Fiancee was my childhood friend. Problem???

[EZ3145 0]

So my fiancee and I were childhood friends before I left for the USA. We grew up together in the same neighborhood. We had a crush on each other but didn't really date. I was about 17yrs when I left for the USA. While in the USA, I lost her contact info. 12yrs. later I got hold of her somewhere in april '08. Luckily she was still single. Apparently, while I did not have that thought in mind, She had the hopes that I'll someday come back for her. We communicated for about 2months, which I have no proof of our communication because I called her mostly with a prepaid calling card I purchased online.

2months later I proposed to her and she accepted. we got engaged in June '08. I didn't have enough vacation hours from work so I wasn't able to attend the engagement ceremony. My cousin stood in for me as a proxy. yup, it's all legal in africa.

However, I travelled to meet her for the first time in 12yrs and we have pictures of us together. I was there from November '08 to December '08.

Here comes the questions:

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa?

Help please.

[KimandRuss 0]

What a lovely story.

As long as you've met within the last two years, you are both free to marry and you are a usc you can file whenever you like.

I would suggest that you check out the Sub-Saharan Regional forum here to educate yourself as much as you can to the process in Ghana. Look for Zee Bee as she knows her stuff.

best of luck to you and welcome to VJ.

[Ban Hammer 13,624]

for the op, here is the sub sahara forum link

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=89

[EZ3145 0]

What a lovely story.

As long as you've met within the last two years, you are both free to marry and you are a usc you can file whenever you like.

I would suggest that you check out the Sub-Saharan Regional forum here to educate yourself as much as you can to the process in Ghana. Look for Zee Bee as she knows her stuff.

best of luck to you and welcome to VJ.

Thanks, KimandRuss, I 'ppreciate that.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members.

Immaterial, as KimandRuss posted, the requirement is to have met in the previous 2 years of the petition date.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa?

Not at all, in fact, when you fill out the question 18, tell your story above. Because that is how it happened

[EZ3145 0]

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members.

Immaterial, as KimandRuss posted, the requirement is to have met in the previous 2 years of the petition date.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa?

Not at all, in fact, when you fill out the question 18, tell your story above. Because that is how it happened

Ahhh that's great! I really appreciate all your help folks.

[pushbrk 13,166]

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members.

Immaterial, as KimandRuss posted, the requirement is to have met in the previous 2 years of the petition date.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa?

Not at all, in fact, when you fill out the question 18, tell your story above. Because that is how it happened

Neither item is an issue for petition approval but both are potential red flags with the Consulate with regard to evaluating the bona fides of the relationship. They are certainly overcomable with visits and communication evidence etc.

[Zee Bee 61]

So my fiancee and I were childhood friends before I left for the USA. We grew up together in the same neighborhood. We had a crush on each other but didn't really date. I was about 17yrs when I left for the USA. While in the USA, I lost her contact info. 12yrs. later I got hold of her somewhere in april '08. Luckily she was still single. Apparently, while I did not have that thought in mind, She had the hopes that I'll someday come back for her. We communicated for about 2months, which I have no proof of our communication because I called her mostly with a prepaid calling card I purchased online.

2months later I proposed to her and she accepted. we got engaged in June '08. I didn't have enough vacation hours from work so I wasn't able to attend the engagement ceremony. My cousin stood in for me as a proxy. yup, it's all legal in africa.

However, I travelled to meet her for the first time in 12yrs and we have pictures of us together. I was there from November '08 to December '08.

Here comes the questions:

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members. This can only help. It is always a plus to have the support of friends and family. In our case we submitted pictures of him with my sisters and friends for the interview. Don't know if it helped, but it definitely didn't hurt. IMHO, it only helps to show bonafides.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa? You only need to have met once in the last 2 years. This is not about how long you have been together.

Help please.

I know that this is thinking a little ahead but what hard evidence do you have? Ghana is notorious for asking for more proof of relationship, so I would suggest (if you haven't already stated) sending snail mail to each other, e-mails, cards and getting a calling card company where you can print out your logs (I know that it was not accepted in our case, but you never know).

