Assembling the I-129F

Here is a checklist of the things you’re going to need, specifics on each item, and how to assemble the package.

Checklist: 

1. Payment made out to USCIS. I recommend a personal check so you can track when the check has been deposited.  When I paid the fee was $340.  You should check the fee on USCIS website, inflation’s a bitch.
2. Cover letter.  Example cover letter: K1CoverLetter
3. Form I-129F
4. Form I-129F supplement: Part 2, Question 34.a.  Example response to Question 34.a: K1 I-129F 34a
5. Passport photo of petitioner.  Write full name of petitioner on the back of the photo.  Place into a plastic bag and staple it to a piece of blank paper.
6. G-325A of petitioner
7. G-325A supplement of petitioner.  I had more addresses and jobs than I could fit on the application form so I put the information on a separate sheet and typed  “Please see attachment: G-325A Biographic Information Supplement (Petitioner)” on the form.
8. Passport photo of beneficiary. Write full name of beneficiary on the back of the photo.  Place into a plastic bag and staple it to a piece of blank paper.
9. G-325A of beneficiary
10. G-325A supplement of beneficiary.  Fiance also had more addresses and jobs than he could fit on the application form so he put the information on a separate sheet and typed  “Please see attachment: G-325A Biographic Information Supplement (Beneficiary)” on the form.
11. Intent to marry letter from petitioner. Example letter: K1_Letter_of_Intent-Petitioner
12. Intent to marry letter from beneficiary. Same letter as before, but with the petitioner and beneficiary names switched.
13. Copy of passport. See previous post for passport requirements or if you don’t have a passport.
14. Proof of relationship.  See my previous post for an example! 

Once you’ve got all of that make sure you’ve signed and dated all of the forms, supplements, letters, etc.  If you don’t know whether or not to sign it, just sign it anyway.  Better safe than sorry. Make a copy of EVERYTHING.  Yes, everything.  Send it off to the Lockbox with love and then the waiting game begins.  

 

K1- Getting started

So let’s get straight to the process, shall we? First you’ll need to file the K-1 visa application paperwork to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).  The K-1 paperwork includes form G-129F and form G-325a.  

USCIS G-129F website with form and instructions

USCIS G-325a website with form and instructions

Along with G-129F and G-325a, I highly recommend filing form G-1145.  It is optional, but it allows USCIS to send you an email and/or text update when your K-1 application is received.  Trust me, you want updates whenever you can get them! 

USCIS G-1145 website with form and instructions

 

Here is a list of items that you both should start collecting to make your lives easier:

• Unexpired US citizen’s passport with a validity period of at least 5 years – this means if your passport was issued 4/1/2010 and expires 4/1/2014 it is not valid.  The validity period needs to be at least 5 years.  Not sure that this is an issue because passports are typically issued for at least 5 years.
• If you don’t have a passport, a copy of the US citizen’s birth certificate (front and back) or a copy of US citizen’s naturalization certificate
• Proof of relationship- Pictures of the two of you and evidence that you have met in person.  I made copies of boarding passes from our 5 most recent trips to each other and attached a photograph to each boarding pass. I wrote the date and a description of each trip on the back of each photo. I also wrote the same date and description of each trip on a post-it note and stuck it to the boarding pass.  
• 1 Passport-type photo for each person.  I suggest getting a few extra, you’ll wind up needing about 4 pictures for each person.  I went to Costco and they did it for $10 and gave me 4 pictures

 

See the next post for full instructions for assembling the I-129F package

Congrats!

Hi there,

If you’re here that means you’ve probably decided to take your first step into the k-1 visa journey.  Congrats and many well wishes!

Here are some pointers:

– Read all the instructions carefully

– Proofread all the applications before you send them in

– Make a copy of EVERYTHING that you send in

– Send mail with tracking

 So, a little about our case since there are likely more or less hurdles (if you want to call them that) you may need to jump through depending on your situation. I was born in the US and my fiance is from Sweden.  We both were not previously married, so we did not have to file any paperwork regarding divorce or death or a spouse.  Neither of us have children or dependents so we did not have to file any paperwork on their behalf either. I say this because your situation may be different and you may have more or less paperwork to file than we did. 

With that said, let’s continue the process!