amount of time together before engaged an issue?

[chicurious 0]

Is something around 6 months something that is frowned upon by INS and the embassy? By the time the marriage would take place it would have been nearly a year and a half but since we just know (you know the stories of folks knowing within the first week of meeting each other- my parents included and still happily together nearly 30 years later) I would like to start the process so we can begin our new life back in the States. However, while we don't feel rushed I don't want to embassy acting suspicious.

[SqdnGuns 21]

I don't see why it would amke too much of a difference just as long as you have all of the primary evidence and some secondaries.

BTW, voted 9-12 months.

[Dan J 277]

You should be OK, but make sure you don't have anything else in your case that may cause the CO to suspect fraud or otherwise.

[L_n_O 3]

I'm a one and 3/4 year =)

I think as long as you have an honest understanding of eachother, it's cool

Edited June 26, 2007 by liz_legend 'n Ol

[Alex+R 0]

6 months is a long time. There are people on this board who met and proposed two days later and the next time they saw each other was to do the visa interview/during the move to the US. And I mean a LOT of people on this board like that. Most of them seem to be successful.

I accidentally voted 9-12 months but it was actually longer than that.

Edited June 26, 2007 by Alex+R

[~Nini~ 2]

Bee and I were together for... what, 9 months before we submitted an application?

As long as you have proof that you have a genuine relationship, you should be okay. I think USCIS is used to seeing "whirlwind romances" all the time - their main concern is separating the fradulent cases from the genuine ones.

[Galateia 1]

I put '9-12' because we filed after being together for 9 months, but we never really got engaged. We decided to go ahead and file when we found out he'd got his offer in Texas of all places.

I know it's a bit old-fashioned and odd, but I wear a ring set with our birthstones as a 'placeholder' ring instead of a traditional engagement ring. I wonder what the interviewer will make of that. I do love my ring; there is something so fuzziness-inducing about looking down at one's hand and seeing the future's promise on your finger.

Nini, so we also share our 'time elapsed before filing' timelines? You're starting to scare me!

[cellarlily 0]

We were friends for a while before we started dating, but were engaged just over 3 months after officially dating, married one year from when we started dating. It's fast for most people, but I think they understand the circumstances and why you would get engaged quickly after dating.

[zencat 0]

We met online in March, in person in June... and I proposed!

[Nessa 23]

a year and a half here

[Jenn! 918]

Yes, I would say it is an issue, especially at high fraud posts. I think the references to marriage could be equally applied to engagement for K1 purposes:

What are some typical red flags that can cause a Consular Officer to suspect the merits of a relationship?

...

1. A very brief courtship followed by a plunge into matrimony;

2. A marriage ceremony arranged only a short time after petitioner arrives in the beneficiary’s country and they meet for the first time;

...

7. US divorce followed very quickly by an engagement to foreign beneficiary is often a red flag for consular officers.

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0323-ellis.shtm

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

A year and a half but it was a CR-1 not a K-1, and we obviously were already married at that point.

[nyhazmat 2]

Met in person through friends in Canada of all places. Dated for three months, got tired of crossing daily (love Canada, hate the border). Proposed, Filed K-1 at 3.5 months. After NOA2, sent her back to Ukraine to collect paperwork. Joined her in Ukraine 1 week later. Work interupted vacation with a trip to Denver. Sent back to Ukraine for interview. (crossed the Atlantic 4 times in December). I arrive back in the states while waiting for visa....Hmmm, Fed-Ex was slow delivering. She arrived 1 week later. Married 1 1/2 months after entry. Filed AOS and approved in less than 1 year. And by the way, we just went to Canada to visit those friends this past weekend with her I-551 stamp, no issues at the border.

[Dwarf_Ogress 0]

Marlon and I have been together since June 2006. We got engaged in September and we didn't file until January 2007.

[chicurious 0]

Excellent responses. Is it something we would have to explain- why we had such a short courtship?