Mila and I met online in 2006. From that moment on we have not missed a single day of communicating with each other. ( Thanks to Yahoo IM / Free Computer-to-Computer phone calls, and web-cam.) We met in person for the 1st time in Saint Petersburg, Russia. We got engaged and filed the standard K1 visa forms in May... and in Oct 2007 we received a letter of approval from the USCIS!! My advice to anyone starting down a similar path.. Don't give up! And from everything I have read while doing my research ..unless you have alot of past personal "baggage" you probably don't need to hire a lawyer to make your dreams come true!