Hello everybody
Well I am relieved and happy to say that I am finally joining many others here on the board who have gone before me in that I just mailed off my K 1 Visa application "notebook" off to Vermont last night. The process of getting the required documents so far has not been very difficult I think, but believe me Kathryn and I had extensive conversations about it. I must admit it has been kind of burdening me down for the last few weeks. I hope the people who receive it will be nice towards our case since I tried to organize it very well.
I used my scanner quite a bit for this project to save, and provide copies of documents both for the notebook and for my records too. I figured I would share here for possible archiving how I did it and what all I provided -- If someone wants to know for future reference how to tackle this process -- this is how I did it ....
I bought a 1/2 inch notebook binder and I got inserts to divide it into 5 sections and lots of paper protectors and 3 ring photo insert sheets. I made a nice presentable somewhat artistic yet professional cover sheet introducing us using my scanner's art program and I inserted it into the viewable window of the notebook. then inside I inserted a sheet protector and placed the $ 165 money order into it ( show me the money!!!! ha ha ha). In the first section after this I designated this for the I 129f and G325a forms. we filled out the forms by hand but I also included typed copies written using WORD, with the same information so that there would not be any discrepencies and that the reviewers can read the information that was hand written.
in the next section were our letters of intent. Kathryn composed a nice letter typed and signed and she also hand wrote the same information. Since this was my chance to explain our situation and case I went to town writing about our history of meeting each other. Since I met her through a internet agency and I have only had the opportunity to meet her once I wanted to present our case to the best of my ability no holds barred. It came out to be 2 pages typed 6 pages hand written -- what a pain that was ha ha ha.
the next section was the pictures I included 2 copies of each of our 3/4 view mug shots. Before you get your pictures taken it is best to get the govenment specifications picture sheet for this showing you what is acceptable and what is not. I had pictures taken at kinkos first only to find out that hey might now work because the poloroid camera system that they use does not give you a white backround like it should. so I had to have them re taken elsewhere - the Ins agent said also that if you normally wear glasses like I do you do not have to remove them for this picture. Fortunately I could get my money back from kinkos. I had some of our trip photos reprinted I provided 5 pictures of the 2 of us together in different locations wearing differnt clothes. I provided 2 pictures of myself with her family posing and I also provided a closeup picture with her posing her engagement ring with her hand in front of her face.
The 4 th section was the legal documents area I first provided a newly obtained legal stamped copy of my birth certificate since they request this specifically. I also scanned in my new newly obtained social security card (20 years of not having one but still knowing my number was not good enough in order to get my license in NY -- thank you very much patriot act ha ha ha). I scanned in my new drivers license front and back. I also scanned in my Passport especially showing the entry visa for China and the entry and exit stamps for China Hong Kong and macau. Kathryn sent me photocopies of her passport too and I also included a sheet of adhesive lables with her Chinese address printed for their mailing use if needed.
The final section I provided was proof of an ongoing relationship. I provided 2 scanned credit card bills one containing airline ticket purchases and the other one contained the charges for many of my hotels during my trip and also the charge in Hong Kong for purchasing her Engagement Ring. then I scanned and provided about 7 -8 months of telephone bills for my calls to China. Then I included about 12- 14 copies of e-mails covering differnt times from our relationship since sept 2003 when we met in chronological order -- juicy reading for the reviewer I am sure -- NOT ha ha ha. I found by chance a 3 page segment of an instant message that we had and included it. I also had printed up an e- card the Kathryn had sent to me. For the sceptics out there who say that e-mails are not legitimete enough and can be forged by scammers I scanned and printed and included almost anything I could find with her hand writing on it. I scanned in a hand wriitte letter, Christtmas cards, Happy Chinese New Year cards my recent birthday card that she sent to me (with the hand made Kirigami paper cuting that she made for me). envelope addresses to both my former Califoria address and to my present New yok address. If I could find it and scan it I included it.
Hopefully everything will go smoothly maybe I went to overkill lengths but better safe than sorry. the proof is in the pudding (that's a very strange cliche -- but butterscotch sound good to me right now ha ha ha)
Now If I can only find a appropriate job in the near future ... that's then next project.
Windy
