new here.. :)

[islandgal 74]

I think this has already been addressed, but a case won't be automatically denied if the couple hasn't met in person IF "the requirement to meet your fiancé in person would violate strict and long-established customs of you or your fiancé's foreign culture or social practice or it is established that the requirement to personally meet your fiancé would result in extreme hardship to you." From the I129f instructions.

[Azteca143 9]

:thumbs: We are in the home stretch of the AOS process. Biometric on April 9th. Then waiting for the approval. Fingers crossed!!! Hopefully no issues.

Goodluck Wally green!!! i Hope and Pray,everything goes well!...God Bless us in our Journey!

[LeftCoastLady 441]

I think this has already been addressed, but a case won't be automatically denied if the couple hasn't met in person IF "the requirement to meet your fiancé in person would violate strict and long-established customs of you or your fiancé's foreign culture or social practice or it is established that the requirement to personally meet your fiancé would result in extreme hardship to you." From the I129f instructions.

True, but that doesn't seem to be the case here considering he flew to meet her the month after submitting the petition documents.

[kzielu 1,147]

I think this has already been addressed, but a case won't be automatically denied if the couple hasn't met in person IF "the requirement to meet your fiancé in person would violate strict and long-established customs of you or your fiancé's foreign culture or social practice or it is established that the requirement to personally meet your fiancé would result in extreme hardship to you." From the I129f instructions.

Yes, it will be.

[islandgal 74]

True, but that doesn't seem to be the case here considering he flew to meet her the month after submitting the petition documents.

True true

[patient2010 93]

welcome to VJ!

[Peter_Pan 661]

i talked to my fiancee and he said that we will wait for the NOA2 and wait for their instructions.

You are wasting time, their instructions will be to refil. I would go insane if I had to go through this wait again.

I have heard of people being denied for having met a couple of days sooner than the 2 years time frame.

[cdneh 3,112]

I think this has already been addressed, but a case won't be automatically denied if the couple hasn't met in person IF "the requirement to meet your fiancé in person would violate strict and long-established customs of you or your fiancé's foreign culture or social practice or it is established that the requirement to personally meet your fiancé would result in extreme hardship to you." From the I129f instructions.

I almost wish people wouldn't trot this out. It hardly ever happens, only twice I can remember, or have heard of. That little paragraph has done more to instill false hope in couples who have none, who have not met the requirements, and by having not met before filing, will be denied.

In the first instance, the gentleman USC was totally bed bound. He could clearly not travel anywhere. His fiancee tried many times to get a visitors visa, and she was denied each time

.

Second time involved some obscure religious sect that would not allow people to meet before they were married, or be together, even with a chaperone.

Burn, your fiance is waiting on something that will never come. You won't get a NOA2. USCIS do not care that he stated in the petition that he meant to come and see you after he filed. They don't care about his business hours and when he can take a vacation. This is no way constitutes extreme hardship to him.

He needs to grasp that there are requirements. Close enough doesn't count. He needs to understand that he must comply, every time, with the things USCIS want, and the order in which they want them. The sooner he knows that he isn't the one calling the shots here, the better off your journey will be.

When your petition arrived at USCIS, your paperwork was taken apart, put in the order they want it to be, and put in a box. The cheque was cashed. The box went on to a shelf where it still sits. Once it goes for adjudication, and the person reading your paper work sees that he filed a month before you met in person it will be denied. If you filed in December, it could still be months before anyone actually looks at it, and when they do, and reject it for having not met the requirements, you will have to refile. All that time you were waiting for a NOA2 will be lost, and you will have to start over again.

You need to have him withdraw, and begin again.

i talked to my fiancee and he said that we will wait for the NOA2 and wait for their instructions. coz he stated in I-129F that he will meet me in January 2012( which he did) and that is the only time he can take a vacation and does not conflict with the normal business operation..

[Operator 1,925]

hi everyone! ive got a question, my fiancee filed our fiancee visa application december 15th of last year and we havent met in person that time,but he went here in the Philippines last january 12, and now we are waiting for the NOA2 to get approved,we're waiting for almost 4mos now. my question is are they going to call my fiancee and send some following documents or change the letter of intent coz it says there that he will going to meet me on january and we already met,and will it cause any delay? i hope you guys can help me with my question and give me some ideas how it works till the end of the fiancee visa process...thanks so much

If your fiancée filed the petition before the two of you met there is very little chance it will be approved; maybe even none.

[Leatherneck 693]

If your fiancée filed the petition before the two of you met there is very little chance it will be approved; maybe even none.

I put my money on, "maybe even none."

[Shenzhen 34]

He needs to withdraw that petition ASAP and refile. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS! If he was married when he met you that doesn't count either. In case someone wants to try that you have to be free to marry when you meet.

[Sandra G. 5,016]

"Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal".

(Friedrich Nietzsche).

[tom&tanya 48]

you have to be free to marry when you meet.

This is not accurate. I met my wife in person before my divorce was final (Nov 2009, not free to marry) Divorce final (Jan 30, 2010) Filed (Feb 2, 2010)

Both have to have met in person within 2 years be free to marry before the petition is filed.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

He needs to withdraw that petition ASAP and refile. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS! If he was married when he met you that doesn't count either. In case someone wants to try that you have to be free to marry when you meet.

Not correct. You do not have to be free to marry when you meet. In or case, though Alla was divorced there was an error in her divorce certificate that needed to be corrected. When they did so they ended up changing the date of the divorce to the date of the correction. I did not notice it it until after it was sent. The date on the divorce certificate was AFTER we met but before we filed. No RFE and no questions asked at the interview.

There are SOME conulates where this could be an issue. No, I do not have a list of which ones. It is not an issue for most consualtes and not an issue at all for the petition.

The OPs petition will be denied. They did not meet in person before filing the petition. Best to withdraw this petition and start over now rather than wait 6-7 months for the denial and then start over. Your choice.

Next time, read and follow directions if you ever expect to get an NOA2. The instructions are NOT suggestions.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

He needs to withdraw that petition ASAP and refile. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS! If he was married when he met you that doesn't count either. In case someone wants to try that you have to be free to marry when you meet.

You can withdraw a petition and re-file. You cannot "re-meet" If what you said was true they could NEVER file. They would be forever disqualified.