Starting a K1 petition - advice needed

[nagvp24 1]

Hello All, 

 

My boyfriend wants to start a petition for K1 visa soon. We've met each other at work, but he worked in another office [we worked together for over an year before we started dating]. We share a lot of common interests: both love animals, we like similar music, etc. He used to work in my department before, which I believe may show that we have common interests even in regards to work. We both speak Spanish (he's a native Spanish speaker), share the same religion, etc. However, we've seen each other only once yet. He's coming to my country for 3 weeks in the end on this year and our plan is that he will start the process once he goes back to the US. As you can imagine we're still confused and have a ton of questions. I would appreciate if you share your opinion with me while we're hesitating which path to go. 

 

1. Potential red flag: I am 24 and he is 35. We have age difference of 11 years. Do you think that this is a too bad? 

2. Do you believe that it would be a problem that we would have met each other only twice prior of filing the petition? He visited me for 10 days (he just started a new job and couldn't take more time off), however he's coming again in December for 3 weeks. 

3. I've read that lawyer may speed up the process as sometimes it takes a lot of time for the application/docs to be processed [e.g. we may make mistakes while completing it and they will return it for correction] and the petition may expire during this time.

4. I've been in the States three times before and I've never overstayed my visas (J1). I also have a serious job (been on this position for almost 2 years and make good money for the standard of living here). I was thinking to apply for a tourist visa before he starts the petition as he cannot take more time off work this year. Do you believe that in case I get a refusal this would trouble the K1 process?

 

 

I would appreciate any opinion and thank you for your help!

[BenjaminKeating 114]

15 minutes ago, gvasileva said:

Hello All, 

 

My boyfriend wants to start a petition for K1 visa soon. We've met each other at work, but he worked in another office [we worked together for over an year before we started dating]. We share a lot of common interests: both love animals, we like similar music, etc. He used to work in my department before, which I believe may show that we have common interests even in regards to work. We both speak Spanish (he's a native Spanish speaker), share the same religion, etc. However, we've seen each other only once yet. He's coming to my country for 3 weeks in the end on this year and our plan is that he will start the process once he goes back to the US. As you can imagine we're still confused and have a ton of questions. I would appreciate if you share your opinion with me while we're hesitating which path to go. 

 

1. Potential red flag: I am 24 and he is 35. We have age difference of 11 years. Do you think that this is a too bad? 

2. Do you believe that it would be a problem that we would have met each other only twice prior of filing the petition? He visited me for 10 days (he just started a new job and couldn't take more time off), however he's coming again in December for 3 weeks. 

3. I've read that lawyer may speed up the process as sometimes it takes a lot of time for the application/docs to be processed [e.g. we may make mistakes while completing it and they will return it for correction] and the petition may expire during this time.

4. I've been in the States three times before and I've never overstayed my visas (J1). I also have a serious job (been on this position for almost 2 years and make good money for the standard of living here). I was thinking to apply for a tourist visa before he starts the petition as he cannot take more time off work this year. Do you believe that in case I get a refusal this would trouble the K1 process?

 

 

I would appreciate any opinion and thank you for your help!

 

1. No that isn't a red flag. It may be in some countries depending on culture but I  wouldn't say 11 years is a huge difference.

 

2. No, I met my wife twice and filed.

 

3. A lawyer will not speed up the process is anyway. Unless you have criminal history or a communicable disease then this is a waste of time and money. If you can read English and sign forms and be organized then you can do the process yourself like most of us have.

 

4. I don't believe a tourist visa will lead to a refusal but it is also difficult to obtain a tourist visa so I would allow the K1 to run its course.

 

Good luck!

 

 

[Mr Geminian 691]

2 hours ago, gvasileva said:

Hello All, 

 

My boyfriend wants to start a petition for K1 visa soon. We've met each other at work, but he worked in another office [we worked together for over an year before we started dating]. We share a lot of common interests: both love animals, we like similar music, etc. He used to work in my department before, which I believe may show that we have common interests even in regards to work. We both speak Spanish (he's a native Spanish speaker), share the same religion, etc. However, we've seen each other only once yet. He's coming to my country for 3 weeks in the end on this year and our plan is that he will start the process once he goes back to the US. As you can imagine we're still confused and have a ton of questions. I would appreciate if you share your opinion with me while we're hesitating which path to go. 

