K1 VISA Meeting in person once

[vlavnder 0]

I filed the I-129F and we're waiting for the NOA1, we've been thinking about the interview stage. For context the nature of relationship is pretty different, we met online through playing video games, she's a student currently close to graduating this year (the beneficiary was born and raised in the UK) and I've been working at a new job for a couple months now. Last year 2024 was the year we officially met and stayed together for two weeks (we started dating the year prior 2023). We filed this Year and we're worried about the fact that we've only met in person once up until this point, because she's busy with school and I've only started working at this new job recently we struggle finding the time to meet in person. We have considered meeting in person again before the interview but we wouldn't be able to meet long at all because of our schedules and so that might not look great either. We have enough evidence to show we're in an ongoing relationship with our call logs, we've been calling daily for hours and hours since the end of 2023 and we have text messages too. Should we meet again or will this be enough for the interview stage?

[OldUser 7,513]

20 minutes ago, vlavnder said:

 Should we meet again 

Yes, and not only because of immigration, but for personal reason. It's best to know the person in real lice before committing to marry.

[vlavnder 0]

I understand but would we be denied if we didn't? We are struggling to find the time to do so.

[Boiler 46,095]

1 hour ago, vlavnder said:

I understand but would we be denied if we didn't? We are struggling to find the time to do so.

Possibly

[appleblossom 3,106]

1 hour ago, vlavnder said:

I understand but would we be denied if we didn't? We are struggling to find the time to do so.

 

If your OH is a student, surely she has some kind of school break/vacation coming up? It looks as though she’s in the UK so she should have about a month off for Easter, maybe a reading week too? Can she not come to visit you then? 

[Rachel n Tyler 70]

It can be a reason they deny it, yes. It doesn’t have to be, but it definitely can. If you can, before the interview, I would meet up again. Even if it’s for a week

[RufusDawes 15]

9 hours ago, vlavnder said:

I filed the I-129F and we're waiting for the NOA1, we've been thinking about the interview stage. For context the nature of relationship is pretty different, we met online through playing video games, she's a student currently close to graduating this year (the beneficiary was born and raised in the UK) and I've been working at a new job for a couple months now. Last year 2024 was the year we officially met and stayed together for two weeks (we started dating the year prior 2023). We filed this Year and we're worried about the fact that we've only met in person once up until this point, because she's busy with school and I've only started working at this new job recently we struggle finding the time to meet in person. We have considered meeting in person again before the interview but we wouldn't be able to meet long at all because of our schedules and so that might not look great either. We have enough evidence to show we're in an ongoing relationship with our call logs, we've been calling daily for hours and hours since the end of 2023 and we have text messages too. Should we meet again or will this be enough for the interview stage?

You have to have met in person within two years prior to filing the I-129F, and you have done that, and hopefully submitted evidence of the meeting in your application.

During the interview is when they will ask for evidence of an ongoing relationship, meeting in the last two years will no longer be an issue because USCIS has already vetted that.

IMO meeting again isn't necessary at this point.

[Boiler 46,095]

40 minutes ago, RufusDawes said:

You have to have met in person within two years prior to filing the I-129F, and you have done that, and hopefully submitted evidence of the meeting in your application.

During the interview is when they will ask for evidence of an ongoing relationship, meeting in the last two years will no longer be an issue because USCIS has already vetted that.

IMO meeting again isn't necessary at this point.

It was in mine

[Pathamawadee 0]

You'll be just fine, no deny for sure. If you can show them strong evidence that your relationship is real and not for Green Card fraud.
I have seen so many people posted in here that they worried about their K1 process because they only met once before they filed I-129F.
And people also replied to them negatively that they will for sure get deny. But no, most of them got the visa just fine and now in the US.
Once of the post they only met each other for 6 days then file for I-129F and never meet again until they got the visa.

So you don't have to be worry, in USCIS I-129F intructions also stated it clear that you need to meet at least once within 2 years of filing.

You are fine.

Edited Monday at 10:31 AM by Pathamawadee

[Dashinka 24,790]

4 hours ago, Pathamawadee said:

You'll be just fine, no deny for sure. If you can show them strong evidence that your relationship is real and not for Green Card fraud.
I have seen so many people posted in here that they worried about their K1 process because they only met once before they filed I-129F.
And people also replied to them negatively that they will for sure get deny. But no, most of them got the visa just fine and now in the US.
Once of the post they only met each other for 6 days then file for I-129F and never meet again until they got the visa.

So you don't have to be worry, in USCIS I-129F intructions also stated it clear that you need to meet at least once within 2 years of filing.

You are fine.

Not really sure anyone can say with all certainty that this could not be cause for denial.  Back when my now wife and I were going through the K1 process, we met twice before applying, and I was also in the room when she was being interviewed at the US Consulate in Moscow.  It helped as she was definitely asked about the ongoing relationship and the fact that I was there supporting her seemed to be in our favor. 

 

I will agree that a denial is unlikely with only one visit (particularly in a low fraud country like the UK) if they have a lot of proof of an ongoing relationship, and there are no other red flags, but each interview can result in more headaches for the beneficiary and petitioner depending on the CO.

[Boiler 46,095]

I also think London is a relatively easy Consulate.

 

But part of that is because the cases tend to be easy for the Consulate, I do not recollect seeing a London one meet case, ever. So I have nothing to compare it with.

 

So to expand on my thought process if you are a CO and you handle K1's and have seen hundreds and are used to see loads of visits both ways and here is a recent photo of us together and it is all ticking boxes and then you out of the blue get a well we met once and it was a long time ago, is it not going to make you go huh?

 

I like making cases easily approvable.

 

And so far do not understand why there is an issue visiting.

[RufusDawes 15]

The whole interview decision by the visa officer during the interview is completely subjective, they can deny for no specific reason... it is up to you to prepare for the interview and overcome any burden of doubt to the best you can and prepare for questions like these and overcome them with evidence to give to the visa officer.

[Boiler 46,095]

K1s are not usually denied, well I cannot recollect seeing one denied, they are returned and allowed to expire. 

[mam521 2,204]

Please fill out your timeline: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=483124

 

Food for thought: would you marry your partner tomorrow?  If not, you best meet up some more and get through the "we think we like each other but not sure" stages.  K1's used to be fast and it was suitable for people who knew with certainty that they wanted to be together.  You need to be sure this is your person.  

 

Additionally, you need to discuss whether your UK partner is comfortable giving everything up and becoming 100% dependent on you for however long it takes for their work authorization and travel documents to become available.  This is typically quite difficult for people who come from western countries who are often very independent.  It can create some serious strife in a relationship, especially when the beneficiary has moved country and has no friends, no driver's license and can't work.  

 

Not sure what your employment history is but if you had a gap in employment, this may factor into the perception of the Consulate regarding your financial ability to support your partner.   Do you have a joint sponsor lined up if this is the case?   

[vlavnder 0]

I appreciate all the feedback, I am hoping that because my beneficiary is from the UK that it wouldn't pose as a big risk, for those that don't understand why it's difficult for us to meet this year its because of timing due to work/final year at her Uni, we're both very busy. (not impossible it's just very difficult to book flights with the uncertainty) If we could marry right now without a doubt we both would, we knew when we got into a long distance relationship with each other that it was for the long run, we're both 100% clear with that the fact and we want to start a new life together. There's no big age age gap,( both in our 20s), have the same interests and hobbies etc.  I make more than enough to support her transition while she waits to be able to work, get her license etc. (The good news is she has close family and friends here too so she won't be alone.)