meeting waiver

[Amhara 460]

Thank you guys for your input. Marriages among Muslims are often arranged and some Muslims do not meet prior to wedding when they reside in different countries but due to filing requirements it has become more common that they meet. I am still thinking whether I should meet him in-person and re-apply fiance visa. Would that raise any red flags?

Having an arranged marriage and not being allowed to meet at all are two different things. Even in arranged marriages, the couple has met at least in a social setting. I disagree with your statement that meeting before marriage is due to countries filing requirements because meeting before marriage is common.

If your fiance is in UAE, then he must have a UAE resident visa or be a UAE citizen, otherwise you cannot marry in UAE.

To meet the meeting requirements for K-1, all you need is one photo of you two together. You don't even need to spend time together and it can be in a public place and/or chaperoned. I would suggest taking more than one photo together, but you need at least one. So you can land, see each other at the airport, and viola! You have now met the requirements for K-1!

[Kastrs 723]

Thank you guys for your input. Marriages among Muslims are often arranged and some Muslims do not meet prior to wedding when they reside in different countries but due to filing requirements it has become more common that they meet. I am still thinking whether I should meet him in-person and re-apply fiance visa. Would that raise any red flags?

I think you have been given pretty clear directly, either meet with your fiance, and document this meeting save your plane tickets and take pictures, things like that

OR

get married and apply for a spousal visa (in person marriage!)

if your fiance is a UAE citizen, no problem getting married there, if not, it would probably be much easier to get married in your fiance's home country-lots of red tape in the UAE

Why would you think it would raise red flags to meet? you were denied because you did not meet so obviously the only way to overcome that is to meet

[aaron2020 11,651]

Thank you guys for your input. Marriages among Muslims are often arranged and some Muslims do not meet prior to wedding when they reside in different countries but due to filing requirements it has become more common that they meet. I am still thinking whether I should meet him in-person and re-apply fiance visa. Would that raise any red flags?

Not meeting because the bride and groom live in different counties is not a religious thing.

It's not impossible for you to meet. You can do it. You just didn't want to do it.

You are not special. You are like the rest of us. Follow the rules or deal with more delays. Your choice.

You must bend to meet the requirements for a visa. The US Government will not bend for you because you don't want to spend the money or time to meet.

Edited February 3, 2016 by aaron2020

[dreamer19 0]

Meeting in person prior to marriage is definitely encouraged by islam. A man is even allowed to see a girl who is covering her face with the presence of her parents or guardians. Unless you are following a sect of islam that has long established rules over this (not a hardship of distance) proving this is islamic custom will not work. If you know you can meet each other then go and meet each other, there is no waiver to file.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

You may squeeze by USCIS with one short meeting but the CO will have the discretion if he thinks this one short meeting is enough and if not will

not approve you. The USCIS approval is easy after meeting the requirements but the consulate is another story. If you can't spend "sufficient"
time together I suggest marry and file a CR1. You can gamble with a short one time meeting for a K1 or go the safer route with a CR1.

Oftentimes, couples have met and can fulfill the 1 in person meeting requirement, but whether it is sufficient to create a genuine and caring relationship with the visa applicant will depend on the couple's unique sets of facts. For instance, the consular officers may scrutinize extensively whether a couple who spent 1 day together would be able to establish a bona fide relationship as oppose to 1 month. The 1 day visit may also contradict the traditional notion of a relationship where there's sincerity and genuine care and affection if the couple commenced their relationship 1-2 months prior to filing the Fiance Visa Application. Nonetheless, a 1 month long visit may also be scrutinized if there are other red flag issues such as a wide age gap or multiple filings for the same applicant.

The US consular officers can glean from the meeting(s) and the evidence submitted whether it rise to the level of of creating a sincere and bona fide relationship.

[baron555 934]

You may squeeze by USCIS with one short meeting but the CO will have the discretion if he thinks this one short meeting is enough and if not will

not approve you.

The Embassy CO does not assess if the meeting in person satisfies anything concerning the relationship. They only determine if the relationship is legitimate. Much much more evidence is needed to prove that. For this Embassy I would assume that front loading the petition package is warranted if not even a must.

The USCIS approval is easy after meeting the requirements but the consulate is another story. If you can't spend "sufficient"

time together I suggest marry and file a CR1. You can gamble with a short one time meeting for a K1 or go the safer route with a CR1.

A short meeting and then marrying could be seen very negatively.

