Worried about the two year meeting requirement for K1 visa at the interview

[visa & visa 1]

Hi, my fiancé has the K1 visa interview on Jan 22nd at Mumbai, India consulate. While petitioning for the K1 visa we have explained them that according to our religious customs, we are not supposed to meet each other until the day of the marriage. We got an RFE for that and we have submitted the proof from our religious head and our petition has been approved in December 2015. Now my fiancé is worried a lot about what to say if the visa officer asks the same question about why we haven't met until now. My question is if we provide the right documentation for the reason of not meeting until the day of the marriage, what are our chances of getting the visa? Will there be any delay in the visa process? Is there anyone out there who faced the similar situation in the past? Please help me with my situation. Thank you all.

[FarrahIdir 46]

I am not sure your religion but just be honest. I thought there was a requirement to meet but I also read somewhere there is an exemption. I am sure someone will chime in. Best of luck

[visa & visa 1]

Yeah, thanks and let me wait for few genuine experiences here.

[Alaska2012 462]

So you guys aren't allowed to meet even with parents present? If there is no way what so ever you guys are allowed to see each other you could be good but if there are any loopholes the co at the embassy will know about them!

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, there can be an exemption for severe medical or religious reasons.

But to get that exemption? Must have a pile of the right paperwork to show to a Vice-Consul. Since you prepped a pile already for USCIS, I suggest you use the same pile, adding to it as needed, and have it ready to hand over on interview day.

as for 'real experiences' - well, we've an advanced search tool here, visible when logged in from a PC.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

The beneficiary should provide the same answer and documentation as you did to USCIS for the petition.

[FarrahIdir 46]

Yeah, thanks and let me wait for few genuine experiences here.

my reply was genuine but ok... good luck Edited January 16, 2016 by FarrahIdir

[visa & visa 1]

The beneficiary should provide the same answer and documentation as you did to USCIS for the petition.

Ya the beneficiary has all the documentation I have submitted to the USCIS. Also she has few other documents which can support her response to the CO.

my reply was genuine but ok... good luck

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hope my fiancé gets through this without having any issues. Thanks again.

[KierenHby 899]

Be honest at the interview. Satisfying a visa officer is a whole another ballgame compared to satisfying USCIS requirements.

K-1s are potentially attracting a fair bit more scrutiny these days.

[EricAndOrn 30]

I believe it is USCIS's job to determine if you have provided sufficient evidence for having previously met or, in your case, qualify for an exception. Since USCIS approved your petition with the exception, I believe the consulate or embassy cannot refuse the visa on those specific grounds.

[aaron2020 11,651]

I believe it is USCIS's job to determine if you have provided sufficient evidence for having previously met or, in your case, qualify for an exception. Since USCIS approved your petition with the exception, I believe the consulate or embassy cannot refuse the visa on those specific grounds.

There is nothing that the US Embassy can not review. USCIS's decisions are not determinative. The local US Embassy is in a much better position to access local customs than a paper pusher in a USCIS office somewhere in the US.

[Anh map 2,098]

I believe it is USCIS's job to determine if you have provided sufficient evidence for having previously met or, in your case, qualify for an exception. Since USCIS approved your petition with the exception, I believe the consulate or embassy cannot refuse the visa on those specific grounds.

You are incorrect.

I believe it is USCIS's job to determine if you have provided sufficient evidence for having previously met or, in your case, qualify for an exception. Since USCIS approved your petition with the exception, I believe the consulate or embassy cannot refuse the visa on those specific grounds.

You are incorrect.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

I believe it is USCIS's job to determine if you have provided sufficient evidence for having previously met or, in your case, qualify for an exception. Since USCIS approved your petition with the exception, I believe the consulate or embassy cannot refuse the visa on those specific grounds.

USCIS employees who revew petitions in the US don't have any power over Embassy officers decisions, that's why so many people get RFE or even denial at the intervew. Embassy officer is the one who has the most power to make a decision on the petition. I believe that on the stage of initial approval (NOA2) USCIS "paper pusher" (love this term) has to determine if submitted papers meet minimal requirements what has to be submitted. He got some papers explaining why couple couldn't meet and checked that box, but it's Embassy officer's job to figure out if these papers worth to make an exempt from requirement to meet in person. Partially it's because Embassy officer much better knowlegeable about local specifics of the country he is working in while someone evaluating papers in the US and issuing NOA1 and NOA2 may not even have ideas where the half of the countries of beneficiaries on the world map are, not speaking of reasonability and truthfulness of specific papers regarding religious reasons that supposed to make an exempt from one of the basic USCIS requirements for filing petition. I know that some people get an exempt from the requirement to meet in person but most of them getting denied, it's not an exempt USCIS grants easily.

- Victor from Russia

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

It sounds like you got a waiver approved at USCIS for the meeting requirement, which is extremely rare. So do bring that info again, and if you can bring independent evidence (say, news articles stating that members of your religion are not allowed to meet, even with family members present) that will help too. The other issues you will face are to prove a bonafide relationship, as meeting face-to-face is a big part of that. So for example, how do you communicate? Are you allowed to see eachother on camera, say via Skype? And they may also ask why did you got for the K1, where she will have to travel and then stay with relatives till you are married, and not just marry in India where they are more used to your religion, and then be together as a married couple of file for the CR-1.

Please do update how the interview went~ Good luck!

[visa & visa 1]

Thanks for everyone's input. Will see how it goes and update it here after the interview.