Welcome to my K1 Visa Journal

Well, let the games begin, or something like that. . .Jason and I have been really good friends since December of 1995 where we met at a church retereat. We started emailing each other after the retreat, and that next summer my dad and I went up to Orillia to visit. Then we started writing, calling, and visiting each other regularly. For pictures of Jason, come visit The Jason Page.

We started "dating" (or more accurately, "courting") on July 18 of 1997. Hence, even MORE phone calls and letters and visits! Then, on August 8, when my family and I were visiting him in Canada, he took me on a nice little walk and proposed to me and I accepted. : ) We hope to get married next summer, but there is this a minor complication. . . . . I am American, and he is Canadian! "What exactly does that have to do with anything?" you may be asking. Well, I'll tell you! Following is my journal of the K1 Visa application process. It doesn't have an ending yet, but I'll add to it whenever anything happens. I hope that if you are going through this same process, or considering it, this will be of help to you.

8/10/1998
In order for Jason to marry me and move here, we have to fill out stacks of paperwork. Often, it is a very lengthy, costly, and confusing process. I ordered my paperwork from the INS.

8/17/1998
I got the packet from INS and when I saw all those papers, I felt so overwhelmed, I didn't know where to begin. So, I started by doing some research here on the internet. Boy was it helpful! I suggest that if you are planning to apply for this visa, before you even pick up your pen, spend awhile reading the stories of others who have gone through this process. Some important things I realized from research were:
***** Jason cannot come visit me during the visa application process. : (
***** Jason and I cannot honeymoon in Canada like we had planned, because when he gets his visa he needs to stay here until he gets a more permanant one.
***** I needed a form called a cabling form to save a bunch of time.
***** If you are filing more than one form that costs money, always send seperate checks or money orders or there may be delays.
***** Although it all looks confusing, it appears many people have survived this process and come out with thier K1 visa to show for it!

8/18/1998
I started typing up and filling out the paperwork. I've decided to err on the side of sending too much at first rather than too little. We'll see if that was a wise approach later on though. . . .

I typed up Jason's G-325A for him and sent it off to sign, along with a I-765 for him to fill out and a list of other stuff he needs to send back to me. I also ordered my birth certificate from the county clerk, since I lost mine. It cost $10 for one copy. I called about the special immigrations photos I have to have, ADIT, and it will cost $9.96 for two.

I also started assembling proof of relationship, and I really hope they return it all because some of it is very sentimental stuff--pictures, cards, letters, etc. Some of it is less sentimental--phone bills and train ticket stubs. : ) I also wrote a brief letter to INS explaining in detail how Jason and I met and got to know each other.

Jason has picked up forms to apply for a passport and got his passport picture taken--he said its the ugliest picture of him he's ever seen! : ) (Unlike me, he's usually very photogenic) He also called the immigration doctor in Toronto, and he went to the Ontario Provincial Police and found out he has to go down to Newmarket to get his police check done by the RCMP. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police--They are the only ones that INS will accept it from.)

8/21/1998
Yesterday I got something back from the county clerk saying they cannot locate my birth certificate and that I should mail away to the state. (It costs $13 for one from the state) I hope this is the only delay we run into. : )

Wedding plans are going quite well, and Jason and I are reconciling ourselves to a nice honeymoon here in the States, although I'm still rather sorry we can't go to Canada, since we have two free cottage offers in Canada.

I'm still waiting for the INS papers I ordered, and for Jason's stuff.

9/1/1998
I got one set of forms I was missing, the cabling forms, and now I'm waiting for another one I had to order, the signiture card. (I originally had one, but it got lost I guess). This is the form that cannot be bent at all or it is null and void. I just had INS send it straight to Jason.

I am still waiting for my birth certificate, too.

I also got the phone number and name of a contact at our Congressman's office that I can call for immigrations questions. So, that might be something for you to look into if you have questions.

And time marches on. . . .its planning and waiting and searching and filling out forms. I'm beginning to think that is the biggest thing about all this!

9/4/1998
I spoke to a very nice and helpful lady named Bea at my Congressman's office. She confirmed that Jason could do his interview in Toronto. Also, all the things I'm sending as proof of relationship--photos, phone bills, cards, etc, will be kept on his file, so I'm going to copy them so that I don't lose my copies!! Maybe I'm just sentimental.

Anyway, thats about it for new developments! I'm missing Jason dreadfully these days, and I think I'll visit him over Thanksgiving break.

9/11/1998
I called the American consulate in Canada and found out that the person I spoke to was NOT correct, and Jason must go to Ottawa or Montreal for his interview. What a hassle! However, we finally got all our papers. I went and got my photos taken yesterday (I looked horrible in them) and I photocopied a bunch of proofs of our relationship. Jason has everything he needs too, and he's expressing the package to me. So I can photocopy all that (some for our records, and one of each each copied for INS) So here goes, in just a few short days, INS, here we come!

