When is a short courtship a red flag?

[S and R 8]

Hi everyone,

Another question on my situation: I have been reading about the so-called red flags which include short courtships. I met my fiance in late 2009, we didn't communicate much in 2010 as she wasn't a fan of long distance relationships. We met again in October 2010 made my feelings known, I proposed in December 2010 and plan to marry in April 2011. Is this timeline considered a short courtship? 5 months of communication. There is hardly any evidence of communication in early-to-mid 2010 as I was sending my regards to her through another friend. The persistance paid off though.....

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 1, 2011 by Hillaryman

[Tero 105]

Your time line sounds ok, just be sure you have evidence of your correspondence including emails, chats, phone calls, etc. to prove a relationship. Also, you need to have visited each other within the last 2 years. Good luck.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Since the Aus consulate is not considered a high fraud consulate, I suspect you are OK. I do suggest you gather as much evidence as you can of your early communications - perhaps an affidavit from the friend might be helpful, if only to ease your mind

Tero - the visiting in the last 2 years does not apply to a spousal visa, that is only for a K-1.

Good luck

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Hi everyone,

Another question on my situation: I have been reading about the so-called red flags which include short courtships. I met my fiance in late 2009, we didn't communicate much in 2010 as she wasn't a fan of long distance relationships. We met again in October 2010 made my feelings known, I proposed in December 2010 and plan to marry in April 2011. Is this timeline considered a short courtship? 5 months of communication. There is hardly any evidence of communication in early-to-mid 2010 as I was sending my regards to her through another friend. The persistance paid off though.....

Thanks in advance.

Let me be clear, you (USC) are planning on going to Australia in April to get married? I guess upon your return to the US you would pe filing the I-130 to pursue the CR1 visa. Right?

Even though it will be a short engagement there are things in your favor:

-There are many other members whose relationships were even newer before they decided to get married or file for the K1 visa. So, your short engagement is not as short as you may think!

- Your fiancee is in a 1st world country and I have really not read anything in VJ that would indicate that it is a difficult consulate to overcome.

Prepare as though you would really need to overcome a difficult consulate though. Gather evidence of relationship and once you get married try to make changes in your financial life that would reflect the "real" nature of your relationship (insurance policies, for example).

Best wishes!

[Barbara J 115]

Hi everyone,

Another question on my situation: I have been reading about the so-called red flags which include short courtships. I met my fiance in late 2009, we didn't communicate much in 2010 as she wasn't a fan of long distance relationships. We met again in October 2010 made my feelings known, I proposed in December 2010 and plan to marry in April 2011. Is this timeline considered a short courtship? 5 months of communication. There is hardly any evidence of communication in early-to-mid 2010 as I was sending my regards to her through another friend. The persistance paid off though.....

Thanks in advance.

Even though Sydney is an easy consulate compared to others you do need to make sure you have all your evidence of your relationship. The affidavit from friends is a really good idea. But as you are coming to marry in OZ your CR1 should go through with reasonable ease. We started a K1 last year Feb and we had only known each other 5 months before we decided to go ahead with this too. Don't know if our age was a factor but we had no issues at all. I actually met my hubbie on line in dec 2008 but we did not connect till July 2009. Good luck

[TBoneTX 43,042]

Your fiancee is in a 1st world country [...] Prepare as though you would really need to overcome a difficult consulate though.

Worthy of re-emphasis, si man.

[redsnap 13]

I think as long as you both are about the same age and have more or less the same status of living (see first world country) you should be fine.

[S and R 8]

I think as long as you both are about the same age and have more or less the same status of living (see first world country) you should be fine.

Thanks for the responses.

