I194 q18 advice

[Markie & Mark 0]

Hi there from Markie & Mark.

So here's the situation.... we are just getting ready to send off our I194 package.

We originally met online (like some other people on here I'm sure). We also started dating when Markie was 16. I arrived at customs by myself as a 19-21 year old by myself without knowing anything I was in for so when asked by customs officers, 'how do you know your girlfriend?' I told them we had met when we were both on school trips in France a few years previously because I knew Markie had been to France during that time. I did this because I thought it would look very fishy if we met online due to the prejudice of it. We have been very embarrassed and felt judged for the longest time about this.

I then kept on doing this every time upon entry to the US, afraid that officials may have made notes about what I had previously told them. One time I entered, I was even taken into a private interrogation room and grilled for about an hour, including on how we met, although the talk about this was very brief. He was mainly just asking me how I spent my time while in the states as I had had many trips previous to this and whether I was a drug dealer. I am pretty sure though that he may have made notes following this interrogation as I have had a very easy time at customs the two times I have traveled since.

Now we are coming to fill out the I194 form. We are thinking about being honest about how we originally met, as honesty is generally the best policy. The only thing is, that we are afraid about them looking into any previous notes on some kind of database about me and having repercussions. Also, there is absolutely no way (unless they checked this post, or very carefully through our skype messages over time) they can prove we are lying. So part of us is tempted to just stick with the story. At any rate, they seem far more interested that we have met in person in the last two years, not how we met originally, so it may not be a big deal. We have spent as much time as we can around schooling over the past two years, so evidence of that is certainly not a problem.

Any advice is much appreciated as ever! (Also, any comforting messages that meeting online and falling in love is not wrong is also appreciated. - I know it is on the faqs but it is always nice to hear it).

Edited July 30, 2012 by Markie & Mark

[Markie & Mark 0]

Sorry I meant I129-f not I194. It won't let me edit the post again

[Harpa Timsah 13,260]

DO NOT LIE. They can check your passports and they can check your past POE statements. Tell the truth from now on.