Fiancé visa/spouse visa .. meeting the parents requirement?

[Kostas 3]

Long story short , I'm engaged to a Russian girl, we are getting married in July.

I have not met her parents , she tells me her parents will not approve of her getting married to an American . 

We've decided to get married without their approval and this is why I have not gone to Russia .

She lives in Russia, we've met and spend a lot of time together in Greece and Italy .

I live here in the United States .

I just had a consultation with an immigration lawyer and he told me that her chances of getting approved for a fiancé visa or a spousal visa are not that good even though we can show them pictures and documents of a real bonafide relationship .

He said the fact that I have not gone to Russia and met her parents will look suspicious to immigration , that it will look like she's trying to hide something .

I was shocked to hear this .

Does this lawyer have a good point ?

Please share your thoughts and opinions on this.

Thank you !

[SparklePony 238]

This might be best answered by those who have gone through the Russian embassy. I met my future in-laws and my husband did too, while we were engaged, and this never came up during the process. Russia might be different.

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. 

 

Hi, generally speaking, what the lawyer said is arguable. But, since certain cultural aspect may affect a petition at the time of the interview, I moved your post to the Russian regional forum so that other people can assist you.

[millefleur 5,047]

Most people on this forum who do either K-1 or CR-1/IR-1 visas have met their fiance(e)/spouse in Russia.

 

There have been K-1 visa rejections on this forum from Russian applicants, so it is a very real possibility.

 

It's not that hard to visit Russia: getting a visa is relatively straightforward and it's even cheaper to fly here than most places in Europe (weird but true). You should consider visiting her in Russia at least once. It would certainly strengthen your case, even it were just a short visit.

Edited March 10, 2017 by millefleur

[Kostas 3]

Thanks for your response .

 

[Dashinka 24,649]

I agree with millefleur that a visit with her in Russia would make for a stronger application.  As to meeting the parents, I don't think that is a requirement, so if it may pose a problem, maybe you should avoid it.  As to my story, I did meet with my wife's mother and family, and the mother was not that happy with us getting married, but I think that was more about Katya moving away from home.  Fast-forward two years and her mother has grown to know me better and we visit fairly often, so she has accepted it.

 

Good Luck!

[redleg627 15]

I have heard your situation go both ways.. so..

 

 I can really only comment on my personal experience. I never met my in-laws prior to my then fiance receiving her K-1 visa. In fact I never met her K-2 son as well. I also never been to Russia prior to K-1 interview. We did have a lot of supporting documentation. Hundreds of hours on video Skype, a 13 day trip together in Europe, postal exchanges, gifts, etc. The US consulate never even asked my girl if I had met her family.

 

Now keep in mind we were both 35+ in age. Does that matter? Who knows? It is the burden of the consulate to disprove valid relationship. If you have pictures TOGETHER, trips TOGETHER, and can prove ongoing communication. I say go for it.

 

Don't try and be sneaky and hide information from the consulate. The parents may or may not approve of the relationship, but their information is needed on the application forms.

Edited March 13, 2017 by redleg627

[ucijeepguy 3]

Meeting the parents is not a requirement. It obviously makes a stronger argument for the K1 visa, but not required; it is a requirement that the two of you that plan on getting married meet in person, which you have accomplished. My wife and I met online, vacationed for a week in Thailand, and I proposed to her in Thailand. Never met her family or friends. Came home, applied, she moved. The next summer after she moved, we vacationed to her home town to meet all her friends and family. When I submitted K1 application, I just had pictures from our vacation, and about 100 pages of single spaced messaging to each other, Skype call log and had zero problems; the key factor is showing you have an ongoing relationship. She's been living here for a year and half, and married over a year and very happy together, just waiting for her green card and living life.