There are three essential requirements for the fiance visa process:
The first is: you must be a US Citizen;
The second is: you must have physically seen each other within the last two years;
And the third is: there is a minimum income requirement for you as a Petitioner of at least eighteen thousand dollars without a use of a cosponsor.
The K1 Visa process is a three phase process: first we file with USCIS. They generally take 3-4 months to issue an approval. There are different examiners assigned to different case loads. In other words: the approval notices do not come back necessarily in order of our filing. Conservatively speaking 3 to 4 months is a good estimate. After USCIS issues the approval the application transfers to the National Visa Center in Vermont, where they conduct background check. This approximately takes 2 to 3 weeks then the application is forwarded to the Embassy abroad.
For Embassy processing I would allow an additional 2 months. Bear in mind, the Embassy upon receipt will issue a Packet III, various DS forms will have to be competed and submitted. They will then issue a Packet IV - police clearance will have to be obtained, physical examination will be scheduled and conducted and then the interview at which the additional supporting documents will have to be presented with the Affidavit of Support and proper supporting documents.
In terms of categories of documents for the initial filing obviously we want to approve the quality of the relationship that is generally accomplished with copies of correspondence - be it written, email or otherwise. If you communicate via the telephone - copies of phone records.
In terms of supporting documents USCIS does not want to have anything going back for more than 2 years. We also have to proof for the initial filing the second category that you have physically seen each other within the last 2 years. In case you went there, we will need a copy of your passport with an entry stamp, copy of your plane ticket, itinerary, if you have one, any credit card receipts showing the purchases in her country are also helpful with a date stamp. And lastly, of course, photographs of you together.
In terms of supporting documents for the initial filing from your fiancée: if she/he has been married before, we need a copy of her/his divorce decree. If no, then, all we would need from her/him is two passport photos 2 by 2, white background, no jewelry, no glasses, looking straight into the camera and a signed letter of intent to marry that we prepare with an original signature. Preferably, for the purposes of speed we would email that letter to him, he would print it, sign it and send it back with passport-style photos.
We gather all the necessary information that we need to complete the initial filing via questionnaire located at a secure location. Generally, our turnaround time from receipt of complete information is one day. We will overnight the completed forms to you for signature, you would sign next to the signature tabs and you would return the signed application with the supporting documents in bulk, we will put everything together with the exhibit tabs in proper form for filing. After filing of the Petition USCIS will send out the receipt notice, generally within two weeks, it will give us a receipt number that will enable us and you to track the application at USCIS. Frankly, it is not going to provide much information other than pending or approved.
Our representation is obviously more than just the initial filing. This is frankly, an easy part. It is from the initial filing through USCIS approval, National Visa Center, complete Embassy processing. We will work directly with you, your fiancée and the Embassy as well as required with USCIS. Again, in short our representation is from the initial filing all the way to the issuance of the visa.
In terms of cost, the total charge with our firm is $975 plus the government filing fee of $340.. A minimum payment of $325 retains us, we do require a full payment or close to full payment at the time of filing.
You will be surprised with the amount of back and forth that is involved in this process and we will have good 4 to 6 month relationship. There are some providers that advertise 250 or 500 are just too good to be true. Our real competitors that we look at are Michael Salomons Office, Holmes and Lolly. I believe their fees is $1600, $1700, $1800 plus the filing fee. Furthermore, you do have a lot more consumer protection going with a lawye as opposed to a service. You are not going to save much with the service and secondly, some of these operations can disappear.
We do offer a money back guarantee; it set forth on our website and our retainer agreement. We understand that this is a relationship and the successful uniting of two people involved in a long distance relationship is obviously a lot more important than the $975 charge.
We are looking forward to work with you and again feel free to call with any questions,
Upon receipt of the initial payment we will provide you with initial instructions and list of documents that is necessary to collect to start the process.