I just saw a Facebook post from someone that was denied because the interviewer was suspicious of why they didn't meet for 3 years. They started chatting in 2017 online and met up in 2021 and got engaged basically. I'm a bit nervous because I had a 4-year LDR with mine.
Background for me: USA-Thailand, same age (31 & 30). We met in Thailand in Oct. 2016 when I lived there, became an official relationship in early 2017, and I stayed in Thailand until I had to leave in May 2018 for work (so we did have 20 months of in-person stuff and a year being completely official). We didn't get to meet again in person until June 2022. I'm a teacher, so traveling anytime other than summer, especially all the way to Thailand, is tough. And getting a tourist visa to the USA from Thailand as a (legally single) woman is tough. Here's why we did not visit:
2019: I had summer classes for a teaching endorsement and we decided to wait til 2020
2020: We made plans to meet in South Korea and Thailand (with text proof), but had to cancel because COVID of course
2021: Made plans again, but had to cancel because the Delta wave was hitting Thailand, hospitals were overflowing, and I didn't feel safe as a Type 1 diabetic (kinda regret this, but when you read articles of overcrowding hospitals and absolute chaos....it hits a nerve)
2022: finally visited!
2023: Yes....I am visiting for 6 weeks again!
I include all of this clearly in the packet I sent. I have a lot of proof of time together from 2016-2018, our LDR for 4 years (including one screenshot of messages per month, packages sent, social media posts, etc.) and then the proof of meeting within two years. It feels legit to me...but now my anxiety is spiking because it was a 4-year LDR extended by COVID.
Based on posts here or your own experience, do you think this may cause issues? It would be so demoralizing to have to go back to Stage 1.
