Fiance is Cousin and haven't met in 2 years

[Bikey 0]

Hi everyone

I`ve been reading through VJ forums and going through the guides for a month now. Please allow me to present my case:

Me and my cousin (from the U.S.) met 7 years ago at a family wedding in our home country of Pakistan. We got to know each other more online almost 5 years ago and fell in love soon after. It took us a while to convince our parents but now its all good and they have finally agreed on our wedding.

The situation:

The parents have planned to get us married next year. We plan to do the wedding in the U.S.

Since me and my fiance want to get together ASAP. We thought we apply for the K1 Fiance Visa, if it works out great we will save some time and don't have to wait for the CR-1 Spouse visa until after our wedding. If it doesn't then we can go for the CR-1 visa.

The issue:

The condition on the I-129F petition that you need to have met in the 2 years prior of your filing the petition.

Now although we have been in a long distance relationship on the phone/email etc. We haven't met physically for a long time. The option that I have is going for the " If the requirement to meet would violate strict and long-established customs of your or your fiancé(e)’s foreign culture or social practice" option. For some reason, I feel it might be hard to convince them.

Please advice me if this path is feasible?

The other idea I had, is if it doesn't work out, I could visit her family in the U.S. on a visitor/tourist visa, get engaged and then come back and file for the K1 Fiance Visa.

Please advice me VJ family. I would highly appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

[Ontarkie 14,493]

Go visit, you won't be able to get around it.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

You have to visit your fiance. There is a waiver but it is next to impossible to get. So just go visit and have fun.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

That waiver is only for those people that are not allowed to meet at all before marriage. IF you met in the past it seems that there is no hard rule about this and you aren't going to get the waiver. Most cultures at least allow the couple to meet in the company of others. What proof would you have of not being allowed at all.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

As the others have said, meet up. Since you have already met, there is no way you will get a waiver on this. Keep in mind it is totally ok to meet with a chaperone, and to never physcially tough, as long as you are together in the same room,

Be careful about planning a big wedding in the USA without a visa in hand; there are often delays, especially from your country.