Short Relationship duration?

[slowlyman 118]

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm a little weary at the moment because it's the consulate in Cambodia which is a country that is deemed a high risk for fraud. I went to a lawyer's office that specializes in Cambodian K-1 and saw the approval rate going from 96% in 2007 (1340 processed cases) to 63% in 2013 (361 processed cases).

My evidence that I have so far are:

• Daily text messages - we usually talk for an hour from 9am to 10am
• Skype - we skype every Saturday and Sunday for an hour a day

I plan on sending her a post card and a stuff animal to her. Hopefully these will help for evidence.

And finally, I plan on having a engagment ceremony with lots pictures along with pictures of us being doing other activities together when I visit her for 2 weeks in May.

I can't say i'm very confident due to the plummeting approval rate and thinking about steps to take if it does get denied.

STOP, STOP STOP. The Engagement ceremony. You will put yourself under additional scrutiny if you come in with photos of a ceremony. Marriage ceremonies look just like the engagement. Get advise from your portal, but my advise. Absolutely do not have a engagement ceremony.

Edited March 9, 2014 by slowlyman

[SparklePony 238]

I agree that this might be a tough one to get by regarding your particular embassy. Some countries are much more relaxed about this - others, not so much. Why the rush in getting the visa right after your visit? That would be a red flag, in my opinion.

[slowlyman 118]

Does anyone know if a short relationship duration will have a negative impact for applying for K1? I'm began talk to my fiance beganing Feb 1st through Skype (every weekend) and text messages (daily) and plan on going to Cambodia for 2 weeks (in May) to see her and have a engagement ceremony. I plan on filing shortly thereafter in June for the K1 visa. Would the span of 4 months (Feb, Mar, Apr, May) be suffiient to obstain a visa? Is a longer better and is there a "sweet spot"?

I appreciate any help! Thanks!

There is no sweet spot. You need to convince the consulate you have a real and honest relationship. Can you meet that burden having met one time and known each other only 4 months?

Unrelated to your question, but the K-1 should not be viewed as a test drive. The process is more difficult and more expensive then you can possibly imagine. You both need to be really sure before you start the process. Spend some time here on VJ and you'll see many relationships that ended half way though the process or shortly after arrival in the US.

If you are really sure and want the most bullet proof path to the US. Marry her when you visit and file for the CR-1 spouse visa.

[AboveBeyond 1]

STOP, STOP STOP. The Engagement ceremony. You will put yourself under additional scrutiny if you come in with photos of a ceremony. Marriage ceremonies look just like the engagement. Get advise from your portal, but my advise. Absolutely do not have a engagement ceremony.

This is contrary to what i've been told. What's your reasoning? Engagement ceremonies are customary in Cambodia, so I doubt it will have a negative conotation. In fact, probably the opposite if I provide evidence without a engagement ceremony pictures.

[slowlyman 118]

This is contrary to what i've been told. What's your reasoning? Engagement ceremonies are customary in Cambodia, so I doubt it will have a negative conotation. In fact, probably the opposite if I provide evidence without a engagement ceremony pictures.

Your call, You seem to have experience with the K-1 process. But do have a discussion on your portal.

[Tina and Johan 206]

This is contrary to what I've been told. What's your reasoning? Engagement ceremonies are customary in Cambodia, so I doubt it will have a negative connotation. In fact, probably the opposite if I provide evidence without a engagement ceremony pictures.

I don't have personal experience with this, but I've already seen plenty of couples on here who have had such ceremonies, then are deemed "too married" by their local embassy, and "not married enough" by the US gov't, so they then have to get married (legally) in the fiance's home country and begin the visa process again as a married couple. The burden would be on YOU, the couple, to prove that the ceremony you have pictures of isn't considered a marriage in that country. In some countries, it isn't required to have legal documentation like it is here to be "married."

[Mon413 3]

I had a engagement ceremony at the interview the co ask to seen tha picture so I recommend getting one

[myzelegance 0]

Wow this is very helpful as i was discourage because i met my fiance online Dec 2013 and we met in person April 2014 and filed at the end of May...and i have been digging around trying to figure out is this too soon to file so i came across this forum and it has helped me alot. My spirits are lifted once again .

[CowBoE 429]

Wow this is very helpful as i was discourage because i met my fiance online Dec 2013 and we met in person April 2014 and filed at the end of May...and i have been digging around trying to figure out is this too soon to file so i came across this forum and it has helped me alot. My spirits are lifted once again .

We met Oct 4, 2013 on online.

I visited her for 2 weeks over Thanksgiving break.

And in just 10 weeks, I filed for I-129F on Dec 16.

Of course, we communicated one or more times every single day

since we've met until now, which has been about 9.5 months.

Your meeting duration should be just fine.

[JIJourney 96]

Get to know each other more than file. We recommend withdrawing your petition so you can gather more evidence of a genuine relationship

[Tina and Johan 206]

Get to know each other more than file. We recommend withdrawing your petition so you can gather more evidence of a genuine relationship

"We" who? Their relationship timeline can be just fine. I met my fiancé online early October, met in person end of December, filed February 1st, and it was approved no problem. He moves here next Friday. No need for them to withdrawal their petition if it was indeed filed in June.

[MUXAGIRL 69]

USCIS is a softie when it comes to approving petitions, they approve more than 90% of the petitions they receive. So, you might get through or get RFE, but eventually most likely they will aprrove. It is advisable to have few more personal visits and strengthen your bond before your fiancé reaches her consular interview. They do look for a bonafide relationship and you need to have lots of evidence, particularly when the relationship is so short.

I am not judging you here, but how did you decide to propose to a person you have only communicated trough Skype?

[CowBoE 429]

Get to know each other more than file. We recommend withdrawing your petition so you can gather more evidence of a genuine relationship

I think most posts disagree with you, so where is this "We" coming from? LOL