Meeting within 2 years requirement.

[WestWolf 0]

I am aware that the petitioner and the benificiary are required to have met within 2 years before filing for a petition. I'd like to know if there is anyone who personally knows of a case where someone filed just a few days outside of the 2 year requirement, and what the result was (approved or denied).

Thanks in advance.

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

Denied, if it is outside 2011-2013 timeframe.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Pinkrlion

[WestWolf 0]

Do you mean that between 2011 and 2013 you have seen denials and not successes? Or am I misreading?

As an addendum, I'm specifically interested in cases where there was a marginal gap between filing and a meeting after filing.

The VisaJourney community consistently states that is is impossible to be accepted, Tier 2 USCIS personnel consistently state that (with no guarantee) it is possible and indicate

I'm aware that a lot of things get parroted on forums until something becomes something that even the newest members "know", but I'm equally aware that public servants don't necessarily care about anything more than getting you off the phone as quickly as possible, hence the interest in cases that people have personally seen cross the forums (or otherwise been informed of by someone actually involved).

Edited June 4, 2013 by WestWolf

[Boiler 46,276]

Never seen a case, it is black and white.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

I know of no such case.

Just to repeat what I said once before... they are strict about the main requirements of being free to marry and meeting face-to-face within the 2 years prior to filing the I-129F. Even one day outside the 2 years is too late and does not meet the requirement. You can risk it if you like and wait months to see if you if you are granted some special exception for only being a few days late, or you can withdraw now and refile using a meeting that does meet the form requirement. It is totally up to you. My advice is to withdraw and refile following the guide here on VJ and all the form requirements.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Jay-Kay

[Bugs 455]

There was one person who posted a few days ago that was approved despite the last visit being a few days outside of the 2 year requirement. However, it was because she was able to demonstrate extreme hardship in not visiting since then, not simply because it was only a few days removed. But it is extremely rare to get approved on such a waiver, as the other posters on here have demonstrated.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Leon & Mylen

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

There was one person who posted a few days ago that was approved despite the last visit being a few days outside of the 2 year requirement. However, it was because she was able to demonstrate extreme hardship in not visiting since then, not simply because it was only a few days removed. But it is extremely rare to get approved on such a waiver, as the other posters on here have demonstrated.

What is the link to that post? I am interested in reading it since getting a hardship waiver for the I-129F meeting requirement is very difficult to do.

[Bugs 455]

What is the link to that post? I am interested in reading it since getting a hardship waiver for the I-129F meeting requirement is very difficult to do.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/433405-omgggg-i-couldnt-believe-our-i-129f-approveedd/?p=6263181

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/433405-omgggg-i-couldnt-believe-our-i-129f-approveedd/?p=6263181

Thank you

[Bugs 455]

Thank you

No problem. I was surprised too, when I saw it, but happy for them.

[WestWolf 0]

There was one person who posted a few days ago that was approved despite the last visit being a few days outside of the 2 year requirement. However, it was because she was able to demonstrate extreme hardship in not visiting since then, not simply because it was only a few days removed. But it is extremely rare to get approved on such a waiver, as the other posters on here have demonstrated.

That's the thing; you're the only poster I've ever seen demonstrate anything (and I've spent hours trawling for relevant threads on VJ and other places). The only failure threads I can find are "I submitted a petition and hoped that they wouldn't notice I hadn't seen my fiance in 2 years", which is different from "I saw I was going to suffer a delay, called USCIS before the end of the window, was advised to file after the window had closed and follow up with additional documentation".

To be clear, I'm sure as hell not trying to debate the issue or demand that anyone spend time trying to prove something to me. I just know how these things go and that a group of people are very capable of "knowing" something because everyone else "knows" it and for no other reason.

I'll have to check out the other thread and see if anything applies...

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

Someone posted a link a while ago to USCIS documents of approved and denied waivers (not just for meeting requirements). I read through those and found one approved and many, many denied ones for the meeting requirement; the approved one was for never meeting, due to strong religious beliefs. Can't find the link now, it was about a year ago I think.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Penguin_ie

[Boiler 46,276]

I saw that thread about Jordan and could not help but think a mistake was made that may well be corrected.

Also there are so many issues with that case I could not help but think there will be a very long road ahead.

[Felicity3355 2]

I think it varies from country to country

Edited June 4, 2013 by Nightflyer

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Me and my fiancé have first talked and meet within 4 months only then filed for the visa, but never had problem so far with USCIS. But we communicate every single day til now and have met in person 3x already while waiting from USCIS. So i think the 2 year requirement varies from country to country only.

It does not vary and you misunderstand the requirement. You satisfied the requirement.