can start application before meeting in person?

[Thai Rath 1]

Yah, I agree with this one. I wasn't trying to be rude. Just pointing out that it is NEVER a good idea to even consider this process before you know you are compatible. You all know how difficult the whole process is. And for those of you who are still going through it, when your SO gets here, there are lots of issues to deal with after. It's not all smooth sailing. A few days here or there or weeks or whatever is still not enough time to know everything about someone. But, at least you have a foundation to work with having seen where they come from, how they treat you around others, and how you two deal with at least some differences of opinions, conflicts, whatever, on a face to face level.

Not moralizing. Just common sense. I hope everyone's process and impending marriages are all sunshine and rainbows. But, in the end, I am a realist. And, I've already been through what most of you are still trying to navigate.

No, it's not just "common sense" and is just an opinion and one that is widely held on VJ, I will grant you, but just an opinion. What about arranged marriages? What about situations where for religious reasons they are not supposed to meet? Why do think that USCIS has the, albeit (statistically speaking) seldom used, exception for the requirement for having met in person?

Edited July 18, 2007 by smgx4000

[payxibka 10,047]

While the dates used in the example are perfectly acceptable, UCCIS ultimately renders a decision about credibility.

Credibility of the supplied evidence within the very narrow scope of the visa requirements maybe, but I do not believe they render a decision about the facts surrounding or credibility of the relationship, as that appears to be the job of the consulate officer.

Also, the Philippines is a country that USCIS closely scrutinizes. Thus, those applications may receive more careful evaluation than other petitions.

The USCIS? I do not think the USCIS does. The Department of State appears to possibly do this at some level

As we've learned, the decisions made about a file depend on who's reviewing the file.

MM and MS

Of course, whenever you have a human making decisions there will always be some subjectivity

Edited July 18, 2007 by fwaguy

[MM_MS 0]

In fact, there are several countries with high incidents of visa fraud. And credibility is a factor throughout the entire process. While a consulate may render the final decision regarding visa issuance, USCIS makes subjective decisions ... all the time.

Some evidence submitted with the petition is determined acceptable and other evidence is not. One example: passport-style photographs are required to be 2"x2." Some photographs submitted are smaller, some are larger. It seems ridiculous. Yet despite photo size variance, some petitions make it through, while others receive an RFE.

Not sure arguing this point ad nauseum serves much purpose. I wanted to offer an example from my petition/experience to illustrate the point I was making.

MM and MS

While the dates used in the example are perfectly acceptable, UCCIS ultimately renders a decision about credibility.

Credibility of the supplied evidence within the very narrow scope of the visa requirements maybe, but I do not believe they render a decision about the facts surrounding or credibility of the relationship, as that appears to be the job of the consulate officer.

Also, the Philippines is a country that USCIS closely scrutinizes. Thus, those applications may receive more careful evaluation than other petitions.

The USCIS? I do not think the USCIS does. The Department of State appears to possibly do this at some level

As we've learned, the decisions made about a file depend on who's reviewing the file.

MM and MS

Of course, whenever you have a human making decisions there will always be some subjectivity

[TimsDaisy 0]

Just make sure you meet in person at some point before filing, that way you can include a bunch of proof of meeting in person, like pictures of you together at various places.

Good luck

Thank you very much, that's the kind of reply I wanted to see, and no other comments, you know what I mean. I didn't want nothing more but direct answer to my post. Thank you to all who directly answer my post!

Asianbeauty if this is the only advice here that you take to heart, you will delay yourself because USCIS will request additional evidence.

Photos don't cut it alone. Period. You need primary evidence. That can't be emphasized enough.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

People here are mostly adults and those that aren't have adult family members to preach common sense or whatever to them. This member came asking a legitimate question and got their answer. Preaching anything but obeying the law, is not part of the purpose of VJ. Please resist the temptation to parent the members.

Agreed pushbrk . We (I anyways) can only talk about the process - how each one of us gets there is no one else's biz,really. Think of all our friends dealing with IMBRA for instance - we love them notwithstanding.

