Sending my I-129f tomorrow

[DJ&L 83]

Hi all,

First of all, thank you to the VisaJourney community for the assistance in getting my I-129f application in order. It's complete this afternoon and going in the mail tomorrow.

I do have a question, however. I met my girlfriend on-line on February 2nd, 2012. We have spoken pretty much twice daily since the middle of February through various means including phone, email, text messaging but primarily on QQ and instant messaging. We met for the first time in Beijing the first week of September and spent 10 great days together. Obviously I feel confident the I-129f will get approved, however, I'm curious what peoples thoughts are on getting approved at the K1 Visa level since we've only met once.

I'm 47 and my fiance is 38. She's never been married, has no criminal record and perfectly healthy. I'm divorced twice, no criminal record and have no issue with income requirements. Neither of us have ever applied for a K1 visa before. I see the only potential stumbling block the issues of having only met once. Personally, I feel confident that we should have no problem but my fiance is a Nervous Nelly and is under the impression that it's very difficult for Chinese to get approved. She's afraid we haven't spent enough time together and don't have enough pictures together. As I mentioned, she is Chinese and we'll be going through the Guangzhou consulate.

Is this a legitimate concern or not?

Thanks again!

Dave

[X Factor 1,112]

I met my fiancee once and applied for my K-1 visa one week after I came back from visiting her. At that point we were only dating for a little over 4 months. She got her visa September 7. You should have no problem for a genuine relationship. Wish you the best on your journey

[Phil & Alla 26]

Got to go with Smiley I spend 14 days in the Ukraine and filed one week after I got back-- no problems

[DJ&L 83]

Thanks for the replies! I'm hoping I can get her to relax a little!

[revtech100 16]

We have almost exactly the same circumstances, except a bigger age spread. So far so good. We have our interview November 6. Good luck!

[Dave + Loni 10]

I agree we have only met once and from what I have been reading on this site the same is true for thousands of others.

[TBoneTX 45,522]

What happens in Manila has ZERO to do with what happens elsewhere, especially in Guangzhou!

OP, hold off on submitting your I-129F petition until experienced China filers can tell you how to front-load it properly. I'll post a link to this thread in that regional forum.

[C-ma'am 684]

What happens in Manila has ZERO to do with what happens elsewhere, especially in Guangzhou!

OP, hold off on submitting your I-129F petition until experienced China filers can tell you how to front-load it properly. I'll post a link to this thread in that regional forum.

Friendly bump so the post doesn't get lost and the China experts can chime in.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Hi all,

First of all, thank you to the VisaJourney community for the assistance in getting my I-129f application in order. It's complete this afternoon and going in the mail tomorrow.

I do have a question, however. I met my girlfriend on-line on February 2nd, 2012. We have spoken pretty much twice daily since the middle of February through various means including phone, email, text messaging but primarily on QQ and instant messaging. We met for the first time in Beijing the first week of September and spent 10 great days together. Obviously I feel confident the I-129f will get approved, however, I'm curious what peoples thoughts are on getting approved at the K1 Visa level since we've only met once.

I'm 47 and my fiance is 38. She's never been married, has no criminal record and perfectly healthy. I'm divorced twice, no criminal record and have no issue with income requirements. Neither of us have ever applied for a K1 visa before. I see the only potential stumbling block the issues of having only met once. Personally, I feel confident that we should have no problem but my fiance is a Nervous Nelly and is under the impression that it's very difficult for Chinese to get approved. She's afraid we haven't spent enough time together and don't have enough pictures together. As I mentioned, she is Chinese and we'll be going through the Guangzhou consulate.

Is this a legitimate concern or not?

Thanks again!

Dave

Welcome to the forum.

You raise some interesting, and often asked questions.

From my recent experience, the key to having a successful visa journey through Guangzhou (GUZ) is based on the strength of your total I-129F package. By that I mean, following the VJ site's K-1 step-by-step guides, in particular the section on documentary evidence of a genuine and on-going relationship. From the Guide:

"Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case.

1. Copies of all airline boarding passes, train passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps (make sure you can read the dates on the stamps), and other documentary evidence that you have met within the last two years. You may want to highlight or place post-it notes indicating the dates and locations on the copies (to make the adjudication easier) for the person reviewing your file.

2. Color Photo's of you and your fiance(e) together. Make sure you write your names, date, and location on the back of every photo. Provide two to five photo's. If you only have a single copy of the photo, then make a color copy and send that. If it is a digital photo, have it printed at a company such as kodakgallery.com. You can also make duplicates of photo's at your local photo store (Walgreeens, CVS, etc). Place photo's in a plastic bag or photo sheet and label the sheet. Note that you may not receive originals of photo's back.

3. The following items will not typically show proof of having met in the last two years however will show proof of an ongoing relationship: Copies of land line and cell phone bills, appropriate letters and emails, stamps on the letters (to document the date they were sent), and other written documentary proof. Provide a reasonable amount; two to four of each type. Pick a range of dates up to and including the present. You can also include a copy of engagement ring receipt (this is something that is a big optional - do not worry if you do not have a ring yet!)"

