must i return to the philippines?

[Researcher 0]

i met my fiancee in person in may of 2004 and again in january of 2006. due to circumstances beyond our control the petition may not be sent in until june of 2008. to satisfy the u.s. govt. must i return to the philippines again to be able to send in our petition and be "legal" or will the previous 2 trips and documentation of an ongoing 4 yrs relationship be enough to insure when i send the petition that it will be deemed "ok"? any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks to vj and all the members.

[MelindaandTarek 0]

What are the basic eligibility requirements

for a fiancé(e) petition?

Only a U.S. citizen can file a fiancé(e) petition. In your petition you

must prove that:

• You are a U.S. citizen; and

• You and your fiancé(e) intend to marry within 90 days of your

fiancé(e) entering the U.S.; and

• You are both free to marry; and

• You have met each other in person within two years before you

file this petition unless:

1. The requirement to meet your fiancé(e) in person would

violate strict and long-established customs of your or your

fiancé(e)’s foreign culture or social practice; or

2. You prove that the requirement to personally meet your

fiancé(e) would result in extreme hardship to you.

This is directly from the USCIS - I am not sure how to proceed as when you file your I 129F it may be more than 2 yrs since your meeting...perhaps others here have experience with this?! Good luck...

[Dakine 26]

i met my fiancee in person in may of 2004 and again in january of 2006. due to circumstances beyond our control the petition may not be sent in until june of 2008. to satisfy the u.s. govt. must i return to the philippines again to be able to send in our petition and be "legal" or will the previous 2 trips and documentation of an ongoing 4 yrs relationship be enough to insure when i send the petition that it will be deemed "ok"? any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks to vj and all the members.

As the other poster mentioned! You have to have met in person within 2 years. If that hasn't happened by the time you file then you should make another trip.

Another trip would also help show you have an ongoing bonafide relationship since you haven't seen her in person for almost 2 years.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

You have to have met within the last two years from filing. The only way you can get around this is if you can prove there was something significant preventing you from not meeting within that time.

If you haven't met within the last two years, you will be denied.

[YuAndDan 153]

I don't understand why the I-129F cannot be sent before Jan 08. What can prevent someone from filing it now?

[mox 298]

I don't understand why the I-129F cannot be sent before Jan 08. What can prevent someone from filing it now?

Unfinalized divorce is typically what holds up a filer.

[YuAndDan 153]

I don't understand why the I-129F cannot be sent before Jan 08. What can prevent someone from filing it now?

Unfinalized divorce is typically what holds up a filer.

Good point.

[Dakine 26]

I don't understand why the I-129F cannot be sent before Jan 08. What can prevent someone from filing it now?

Unfinalized divorce is typically what holds up a filer.

Good point.

Who cares as the OP said it was beyond their control.

Stick to what the OP is asking about!

[Jasman0717 9]

• You have met each other in person within two years before you

file this petition unless:

1. The requirement to meet your fiancé(e) in person would

violate strict and long-established customs of your or your

fiancé(e)'s foreign culture or social practice; or

2. You prove that the requirement to personally meet your

fiancé(e) would result in extreme hardship to you.

I've never heard of anyone getting the two year requirement waved

[~Nini~ 2]

I agree - it's extremely rare that they'll grant you a waiver to the two-year requirement.

Definitely go and visit your fiancee in the Philippines if you can - it'll help you out with the requirement, and add to the proof of relationship package that you'll both need for the interview.

[desert_fox 32]

you have less than two months remaing to file your petition.

[RosemarieL 0]

If you make another trip make sure you save all the evidence you need such as boarding passes and some photo's of you together.

[pushbrk 12,892]

If you make another trip make sure you save all the evidence you need such as boarding passes and some photo's of you together.

Well, yes and if you don't make another trip and file a petition anyway, please send me the filing fee instead of USCIS. At least somebody will get some good out of the money you wasted.

Another firm YES, with the timeline you describe, you'll need another trip to see your fiance(e).