Update on the denial

[homesick_american 1]

So, wait...are you saying that you've never met the person for whom you are applying for the visa face-to-face?

yes

OK

PM'd you

[desert_fox 32]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, and I do not know the hardships for not being able to meet in person. While the others pray for you, I gonna lay the facts on you.

Stop wasting time and money on an attorney trying to appeal this. The USCIS has taken the stance long ago as being nearly impossible to meet in person is the only acceptable reason. Cultral prohibition of meeting....never happen in Egypt. Off hand I know of no culture that prohibits meeting beforehand. If there is, then they expect you to observe all facets of that culture. You can read all the appeals on the USCIS website, and the only one that Ive ever seen that was successful was someone on a Kidney dialysis maching who could not fly. All others, including financial, family, etc. were upheld on appeal (i.e. petitioner denied). Bite the bullet and go visit and meet and document the meeting. It will get a K-1 approved but no necessarily a visa.

good luck

[homesick_american 1]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, and I do not know the hardships for not being able to meet in person. While the others pray for you, I gonna lay the facts on you.

Stop wasting time and money on an attorney trying to appeal this. The USCIS has taken the stance long ago as being nearly impossible to meet in person is the only acceptable reason. Cultral prohibition of meeting....never happen in Egypt. Off hand I know of no culture that prohibits meeting beforehand. If there is, then they expect you to observe all facets of that culture. You can read all the appeals on the USCIS website, and the only one that Ive ever seen that was successful was someone on a Kidney dialysis maching who could not fly. All others, including financial, family, etc. were upheld on appeal (i.e. petitioner denied). Bite the bullet and go visit and meet and document the meeting. It will get a K-1 approved but no necessarily a visa.

good luck

I agree with this, and I agree with the government for not issuing immigrant visas to people who haven't met. I'm sorry, but that's the honest truth.

[SirLancelot 1]

I agree with this, and I agree with the government for not issuing immigrant visas to people who haven't met. I'm sorry, but that's the honest truth.

While I agree with this in theory, I discount statements like these from people who file for SO's in European countries--especially the UK--as it's so easy--both in time of flight and cost of air fare--for Europeans to travel to the US or vice versa. It's NOT so easy for people from some other far off countries.

Nevertheless, I do agree with the underlying thought. I also believe people getting married should meet in person before getting engaged.

[homesick_american 1]

I agree with this, and I agree with the government for not issuing immigrant visas to people who haven't met. I'm sorry, but that's the honest truth.

While I agree with this in theory, I discount statements like these from people who file for SO's in European countries--especially the UK--as it's so easy--both in time of flight and cost of air fare--for Europeans to travel to the US or vice versa. It's NOT so easy for people from some other far off countries.

Nevertheless, I do agree with the underlying thought. I also believe people getting married should meet in person before getting engaged.

That doesn't even apply to our situation. I met my husband face to face in 1997, we were engaged and married in 2001, and I have been living in the UK since then. It has been an incredible hardship. I would never have the cheek to apply for a visa for someone I'd never met; I'd just expect them to deny it.

As for traveling to Egypt...if you can get to Europe, you can get to Egypt. It's so dirt cheap to fly there from here these days that there's not much of an excuse for it financially.

[Welshcookie 17]

I agree with this, and I agree with the government for not issuing immigrant visas to people who haven't met. I'm sorry, but that's the honest truth.

While I agree with this in theory, I discount statements like these from people who file for SO's in European countries--especially the UK--as it's so easy--both in time of flight and cost of air fare--for Europeans to travel to the US or vice versa. It's NOT so easy for people from some other far off countries.

Nevertheless, I do agree with the underlying thought. I also believe people getting married should meet in person before getting engaged.

The difference between the cost of flights between US/UK to US/.... a couple of 100 pounds maybe? If someone has difficulty in raising money for flights/accomodation how will they cope in supporting another person for months on end?

Plus, having a person come over to live you that you have never spent anytime with physically?

Don't know if this is what has happened in the OP's case of course....so not necessarily aiming this at them.

[SirLancelot 1]

The difference between the cost of flights between US/UK to US/.... a couple of 100 pounds maybe?

Why don't you give it a try yourself and price some flights from JFK to Heathrow or JFK to Paris, and then try JFK to Rangoon, Burma or Auckland, New Zealand or Vientiane, Laos. You tell us the price difference. Is it only a couple of 100 pounds?

Not every one who immigrates to the US needs the financial support of the USC. Plenty of capable people with their own education come over to the US and acquire very high paying jobs. It is not always necessary for the USC to be financially supporting the beneficiary.

Read my post again, my point wasn't just about the cost of airfare but also the cost of time and flight time. A flight from JFK to Heathrow takes how long? Under 3 hours with a Concorde (yes, there's no more Concordes now.) But a flight from JFK to Auckland, New Zealand takes 24 hours or more (No direct flights possible).