My fiance is the USC, and I am Australian, living in Sydney. It is me doing the travelling, 3rd time in April and staying for 4 weeks. There is an age gap of 14 year - Im older, and significantly wealthier and more educated, so much that it appears I will have to use my assets for the Affidavit of Support otherwise a co-sponsor will certainly be required. She is not in a position to manage this process so I have taken an upper hand. The K-1 route is not favaourable as I have a job here and mortgage commitments, and I am already the bread winner in a family of 3, soon to be 4. I need to be able to work soon after arrival. Also, it buys us a few months here to sell 2 properties. We already have some joint financial arrangements even before the marriage. Hope thats not a negative.

Any comments will be appreciated.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Hillaryman

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Just to clarify, YOU cannot do the Affidavit of Support, the USC does. The USC must show the assest or income to support you.

Good luck

[NikiY 0]

Thanks for the responses.

My fiance is the USC, and I am Australian, living in Sydney. It is me doing the travelling, 3rd time in April and staying for 4 weeks. There is an age gap of 14 year - Im older, and significantly wealthier and more educated, so much that it appears I will have to use my assets for the Affidavit of Support otherwise a co-sponsor will certainly be required. She is not in a position to manage this process so I have taken an upper hand. The K-1 route is not favaourable as I have a job here and mortgage commitments, and I am already the bread winner in a family of 3, soon to be 4. I need to be able to work soon after arrival. Also, it buys us a few months here to sell 2 properties. We already have some joint financial arrangements even before the marriage. Hope thats not a negative.

Any comments will be appreciated.

Can you clarify..... Are you planning to move to the US? As I understand it, your fiance is the US citizen, and you are planning to marry in the US, then file the I130 so that you can move to the US? If so, SHE is the one who has to show that she can support you. If she can't, she'll need a co-sponsor. I'm not certain they will acknowledge your assets unless they are held jointly by you and your fiance here in the US.

As for the courtship, I'm sure many of us had short courtships. I think what is important is that you can establish a bona fide relationship with photos, travel receipts, joint finances, affidavits, chat logs, phone records, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about the time frame unless you don't have these items.

Hope this helps, and good luck to you!

Niki

Edited February 2, 2011 by NikiY

[S and R 8]

Can you clarify..... Are you planning to move to the US? As I understand it, your fiance is the US citizen, and you are planning to marry in the US, then file the I130 so that you can move to the US? If so, SHE is the one who has to show that she can support you. If she can't, she'll need a co-sponsor. I'm not certain they will acknowledge your assets unless they are held jointly by you and your fiance here in the US.

As for the courtship, I'm sure many of us had short courtships. I think what is important is that you can establish a bona fide relationship with photos, travel receipts, joint finances, affidavits, chat logs, phone records, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about the time frame unless you don't have these items.

Hope this helps, and good luck to you!

Niki

Yes, its me moving to the USA. The assets are here in Australia. I read here a while ago that the beneficiary's assets can be used to calculate the 125%-above-the-poverty-line amount. Is that correct?

[Done--Really 331]

Yes, your assets can absolutely be used--here is the verbiage from the I-864 instructions:

" The value of your assets, the assets of any household member who has signed a Form I-864A, or the assets of the intending immigrant."

However, it is unclear to me if the assets have to be in the US or not--I can't find any statement that suggests you can't use foreign assets.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

See "total value of assets" to explain what you need to do.

Good luck

[S and R 8]

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864instr.pdf

See "total value of assets" to explain what you need to do.

Good luck

Thanks for the link. I have read the instructions and yes, beneficiary's assets are considered, including the equity in a property. So thats good news, we won't need a co-sponsor by the look of things. I am inclided to using am immigration lawyer at this stage there is just too much to navigate.

[Mrs O. 29]

Thanks for the link. I have read the instructions and yes, beneficiary's assets are considered, including the equity in a property. So thats good news, we won't need a co-sponsor by the look of things. I am inclided to using am immigration lawyer at this stage there is just too much to navigate.

Just a little more patience and you wont need an immigration lawyer. I believe lwayers are really useful for those with legal issues(overstaying a previous visit, criminal record etc...) Anything outside that, hiring a lawayer in my opinion is a waste of money since you will still have to do a lot of things yourself.