Confounded

[twofors 30]

As someone who was once in your shoes of having met someone on line and having no money to travel I can say I completely understand. I was in a relationship for 4 years with a Peruvian before I was financially able to travel so we could meet in person. My fiance had his own business selling promotional items to businesses (like hats with company logos -that type of thing). So to help offset the cost of travel I found items that he could use to promote his business and make more money. My fiance also found addtional work outside his regular job by making use of skills he obtained with a long time hobby. I learned to be better at saving money and finding odd jobs to earn extra cash for the trips. My job requires me to be on call 24/7, but sometimes you have to simply tell people you have a life too. He was eventually able to obtain a tourist visa to the USA and he visted me here 4 times. We met once more in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in an all inclusive resort that was very reasonable. I sent out my fiance packet in October and we are still waiting for an answer. If you really want this to work you will find a way like we did. I just never thought I would ever travel outside the USA. And less to meet someone. But it happened. And it has opened up a world I never thought possible.

[ThomVIII 3]

There is no getting around it -- you MUST meet in person before you can apply for a K1 visa. It's not just good common sense, it is an actual requirement by USCIS. You're going to have to find some way to put aside money to fund a trip to see her, or vice versa (if she can get a tourist visa). Getting a work visa to work in your gallery is probably going to be impossible -- why can't you hire someone within the US who is already work authorised? Also, your real intent is to get her in the country so you can marry her -- her working in your gallery is incidental. You're setting yourself up for a material misrepresentation claim.

Put a little aside every month, even if it takes months to save up. She's worth it, right?

Common sense advice in a kind spirit. Thanks! I think you are right, saving up has already begun. Was just hoping for a 'magic bullet' that would expedite this process. ( Speaking of bullets...Julie Andrews with dual machine guns... Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Don't you just love how the

Von Trapp family defied the 'Powers That Be' of their time, and escaped the tentacles of Hitler based on adherence to higher principles?! )

[ThomVIII 3]

The cost of visiting Mexico isn't expensive in comparison to most other countries. If you can't afford to visit even once, how can you afford to pay for the visa process and to pay for her to travel here to the U.S.?

Step aside from your emotions and use your intellect. Meeting in person and spending time together is the most rational thing to do, even if it wasn't a requirement for the visa.

Thank you for this kind advice.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

As someone who was once in your shoes of having met someone on line and having no money to travel I can say I completely understand. I was in a relationship for 4 years with a Peruvian before I was financially able to travel so we could meet in person. My fiance had his own business selling promotional items to businesses (like hats with company logos -that type of thing). So to help offset the cost of travel I found items that he could use to promote his business and make more money. My fiance also found addtional work outside his regular job by making use of skills he obtained with a long time hobby. I learned to be better at saving money and finding odd jobs to earn extra cash for the trips. My job requires me to be on call 24/7, but sometimes you have to simply tell people you have a life too. He was eventually able to obtain a tourist visa to the USA and he visted me here 4 times. We met once more in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in an all inclusive resort that was very reasonable. I sent out my fiance packet in October and we are still waiting for an answer. If you really want this to work you will find a way like we did. I just never thought I would ever travel outside the USA. And less to meet someone. But it happened. And it has opened up a world I never thought possible.

Your Case is taking abnormally long. Have you filed a SR yet?

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

I want to say, don't rush this. Spend at least 6 months to a year chatting, emailing, skyping and texting. You will need this kind of evidence also when you begin your petition. During that time getting to know her more, you can save for a trip to Mexico and fulfill the meeting requirement.

That's what I did. In one year I collected alot of communication data and saved for a nice 2.5 week trip to Singapore to meet my fiancee, now wife.

Good luck!

[ryna 132]

The having met in person at least once within the last 2 years is a non-negotiable K-1 requirement of USCIS. They ONLY grant exceptions when it is traditionally NOT permitted that the husband and wife meet prior to marriage, which is not a tradition in either the US or Mexico, so that is out.

That said, you are in Texas. She is in Mexico. I know they are both large but they also share a border. Hop in a car, bus, etc. and get down there for a (long) weekend. She may have to travel to her side of the border as well, but you got to do what you got to do, right? I know it's not free but you can scrape up a couple hundred dollars, right? Even after meeting the requirement to have met in person, as someone else mentioned, this process ain't cheap! About $2500 so far in our case, USCIS/Visa fees ONLY (not including travel costs).

You'll find a way...

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Thank you for your interest. She and I have discussed the option of her coming on a tourist visa and may pursue it. We also discussed marrying in Mexico and her living with me for 6 months during the waiting period on a tourist visa. Then back to Mexico until the green card comes. But then as these options unfold so does the money needed for all of that pile up.

As far as being able to sponsor, I think my regular job will slide in under the wire having looked at the charts on the USCIS web-site. I do not know how the Gallery will perform as to income nor whether the USCIS will even consider it as a liability or an asset. Also don't know if they will consider her rent income from Mexico.

Not meaning any disrespect as another vet has accused me of, but the whole process does not seem to favor the poor. By it's very nature it appears to be discriminatory towards people with less income. Whereas adjustments and simplifications to the entire process ( note* these are aspirations for betterment, not complaining for the sake of being disrespectful) would certainly be more equitable, and certainly more congruent with the spirit of the U.S. Constitution.

You're right. It does not favor the poor at all. That said, there is no discrimination. When you take on someone from another country, essentially they are your dependent. If you cannot afford a dependent, the government won't allow you to have one because then the rest of us would have to pay for it. And no disrespect to you, but I have enough on my plate & do not want to take on everyone else's dependents any more than I'm already responsible for under law.

