long enough together for the petition?

[Julie1806 0]

Hi everyone

I have read through this forum and noticed that some of you are together with your spouses for more than one year before filling in the petition. We want to send the petition till the end of May.

Some might say we are crazy because we know each other for only three months now. I am a bit worried that the time we know each other is too short to send the petition. My spouse is from the US and he works in Germany until the end of August.

The other thing is, how should we proof an ongoing relationship with telephone bills, letters or emails? We see each other every day so there is no need to send emails or make long telephone calls. The only proof we have is his visa for Germany, photos and a planned trip to Paris as well as my booked flight to the U.S. for a holiday trip in October. Would that be enough?

Thanks in advance

Tanja

[Penguin_ie 6,005]

You have enough to file (K1 is for fiancees; you mention a spouse?). In the 6+ months between now and the interview, you can gather more evidence.

[Julie1806 0]

Thanks for your answer. Sorry, I was confused, I meant fiancé instead of spouse.

Tanja

[HK12 273]

Hi everyone

I have read through this forum and noticed that some of you are together with your spouses for more than one year before filling in the petition. We want to send the petition till the end of May.

Some might say we are crazy because we know each other for only three months now. I am a bit worried that the time we know each other is too short to send the petition. My spouse is from the US and he works in Germany until the end of August.

The other thing is, how should we proof an ongoing relationship with telephone bills, letters or emails? We see each other every day so there is no need to send emails or make long telephone calls. The only proof we have is his visa for Germany, photos and a planned trip to Paris as well as my booked flight to the U.S. for a holiday trip in October. Would that be enough?

Thanks in advance

Tanja

Hi Tanja,

We were a couple for one and a half years when we filed this March, but I believe that as long as you have enough proof of an ongoing relationship, the length of the relationship should not be a problem. They might ask you about it at the interview in Frankfurt (not sure if they will, but it is better to be prepared for those kinds of questions), but as long as you can come up with good explanations, really, it shouldn't matter.

As for proof of the two-year-requirements - passport stamps and boarding passes are good proof. He could pay some bills with his credit card while he is in Germany, so you can prove that he was here with you at a certain time. When you go to Paris, maybe you can put both of your names on restaurant bills or the hotel receipt.

Proof of an ongoing relationship would then include photos, and when he's going back to the US in August, you will have a lot of time gathering Skypelogs, letters, e-mails, etc.

Viel Erfolg!

Edited May 23, 2012 by HK12

[Julie1806 0]

Thank you very much for your advice. Yes, I fear there will be a lot of time for emails and skype calls...

But if we are lucky everything will be fine at the end of February 2013. This was when I planned to leave Germany.

Tanja

[bestofboston 36]

I thought that once you submit the K1 paperwork, I-129 that you will not be able to go to the USA until you have received the K1 Visa. I don't know if that applies to people residing in Germany. Can anyone clarify this concern?

You stated that you plan on coming in October to the USA. Just trying to make sure you won't have an entry problem and be forced to return to Germany without entry to the USA

Edited May 23, 2012 by bestofboston

[Julie1806 0]

As long as you can proof that you are just on holiday in the U.S. during the visa approval process you are allowed to visit your fioncé with a tourist visa (90 days).

Tanja

[JimVaPhuong 4,865]

As long as you can proof that you are just on holiday in the U.S. during the visa approval process you are allowed to visit your fioncé with a tourist visa (90 days).

Tanja

People eligible to use the Visa Waiver Program can visit for 90 days without a visa. Someone with a tourist visa can usually visit for six months. "bestofboston" has a spouse in the Philippines. People from the Philippines can't use the Visa Waiver Program, and getting tourist visas there is difficult, especially if they have a US citizen spouse. The consulate presumes they'll skip the spousal visa and just stay in the US and apply for a green card.

[Julie1806 0]

So only people from certain countries can visit their fioncés during the K1 visa approval? I don't know how it works with other countries but Germans have to apply for the online ESTA "Electronic System for Travel Authorization" a few days before their flight. Thats all. No photo, no paperwork. But ESTA is only valid for 90 days as far as I remember.

Tanja

[orangedesk 27]

So only people from certain countries can visit their fioncés during the K1 visa approval? I don't know how it works with other countries but Germans have to apply for the online ESTA "Electronic System for Travel Authorization" a few days before their flight. Thats all. No photo, no paperwork. But ESTA is only valid for 90 days as far as I remember.

