Only met in person once, opinions?

[sparkles_ 456]

I was wondering how many of you guys only met your fiance/fiancee in person once before filing? Did it cause any issues?

I was planning a trip around December to Dubai, but I just moved across the country and got a new job. I won't even bother asking for any time off til 6mo. plus working there and by then I'll have already filed. My thing is, I met my fiance while still legally married (still am, thanks to custody/military/waiting times) so I was wondering should I maybe delay filing to add another visit post divorce being final/more in person proof to our case? What do you guys think? I don't really want to delay anything though...it has already been 5mo since we saw each other

I can most likely make it there for the interview/week before interview if that helps at all. I was planning for that at the very least for moral support.

[Blaw12148 1]

I met mine once and it hasn't caused an issue. This process though is so long. You can visit during the process, but he can't come here. I've waited 12 months to see him still, he just had the interview and even after you still have to wait. I would start the process as soon as you can, because it will take a long time.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

This will depend on your consulate. Some are fine with those that only had one in person visit and approve the K-1 for them with no problem. Other consulates want to see more visits and "face time". I would read the reviews for your consulate and perhaps ask others that have already gone through your consulate whether or not multiple visits are something you really need to get an approval or not.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Jay-Kay

[sparkles_ 456]

This will depend on your consulate. Some are fine with hose that only had one in person visit and approve the K-1 for them with no problem. Other consulates want to see more visits and "face time". I would read the reviews for your consulate and perhaps ask others that have already gone through your consulate whether or not multiple visits are something you really need to get an approval or not.

We put everything on hold because of the chance he might get a job offer in UAE, and Abu Dhabi is a million times easier than Cairo and everyone seems to be interviewing no more than 5-10min with few rejections. He got it thankfully, but no one mentions any amount of visits. UAE is kind of quiet in the MENA section with not much to go off of versus Egypt.

[sparkles_ 456]

I met mine once and it hasn't caused an issue. This process though is so long. You can visit during the process, but he can't come here. I've waited 12 months to see him still, he just had the interview and even after you still have to wait. I would start the process as soon as you can, because it will take a long time.

I am starting everything as soon as my final divorce decree and child custody is in hand. Oh man, 12mo! I'm assuming he is in AP? Hopefully it is short and gets the visa in hand soon.

[Blaw12148 1]

No he isn't in AP. He just had the interview and only bc we had an attorney they got everything they needed and there was nothing else to be done. We are just waiting for him to get his passport mailed back. If we wouldn't have had her, I think he would have been denied. It's been a long road. I hope yours goes quicker.

[sparkles_ 456]

No he isn't in AP. He just had the interview and only bc we had an attorney they got everything they needed and there was nothing else to be done. We are just waiting for him to get his passport mailed back. If we wouldn't have had her, I think he would have been denied. It's been a long road. I hope yours goes quicker.

Any reason you guys used a lawyer? I'm considering one just because I am also a previous petitioner, even though it was years ago.

[aamirpearl 47]

I was wondering how many of you guys only met your fiance/fiancee in person once before filing? Did it cause any issues?

I was planning a trip around December to Dubai, but I just moved across the country and got a new job. I won't even bother asking for any time off til 6mo. plus working there and by then I'll have already filed. My thing is, I met my fiance while still legally married (still am, thanks to custody/military/waiting times) so I was wondering should I maybe delay filing to add another visit post divorce being final/more in person proof to our case? What do you guys think? I don't really want to delay anything though...it has already been 5mo since we saw each other

I can most likely make it there for the interview/week before interview if that helps at all. I was planning for that at the very least for moral support.

Meeting once is fine as long as its more than 2 weeks or more , if its only for like 3 days it can cause problem. I only went to visit my than fiance now husband once but we stayed together in Dubai for 2 month and this was enuff for us to get approve. Overall the embassy in Abu dhabi is easy and straight forward. A lot of us here on Visajourney got approve easliy in Abu dhabi consulate without AP especially for the fact that my husband was Pakistani. I hope this gives you a idea.. GOOd luck..

[Carie_Azan 35]

Any reason you guys used a lawyer? I'm considering one just because I am also a previous petitioner, even though it was years ago.

I agree with Perl. Abu Dhabi is pretty simple. As long as you can prove a strong bonaifde relationship, you are fine. also, unless your case is super complicated, no need for a lawyer, they can do anything to move your case...they simply serve as a mailing service. Many of us have done it alone, including me, and pearl who both went through Abu Dhabi, with Pakistani Husbands. At my husbands interview they were only really worried about one thing, and that was our pictures...she wanted to see more and more, glad we had them! We had two visits only becuase we needed more time together and more evidence.

