So you got an interview

Today is Part III of the visa series, teaching you how to apply for the K-1 visa, if you are crazy enough to do it.

At this point, you should have received your NOA1 and NOA2, notifying you that your I-129F application was approved. Make sure you keep both of those notifications because you will need copies of them later.

At this point, it takes a few weeks for your application to be forwarded to your fiance's local consulate. In Eli's case, it took about 3 weeks. Then, when the consulate receives and processes the application, they send the foreign fiance a notification with an interview date. Party!

But really, that just brings you to Big Step #2.

At this point, if you are not living with your fiance, it's time to ship him/her certain documents that he/she will need to bring to the interview. Here's what both of you will need to do/get for the foreign fiance:

--a copy of the NOA2

--filled out DS-230 (just the top)
--2 copies of a filled out DS-156 (which you do online and print)
--filled out DS-156K
--filled out DS-157
--filled out FS-257A (this is the Portuguese/English version)
--filled out Sworn Statement

--2 passport-sized photos
--letters of good conduct from local authorities (see your local consulate for request forms)

--original birth certificate and a copy
--original death or marriage certificates and a copy of each
--original military service document and a copy

--receipt from $131 standard US visa fee (in Brazil, you must pay ONLY at Citibank)

--sealed medical examination* (see list of doctors in Brazil here)
--filled out I-134 and supporting documents (proof of citizenship/residency, last tax return, letter from employer, recent pay stubs)**

--foreign fiance's passport

*When you go for your medical exam, which can only be done at US embassy-approved doctors, you will have to have a chest X-ray, an HIV test, a physical, and any vaccinations you may need. The doctor will give you a sealed envelope with the results. HOWEVER, once you get to the US, you will need the vaccination information again, so try to get an extra copy of it from the doctor, if he'll give it to you.

**There's a poverty cut-off for income, but if you've been living abroad like me and can't make it, all you need is a co-sponsor to fill out his/her own I-134 and provide documentation, as long as he/she promises to provide financial support for your fiance.

The most time consuming parts are the medical exam (in Brazil, you are sent to outside labs for the tests and then have to schedule an appointment with the doctor), waiting for the letters of good conduct to come out (in Rio, one took a week and the other took two weeks), and putting together the enormous pile of paperwork.

But once you're done, all you have to do is sit and wait for your interview!

Comments

[holmes]

Thanks for the post. What happens after the interview process? Can I jump on a plane back to our home in Brazil the next day? Two days later?

I'm correct that you receive the visa by mail, right?

[estrella]

Hi, great info! thanks! can you please describe how the interview is set up, questions, are they nice or aggresive in the way they approach you? do you have advice to provide?

it is very frustrating and painful because I am missing my fiance so much (it took 5 months to get the interview which is by the end of january, 8 months total to get this process done, I am traveling to brazil for xmas and nyears because it is so sad to be away, I will attend the interview with him, want to make sure that everything works out well, why is it that only when arriving at US he will be granted the permission to enter is like I am not even sure that everything will work out fine until we pass the port of entrance at the airport (IAD)...all comments from people who went through the inerterview are welcome!