Tanja

Hi all, in response to the topics on this thread, here's my input lol:

- my guy and I were together for only about three months before submitting the I129-F petition. We were approved with no RFEs Some people date a while before becoming engaged, some people know right away. The important thing to USCIS is proof of meeting in person (we had lots of that) and to the embassy, is proof of a valid relationship. We're expecting some questions like "How did your relationship progress" or "Why did you get engaged so fast" - but obviously it's a matter of love and when you know, you know Just be prepared for any questions like that at the interview.

- My guy also had no problems visiting for 89 days under the visa waiver program after we submitted the I129-F and before we received the NOA2. Visa waiver countries definitely have it easier than other countries that don't have this option. These countries probably are the ones with easier embassies/interviews as well. I was a bit paranoid about my guy being denied at the airport but I called a lawyer and customs at the airport who said that visiting while a K1 is in process is not a problem at all and people are allowed to do so, the most important thing is showing that they qualify for entry under the VWP (legitimate tourist purposes, etc.) and that they have a return flight.

- So, anyone can visit while a K1 is in process, but if you're from a country that isn't part of the VWP, it's probably less likely that a tourist visa will be granted while a K1 is in process, but there is no harm in trying. If a tourist visa is denied while a K1 is in process, it doesn't work against you as far as I know. I'm not an expert on that topic, I just know my situation with my guy being from a visa waiver country... but this topic is asked all the time

Good luck!

[Pitaya 2,580]

orangedesk makes some good points.

It can be hard, if not impossible, for many folks to get a visitor visa to the USA, even with no mention of a fiance(e)/spouse visa in process. The visitor must prove to the interviewing consulate official that the visitor has compelling reasons to go back home after their visit. These reasons may include, property, job, money, family, etc.

The general forum recommendations for folks visiting the US, while a fiance(e)/spouse visa in process, is to be truthful with the CBP officer upon arrival. Bring paperwork/evidence proving that you are only visiting and not immigrating at this time. This paperwork/evidence may include, fiance(e)/spouse visa paperwork, return ticket, job information, property information, etc. You may not have to provide this information to the CBP officer upon USA arrival. However, it would be very sad if you were denied entry because you couldn't provide any documentation to substantiate your claim of merely visiting.

One further point for those K-1 visa folks that do not get passport entry and exit stamps, be sure to keep your boarding passes, flight itineraries, receipts, joint photos, etc. These can be used as evidence of having a bonafide and ongoing relationship. Please refer to the forum's Guides for further information.

Good luck on your visa journey.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

Thanks for your answer. Sorry, I was confused, I meant fiancé instead of spouse.

Tanja

Madam, there's a crucial difference between those two words. You are best served to not use the "Spouse" word during the K1 process. Some have claimed to have been denied/cancelled a Fiance visa by using the word Spouse, but they weren't from Germany though.

[bigdog 377]

What ever you do be careful in working, any travel applied for which may cause a future problem. keep in mind the long range goal of a K-1 successful conclusion, travel to USA get a I94, get married and apply for AOS. Read the guides and other postings so you don't make the mistakes others have before you and then the tedious process becomes much worse.

[TheZ 0]

Hi everyone

I have read through this forum and noticed that some of you are together with your spouses for more than one year before filling in the petition. We want to send the petition till the end of May.

Some might say we are crazy because we know each other for only three months now. I am a bit worried that the time we know each other is too short to send the petition. My spouse is from the US and he works in Germany until the end of August.

The other thing is, how should we proof an ongoing relationship with telephone bills, letters or emails? We see each other every day so there is no need to send emails or make long telephone calls. The only proof we have is his visa for Germany, photos and a planned trip to Paris as well as my booked flight to the U.S. for a holiday trip in October. Would that be enough?

Thanks in advance

Tanja

Tanja first of all the best of luck in this process.

I got engaged to my dream boy only three months after we met and filed the I-129F right away. Time does not matter as long as your feelings are real. As for the proof, make sure that all the pictures you take have the digital date on them from the camera since those are a much much better evidence then undated pictures. This information coming directly from the USCIS as I had issues with it myself.

Other then that save all receipts, boarding passes, luggage tags and visa waver applications. Also make copies of passport stamps because those are really helpful too (no need to copy every page of passport, just the ID page and the pages with boarding stamps).

Good Luck again

[Julie1806 0]

Thanks to everyone for any advise!

Yes, sometimes we know straight away ;-) At least I have got all my papers together accept the police certificate but this is not a big deal in Germany. Although my boss is not amused to loose his assistant he would write an confirmation that I have not cancelled my job yet and will return to the company at the beginning of November. That should be enough evidence to show that I go back to Germany and do not intend to stay in the U.S.

Tanja