My name is Krista, and I recently married my husband Boster, who is a
Malawian.  Boster travelled to the United States on a K-1 Visa, and Id
like to share our experiences.  The first   thing I did was to go to the
public library and start reading books on Immigration.  These books were
very helpful.  Although some things have changed over the years, these
books gave me a general idea of what needed to be done.  I used the most
current editions available. 

Next I contacted my Congressman, and his support team were very helpful.
They gave me the necessary forms I needed to fill, and gave me the Kansas
City Immigration phone number, with directions on how to get there.  

I began filling out the forms for a K-1 Visa Petition.  Basically, the
forms tell you exactly what you need to do.  I had a couple questions on
the forms, but when I tried to call the Immigration Service, I was put on
hold indefinitely.   I never spoke to an Immigration official.  Although I
had already filled out most of the forms and had gathered all the
necessary supporting documentation, I decided that Id rather be safe than
sorry, and contacted an immigration lawyer who charged me a very small fee
for answering my questions and filling out the forms using his computer
software.  I discovered that through my research I knew as much as my
lawyer did about these procedures, but I was thankful for the extra
confidence his assistance gave.  I would say a lawyer is  not necessary.
You can do it yourself.  

My K-1 Visa Petition was very organized.  I spent a lot of time putting it
together.  I received a letter from the Immigration Service that my
Petition had been approved within  2 weeks after submission.  They sent my
petition to the U.S. Consulate in Malawi, he contacted Boster, Boster
filled out the necessary paperwork and had a medical exam, and was
approved shortly afterwards.  

After Boster arrived we then had to think about planning a wedding.  This
was very stressful.  It is difficult to plan a wedding on such short
notice.  We had only 90 days to plan.  Actually less than 90 days, because
we had to get married, and then fill out the necessary forms, and have
them submitted within 90 days.

We had a very simple wedding 2 months after Boster arrived.  We were
married in the Mosque with two witnesses present on a Saturday morning.
Afterwards we went out to lunch in a nearby restaurant. 

Bosters passport was not stamped authorized to work at U.S. customs, and
he did not ask for it, because we didnt know anything about it.   Which
means he could not work until he applied for and got his Employment
Authorization Document.  He applied for his EAD at the same time he
applied for Adjustment of Status, which we completed the week after we
were married.

He travelled to Kansas City to submit these documents.  He had everything
prepared before he arrived.  When it was his turn, they briefly looked
over his forms and told him they would contact him.  They are very busy
there, and if you do not prepare your documents correctly, they will not
accept it, and will send you to the end of a very long line.  Boster had a
few questions prepared in advance about the forms he was submitting, and
asked them on the spot, and they were very helpful.

He was contacted by phone for an interview for his EAD about a month
later.   They left a message on our answering machine.  Apparently they
had sent a letter in the mail with an interview time and date, but we
missed it because we never received the letter.  They called to give us a
second and last chance.  Boster travelled to Kansas City and had his
interview, which went very smoothly.  He returned with his EAD and is now
working.  

We are now waiting for the interview for a Green Card, which often takes
~4 months after submission of the forms.  We are adjusting well to married
life, and consider the hard part over!  

I was impressed by how quickly everything was approved.  We were worried,
because it was so important to us that it be approved.  I think the most
important lesson here is to fill out the forms very thoroughly.  Send in
all supporting documents requested.  Dont forget anything.  Read the forms
very carefully.  Make a list of what you need to do and prepare everything
systematically.  If you do this, and you have a legitimate case,
everything will go smoothly.  Good luck!