Not seeing each other's effect on interview decision?

[RosaMystica7 0]

Say my fiance has his interview in February, that'll have been 14 months since we last saw each other in person. It's been hard as heck but we're stashing away every cent that we can to help with all the expenses we'll have when he moves here. It's at the point where another 3 months is nothing compared to the 11 we've just gone through. Not that it's not hard, just that we know we'll get through it and we'll appreciate it later when we've got a few hundred extra dollars in the bank when we're getting an apartment, flying him and his stuff here, etc.

But would it give the person interviewing him a reason to doubt the validity of our relationship? If he were from a high fraud country I'd say most likely... but... he's from France, that's not a high fraud country. So I'm not sure if I'm just thinking too much like I usually do. I can't think too much about the petition as it's in VSC's hands so now I'm thinking about other things. But I guess to a person looking in from the outside "Why haven't you seen each other in over a year?" could be a viable question... and "we wanted to save our money" could lead to them doubting me as his sole sponsor... so... hmm.

Edited December 3, 2006 by Angilla

[RosaMystica7 0]

Oh - I should've worded the title differently, too late to fix that now. We HAVE seen each other within the last 2 years, so we meet the requirement for the I-129F.

Edited December 3, 2006 by Angilla

[sunandmoon 450]

I'm going thru Manila where high fraud is a factor. I've seen many approved with the timeframe you mentioned. in such a situation, you just need to prove it is a genuine, ongoing relationship. you can provide evidence like an updated letter of intent, snail smails, emails phone records etc...

[aussiewench 9]

Angilla

Many of us have been or were apart for similar time frames with no ill effects. However there are cases whereby the application for a visa has been denied. I would recommend emailing or faxing the consulate to request an extension of the petition once it is approved if it looks like the interview will fall after the validity date of the petition as noted on the NOA2. Also include another 'Letter of Intent'. That way they at least can't use the expiration of the petition to deny. I wouldn't worry too much as most seem to be extended automatically. Better to be safe then sorry though.

Edited December 3, 2006 by aussiewench

[RosaMystica7 0]

I'm going thru Manila where high fraud is a factor. I've seen many approved with the timeframe you mentioned. in such a situation, you just need to prove it is a genuine, ongoing relationship. you can provide evidence like an updated letter of intent, snail smails, emails phone records etc...

Okay, phew. If people did it in Manila then we'll be fine with Paris. Thanks! We plan on writing snail mail letters back and forth and saving the envelopes (stamps/return address/postmark) even though we talk on the phone and internet every day. I've got all our MSN archives saved and we've both been saving our phone bills. Good idea with the updated letters of intent. I might as well use my thinking too much on gathering evidence for the interview, put it towards good use. At this rate I may as well buy a binder and organize it all for him. But seriously, if I were an adjudicating officer I'd ask why two people in love hadn't seen each other face-to-face in 14 months... but in that case some passport stamps, photos, and hotel reciepts wouldn't prove to me that they met in person, either! So let's all be glad I don't work for the USCIS!

Angilla

Many of us have been or were apart for similar time frames with no ill effects. However there are cases whereby the application for a visa has been denied. I would recommend emailing or faxing the consulate to request an extension of the petition once it is approved if it looks like the interview will fall after the validity date of the petition as noted on the NOA2. Also include another 'Letter of Intent'. That way they at least can't use the expiration of the petition to deny. I wouldn't worry too much as most seem to be extended automatically. Better to be safe then sorry though.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on the expiration date when we get the NOA2! (I'm NOT gonna say if we get the NOA2, I'm saying when! )

[TucsonBill 0]

I'd send a letter post marked close to the date of his interview, explaing how much you'd like to be there but that you are trying to save money for the wedding and trip to the US etc and confirm your intent to marry within 90 days of him entering the US.

I'd have him take a TON of emails and printed pages of chat logs (try to just print pages that dont have too much personal information of course). Recipts for phone cards purchased, post marked envelopes of snail mail, receipts for gifts purchased... anthing you can think of or lay your hands on that shows the continuing relationship.

Maybe a screen shot of the two of you chatting on webcam.

(just my two cents)

Bill

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I would recommend running with the suggestions of Aussiewench (always a good advisor as far as I can see) and not worry too much that you have not been able to travel to France since filing the petion.

We can't all afford to jet set across the globe because USCIS is slower than molasses in January!

Good luck, and don't worry too much about the lack of a visit since filing, USCIS should be ashamed, not you be worried... Just my thought on the matter!

[jsnearline 2]

After my K1 petition was approved, I made a trip to Manila to see my fiancee. Sure I thought it might help our case, but more than that, we just really missed each other. I had the Affidavit of Support notarized at the US Embassy while I was there. My fiancee ended up having her interview three weeks later. If we'd known it would have been so soon, I think I would have done it anyway, just because it was so good to see each other again. It made our last month of being apart more bearable.

I don't think you have to do it, but it sure can't hurt. I wouldn't break the bank doing it. Still sometimes you can get good deals to Paris this time of year.

Edited December 4, 2006 by jsnearline

[bora bora 1]

My fiance and I have been apart for a bit over 4 months now and although we'd love to spend our 3rd Christmas/New Years together we'll be saving that money so I can go on the interview with him. I think your situation is completely normal.

It's nice to be reminded that we still need to prove our relationship and I'll bring our copies of snail mail letters and MSN convos along with emails and pictures with us.

Thanks!

[SoL. 0]

Angilla,

I have not seen my fiancé since June that I visited him on NL and won't see him until he gets his visa approved and comes to the US. We thought that the best was to save that $ for the upcoming expenses (as this process can drain your pockets + the plane ticket)...

Our initial plan was for him to visit on Christmas, as every year, but we will pass this time. So for his interview, since we have not seen each other after the petition was submitted, he'll bring the phonebills and some snail mail letters and emails to his interview as evidence in case they ask.

Wish you both good luck and hope you get your NOA2 very soon!

edi :energetic: