Starting the "process"

[eagle59]

Hi guys, looking for advice on starting the K-1 process. I just returned from Ukraine and found "my girl" Val. Everything went very well and we decided to move foward in our relationship and so far together we have the following:

Copy of birth certificate
Copy of divorce certificate
-do these need to be translated?
Copy of International passport-she just got in Jan 08
-Her first name is mispelled-(Valeriia-should be Valeria)
-Will this be a problem?
G-325A forms filled out and she signed the 4 copies
I-129F filled out

What am I missing at this point?

I am returning in July to spend more time together.

I also found out later she will need her vacination records, what if she cannot find them?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I am trying to do all this myself as I would rather put the $1200-$1500 attorney fee towards airline ticket.

Thanks, Tom

[BillyB]

Poke around and get signed up after you're assigned a case #.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

And looky here. Not much available in advice about RW but they know a lot about the k-1

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm

If she can't find her vaccination records hopefully she likes needles because she will have to get them again.

[I/O]

I am trying to do all this myself as I would rather put the $1200-$1500 attorney fee towards airline ticket.

Thanks, Tom

Me thinks investing that money in another airline ticket "Before" doing it all yourself would be wise. Might save a lot more than $12-1500 in legal fess in the long term

I/O

[ScottinCrimea]

First, a couple of the expected questions:  How long have you known this woman and how much time have you actually spent face to face.  Was this your first visit to see her?  Did you spend time in her home city and see here in her day to day life?  What is her level of English? The bottom line question is how well do you really know this woman and would you make the same decision in the same time frame as with an American woman?

Now, to your original questions:  Depending on her age, her vaccination records will most likely not be available.  However, she can go to her local clinic and have the doctor there certify that she received the required vaccinations.  You can find a list of the required vaccinations on the USCIS website.  Just remember that the rubella vaccine was not routinely given in the FSU and she will either need to have it at her local clinic or at the clinic in Kiev when she has her medical exam.

All documents need to be translated into English.  They should have the stamp of a cdertifed translatkion agency but don't need the notary stamp which costs extra.

She also at some point will require a certificate from the local police stating that her record is clean.

I did all the paperwork for my wife's k-3 and can probably help you with any other information or advice as can others here who did it on their own.

[Turboguy]

The birth certificate and divorce decree both need to be translated.   Get several copies since you will need them at other points in the process such as AOS.

I can recommend someone who can do that and she happens to be a member here.  That is Anastassia.   I had one fiancee before my current wife and used another service for the first translation and Anastassia for the second.  I will say that her services are far superior.  The were also very quick and affordable. 

It is a very wise move to do the paperwork yourself and not use an attorney.   If you have not visited visajourney I would suggest it as a great resource.  www.visajourney.com

[AnastassiaAsh]

There is much more to this - like Letter of Intention to Marry, Story about how you met, Proof of having met in past two years...and other things.

www.visajourney.com is a very good website.

Go to http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=k1guide

[eagle59]

Thanks to you all for your help and suggestions. I still am not sure what to do about the misspelled name on International passport-any suggestions?

All of you suggested visa.journey.com and it was very helpful-I saved it to my favorites along with USCIS homepage...thanks! I will be referring to them now and in the future.
I will be contacting Anastassia regarding the translations.

As far as questions:

I have been talking with Val-(letters) since oct 07. We have been talking since Jan 08.
I met her first time 20 Mar-30 Mar. My trip (2nd to Ukraine) was very good. Everything went perfect. During this time, I rented an apartment close to hers. I did visit her apartment which she owns and it was very nice and clean. I spent time with her daughter and also her parents. She is a school teacher and speaks very good english, in fact she is "the" english teacher at her school along with other subjects. During the trip, she tried to get off as much time as possible, but did have to work a few half days. I walked around her town (Cherkassy) and kept myself busy the little bit she was gone working. Next trip in July will be much better as she will be off for the summer. As far as how well I know her, really could have used more time, however I definitely saw enough to know I could spend the rest of my life with her. There are still many more things to learn about each other and that really is a day to day lifelong thing...I think love always needs to be learned again and again...it's a continuing process. Yes, I may be (we) may be for that matter taking a risk that as we spend more time together, something could go wrong and one of us decides not to continue our relationship. But from my relationship experiences and dating (way too many first dates) I feel very strongly about this girl and really believe we could be very good for each other. I don't have scientific proof, but I really believe this is the girl I want to love forever. I just know.

Thanks very much again for all your help.

Tom    

[chade1968]

I really think spending the money on the attorney was worth the $. Anna had trouble with English and my attorney had a helper in Russia so she could call to ask questions which helped a lot. The attorney had us assemble a detailled photo album and all our letters, emails and all but when Anna go to her interview the first question she asked was "are you excited you are going got the US?". Anna had done such an excellet job organizing our information I which she had at least asked to see our pics. Anyway she was given the VISA so we are happy.

[Turboguy]

I have heard far more horror stories about using lawyers than I have good reports.  Some of that of course might be because the happy ones don't have much to talk about.   

Using a lawyer will usually slow you down about a month and increase your chances of an RFE or problem about 10 times.  Of course it wastes a lot of money as well.