K1 Visa - Letter from Religious Authorities

[farazs1 0]

Hi,

I have applied for K1 visa for my fiance.

Since I have not met my fiance in person, I need to prove why.

The reason is religious. I cannot find any sample letter to write up from a religious authority attesting to this.

How does following body of the letter reads?

"My name - case number and A#

My address

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Their Address

Date

Dear Sir or Madam:

I, ---, am such and such religious authority from so and so place and do hereby attest that it is against our customs and social practices for two engaged people to meet before their wedding.

Yours truly,

Religious Authority

His Address

"

I feel this is too simple but I don't know what else I can add. This is the truth.

Thank you,

[Boiler 46,362]

What religion is it?

I remember reading about one but for the life of me forget its name.

[Illiria 980]

Just found reference by Penguin_ie to someone who was successful who was from "an obscure African sect and they had a ton of evidence of this long held religious practise." Can't find the thread she is referring to though.

She does mention that this particular sect forbid meeting even with a chaperone and that this was the only one that she was aware of where this was the case as most seem to forbid meeting alone, with a chaperone is ok.

Edited September 13, 2014 by Illiria

[Boiler 46,362]

It was African that much I remember. I tried looking it up with no success.

[farazs1 0]

No, it is not African. It is actually more of a cultural influence on how Islam is practiced where I am from.

The religious authority (Imam) has agreed to write the letter but I just need to provide him with content for it that is convincing for USCIS.

Thank you,

[Boiler 46,362]

Has come up before, not an issue for Moslem's to meet. And USCIS know that

[farazs1 0]

then how should I go about explaining my situation? Thanks,

[cdneh 3,112]

then how should I go about explaining my situation? Thanks,

I don't think you can explain your situation away. You haven't got a convincing argument. The two requirements are that you have got to be both free to marry, and that you have met in person in the last two years. They are very strict on this. The link below will take you to administrative decisions made by USCIS on appeal. There are many that failed to meet that one requirement, and were denied.

USCIS link

[farazs1 0]

man, this is not looking good. I will still go through with this and see what happens. I have paid for the application so doesn't hurt to try.

Worst case, I will visit sometime soon and file again once I am back?

[MrsNuur 0]

Hi,

I have applied for K1 visa for my fiance.

Since I have not met my fiance in person, I need to prove why.

The reason is religious. I cannot find any sample letter to write up from a religious authority attesting to this.

How does following body of the letter reads?

"My name - case number and A#

My address

United States Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Their Address

Date

Dear Sir or Madam:

I, ---, am such and such religious authority from so and so place and do hereby attest that it is against our customs and social practices for two engaged people to meet before their wedding.

Yours truly,

Religious Authority

His Address

"

I feel this is too simple but I don't know what else I can add. This is the truth.

Thank you,

If you're engaged, doesn't that mean you're married like have you done the meher?

[sadavis5 46]

Several of those denied cases (linked in a previous reply) were people trying to use religious reasons for not meeting in person. You know that you can meet your fiance and re-apply later, and so does USCIS. If I were you, I would start planning that trip

[Ian H. 207]

If it is against your religious practice to meet before you are married, you can also get married and do the spouse visa. For the fiance visa even though they do make an exception for religious reasons, it does have to be a valid reason and very convincing. Otherwise anyone can claim that their religion doesn't allow this and try to circumvent this requirement. Technically for the fiance visa you only have to meet once, not sure if they make a fuss about how many days though.

[Rebecca.V 24]

How about.. don't marry someone you've never met. It's a horrible idea.

[Ian H. 207]

It may not be a good idea to others, but this is part of his religion and he has to choose whether to respect it or not. And due to the first amendment, this is one of his rights.

How about.. don't marry someone you've never met. It's a horrible idea.

[RC40 6]

I know other "non-radicalized" Islamists here in the states and this has never been part of their practice. I agree with the previous comment about getting married and going for a spousal visa. There are long waits for K1 visas and you could potentially wait a long time to get a denial. It's not worth the risk.