Couples Who Met Online

[~Chad~ 0]

Meeting once in the last two years is the minimum requirement. But the approval of the visa is at the consular's discretion.

[DaveandFleur 0]

From what I understand back years ago before internet was so popular. Couples met through a PENPAL program and it was just by letters (snail mail). Internet is nothing but a PENPAL system. I don't see how it would be a problem to meet online. There are wonderful people online too, and couples that meet online can fall in love.

[Candace 2]

I met my husband online, although we weren't a couple before meeting 'in real life.' I found no issue at all with USCIS regarding the way we met: they asked at the interview, I told them. Telling the truth and having a genuine relationship regardless of how you met (as well of course as the meeting in the last 2 years part) is much more important.

In fact the only time I have ever felt that it has been an issue is when I have noticed the apparent 'snobbishness' that radiates from some people who didn't meet their partner online who feel for some reason they are somehow better and have more of a claim to a genuine relationship because of this.

[Marilyn. 340]

From what I understand back years ago before internet was so popular. Couples met through a PENPAL program and it was just by letters (snail mail). Internet is nothing but a PENPAL system. I don't see how it would be a problem to meet online. There are wonderful people online too, and couples that meet online can fall in love.

i have some relatives who met that way.. they were pen-pals and wrote letters to each other and fell in love through those letters... they have been married for years and years now.... Don't see any difference in that then meeting someone online.. although if you talk on messenger etc.. you get an instant response rather then waiting for the next letter to come...

I was never asked about how we met at my interview... I wasn't really asked any questions about my relationship at all....

[GaryC 7]

We had our interview last week in Manila. The CO asked us how we met and we said Yahoo Personals. He commented on how common that was these days and that was it. Nothing more was said.

[Geist 0]

It seems they also frown on couples who have only met once, met for a short period of time, and who get married young or quickly (according to them), right?

Sheesh, how big of a deal is it for you to be young when you get married? I was only 21 when I got married and my husband 23. They commented at the consulate, when i was getting the affidavit that I'd never been married before signed, that while they see a lot of couples (there was even one right before me!) they don't see a lot of couples "like us" (ie, so young).

But sheesh, once you meet the right person, you meet the right person. Siigh. Oh, well, at least we've known each other for over two years and visited many many times!

[bora bora 1]

Yea, someone always has something to say. I'm 25 and my fiance 23 and we were told we're young

We're responsible adults who have been in a relationship for over 2 years and even lived together in Brazil.

Oh well, all that matters is how we feel and as long as we're ready...here we go

[Detty2809 0]

Ditto, there will be no prob. When I was asked about how we met at the interview, I asnwered that Joel and I met online at first and decided to meet up since we were both in Japan at that time. The Consular did not ask anymore questions about that

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The subject was barely mentioned at my fiance's interview. We worried a little about this as well. But since the internet makes the world a much smaller place, it stands to reason many international romances would begin online.

She was approved without any problem due to meeting online.

[The_dip_sticks 0]

Im glad lots of people met online. At least we are not alone. My husbad and I met in a yahoo chat room. I wonder how many peopled met ramdomly in chat one day.

[Chris-n-Veronica 0]

I know a large percentage of couples have met online, but I have not seen anyone mention that they were asked about this during their interview.

If you met your spouse or fiance online, were you asked about this during the interview? If so, what questions did they ask?

Thanks!

Where did we meet

What attracted you to him (her interview lol)

Has he visited

The Interview was the easyist part of the whole process.. at least for us...

[paisita411 0]

Kurios – I think you’re familiar with my predicament. I think this is a great topic, because most of us have met online. While most of the couples have not had a problem with the nature of the online relationship, some of us have if there were other insufficiencies or conflicts that flagged us for further scrutiny. In Bogota, the CO made a point to emphasize her disapproval of how I met my husband and of the hastiness of our decision to marry (granted, many people run off to Vegas on a whim and live happily ever after!). I hope that sharing my experience will help some of you prepare well for your interview and really consider your answer, should you be faced with a similar situation. My strongest advice to everyone: REMEMBER YOU ARE ON TRIAL. YOUR JOB BEFORE THE CONSULAR OFFICER IS TO CONVINCE THEM THAT YOUR ARE DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH THIS PERSON. Don’t take for granted that everyone can see the love in your eyes…as I did. The interview process can be unnerving to the thickest skinned person. Once someone is in your face questioning the validity of your statements and the genuineness of your feelings, the pressure of the consequences of your answers will take the best out of you. I never imagined feeling so nervous as I did and I felt that the more I said, the less she was listening. Anyway…here are the questions I got:

How did you meet your husband: Online on a web portal for Colombians

When was that:

A- Last year in January

What was the name of the portal:

A- Veamonos.com

You mean to tell me that after knowing this man 6 months online you decided to fly to Colombia and marry him?

A- Yes

Did you not for one second stop to think you were being hasty in your decision?

A- Well, yes. I’ve been married before, I have two children, so yes, I did think about the decision seriously but I was sure about what I felt for him.

After discussing the situation with several attorneys, they felt that a K1 visa would have been a better option for us and would have brought less scrutiny on the relationship. I’m not sure how valid this is, but if you observe the results of K1 visas on this portal, it seems like they are approved at a higher rate and with less complications. I guess the burden of proof is higher for married folks. I would recommend that those of you who met online and are in K1, K3 or CR1 process make at least one additional trip during the process. This will show a higher level of commitment to the relationship, especially for anyone with circumstances that could raise a red flag. (Large age gaps, reverse gaps (Female/Male), language barriers, previously/recently denied tourist or student visas…ect. And it would be worth it to consult an attorney if you even have a small doubt about being approved. Its cheaper to pay for advice before a denial than after.

Good luck to all….If you want to keep up with my Denial Process…look for my thread in the Foreign Consulate Forum.

Best of Luck to All

Dre