Length of Relationship

[kate2326 0]

I wonder whether anyone would be able to tell me if the length of time you have been together is a large factor when USCIS consider the K1 petition.

We are looking to send the forms off in November and would have been together for five months by that point where we would have had three trips, an average of 350 mins of talk time, loads of msn chats, pictures galore (including ones with family members) and other trip related receipts.

If the length of relationship does matter, would it help our case if we showed we had known each other for 10 years before we got together? And that I had visitied SC (where he was before he moved) on average about 3 times a year for those 10 years.

Thx

[payxibka 10,044]

I wonder whether anyone would be able to tell me if the length of time you have been together is a large factor when USCIS consider the K1 petition.

We are looking to send the forms off in November and would have been together for five months by that point where we would have had three trips, an average of 350 mins of talk time, loads of msn chats, pictures galore (including ones with family members) and other trip related receipts.

If the length of relationship does matter, would it help our case if we showed we had known each other for 10 years before we got together? And that I had visitied SC (where he was before he moved) on average about 3 times a year for those 10 years.

Thx

No the length of time is not a requirement per se.... you only have to prove meeting within the last 2 years. In your situation as described, you will be fine....

[kate2326 0]

I wonder whether anyone would be able to tell me if the length of time you have been together is a large factor when USCIS consider the K1 petition.

We are looking to send the forms off in November and would have been together for five months by that point where we would have had three trips, an average of 350 mins of talk time, loads of msn chats, pictures galore (including ones with family members) and other trip related receipts.

If the length of relationship does matter, would it help our case if we showed we had known each other for 10 years before we got together? And that I had visitied SC (where he was before he moved) on average about 3 times a year for those 10 years.

Thx

No the length of time is not a requirement per se.... you only have to prove meeting within the last 2 years. In your situation as described, you will be fine....

Thanks for the help. My brother was to blame for the doubt. He came in saying that he thought it would be a problem and it got me to thinking that perhaps he had a point!

[endtroducing10 0]

I wonder whether anyone would be able to tell me if the length of time you have been together is a large factor when USCIS consider the K1 petition.

We are looking to send the forms off in November and would have been together for five months by that point where we would have had three trips, an average of 350 mins of talk time, loads of msn chats, pictures galore (including ones with family members) and other trip related receipts.

If the length of relationship does matter, would it help our case if we showed we had known each other for 10 years before we got together? And that I had visitied SC (where he was before he moved) on average about 3 times a year for those 10 years.

Thx

I agree! It does not matter really! how long you have been in the relationship and i would not exagerate the time you have known each other, All they want to see is photos, Plane tickets, Your both free to marry, Any or ALL the documentation of correspondence i.e. letters, cards, MSN chat prints, Phone bill (If you do not use a phone card), There is a whole lot more you can present, Overkill the better.

Good luck

[joeyjoey 1]

I wonder whether anyone would be able to tell me if the length of time you have been together is a large factor when USCIS consider the K1 petition.

We are looking to send the forms off in November and would have been together for five months by that point where we would have had three trips, an average of 350 mins of talk time, loads of msn chats, pictures galore (including ones with family members) and other trip related receipts.

If the length of relationship does matter, would it help our case if we showed we had known each other for 10 years before we got together? And that I had visitied SC (where he was before he moved) on average about 3 times a year for those 10 years.

Thx

There is no minimum length of time, but............

You have to understand what they are looking for and why there's an Interview in the first place. The Consular Officer will try to determine if the 2 of you have been together long enough to have established a serious and valid relationship. Do you know each other enough to be married? From the time you establish as the start of the relationship until the date you file the K1 is the period they are looking at. The whole thing behind the Interview is to eliminate the marriages that are fake. That's why you need to provide solid proof of relationship with evidence. So the big thing the Consular Officer has to do is to make that determination and it is based on the interview, your evidence and that gray area involving the length of time you've been "together".

If you can show that you've been together for a long time, perfect. But if you can only show that you've known each other for 3 months before filing for a K1, the Consular Officer will have to make a judgement call. Is it possible that a valid relationship exists here and do these 2 people know enough about each other to be married? Sometimes people are denied a Visa. Other times not. It is all on you to prove to the CO that this thing is real!