As for you still being married, wait until you are COMPLETLY divorced etc. before filing. It will be bad if you do not, as they require DIVORCE documents (Sealed) to prove you are free and clear to marry. If they ask questions about you visiting when married, gently remind them you are legally seperated and free to do so.

ask if you have any UAE related questions and good luck!

[Blaw12148 1]

We used an immigration attorney bc we knew there was no possibility of forgetting things and I also made things seem more serious about our relationship. She took care of all the documents for us, put things together right and built a really strong case. She also prepped him for the interview and what he would be asked. She worked hand in hand with the embassy and uscis doing things we could not do as far as communicating with them about certain things. That's the only reason I believe we didn't have any delays or had to go through a&p after the interview.

[sparkles_ 456]

Meeting once is fine as long as its more than 2 weeks or more , if its only for like 3 days it can cause problem. I only went to visit my than fiance now husband once but we stayed together in Dubai for 2 month and this was enuff for us to get approve. Overall the embassy in Abu dhabi is easy and straight forward. A lot of us here on Visajourney got approve easliy in Abu dhabi consulate without AP especially for the fact that my husband was Pakistani. I hope this gives you a idea.. GOOd luck..

He is Egyptian I spent 11 days there, it was the most I could get being a fulltime student without risking tanking my GPA during my senior year. I'm hoping this will be enough. Glad to hear it wasn't full of jumping through hoops!

[sparkles_ 456]

I agree with Perl. Abu Dhabi is pretty simple. As long as you can prove a strong bonaifde relationship, you are fine. also, unless your case is super complicated, no need for a lawyer, they can do anything to move your case...they simply serve as a mailing service. Many of us have done it alone, including me, and pearl who both went through Abu Dhabi, with Pakistani Husbands. At my husbands interview they were only really worried about one thing, and that was our pictures...she wanted to see more and more, glad we had them! We had two visits only becuase we needed more time together and more evidence.

As for you still being married, wait until you are COMPLETLY divorced etc. before filing. It will be bad if you do not, as they require DIVORCE documents (Sealed) to prove you are free and clear to marry. If they ask questions about you visiting when married, gently remind them you are legally seperated and free to do so.

ask if you have any UAE related questions and good luck!

We have limited photos, I think I have 8-10 of us together because at the time we were not thinking of filing any visa stuff. We were apartment hunting and all because I had a teaching contract in Egypt and I was moving there. Then came this July 3rd second revolution and after the political fallout we changed plans, I didn't go back and he left for Dubai. We have plenty of other proof, tickets, visa, chat logs, call and sms logs, emails, stuff my son has sent him from school like drawings, etc.

[GabbyBird 53]

Any reason you guys used a lawyer? I'm considering one just because I am also a previous petitioner, even though it was years ago.

Personally I feel the attorney grants a certain amount of added credibility to a case as if the attorney is a pre-filter, verifying a case before filing. In my experience, some of the agencies also seem to respond quicker and with more detail to the attorney inquiries. Our attorney was able to get USCIS to locate our missing petition whereas I personally was not.

While I feel like we could have filled out the papers on our own, and in some cases I did have to do some paper and inquiry work on my own when our attorney was not available, I think I felt a whole lot better knowing she was there in case something did go wrong.

[Greg&Set 3]

I was wondering how many of you guys only met your fiance/fiancee in person once before filing? Did it cause any issues?

I was planning a trip around December to Dubai, but I just moved across the country and got a new job. I won't even bother asking for any time off til 6mo. plus working there and by then I'll have already filed. My thing is, I met my fiance while still legally married (still am, thanks to custody/military/waiting times) so I was wondering should I maybe delay filing to add another visit post divorce being final/more in person proof to our case? What do you guys think? I don't really want to delay anything though...it has already been 5mo since we saw each other

I can most likely make it there for the interview/week before interview if that helps at all. I was planning for that at the very least for moral support.

I see no problem if you met only once, in general, it should be within the past two years before you filed the petition, in your case just 5 mos has past. You just have to prove that your relationship is bonafide. Include all evidences as much as you can ( chat log, call log, pictures, boarding pass, passport stamps, etc. )

Being there for the interview, is a good idea after having your petition approved.

[JoannaV 173]

We were apartment hunting and all because I had a teaching contract in Egypt and I was moving there.

Include some proof of this That shows that you were serious about being together even if not in the US