2 Tips for making your fiance K-1 visa easier by working smarter

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Is the fiance visa process easy or hard? 

The answer depends on how nervous you are about the process: If you’re fixated on every word on every page of the instructions, then, yes, it may get difficult to deal with.

It also depends on why you’re asking the question: If you’re aiming to get approved with minimal effort, then you’re also approaching it the wrong way.

The right answer is somewhere in between “obsession” and “total neglect”.

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To make it bearable, I’ve got some key tips to help you work smarter, not harder during your fiance visa. Call them tips, hacks, strategies, tactics, shortcuts, or whatever. 

The point is, I think most of us need to relook at our mindsets regarding the fiance visa procedures. We have to set aside things that don’t matter and focus on “big ticket” items… figure out what’s most important and focus.

Here, let me show you what I mean…

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Work Smart tip # 1 – Don’t read too much into the wrong details or instructions

When looking at the K-1 visa interview or I-129F petition instructions, most of us take unnecessary steps. Other times we “make up instructions”.

Here’s an example of not taking the instructions literally as most of them should be:

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If you read through the I-129F instructions, nowhere do they ask for the I-134 Affidavit of Support. They don’t want it, they don’t mention, they don’t even want to see it.

But surprisingly, one common question I get is: “Prem, should I include the I-134 in my I-129F packet?” (quick answer: no, don’t waste your time)

And this confusion gets passed down the grapevine because people think it makes your case “stronger”.

But trust me on this, in this particular instance, you have to take the instructions literally because they simply don’t want your I-134 right now. Don’t read too much into it. And don’t “make up instructions”. 

Because if you do, you’ll sadly end up wasting lots of time and energy compiling the I-134 paperwork — and in the end it would be a wasted effort because the USCIS would simply ignore it. 

And instead of making your case stronger, it actually got slower because you’ve burdened them with extra paperwork. In the meantime you wasted a good opportunity to make a better, more concise packet (i.e. better frontloading).

Don’t over complicate your case by reading into the wrong details or assuming instructions.

Here’s a different example which may feel a lot more familiar to you. Many assume there MUST be something more besides what’s written. Curiously they ask if they need to submit the beneficiary’s birth certificate in their I-129F packets. 

It feels like such an important document that must surely be required… right?

Again: “do the instructions specifically ask for it? Or is it inferred that I should?”

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The answer is often “no”, as most couples don’t need to submit a copy of the beneficiary’s birth certificate.

(But there are rare occasions when you do have to submit a birth certificate for the foreign beneficiary. Can you figure out when that is? write your answer in the comments below)

But if you let rumors or emotions get the better of you, you’d waste time asking your fiance to mail over a copy of his/her birth certificate. 

So, why work smarter? It saves you from wasting time and energy on things that don’t matter. Understand when it’s the proper time to read the instructions in a literal sense and when it’s best to infer instructions.

Here’s one final example: over complicating the assembly of the I-129F packet. 

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Don’t worry if you don’t have a plastic 3-ring binder. Don’t worry if the photos aren’t glossy. And don’t worry if you don’t have a clear plastic cover to make things look glamorous.

“Keep it simple” is my advice to arrange your packet and documents in their simplest form possible.

Now, there are many more important assembly tips — like don’t submit electronic data, CDs, DVDs, or even links to website — but for the most part, keeping the paperwork in its simplest form is all you need to know (more detail available in my I-129F course). 

Again, work smarter, not harder.

Now before you start to think “oh nice, I don’t have to think about anything at all. I can just follow the exact instructions word for word and things will turn out perfect”, think again. 

Now, I’m going to talk about the things that don’t get explained a lot in the instructions, but they do end up being a major component. In these instances you should read into the details and infer instructions.

Let me show you what I mean…

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Work Smart tip # 2 – Get detailed with things that really matter

The I-129F lacks clarity and that’s why you should take liberty on certain things.

There are a ton of instructions that require more than the literal interpretation. And I want you to follow along and see why they’re important.

