Fiance visa unusual case

[tyler007 26]

It is quite difficult for a Saudi national to marry a foreign national within the KSA.

What would be helpful is a statement from her parents in support of your engagement, and eventual marriage in the US.

Maybe they never had an opportunity to take a picture. That is the scenario I was in when I did my K1- we never went anywhere where we would take a picture together. Also, some people do not like their picture taken.

Hi Kastrs, just curious did the USCIS or Embassy consulate ever see or ask for any pictures of you together?

They approved a CR-1 with zero photographic evidence of meeting?

Thanks.

Tyler

[Jaime & Aisha 46]

Hi Kastrs, just curious did the USCIS or Embassy consulate ever see or ask for any pictures of you together?

They approved a CR-1 with zero photographic evidence of meeting?

Thanks.

Tyler

Excellent question....I've read that a lot of pictures are required. I was worried that my sending in 3 highlight photos (9 total) from each of my last 3 visits wouldn't be enough.

[Kastrs 723]

Hi Kastrs, just curious did the USCIS or Embassy consulate ever see or ask for any pictures of you together?

They approved a CR-1 with zero photographic evidence of meeting?

Thanks.

Tyler

I provided one picture together, it was all we had, and there was no issue

I did have daily phone chat logs which I provided and made a couple visits

This information is in regards to a K1 case I had

My CR1 was a different case, and I provided about 10 pictures with the petition. In the case of CR1 it would be quite difficult to not have pictures together since presumably you would have had at least a couple taken at the wedding.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Face- to-Face meeting is not an absolute requirement.

In the sense that, it is not a deal breaker.

" (B)(1) The requirement to meet your fiance(e) in person would violate strict and long-established customs of your or your fiance(e)'s foreign culture or social practice.."

I don't know if Saudis have that practice, but if that is the case, then OP should do more snail mails and research about the statement above to see how he could meet the requirement.

[JFH 12,191]

I'm just surprised that a family so traditional that they won't have a computer in the house (or camera - could the OP have not borrowed a camera belonging to them while he was there? He's just met the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with) will allow their daughter to leave the family home and live with a man she is not married to. My parents would have shuddered at the thought (Catholic) and although they were strict they did at least have a computer and a camera.

[Limey 551]

Face- to-Face meeting is not an absolute requirement.

In the sense that, it is not a deal breaker.

" (B)(1) The requirement to meet your fiance(e) in person would violate strict and long-established customs of your or your fiance(e)'s foreign culture or social practice.."

I don't know if Saudis have that practice, but if that is the case, then OP should do more snail mails and research about the statement above to see how he could meet the requirement.

Clearly a face to face meeting would not violate strict and long standing customs, because OP states that they've already had such a meeting. His issue is that the meeting wasn't recorded with photographs etc. Failure to prove a meeting in person within the past 2 years is one of the biggest causes of denied K1 visas. I think OP is going to have to either return and document the next meeting with photographs, or get married and then petition for a spouse visa.

[Beenhasheegin 0]

Her family is a traditional in the sense that they would not allow her daughter to be alone with a man without chaperone and I happened to agree with that because of our religion. For those who are asking, yes we have the same religion and tend to agree on a lot of things as well. I forgot to mention that her family is a family friend which is something I did not realize until I came back to the USA. So the father knows my parents as they grew up together and he has family members here in the states, so it wouldn't be like he is sending his daughter away aimlessly. For those who asked, yes we are both Muslim.

I see a lot of people are suggesting for a meet up again with plenty of photos with her and the family. What if I have my boarding passes and passport stamps along with the phone call records? What are the odds of getting approve and what are the odds of getting rejected?

[Beenhasheegin 0]

I'm just surprised that a family so traditional that they won't have a computer in the house (or camera - could the OP have not borrowed a camera belonging to them while he was there? He's just met the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with) will allow their daughter to leave the family home and live with a man she is not married to. My parents would have shuddered at the thought (Catholic) and although they were strict they did at least have a computer and a camera.

