Time to know each other

[d3adc0d3 186]

I WANT to go visit two more times after the I-129F is filed just to expedite the situation, But does the CO officer really care if those two visits are AFTER or before the petition is filed? It seems like it wouldn't matter as long as we were working on our relationship and toward marriage?

Depends on the CO. But I would say not. I only visited my fiance (now husband) for 10 days ONCE before filing the I-129F and (obviously) we were approved.

I was also there for the interview, and stayed with him in Argentina. We had pictures of me with him and his family, various landmarks in Argentina (including the sign with his hometown's name at the train station), and my passport stamps/boarding passes, etc.

They want to know that it's bona fide. Take pictures of you with her family, visiting various places in Colombia. While you're doing that, also take pictures of you at a restaurant or two and keep the receipts of your meal(s). Take a screenshot of your conversations once a week, to show that you're continuing your relationship. Send or Bring her a MagicJack & Phone, so you can have phone logs between you. MagicJack she can use with an ethernet cable to call via a US number, unlimited phone calls in the US. It's like $30/year. Go check it out.

You can leave the MagicJack with her family if and when she immigrates to the US so they can continue to call her.

Once you meet the requirements you can file, after that you can build even more evidence of a bona fide relationship for the interview stage.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

You can use the evidence of the one meeting in person in order to file the I-129F petition. Collect more evidence of visits together while waiting for the I-129F petition to be approved. Take the proof of those visits in person to the K-1 visa interview along with your other evidence of having a valid relationship.

[JoelyLeidy 3]

You can use the evidence of the one meeting in person in order to file the I-129F petition. Collect more evidence of visits together while waiting for the I-129F petition to be approved. Take the proof of those visits in person to the K-1 visa interview along with your other evidence of having a valid relationship.

Beside chat history and then visit with lots of photos, what other documentation? engagement ring receipt we have...airline tickets we will have I send her flowers I have gift credit card statements from the trip that shows purchases at department stores.......and those receipts... phone records, I just signed up for Vonage so we have cheap phone records along with a chat history....emails........I just want, as I go forward that we have all our ducks in a row so the CO has no doubt about us... I know it would break her heart and mine to go through this and have that let down....

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

For the I-129F petition, you just need to show the passport stamps, boarding passes, receipts for purchases/ATM transactions while visiting there, and a couple photos of you two together. You need to prove you met in person within the 2 years before filing. You can add in a small sampling of relationship evidence too, which will be for the consulate to see before your interview.

Take the evidence of other visits plus all the various relationship evidences you have mentioned to the K-1 visa interview.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

[voice of caution]

There's nothing like filing an I-129F petition after one visit, gaining USCIS's approval, making more visits afterwards, taking that extra evidence of a bona fide relationship to the interview, and finding out to your chagrin that the CO made up his mind to refuse the visa on the basis of the thin evidence that was in the I-129F petition package.

Except perhaps in the VWP countries and the Philippines, do not (do not!) take the consular phase for granted.

[JoelyLeidy 3]

along with this, is it good or bad that she has family in the USA? she does not... no family has really been out of Cali Colombia before..

[NerdyGirl 16]

[voice of caution]

There's nothing like filing an I-129F petition after one visit, gaining USCIS's approval, making more visits afterwards, taking that extra evidence of a bona fide relationship to the interview, and finding out to your chagrin that the CO made up his mind to refuse the visa on the basis of the thin evidence that was in the I-129F petition package.

Except perhaps in the VWP countries and the Philippines, do not (do not!) take the consular phase for granted.

Kudos! That's what I was thinking too. If the consular sees that the petition was filed after a 5 day visit, it is quite suspicious. It is marriage that we are talking about here, not a simple vacation.

Go see her one more time, and document it well, before you file the petition.

[baron555 934]

I would say you have a couple of red flags.

1. Age difference. Now, that can easily be solved with with a rock-solid bonafide proof!

There comes the second. You have literally met her last months, for FIVE days! Snapshots of your chats mean very little, as it is not relevant enough. Marriage is a serious thing, and going for the petition after 5 days spent together is a little bit suspicious.

These are two adults,,,,,,,making adult decisions........there is NO reason that they can't file the petition and still get to know each other. My wife and I only met in person for 10 days....so we were twice as good?

Yes it SHOULD be understood (and discussed openly) that they still have a lot to learn about each other....and it would be suggested (as my wife and I had) that at any time either could end it all just like that.

You should meet her at least once more, for MORE than 5 days!

If possible, but not a necessity.

