How many times did you meet before you started the visa application process???

[Chris M 1]

Tanya and I have been talking through chat, email, webcam and mailed letters since last July. We just recently met for one week in April in Egypt. My friend suggested that we might want to meet again, and that maybe I go to see her in Russia to have another visit under our belts. I would not mind going to Russia, but I don't know how I can take more time off from work at the moment. However this could change. My friend said only meeting once may be a little suspicious. I don't know how this would be suspicious, but I also realize to the US government we are only a number on paper. I have to be as descriptive as I can about our relationship for the past 10 months and prove to them we have been in a "relationship" for a long time. He also said that if the initial visa is denied she may never be able to get a visa to enter the US ever again.

I am just curious if this could be true, or if any of you have ever heard of someone from Russia being rejected for only meeting one time. This is kind of scary to me in that I would hate to blow the chance to get Tanya here by only having met once. Do any of you actually know of anyone who was rejected due to something like this?

This is his email below my friend sent me. His wife came here from China in the past year, and they met twice before getting her here.

"She thinks that, although you and Tanya have been chatting online for a long time and you spent time in person, it may look suspicious that you've only met in person one time and that they may reject the visa application. And I know that if someone gets a visa to enter the US rejected, especially the first time, it becomes virtually impossible for them to get any kind of US visa ever again (for the rest of their life)."

[norrin 3]

My Natasha and I only met once and I visited for two weeks. Just document your relationship and keep everything pertaining to your visit. You only have the requirement of having met within the two year period of filing. My Natasha also said that the girls who knew english fairly well had an easier time at the interview (seemed like it to her. It is also not true that it becomes virtually impossible to get a visa if you have been refused, it depends on what kind of visa and for why. Many FSU girls have been refused visitors visa Natasha was refused once and her friend from the University was refused 4 times. They are both in the U.S.

[Brad and Vika 129]

So long as you can document that you met in person at some point during the last two years, you don't have to meet again. It doesn't look suspicious, and USCIS and consular see that all the time. If it were me, I would save my time and attend the interview. Your attendence isn't required at all, but we think my wife's interview (for K-1) went easier because I was there. Good Luck

[Waitinggent 2]

I'll take the opposite point of view. If you have little vacation time, I wouldn't spend it going to the interview. To me, it would be more useful for you to meet your lady again, as soon as possible, in her home town, in order to know her better before making such a big decision as marriage. I realize you didn't ask for advice, but meeting someone for a week on a vacation at some exotic beach resort is not real life, and not enough time to know someone. Seeing her at home and with her family and friends would certainly be more useful. Granted, I have more time than you, but I met my wife 5 times for a total of almost 4 months before she arrived in the USA. I did not travel there for her interview. The interview is no problem if all of your papers are in order, and if they are not, your being there will not change the fact that she will need to send in the additional documents that they require. My wife's interview was all of 6 or 7 minutes, according to her, and everyone she saw was coming in and out of the interview in 10 minutes. Don't sweat the interview. It's more important to make sure you are marrying the right woman.

So long as you can document that you met in person at some point during the last two years, you don't have to meet again. It doesn't look suspicious, and USCIS and consular see that all the time. If it were me, I would save my time and attend the interview. Your attendence isn't required at all, but we think my wife's interview (for K-1) went easier because I was there. Good Luck

[Brad and Vika 129]

I'll take the opposite point of view. If you have little vacation time, I wouldn't spend it going to the interview. To me, it would be more useful for you to meet your lady again, as soon as possible, in her home town, in order to know her better before making such a big decision as marriage. I realize you didn't ask for advice, but meeting someone for a week on a vacation at some exotic beach resort is not real life, and not enough time to know someone. Seeing her at home and with her family and friends would certainly be more useful. Granted, I have more time than you, but I met my wife 5 times for a total of almost 4 months before she arrived in the USA. I did not travel there for her interview. The interview is no problem if all of your papers are in order, and if they are not, your being there will not change the fact that she will need to send in the additional documents that they require. My wife's interview was all of 6 or 7 minutes, according to her, and everyone she saw was coming in and out of the interview in 10 minutes. Don't sweat the interview. It's more important to make sure you are marrying the right woman.

Honestly, I did both. Although we met stateside, I visited my wife in Ukraine three times, and went for the interview too. You are among the majority here in saying that the interview isn't really worth attending, and you make an excellent point about time together. One visit is worth a thousand email and skype conversations in my book. Vika did say that it was a huge comfort to her having me there - and that made it worth the trip for me. Also, the interviewer really only spoke to me, other than to ask if she spoke English. Also, my presence was irrefutable proof that we met in person.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Tanya and I have been talking through chat, email, webcam and mailed letters since last July. We just recently met for one week in April in Egypt. My friend suggested that we might want to meet again, and that maybe I go to see her in Russia to have another visit under our belts. I would not mind going to Russia, but I don't know how I can take more time off from work at the moment. However this could change. My friend said only meeting once may be a little suspicious. I don't know how this would be suspicious, but I also realize to the US government we are only a number on paper. I have to be as descriptive as I can about our relationship for the past 10 months and prove to them we have been in a "relationship" for a long time. He also said that if the initial visa is denied she may never be able to get a visa to enter the US ever again.

I am just curious if this could be true, or if any of you have ever heard of someone from Russia being rejected for only meeting one time. This is kind of scary to me in that I would hate to blow the chance to get Tanya here by only having met once. Do any of you actually know of anyone who was rejected due to something like this?

