What if we don't have all that...

[sabi 148]

Guys, I am reading through all your stories here: engagement parties, rings, receipts for rings, photos with family etc... My question is: what if we don't have all that? My fiance simply asked me to marry him on New Years Eve in the most romantic place ever... he didn't give me a ring since I am not a big fan of jewelery and I wouldn't really wear it anyway so I see no sense in spending money on that, we obviously had no party ( we celebrated in our own way ) and we haven't met each others family (he only met my brother)since we don't need their approval plus it is quite difficult to meet up with them since my fiance's parents live on the east cost, he lives in NM, and my parents live 2000 miles away from me as well. So every time we see each other we just visit spend time together, we have no intention of the whole family to meet and take pictures etc. We are not religious, our parents know about our intentions and are absolutely fine with it as long as we are happy...

So now how important is all that to the person who will be interviewing me? Anyone in a similar situation? Got approved ok or were there any problems?

The truth is we can easily( or actually not that easily) make all those trips to see families, buy a ring, pretend we have an engagement party etc but is there really a point in all that as long as we have all other proofs that we are in love , we are in touch and see each other and travel the world together all the time and we do plan our future together?

Thanks in advance for your replies

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Don't do anything that's not natural to you. Some cultures don't have engagement rings and engagement parties. Relax

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Guys, I am reading through all your stories here: engagement parties, rings, receipts for rings, photos with family etc... My question is: what if we don't have all that? My fiance simply asked me to marry him on New Years Eve in the most romantic place ever... he didn't give me a ring since I am not a big fan of jewelery and I wouldn't really wear it anyway so I see no sense in spending money on that, we obviously had no party ( we celebrated in our own way ) and we haven't met each others family (he only met my brother)since we don't need their approval plus it is quite difficult to meet up with them since my fiance's parents live on the east cost, he lives in NM, and my parents live 2000 miles away from me as well. So every time we see each other we just visit spend time together, we have no intention of the whole family to meet and take pictures etc. We are not religious, our parents know about our intentions and are absolutely fine with it as long as we are happy...

So now how important is all that to the person who will be interviewing me? Anyone in a similar situation? Got approved ok or were there any problems?

The truth is we can easily( or actually not that easily) make all those trips to see families, buy a ring, pretend we have an engagement party etc but is there really a point in all that as long as we have all other proofs that we are in love , we are in touch and see each other and travel the world together all the time and we do plan our future together?

Thanks in advance for your replies

We didn't have any of that, except fo rthe ring (which was not the traditional one, but something more to our taste and pocket, nothing spectacular.

My family is spread out in 3 continents; my syster and I the only ones in the US -and she was traveling out of the country when my fiancee visited-, so pictures with family would require long distance traveling. I never made it to Warszawa yet so I have not met her mother personally (just thru Skype)

Our proposal was a surprise one as well, one day that we were at top of the Eiffel Tour, so no pictures during. We did send a grand total of 4 pictures with petition, and had 3-4 other for the interview, just the 2 of us and in recognizable sites (Eiffel Tour, Alamo in Texas, Stare miasta in Krakow and one with at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

CO at Embassy didn't ask for any of that, asked 3 questions: Has she visited me in the US? (it was a Yes) Where do I work? (She knew the name and had been at the offices once) and How do we communicate? (I am originally South American and I speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish and German; she speaks Polish, German, Russian, Dutch and an average English once you are used to it and can catch German and Polish words and phrases peppered in her English; her answer was that we have our own language, a mix of Polish-English-Spanish-German and we are quite good at it; she also added that culturally South America and Europe are very much alike) and approved on the spot. No RFEs from USCIS at all.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Gosia & Tito

[sabi 148]

CO at Embassy didn't ask for any of that, asked 3 questions: Has she visited me in the US? (it was a Yes) Where do I work? (She knew the name and had been at the offices once) and How do we communicate? (I speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish and German; she speaks Polish, German, Russian, Dutch and an average English once you are used to it and can catch German and Polish words and phrases peppered in her English; her answer was that we have our own language, a mix of Polish-English-Spanish-German and we are quite good at it) and approved on the spot. No RFEs from USCIS at all.

Thanks Tito, as always very helpful I owe you guys a beer ( or whatever you're drinking) when I get there

You visited Krakow? How cool! That's my hometown

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Thanks Tito, as always very helpful I owe you guys a beer ( or whatever you're drinking) when I get there

You visited Krakow? How cool! That's my hometown

Can it be a Żywiec?? Can't find them here (Houston)

Yes, I loved Krakow and that is where I met my sweet heart in person for the first time (she is from Warszawa though). I had for several years dreamt about the Jagiellonian and to touch the walls of the old original building (I had the really strange feeling that I had been there before and even 'recognized' several prominent features of the buildings), lay down by the well in the center of the patio; as well, I had dream for years about hearing the Hejnał mariacki in person. And to top it all, met my now wife there.

