Must Know Fiance 2 Years before applying for K1?

[Chris in Florida 2]

Hi,

I went to an immigration attorney today who said that my fiance and I MUST have known each other for 2 years or longer in order to apply. I've been doing a lot of research on getting ready for the fiance visa and I have never heard of this before. Just the rule about meeting at least once within the last 2 years. 

 

Was this person out in left field or perhaps is this something new USCIS has recently implemented? I haven't been able to find the answer in older posts.

[Unidentified 2,930]

2 minutes ago, Chris in Florida said:

Hi,

I went to an immigration attorney today who said that my fiance and I MUST have known each other for 2 years or longer in order to apply. I've been doing a lot of research on getting ready for the fiance visa and I have never heard of this before. Just the rule about meeting at least once within the last 2 years. 

 

Was this person out in left field or perhaps is this something new USCIS has recently implemented? I haven't been able to find the answer in older posts.

No. The only requirement is that you have met 1 time WITHIN the last 2 years. So if you have only been together lets say 1 year and you met 8 weeks ago you're fine. As long as it hasn't been longer than 2 years since you met. So yeah, find another attorney. Or if you want to save money, do it all yourself. It's not that hard. 

Edited June 5, 2018 by Unidentified

[Loren Y 2,756]

I agree, there are only 2 important things to worry about for a K1, You must have met within 2 years of filing, and you both must be free to marry and stay that way until POE. Time to find another attorney as that is a K1 Kindergarten question that he messed up. Obviously he won't qualify for smarter than a 5th grader K1 Questions. And in all honesty based on the time it is taking for a K1 you will have known her for 2 years if you just met her yesterday LOL, lets hope not, but brace for the long haul.

Edited June 5, 2018 by Loren Y

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Think you should forget about that "attorney" and delete their number immediately because they clearly don't know a thing about the K-1 visa.

[old-fella 109]

9 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

No. The only requirement is that you have met 1 time WITHIN the last 2 years. So if you have only been together lets say 1 year and you met 8 weeks ago you're fine. As long as it hasn't been longer than 2 years since you met. So yeah, find another attorney. Or if you want to save money, do it all yourself. It's not that hard. 

1

agreed.

 

Lawyers don't necessarily know everything but not knowing such basic is a big concern. My advise RUN AWAY FROM THAT LAWYER 

[shumway1756 304]

I sincerely hope you maybe misunderstood what the attorney said, because if he really said that he's completely worthless. If that's definitely what he said, then get rid of him immediately. That sort of incompetent guidance can really mess up your lives.

 

Better yet, if you've got a straightforward situation, you may not even need an attorney's help. The process isn't that bad if you do your due diligence and read all the instructions.

[Juniser 5]

Yes, the only requirement is that you have met 1 time within the last 2 years.

 

I did have an attorney who had particular knowledge of US Embassy Moscow cases and even though we did the I-129F after one visit, I was advised to make at least one more visit.  With the consular interview scrutiny that really did occur for us, it really helped that we did see each other more than one time as well as them wanting all of our communication logs that covered every day communication.  I was not at the interview for the K-1 and I do recommend if possible for the Petitioner to also go to the interview.  I just finished a step-child immigration case without having a non-custodial father's permission letter and I (the Petitioner/step-father) went to that 3 minute interview and the Consular Officer had a big grin on his face while asking me two simple questions.  The big grin was like "Ok .. if your going to come to Moscow ... let's approve this visa" .  

 

So increase your k-visa approval probability with more than one visit and going to the interview (depending on the country I would assume also).

Edited June 6, 2018 by Juniser

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

There is also a waiver for not meeting in person.  I have seen one person use the waiver and get approved in Philippines as well. He had a medical condition that kept him from flying 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

11 hours ago, Chris in Florida said:

Hi,

I went to an immigration attorney today who said that my fiance and I MUST have known each other for 2 years or longer in order to apply. I've been doing a lot of research on getting ready for the fiance visa and I have never heard of this before. Just the rule about meeting at least once within the last 2 years. 

 

Was this person out in left field or perhaps is this something new USCIS has recently implemented? I haven't been able to find the answer in older posts.

Chris

 

Submit your own petition,  You have all the resources at visajourney you will need.  After you submit and get approved you will look back and have a sense of accomplishment and you will also see how easy it actually is. 

 

Lawyers take anywhere between $3k to $10k to basically file the paperwork for you.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

14 hours ago, Chris in Florida said:

Hi,

I went to an immigration attorney today who said that my fiance and I MUST have known each other for 2 years or longer in order to apply. I've been doing a lot of research on getting ready for the fiance visa and I have never heard of this before. Just the rule about meeting at least once within the last 2 years. 

 

Was this person out in left field or perhaps is this something new USCIS has recently implemented? I haven't been able to find the answer in older posts.

I would run away from this attorney ASAP because the requirement is having met in person within the last 2 years not a 2 year relationship. I would utilize VJ and file it yourself.

[Chris in Florida 2]

Thanks everyone for your input. After thinking about it all day, I think the lady must've gotten confused. Perhaps she doesn't normally handle fiance visas, or she just plain crae-crae. LOL

 

Thanks again!

 

 

[pushbrk 13,184]

24 minutes ago, Chris in Florida said:

Thanks everyone for your input. After thinking about it all day, I think the lady must've gotten confused. Perhaps she doesn't normally handle fiance visas, or she just plain crae-crae. LOL

 

Thanks again!

Most Immigration Lawyers seldom handle family based visas, if ever.  However, a lawyer who can't read an instruction written in plain English without turning it upside down and backwards before spitting it back out to a client, isn't worth a nickel.

[Jenny17655 284]

20 hours ago, Chris in Florida said:

Hi,

I went to an immigration attorney today who said that my fiance and I MUST have known each other for 2 years or longer in order to apply. I've been doing a lot of research on getting ready for the fiance visa and I have never heard of this before. Just the rule about meeting at least once within the last 2 years. 

 

Was this person out in left field or perhaps is this something new USCIS has recently implemented? I haven't been able to find the answer in older posts.

Find another attorney immediately.  He does not understand the basic requirements of K1 visa

[Sunnyland 639]

If your case is simple (no red flags, etc) then follow the instructions, sample guides on this website. But download the forms to fill out from the uscis website directly. Also dump that dummy lawyer you got and save yourself that $$$.

[Rocko20 159]

If a lawyer is telling people they need to know eachother for two years before filing  a K1, I imagine he’s not getting any business at all