I129F - met before the 2 years requirement proof of meeting in person

[wave19 0]

hi everyone, 

 

my partner and I plan to file for the K1 Visa  in the next few months, we've know each other since 2014 and I went there several times, we dated, then had a break of 1 year last year for some reasons however we found each other again this year and decided to take off and move forward to be together. We plan to meet again before filing the form. So we were wondering if we should provide proofs of meeting in person in the last two years or can we provide also proof that we met before the two years requirement? also should we give details about the 1 year break? 

 

Thanks 

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by wave19

[Crazy Cat 39,226]

25 minutes ago, wave19 said:

So we were wondering if we should provide proofs of meeting in person in the last two years or can we provide also proof that we met before the two years

You MUST provide evidence that you met within 2 years prior to filing the I-129F.  USCIS doesn't care about any "break".... Have you considered the CR-1 instead?

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US 
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
    A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  

CR-1
    Slightly slower arrival in the US

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  �

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[JFH 12,189]

You must provide proof you meet in the two years immediately prior to filing the petition. Proof of other visits is not essential but may help your case if you are going through a difficult embassy. 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,319]

K1 is very simple.  1) That you have met at least once in the last 2 years.  2) That you did not meet via a marriage broker.  If you did meet via a marriage broker, then proof that the marriage broker followed regulations. 3) That both parties intend to marry each other as soon as the fiance enters the US.

 

Do not complicate your application with elaborate stories.  They do not matter to USCIS.  During the interview at the embassy, your fiance may be asked about the relationship - that is the time to provide details if asked.

 

As @Lucky Cat mentioned, please consider CR-1 (spouse visa).  

 

[JeanneAdil 6,196]

What country and embassy?

this is so important as many are difficult for K1 petitioning 

 

I would strongly consider marriage and the spouse visa as the new AOS fee for adjusting status in the US after marriage here is going from $1140 to $2270 on October 2nd 

and as said above many new K1 immigrants have issues with driving licenses,,  SS cards, etc

[SteveInBostonI130 3,319]

Please fill out your profile.  It will help us provide better responses if we know your situation.

[wave19 0]

15 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

You MUST provide evidence that you met within 2 years before filing the I-129F.  USCIS doesn't care about any "break".... Have you considered the CR-1 instead?

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US 
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
    A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
  

CR-1
    Slightly slower arrival in the US

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  �

 

Thanks, K1 is much easier in our case as we can't get married, I can't go there and he can't come in my country (France) we will meet in a third country.  

4 minutes ago, JFH said:

You must provide proof you meet in the two years immediately prior to filing the petition. Proof of other visits is not essential but may help your case if you are going through a difficult embassy. 

Thanks, I'm french so the embassy will be Paris

[JFH 12,189]

5 minutes ago, wave19 said:

Thanks, K1 is much easier in our case as we can't get married, I can't go there and he can't come in my country (France) we will meet in a third country.  

Thanks, I'm french so the embassy will be Paris

Then you don’t need to overload your case with unnecessary evidence. Those of us from Western Europe are very fortunate to have very easy routes through the embassy stage. 

[wave19 0]

3 minutes ago, JFH said:

Then you don’t need to overload your case with unnecessary evidence. Those of us from Western Europe are very fortunate to have very easy routes through the embassy stage. 

oh okay, but first time we met in person was in 2015, we will have to mention it in the declaration of how met and insert proofs right? and that is way prior to the 2 years requirement 

[Chancy 6,233]

10 minutes ago, wave19 said:

oh okay, but first time we met in person was in 2015, we will have to mention it in the declaration of how met and insert proofs right? and that is way prior to the 2 years requirement 

 

USCIS doesn't care when you first met.  They only care when you last met in person.  The requirement is that your most recent in-person meeting must be within 2 years prior to filing.

 

[wave19 0]

6 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

USCIS doesn't care when you first met.  They only care when you last met in person.  The requirement is that your most recent in-person meeting must be within 2 years prior to filing.

 

thank you good to know! I was going to detail every meeting we had for the past 5 years… 

[payxibka 10,044]

1 minute ago, wave19 said:

thank you good to know! I was going to detail every meeting we had for the past 5 years… 

Circumstances of meeting can be a few sentences.   No need to prove those circumstances

[JeanneAdil 6,196]

1 hour ago, Chancy said:

 

USCIS doesn't care when you first met.  They only care when you last met in person.  The requirement is that your most recent in-person meeting must be within 2 years prior to filing.

 

for Europe yes,  but to those from high fraud countries,  beware and prove all meetings (you need multiple visits) 

so,  this is country dependent

[payxibka 10,044]

2 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

for Europe yes,  but to those from high fraud countries,  beware and prove all meetings (you need multiple visits) 

so,  this is country dependent

Don't confuse the USCIS with the consulate.  USCIS doesn't care about multiple meetings 

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, wave19 said:

I can't go there

You can visit the US with ESTA if you spend 2 weeks in an unrestricted country (Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, Mexico, etc.) before going to the US:

You can marry in the US during that visit:

The US citizen can also submit I-130 during your US trip: "The beneficiary will not apply for adjustment of status in the United States, but he or she will apply for an immigrant visa abroad at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in" "Paris, France"