USCIS | Reviews and processes your Form I-129F | 8-10 months |
---|---|---|
National Visa Center (NVC) | Sends instructions about the DS-160 and notifies U.S. embassy or consulate about K1 petition | 3-4 weeks |
U.S. embassy or consulate | Schedules interview and interviews the applicant | 4-6 weeks |
citizenship: A copy of your birth certificate, issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other civil authority showing you were born in the United States; A copy of your naturalization or citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former Immigration and Naturalization Service;
A copy of your birth certificate, issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other civil authority showing you were born in the United States; A copy of your naturalization or citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former Immigration and Naturalization Service;
A copy of your naturalization or citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former Immigration and Naturalization Service; A copy of Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), issued by a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate; A copy of your unexpired U.S. passport; or.
passport; or. An original statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying you are a U.S. citizen with a valid passport; Evidence you or your fiancé legally terminated any previous marriages (if applicable): Divorce decre e; Annulment order ; or. Death certificate for prior spouse;
Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé (e)) is the first step towards a K-1 visa for the fiancé (e) of a U.S. citizen, or a K-3 visa for the spouse of a U.S. citizen. If you’re engaged to a U.S. citizen, you can use the K-1 visa to enter the U.S. if you plan on getting married within 90 days of your arrival. If you’re the spouse of a U.S.
The government filing fee for Form I-129F is $535. If you’re filing Form I-129F to petition for the spouse of a U.S. citizen to enter on a K-3 visa however, then that fee is waived.
You can file Form I-129F if you are a U.S. citizen petitioning for either your fiancé to enter the U.S. for your marriage, and you have met your fiancé in person in the last two years. You can also file this form if you’re a U.S. citizen petitioning for your spouse to enter the U.S.
When you file Form I-129F, you will need to include supporting documents to prove your identity and your relationship with your fiancé or spouse. These documents may include:
Make sure that your contract includes the details of: 1 Contract – The agreement should list the total amount of any retainer deposit that you pay upfront. It should also state when you need to pay additional fees, if necessary. 2 Hourly Fee – Don't look only for the hourly rate of your lawyer on the agreement. Make sure you also see a description of the different hourly rates for each person who might contribute to your case. Ask for your payment schedule. Ask if you get a discount for early payment or if you pay penalties for late fees. 3 Contingency Fee – In a contingency case, the lawyer profits by the percentage they earn upon winning the case. The lawyer's contingency percentage and the payment-collection process should appear clearly outlined in your agreement. Sometimes, a lawyer will not collect any fees from you if they lose a contingency case, such as in personal injury disputes. In other situations, they may demand payment from their client only if they lose the case. 4 Costs of Suit – Check for clear terms to describe who pays for all of the different litigation costs involved. You should anticipate possible charges for court appearances and filing fees, hiring a private investigator, the cost of bringing in an expert witness, costs for officially serving and delivering legal documents, and travel fees.
Sometimes lawyers may charge a retainer if they find themselves in high demand. Other lawyers who work more quickly and efficiently may see no need for charging you a retainer fee. Call different lawyers in your area to see if retainers are standard practice for your particular case.
An attorney contingency fee is only typical in a case where you're claiming money due to circumstances like personal injury or workers' compensation. You're likely to see attorney percentage fees in these situations to average around a third of the total legal settlement fees paid to the client.
A statutory fee is a payment determined by the court or laws which applies to your case. You'll encounter a fixed statutory fee when dealing with probate or bankruptcy, for example.
When hiring your attorney, ask for a detailed written estimate of any expenses or additional costs. They may itemize each expense out for you or lump their fees all together under different categories of work. Lawyers may bill you for: Advice. Research.