How many trips did it take?

[John*&*his*GG 2]

I plan on visiting my fiancee once then we plan on getting married. I might plan a second trip to support her during the interview time. We have been together for almost a year and don't want to be apart anymore so we have decided to get married.

Just wondering if this is typical for this type of situation or do people typically take a few trips before deciding.

Edited January 29, 2011 by jstl1978

[Inky 1,110]

Knowing someone on the internet and knowing someone in person are two very different things. We both decided it was MUCH better to spend time getting to know each other before marrying to make sure we were compatible in how we live and look after our things.

Visited 5+ times and also went on a Caribbean vacation together for 2 weeks. We dated 3 years before we got married.

[joevegas 67]

Vacationed about 14-20 times together..dated 7 years before getting hitched....well worth it.

[^_^ 5,021]

5+

because we wanted to

IMO marrying someone after one visit is insanity.

[John*&*his*GG 2]

5+

because we wanted to

IMO marrying someone after one visit is insanity.

hehe well place us both in the insane because we both are on board 100%

[Al422 221]

I plan on visiting my fiancee once then we plan on getting married. I might plan a second trip to support her during the interview time. We have been together for almost a year and don't want to be apart anymore so we have decided to get married.

Just wondering if this is typical for this type of situation or do people typically take a few trips before deciding.

How are you counting trips? Let me explain: I went there to see Elena only once, but she came here twice. So does that count as 1 or 3?

We knew each other in person for 14 months before getting engaged and if you add internet time, it was 21 months.

Also , there were 4 busts on ladies where it didn't work, and one was not even in Russia, as we met in Holland. So is that another 4?

Did you get engaged without a personal meeting? Will this be your first personal meeting, or did you mean to tell us that you plan one more personal meeting before you file?

Can you be clearer on this?

Edited January 29, 2011 by Al422

[W&M 12]

I agree with the other comments, although you can be together for 15 years and never really know the person, the physical compatibility is a must to have any chance at all. I have been with my fiance for less than a year and have visited her 3 times in the last 3 months with my average trip being 10 days. You learn so much more than you ever can over the internet. Physical time together is priceless. Best of luck to you!

[John*&*his*GG 2]

How are you counting trips? Let me explain: I went there to see Elena only once, but she came here twice. So does that count as 1 or 3?

We knew each other in person for 14 months before getting engaged and if you add internet time, it was 21 months.

Also , there were 4 busts on ladies where it didn't work, and one was not even in Russia, as we met in Holland. So is that another 4?

Did you get engaged without a personal meeting? Will this be your first personal meeting, or did you mean to tell us that you plan one more personal meeting before you file?

Can you be clearer on this?

Trips = meetings so yes in your case I would count the 1 trip to her and her coming to you twice as 3.

As far the 4 busts don't count those trips if you aren't married to any of them. I want to know the amount of trips you took to see the person you are married to.

I guess in my case it would an Unofficial/ Official fiancee because we both know it's coming. I bought the ring but it's not on her finger yet.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

I recently returned from my 3rd trip to the DR to see my fiance. I am planning on going for Spring break and returning for the interview (it pretty much is a requirement for the US petitioner to attend the interview at the Santo Domingo consulate). So, I will have visited the country 5 times by the time of his visa interview. It is already hard enough to be apart, but I could definitely NOT do as some other VJ members have done; to endure months or even years without seeing by fiance! So, it is definitely out of love that I have visited him as much as I have been able to (without losing my jobs!), yet it is also very important to do this in order to prove a bona fide relationship. This is particularly important in high fraud consulates (such as Santo Domingo). I am REALLY hoping that his visa is granted, but it is hard not to be fearful after reading interview horror stories!

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Flawed poll -- second item needs an option for "other" or "does not apply."

[John*&*his*GG 2]

Flawed poll -- second item needs an option for "other" or "does not apply."

Um ok what is your reason of needing that option?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I think more than one visit (in either direction) is preferable.

On the first visit(unless the couple is just completely physically incompatible) you have just way too much romance going on.

He came here to see me the first time. Also the second. The second visit was for him to see how he felt about the country. He already felt he wanted to be with ME. If your partner can visit the US, I think that's very important.

The third visit was me going to him and this was also his interview. I wish I had gone to his country sooner because you learn a lot about a person from what their acquaintances say about them. I was more "sure" about my husband's character after I went to his country. The way I went about it all was risky because I could have gotten bad vibes, and by then it would have been nearly too late.

[LaL 418]

We saw each other around 2 dozen times since meeting through the time of visa in hand. He always came to the US, I never went to see him .

[Kukolka 8]

We knew on our first visit that we were perfect for each other. We knew that *before* ever meeting in person. The only thing I personally needed the visit to confirm was that he smelled right. This probably sounds weird to some people, but oh well, I'm weird.

But you asked about visits before *marriage*, not before *engagement*. Our 5 visits:

1. He flew from Ontario to visit me in California for a week. (Unofficial proposal the day after we met face to face. Planned to file I-129F after this trip, but decided to wait because I decided to move to the East coast.)

2. After I moved to Connecticut to live with my family, he flew to visit me for 3 weeks (& official engagement. Filed I-129F after he left, just so I could answer "No" to the "Is beneficiary currently in the USA" question. And have a scan of his return boarding pass.)

3. We both drove to meet halfway (USA) for a week.

4. We both drove to meet halfway for a weekend. (so short!)

5. We both flew to Montréal for his interview, then later that day flew to Toronto for the rest of the week and I finally met his family.

Edited January 30, 2011 by Kukolka

[John*&*his*GG 2]

I think envy the people going usa to canada. Here I'm going usa to jordan or philippines (if she goes back home). I think the distance plays a small part into our decision to get married after one trip. We are all about killing the distance. However we have been together almost a year. I'm 32 and she is 26 and are deeply in love with each other. We know besides us not being related in anyway it is almost like we're twins from the things we like, the way we think, and the things we want in our lives. At this point we know we are ready and want to get married. I also embrace this distance a bit too because I know it will make us stronger as a couple but I know we both would like to get to the point where we don't have to be apart anymore. At the same time we know we can make this decision and never look back.