I-129F How we met question

[Kineo 93]

Greetings All!

My first question here as we start our I-128F process. My fiancee and I met through the web site "personals.ru". She asked if we should fill out question 19 or would it be appropriate to just enter our story under 18. My first thought is this site is not a "marriage broker", so 18 should be fine. Thoughts?

TIA - Eric

[X Factor 1,112]

Just write down how you met in the Ukraine - that is the date and time and circumstances when you visited her. And yes this site is not a "marriage broker".

[revtech100 16]

Just write down how you met in the Ukraine - that is the date and time and circumstances when you visited her. And yes this site is not a "marriage broker".

It's not a broker site.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I disagree. "How you met" means how you came to know eachother. In the world of internet dating, this confuses people, but they don't want to know the circumstances of your meeting in person for that question (though they do elsewhere). I mean, if someone asks you, "How did you meet your girlfriend?" you don't reply "I went to visit her in Ukraine." The person asking is asking something else. Say how you met on the internet, and what site it was. If it's not a marriage broker, even simpler.

[EminTX 131]

From my understanding, a "marriage broker" is a business that introduces people for the sole purpose of getting married.

Internet dating sites are for meeting people.

In my husband's (then fiance's) interview, he was directly asked how me met. He told the person that it was a website named "SharedTalk". He was then asked what that is. He explained its purpose and the interviewer said, "What's that site again?" and then wrote it on a page in her notepad and tucked that paper in her pocket (apparently interested in its purpose).

So many people here making the visa journey have met online that it is not a surprise to anybody except maybe your parents. Don't fret about it a bit.

[L+T 71]

From my understanding, a "marriage broker" is a business that introduces people for the sole purpose of getting married.

Internet dating sites are for meeting people.

In my husband's (then fiance's) interview, he was directly asked how me met. He told the person that it was a website named "SharedTalk". He was then asked what that is. He explained its purpose and the interviewer said, "What's that site again?" and then wrote it on a page in her notepad and tucked that paper in her pocket (apparently interested in its purpose).

So many people here making the visa journey have met online that it is not a surprise to anybody except maybe your parents. Don't fret about it a bit.

They define marriage broker as a site which does not offer same services for same pay. For example, facebook is not marriage broker. But if a site allows the foreign women or men on for free or little fee, and the USC pays a hefty fee to use the service, this is different treatment for each party and would be considered a broker. So either it is free for all, or both pay the same fee to NOT be a broker.

Having said that, it really doesn't matter if it is a broker or facebook, you simply disclose it.

Edited June 18, 2012 by L+T

[highlander08 9]

So is there a difference with how people are treated by uscis or any other problems with immigration based on meeting through a marriage broker versus a chat site, ect...

[Mogambi 96]

I think the suspicion is higher with a marriage broker.

[joyandherb 0]

I am trying to help our son and his fiancee with the K1 process. He is with the US Army and as we all know, a soldier doesn't just get to say 'bye bye, i'm leaving to go to Thailand to visit a lady i am in a relationship with'... (they met in 2004 and have been friends since that time. About 9 mo ago, the relationship took on a romantic tone.)

In the process of applying for the K1 visa, a couple must show they have met in person during the past 2 years. Since our son has been deployed since July 2011, there has been no opportunity to visit her in Thailand.

The question: does anyone know of a way to get a waiver for that "rule" about a personal meeting within 2 years of applying?

[baron555 934]

I disagree. "How you met" means how you came to know eachother. In the world of internet dating, this confuses people, but they don't want to know the circumstances of your meeting in person for that question (though they do elsewhere). I mean, if someone asks you, "How did you meet your girlfriend?" you don't reply "I went to visit her in Ukraine." The person asking is asking something else. Say how you met on the internet, and what site it was. If it's not a marriage broker, even simpler.

This is incorrect advise. They want you to detail, using two sentences, how you met......to satisfy the having met in person within the last two years prior to the filing. Not how you met the first time but how you met, at least once, in person, within the last two years.

I answered both questions anyway with my two sentences. The first described how we met and the second sentences detailed the dates that we met in person.

[Mogambi 96]

This is incorrect advise. They want you to detail, using two sentences, how you met......to satisfy the having met in person within the last two years prior to the filing. Not how you met the first time but how you met, at least once, in person, within the last two years.

I answered both questions anyway with my two sentences. The first described how we met and the second sentences detailed the dates that we met in person.

Actually your advice is wrong. The 'how did you meet' CLEARLY means how did you come to know each other, under what circumstances were you introduced to each other. Think about it. The next question asks about your meeting in person! Why would they ask you the same question twice.

Met = Introduction in this case. So you would simply say 'we met on website _____' or 'I was traveling in Thailand and she was working in restaurant there'.

The NEXT question is where you describe your meeting in person!

I mean, honestly, if you answered both questions with the SAME ANSWER, then clearly you're misunderstanding one of the question. Why would they ask two questions expecting the same answer?

You're wrong. That's all there is to it.

Not saying it would get you an RFE or anything, you're wrong

[baron555 934]

Actually your advice is wrong. The 'how did you meet' CLEARLY means how did you come to know each other, under what circumstances were you introduced to each other. Think about it. The next question asks about your meeting in person! Why would they ask you the same question twice.

Met = Introduction in this case. So you would simply say 'we met on website _____' or 'I was traveling in Thailand and she was working in restaurant there'.

The NEXT question is where you describe your meeting in person!

I mean, honestly, if you answered both questions with the SAME ANSWER, then clearly you're misunderstanding one of the question. Why would they ask two questions expecting the same answer?

You're wrong. That's all there is to it.

Not saying it would get you an RFE or anything, you're wrong

OK Hot Shot, let's examine the actual wording of the form....why don't we all?!!

18. Has your fiance met and seen you within a two year period immediately preceeding the filing of this petition?

Yes or No

Seems like they want you to answer did you meet in person or not?

Then in the verbiage that follows:

Describe the circumstances under which you met. If you have not personally met each other, explain how the relationship was established.

So it seems clear to me they are only really interested in how/when you met in person and saw each other within two years prior to the filing. Many of us also include how we met originally is that was not in person and then met in person later after the initial meeting.

[Stu4Lee 66]

Actually your advice is wrong. The 'how did you meet' CLEARLY means how did you come to know each other, under what circumstances were you introduced to each other. Think about it. The next question asks about your meeting in person! Why would they ask you the same question twice.

Met = Introduction in this case. So you would simply say 'we met on website _____' or 'I was traveling in Thailand and she was working in restaurant there'.

The NEXT question is where you describe your meeting in person!

I mean, honestly, if you answered both questions with the SAME ANSWER, then clearly you're misunderstanding one of the question. Why would they ask two questions expecting the same answer?

You're wrong. That's all there is to it.

Oh dear, if only that were the case.

It's actually spot on advice

[Brad and Vika 129]

OK Hot Shot, let's examine the actual wording of the form....why don't we all?!!

18. Has your fiance met and seen you within a two year period immediately preceeding the filing of this petition?

Yes or No

Seems like they want you to answer did you meet in person or not?

Then in the verbiage that follows:

Describe the circumstances under which you met. If you have not personally met each other, explain how the relationship was established.

So it seems clear to me they are only really interested in how/when you met in person and saw each other within two years prior to the filing. Many of us also include how we met originally is that was not in person and then met in person later after the initial meeting.

Interesting. I never really thought about it like that, as we met face-to-face the first time. Reading the form, it seems to me that "describe the circumstances under which you met" is pretty open ended. If you met online, why wouldn't you just say so? If the site was not a broker (and thus no IMBRA issue), you would just answer no to question 19.