To the OP: wait past the visit (I bet you are hiper nervous!!!!) and file. Keep copies of passport stamps, airplane tickets, and go crrrrrazy with taking pictures.

Best of luck, L.

[rebeccajo 14]

USCIS approves petitions. If you can meet the bare minimum standards of the I129F filing you can get an approval from USCIS. It's not a tall order to obtain I129F approval.

DOS issues visas based upon approved USCIS petitions. A visa is issued based upon many things presented at an interview held at a US consulate under DOS juris. Things like proving the beneficiary is a valid citizen of the host nation, that they have a clean criminal record, that they aren't a carrier of infectious disease, and that the relationship underlying the approved petition is genuine. As you can see, visa issuance is a bit different than visa petition approval.

To ascertain any challenges your evidence may face at interview, read up on accounts of interviews recently held at the US consulate in your country. No two consulates are alike. The criteria for proving validity of your relationship may be higher at one consulate than another.

[caybee 21]

Hi from the Philippines. Can my fiance starts to petition me even before meeting in person? We just talk on the phone everyday, my friends, family know him in person, but I havent met him yet, he plans to come soon in my country and we wonder if he can file for K1 fiancee visa before we meet in person so when he comes here and leaves for US, he can bring me with him?

Thanks a lot!

One more thing to consider (and this is about the consulate, not USCIS, but it involves the I-129F): Some couples have been scrutinized when they were introduced by family and friends; the consulate suspected the relationship was arranged for the purpose of immigration. Do these family and friends live in the U.S., did they introduce you, and are you and your fiance from different cultural backgrounds? (Just questions to ask yourself as you prepare -- I'm not asking for the answer.) If they introduced you, you may want to give extra attention to that in the one-page narrative portion of the I-129F that describes how you met. In addition to mentioning any introduction that took place, you would follow up with an emphasis on how the relationship grew, things you found in common, etc, to show that the relationship is based on the two of you, not on other people. Don't fabricate, of course, but emphasize the strengths in your relationship. Technically that isn't necessary for the USCIS stage, but some of us have opted to address any red flags there with the idea that the consular officer may review the file prior to the interview and a good narrative may help head off any rush to judgment on their part. Just my two cents. And do gather as much proof of ongoing relationship as possible for the interview stage of your journey. I'm not trying to be negative at all. Just be aware that the subject may come up, and prepare for it. Knowledge is power. Good luck with your journey.

[MM_MS 0]

TD, your information may be dated, re: examples of primary and secondary evidence. Per RFE received May 2007, this is what USCIS stipulates as primary and secondary evidence regarding meeting in person within the previous two years:

The petitioner and the beneficiary must have met in person between - insert date - and - insert date -. Submit evidence of meeting the beneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petition. The primary evidence may include copies of passport pages that show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the Service to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary with the two years.

The secondary evidence may be airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), ATM and credit card transactions, flight itinerary on airline/travel agency letterhead, etc. NOTE: Secondary evidence is used to support any primary evidence that has been submitted. The following DOES NOT constitute evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards.

Petitioner may also submit bank statements and/or credit card statements and receipts showing that a withdrawal/purchase was made in - insert country -. Please ensure that any documentation that is submitted has the petitioner's name, location, and the full date (month, day, and year).

* Areas above are in bold as they are in the RFE instructions. Strike through is mine. Ticket stubs and receipts are now secondary evidence, not primary evidence, per RFE sent May 2007.

Submit evidence of meeting the meneficiary in person within the two-year period preceding the filing of the petiition. The primary evidence may include airline ticket stubs and receipts (that indicate month, day, and year), copies of passport pages taht show the identification page and admission stamps, military order(s), letter from Commanding Officer, or any evidence that will help the USCIS to determine that the petitioner has met the beneficiary within the two years. The secondary evidence may be film dated photographs of the petitioner and the beneficiary together. The following DOES NOT constitue evidence of meeting: disc, videos, emails, letters, phone bills, and greeting cards

[nane1104 146]

OP,

to your question if your fiance/bf can take you with him when he returns to the US:

In theory he can.