Oftentimes, couples have met and can fulfill the 1 in person meeting requirement, but whether it is sufficient to create a genuine and caring relationship with the visa applicant will depend on the couple's unique sets of facts.

More often than not it depends on the content and quality of the evidence of a bonafide relationship that is presented. Many folks just don't get it and therefore have a hard time because they never generated good evidence.

For instance, the consular officers may scrutinize extensively whether a couple who spent 1 day together would be able to establish a bona fide relationship as oppose to 1 month.

Maybe yes and maybe no. It really depends on all those other evidences.

The 1 day visit may also contradict the traditional notion of a relationship where there's sincerity and genuine care and affection if the couple commenced their relationship 1-2 months prior to filing the Fiance Visa Application.

My wife and I did that.....except we met for 10 days, but had only 2 months prior to the meeting under our belt.

The US consular officers can glean from the meeting(s) and the evidence submitted whether it rise to the level of of creating a sincere and bona fide relationship.

More face time is good......but its all the evidences, when put together, should tell the story. You have to convince a total stranger, the Embassy CO, that you have a legitimate relationship. Your word alone is not good enough.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I have to disagree with some of your points :

You may squeeze by USCIS with one short meeting but the CO will have the discretion if he thinks this one short meeting is enough and if not will

not approve you.

The Embassy CO does not assess if the meeting in person satisfies anything concerning the relationship. They only determine if the relationship is legitimate. Much much more evidence is needed to prove that. For this Embassy I would assume that front loading the petition package is warranted if not even a must. They do base the relationship
validity on exactly if the meeting satisfies their perspective of what a legitimate relationship is. Frequency and length of stay. 100% yes.
Obviously much more evidence is needed and yes, front loading a must.

The USCIS approval is easy after meeting the requirements but the consulate is another story. If you can't spend "sufficient"
time together I suggest marry and file a CR1. You can gamble with a short one time meeting for a K1 or go the safer route with a CR1.

A short meeting and then marrying could be seen very negatively. Absolutely, however they then have a second chance with a NOID/NOIR if refused versus
the end of the road with a K1.

Oftentimes, couples have met and can fulfill the 1 in person meeting requirement, but whether it is sufficient to create a genuine and caring relationship with the visa applicant will depend on the couple's unique sets of facts.

More often than not it depends on the content and quality of the evidence of a bonafide relationship that is presented. Many folks just don't get it and therefore have a hard time because they never generated good evidence. Yes, and other times you bring quality stacks of evidence and totally 'get it' and still be refused.

For instance, the consular officers may scrutinize extensively whether a couple who spent 1 day together would be able to establish a bona fide relationship as oppose to 1 month.

Maybe yes and maybe no. It really depends on all those other evidences.

The 1 day visit may also contradict the traditional notion of a relationship where there's sincerity and genuine care and affection if the couple commenced their relationship 1-2 months prior to filing the Fiance Visa Application.

My wife and I did that.....except we met for 10 days, but had only 2 months prior to the meeting under our belt. We had much more time than you and still were refused.
Good for you but not everyone is that fortunate even with top notch quality 'got it' evidence.

The US consular officers can glean from the meeting(s) and the evidence submitted whether it rise to the level of of creating a sincere and bona fide relationship.

More face time is good......but its all the evidences, when put together, should tell the story. You have to convince a total stranger, the Embassy CO, that you have a legitimate relationship. Your word alone is not good enough. That is what I said, from the meetings AND evidence submitted.

Sub-Saharan and N. African countries as well as ME countries all can tell you from experience that frequency and length of stay definitely
come into play from a CO's point of view in regards to the relationship being bona fide, even with a boat load full of quality evidence.

Edited February 3, 2016 by Ebunoluwa

[amkhan 108]

Please STOP using religion card, Islam has already in trouble with some kinds of conservative peoples, So you are saying Islam does not allow couple to meet before marriage ? Also covering face is not mendatory in Islam... I m muslim by birth and living in arab country if you have issue with having a photos then get marry or do Nikkah (Aqad) and finish ur headache and apply for CR1 visa you can celebrate ur wedding in US or where ever u want but don't use religion for ur personal intentions... Islam is very wide religion and it's allow many things once person in trouble... I hope you understand what I am saying..

[Boiler 45,651]

Please note that the requirement relates to the relationship not being one to provide an immigration benefit.

There is no requirement for love, caring etc etc.