My Visa Journey thread

[stringpuller 74]

28 minutes ago, JoelThai said:

Yes @stringpuller, I do not think anyone here is trying to purposely give you a difficult time, they are trying to be sure you are aware of what can happen if you do not perform your due diligence in your relationship.   Fraud is a real problem, and from your fiancees country, is a real issue.

 

Since your fiancee is from Vietnam, please keep your eyes as wide open as your heart.  The unfortunate truth is there are many Vietnamese looking to find a way into the USA, and for many, a marriage visa is the quickest or only way.  My former girl friend is Vietnamese, and while she was already a US citizen and living in the US when I met her, she has many Visa Fraud stories she is familiar with.   One ploy that she has described to me is a case where a Vietnamese woman's husband was already in the USA, but since he is not yet a US citizen, he could not legally sponsor his wife.  So, to expedite the reunion, she found an eligible US citizen to marry to bring her to the US.  Once the green card was in her hand, she divorced her sponsor and reunited with her Vietnamese husband.   This story is not unique or that uncommon.   

 

Look for red flags the would suggest she is more interested in coming to the US than being with you at all costs.   For example, does she have friends and family already in the US?  Does she have children?   Manufacture situations to test her, such as the previous suggestion of stating that you have decided to move to Vietnam to live with her.  See how she reacts.  Is she happy because she will be with you, or upset because she wants to live in the US?

 

The longer you know her, the more sure you will be with her intentions.   But, at the end of the day, it is your choice as how to proceed.    Everyone here hopes you will have a "happily ever after" ending.

She has a great social life there and no family here. Can you explain to me how these questions you raise help me "test her"? 

Im not quite getting the angle that some of you are comming at. I am spposed to be in a relationship and courtship on the defensive and not trust the person that i desire to marry? 

 

"they are trying to be sure you are aware of what can happen if you do not perform your due diligence in your relationship." 

 Why are you trying "to make sure". Is that an obsessive need to "make sure im ok"? Would the US divorce rate be better if we all "made sure" we were making sure that we all examine everything so we are all ok? Hahahahaha

Maybe the courts could have 3 year checkin refresher courses to make sure everyones ok. Lol 

Yall crack me up. Id rather be at the mercy of the law and the process then to the suggested " always look at my girl with a judging eye". 

 

 

 

 

[stringpuller 74]

15 minutes ago, George & Roth said:

I recommend you consider doing what I did, I moved to Cambodia and we lived together for 5 years before getting married. 

 

After those 5 years she could still tolerate me so we moved to USA and got married.

 

You don’t really know a person until after a few years together. Some people on this site knew each other and lived together for only a year or two and got married! I think they’re making the wrong move!

Im not moving to cambodia. 

[stringpuller 74]

1 hour ago, iwir said:

Yes the requirement is having a meeting in person in the last two years. That's on paper. But CO also wants to see if you two have bona fide relationship and you can prove it.

It's just my story and I don't expect you to agree with me. We're just normal people who believe true love waits. We have known each other for years before we decided to meet in person. When we reconnected, he shortly invited me to visit him when he had a conference in Hawaii. I'm a B visa holder so it's easy for me to visit him. He said he'd pay for all my expenses and I said flat out no because we just texted and talked online regularly for months. I wanted to know him more and if we meet in person it should be on my terms. And like any other level headed woman, I was also concerned about my own safety.

 

When we finally met in person, it wasn't in my home country. We have talked almost a year regularly and even when I used all my common sense and took safety precautions, people around me called me crazy. But this time I felt more safe because I paid my own ticket and hotel and we agreed to meet in public space. I could leave if I felt my safety was compromised. It turned out to be a good way for us to know each other more. After that fateful meeting, we talked more about our relationship and how to keep it alive despite of the distance. Both of us sacrifice a lot. I visit him in the US when I can, he visits me when he can too. We meet three four times a year and we've  been dating long distance for three years. We put our relationship in the test many many many times before we started to talk about getting more serious and involving our both families. But then again we're just normal people who are skeptical with everything. We question each other about so many things and see if we have similar values about life in general, finance, sex, how we see our future together and where we want to spend most of our time (in the US or in Indonesia). We studied both countries legal system, marriage and immigration law and see which option is more beneficial for us due to our circumstances. It takes a long time to know someone even when they're genuine. We tested if our lifestyle, culture and values are compatible to each other and how we maintain our personalities and respect our difference. I spent time in the US to see if I liked it there and we had our preview of our domestic life. I still have cultural shock from time to time, even when I have travelled a lot. We compromise, we negotiate, we sacrifice. And we take our time. We believe if it's meant to be, the delay for gratification from being away from each other til we see each other again makes our reunion sweeter. We feel confident with our case that we do have bona fide relationship. It shows in our application that we're not merely wanting to meet the requirements on the paper.

 

Good luck!

Thats interesting and you sound very happy with each other. 

