I [30/M/Lahore, Pakistan] have been with my boyfriend [25/M/NYC] since 2017 he is coming to meet me for the first time. is a first time meeting enough for him file us for K1?

[AveragePakistani 3]

Long story short, we both agreed that we'd only meet when we both were financially capable. He landed a great job last year and so did I. He's flying to me and I already have both my phones emptied out to record every minute and take pictures like crazy.

 

We've been together since 2017, we met through reddit and I have all the original messages since then, from facebook messenger, reddit, whatsapp, etc. the years were tough but 2019 was our turning year, and after a year of saving, we are both having the dream vacation we both deserve.

 

This is our first IRL meeting.

 

Is there any advice you all can offer? I already told him to keep the boarding pass, ticket, gate pass, etc, anything he has during his trip with him and not to discard it starting from JFK and back to JFK, to preserve them in a mini folder or something.

 

We are going to be spend about 13 days together, he will be with me on September 30th, and leaves on the morning of October 11th. His flight actually leaves on 28th, but all airlines are taking 2 days, with 20 hour travel time, there isn't any airline that can fly faster, 19-20 hours is the lowest flying time we've found. 

 

He only gets 13 days off a year. He will get 13 days again in April 2021. 

 

As far as I know, there is no way for us to get married here, legally. so there's no chance of a CR-7 taking place. 

 

I want to know if this visit will be enough for him to file for a K1 when he flies back? 

 

If anyone who has filed a K1 with our situation in mind can help me here, it would be great.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Yes, one visit meets the requirement for the k1 but with you being from Pakistan you guys will face an uphill battle with just one visit. Multiple visits are encouraged. Please search the Pakistan boards for specifics to your country. Are you both the same religion? That can be another hurdle. 

[AveragePakistani 3]

As I mentioned, the time off plus coronavirus makes it difficult to schedule multiple visits. Can you link me to the Pakistan boards? As far as the religion goes, neither of us has an issue with changing if needed. 

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*procedural question moved from “progress reports” to “process and procedures”*~*~*

[JFH 12,189]

Slow down. You haven’t met yet. Don’t focus on the requirements first. That’s a red flag, anyway, to be thinking of visa requirements before you’ve even met. Get to know one another and enjoy your time together. The right time to file the K-1 is when you are ready to marry. For some, that’s after one visit. For others, it’s after multiple visits. Only you two know the right time for you.
 

Yes, one visit meets the legal requirements to file a petition. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Marriage is a huge step. Make sure it’s what you both want. You have an uphill battle with the embassy in Pakistan so I would recommend more than one visit. If that means waiting until next year to file, so what? K-1s are not being processed by the embassies right now anyway, as they are not considered “mission critical” (embassy jargon for “essential”). You also will likely spend a considerable time in AP also so you need to see this as a multi-year plan. 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

24 minutes ago, AveragePakistani said:

As I mentioned, the time off plus coronavirus makes it difficult to schedule multiple visits. Can you link me to the Pakistan boards? As far as the religion goes, neither of us has an issue with changing if needed. 

If you add Pakistan to your profile on this site you will have easy access to the portal. Here is the link tho https://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Pakistan

 

It’s not so much about one of you changing religions- it’s just that (I’m going to assume) if you are Muslim it is not the norm to marry outside ones religion. USCIS/embassy doesn’t care that covid/lack of time off makes it harder for visits. There is no rush to engage/marry and some people have to go years being together before applying for immigration. These things are overcome by face (in person) time. Not trying to discourage you; trying to make you aware this isn’t going to be an easy process.

[AveragePakistani 3]

8 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

If you add Pakistan to your profile on this site you will have easy access to the portal. Here is the link tho https://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Pakistan

 

It’s not so much about one of you changing religions- it’s just that (I’m going to assume) if you are Muslim it is not the norm to marry outside ones religion. USCIS/embassy doesn’t care that covid/lack of time off makes it harder for visits. There is no rush to engage/marry and some people have to go years being together before applying for immigration. These things are overcome by face (in person) time. Not trying to discourage you; trying to make you aware this isn’t going to be an easy process.

Thank you so much! is there an option for Atheist or No religion on said form? We both literally have no problem with surrendering religion if it's going to be an obstacle for us to be together. 

