Have met in person within 2 years

[Koro 5]

I have not seen my fiancé for 3 years now due to Covid-19 restrictions. Would it be a reason to waive this requirement?  
My fiancé lives in China. We miss each other very much. Now the countries are opening for travel but the flights to and from China is still difficult and airfare is sky high. We have seen each other since June 2017. She visited me several times in the U.S with her 10 year U.S visa and I visited her in China several times with my 10 year Chinese visa. So I have all the evidence of relationship.  I hope Covid-19 pandemic restrictions are the reason for hardship.

[Sammy_2496 116]

I don’t have confidence that the pandemic would be a good enough reason for a waiver. I’ve seen people have their K1’ denied because of such waiver. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

If you are planning on getting the requirement waived you must include very strong evidence on the impossibility of meeting her. In general the waiver is granted due to cultural or health reasons. 

 

On a quick search a flight from LAX to Beijing is below 1000dlls. So I doubt financial hardship would be enough. Regarding COVID restrictions, they're no longer in place. 

 

I recommend you both meeting, maybe in a third country and avoid wasting time and money on filing a petition that will very likely be denied. 

[MonkeyDan 27]

Covid and lockdowns are not a reason to waive the 2 year meeting requirement prior to filing.  USCIS will say that you could have met in a different country.  Regardless, we are in 2023 now and almost all countries are open and you could have met in a different country.  I've read about many people getting denied for this reason (not meeting with 2 years) and many of them tried to argue they couldn't visit due to covid but that was not satisfactory for USCIS.  

[Koro 5]

3 minutes ago, Sammy_2496 said:

I don’t have confidence that the pandemic would be a good enough reason for a waiver. I’ve seen people have their K1’ denied because of such waiver. 

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated. Since it’s the true reason, I will have to submit this reason. 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

18 minutes ago, Koro said:

I have not seen my fiancé for 3 years now due to Covid-19 restrictions. Would it be a reason to waive this requirement?  
My fiancé lives in China. We miss each other very much. Now the countries are opening for travel but the flights to and from China is still difficult and airfare is sky high. We have seen each other since June 2017. She visited me several times in the U.S with her 10 year U.S visa and I visited her in China several times with my 10 year Chinese visa. So I have all the evidence of relationship.  I hope Covid-19 pandemic restrictions are the reason for hardship.

It won't work.  I have seen zero successful waivers.   Marry online, meet, then start the spousal visa process.  

Edited March 18, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

8 minutes ago, Koro said:

Since it’s the true reason, I will have to submit this reason. 

You can meet now.  Your case will be rejected or denied without meeting.  

 

You are not the first to ask this question. 

Edited March 18, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Sammy_2496 116]

1 minute ago, Koro said:

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated. Since it’s the true reason, I will have to submit this reason. 

You would be wasting your time. Covid restrictions are not around anymore and if they are, they are very minimal. I would save yourself the time and heartache and meet up in a country, get legally married and then file CR1. Or if you can’t meet just yet, marry online through (Utah), meet up and then file.

[Koro 5]

1 minute ago, MonkeyDan said:

Covid and lockdowns are not a reason to waive the 2 year meeting requirement prior to filing.  USCIS will say that you could have met in a different country.  Regardless, we are in 2023 now and almost all countries are open and you could have met in a different country.  I've read about many people getting denied for this reason (not meeting with 2 years) and many of them tried to argue they couldn't visit due to covid but that was not satisfactory for USCIS.  

Thank you very much for your detailed answer. Much appreciated . That’s makes sense. Since the travel costs are still expensive, we’re just waiting. And we’re planning to see each other in the United States in September. She is waiting for the airline to offer direct flight with a reasonable airfare.  Thank you for giving me an idea to see each other in some other countries near China 

[Koro 5]

7 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

It won't work.  I have seen zero successful waivers.   Marry online, meet, then start the spousal visa process.  

Thank you for your answer. Much appreciated. I guess we have to wait until I see her 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

1 minute ago, Koro said:

Thank you for your answer. Much appreciated. I guess we have to wait until I see her 

or you could marry online right now, meet to consummate the marriage per USCIS requirements, then immediately start the spousal visa process.  

Edited March 18, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Koro 5]

7 minutes ago, Sammy_2496 said:

You would be wasting your time. Covid restrictions are not around anymore and if they are, they are very minimal. I would save yourself the time and heartache and meet up in a country, get legally married and then file CR1. Or if you can’t meet just yet, marry online through (Utah), meet up and then file.

Thank you for your great advice, much appreciated. 

[Sammy_2496 116]

Just now, Koro said:

Thank you for your great advice, much appreciated. 

You’re welcome! Good luck ☺️

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from K1 Progress Reports to K1 Process & Procedures ***

 

[Koro 5]

34 minutes ago, Chancy said:

*** Moved from K1 Progress Reports to K1 Process & Procedures ***

 

Thank you