[Welshcookie 17]

Ok...I just caught up via the now closed thread on OT. Although I am still somewhat confused about the hardship, is it about being afraid of flying? not sure I am getting that right but if so I too also have a great fear of flying......this website and forum has been a great help to me....

http://www.fearofflying.com/message.htm

And if am completely barking up the wrong tree I apologise in advance

[babybunny 2]

I agree with this, and I agree with the government for not issuing immigrant visas to people who haven't met. I'm sorry, but that's the honest truth.

While I agree with this in theory, I discount statements like these from people who file for SO's in European countries--especially the UK--as it's so easy--both in time of flight and cost of air fare--for Europeans to travel to the US or vice versa. It's NOT so easy for people from some other far off countries.

Nevertheless, I do agree with the underlying thought. I also believe people getting married should meet in person before getting engaged.

That doesn't even apply to our situation. I met my husband face to face in 1997, we were engaged and married in 2001, and I have been living in the UK since then. It has been an incredible hardship. I would never have the cheek to apply for a visa for someone I'd never met; I'd just expect them to deny it.

As for traveling to Egypt...if you can get to Europe, you can get to Egypt. It's so dirt cheap to fly there from here these days that there's not much of an excuse for it financially.

My ticket to Pakistan cost 1900.00

is this chump change?

[Welshcookie 17]

The difference between the cost of flights between US/UK to US/.... a couple of 100 pounds maybe?

Why don't you give it a try yourself and price some flights from JFK to Heathrow or JFK to Paris, and then try JFK to Rangoon, Burma or Auckland, New Zealand or Vientiane, Laos. You tell us the price difference. Is it only a couple of 100 pounds?

Not every one who immigrates to the US needs the financial support of the USC. Plenty of capable people with their own education come over to the US and acquire very high paying jobs. It is not always necessary for the USC to be financially supporting the beneficiary.

Read my post again, my point wasn't just about the cost of airfare but also the cost of time and flight time. A flight from JFK to Heathrow takes how long? Under 3 hours with a Concorde (yes, there's no more Concordes now.) But a flight from JFK to Auckland, New Zealand takes 24 hours or more (No direct flights possible).

Well actually I priced flights between Gatwick/US and US/Africa...cos it seemed more relevant and yes your concord idea is moot. And I didn't say petitioner would be supporting the beneficary forever....I said months on end....looking for work in a new country doesn't alway come easy and right away. Qualifications in one country doesn't always mean they will be recognized in the US either btw.

[Fandango 1,439]

Surely a flight has to be cheaper than retaining an attorney though?

Best of luck OP

[homesick_american 1]

I don't get why he can't just visit America.

[rebeccajo 14]

Because he probably can't get a visitors visa.

[Marc and Olga 0]

I agree with this, and I agree with the government for not issuing immigrant visas to people who haven't met. I'm sorry, but that's the honest truth.

While I agree with this in theory, I discount statements like these from people who file for SO's in European countries--especially the UK--as it's so easy--both in time of flight and cost of air fare--for Europeans to travel to the US or vice versa. It's NOT so easy for people from some other far off countries.

Nevertheless, I do agree with the underlying thought. I also believe people getting married should meet in person before getting engaged.

That doesn't even apply to our situation. I met my husband face to face in 1997, we were engaged and married in 2001, and I have been living in the UK since then. It has been an incredible hardship. I would never have the cheek to apply for a visa for someone I'd never met; I'd just expect them to deny it.

As for traveling to Egypt...if you can get to Europe, you can get to Egypt. It's so dirt cheap to fly there from here these days that there's not much of an excuse for it financially.

My ticket to Pakistan cost 1900.00

is this chump change?

WHOA! I though my $1700 ticket to Russia was steep!

And Rebeccajo is probably correct, it is very difficult to get a visitor's visa from most countries, the person applying must have some VERY STRONG ties to their home country to prove they are not intending on immigrating.

As for the OP, if it is the trip to meet in person, then what about the trip makes it a hardship? Cost of travel, I would imagine it would be about the same as the lawyer, I saved 6 months for my trip.

Fear of flying, well many do have that fear, I suspect it would take an awful lot to prove that you could not get over this fear, but for your love, do you not think it is worth even a try?

I do not mean to seem harsh but there is a saying, "Love conquers all" not "love conquers all but fear".

I love to fly but I always saw the 747s and thought to myself, I could NEVER fly in one of those (they scare me to pieces...since then I have and enjoyed it very much, well going anyway!

[Together4ever 1]

So the usual judgemental VJ crud has taken over yet another thread. Its so easy when it's NOT YOU, isn't it? But hey, makes a person all feel snuggly warm that he/she are always better in their views then some poor sod who obviously has no clue, eh?

We're all adults on this board, we've all been through so many scenarios in our minds. What works for one may not for another for whatever reason isn't even any of our business, so all the hot air is just ego stroking and not advice giving as you may like to label it. Folks suffer enough stress and anxiety in this process without this fluff. It's a shame really. All the helpful information gets lost in the inevitable muck.

(flame away... as is the VJ style.)