Thanks for the shout out Kim

[EZ3145 0]

So my fiancee and I were childhood friends before I left for the USA. We grew up together in the same neighborhood. We had a crush on each other but didn't really date. I was about 17yrs when I left for the USA. While in the USA, I lost her contact info. 12yrs. later I got hold of her somewhere in april '08. Luckily she was still single. Apparently, while I did not have that thought in mind, She had the hopes that I'll someday come back for her. We communicated for about 2months, which I have no proof of our communication because I called her mostly with a prepaid calling card I purchased online.

2months later I proposed to her and she accepted. we got engaged in June '08. I didn't have enough vacation hours from work so I wasn't able to attend the engagement ceremony. My cousin stood in for me as a proxy. yup, it's all legal in africa.

However, I travelled to meet her for the first time in 12yrs and we have pictures of us together. I was there from November '08 to December '08.

Here comes the questions:

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members. This can only help. It is always a plus to have the support of friends and family. In our case we submitted pictures of him with my sisters and friends for the interview. Don't know if it helped, but it definitely didn't hurt. IMHO, it only helps to show bonafides.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa? You only need to have met once in the last 2 years. This is not about how long you have been together.

Help please.

I know that this is thinking a little ahead but what hard evidence do you have? Ghana is notorious for asking for more proof of relationship, so I would suggest (if you haven't already stated) sending snail mail to each other, e-mails, cards and getting a calling card company where you can print out your logs (I know that it was not accepted in our case, but you never know).

Thanks for the shout out Kim

We just started getting involved with the yahoo messenger, snail mails, and emails. Prior to that it was all phone calls with prepaid calling cards.

I currently have three pages of order history showing the INVOICE NUMBER, DATE, TOTAL, of all the calling cards I purchased online.

but ya, I've started sending her emails occasionally, I just sent her the first snail mail. I just printed our first IM conversation last night 01/13/09.

I'm hoping we'll have at least 5 of each evidence under our belts before the interview.

But current evidence I have to send with the I-129F is one IM conversation we had last night, one email, pictures of us together, and a print of my order history I just mentioned above.

Will this be enough to send with the application for now??

[Zee Bee 61]

So my fiancee and I were childhood friends before I left for the USA. We grew up together in the same neighborhood. We had a crush on each other but didn't really date. I was about 17yrs when I left for the USA. While in the USA, I lost her contact info. 12yrs. later I got hold of her somewhere in april '08. Luckily she was still single. Apparently, while I did not have that thought in mind, She had the hopes that I'll someday come back for her. We communicated for about 2months, which I have no proof of our communication because I called her mostly with a prepaid calling card I purchased online.

2months later I proposed to her and she accepted. we got engaged in June '08. I didn't have enough vacation hours from work so I wasn't able to attend the engagement ceremony. My cousin stood in for me as a proxy. yup, it's all legal in africa.

However, I travelled to meet her for the first time in 12yrs and we have pictures of us together. I was there from November '08 to December '08.

Here comes the questions:

1. Will the fact that I'm not in the engagement pictures cause a problem? She took pictures with my extended family members. This can only help. It is always a plus to have the support of friends and family. In our case we submitted pictures of him with my sisters and friends for the interview. Don't know if it helped, but it definitely didn't hurt. IMHO, it only helps to show bonafides.

2. I filled out the forms ( I-129F) on January 10, 2009, and still putting things together. Is it too soon to apply for the k-1 visa? You only need to have met once in the last 2 years. This is not about how long you have been together.

Help please.

I know that this is thinking a little ahead but what hard evidence do you have? Ghana is notorious for asking for more proof of relationship, so I would suggest (if you haven't already stated) sending snail mail to each other, e-mails, cards and getting a calling card company where you can print out your logs (I know that it was not accepted in our case, but you never know).

Thanks for the shout out Kim

We just started getting involved with the yahoo messenger, snail mails, and emails. Prior to that it was all phone calls with prepaid calling cards.

I currently have three pages of order history showing the INVOICE NUMBER, DATE, TOTAL, of all the calling cards I purchased online.

but ya, I've started sending her emails occasionally, I just sent her the first snail mail. I just printed our first IM conversation last night 01/13/09.

I'm hoping we'll have at least 5 of each evidence under our belts before the interview.

But current evidence I have to send with the I-129F is one IM conversation we had last night, one email, pictures of us together, and a print of my order history I just mentioned above.

Will this be enough to send with the application for now??

That sounds good. Its a lot more than what we had.

In addition I would include your boarding passes from your trip to Ghana and passport stamps.