How long did you know each other before filing?

[randolady 1]

How long did you guys know your fiances before filing the petition? Does the government place any sort of value on how long you've known one another?

[Jaylen Brit 0]

personally ours was 4-5 years

I doubt the govt places a lot on that - as opposed to say someone who met 3 months ago - but probably they WILL compared to someone who met and got engaged / married much much faster. Will it affect the visa?

Unknown... hasn't affected anyone I know of on VJ who's applied. Don't forget there's a requirement to have met within the last 2 years also.

Edited June 5, 2006 by Jaylen Brit

[Bunnyqr 0]

We met May 2005 and got engaged January 2006. 8 months including engagement month.

[iceyspots 0]

5 months

[Karen_L 1]

How long did you guys know your fiances before filing the petition? Does the government place any sort of value on how long you've known one another?

My fiance' and I were together for a year when we decided to get married. Then it took us a few months to decide whether to do a K-1 or K-3. We came SO CLOSE to getting married in Italy this January; we had all the paperwork ready, but then I read how much longer the K-3 takes than the K-1 and we decided to do the K-1 (and anyway, I prefer to get married here with my family). So, by the time I filed the petition on his behalf, we were together for a year and a half.

I don't know whether knowing each other for a while vs. a short time has any influence on whether you get the visa or not. Maybe only knowing each other for a little bit would make the interview more difficult/cause the interviewer to ask more questions and scrutinize more, but if you can prove intent to marry and that you have an on-going relationship, not knowing each other for a long time won't automatically mean rejection. So don't worry. Just work on collecting as much evidence of your relationship as you can.

Good luck!

[Nessa 23]

We've known each other let's see 2 1/2 years before filling the petition, around oct 2003, started being together in nov 2004, decided to get married a long time ago but the proposal was in march 2006

Good luck for you

[BlueRain77 0]

I met my fiance the end of October but probably didn't get more serious until mid December. Met him for the first time March 4 and spent two weeks. I think we knew even before that we were meant to be together. Got together again in May for two weeks and it definitely affirmed we wanted to get married. So about 5 months. Sometimes I think they two people are at the right place and time in there lives that it doesn't always take that long to know they were meant to be together (and this coming from someone who swore she would never date anyone off the internet and would never agree to marriage for at least a year into a relationship! lol Guess I was proved wrong!)

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Hmm, we met September 01, filed for the K-1 in January 05, so that would be about 3.5 years.

[motu 6]

Don't worry about the length of time that you have known her - it makes no difference to the USCIS as long as you can provide adequate proof of relationship/sponsorship etc. Also realize that some of us knew our fiancees long before meeting them - I didn't meet her till a month before I filed the petition but that's not a question ever asked - they do want to knwo if you met her in 2 years. I had met her 1 month before I filed - but I had known her much much longer but they never asked about that. Good Luck

Edited June 5, 2006 by motu

[EVOLUTION` 0]

hopefully I can get my USC at the end of June that would make it our 5th month in our relationship. Wow it's been that long. Haven't apply for my K-1 yet. Still waiting on my USC stuff.

Good Luck!!

[SilentJester 0]

Met on Diablo (computer game for those that aren't into that stuff and don't know) in 1997, first met face to face in 2002, and filed K1 in 2004...so..wow its been a while since we've "known" each other.

[Oly 0]

1 year and 3 months before filling the petition. I dont think its important the length of time that you have known your fiance. I think its more important the kind of proof of ongoing relationship you have. Good luck in your process.

OLY AND DIDIER

[Ladylethal 12]

We knew each other for 4 years and were together for over 3 when we filed.

[Craig2006 0]

We have known each other since November 2004. Got engaged in January 2006. Filed for I-129F in February 2006 and now only 47 days until the wedding......

[Cristy 4]

Oct 2004, engaged Dec 2005.