Question 18 on I-129F Petition.

[TAB2TAB 52]

My fiance and I are beginning the process petitioning for a K1 visa and working our way through the forms and getting together our documentation. I am not exactly certain how we should answer Question 18 on the I-129F petition and would appreciate some feedback from the forum. Question 18: "Has your fiance met and seen you within the two-year period immediately preceding filing this petition? Describe the circumstances under which you met... etc."

1) My fiance and I originally met in person in 2007, AND we have also met numerous times in the past two years. Is this question asking us to describe how we met *originally* regardless of the date, or is it asking us to describe how we "met" (i.e. visited) each other specifically in the last two years? Should we even reference our original meeting considering that it occurred outside the past two years?

2) We have met in person seven times over the past two years, and I've detailed the dates and locations for each trip. What other written detail should we include to describe the circumstances of these trips, if any? Is our sole purpose here to state our having met in person, or should we be also providing insight into the depth and strength of our relationship? (Note: we are also gathering airline boarding passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, etc. as suggested to support our statement.)

3) Should we provide evidentiary proof for each (all seven) visits during the past two years?

Thanks very much for your help!

Adrian

[Bugs 455]

The proof needs to be from the visits within the past 2 years, as that is what they want - evidence of having met in person less than two years ago. But you can certainly go ahead and explain in your question 18 writeup how you originally met and have met several times since then, just to give them a contextual bigger picture.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you need help with anything else as you compile your application packet, as I just went through it myself.

[Andie 147]

They require both things. Firstly, how you first met - whether through friends, on a dating website or while travelling etc.

Then you need to give details/dates of meeting within the past two years. You can just do a summary on the form of date/location etc.

The most valuable form of proof of those meetings is passport stamps, copies of boarding passes (which proves you boarded and therefore more valid than air tickets). Also photos of you together at the location if you have them.

If you put brief notes on the form and attach photocopies of these things to your petition, you have it covered. You don't need to send originals with the petition - copies are fine. It is at interview stage that the beneficiary will need originals as much as possible just to verify what they already know. You are not dealing with a high fraud embassy so it is fairly straight forward as far as that goes.

Best of luck !

[Lynkali 163]

I've seen lots of back-and-forth on this question. Some people say they're only looking for when you physically met in the last two years, but other people have gotten actual RFE's for that question because they didn't provide any info about how they first "met" (e.g. online, while studying, whatever), even if it was long before the 2-year period. The question does state "how the relationship was established" so it's pretty clear they want the initial first encounter as well as the physical in-person recent meetings.

I strongly suggest that you provide a brief statement that covers BOTH your initial first getting-to-know each other as well as very concrete proof about your in-person meetings. Mine said something like "Originally introduced online via a music website online in 2006. First met in person in Finland in 2007. Subsequent visits in person in 2011 and 2012, please see additional packet for details and evidence of all meetings in person." Then of course I included substantial concrete evidence of our meetings (boarding passes, passport stamps, ATM withdrawals, everything!) within the last two years. I am really hoping that that covers all the bases.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

The question is really to know if you have met the requirement of meeting face to face in the last two years. BUT many write "See additional page" in the blank. Then on a separate paper, headed with names and "Additional Information: I-129F, Question 18", you can write a very brief history of how you first got together and the seven times you have been together. I know some of the interviewer's in London used to read those because they would say things like "I see you met playing WOW. Who was the best player?" or something conversational like that. It doesn't hurt to briefly introduce yourselves as a couple. Don't write a saga or get too mushy. Being in love isn't really in the requirements. Maybe 1/3 of a typed page max is my opinion. If you did t speak the same language, it would be a place to mention how you communicate, but that's not a problem for you.

Edited April 28, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[Andie 147]

... also, you only need to have met once within the past 2 years, but it is strong support to list all meetings if you have others.

[TAB2TAB 52]

This is all incredibly helpful; thanks so much to all of you for your insight about this question!

Adrian

[rjm_cmyk 75]

You'll find you have plenty of time waiting on your NOA2 to give advice too <joke>.

Best of luck on the process - I did what the posters mentioned above - how we first met and then the course of the relationship over the last two years. Make sure you continue to document your continuing relationship after the USC files the petition just in case it's asked for at the consulate interview. Probably unlikely in the UK - you should still be part of the UK if you get your petition in soon :-) but I prefer the kitchen sink approach myself.