 

1. Potential red flag: I am 24 and he is 35. We have age difference of 11 years. Do you think that this is a too bad? 

2. Do you believe that it would be a problem that we would have met each other only twice prior of filing the petition? He visited me for 10 days (he just started a new job and couldn't take more time off), however he's coming again in December for 3 weeks. 

3. I've read that lawyer may speed up the process as sometimes it takes a lot of time for the application/docs to be processed [e.g. we may make mistakes while completing it and they will return it for correction] and the petition may expire during this time.

4. I've been in the States three times before and I've never overstayed my visas (J1). I also have a serious job (been on this position for almost 2 years and make good money for the standard of living here). I was thinking to apply for a tourist visa before he starts the petition as he cannot take more time off work this year. Do you believe that in case I get a refusal this would trouble the K1 process?

 

 

I would appreciate any opinion and thank you for your help!

Hey...

1. Age is not a problem at all...my wife is 3 years older than me (just to add more..am Hindu and she's a Christian)

2. In 6 years of knowing each other (3 years as friends and 3 years in a relationship) we met just once and that was in Dubai for only 3 days !!!

3. No, lawyer will not speed up things...even if you hire a lawyer or do it all by yourself, the documents will still go to the same location and the processing time will still be the same.

4. Three times in US and never overstayed ?? That's good news....that shows that your immigration record is excellent.... Tourist visa refusal won't affect your K-1 application because even I applied for a tourist visa in 2014 and got rejected. 

 

Wish you all the best  

Edited September 7, 2017 by Aviinashh M

[KULtoATL 1,551]

8 hours ago, gvasileva said:

Hello All, 

 

My boyfriend wants to start a petition for K1 visa soon. We've met each other at work, but he worked in another office [we worked together for over an year before we started dating]. We share a lot of common interests: both love animals, we like similar music, etc. He used to work in my department before, which I believe may show that we have common interests even in regards to work. We both speak Spanish (he's a native Spanish speaker), share the same religion, etc. However, we've seen each other only once yet. He's coming to my country for 3 weeks in the end on this year and our plan is that he will start the process once he goes back to the US. As you can imagine we're still confused and have a ton of questions. I would appreciate if you share your opinion with me while we're hesitating which path to go. 

 

1. Potential red flag: I am 24 and he is 35. We have age difference of 11 years. Do you think that this is a too bad? 

Assuming you are a lady, younger lady with older man is usually not an issue. Besides, it's only 11 years. If it's more, it might be an issue. Might.

2. Do you believe that it would be a problem that we would have met each other only twice prior of filing the petition? He visited me for 10 days (he just started a new job and couldn't take more time off), however he's coming again in December for 3 weeks. 

This really depends on which country you are from. If you come from a high fraud country or your local US embassy is a tough one, you might want to consider meeting more than 2 times to strengthen your meeting and relationship evidence. So, complete your timeline. It will give other members better info about you.

3. I've read that lawyer may speed up the process as sometimes it takes a lot of time for the application/docs to be processed [e.g. we may make mistakes while completing it and they will return it for correction] and the petition may expire during this time.

Not at all. An attorney will probably slow you down before the finally decided to ship your petition off and/or when it's time to get documents sorted and schedule the interview at the embassy stage. Unless you have criminal history, immigration bar, serious red flags etc, you can DIY the I-129F/K-1 easily.

4. I've been in the States three times before and I've never overstayed my visas (J1). I also have a serious job (been on this position for almost 2 years and make good money for the standard of living here). I was thinking to apply for a tourist visa before he starts the petition as he cannot take more time off work this year. Do you believe that in case I get a refusal this would trouble the K1 process?

B2 denial will never affect the K-1 outcome. However, with an American bf/fiance, you'll likely need to prove stronger ties back home to convince the CO that you do not plan to overstay or adjust within the US while visiting with a B2. Now even if your B2 is approved, you might have to worry about CBP officer at the POE because again, you might have to convince them that you will go back home after visiting and no immigration hanky panky. Cover all yours bases and have strong proofs.

 

 

I would appreciate any opinion and thank you for your help!

 

[nagvp24 1]

Thank you, I feel less worried now.  Are acceptable evidence of the relationship only considered pictures, tickets, etc. that were taken/bought prior of starting the K1 process or we can also show some that were taken from more recent visits (he definitely will visit me before the interview for a third time)?