K1 Visa - Petitioner Filing with Criminal History

[2welve 1]

1st - Thank you all so much for your concerns and advice, I really appreciate it 🙏. Since we started talking online, he’s been very honest with me about his past, and I truly believe he’s a changed man. He’s responsible, especially when it comes to his kids (a boy and a girl). He was never married to his ex-girlfriend, and both of us have been single for quite a while now.

2nd - He’s not very familiar with computers and does mostly physical work, so I’ll be handling the documentation for him. I’ll prepare everything and he’ll just need to sign the papers.

3rd - If we don’t file for the K-1, what other options do we have? I’m working overseas and only have limited time when I’m in Manila. Even for a civil wedding, they require about 10 days of waiting time (I forgot what it’s called). My fiancé also needs to go to the US Embassy for his affidavit. Neither of us can stay in Manila for 30 days or more, and he’s busy with work too. We just want to get the paperwork done as smoothly and quickly as possible so we can finally be together.

4th - Do you think his past might cause any issues or get us denied?

He told me his major offenses include assault, domestic violence, related assault, harassment/threats, resisting arrest, obstructing law enforcement, robbery, residential burglary, DUI, negligent driving, and weapons related charges.
He also has some minor ones like overspeeding, failure to wear a seatbelt, DWLS 3rd degree, and a few others.

 

By the way, we’re planning to finally meet in person for the first time in Manila in March 2026, just for a week, also so he can meet my family. We really can’t stay longer because of our work commitments. Honestly, we just want to meet once, get the papers done, and be together. That’s our goal.

 

Because of his past arrests and convictions, I’ve asked him to gather all the certified records and dispositions for each case. If he’s missing anything, I told him to contact the county court or municipality to request it. It’s

pretty frustrating, to be honest.

 

Thank you for all your efforts in reading and answering my questions. A lot of things bother me and your inputs are truly appreciated.

[2welve 1]

13 hours ago, Moda25 said:

Did you mean he had 30 cases in the past? I’m not judging but are you willing to marry someone with that many records? How well do you know this person?

We’ve been talking consistently online since March of this year.😔

[TBoneTX 48,459]

Warnings to the general air:  Things can go swimmingly well during the e-mail/video/phone-call segment of a potential relationship, but the chemistry can be quite the opposite in person.

 

There's also "marry in haste, repent in leisure."

 

There's also the issue of whether one would choose to associate with -- let alone marry -- a fellow countryman who had any kind of criminal record, let alone one longer than his/her arm.

 

But these are warnings to the general air.

[Boiler 48,217]

So you have never met.

[2welve 1]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

So you have never met.

not yet.. but we will in Feb 2026, just for a week to meet in person and my family, and then I'm going back to Qatar for work and he'll also travel back to US. So, what do you think would be the best option for us? I've been reading about the Utah Online Marriage, do you have any inputs about it? would be appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[Boiler 48,217]

I think you are getting well ahead of yourself, a few trips, some quality time spent together see how it goes.

[2welve 1]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

I think you are getting well ahead of yourself, a few trips, some quality time spent together see how it goes.

i know it sounds crazy, but we can not both afford to keep travelling back and forth. as we talked about these plans a lot of times, and yeah, we are just being practical, especially when it comes to finances, as we have also priorities aside from meeting in person and get things done. thank you for your concern. I just need some input to get through these frustrations. 🙏

[Boiler 48,217]

Not a cheap, or quick process.

[2welve 1]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Not a cheap, or quick process.

yeah we're aware of that. upon getting the info. CR-1 is way more convenient for us than filing a K1 Visa. i guess? 

 

[alliejourney 156]

Maybe not more convenient but MAY help overcome that number of convictions on his record. Keyword may, there's no guarantee based on the severity of some of his convictions. Definitely cross reference if any of those would fall under AWA. If so, you will have a very long, difficult road ahead of you and it's up to the two of you if you want to try to overcome that.

 

I can sense you're frustrated with the number of people expressing hesitance for you and this relationship, but please know it all comes from a place of concern. Being with someone in person is VERY VERY different from that phone call/e-mail/FaceTime phase - all of us know that because we've been through it! I would be very, very, very wary of marrying someone who has a long and recent track record of violence (!!) and trouble with the law, when you have not even met him in person to evaluate if he's a changed man. It's really easy to say the right things when you need to. The last thing I would do is commit to marrying someone I have never met, have only been talking to virtually for less than a year, especially when he has this background.

 

I know the meeting in person multiple times is a time and financial commitment, but it is much less so than pouring all this money into an immigration process only to get here and find out he's not who he says he is, or worse, for you to get here and be put in a dangerous situation.

 

Please truly think about what people in this thread are saying. It comes from a place of experience and concern.

Edited 3 hours ago by alliejourney

[2welve 1]

32 minutes ago, alliejourney said:

Maybe not more convenient but MAY help overcome that number of convictions on his record. Keyword may, there's no guarantee based on the severity of some of his convictions. Definitely cross reference if any of those would fall under AWA. If so, you will have a very long, difficult road ahead of you and it's up to the two of you if you want to try to overcome that.

 

I can sense you're frustrated with the number of people expressing hesitance for you and this relationship, but please know it all comes from a place of concern. Being with someone in person is VERY VERY different from that phone call/e-mail/FaceTime phase - all of us know that because we've been through it! I would be very, very, very wary of marrying someone who has a long and recent track record of violence (!!) and trouble with the law, when you have not even met him in person to evaluate if he's a changed man. It's really easy to say the right things when you need to. The last thing I would do is commit to marrying someone I have never met, have only been talking to virtually for less than a year, especially when he has this background.

 

I know the meeting in person multiple times is a time and financial commitment, but it is much less so than pouring all this money into an immigration process only to get here and find out he's not who he says he is, or worse, for you to get here and be put in a dangerous situation.

 

Please truly think about what people in this thread are saying. It comes from a place of experience and concern.

Thank you so much, and I would definitely think about it and meet him in person first. 🙏

[Crazy Cat 45,759]

1 hour ago, 2welve said:

i know it sounds crazy, but we can not both afford to keep travelling back and forth

US immigration requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  Given what you have posted, I would take a different life journey.  Good luck.

[milimelo 4,896]

From what you listed DV, assault and similar - stay away - not worth it your life to end up dead for a visa. Find someone else. I'm sure not just consulate but also the CFO process will flag your petitioner. 

[mam521 2,773]

28 minutes ago, milimelo said:

From what you listed DV, assault and similar - stay away - not worth it your life to end up dead for a visa. Find someone else. I'm sure not just consulate but also the CFO process will flag your petitioner. 

Agree 100%.  

 

I don't know if the OP realizes that this man may not even be able to travel to meet in person to begin with due to the nature of his charges.  When other countries won't let you in, that has to be a flashing neon sign to turn the other way.