questions on fiance visa

[sunny_0102]

Hi Guys,

I am a resident of India and my girlfriend is a naturalized US citizen.

My girlfriend wants to apply for a fiance (K-1 visa) for me so that I can travel to the US post K-1 visa approval to marry her



She works on east coast and will be filing for I-129F at Vermont



Below are my questions:



Is it necessary to hire an attorney to file K-1 visa paperwork? If No, how many days would it cost me in processing if I was asked to respond to RFE?



Do I need to take any precaution in filling out I-129F to avoid making any mistakes?



As a beneficiary, what kind of documentation Do I need to submit along with I-129F?



I am guessing that hiring an attorney doesn't mean USCIS is not going to ask for RFE, assuming attorney knows what he is doing?



What is the maximum time for I-129F to get approved? Can it go over 5 months if USCIS didn't request for additional information?



Is it required to submit any kind of proof (photos) to prove that I met my fiance while I was in the US at the time I-129F is being filed?



if not, at what stage do I need photos to prove that I met her?



We didn't take photos when we met (duh!), would air tickets act as sufficient proof when requested for?



I am assuming this questions is more likely to be asked at the local US consulate when I attend the interview is my assumption correct?



After I-129F is approved and I-797 mailed out, can I request for my interview to be expedited?



Please Help!

Thanks

Sunny

[lisaanderson]

1. It’s not necessary to have an attorney. You generally get about 3 months to respond to an RFE. However, after responding to an RFE, it may delay processing for an additional one to two months.
2. Be accurate and provide all required information. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS to the form.
3. At a minimum, a copy of your passport, birth certificate and divorce/death certificate if you’ve been married before
4. USCIS can ask for an RFE at any time. Hiring an attorney who knows what he or she is doing reduces that possibility as long as they have everything they need and you’ve been completely honest with them
5. There is no maximum time. Processing times vary and average 5 months.
6. The more evidence you submit, the higher the chances of approval. If you don’t have photographs, you should have other evidence (emails, phone transcripts, messaging transcripts, letters, etc.)
7. You need evidence both at the I-129F stage and when you go to the consulate for the interview.
8. You may need more than just air line tickets. Tickets just show that you traveled- it doesn’t show that you actually met your fiancé.
9. Interviews are generally expedited only if there’s actually an emergency. Everyone wants to be reunited with their fiancé/spouses as soon as possible- you’re going to need to show what important reason you have to expedite your appointment.