Waiver for meeting requirement on form i129f

[h3lls1ay3r 29]

I'm a natural born american citizen. I am however half syrian and did reside in syria from 1994 till 2001. I have asked my aunt in Syria to possibly seek a significant other for me. They introduced me to my cousin's sister in law and we have been talking for a couple of years. I was in jordan where I met my aunt and cousins and spent two weeks back in april of this year (2015). They came from syria (they have jordanian citizenship). However my now Fiance' is syrian and her and her family couldn't get approved for a visa to Jordan. Due to the unrest in Syria, I have no intentions of going there since americans are targeted by terrorist organizations currently existing there. Under those circumstances, would I be able to get a waiver for the requirement for us to meet in the past two years?

P.S: I can prove that I have met my family in Jordan and so can they. I can also prove that my fiance is my cousin's sister in law.

[Alaska2012 462]

No. You must have met within the last 2 years. No exceptions.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Not going to happen

[h3lls1ay3r 29]

1. You and your fiancé(e):

   a. Intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé's admission to United States and you are both free to marry; b. Have met in person within 2 years before filing this petition, unless you establish that either:

   (1) The requirement to meet your fiancé(e) in person would violate strict and long-established customs of your or your fiancé(e)'s foreign culture or social practice; or

   (2) The requirement to meet your fiancé(e) in person would result in extreme hardship to you.

that's on the instruction page for the i129f form. there is obviously exceptions. I just needed to know if this fit the bill, which seemed like an obvious yes. But a definite no is not the right answer. That much I can see.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I don't believe visajourney has ever seen someone get a waiver for this. Including those in war torn countries. It's often suggested to meet in a third neutral country

[SuperSaiyanVisa 21]

I'm a natural born american citizen. I am however half syrian and did reside in syria from 1994 till 2001. I have asked my aunt in Syria to possibly seek a significant other for me. They introduced me to my cousin's sister in law and we have been talking for a couple of years. I was in jordan where I met my aunt and cousins and spent two weeks back in april of this year (2015). They came from syria (they have jordanian citizenship). However my now Fiance' is syrian and her and her family couldn't get approved for a visa to Jordan. Due to the unrest in Syria, I have no intentions of going there since americans are targeted by terrorist organizations currently existing there. Under those circumstances, would I be able to get a waiver for the requirement for us to meet in the past two years?

P.S: I can prove that I have met my family in Jordan and so can they. I can also prove that my fiance is my cousin's sister in law.

Hello, your case is very similar to mine. My fiancee is from Syria and i asked about the waiver unfortunately i didn't receive any encouraging responses. So i decided to arrange a visit to Lebanon and my fiancee was able to meet us there. which part of Syria is she from?

Yes the wavier exists i just didn't want to take a chance, i don't know what my chance would be with it

Edited September 5, 2015 by SuperSaiyanVisa

[h3lls1ay3r 29]

She's in Damascus. She could enter Lebanon. Actually that's about the only country nowadays that Syrians can enter legally without major difficulties. It seems quite redundant to have that exception within the instructions and yet never apply it, ESPECIALLY to someone who actually has Syrian heritage and did reside there for a significant period. @SuperSaiyanVisa (Kickass screen name btw haha), are you part Syrian as well?

[SuperSaiyanVisa 21]

She's in Damascus. She could enter Lebanon. Actually that's about the only country nowadays that Syrians can enter legally without major difficulties. It seems quite redundant to have that exception within the instructions and yet never apply it, ESPECIALLY to someone who actually has Syrian heritage and did reside there for a significant period. @SuperSaiyanVisa (Kickass screen name btw haha), are you part Syrian as well?

people on visajourney scared me from applying the wavier. I'm a US born citizen to Syrian parents. My fiancee is also in Damascus.

It was very easy to set up the visit. I emailed her copies of my plane ticket and hotel booking (i booked her room with her name and her dads name) they printed those forms and on the Lebanese they showed them all the documents and had no problem entering. Basically the Lebanese just want proof that she isn't going to stay permanently in Lebanon. So packing light and showing hotel reservations for a few days puts her in the clear.