If there is the option that you meet, gather all evidence, file the I-129F and he has the option to stay with you in the country through the whole waiting time until you get approved, you can leave to the US with him.

I am not sure how this will work practically, when my fiance (now husband) filed for me last year, he got all the notices send to his adress in the US, but I am sure, there are ways to solve this little issue as well.

Good luck!

And on a little side note, without directing this to the OP: Even if the meeting within 2 years rule is only to avoid visa fraud...it is definitley a wise thing to meet before you decide to commit to this process...if you get really married later on is a whole different thing though.

Reading on VJ, there are always couples who end up deciding that they are not going to get married after going through the whole K-1 process.

[arch and cel 0]

USCIS requires proof that you and your fiance met in person 24 months prior to the date the petition is filed.

Imagine someone reviewing the petition. S/he reads that you both met in person August 15, for example. After reading through the documents, s/he notes that the petition was filed September 30. Now factor in that the beneficiary lives in the Philippines. What do you think the response will be?

MM and MS

Hi from the Philippines. Can my fiance starts to petition me even before meeting in person? We just talk on the phone everyday, my friends, family know him in person, but I havent met him yet, he plans to come soon in my country and we wonder if he can file for K1 fiancee visa before we meet in person so when he comes here and leaves for US, he can bring me with him?

Thanks a lot!

No, no, no. Meeting August 15, 2007 and filing the petition September 30, 2007 is perfectly acceptable. You don't have to meet 24 months before you file. There is not a minimum time after meeting in person that you must wait to file the petition. You could prepare everything in advance and file the same day you first meet in person.

The requirement is that sometime within 24 months preceding the filing of the petition, you have met in person at least one time. If the only time you met was 24 months and a day (or longer) before the petition is mailed, you need to see each other in person again before you file the petition.

It is important to read carefully and comprehend all instructions. From the I-129F instructions.

Provide copies of evidence that you and yourfiancé(e) have personally met within the last two years;

"Within" is a keyword in the sentence above.

I agree thats great advice! and thats what me and my fiance did! look at my timeline....

Good Luck,

arch & cel

[Mr and Mrs Bird 0]

Hi from the Philippines. Can my fiance starts to petition me even before meeting in person? We just talk on the phone everyday, my friends, family know him in person, but I havent met him yet, he plans to come soon in my country and we wonder if he can file for K1 fiancee visa before we meet in person so when he comes here and leaves for US, he can bring me with him?

Thanks a lot!

Dear asianbeaty.

I understand your question very well and ofcause your bf can start applying.

But there are alot of reasons to meet in person and know eachother better and know eachothers past.

Not only for the evidence to prove your relationship.

But maybe there are something in your past you have to prove for the american goverment.

I can tell about my own situation.

I am 48 years old and met my husband online for 4 years ago.

We were very much in love and decided to go this way as we do now.

We met 5 times real life before we applied for a K-1 visa.

A thing we didn't knew was that I had to show my 15 years old conviction and thanks god I did tell my fiance about this, but we didn't mention this before the interview.

It did gave us another 1 year to wait because I should go through an extra hoop to get the visa.

I am so happy that even before any decisions of marriage I told my husband about my past.

It didn't came to him as a surprise and he still wanted to continue our relationship.

Just to let you know that you have to be very honest with eachother before any big surprises that can ruin your relationship.

Meet him for god sakes and be prepared of what you can do if any problems with the past.

Love Anette

PS: Sorry for my maybe bad pronounce in English. I am still learning

[DakotaK1 1]

Hi from the Philippines. Can my fiance starts to petition me even before meeting in person? We just talk on the phone everyday, my friends, family know him in person, but I havent met him yet, he plans to come soon in my country and we wonder if he can file for K1 fiancee visa before we meet in person so when he comes here and leaves for US, he can bring me with him?

Thanks a lot!

Agree to the others you have to of met in person within the last 2 years before filing!!!!!!!!