Hi,

In the event I find someone to visit (I may have but it is too early to tell at the moment but I am optimistic) in the FSU. I was planning on taking everything I would need in case things really worked out and I popped the question. This seems to be the way most people work that I have read about. So, assuming everything goes well and I get engaged. I need to know how a k1 visa works. I am sure I could look up on the ins web site, but there are always things that aren't disclosed. I need to know details like. (I read from another post..) Must I return to Russia a second time for an interview? (If so I need to rethink my time there the first visit because of limited vacation per year. I was planning on using it all on one big trip..) Also, I really need to know the abc's of a k1 for both her and me. Should I have a lawyer do it? Should I do it myself (seems a lot of people do that..) Basically if someone knows of a step by step guide somewhere on the internet I would like to know all about it...
Thanks to everyone for all the help now, in the past, and undoubtedly in the future...

Dex

P.S. Sorry about the hand holding, but there are so many details to this...

... in response to Well, I need help from people that know, posted by dexion on Jun 4, 2002

Dex, you know the situations where guys are out drinking or some such and you get pledges from each other like "If I am about to do something stupid, someone please slap me up the side of the head."

Well, I think you need some procedure whereby you will get a slap up the side of the head to slow you down.

I may be wrong, but aren't you making your first trip?

MarkInTx below got engaged on a WOVO, but at least he had been over there before and knew the lay of the land.

So my advice to you is to not learn anything about the various K programs before your first trip.  Maybe that will be the only thing that acts as a slap on side of head to keep you from making a hasty decision when you are not even close to knowing much about what you are getting into.

JR

... in response to Re: Something to slow you down long, posted by dexion on Jun 5, 2002

Optimism is fine Dex.  Best of luck to you.  The only thing that you need to bring with you as far as K-1 is the biological form that you download off of the INS site because that one requires your lady's signature before you mail it in to the INS.  Going to see one lady only is not fine, it's a big mistake.  Sure go ahead and narrow it down to one lady but don't let the other ladies know about it, keep writing to them like they are the only one.  You will need to have telephone numbers of 5 ladies for each week that you will be in a particular city.  You need to have telephone numbers of ladies that you have written to and that are interested in you and you will need them for your back up plan.  Trust me.

... in response to Re: Something to slow you down long, posted by dexion on Jun 5, 2002

I too was a Write One, Visit One. I started writing to several and quickly narrowed it down to one.

One thing that really helped me was to speak to her friends that were already living here and married to US citizens. The women were fun to talk to and their husbands seemed happy. They've both been married for at least 2 and 3 years each.

I do think that the suggestion was mostly for you to be able to think more clearly about your decision to marry any particular woman.

Some men feel best corresponding with and meeting several women. Others, like you and myself, don't. What is important is that you keep both eyes open and make responsible choices.

The men here lean toward being conservative when someone talks about marriage with a woman that they’ve never actually met in person. It’s hard to argue against that because it just makes sense. But, there are a few exceptions to this. Are you willing to throw caution to the wind and hope you one of those exceptions?

If it is true love and meant to be, why not be able to wait an extra few weeks to compile your paperwork after your return to the US?

I wish you luck and happiness in any choice you make.

Chris

... in response to Re: Re: Something to slow you down long, posted by dexion on Jun 5, 2002

You are quite correct about the different camps. You'll find that some of the ones that think you should have several women at the same time are the most vocal about telling you how to do it. If you disagree, they tell you that you are doing it all wrong.

There are winners and losers in both camps. Neither one is correct nor neither is wrong for all people.

One ingredient that is required, in my opinion, is that you both must be honest and sincere with each other.

I know of one failure where the man started out saying he was 10 years younger than he really was. He didn’t come clean until he thought the woman was good enough for him. It turns out that she was as much of a scam as he was. Both lied to each other and the INS. He is now living in Costa Rica and she dug her hooks into the first “US Citizen” she could before being deported on a fraudulant student visa.

Another man I know has been down playing his age too. He wants to have a young skinny pretty blond wife (those are his words) and have a baby. His age has moved from the low 40’s to about 48. The woman he wants ahs dumped him once already. She claimed to have reunited with an old boyfriend that was “lost” after a car accident where he has lost a leg. In reality, she had been messing with a European man who only wanted to play around. When she learned he wanted to play with the product and not make a purchase, she then wanted to get back with this American man. The next few weeks will tell if he flys over to marry her.

In these two situations, it seems that dishonest people are attracting like-minded people. But, people are people all over the world. There are good people being taken advantage of by bad people. Even in these cases both people may find happiness and enjoy their lives. It’s hard to be on the outside and judge other peoples relationships.

What works for one is not always the best for someone else. Just be sure to be true to yourself.

Chris

... in response to Re: Something to slow you down long, posted by dexion on Jun 5, 2002

Sorry that no one really answerted your question yet, I'll try and hope this will help.
Now to answer your question. You should contact the INS' 800 number(I don't have it now, but you maybe able to get from there site)it's an automated answering system leave your name and address and ask for K1 or Fiance'visa package( ask for at least two sets/copies, in case). You will receive the package in the mail within a week or two. Read the instructions on the Pink sheet it is pretty easy but little ambiguous. If you really want to save time take the G 325(couple of copies, it'll be in your package) and the pink form( I-169) with you to the gal you want to be engaged to. This because you need her original signature the rest can be filled out back in the States. Make sure follow the instructions about her photos( 2 I believe reqd. do it while you are there). I  hear guys talking about all of these forms are also available on line. All the other things such as police report and marriage cert....etc.
Will be used at the embassey interview. You need to make sure you have a certified copy of her birth certificate and international passport to bring back with you for INS filing. Also DHL can deliver whatever you forgot to get from your girl, during your visit, within couple of days($40 or so). One thing I did was I showed my file to INS before submission. You can do this if you are near one of their offices. You have to wait in line for a while though.
I am sure guys around here will help you if you have questions along the way.
Good Luck !

... in response to Well, I need help from people that know, posted by dexion on Jun 4, 2002

Click on "Immigration" at the left for starters.

... in response to Re: OK, I don't know but, posted by dexion on Jun 4, 2002

And I thought this topic was old a year ago, after reading so many guys talking about it and all I wanted to read was hot finale's to trip reports.  Here I am talking this crap.  Go figure... here's the best "other" links to visa/immigration info that I've got now.  Uze at your own risk lest you drive yourself nuts.

http://www.weslow.net/users/alixtcat/immindx.htm

http://www.usavisanow.com/k1fianceevisainfo.html

http://www.mindspring.com/~docsteen/visainfo/visainfo.htm

http://www.fianceevisas.com/h1.html

To clear up the confusion and get to the basics, check out the ins and state dept websites.