The factors that you mention are not singularly problematic issues, it is the collective result of your petition, that may determine your success. Regarding age and only one visit, that shouldn't be a problem if you are able to demonstrate with as much evidence as possible with your initial petition submission that your relationship isn't a scam. Front load your petition with as many items of #1 and #2 as you can. Of course, the more visits the better. I submitted my petition after only having met her once. However, I visited her again while waiting for the NOA2, and provided more evidence of the #1 and #2 type at the interview. Finally, I went to Guangzhou to support her at her interview process. Be proactive and support each other in your visa journey.

Read some of the threads from of the regulars at the China forum, including, Darnell, pushbrk, bigdog, Operator, Ryan H (mention just a few.).

Good luck on your visa journey.

[bigdog 376]

I would not say i am an expert, but did successfully complete a K1 before I found VJ. It is not a walk in the park you have to get all your ducks in a row before filing and again for the embassy and again for AOS. The prior explorers at VJ would have made our initial K1 journey much easier if not more understandable. There will be unexplainable delays, requests for evidence you provided for what, unknown reason etc. The biggest issue is that OP's not being able to read and understand the instructions or want it spoon fed without any individual effort. Many countries have their bug a boos and everyone needs to be site specific.

[bigdog 376]

Welcome to the forum.

You raise some interesting, and often asked questions.

From my recent experience, the key to having a successful visa journey through Guangzhou (GUZ) is based on the strength of your total I-129F package. By that I mean, following the VJ site's K-1 step-by-step guides, in particular the section on documentary evidence of a genuine and on-going relationship. From the Guide:

"Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case.

1. Copies of all airline boarding passes, train passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps (make sure you can read the dates on the stamps), and other documentary evidence that you have met within the last two years. You may want to highlight or place post-it notes indicating the dates and locations on the copies (to make the adjudication easier) for the person reviewing your file.

2. Color Photo's of you and your fiance(e) together. Make sure you write your names, date, and location on the back of every photo. Provide two to five photo's. If you only have a single copy of the photo, then make a color copy and send that. If it is a digital photo, have it printed at a company such as kodakgallery.com. You can also make duplicates of photo's at your local photo store (Walgreeens, CVS, etc). Place photo's in a plastic bag or photo sheet and label the sheet. Note that you may not receive originals of photo's back.

3. The following items will not typically show proof of having met in the last two years however will show proof of an ongoing relationship: Copies of land line and cell phone bills, appropriate letters and emails, stamps on the letters (to document the date they were sent), and other written documentary proof. Provide a reasonable amount; two to four of each type. Pick a range of dates up to and including the present. You can also include a copy of engagement ring receipt (this is something that is a big optional - do not worry if you do not have a ring yet!)"

The factors that you mention are not singularly problematic issues, it is the collective result of your petition, that may determine your success. Regarding age and only one visit, that shouldn't be a problem if you are able to demonstrate with as much evidence as possible with your initial petition submission that your relationship isn't a scam. Front load your petition with as many items of #1 and #2 as you can. Of course, the more visits the better. I submitted my petition after only having met her once. However, I visited her again while waiting for the NOA2, and provided more evidence of the #1 and #2 type at the interview. Finally, I went to Guangzhou to support her at her interview process. Be proactive and support each other in your visa journey.

Read some of the threads from of the regulars at the China forum, including, Darnell, pushbrk, bigdog, Operator, Ryan H (mention just a few.).

Good luck on your visa journey.

:thumbs:

[Operator 1,927]

Hi Dave, welcome to the party.

Let's look at it in two stages.

First your I-129F...the requirement is that you have met your fiancée IN PERSON once within the two years prior to submitting our petition. Looks like you have that covered so send off your petition.

The next hurdle will be for her to convince the folks in Guangzhou that you have a real relationship and she isn't marrying you just for green card, that's at least 5 months away.

I personally think that if any relationship is real the visa will be approved with proper preparation and hard work. I don't think that meeting only once is a compelling reason to deny.

Here is what you might do to ease her concerns and it certainly will not hurt her visa application, make another trip. Have you met her family? Showing pictures of you and her family would be a great help.

Yeah it's expensive and nobody has unlimited time off, but it will make her happy and it will do a lot to ease her concerns.

I'm not aware of anyone being denied in Guangzhou for only meeting one time.

...and forget about the age difference.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Operator

[Darnell 8,478]

please read the list of red flags for GUZ IV for K-1 visa chasers, over at

GUZ IV red flags - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/234971-red-flag-list-for-visa-denial/page__hl__appointment

then refactor your plan accordingly.

IMO, on interview day - if'n you were able to make 1 to 2 more trips between today and interview day, and she's able to show that to a Consular Officer that's interviewing her (or an evolution of relationship letter magically showed up somehow)

then you should be ok ...

other stuff about an EOR, from an IR-1 perspective...

EOR - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=260331&view=findpost&p=3995116

In the end, if the fellas over at candleforlove.com vette yer pile of stuff that you've submitted with the I-129F, prior to you actually submitting it, then I think yer golden.

Good Luck !

Edited September 20, 2012 by Darnell