Edit: You can't do any of this if you have no money. It's not like getting a college education, where even the brokest (yes I did say brokest) in society can find money for it through programs. With this, if you're poor, you can't do it. You'd have to look for another arrangement entirely.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Marco&Bettina

[twofors 30]

Marco&Bettina

Your Case is taking abnormally long. Have you filed a SR yet?

Yes, filed and they answered. Boiler plate answer. "Your petition has been put on hold pending completion of security checks." Another VJ member got the same response from their service request and they were an October 2013 filer also. Just nonsense. Waiting for the 7 months as was indicted by the tier 2 officer I spoke to - if no response I am going to my congressmen.

Edited April 25, 2014 by twofors

[ThomVIII 3]

I hear you about the bible account. That said, this is the year 2014 & your body happens to reside in the United States of America, where there are rules. And if you want to marry someone who is not already legally inside the United States of America, then you must play their game. And rule #1 for K-1 is must have met in person. It's fine if your faith transcends bonds of flesh. But your own flesh is bound by law to meet certain requirements. No one in the forum can change that. We just speak from experience.

Thank you for your candor and pragmatism. I totally agree this is a "game" contrived by the U.S. government to garner money. If "In God We Trust" were a fact in 2014, then God's method for uniting two spiritual people would still stand. In the mean time I will play by their "rules" while at the same time excercise my 1st ammendnemt rights under the same government to advocate change and simplification. In the long run I am comforted by the fact that Daniel 2:44 will come to pass and no longer will two people be denied each other's company to satisfy an unduly exasperating bureaucratic contraption.

[ThomVIII 3]

I want to say, don't rush this. Spend at least 6 months to a year chatting, emailing, skyping and texting. You will need this kind of evidence also when you begin your petition. During that time getting to know her more, you can save for a trip to Mexico and fulfill the meeting requirement.

That's what I did. In one year I collected alot of communication data and saved for a nice 2.5 week trip to Singapore to meet my fiancee, now wife.

Good luck!

Thanks so much. Kind advice well taken.

[ThomVIII 3]

You're right. It does not favor the poor at all. That said, there is no discrimination. When you take on someone from another country, essentially they are your dependent. If you cannot afford a dependent, the government won't allow you to have one because then the rest of us would have to pay for it. And no disrespect to you, but I have enough on my plate & do not want to take on everyone else's dependents any more than I'm already responsible for under law.

Edit: You can't do any of this if you have no money. It's not like getting a college education, where even the brokest (yes I did say brokest) in society can find money for it through programs. With this, if you're poor, you can't do it. You'd have to look for another arrangement entirely.

Again, thanks for your pragmatism. Certainly not planning on going on any kind of government dole. Will more likely be contributing to the community and economy through our efforts with the Gallery. Nonetheless, it reinforces to me how much better God is as ruler than man. Gleaning was a law in Early Israel inacted by God's concern and consideration for the poor. Through that arrangement Ruth, herself an impoverished gleaner, was raised from her poverty by her husband and re-purchaser Boaz. By extension mankind was saved through their descendant, Christ Jesus.

[ThomVIII 3]

As someone who was once in your shoes of having met someone on line and having no money to travel I can say I completely understand. I was in a relationship for 4 years with a Peruvian before I was financially able to travel so we could meet in person. My fiance had his own business selling promotional items to businesses (like hats with company logos -that type of thing). So to help offset the cost of travel I found items that he could use to promote his business and make more money. My fiance also found addtional work outside his regular job by making use of skills he obtained with a long time hobby. I learned to be better at saving money and finding odd jobs to earn extra cash for the trips. My job requires me to be on call 24/7, but sometimes you have to simply tell people you have a life too. He was eventually able to obtain a tourist visa to the USA and he visted me here 4 times. We met once more in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in an all inclusive resort that was very reasonable. I sent out my fiance packet in October and we are still waiting for an answer. If you really want this to work you will find a way like we did. I just never thought I would ever travel outside the USA. And less to meet someone. But it happened. And it has opened up a world I never thought possible.

Thanks, and congratulations! This is exactly the kind of advice from personal experience that I was hoping to find.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Sorry to tell you that the God doesn't approve petition or issue visa.

Back to the reality world, to see if you meet the poverty guidelines to sponsor your potential fiancee & step daughter.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf

[twofors 30]

Thanks, and congratulations! This is exactly the kind of advice from personal experience that I was hoping to find.

I can truly say that it was 100% worth all the effort! Love is always the answer and with God's help you will find a way.

[Zee Zee 23]

Thank you for your interest. She and I have discussed the option of her coming on a tourist visa and may pursue it. We also discussed marrying in Mexico and her living with me for 6 months during the waiting period on a tourist visa. Then back to Mexico until the green card comes. But then as these options unfold so does the money needed for all of that pile up.

As far as being able to sponsor, I think my regular job will slide in under the wire having looked at the charts on the USCIS web-site. I do not know how the Gallery will perform as to income nor whether the USCIS will even consider it as a liability or an asset. Also don't know if they will consider her rent income from Mexico.

Not meaning any disrespect as another vet has accused me of, but the whole process does not seem to favor the poor. By it's very nature it appears to be discriminatory towards people with less income. Whereas adjustments and simplifications to the entire process ( note* these are aspirations for betterment, not complaining for the sake of being disrespectful) would certainly be more equitable, and certainly more congruent with the spirit of the U.S. Constitution.

I know what you mean. Sadly, the spirit of "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" is no longer here...

If I remember well, I-864 has a field in one of the sections (7 or something) for the assets of the sponsored immigrant, so - value of the asset you can count in (proportionally), but not the rent income, pension or any other income (assuming that if she sells the asset, there will be no income, and other income will cease once she moves here...).

Z