Edited April 8, 2018 by stringpuller

[stringpuller 74]

29 minutes ago, iwir said:

This is the real test to question the real intention. If petitioner should pay attention to the real intention of the beneficiary and see if they're only after the green card, the beneficiary should also look for any red flag if the petitioner is so desperately looking for love and wants to buy them a "better" life in the US. Just from a beneficiary POV😊

Point noted

[JoelThai 313]

32 minutes ago, stringpuller said:

She has a great social life there and no family here. Can you explain to me how these questions you raise help me "test her"?

 

Sounds like she loves you a lot and will be making some sacrifices (leaving her social life) to be with you.   The "test her" questions were suggested to ensure she does not have other intentions.  It is a reality that some beneficiaries do have other intentions, and from my experience it does happen, particularly from Vietnam.  Your response tells me that these are issues that you need not concern yourself with.    Certainly you do not need my approval, but it sounds like everything is good.    

 

 

Edited April 9, 2018 by JoelThai

[stringpuller 74]

7 minutes ago, JoelThai said:

Sounds like she loves you a lot and will be making some sacrifices (leaving her social life) to be with you.   The "test her" questions were suggested to ensure she does not have other intentions.  It is a reality that some beneficiaries do have other intentions, and from my experience it does happen, particularly from Vietnam.  Your response tells me that these are issues that you need not concern yourself with.    Certainly you do not need my approval, but it sounds like everything is good.    

 

 

Joel thanks and honestly there are things that just cant be faked. Touch, eyes, sounds and body language. 

She is a very ingrained individual in her community and culture and her many friends that i have seen heard of and finally met led me to have a concern of actually having her leave those behind but has reassured me that her being able to return and visit will be enough for her to cope. 

I cant believe this process gas turned into such speculations to be honest. Lol 

[janet3 1,170]

13 hours ago, stringpuller said:

Hello everyone im happy to find this website. 

Im going to use this post to track my questions that i might have.

I just returned from Vietnam 3 dats ago. I met Mai online about 8 months ago. We used video and text during thst time until we met. Fast foward we just spent 7 days together and the chemistry was what we thought it was. Amazing time

 

So we are preparing things and im preparing the I-129f packet. 

In this time im awaiting her signature in ink the intent to marry statement i sent her through email. 

Any tips or advice at this beginning stage would be great. Thanks for this website folks! 

 

I am going to tell you my story......which happens to be a lot like yours. I met my fiance online July 1, 2016. He's Algerian. I talked to him online for 6 months and met him in real life in Germany.....we then traveled to Prague to meet my sister....my fiance and I stayed together a total of 6 days. I completed the 129f the next month  (January 2017) and sent it in....

Then I found VJ. I asked questions, befriended people here  (truly amazing people)...I read a lot of their stories and took their advice on what actions I should take  (my fiance is in a high fraud country). The people here are not questioning your love or relationship.....they are giving you sound advice on how to continue towards a successful relationship and successful visa process  (after spending little time together) and what you should do during the visa process.  They are not just whistling Dixie....my advice would be to listen to them.....

[iwir 337]

If she has very strong ties to her country (great social life and family support) why would she leave all behind so easily for someone she's just known so briefly? This question is not meant to be answered. Just my own curiosity.

[JoelThai 313]

A link to this video was posted over in the Sept 2017 K1 thread.   

 

It is of the March 15th US Senate meeting held to discuss the topic of Immigration and Fiancé Visa Fraud.   If the OP has time to view, and wishes to understand why other members here were displaying concern, this may be of interest.    Although he has already eliminated the possibly of fraud in his case, it could give him some additional perspective of the concern displayed by others and the concerns of the US Government.

 

MARCH 15, 2017

Immigration and Fiancé Visa Fraud The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on immigration fraud using K-1 visas. A K-1 visa allows a non-U.S. citizen to enter the U.S. and marry a citizen within 90 days. Witnesses included victims of fiancé visa and officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the State Department.

The San Bernadino, California shooter who killed 14 people entered the country using a K-1 visa. 

 

https://www.c-span.org/video/?425416-1/immigration-officials-testify-procedures-prevent-fianc-visa-fraud

[stringpuller 74]

12 minutes ago, iwir said:

If she has very strong ties to her country (great social life and family support) why would she leave all behind so easily for someone she's just known so briefly? This question is not meant to be answered. Just my own curiosity.

Good question ill ask her just like you asked.

14 minutes ago, iwir said:

If she has very strong ties to her country (great social life and family support) why would she leave all behind so easily for someone she's just known so briefly? This question is not meant to be answered. Just my own curiosity.

The other reason could be. I dunno maybe im a great man?? Possible? Ehh? 

[stringpuller 74]

4 hours ago, missileman said:

You might want to study the K-1 guide, K-1 tips, and K-1 flowsheet here:  http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides/

Im already regretting comming here and posting. I think maybe ill hire somone to help get us through this process. I dont know we will see. 

