Evidence of meeting data

[baby-g 3]

Hi Everyone!

 

My fiancé and I are right at the beginning of this process and would love some advice on the evidence of meeting within two years!!

 

We have been together in the same country (Sydney, Australia) for our whole 2yr relationship and have been living together here for one year and are posting the petition from here together. We have made a few overseas trips to New Zealand (my home country) together so I have included the flight details, boarding passes etc and I have got our latest rental agreement with both our names/signatures. One other thing I have done is screenshotted all our Instagram posts featuring each other as they have date stamps.

 

Is there anything else we should include that would help?

 

Thanks so much in advance ☺️

 

 

[SalishSea 17,836]

Just now, baby-g said:

Hi Everyone!

 

My fiancé and I are right at the beginning of this process and would love some advice on the evidence of meeting within two years!!

 

We have been together in the same country (Sydney, Australia) for our whole 2yr relationship and have been living together here for one year and are posting the petition from here together. We have made a few overseas trips to New Zealand (my home country) together so I have included the flight details, boarding passes etc and I have got our latest rental agreement with both our names/signatures. One other thing I have done is screenshotted all our Instagram posts featuring each other as they have date stamps.

 

Is there anything else we should include that would help?

 

Thanks so much in advance ☺️

 

 

You have more than enough evidence for the simple requirement of having met once in two years.  IG posts are not necessary at all.  Best of luck.

[baby-g 3]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

You have more than enough evidence for the simple requirement of having met once in two years.  IG posts are not necessary at all.  Best of luck.

Thank you!!

 

I just read this thread though so was worried that we wouldn't have enough!

 

[SalishSea 17,836]

5 minutes ago, baby-g said:

Thank you!!

 

I just read this thread though so was worried that we wouldn't have enough!

Btw, Kia Ora!

 

Hmm.  I think those such cases are in the minority.  For most K-1 couples, the high quality evidence is going to be passport stamps and flight itineraries.  A rental lease agreement is probably great.   You also might want to focus on the financials/public charge issues.  Is the USC planning to move back and get a job/establish domicile etc?  Have you thought about marrying in Oz and doing a spousal visa instead?

 

[geowrian 22,337]

You live together abroad right now? Have you considered marrying and doing a CR-1 visa instead?

Edited April 23, 2019 by geowrian

[baby-g 3]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

 

Kia Ora!!

 

Thanks again! We have a co-sponsor all set to go and a residence for when we move over. We decided against marrying here as his family want the wedding to happen in the States so they can be involved! Also from what I've read spousal visas can take a lot longer to process.

[geowrian 22,337]

23 minutes ago, baby-g said:

Thanks again! We have a co-sponsor all set to go and a residence for when we move over. We decided against marrying here as his family want the wedding to happen in the States so they can be involved! Also from what I've read spousal visas can take a lot longer to process.

It's only about 3-5 months longer last time I checked, on a year or so process. But it gets you a green card faster, is cheaper, and lets you work & travel abroad right away.

I just suggest it because being unable to work, travel, and sometimes even get a license is a really tough strain on a marriage. Where minimizing the time separated is not an issue, it's usually better.

[SalishSea 17,836]

Geo makes a good point.  

 

In our case, we were lucky because my husband received his combo card (AP/EAD to be able to work and return to the USA if leaving) after 4.5 months of filing, which is quite fast.  So, for us it was just over 13 months from filing the I-129f petition to him being able to work.  We also live in a state that grants driver's licenses without regard to immigration status.  In retrospect, a CR-1 may have been a better choice, although I know we are quite lucky in being ahead of the game in almost every area except for the actual green card (our local field office has one of the longest wait times in the country).

 

Where will you be living in the states?  And where in NZ are you from?  I have only been there once.  LOVE IT.

Edited April 23, 2019 by Jorgedig

[baby-g 3]

Thanks both of you, I really appreciate your responses!

 

We have considered the CR-1 but decided against as we want to get to the US as soon as possible. My being able to work is not our priority and seeing as though his family are desperate to be involved in the wedding we thought the K-1 was our best bet. Jorgedig - Sounds like you had a dream run! Fingers crossed for us too hahah! 

 

We will be first living just outside of Boston with his family, getting married there, and then moving to Los Angeles as that is where my fiancé will be getting work, we also have a house already sorted in LA when we move there. I will look up the processing times for both.. see what we have in store for then...

 

I'm from Auckland!! It is such a great country, and so happy to be living here while we go through all of this 

[SalishSea 17,836]

Sounds like you’ve been doing some planning- a good thing!  My husband is originally from Papakura, but lived on the North Shore as an adult.   

 

Auckland reminds me of Seattle and Vancouver 💕.

[baby-g 3]

My grandparents were in the North Shore so I spent some time there too. You must get back at some point and do the South Island!! We did it last year for a week in a camper and it blew my mind, could've spent months... Nothing like exploring places in your own backyard!

 

Nga mihi ❤️

[SalishSea 17,836]

Just now, baby-g said:

My grandparents were in the North Shore so I spent some time there too. You must get back at some point and do the South Island!! We did it last year for a week in a camper and it blew my mind, could've spent months... Nothing like exploring places in your own backyard!

 

Nga mihi ❤️

I so want to!  We did a north island tiki tour from Auckland down to Wellington, with stops along the way at Matamata (Hobbiton), Taupo, Rotorua.  

 

Next I want to see the southern alps and wine country, etc.  

 

 

[JFH 12,190]

You can get married in the USA and still do a CR-1. You don’t have to do a K-1 to get married in the US. And the beauty of doing it that way (and it’s the way we did it) is you get married when you want. No need to have to restrict yourself to a 90-day window and put your timeline at the mercy of USCIS. I assume you are VWP eligible? So, when you want to get married, book your tickets to Boston and get married. 

 

Seriously consider it. Have you checked whether California will let you get a drivers license without being a permanent resident? What if you have to travel somewhere overseas in an emergency? 

 

The fastest way isn’t necessarily the best way. 

Edited April 24, 2019 by JFH

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

If you would allow me, here is a comparison I put together some time ago regarding K-1 vs CR-1:

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US (currently about 3 months sooner)    
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

  

CR-1
    Slightly slower arrival in the US (currently about 3 months later)

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
   

 

[Fr8dog 312]

I would strongly advise you to think this one over. CR-1 is the way to go in my opinion (we did not and I still regret it). the current AOS/EAD/AP wait times are getting way out of control and it's not going to get any better. You could easily look at "couch sitting" for 6 months.