Of course, there are many other places I discovered once I was there.

As you know, I lived in ALb for several years; so perhaps we'll visit someday; I still have many friends there.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Gosia & Tito

[sabi 148]

Can it be a Żywiec?? Can't find them here (Houston)

Yes, I loved Krakow and that is where I met my sweet heart in person for the first time (she is from Warszawa though). I had for several years dreamt about the Jagiellonian and to touch the walls of the old original building (I had the really strange feeling that I had been there before and even 'recognized' several prominent features of the buildings), lay down by the well in the center of the patio; as well, I had dream for years about hearing the Hejnał mariacki in person. And to top it all, met my now wife there.

Of course, there are many other places I discovered once I was there.

As you know, I lived in ALb for several years; so perhaps we'll visit someday; I still have many friends there.

I think I have seen Żywiec somewhere here in Ireland so I'll try to bring over two bottles with me We will be traveling a lot once I move there so we can meet pretty much everywhere within let's say 8 hours drive

Yes I miss my town a little now that you mentioned all that

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I think I have seen Żywiec somewhere here in Ireland so I'll try to bring over two bottles with me We will be traveling a lot once I move there so we can meet pretty much everywhere within let's say 8 hours drive

Yes I miss my town a little now that you mentioned all that

Unfortunately, Texas is quite large, from here it'll take about 12 hours just to get to the New Mexico border, and another 4-5 into Alb....but we are planning a road trip to Colorado passing by Carlsbad caverns in Southeastern NM, which will get us through Alb, so that could be a good opportunity.

In the meantime, good luck with the process!

[niunia&me 3]

If ever passing thru Chicago let me know. we have all the polish beers Zywiec, Tyskie, Okocim, łąmzia just to name a few.

[bigdog 376]

Do what is natural for you as a couple, noting that evidence of a relationship takes many forms, even a simple ring for now might tip the scales and get it done. Not saying you need one. Just want you to get to the finish line. My fiancée never wore hers in China, till done is done and she came to USA, and was pretty closed mouthed about the whole thing. 8 months later people, customers tracked her down in US, "where did you go, etc.". Good Luck to You

Edited January 14, 2012 by bigdog

[Gosia & Tito 199]

If ever passing thru Chicago let me know. we have all the polish beers Zywiec, Tyskie, Okocim, łąmzia just to name a few.

I have the pierogies covered, any chance of good oscypki? And what about Żubrówka?

Edited January 14, 2012 by Gosia & Tito

[photomile 101]

Not to put too fine a point on it... I didn't even know people had engagement parties before I read this thread! As said, don't do anything that isn't natural, and I doubt it would be an issue

[niunia&me 3]

I have the pierogies covered, any chance of good oscypki? And what about Żubrówka?

Mamy oscypki ale nie jak z Zakopany.

[J and S 38]

Guys, I am reading through all your stories here: engagement parties, rings, receipts for rings, photos with family etc... My question is: what if we don't have all that? My fiance simply asked me to marry him on New Years Eve in the most romantic place ever... he didn't give me a ring since I am not a big fan of jewelery and I wouldn't really wear it anyway so I see no sense in spending money on that, we obviously had no party ( we celebrated in our own way ) and we haven't met each others family (he only met my brother)since we don't need their approval plus it is quite difficult to meet up with them since my fiance's parents live on the east cost, he lives in NM, and my parents live 2000 miles away from me as well. So every time we see each other we just visit spend time together, we have no intention of the whole family to meet and take pictures etc. We are not religious, our parents know about our intentions and are absolutely fine with it as long as we are happy...

So now how important is all that to the person who will be interviewing me? Anyone in a similar situation? Got approved ok or were there any problems?

The truth is we can easily( or actually not that easily) make all those trips to see families, buy a ring, pretend we have an engagement party etc but is there really a point in all that as long as we have all other proofs that we are in love , we are in touch and see each other and travel the world together all the time and we do plan our future together?

Thanks in advance for your replies

Didn't have any of that either, no engagement ring etc. We didn't have a party either...I announced it to my friends via facebook. lol Our petition was approved without an RFE.

All you need is to have proof that you met in the last two years, and pictures.

[sabi 148]

If ever passing thru Chicago let me know. we have all the polish beers Zywiec, Tyskie, Okocim, łąmzia just to name a few.

oh yes our greatest Polish community abroad is in Chicago I guess :)good to know you guys have it all... we are thinking of moving to Chicago one day but first I have to convince him to Polish food which shouldn't be hard I guess...

[sabi 148]

Unfortunately, Texas is quite large, from here it'll take about 12 hours just to get to the New Mexico border, and another 4-5 into Alb....but we are planning a road trip to Colorado passing by Carlsbad caverns in Southeastern NM, which will get us through Alb, so that could be a good opportunity.

In the meantime, good luck with the process!

I think I will be smiling nicely to you in a while... I can see you know all the best places to visit around Colorado, we would do with a little help and suggestions of what's worth seeing