There is the proof right there, doing activities together.

No proof of a relationship....just proof of doing something together.

Get to know each other as much as you can. You should do this, not just for the petition, but for yourself. Meet each other's families, and take pictures. She will probably be asked if her family approves of your relationship.

Solid advice.

How is her english?

Or....how is your Spanish.....works both ways.

I am sure your relationship is genuine, and that you are in love,

Love has nothing to do with international visa and immigration procedures.

but having a red flag demands you prepare the best you can for the process, especially the interview.

Maybe, depends on the ages....more than the difference in ages.

Best of luck! : )

[baron555 934]

Kudos! That's what I was thinking too. If the consular sees that the petition was filed after a 5 day visit, it is quite suspicious. It is marriage that we are talking about here, not a simple vacation.

Maybe

Go see her one more time, and document it well, before you file the petition.

A another visit doesn't prove a relationship.

[d3adc0d3 186]

[voice of caution]

There's nothing like filing an I-129F petition after one visit, gaining USCIS's approval, making more visits afterwards, taking that extra evidence of a bona fide relationship to the interview, and finding out to your chagrin that the CO made up his mind to refuse the visa on the basis of the thin evidence that was in the I-129F petition package.

Except perhaps in the VWP countries and the Philippines, do not (do not!) take the consular phase for granted.

Kudos! That's what I was thinking too. If the consular sees that the petition was filed after a 5 day visit, it is quite suspicious. It is marriage that we are talking about here, not a simple vacation.

Go see her one more time, and document it well, before you file the petition.

I only visited my fiance (now husband) once prior to filing for 10 days. I went and stayed with him for 2.5 months and during that was present for the interview. Obviously we were approved.

[msbau764 245]

Colombia is not a difficult embassy. Since you only went there once, I would recommend going there again and also for her interview...yes you can attend the interview with her. It will impress the CO to see you there and that you are supporting your fiancée. In the meantime, keep collecting evidence of your relationship so that you can take it with you to the interview. 9 months total of knowing each other is not really a red flag.

You already met her once, so just start the process now. You can go visit her while you are still waiting on your NOA2.

I feel that it is a bit of BS that some consulates allow the fiance to be present and others don't. Is there any hypothesis as to why?

[JoelyLeidy 3]

thanks guys.... i can't imagine all the crazy feelings collectively on this site navigating this...I just started and my head swirls.... i don't know why they make it so hard....

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

[voice of caution]

There's nothing like filing an I-129F petition after one visit, gaining USCIS's approval, making more visits afterwards, taking that extra evidence of a bona fide relationship to the interview, and finding out to your chagrin that the CO made up his mind to refuse the visa on the basis of the thin evidence that was in the I-129F petition package.

Except perhaps in the VWP countries and the Philippines, do not (do not!) take the consular phase for granted.

Amen !

[SincerelyMeike 52]

Hi John! This is what I heard from my lawyer in my personal experience, we needed to literally scramble all that we can get together to make sure they know that we haven been dating for 2 years. My lawyer told me that, although there are cases who have been approved and been dating a shorter time than my fiancé and I have, the longer you know each other before filing the i-129f, the better. The main reason I would suggest meeting her at least one more time before filing your i-129f is so that you can have more evidence because I'm fairly certain you might not have as much evidence as you need. A few pictures a two months worth of chat logs aren't that much compared to other people. What you do after you file the i-129f is good as well, but its not as substantial as what you file before. When your information passes through to NOA1, you'll get an approval because you haven't made any mistakes on filing your papers. When you get an approval to NOA2 it'll be because you've meet the requirements of having chat logs, having pictures, and meeting. At that point between NOA2 and NVC is when the initial decision is made, it'll be too late to send any extra evidence that you have to prove them otherwise. The packet will be shipped to the consular in her embassy and he will read what they have to say and base his decision off of that. IF their decision is not in your favor than you would have aimlessly spent all that time/money for nothing. Thats why I suggest doing all you can do before filing your papers.

[VFittipaldi 30]

To the OP:

None of these are red flags. Someone in a post asked if she has children because that's a red flag, that one was just funny. Probably 90% of people here gets a visa for someone who has kids, been married before for both sides, makes barely any money to support him or herself and so on. I red a post the other day about someone who did two K1 visas and the third one was a marriage and all 3 got approved so no, no red flags just get lots of evidence and you will be ok.

While you are there as you mentioned have her sign the G-325A but also get a passport picture of her(GLOSSY and NOT MATTE) and have her sign a Intent to Marry.

I wish you luck!