in the US for more than five months *this* year. Would pay stubs be acceptable to show I'm once again earning?

[arosoff]

I think it might, but I'm not 100% sure. If we move back, we're using the value of our flat, so I'm hazy on the salary requirements. What I do know, I've gleaned from other boards. :)

[spatulasara]

you need to have three years of tax returns to show that you've made above 125% of the poverty line each time. If you cannot do this yourself, you can get a co-sponsor. If your parents are willing to, that's usually a good route.

My fiance just got his K-1 Visa on Halloween and is arriving in America tomorrow to live with me. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me, or like everyone else suggested, visajourney.com. That's where I got most all of my information for going through the process.

[kaypow]

visajourney.com - great resource for people undergoing the K1 visa process

[darth_spacey]

The immigration process via a K1 is demoralising and not something to be taken lightly.

I found it nothing but lengthy. Download the form, read it, file it, and wait. And then wait a bit more. And eventually, that day comes, and a few hours later you leave the embassy with a bunch of other jubilant types and hit the nearest pub.

[arosoff]

It depends. I know people who really got fucked over with it--a friend's husband nearly lost his job because his work expiration was about to expire and they'd lost his paperwork. They're trying to improve it now, but in the past it's been absolutely dire.

[arosoff]

Er, work authorization, even.

[i_am_she]

The people in immigration would be so much more knowledgable about this kind of stuff and it would be much more on-topic over there....

[i_am_she]

...and I can see you've posted there. Good. I hope you're helpful for you.

[i_am_she]

And my last thought would be, having read all of this other stuff, is this: have you considered moving to the UK and getting married there? All signs indicate it's a cheaper, easier process...

[dativesingular]

immigration_wed is a good one, too. Quiet at the moment, but I've found it helpful.

[joaniecrumpet]

I'm American, and when I came to the UK I met my husband and subsequently overstayed my holiday visa by a year - we met a month before it expired, and I was afraid that if I left they might not let me back in again. So we got married a year after we met, whereupon I came clean to INS: we sent them wedding photos, bank statements, bills in both names, rental agreements, etc. He earned enough to support us both so the financial thing was never even an issue. No one ever pulled me up on overstaying my visa. Within 2 months of applying, I had my temporary residency. A year later when I had to apply to convert to permanent residency, our daughter had been born - pretty convincing evidence of a legitemate relationship! The whole process was totally painless and I've had permanent residency since 1992

[joellevand]

I think the biggest cavet for moving to the UK is that we're both poor students living with our parents. While, from what I can tell, the US doesn't require you do live in your own place, I've heard from various people that the UK does, which given my current financial state isn't really an option for us either way right now. Plus, I have a cat that I can't leave behind, and I've heard of that process taking 9 months to a year.

[i_am_she]

Your story is pre-9/11 and all the immigration crap that came with it, so I'd be willing to be they're ten times stricter now. The immigration lawyer in immigration certainly seemed to think so...