Minimum AGE BEFORE beginning K-1 process?

[speeddemonsaint 0]

I understand the LEGAL age for marriage is 18+, but with the current 12+ month expected time to get the VISA, I have an interesting and unusual question.
Does the girl absolutely NEED to be 18 before we can meet, date, and get engaged?
...and submit the I-129F packet?

(even with her families full support)
Is anything before she is 18 unusable?
* She will be 18 (or maybe 19) by the time she gets the Visa to come to the USA. I'm thinking that her age at THAT TIME is all that REALLY matters.

Background: I first met the FILIPINA girl when she was 16 through an app. At that time I didn't want to WAIT for her to become 18. So we just remained FB "friends."
Recently, she said that she was 17 now. So, I think, why not explore the chemistry at least. We have great chemistry and she's much more HONEST than many others I chat with. I really like her and I think she could potentially be the BEST choice for me. I want to keep things legal and legit and moral.
(Honestly, I wish she was 19+)

I'm just curious about what can we LEGALLY do without NEEDing to WAIT for her 18th birthday (about 10 months away).
Maybe I will go and meet her and spend time with her (with a chaperone) 6 months before she turns 18, and then submit the I-129F right after that.
Is that possible?

 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

***Moved to the Philippines regional forum****

I would proceed with EXTREME caution.

Edited March 13, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 45,449]

Have you considered meeting first?

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

How old are you?

[TBoneTX 45,259]

Meet first (more than once), if doing so is legal in her country.  The age of consent is crucial.

 

If, after considerable time spent together legally in person, you still wish to proceed, file with USCIS only after she's 18 years old, or the legal minimum age in her country.

 

If you get involved with a minor, you will wish that you had never been born.

[TBoneTX 45,259]

In addition, consider that even if you were to survive the USCIS petition process, the consular officer conducting the visa interview at the Manila embassy might take an exceptionally dim view of your having involved yourself with a then-minor.

 

You might even be opening yourself up to legal consequences now, depending on the nature of your correspondence with this minor female.

 

Edited to add:  I know of no 16- or 17-year-old who is mature enough to form a lasting marital relationship with someone locally, let alone on the other side of the world.

Edited March 13, 2023 by TBoneTX

[Lemonslice 4,831]

12 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Meet first (more than once), if doing so is legal in her country.  The age of consent is crucial.

 

If, after considerable time spent together legally in person, you still wish to proceed, file with USCIS only after she's 18 years old, or the legal minimum age in her country.

 

If you get involved with a minor, you will wish that you had never been born.

For the DOJ, internationally, it is 18 years old.  

 

https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/extraterritorial-sexual-exploitation-children 

 

Also, since "It is also illegal to help organize or assist another person to travel for these purposes. ", I suggest this thread be closed.

Edited March 13, 2023 by Lemonslice

[TBoneTX 45,259]

2 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

since "It is also illegal to help organize or assist another person to travel for these purposes. ", I suggest this thread be closed.

In fact, yes.  Thread is locked, and the topic is not to be restarted or revisited elsewhere.