How do you think a 4-year LDR would impact the bonafide relationship part of the K1?

[MetallicDog142 0]

I just saw a Facebook post from someone that was denied because the interviewer was suspicious of why they didn't meet for 3 years. They started chatting in 2017 online and met up in 2021 and got engaged basically. I'm a bit nervous because I had a 4-year LDR with mine.

 

Background for me: USA-Thailand, same age (31 & 30). We met in Thailand in Oct. 2016 when I lived there, became an official relationship in early 2017, and I stayed in Thailand until I had to leave in May 2018 for work (so we did have 20 months of in-person stuff and a year being completely official). We didn't get to meet again in person until June 2022. I'm a teacher, so traveling anytime other than summer, especially all the way to Thailand, is tough. And getting a tourist visa to the USA from Thailand as a (legally single) woman is tough. Here's why we did not visit:

 

2019: I had summer classes for a teaching endorsement and we decided to wait til 2020

2020: We made plans to meet in South Korea and Thailand (with text proof), but had to cancel because COVID of course

2021: Made plans again, but had to cancel because the Delta wave was hitting Thailand, hospitals were overflowing, and I didn't feel safe as a Type 1 diabetic (kinda regret this, but when you read articles of overcrowding hospitals and absolute chaos....it hits a nerve)

2022: finally visited!

2023: Yes....I am visiting for 6 weeks again!

 

I include all of this clearly in the packet I sent. I have a lot of proof of time together from 2016-2018, our LDR for 4 years (including one screenshot of messages per month, packages sent, social media posts, etc.) and then the proof of meeting within two years. It feels legit to me...but now my anxiety is spiking because it was a 4-year LDR extended by COVID.

 

Based on posts here or your own experience, do you think this may cause issues? It would be so demoralizing to have to go back to Stage 1.

[Ontarkie 14,275]

Facebook is notorious for only giving half truths if they tell the truth to start with. 

 

You case is  not like the FB story and you have more then one visit and will probably have a few more by the time you get to the interview. 

 

[Sammy_2496 116]

Hm i would take it with a grain of salt, they likely didn’t give the full details. From what i have read, you will be fine! Good luck ☺️

[biscoito1r 73]

I think you'll be fine as the only requirement is to have met at least once within two years at the moment of the application. If you happen to get an RFE, be sure to include additional evidence of your ongoing relationship, things like boarding passes, pictures and copies of every single page on your passport as well as of hers. Since you're going there this year maybe you should consider going abroad with her on a trip, just be sure to save the boarding passes.

Regarding the RFE, sometimes you can do everything you were supposed to and still get one. I got one because they lost my passport picture so I sent them 3 pictures inside of a ziplock bag plus the extra evidence.

[AndiB 677]

On 3/31/2023 at 3:56 AM, MetallicDog142 said:

I just saw a Facebook post from someone that was denied because the interviewer was suspicious of why they didn't meet for 3 years. They started chatting in 2017 online and met up in 2021 and got engaged basically. I'm a bit nervous because I had a 4-year LDR with mine.

 

Background for me: USA-Thailand, same age (31 & 30). We met in Thailand in Oct. 2016 when I lived there, became an official relationship in early 2017, and I stayed in Thailand until I had to leave in May 2018 for work (so we did have 20 months of in-person stuff and a year being completely official). We didn't get to meet again in person until June 2022. I'm a teacher, so traveling anytime other than summer, especially all the way to Thailand, is tough. And getting a tourist visa to the USA from Thailand as a (legally single) woman is tough. Here's why we did not visit:

 

2019: I had summer classes for a teaching endorsement and we decided to wait til 2020

2020: We made plans to meet in South Korea and Thailand (with text proof), but had to cancel because COVID of course

2021: Made plans again, but had to cancel because the Delta wave was hitting Thailand, hospitals were overflowing, and I didn't feel safe as a Type 1 diabetic (kinda regret this, but when you read articles of overcrowding hospitals and absolute chaos....it hits a nerve)

2022: finally visited!

2023: Yes....I am visiting for 6 weeks again!

 

I include all of this clearly in the packet I sent. I have a lot of proof of time together from 2016-2018, our LDR for 4 years (including one screenshot of messages per month, packages sent, social media posts, etc.) and then the proof of meeting within two years. It feels legit to me...but now my anxiety is spiking because it was a 4-year LDR extended by COVID.

 

Based on posts here or your own experience, do you think this may cause issues? It would be so demoralizing to have to go back to Stage 1.

I agree with others, you'll be fine but always best to keep all evidence to show anyway! I see so many posts where people say they were denied for x or y then after more conversation it was actually a different reason. People don't tell you the whole story and you can never be 100% sure why they were denied unless it's obvious (like not meeting).

[MetallicDog142 0]

On 3/31/2023 at 11:09 PM, biscoito1r said:

I think you'll be fine as the only requirement is to have met at least once within two years at the moment of the application. If you happen to get an RFE, be sure to include additional evidence of your ongoing relationship, things like boarding passes, pictures and copies of every single page on your passport as well as of hers. Since you're going there this year maybe you should consider going abroad with her on a trip, just be sure to save the boarding passes.

Regarding the RFE, sometimes you can do everything you were supposed to and still get one. I got one because they lost my passport picture so I sent them 3 pictures inside of a ziplock bag plus the extra evidence.

Thanks! Just as a quick question - why does going abroad with her on a trip matter if I visit? I figure I'll have boarding passes, passport stamps, pics together and with friends/family from this summer, so plenty of evidence of ongoing relationship.

[MetallicDog142 0]

2 hours ago, AndiB said:

I agree with others, you'll be fine but always best to keep all evidence to show anyway! I see so many posts where people say they were denied for x or y then after more conversation it was actually a different reason. People don't tell you the whole story and you can never be 100% sure why they were denied unless it's obvious (like not meeting).

Thanks! Helps me feel better. I feel I have tons of evidence already (passport stamps, boarding passes, pics, credit card statements, hotel booking confirmations. And with an upcoming trip in June for 6 weeks, I'll have more evidence to show if there are any doubts. Just a stressful process to wait so long and possibly get denied for a little thing.

[biscoito1r 73]

9 hours ago, MetallicDog142 said:

Thanks! Just as a quick question - why does going abroad with her on a trip matter if I visit? I figure I'll have boarding passes, passport stamps, pics together and with friends/family from this summer, so plenty of evidence of ongoing relationship.

Going on vacation together is good evidence and going abroad provides you with even more strong evidence since you both get boarding passes, passport stamps, etc. One of the questions my fiance got asked during the pre-interview was if we had traveled together abroad. You're right, you might not need it but it'll make your case stronger.

Edited April 3, 2023 by biscoito1r

[Kawika & Michelle 108]

You only need to have met your fiancé once within the last two years of applying for your K1 VISA. Since you met in 2022 & plan to meet again in 2023...you've already met this requirement. The fact that you've been in a relationship with her even longer should only add to the validity of your relationship. We're not all retired old farts who can just pick up & run off to another country at a moment's notice. A lot of us have responsibilities & limited finances that don't allow us to travel to see our loved ones as much as we would like. I wouldn't over think it. I'd focus on producing photos of your meeting(s) and your communication & support for one another in the recent years.