PM if you want more info

My case would tend to hurt your case of applying the wavier. Because Syrians are still meeting in Lebanon

Edited September 5, 2015 by SuperSaiyanVisa

[raven52 233]

I do not blame you, as I would not enter that part of the world either. But, I must agree with my fellow members, "you will have to meet face to face,".,.,.,and good luck to you as you live

in a very dangerous part of the world, be very careful, and always watch your surroundings.

[Anh map 2,098]

She's in Damascus. She could enter Lebanon. Actually that's about the only country nowadays that Syrians can enter legally without major difficulties. It seems quite redundant to have that exception within the instructions and yet never apply it, ESPECIALLY to someone who actually has Syrian heritage and did reside there for a significant period. @SuperSaiyanVisa (Kickass screen name btw haha), are you part Syrian as well?

Your heritage has little to do with eligibilty for a waiver.

The waiver is extremely difficult to obtain to protect both the petitioner and beneficiary against fraud or human trafficking.

If it is possible to meet in another country then I would suggest doing so. It's likely to save you a lot of time and effort. Plus, you have the additional benefit of actually meeting the person face to face.

[Unidentified 2,930]

I don't think it hurts to try though I must agree with the others: as you technically can meet in a third country I don't really see why a waiver would be successful unfortunately.

[SuperSaiyanVisa 21]

So i just remembered the thought process i went thru when i decided to not use the waiver

1) Syria is unsafe, can you fly to Lebanon? ummm yea i guess

2) can she drive to Lebanon? NO ITS NOT SAFE..........well then if we approve the petition you know there isn't an open embassy is Syria and she will have to go to Lebanon. So mentioning the she cannot leave Syria might get you rejected because of that; she wouldn't be able to interview anywhere

3) ok its actually reasonable for her to go to Lebanon.. Then you have 'no' problem meeting.

[dwheels76 5,463]

1. You and your fiancé(e):

   a. Intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé's admission to United States and you are both free to marry; b. Have met in person within 2 years before filing this petition, unless you establish that either:

   (1) The requirement to meet your fiancé(e) in person would violate strict and long-established customs of your or your fiancé(e)'s foreign culture or social practice; or

   (2) The requirement to meet your fiancé(e) in person would result in extreme hardship to you.

that's on the instruction page for the i129f form. there is obviously exceptions. I just needed to know if this fit the bill, which seemed like an obvious yes. But a definite no is not the right answer. That much I can see.

See the issue you have of a possible denial is you can still meet elsewhere. Many who apply for a waiver and get approved (yes rare but have seen it I believe 3 times on VJ) is because usually the petitioner can not travel. The beneficiary can't get a visitor visa to US to meet and since petitioner can't travel a alternate place will not work.

As stated here there are other places for you two to meet. So just do that quickly and file as soon as you can.

Wishing you all the best.

[h3lls1ay3r 29]

Thank you all for the feedback. After many conversations including this thread, I have decided to set up a meeting in Lebanon. Technically we have met face to face in my sister's wedding, however no interaction took place back then haha. I'm also concerned about the fact that the entire election coming up seems to have become defined by immigration laws and the idea of reforming it. Last few reforms in any case I've seen, the latest being obamacare have all turned out to make things worse. So I'm trying to beat that clock considering most people are saying it's taking at least 10 months to God knows how long for the whole process.

Edited September 6, 2015 by h3lls1ay3r

[h3lls1ay3r 29]

So i just remembered the thought process i went thru when i decided to not use the waiver

1) Syria is unsafe, can you fly to Lebanon? ummm yea i guess

2) can she drive to Lebanon? NO ITS NOT SAFE..........well then if we approve the petition you know there isn't an open embassy is Syria and she will have to go to Lebanon. So mentioning the she cannot leave Syria might get you rejected because of that; she wouldn't be able to interview anywhere

3) ok its actually reasonable for her to go to Lebanon.. Then you have 'no' problem meeting.

That actually was a very well thawed thought process that has successfully turned everything I was thinking on it's head. Touche sir!