I-129F PETITION

Disclaimer: I am not an immigration lawyer or practising one. I am providing you with my own personal experience. The first step in applying for a fiancé(e) visa is for the US Citizen to file a petition on behalf of the applicant. The forms you require to file the petition are as follows

  • Form I-129F - Petition for Alien Fiance(e)
  • Form G-325A - Biographic Information (Please note that you need to fill out 4 of these forms for each of you.)
You also need to include evidence of your relationship, that you have met within the past 2 years. As well as two passport sized photos of the US citizen and the applicant.  In our Petition packet we included the following :-
  • Two recent photos, 1 of our first meeting and one when Clayton came to the UK.

  • Copies of our telephone bills.

  • Copies of our Birth Certificates.

  • A copy of Natalie's passport stamp, which show's port of entry into the US.

  • Copies of our Engagement cards.

  • A copy of the receipt of Natalie's engagement ring.

  • A copy of Natalie's flight itinerary to the US.

  • Copies of our Emails some old some new.

We also included:-
  • A check for $110
  • A copy of the US Citizen Bith Certificate
  • One Passport sized photo of each of us in 3/4 view showing the right ear. If you are unsure on what this mean please go to this site for more information.
We enclosed a cover letter that was singed from the both of us. Please Note: The cover letter has to be signed by the fiancé and the US Citizen.

To the department of Immigration and Naturalization service

Dear Sir/Madame

Please find enclosed my petition to marry a foreign national.

I met my fiancée Natalie ****** back in 1999 via the Internet through AOL Instant messenger. After talking for hours on end, we gradually became friends. We decided to keep in touch and we exchanged email addresses. However, due to separate lives and time differences we lost touch, until one day back in April 2000 we bumped into each other on messenger one day. We caught up on recent events, and decided to continue talking. Therefore, we arranged times where we could meet to talk. We learned a great deal about each other. Time went by and in early March 2001, we decided to exchange phone numbers and home addresses. We started hand writing each other and producing audiotapes to exchange back and forth. In early June, we continued our relationship through the phone, talking for hours on end, getting to know each other day-by-day.

We gradually started to develop feelings for each other. So by early 2002 we thought it was time for us to meet in person. Natalie booked tickets for early August that year. Natalie arrived in the United States, Seattle WA on August 6th 2002, she was to stay for 2 weeks. We had a wonderful time with each other and we both discovered we truly loved each other and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. I then proposed to Natalie on a cruise trip to Victoria Canada on August 9th 2002, and Natalie accepted. Natalie returned to the UK on August 22nd 2002. Both families were happy to hear of our engagement.

We continued talking through instant messenger and the phone each day, continuing our lives in separate countries. Natalie wanted me to arrange a trip to the UK to meet her family for Christmas. So I booked tickets to Birmingham UK on the 19th December 2002. We had a great time; her family had arranged an engagement party for us both on the 21st of December 2002. Sadly, on Christmas day, I fell ill and had to postpone my trip back to the US, I flew back home 4 days later than planned on the 31st December 2002.

On my return we both discussed our plans for the future, and we both agreed that Natalie should come and live over in the United States for a trail run to see if she could live in a different country and away from her large family. She applied for a 6 month B2 Tourist visa at the America Embassy London on February 2003. However, she was refused the visa. We were both greatly disappointed, but we both decided she would come out for an extended holiday anyway. Natalie booked tickets for Seattle WA, she was to arrive on April 29th 2003 for 7 weeks. She returned to the UK on the 18th June 2003.

On her stay, we both discussed our options and we both decided to apply for the fiancée visa. Natalie and I love each other, and are prepared to marry each other, upon approval of this request and issuance of a visa, required by the US government. We will follow all rules and will marry within 90 days required by law upon Natalie’s arrival in the United States of America.

Please find enclosed all the documents requested in I-129F application. Copies of documents submitted are exact copies of unaltered original documents and we understand that we may be required to submit original documents to an immigration consular official at a later date.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

After gathering all your evidence and filling out all the forms, the petition must be filed (or sent) to the INS office that services your area of the United States. On our case this was the Nebraska Service Center.

Once the petition is send off and the BCIS has received it. They will send you a Notice of Action slip (NOA) regarding the processing times of the petition. They will also give you an application receipt number so you can check the status of your case online. To find out the next step of the Visa