What can count as "meeting in person" for K1 [merged threads]

[TBoneTX 43,057]

Similar basic threads have been merged.

The K-1 Guides can be found here:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

OP, if you start one more thread (or add to one) to ask about information that's readily available to you with only a basic amount of effort on your part, two things will happen:

1. You'll irritate people who would otherwise be willing to help you.

2. You'll subject your VJ account to administrative action for spamming the forums.

[Boiler 43,430]

Vaguely amusing bit time to earn some air miles.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

If one does not meet the income requirments is it still possible to get the k1 approved?

Nope. Not without a sponsor.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

Can skyping count as meeting in person since we have seen each other face to face? or what else can count as meeting in person

there is no "easy way" to get a waiver?

and whats an easy way to prove we met in person? I doubt one photo will be enough right

If one does not meet the income requirments is it still possible to get the k1 approved?

Just out of curiosity, how old are you? I'm only asking because you sound "young" and in a hurry. The K-1 process is very long and requires patience and a lot of legwork to prove to the US Government that your relationship is genuine, and depending on the country of the beneficiary (the fiance getting the visa), it can be an even longer process.

You want to be certain before you apply for the K-1 to have done the following:

1. Met physically at least once in the past 2 years. You can prove this with photos with her near well-known landmarks in your country or her's. Note that photos are only secondary evidence. You need stronger evidence such as: passport stamps to mark you in her country (or vice versa), receipts from your trip, proof of stay in the country, etc.

2. Have a good history of continuous contact with her up until her interview date. Sooo... save every text, every Skype, every email, every gift receipt you may send her.

3. Make at least 125% over the national poverty level. Or, secure a relative or friend who does so and have them act as your sponsor.

4. Consider all the other expenses in the K-1 Process. It's just not the application fee. All together, with AOS & Naturalization, you are looking at roughly $3000.00 from start to finish, more if she has kids she wants to bring over.

Now for some personal advice:

A. Do meet her and get to know her at least 2 weeks your first trip. I met my wife for 2 weeks, but we had been communicating online for 2 years prior our physical meeting. If you have a short communication period, I would suggest multiple trips or at least a year of contact before you file the K-1.

B. Try to get a good job that pays well. While having a sponsor is a solution, I don't think I would sleep well knowing a sponsor can pull out at the last minute in the K-1 process. Personally, IMHO, if I could not afford to get married, I would not have gotten married, let alone bring a foreign fiance over to the USA.

C. Discuss everything before she comes over. Like how will you marry, religion, kids, how they will be raised, etc. Having everything laid out in front of each other avoids conflict and heartbreak later.

[Amhara 460]

Meeting in person means just that, meeting in person. For the success of a relationship in general you should probably make every effort to meet. Failure to meet will result in a denial. Waiving that can only be done if one can prove some cultural or religious reason why the couple should not meet, or some extreme poverty. Even if the foreign fiancé is poor, the burden will fall to the US citizen to prove that they have financial ability to meet them in the first place, let alone have the funds to care for them when they are in the US. These are difficult and rare examples and most likely have a very low success rate.

Photographs, passport stamps, boarding passes, tickets or receipts that you have been in the same place at the same time - all help to contribute to proving meeting.

If you love someone enough make every effort to try and meet them. Not only for the strength of your relationship and health in the future, but for your own safety.

I don't think that poverty is a waiverable reason. I am not going to cite anything here, but I am highly certain that I'm right. Also, the burden can't even be on the foreign fiance - I don't think - I think it all has to be on the USC petitioner. I looked into getting a waiver because of my fiance's country, but I consulted with two lawyers and they both were of the opinion, that while I would probably qualify for removing the requirement because of the burden, I would probably be denied unless we could prove that we could not meet in a third country.

Be careful with the religious exemption too; USCIS has that one locked down well.

[lala64 93]

I think someone needs to inbox this person. They do not know what they are doing... How can you be talked into marriage via Skype only? I am smh but also praying for your safety. I am not judging you but I spent countless hours on the phone, skyping emailing tango whatsapp etc etc etc and then a 9 day visit to meet him and his family before I was convinced that I love this person and would be willing to spend the rest of my life with him. Skyping is only part of it. Not to mention the money it takes to bring someone here. There are fees on top of fees and if you don't meet that minimum which to me is poverty. I make decent money and still will find it challenging to care for us until he is able to work and that will not be for a while yet, Please consider what you are doing. Besides there is no way of getting around the meeting in person. My suggestion. Get a second job.. or first one. save. go visit and see if you can weather this storm. I am not done with it myself and trust me. it is not easy.

[yuna628 9,528]

I don't think that poverty is a waiverable reason. I am not going to cite anything here, but I am highly certain that I'm right. Also, the burden can't even be on the foreign fiance - I don't think - I think it all has to be on the USC petitioner. I looked into getting a waiver because of my fiance's country, but I consulted with two lawyers and they both were of the opinion, that while I would probably qualify for removing the requirement because of the burden, I would probably be denied unless we could prove that we could not meet in a third country.

Be careful with the religious exemption too; USCIS has that one locked down well.

Exactly. Which is why I said the burden will fall to the US citizen to meet and provide for them. Therefore any responsibility of extreme hardship has to be proved by the US citizen. Which as the phrase goes is a snowball's chance in hell.

At any rate such a waiver would have to be of extreme hardship on the US citizen and would be of such difficulty to prove that it is nearly impossible.

Edited July 2, 2015 by yuna628

[rhein 451]

Can skyping count as meeting in person since we have seen each other face to face? or what else can count as meeting in person

No. Meeting in person is exactly what it means in plain English - being physically in the same place at the same time. Period.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Skype may be a good way to connect with someone but it certainly is no substitute to being with someone in person. The K1 visa would be viewed with even more suspicion than it already is if starry eyed lovers were able to get a visa after a few calls.

Is there something stopping you from meeting OP? Seems strange to want to marry someone you've yet to meet. Online chemistry can be very different to in person.

[Boiler 43,430]

Amazing how often this subject comes up.

[Gregory&Dyn 113]

You absolutely must meet in person. Doing so will provide opportunities for evidence needed of sustaining a bonafide relationship. (flight tickets, boarding passes, hotel receipts, photos together, etc).

[NataliaLin 18]

No, and marriage is a serious thing that should never be entered into an 'easy way'. For goodness sakes, why would you marry someone you've never met?

I'm not being judgmental, I'm trying to tell you to be safe.

good luck

Definitely agreed with your words!

[lala64 93]

I think OP has left the building!

[TBoneTX 43,057]

Thread is closed -- OP ignored earlier moderation warning about spamming the forums with questions that have been answered many times before in readily findable threads.

TBoneTX

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