Anyone applied K1 without meeting each other in 2 yrs

[Ladylethal 12]

Although they have the option to explain hardship and filing without having met, it's almost impossible to be approved that way.

I'd take a trip to see each other for a few days before applying. Take pictures together, save the tickets, etc.

[john_and_marlene 162]

http://www.fredlaw.com/articles/immigratio..._0604_ljd2.html

Arranged marriages often take place quickly and without any significant period of courtship. In some cultures there is no courtship whatsoever, making it difficult to document the bona fides of the relationship. Fortunately, most arranged marriages often involved elaborate engagement ceremonies or wedding rituals, which can be photographed and explained in detail. Additionally, an immigration attorney should never shy away from admitting that a marriage is arranged, but rather should emphasize the significance of such a marriage within certain traditional cultures. In rare instances, a U.S. party will want to petition for a future mate, sight unseen. Although proxy marriage is unavailable, it is possible to petition for a fiancé. There is an exception to the rule, “where there is extreme hardship or long established custom.”19 One important point about the fiancé visa is that the foreign fiancé cannot marry anyone except the petitioning party. It can happen that the U.S. fiancé backs out of the arrangement at the last moment, to be replaced by another. USCIS will not accept replacement spouses; the foreign fiancé will have to return home and be petitioned for anew.

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It may be possible in this circumstance. Your best approach would be to consult with an immigration attorney experienced with arranged marriages. Your meeting waiver would be based on custom rather than hardship.

[sbgwolf1 0]

I remember one person on here claiming that his petition had been approved without having met, but never heard if the visa was issued.

Even if the petition would be approved without having met you still need to convince the embassy that the relationship is on the level and I would think that would be rather hard with never having met.

I would think the embassy may be more likely to believe it then the our side. The embassy is emerged in the cultures and if it is truly customary in that area, they would me more familiar.

My understanding is uscis verifies that all the doc is there, the point of the embassy is to prove ongoing relationship. Its gray but I believe that this side would generate the RFE's, the embassy its a matter of ongoing doc beyond the approval.

wolf

Edited September 12, 2006 by sbgwolf1