9/22/1998
Well Jason's packet of papers finally came, then I found, to my dismay, that whoever took his immigration picture didn't really know what they were doing. It was black and white, Jason was too far away, and his head was not turned enough. SO, Jason got his pictures redone (this time the person compared it to the chart issued by the US government) and they are on the way now. Jason was going to send them priority, but it would have cost $23 just to send the two pictures!!

Also, a kind person wrote that they no longer process K1 visas in Ottawa either. Which means he has to go to Montreal possibly. . . That is a hassle indeed, and I guess I'm a little annoyed that so many American consulates in Canada don't process visas. That means we will have to employ white-out on our forms, and I don't know if that is acceptable. I'm going to try, however.

These delays are killing me--I'm frantic that we won't get everything in on time for our July 31 wedding date!

10/22/1998
Well, as embarrassing as it is, I must confess I made a big mistake.:) I sent all my immigration papers to the wrong place. I realized it by accident when I was looking for an INS phone number. So, I panicked and tried for two days straight to contact INS. I did not know whether they were going to return it to me, transfer it to Nebraska, or stuff it in some file and leave it there.

Finally, I did not get a busy signal. So, I waited on hold for 1/2 hour to Nebraska and finally got to a lady from INS. She said that Texas should just forward everything to them. The key work is should. She said if I don't get anything back in the mail in another three weeks, then I should start to worry, but not yet.

So, I am biding my time, waiting for word from good old INS. : ) I hope all goes well.

11/17/1998
Hooray! I got my Notice of Action from INS on my K1 Fiance Visa Petition! Also, because I sent $5 too much for my cabling form, it was to be returned to me. But INS accidentally sent it to some people in Florida instead of me. The exceedingly kind people from Florida sent it to me, but now because prices went up, filing the form will cost me $120 instead of $30. I am looking into whether I NEED to file it or not. If anyone reading this knows how necessary it is, I'd appreciate hearing from you. (I have gotten so much helpful advice from people who have been to this website.)

I am happy, though, that the most important paper work is being processed right now. I anxiously await more word.

I am going to Canada over Thanksgiving break to spend some time with J. I miss him dreadfully--it's been three months since we've seen each other! One thing is for certain though, I look forward to being married and being able to spend Thanksgiving in my own country again! :)

1/2/1999
Happy New Year! Jason is here to celebrate the holidays with me and my family, and it is very nice. We are getting a lot of wedding planning done, and some nice engagement pictures, too! (I'll upload some more soon!)

I got a second notice of action, now from the INS in Nebraska, where my paperwork was supposed to go. Now they say 41-71 days before there is any action. So, we have a few weeks before I need to start storming the INS automated phone lines again. : ) Despite the wait, it is nice to know they have not forgotten us!

Well, Jason and I would both like to wish you a very wonderful new year!

1/30/1999
HOORAY! I just called INS on a whim--I called only 2 days ago and still heard nothing, but tonight I found out it was approved yesterday--Friday, January 29th!! I feel like the worst of the ordeal is over. What an answer to prayer this is! Jason and I are thrilled! Now on to the next step--Montreal!

3/4/1999
Just Saturday (2/27)Jason got his packet for Montreal. He has a doctor's appointment for next week. He has to get a bunch of stuff together, and dad and I both have to get notarized affidavit's of support and send them up along with letters from our banks and employers. Jason is also getting a notarized letter from his future employer. It is all a hassle, but I'm working on it. As soon as we get everything done, we'll send the checklist up to Montreal and they'll hopefully set the interview date. I'm excited! We're moving along. I can't wait until all this paperwork is over!

4/8/1999
We are approved! Jason is moving to Michigan on May 15!

Yes, our day has come. Let me tell you how it came about. Also, I'll have Jason write you how the interview went exactly. We were filling out paperwork for Montreal, and we thought that when you sent the checklist in you got your interview date. That is NOT right. . .you get it based on the first form you send in, your biographic form.

Jason got his interview date in the mail on March 29th while I was on my way to Canada via train to spend my spring break with him. I was still waiting for letters from the bank and my employer so I did not have any of my immigration paperwork with me. Also, my dad's affidavit of support, and Jason's future boss' letter had not yet arrived to Jason.

Naturally, we were a little worried to note the interview was April 6th. We began scurrying all over to get the proper paperwork. Due to the holiday weekend, we could not get anything fed-exed up. So my boss emailed me a letter of employment, and my dad faxed all my affidavit of support stuff. Jacob's letter arrived early that week, and Dad's affidavit of support came on April 1st. So, I wrote a letter explaining why my paperwork was all faxed, etc.

Meanwhile, Jason is turning more and more nervous and gathering a heap of evidence of our relationship. I teased him and said that he had 5 times as much as needed.