So if you've got good, solid evidence of a valid and true relationship, you should not have anything to worry about.

[Ladylethal 12]

Joey has a good point. At the immigration level if you prove you've met int he past 2 years you'll be fine. But at the interview you'll have to tell the consular how you met and most likely when, and it will be up to his subjective judgment whether you two have a bonafide relationship or not. So, it's not how long you've been together that counts, but how strong is your relationship (and your proof of it).

[kate2326 0]

Thanks for the advice.

As I said, I have got all my passports and stamps that show that I have consistently visited SC over the last 10 years and getting witness statements wouldn't be a problem. So, in that respect I can confirm that I know him. Plus all of the hours we rack up on the phone and msn everyday...I am personally not doubting that I know him at all, and I know he would say the same about me. It was more whether they look at the time frame we have been together or if they take the whole picture into account.

[joeyjoey 1]

Thanks for the advice.

As I said, I have got all my passports and stamps that show that I have consistently visited SC over the last 10 years and getting witness statements wouldn't be a problem. So, in that respect I can confirm that I know him. Plus all of the hours we rack up on the phone and msn everyday...I am personally not doubting that I know him at all, and I know he would say the same about me. It was more whether they look at the time frame we have been together or if they take the whole picture into account.

Kate2326,

You are good to go!

[kate2326 0]

Thanks.

I appreciate all of your help...this whole putting your relationship under the microscope sucks!!

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

It's all about the whole picture that you paint to the interviewing officer. Craig and I have only known each other since February, but I truly believe our "picture" is very complete. We have lifelong plans, similar upbringings and goals, and a very adult relationship. We talk (literally) 6-8 hours a day between phone and AIM. And I believe that will be obvious to any person that is reviewing our evidence or interviewing us in person.

I might not have much insight, but I really think it's like most things, it's all about a combination of elements. If you have a short courtship, and for example, don't speak the same language. Or if you have a short courtship and don't appear to know much about each other. It'll be more damaging that just one element. Of course, be prepared to explain and prove the depth of your relationship (I thoroughly plan on bringing a binder with every page of our AIM convos, every email, and all of our phone records for the past 8 months, which may appear to be TOO much for most, but I'd rather be safe than sorry).

Hope this helps!

Cass (bebop the great)

[no name 1]

All they want to see is photos, Plane tickets, Your both free to marry, Any or ALL the documentation of correspondence i.e. letters, cards, MSN chat prints, Phone bill (If you do not use a phone card), There is a whole lot more you can present, Overkill the better.

Not necessarily. And there are many threads here that discuss that overkill of evidence is not good. Enough to prove you met is all that's needed for the initial application.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=33843&hl=

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

I agree.

Overkill = bad for the initial petition. You risk a good chance of just bogging down the reviewer and maybe throwing up a red flag about trying to prove something (being on the defensive).

If you feel the need to overkill, bring it to the interview, where you'll have a higher burden to prove.

Cass (bebop the great)

Not necessarily. And there are many threads here that discuss that overkill of evidence is not good. Enough to prove you met is all that's needed for the initial application.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=33843&hl=

[Caladan 19]

From what I've seen in this process, very little that meets the requirements is an automatic 'problem'; it's more the picture you paint. There's a difference between 'dating three months, known him 10 years, used to visit him all the time' and 'dating three months, don't speak her language but the translator assured me she loves me' in terms of the picture it paints.

Seems like you have enough primary evidence. In your answer to Q18 on the I-129F, you could note that you met ten years ago, have been friends for a long time with lots of visits, and became a romantic couple on XX/XX/XXXX and are now engaged. That will help paint the right picture.

But for the first round, all you need to do is prove that you've met.

[lennon 0]

So what do you all think of about a 3 month courtship time until filing the petition and my being 15 years older then he is. Met on a mission trip and have many things in common, goals, plans in spite of the age difference. I have been wondering if they were going to look at it weirdly.

[CarolineM 0]

weirdly? prob. not. I'm sure they've seen it all! BUT They will question you...to see if it's legit...you know? so be prepared!