About to start K-1 process

[deadbird 2]

Ok...so my fiance and I met when he was in the US and attending my high school from 1999-2001. We began dating in Jan. 2001, and he returned to Egypt in August 2001 and I haven't seen him since. We called our relationship off while we were in college, and now we're back together...

I will be going to Egypt to visit him again this March 22, but do I have to wait until after I return to file the i129F and so I can prove we've met?

I know because he was in the US for an extended period of time this complicates things a bit, and he was not an exchange student. I should know what visa he had when he was here but at the moment I don't because I never really needed to know until now.

[Aymerlu 3]

It's required that you have met within 2 years when you file your petition and you have to have 'proof' of that meeting. Wait till your trip in March (I'd bring everything with you so he can sign everything then), come back and then file.

Best of luck!

[sunandmoon 450]

Id wait till after you return from your visit in March so you can submit proof ( plane tickets, boarding passes, passport stamps, recent photos, etc... ) of having met in the two years prior to filing the petition.

Edited January 14, 2007 by roymcn3rd

[patiently_waiting 0]

You will need to sow proof that you have met within the past two years. I would think that since you don't having anything showing you were together in the past two years, you may want to wait until you return from your trip. At that point you will have pics, your passport stamps, boarding passes and things of that nature.

[ding 1]

Sounds like you're lucky;

1) You know each other well and want to marry. You don't have to wait to see how you are together.

2) You are here and know what to do to save time and mailing for when you go there.

March is a month and a half away. Almost enough time to get everything together to file and even interview. Except for the things that need to be recently done before the interview ie; passport style pics, medical & police report.

[wissooner 0]

I hope he didn't overstay his visa in 2001...................Ken

[Caladan 19]

Wait till you get back. For the K-1, you need to have met in person in the previous two years.

When you fill out the I-129F, you'll notice it's possible to get this requirement waived if there's 'extreme hardship' or religious reasons. The likelihood of this being approved is so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so small (especially with a planned trip to go there), so just ignore that.

Honestly, if you decided to apply this very second it would probably take you a couple weeks to get all the info together anyway. So you're not losing all that much time.

So. What to do? Here's what I'd do. In the meantime, browse around and learn as much about the process that you can. Collect the information and evidence you'll need for the forms (check on the guidelines). Order a copy of your birth certificate. Check out the Middle East and North Africa forum; there's lots of lovely ladies there with Egyptian fiancés who can give you advice.

While you're there, take photographs of the two of you together. Keep receipts, boarding passes, hotel receipts, passport stamps: anything 'third-party' that can place you in Egypt. Get everything that needs his input filled out and signed. (Again, the guides are super helpful.)

Good luck!

[deadbird 2]

Thank you so much for the replies & advice! I will wait till I return, just being on the board and seeing all the other people who are waiting is soooo comforting . He's going to start getting all his records in order and he did not over stay his visa in 2001 (fantastic!) We're so excited!!