subject: The I 129F Form – Don't Make These Mistakes [print this page] The I 129F form is the main form for submitting the K1 Visa application packet. There are a few areas that may cause issues for a petitioner. This article will go over three common mistakes a petitioner may make when filing the K1 Visa.
Meeting The Fiance
Many applicants will try to send in the K1 Visa application well before they meet their fiance. They believe starting the process before they meet their fiance will allow them to complete the process a lot faster. Although this is a great approach, it will not work. Part of the requirements to start the process is meeting the fiance first.
Supporting Documentation
Some petitioners will submit the application without sending in required supporting documentation. Often times a legal specialist will tell the couple the forms are not needed. Send them in later. Although this is true for some documents, others will get the application denied. I recommend sending in all documentation. Never send them in at a later point in the process. Every time an immigration officer needs to request documentation from the petitioner, it puts the application on hold and slows down the visa process.
Originals versus Copies
Sending in copies instead of originals is not a good practice. Only send in copies when the immigration instructions requests copies. If it does not mention copies, then send in originals. No matter the kind of documentation requested, the petitioner can either buy more originals or make copies of the originals for themselves.
An example of this would be a birth certificate. Go down to the county office and buy a copy that has the state stamp and send that in verses sending in your own copy.
The strategy to getting the I 129F accepted and processed as quickly as possible is to remove all doubt from the process. This means giving the officer working on your case little reason to doubt the relationship and the information supporting the application form. Knowing what the immigration officer is looking for is part of the battle. The other part is to know how to gather and submit the information.
These are some of the mistakes I see a lot of petitioner make. Once made, this mistakes are hard to correct. It is always best to team up with someone who knows the process to steer a petitioner clear of all the barriers. Take in as much information as possible before starting the process and everything will go smoothly.