[Kyle&Ana 718]

Well guys, this is my history and our track was a little bit fast...

 

I was on vacation November-December 2017 in the states,  so he gave me superlike on Tinder,  but i didn't open the app until i came back to my country, normal life again(family, work, social life! Ecotourism), i opened tinder  and start to swiped to see who gave me that superlike. when i saw his picture i just said OMG OMG OMG This guy this guy, and  he gave me a superlike(i was like crazy hahhaa).... ... well i swiped right ...we love love sports and futboll(So Weirdo topic for start a conversation there)...

 

We didn't sleep the a few firsts day, talking in face time over 8 hours, going to work texting all day, stalking each other.. come home and start to talk to the next day(we were in zombie mode)....after 6 days talking we decided that he visits me in my home country for my own safety, we need to know about this! i felt like  i knew this guy for my whole life, his brain, his vibe, HIS WAY, he is unique! when i saw him for the first time i knew it.. this is the man of my life...after that... we have been traveling to see each other almost every month(January, February...) (we can do that because both have good job, no children, no big things to pay and thanks god flight tickets is not more than us$500  i know his family, he knows mine then..NOW  in the 4th month we filed... 

 

We were ready to hear comments like: we are both crazy, my friends telling me that we are going so fast... but come on man we have dated a lot of ppl before and is the first time we feel like this...he  agree too..when u know u know! and we are getting our chances!

 

We agree that we are citizen of the world and not matter what place if we are together.... i understand that ppl on here is just trying to give their advice... in some point or moment  of our relationships...

 

we need to test when things are getting serious, is normal they want make sure u are really sure about this(i did too, i tell to my fiancee that (is the USC) that Sometimes i can be high maintenance and we should wait the process he living in my country.. and he just answered me when i want that he buys the ticket... i would do the same for him, not matter where), the answer is not to us! if to yourself, when u file is just a little step, we all get frustrated, waiting game without our beloved one... we are all in the same boat right now!  

 

So good vibes Only but just try to see everything, every detail, Love is beautiful and sometimes is blind... Face time help a lot, time is relative... i have known this guy in this a few month more than i have done before with long relationships...i know which things i dont like from him too but not big deal... i have seen ppl with 6 years dating, and when they get married .... after  2 months PUFFFF.... and another a few month and happy forever blah blah....So is her family  involved, how is your communication with them, are they agree...if her friends know u, etc etc etc, at the end of the day we all wish u the best ! AND hope u and your fiance be happy forever!

 

PS. pardon my typos! Happy journey to all!

 

[Kyle&Ana 718]

3 minutes ago, stringpuller said:

Im already regretting comming here and posting. I think maybe ill hire somone to help get us through this process. I dont know we will see. 

hey, we just follow this forums that is very helpful, K1 is not too complicated and nobody else will be more careful than u Because this is a really important thing to u!!! at first we are all around the place... but the guides here are very helpful!

 

Read Forums now for me is a daily task and u would surprised how much u can learn through the Forums! Just ASK all search if somebody have done your same question!

my fiancee and I created a document on google drive and we were working together there through nights! Dont give up this is a long and beautiful journey!

[JoBri 548]

More than 10 years ago my wife and I met once in person and got married on that visit. Our son will be 8 this coming July and my wife is an RN. I'm just saying that for us it has been wonderful. I hate to think what my life would have been had I not met her. 

 

To meet several times many days each time would have been great. We couldn't afford that though at the time. But I knew I wanted to be with her forever. Sometimes you just know in your heart. I am sure there are a lot of sad stories on here in which the marriage didn't work out and they wished they had gotten to know each other better face to face. But for us, with the financial situation we were in and unable to afford it, and having taken that risk based on what we felt in our hearts, it was a risk 10 years ago that was sure worth it to me. I love her so much.. And my precious son...such love in that little heart of his. 

 

God's blessings to you both. I wish you much success in the future.

[iwir 337]

@stringpuller, we're not in the position to answer that question. It's your fiance during her interview. Whether or not the CO is satisfied with her answer, it all depends on the evidence you have in your case. Nothing personal here.

 

Other thing in mind is you refused to sacrifice for her by spending more time with her in her home country, be it for a vacation or move there for a couple of years to learn more about her and her culture. In fact you asked her to sacrifice a lot by uprooting her from the people, the culture and the language she's been familiar with. Please read about effects on immigration. Homesickness, depression, sexual dysfunction and even suicidal attempt are real problems for those who are having a hard time adjusting. Remember she can't travel back to her country until she receives her AP and even if she does, the time she spends in the US must be longer than time spent abroad. 

 

International marriage is not only about immigration requirements and law. We also have to have great cultural sensitivity with each other. Tolerance, big heart, open mindedness and respect for each other are even more essential to make things work. And like we all know, it's never fast, cheap or easy. You have made up your mind and I wish you good luck on your relationship and your immigration journey.

Edited April 9, 2018 by iwir