 

I think me going to Germany and starting the process is better. I told him we can have our second meeting in Germany since it will be at the end of 2021, and end of the year is the best period for the both of us, or early 2022, since his vacations renew/expire by the April of that year. 

 

Again, the issue of travel is mostly on his side due to 13 days off a year, 2 days of which are spent in the plane and layovers.  

 

27 minutes ago, JFH said:

Slow down. You haven’t met yet. Don’t focus on the requirements first. That’s a red flag, anyway, to be thinking of visa requirements before you’ve even met. Get to know one another and enjoy your time together. The right time to file the K-1 is when you are ready to marry. For some, that’s after one visit. For others, it’s after multiple visits. Only you two know the right time for you.
 

Yes, one visit meets the legal requirements to file a petition. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Marriage is a huge step. Make sure it’s what you both want. You have an uphill battle with the embassy in Pakistan so I would recommend more than one visit. If that means waiting until next year to file, so what? K-1s are not being processed by the embassies right now anyway, as they are not considered “mission critical” (embassy jargon for “essential”). You also will likely spend a considerable time in AP also so you need to see this as a multi-year plan. 

I know. We have been online for 4 years and trust me when I say I am ready for him to be at his worst. But I've been dating for a fairly long time and we both feel we are both right for each other. I know it sounds odd, but despite this being our first physical meeting, I am ready to commit. The 4 years I have been with him have been the best years of my life, we know every little thing about each other. These 10 days at most will tell us if we can live with each other, which shouldn't be a problem. 

 

We've both told each other our best, and worst stuff. we have put 4 years into it, and we both know that we were meant for each other. 

I have gotten your reply a lot from all my friends, they're eager to meet him too, but I've met enough guys romantically before, and I know what to watch out for in physical meeting, so it won't be issue for us to spend the time together. 

 

thanks for your consideration and thought, i know you mean well! and we both will definitely see how the physical meeting goes to decide how long we should wait to marry :) 

[green_rabbit 69]

42 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

 

It’s not so much about one of you changing religions- it’s just that (I’m going to assume) if you are Muslim it is not the norm to marry outside ones religion. 

I would hope they weigh this factor differently for same-sex couples. 

[AD19 36]

Me and my wife are same sex couple,and im a Muslim And we couldnt get married in my country (not legal) also we did meet only once for 14 days and we went through k1. No problems at all.  

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

30 minutes ago, Aili & Dani said:

Me and my wife are same sex couple,and im a Muslim And we couldnt get married in my country (not legal) also we did meet only once for 14 days and we went through k1. No problems at all.  

Not with Pakistan.

[JFH 12,189]

39 minutes ago, Aili & Dani said:

Me and my wife are same sex couple,and im a Muslim And we couldnt get married in my country (not legal) also we did meet only once for 14 days and we went through k1. No problems at all.  

European countries always have an easier ride through the embassies. 

[AD19 36]

23 minutes ago, JFH said:

European countries always have an easier ride through the embassies. 

Well my country is not part of EU so not really. Its harder than other European countries. 

[AD19 36]

24 minutes ago, JFH said:

European countries always have an easier ride through the embassies. 

But im guessing as same sex couple,its the same law bc you are going to American embassy no matter where Embassy is. Its still American law inside. 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

4 hours ago, Luckycuds said:

If you add Pakistan to your profile on this site you will have easy access to the portal. Here is the link tho https://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Pakistan

 

It’s not so much about one of you changing religions- it’s just that (I’m going to assume) if you are Muslim it is not the norm to marry outside ones religion. USCIS/embassy doesn’t care that covid/lack of time off makes it harder for visits. There is no rush to engage/marry and some people have to go years being together before applying for immigration. These things are overcome by face (in person) time. Not trying to discourage you; trying to make you aware this isn’t going to be an easy process.

Pretty sure that if you're Muslim, it's definitely not the norm to marry someone of the same sex. So I don't know how important tradition is here. 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

1 hour ago, Orangesapples said:

Pretty sure that if you're Muslim, it's definitely not the norm to marry someone of the same sex. So I don't know how important tradition is here. 

That’s true hopefully OP can find others with similar experience to see if this caused additional hurdles