I had to leave on April 5th. Jason and his grandpa drove me to the train station in Toronto, and then drove straight to Montreal and found a hotel so he'd be there for his early-morning interview.

Back home the next day, I was working at the house where I board just praying that it would go well and waiting for a phone call. Finally the phone rang and it was Jason, and I knew the second I heard his voice it went well! He said, WE'RE APPROVED!!! I yelled, "REALLY?" and he said "REALLY!" By this time I was yelling "Yes, yes, we're approved!" Some of the people in the house must have thought I'd lost my mind. : )

Jason said that it went well. They really only asked three questions and didn't even LOOK at his briefcase full of photos, letters, phone bills, train tickets, visa bills, etc. They didn't look at his x ray either.

The end has not yet come. I'll keep writing until after we are married and he has attained permanent residant status! But I am so thankful . . .

6/18/1999
Well Jason is here now--has been for about a month. It has been so great having him nearby. He had no trouble at the border when he tried to cross. They did not search the stuff he was bringing, and they didn't even ask about a vehicle. I found that interesting, since I had heard they are very strict about bringing vehicles into the US. But I asked some Canadian friends of mine who live around here, and they said they are not strict about vehicles at the Sarnia border in Michigan, but that they are in Buffalo, New York.

In the first few days that he was here, we got his social security card, bought a car (we didn't think we would be able to bring his from Canada so he didn't), and found an apartment. He is moving there on June 30th and I will move there after we are married. He is now happily working at his new job, making new friends, and generally adjusting to life in a new country.

My next step is searching for the info we will need for changing his status after we are married. Thankfully, his work permission is valid until October, so we have a little while to work with. Our hope is to get everything done before the wedding, then on the way home from our honeymoon, stop at the consulate in Detroit to take care of it. I'm not exactly sure how that works, so I'm going to research it. If anyone has some helpful tips/info, we'd really appreciate it!

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10/27/1999
Well after many trials and travails, Jason has conditional residency status! However, the process was interesting, and includes three days in Detroit, instead of the planned for one day. Here is how it happened:

Jason and I headed to Detroit on Thursday, August 19th. We arrived late at night, and found a motel right down the street from INS. It was pretty dirty and run down, and even though the man gave us a discount it still cost $100.

Early the next day we took all our documentation and headed down to the INS office. We were pretty nervous! Before we went to INS, we stopped at a little Notary Public across the street. There I tried to get my Afidavit of support notarized. The man looked at it, and said, "This is not the right kind of affidavit. They stopped using these. This upset me greatly, because I had spoken to an INS person on the phone earlier and they told me to fill out the one I had filled out. I went across to INS to stand in line 20 minutes and ask if the man was right and I was told he was. The clerk gave me 2 more affidavits and I left, dejected. We needed to go all the way back to get the accompanying information and to get my dad's re-done.

We went home that day and the very next day our car broke down. We were thankful that one of my good friends, Jen, offered to give us a ride to Detroit that next week. So, on Tuesday, August 24th, we started on our way. We arrived at INS around 12:00 and were in line for almost FIVE HOURS. (Word to the wise--get there earlier!!) Finally, tired and hungry, we were called up to the final counter. The officer looked over our papers and told us we were missing the three years of my tax forms. I had been under the impression that all we needed was three years of my FATHER's tax forms and since I had been unable to find mine we thought those would do. That was not the case. However, I'd like to say that INS officers DO have hearts! She gave us her name on a small sheet of paper and told us to go to IRS in Detroit that morning and then go INS, and take our information directly to her, without waiting in line.

Well, there were many last minute changes in plans. Jen had to go back home because our school started the next day and she had a job interview. So she took us to K-Mart, where we bought things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and razors. (Other than that we only had the clothes on our backs.) She then took us to a hotel on the edge of town, that was quite a bit better than the one we had gone to before.

The next day, we took a taxi to the IRS, and we were in and out in 20 minutes with my tax form! From there we called a taxi to take us to INS. We went right to Officer Hayward and gave her our information and she saw that it was processed ASAP. Before we knew it, we were being called for our interview. This consisted of a meeting with an officer in the back, where he took Jason's fingerprints and explained that he was granted temporary residency, and that in two years we needed to send in a bunch of proof that we are still together and have joint bank accounts, etc. Then he will be granted his permanant residency. Then he stamped his passport with a little red stamp, and told us to expect the card in the mail in one year. (They are apparently quite far behind!)

We were elated to finally have done with it! We walked to Blimpies for lunch, then took a taxi to the greyhound station, and took a bus home.

After all that, we were thankful it all worked out. Now at least we have 2 years before we have to mess with this again!

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You are visitor number to my pages since 8/18/98. This page was created on 8/18/98 and it was last updated on 6/18/99.

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