Nervous about how we met.. Though common.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

8 hours ago, JQ85 said:

Hi guys,

 

  My fiance is from the Philippines and we met 3 years ago on a site called ChristianDatingForFree.com. Well... We have emails galore, I have two visits under my belt etc... So good, solid evidence (pics, passport stamps)...

 

   The only thing I'm nervous about now is how we met. Someone suggest to NEVER say you met online, but we obviously don't want to lie.. I've searched similar posts and just want some fresh suggestions etc.

 

   I already receieved a letter from the website stating they are NOT a marriage broker.

 

   People have said "if you met online, expect an RFE"... Logically, you would suggest I send the letter from the website with my 129 packet (the "not a marriage broker letter"... But I'm worried if I send that from the start and STILL get an RFE, I wont have a backup plan...

 

    Has anybody else used that specific website wr met on?? Is it true that if they say "we need marriage broker paperwork" that isn't real or unobtainable, we'll be royally stuck or screwed?

 

   Nervous here... Need the advice of this amazing forum.

 

I met my wife on-line.  6 weeks later I visited her in person in the Philippines.  7 days later we were married in the Philippines.  Less than 10 months later, almost to the day she flew with me to the US.  Did I mention that I was 54 and she was 19 when we got married?  Many so-called "red flags" can be overcome with proper preparation and a  truly genuine relationship.  We always told the truth including our meeting on a dating web site.  I also attended her interview with her at the US Embassy in Manila.  BTW:  We are 29 weeks pregnant today and so very happily married.  Good luck to you and yours.  God Bless you both.  david

[David & Diana R 1,005]

3 hours ago, Chair_force1 said:

My question is this... after all the RFE sent out asking for proof a dating site isn't a marriage broker , why do they still need these statements.  Obviously they have heard of every dating site by now used to meet people overseas and I'm sure they have already received proof for these sites aren't brokers.  I would think this shouldn't generate a RFE unless a new dating site pops up.  

Aahh, but that would make sense.  Very little sense in the immigration process.   God Bless 

[Toxiichoney 11]

don't lie I am  not sure who is telling you to not mention it but me and my fiance met on Facebook and we got approved now we are re-adjusting.. So be honest and good luck.

[downupstair66 2]

I met my fiance (now wife) on Facebook.  We were approved with no hassles and we only met in person once.  She is now here (from Venezuela) and we are married.  Going through the adjustment of status phase now. 

[PhotoJ89 30]

55 minutes ago, Kumar01 said:

Disclosing the fact that you two met online only requires you to do one extra step. That is you have to say how and through which agency you met. Even then I believe the IMBRA criteria only applies if it was a "paid" matchmaking site. Otherwise if you met through a gaming system, then it's not a matchmaking site and it's not under IMBRA. You will just have to be forthcoming say you met online. Select "no" that you met through an IMB service.

I'm curious what exactly you're supposed to say for "how" when it's on an online dating site. I recently sent my I-129F in, and I said we met on X website, I first messaged her on X exact date. We then began messaging daily, etc. and included a print out of our very first chat (also included printout of website T&C's). Then went on to describe in detail our first in-person meeting. Think this is enough? Or are you supposed to say something along the lines of "While browsing profiles on X website, I came across her profile and liked the way she looked, so I sent her a message"? 

 

I thought it seemed ridiculous to say "how", as that's kind of the whole premise of online dating sites. But it looks like there have been a couple recent RFEs for exactly that. 

 

FYI - I have a written statement from OkCupid support confirming the site is not an IMB. I'd be happy to send this to anyone who might need it. 

Edited January 6, 2017 by PhotoJ89

[LostRonin 22]

8 hours ago, millefleur said:

It's been the 21st century for a while now. I would even go so far as to saying meeting offline/in person is the exception here on VJ.

 

As long as it isn't a 'mail order bride' type site, you'll be fine! Like the others said: where you met is kind of irrelevant if you have strong evidence of a real relationship.

This. I met my fiancee in a coffee shop. I feel like I'm in the minority. Never lie. This process is too long to have it all go to waste if you get to the interview stage and it comes out that you weren't truthful.

[DFWJimbo 4]

Meeting online is common. NEVER lie to the US Embassy!  My fiancé and I met on filipinocupid.com and took our relationship shortly after to other communications and removed our profiles off the site.

 

She was approved with a number of various detailed questions at her interview. The I129 was approved to go to the NVC without an RFE. Just be organized, honest and present enough evidence and you will be just fine.  To help my process, I asked questions like you did here, and I also got a book from nolo.com and took my time getting it all together. If it takes you some time then so much the better as in my experience. Just be mindful of the deadlines in the process. 

 

Good luck to you both!

[snowcat 58]

I just came from my interview and almost all the other applicants there met their fiance through a dating site or even Facebook and all of them were approved. I wouldn't worry about it. Just don't lie!  

[MarkPerry 488]

On the initial application just describe how you two meet in person.  That is what is important.

 

If CO asks if you initially made contact then just tell them name of site,  It doesn't matter in Manila.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

17 hours ago, JQ85 said:

Hi guys,

 

  My fiance is from the Philippines and we met 3 years ago on a site called ChristianDatingForFree.com. Well... We have emails galore, I have two visits under my belt etc... So good, solid evidence (pics, passport stamps)...

 

   The only thing I'm nervous about now is how we met. Someone suggest to NEVER say you met online, but we obviously don't want to lie.. I've searched similar posts and just want some fresh suggestions etc.

 

   I already receieved a letter from the website stating they are NOT a marriage broker.

 

   People have said "if you met online, expect an RFE"... Logically, you would suggest I send the letter from the website with my 129 packet (the "not a marriage broker letter"... But I'm worried if I send that from the start and STILL get an RFE, I wont have a backup plan...

 

    Has anybody else used that specific website wr met on?? Is it true that if they say "we need marriage broker paperwork" that isn't real or unobtainable, we'll be royally stuck or screwed?

 

   Nervous here... Need the advice of this amazing forum.

You actually have nothing to worry about. 

 

How you spent time and the amount of time you physically spent together after you met is far more important than how you met.  Dating sites are not and have never been classified as "marriage broker" sites.

[sylviachan 1]

My application got approved even though I stated we met online, specifically OkCupid website. They required RFE from us but we handle it fairly well as long as you fulfilled their questions. Good luck!

[zilchfox 296]

You'll be fine. My spouse and I met online through deviantart.com (an artist and creativity website) and I'm currently in AOS from a K-1 visa. The COs probably EXPECT most people interviewed have met their significant others online in this day and age. It might have been weird for 1997, but definitely not for 2017.

 

We have never received an RFE for any part of the process, ever.

Edited January 6, 2017 by zilchfox

[NDB052714 122]

we met online and we were approved and no RFE. Don't worry...

[FROWNcat 22]

My husband and I "met" online as teenagers and met in person a few years after that. We included all evidence from out first visit, up until we filed for our visa and had no issues. I think these days most people meet online anyhow, I don't think it should be an issue. 

[AmandaBN 32]

We met on OKCupid (a huge, free, international site one would think USCIS is aware of) and got an RFE.  I sent in the terms and conditions as recommended by another VJ user and we were approved with no further problems. I definitely recommend front loading your application with your letter from the website the two of you connected on to save yourself the additional few weeks of receiving an RFE and replying. Meeting online is no issue at all but some USCIS employees seem to be more thorough than others so it doesn't hurt to cover your bases in the first round of application materials. Best of luck to you