Waiver for not meeting. What is required?

[TamB 0]

The reasons shown in USCIS information are hardship and religious/cultural restrictions. I am beginning to prepare the I-129F.

I, as a single woman, would have extreme difficulty traveling to and visiting my fiancé in a Muslim theocracy. We wouldn't be allowed to spend time together alone. We will have a traditional Muslim marriage, delaying that time until after the wedding. Plus, I have been unemployed for several months.

We keep saying "Insha'Allah" (God willing), but we must deal with USCIS too. Any advice? Thanks!

[canadian_wife 1,791]

NO, you probably wouldn't be able to spend time alone, but why can't you travel and see your fiancé with a chaperone? I believe that is OK under Muslim traditional marriage rules correct?

It is VERY difficult to get a waiver for not meeting.

good luck

[TBoneTX 43,285]

Or, meet in a third country.

[lost_at_sea 995]

NO, you probably wouldn't be able to spend time alone, but why can't you travel and see your fiancé with a chaperone? I believe that is OK under Muslim traditional marriage rules correct?

It is VERY difficult to get a waiver for not meeting.

good luck

Or, even, if it's difficult to travel, then your USC fiancé should travel to meet you with a chaperone present.

The requirements do not say you must meet alone, only that you both have met each other face to face, even if that was in a crowded station with a thousand other people!

The meeting also does not have to take place in the USA.

You should have passport stamps to show the travel for either one of you, with boarding passes, and take some photos of your meeting showing you both in them.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Keep in mind that a waiver is costly and takes much time- time you could spend being together if you just go to meet eachother instead, plus it would make visa approval more likely too. I have only seen two cases approved where petitioner and beneficiary never met. One was where the petitioner was bed ridden and could not travel at all, not even out of state, and the beneficiary tried to get a tourist visa several times and failed. The other is where their religion expressedly forbid SEEING eachother, even with family/ chaperone present. It was an obscure African sect and they had a ton of evidence of this long held religious practise. Islam does allow meeting your intended, as long as it is done with chaperones, so like the others said, it is almsot certain you will be denied a meeting waiver.

Travel to a third country, such as Dubai or somewhere in Europe. Both of you can bring a chaperone along.

[NikLR 13,220]

Or get married and do the CR1 route.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

It is difficult for a single woman to travel to Saudi Arabia, but what about meeting in the UAE or some such place?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There is no restrictions on a female and male muslim meeting before marriage , thousands on this website have done it. If you can't afford the trip you probably can't afford the costs of immigration either. This is not a cheap path to take you can travel to any country in the world and meet, even if only for tea and fullfill the meeting requirement. Doing less and you are vary apt to waste months of your lives and throw away money on a denied petition

[d3adc0d3 186]

USCIS is very strict about the basic requirements.

1. The Petitioner is a US Citizen
2. The Petitioner and beneficiary intend to marry within 90 days of the beneficiary entering the US
3. Both the Petitioner and beneficiary are free and able to marry and any previous marriages must have been legally terminated by divorce, death, or annulment.
4. You met each other, in person, at least once within 2 years of filing your petition.

Getting a waiver is nearly impossible.

If possible meet somewhere affordable and accessible as was suggested at a neutral location, with a chaperone.

Or have the foreign beneficiary take a short trip to the US (you can check for flight bargain deals), if your fiance or family can help pay for the trip, that will make a difference.

Good Luck.

[belinda63 2,981]

There was no way I could have travelled to Iran as a single woman. My significant other could not obtain a tourist visa to the US. We met in Sweden where his sister lives. Why not pick a nice third country and meet there? One of you could bring a friend if you need a chaparone.

[TamB 0]

OK. Thanks for all the input. We have discussed it and I must travel to meet him. In S.A. He assured me it is okay. I was the one with the doubts.

I have a new question. He wants to pay for my expenses, but it could be frowned upon like it is a scam. It is no scam. He can afford it better than me. If he wants to send me the funds, how do we do this without later problems?

Thanks!

[christeen 966]

No, he can pay for your trip... You are the USC and he is sending the money, not you sending it to someone in a foreign country (which is the usual scam route) plus I would think the cultural norm would be for the male to support the female and be the one sending money, not the other way around (although I admit i could be wrong since I am not Muslim ) but either way, that Should not be an issue.

[TamB 0]

OK. I would not want it to seem as if he were paying me to get him here. Yes, that is the norm in a Muslim marriage, for the husband to provide financially for the wife.

If anyone else has any insight on the financial aspects I would appreciate it as well.

Thanks!

[Cathi 5,617]

It is difficult for a single woman to travel to Saudi Arabia, but what about meeting in the UAE or some such place?

It is not that difficult, my sister in law lives and works in Saudi Arabia. She is single and unmarried and she doesn't have any problems as long as she wears a hijab and abaya in public. She goes to cafes, the mall, all over the place with no male chaperone.

[Cathi 5,617]

OK. I would not want it to seem as if he were paying me to get him here. Yes, that is the norm in a Muslim marriage, for the husband to provide financially for the wife.

If anyone else has any insight on the financial aspects I would appreciate it as well.

Thanks!

It is the norm in Saudi Arabia, but not so much in the US. It isn't unheard of for married or single Muslim women to work in Saudi Arabia. My husband is Muslim and we both work an provide for the family here in the US. My husband also has friends here in the US from Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries who are married, and both the husband and wife work. His friends and their wives and family visit us at our home often. In the US it is a whole different ball game.

My husband has a married brother and a single sister who both live and work in Saudi Arabia. My single sister in law is a nurse, she lives and works on her own.