How do I even begin?? Please help I'm feeling hopeless

[ChristymH 0]

Hello, I am a new member to this site and must say I am feeling a bit overwhelmed reading all the various posts. So I could use some help please.

My story is that my fiance (although we are not officially engaged yet) want to get married and bring my fiancee from Egypt to where I live in the US. We have known each other for 4 yrs. and have never actually met yet. And due to circumstances that are making it difficult for me to go visit him in Egypt, I did not know if there was anything at all I could do now to help start the process?

I know having proof of our relationship is major, we have plenty of emails, and conversations though various social media sites, but I know without having pictures of us together, the chance of him being approved to come to the US is very slim.

I didn't know if there was anyway I could start the process now? Even without having pictures of us together.

If anyone could shed even a little light on the topic for me, I would appreciate it beyond belief!

I am also open to any suggestions anyone may have as I am beginning to feel hopeless.

Thank you~

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Welcome to VJ.

It is a requirement to have met in person within the last 2 years before filing the petition.
If you can't meet in Egypt perhaps you can both meet in another country.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

One of the requirements is that you MUST have met in person in the last 2 years before you can file. The fact that it is not convenient doesn't matter. For most of us it was difficult going to another country, arranging vacation and paying for tickets and hotel. If you don't meet you will not be able to file a petition. There are rare cases that bypass that where the people can NOT fly or leave the country. ( Think being hooked up to a respirator 24/7 rare ) You can spend hundreds of thousands of hours on Skype or Facebook or the phone and you still need to meet. Thinking you know someone well enough to marry without ever having met is not good. People in person are different than online. They may snore, fart, smell bad ( or any other bad habit ) and you won't know

[ChristymH 0]

Thank you both for the information. So lets say I am able to go to Egypt at the end of May (God willing), would we be able to file the papers after that then?

[Jo Së 200]

Thank you both for the information. So lets say I am able to go to Egypt at the end of May (God willing), would we be able to file the papers after that then?

Yes, upon return you can submit the petition packet. Make sure to keep boarding tickets for all flights, take pictures of both of you together, and make copies of stamps on passport. The more evidence the better.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Thank you both for the information. So lets say I am able to go to Egypt at the end of May (God willing), would we be able to file the papers after that then?

Yes you can. As mentioned collect as much relationship evidence there as you can.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Ebunoluwa

[LionessDeon 2,060]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Read up on what you will need before you go to visit!

Best of Luck!

[Zedayn 485]

You cannot start the process until you meet in person. Once you have finally met, you can start the process whenever you are ready.

[baron555 934]

Hello, I am a new member to this site and must say I am feeling a bit overwhelmed reading all the various posts. So I could use some help please.

My story is that my fiance (although we are not officially engaged yet) want to get married and bring my fiancee from Egypt to where I live in the US. We have known each other for 4 yrs. and have never actually met yet. And due to circumstances that are making it difficult for me to go visit him in Egypt, I did not know if there was anything at all I could do now to help start the process?

I know having proof of our relationship is major, we have plenty of emails, and conversations though various social media sites, but I know without having pictures of us together, the chance of him being approved to come to the US is very slim.

I didn't know if there was anyway I could start the process now?

No, you NEED to meet in person first.

Even without having pictures of us together.

If anyone could shed even a little light on the topic for me, I would appreciate it beyond belief!

I am also open to any suggestions anyone may have as I am beginning to feel hopeless.

Thank you~

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Thank you both for the information. So lets say I am able to go to Egypt at the end of May (God willing), would we be able to file the papers after that then?

Correct. It is a requirement that you two must meet at least once in person before filing for the K1. Read the guides on this website and feel free to ask anything, we are all in the same boat!

Good luck!

[YamenWaad 45]

Good luck guys

[landr 126]

I strongly suggest that you get some pictures of the two of you with his family and friends. Preferably in front of a landmark that's recognisable.

[Cathi 5,748]

I strongly suggest that you get some pictures of the two of you with his family and friends. Preferably in front of a landmark that's recognisable.

pictures in front of landmarks are not needed, posing in front of a landmark doesn;t make a relationship more real or bonafide. Pictures are in fact secondary evidence and not a requirement. My friend petitioned for her Syrian husband and didn't send a single shred of supporting evidence with the petition, she merely sent the petition, the g325a birth certs and marriage cert...only what the USCIS site says to send and was approved with no rfe. She was like me and had never heard of visa journey before we applied. I sent very little evidence and even with HUGE red flags(I am 21 years older, different religion, divorced with children and he is from a MENA country) we didn't get an rfe. I recommend front loading, especially from Eygpt because it;s a tough consulate, but going as far as saying they need to seek out landmarks for the sake of posing for a few pictures just is not needed.

[landr 126]

pictures in front of landmarks are not needed, posing in front of a landmark doesn;t make a relationship more real or bonafide. Pictures are in fact secondary evidence and not a requirement. My friend petitioned for her Syrian husband and didn't send a single shred of supporting evidence with the petition, she merely sent the petition, the g325a birth certs and marriage cert...only what the USCIS site says to send and was approved with no rfe. She was like me and had never heard of visa journey before we applied. I sent very little evidence and even with HUGE red flags(I am 21 years older, different religion, divorced with children and he is from a MENA country) we didn't get an rfe. I recommend front loading, especially from Eygpt because it;s a tough consulate, but going as far as saying they need to seek out landmarks for the sake of posing for a few pictures just is not needed.

That's why I wrote "preferably" and "strongly suggest" rather than "must" or "need."

OP, the choice is yours. Do your research via Google and this site's search function. Read the recent posts and reviews for people going through your fiance's consulate to get an idea of what you'll be facing.

[ChristymH 0]

Thank you everyone so much for all of your advice, insight, opinions, and support!!

I of course know that having as much evidence as possible is the safest way to go, as having too much evidence is not a bad thing

Just one other question, how did you all become so knowledgeable with all the terms and the whole process? What were some things you did to become so well rounded on the topic?