As a muslim, you are legally married when something called the "nikah" takes place and we will do that when her flight is posted so that by the time she comes here, she is my wife. All we would have to do then is go to the courts and do the American marriage which is to get a certificate of marriage.

[Boiler 46,362]

As a muslim, you are legally married when something called the "nikah" takes place and we will do that when her flight is posted so that by the time she comes here, she is my wife. All we would have to do then is go to the courts and do the American marriage which is to get a certificate of marriage.

So a K1 is not appropriate.

[Beenhasheegin 0]

Boiler: It is because we will have the ceremony here.

[Boiler 46,362]

Isn't the Nikah legal in Saudi?

[Expat1 971]

So I recently went to Saudi Arabia for religious obligation and while there I met a girl. The girls' family are pretty traditional and i could not speak to the girl without getting permission from her father. I did just that and ended up speaking to her. I begun to like her and I met her at her house several times after the first day and I ended up asking the father if I can marry his daughter and he agreed. She also agreed. I didnt have the money to do the marriage at the time because Marriage was not part of my plan. I told the father that I would file something called fiance visa and I would save up and we will marry once she comes to the USA and he said okay. There are a few problems and here they are:

1. We did not take photos of any sort while I was ther with her.

2. The girl's family is out of touch with technology and as a result she doesnt use or have or even know how to use a computer.

So we have no comminication over the internet, we just communicate over the phone and My question is, is that enough proof of a relationship? Or should I urge the family to start using computers and teach her how to use it and then use internet comminication along with the phone records to proof our relationship? Any help is appreciated!

As a muslim, you are legally married when something called the "nikah" takes place and we will do that when her flight is posted so that by the time she comes here, she is my wife

I am curious as to how you are going to go back and perform the Nikah ceremony unless you are a dual passport holder? Umrah visa maybe?

Here is advice, take it or leave it.

If you can go back, it would be better to perform the Nikah ceremony, obtain your marriage book or marriage document or whatever they call it here, and file for a spouse visa. Your case is a gray one. Once you perform the Nikah ceremony you are considered legally married, and I don't think a traditional Saudi family is going to send her to the US until you do, but when she arrives she will already be married and won't be a fiancé anymore. Whether you register in the US or not doesn't change that little discrepancy in your file and discrepancies tend to be retroactive during the entire course of the immigration process.

It will take longer, but in your place I wouldn't get married before she leaves her home country on a fiancé visa. Cost to marry first then file is the same, time is going to take longer because it delays her arrival, but the case is complete. Our consular staff here in Saudi are well-versed in the ins and outs of marriage and family rules here and they are going to focus like a laser on those plans and your chances of this case getting flagged and denied due to intent to marry before she leaves the country are high, unless she is not honest at the interview. I wouldn't suggest that at all.

We never sent in a picture for anything at any time in our long and convoluted immigration processes and the idea that pictures are a dealbreaker in a petition package is funny to me. Pictures from here in Saudi? Saudis themselves tell me they can only find their own wives at the mall by either their shoes or handbags, we have had quite a few humorous discussions about accidentally approaching the wrong one. OOPS I know right.

I digressed.

Summary: The right and legal thing to do for you, her, and her family is to marry then file. No need to go to the US court as your marriage documentation from the Nikah ceremony is recognized in the US.

Edited December 8, 2015 by Expat1

[TBoneTX 46,379]

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[JayJayH 546]

Boiler: It is because we will have the ceremony here.

If you're legally married in Saudi, a K-1 visa is not appropriate for immigrating to the U.S.

Can't get a K-1 if you're legally married.

[Beenhasheegin 0]

I read all your responses and I thank you all collectively! It seems like the majority are suggesting to go ahead and make the marriage happen there and then file a spouse visa. HOw long does the spouse visa take then?

to Expat1: How does one obtain to get the Umrah visa? Who do I contact?