K1 Visa Question

[LatinIntro]

Has anyone files the Request to Cable the Consulate form I-824 to speed up the processing time for a k1 visa?

I have a question as to when submit this form... at the same time as the i-129 or after you get the notice of approval.

thanks,

nelson

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to K1 Visa Question, posted by LatinIntro on Oct 2, 2002

I considered doing the cable notice as well.  I decided not to do so.  Every case will be different.  I hear that each region is different.  

I filed in Texas.  Within 4 weeks from the date I mailed my package to the INS in Texas the embassy in Bogota had sent a letter to my fiancee in Cali.  I am still stunned at how fast it happened.  I don't think the $140 cable fee would have sped up my visa any.  In someone else's case maybe it will.

Steve

[Craig]

... in response to Re: K1 Visa Question, posted by DallasSteve2 on Oct 3, 2002

Steve I would be interested in hearing about your experiences with the K-1 and Colombia. Did you file on your own? Did you submit an Affidavit of Intent for you fiancee, or just yourself? What did your cover letter look like? Did you punch two holes in the top of the I-124F. I also hear that the INS in Texas gets 60% of their mail on two days, 40% on Monday and 20% on Friday, so Tuesday is the best time to mail documents to them for quicker response. I guess I get a little carried away...LOL

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: Re: K1 Visa Question, posted by Craig on Oct 3, 2002

Craig

I haven't heard of an Affidavit of Intent.  I did send an Affidavit of Support, I believe it's called.  That's my promise to support her and her children.  I don't think I had a cover letter.  I just placed the petition for visa on top and tried to organize the other docs beneath that.  I had some inside cover pages over things like my divorce decrees.  I didn't do any hole-punching.

I didn't hire anyone to help.  I'm used to organizing paperwork and following instructions from my business career as a CPA and then a computer programmer.  I think the most important thing is to provide every document they ask for in the instructions as well as photos of you with your fiancee.  I had no problem.

Steve

[Craig]

... in response to K1 Visa Question, posted by LatinIntro on Oct 2, 2002

The I-824 is a request to cable the embassy from the regional INS office. It's all the K-1 paperwork. There are 4 INS regional offices California, Nebraska, Texas, and Vermont. Now this is what I heard is the latest information. Now remember this could all change tomorrow cause everything in the INS is not written in stone. Most of the time the Vermont office cables the information for free so there is no need to submit the I-824 or pay the $140.00 bucks they charge for doing it. Now the other 2 California and Nebraska sometimes does it for free and usually for free if it's going to Russia, or Manilla. Colombia I don't know. Texas on the other hand always charges the $140.00 for the I-824. Also to answer your other question if you submit the I-824 form with the $140.00 it must go with the K-1 Visa package, or it does no good. It can sit there for a while and you will waste your money. Now also remember that you must check with the embassy to see if they accept the cable to start the paperwork. Some embassies won't start the paperwork until they get the documents that were sent by diplomatic pouch. Hope this helps Craig

[Gary Bala]

... in response to Re: K1 Visa Question, posted by Craig on Oct 2, 2002

Craig's information is essentially correct.
I would like to take a brief moment to augment this information based on my case experience for anyone interested.
1. Nebraska and California Service Centers have effectively joined Texas in a general policy of Cable/Faxing the I-797 Notice of Action of Approval ONLY when the the I-824 Cable/Fax Request is filed and $140.00 fee paid. In the past, at times, Nebraska and California have cable/faxed the approval notice to certain consulates (not Bogota), without charge if requested in the I-129F Petition, typically at Line 20. This cannot be assured at this time. Only Vermont is highly efficient in the cable/faxing process without charge, if requested in the I-129F. This includes cable/faxing Bogota.
2. The Consulates generally, and the one in Bogota included, have stopped the practice of opening a "provisional file" based on the simple faxing or mailing of the approval notice and case file materials from the attorney or petitioner.
3. California has started experimenting with e-mailing the Consulates with the approval notice information. Right now, only Manilla and a few other Consulates are in the test program (not Bogota). If it works well, the program will be expanded to other Service Centers and Consulates.
4. The I-824 Cable/Fax petition and fee $140.00 will direct that the Service Center immediately cable/fax the approval notice to any Consulate requested, and in theory the Consular officer will receive the fax, place an Embassy file number on your case and begin processing at once. In practice however, there is no guarantee that the visa applicant's interview will take place any quicker or that the visa be issued any faster. This is because that the Consular officer (except in certain unusual circumstances) does not actually complete processing of case or the sending of the final notice to the visa applicant until the case file and materials are physically received by the Consulate from Service Center via diplomatic pouch mail.
Hope that helps you, Nelson.
Good luck,
Gary Bala

[Craig]

... in response to Re: Re: K1 Visa Question, posted by Gary Bala on Oct 3, 2002

It's no accident I was able to advise on the K-1 visa because I've spent weeks researching the subject. I was extremely happy that Mr. Bala who is a highly respected immigration attorney (especially dealing with Colombia) confirmed my information is correct. For those of you who do not feel comfortable filing on your own, I would give him a call. I've talked to many so called immigration attorney's who don't know crap from shinola, and you don't want to get this stuff wrong.

[LatinIntro]

... in response to Re: K1 Visa Question, posted by Craig on Oct 2, 2002

NT