For example, the circumstances of meeting statement is a big one. It’s not explicitly required (I-129F form, page 8, part 2, question 54). But to me, it’s a vital piece of proof to add in. 

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Do the I-129F instructions say to write a nice, long statement with dates, tables, charts, or timelines? No. Do they even tell you exactly what to write? Not really.

Would I tell you to write that in? Yes.

You see, in my years of experience toiling with this Circumstances of in-person meeting statements, I’ve figured out what the USCIS and US Consulate actually want to see in the statements even though they don’t say it.

The perfect formula turns out to be: focus on the in-person meeting in the last 2 years with documented evidence + prove that you intend to get married (beyond a doubt).

I can explain all the details and provide a template in my I-129F course, but for now, realize the COM is a huge component in your fiance visa case YET it’s not clearly explained anywhere.

In this specific case you SHOULD infer instructions even though they’re not explicitly stated. 

Here’s another important example that’s not explained to the degree it should be in the I-129F instructions or K visa interview checklist: proof of bona fide relationship. 

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This comes from the US Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. The consulate briefly explains what they want to see at the interview. 

They suggest things such as photos, phone records, letters, email, etc. Sounds simple enough, but there’s a world of questions that lie behind…

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• Which photos? 
• How many? 
• Which letters? 
• Phone records from which time period? 
• What about red flags? 

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I could write a whole book about proof of relationship and how to properly front-load your I-129F petition. (you can see those in-depth because topics around my website).

The point is: this sounds like a simple requirement but it’s a major task you should prioritize. I’ve seen weak cases (or red flags) approved when they presented solid evidence. And I’ve seen the opposite, too: “straightforward” cases get denied for lack of good proof. 

Let’s look at a final example: the K-1 interview checklist. It’s one of the most important documents you have to follow closely.

According to instructions, some things have to be crystal clear and clean. For example, your I-134 AOS has to be complete, accurate with your “i’s dotted and t’s crossed”. No excuses on that.

In addition, you have to submit supporting documents and provide a solid foundation to prove you’ve got the financials to care for your incoming fiance (tax returns, IRS transcripts, employment letters to name a few).

However, if you bring extra evidence that’s not explicitly written on the interview checklist, the consulate will probably not want to see it.

A common example happens with tourist / visitor (B1/B2) visa interviews. 

A “tip” that floats around the internet is that you should bring a “letter of invitation” from a US-based family member or friend to show the consulate that your friends/family in the US will support you. 

But most of the time, the consulate will push that paper aside and say “no thanks”. They don’t ask for it and they don’t even want to look at it. To them, this document was not requested and it holds little value / meaning. (side note: the reason they don’t want to see a letter of invitation is because it cannot be verified or be enforced. So, it’s useless to the consulate)

It’s the same application to the fiance visa process. Some things are pushed aside as being insignificant. While other things are revered for being important. But the problem is that they won’t clearly explain what those are, do they?

So, why work smarter? It saves you from wasting time and energy on things that don’t matter. Remember, some things require you to pay attention to the literal instructions. Other things require you to think “outside the box”. I just shared a couple of those examples.

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Follow the right priorities

Think “priority first”. Figure out what’s most important and focus on that first. Go into detail with things that really matter. But don’t waste time on valueless things.

I know you’re asking “how am I supposed to know what’s important and what’s not? I’m not an expert in this stuff?”

Well, that’s where my website comes in. 

Use it to figure out what the major parts are. Understand and address them first. If you see me waive off something as insignificant, then understand why. If you see me worry about some particular detail, then it’s best to pay attention to it, too. 

Examples are: how I’ve dedicated many, many articles talking about the I-134 Affidavit of support. Or the tons of guidance I offer for the I-129F petition packet.

I don’t claim to know all the answers (no one does) but I can help you get through it. 

The biggest piece of advice to work smarter not harder during your fiance visa process is focus to understand the priorities and fixate on them… and know which details to ignore.

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