This is his email below my friend sent me. His wife came here from China in the past year, and they met twice before getting her here.

"She thinks that, although you and Tanya have been chatting online for a long time and you spent time in person, it may look suspicious that you've only met in person one time and that they may reject the visa application. And I know that if someone gets a visa to enter the US rejected, especially the first time, it becomes virtually impossible for them to get any kind of US visa ever again (for the rest of their life)."

You need friends that understand what they are talking about and this one does not. STOP asking him for immigration advice as everything he told you is wrong. I need not detail it all...it is all wrong.

We met many times before filing but only documented ONE meeting in the petition filing, that is all that is required. MANY fiancee visas have been approved with only one meeting in person, particularly in Moscow and Kiev. More is better but not necessary. It does not matter where you meet. You can file K-1 petitions for the same person over and over again. If the first one is denied you can correct the probelms and file again, you can get married and file for a CR-1, you have a lot of options.

In order to file a petition, you must document that you have met in person at least one time in the last two years, that is all.

[Brad and Vika 129]

In order to file a petition, you must document that you have met in person at least one time in the last two years, that is all.

And that you intend to marry within the 90 day period allowed.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And that you intend to marry within the 90 day period allowed.

Yes true. But you can use that as a trial period, it is OK.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Yes true. But you can use that as a trial period, it is OK.

Did you tell Alla she was here for your 90 day test drive?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Did you tell Alla she was here for your 90 day test drive?

OMG! Just shoot me in the eye!

Into Veech eye Voood you like me to zhoot choo?

[AKguy 1]

Anna tells me she has 3 months to decide...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anna tells me she has 3 months to decide...

Don't worry Shawn, she is the 2nd luckiest girl in the world, nothing for her to decide at all!

[Brad and Vika 129]

Anna tells me she has 3 months to decide...

You know that its ok for HER to say that

[baron555 934]

Don't worry Shawn, she is the 2nd luckiest girl in the world, nothing for her to decide at all!

Well, my Alla will be the third luckiest girl in the world, and I'll be the luckiest guy.

We met online, communicated virtually every day using various methods, agreed we met each other's criteria and agreed to meet in Kiev for 10 days (this was after only three months of meeting online).

We met for 10 days in Kiev and at the end agree to become engaged and file for the K-1 (and K-2). We continred to converse and get to know each other. We talked about me going back for another trip but our communication methods were so good, we agreed to save my vacation to use when she arrived.

After 8 more months of waiting for the visa (two extra months due to us rescheduling the interview becasue of adoption issues), they came to the US. We had an agreement, that within 60 days we would make a decision to marry or not. If I said No, they went back, if she said No, they would go back. Within a month of arrival, we both said Yes and we became married.

Our life together has exceeded both of our expectations and continues to do so.

[Cixelsyd 1]

Tanya and I have been talking through chat, email, webcam and mailed letters since last July. We just recently met for one week in April in Egypt. My friend suggested that we might want to meet again, and that maybe I go to see her in Russia to have another visit under our belts. I would not mind going to Russia, but I don't know how I can take more time off from work at the moment. However this could change. My friend said only meeting once may be a little suspicious. I don't know how this would be suspicious, but I also realize to the US government we are only a number on paper. I have to be as descriptive as I can about our relationship for the past 10 months and prove to them we have been in a "relationship" for a long time. He also said that if the initial visa is denied she may never be able to get a visa to enter the US ever again.

I am just curious if this could be true, or if any of you have ever heard of someone from Russia being rejected for only meeting one time. This is kind of scary to me in that I would hate to blow the chance to get Tanya here by only having met once. Do any of you actually know of anyone who was rejected due to something like this?

This is his email below my friend sent me. His wife came here from China in the past year, and they met twice before getting her here.

"She thinks that, although you and Tanya have been chatting online for a long time and you spent time in person, it may look suspicious that you've only met in person one time and that they may reject the visa application. And I know that if someone gets a visa to enter the US rejected, especially the first time, it becomes virtually impossible for them to get any kind of US visa ever again (for the rest of their life)."

I think there is a common mistake people make when applying for these types of visa's. The people processing our cases aren't looking for an elaborate story of how or why you are with the other person. They're just looking for the facts to check off their list. Which facts you'll be required to supply will depend on which type of visa you'll be applying for. I know some people will disagree and say you should send a lot more information. If you feel comfortable doing that, then by all means do so. Just be sure you meet the requirements they are looking for.

I can't say I know of any instance where a petition was denied based on the lack of a relationship story. I think the only time it gets denied/delayed is when the required documents are missing. Or in the off chance that a consular officer believes there is a sufficient deficiency in the relationship, which supports a belief that it was entered into by the USC with dishonest intentions. Example: if the two of you don't have a common language to communicate in, this will throw a red flag. In the last example, you would have to provide evidence as to why this isn't a problem in your relationship.

As for the meeting requirement, I think the K-1 requirement is that you met within the past two years for a period of at least 2 weeks. However, I'm quoting that from memory, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to go double check.

I guess the general overtone is just make sure you meet the requirements. Don't get sucked into the idea that if you send an entire scrap book, they're going to give you a visa based on that.

Also, I skimmed over someone talking about the interview. I wouldn't worry about trying to be there for the interview. You aren't allowed to even be present at the interview in Moscow.