MetallicDog142

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.

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.

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.

Thanks a ton for the post! It's interesting how we have similar paths! I love your reminders about taking great care in the application, especially in regards to skipping questions, signatures, and ensuring precision. I'm planning on proofreading multiple times on multiple days before sending it in just to make sure it's all accurate. For proof of meeting, I've created a small narrative describing what we did and the dates. I have boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel reservations, credit card statement, an email between my parents that acknowledges I went to Thailand that mentions my partner, and of course photos that show us with descriptions. Unfortunately, we didn't take many photos with family, despite spending nearly a week with them. So I have one photo of me giving something to her mom (which matches my credit card statement), a photo at her father's school (but no father), and a photo with one of my former colleagues and partner and an associate Facebook post he made about my return. I'm hopeful that's enough, but I'm a bit worried about the lack of photos with family. I'll also include a section of our time together and the LDR segment, though we won't make it crazy long, just enough to show that we are genuine. My fear on the addresses is that the addresses in her country don't follow the same format. For example, on my form it lists the categories like this: a. Street Number and Name: _____ b. Apt/Ste/Flr __________ c. City or Town _______ d. State __ e. Zip Code _____ f. Province ______ g. Postal Code ______ h. Country ______ When you added the addresses in Part 8, did you follow the format above, or did you write the addresses as meant to be written? I'm sure Japan addresses don't necessarily follow that smooth format either. For example, Thai addresses are written in different orders and have a sub-district and district before the city and province, so the format wouldn't allow for an accurate address to spit out, but maybe the USCIS officer has to input the addresses that way. Curious how you submitted.

Thanks! I am leaning towards just listing the addresses as they are meant to be. I figure if people were not following the exact format, we'd hear a lot more on RFE for that specific issue. You're right - this website is a great resource and I'm excited to start being able to help more rather than being on only the asking side. I appreciate you being there answering questions and helping!

My partner is from Thailand. Her addresses for where she lived and her employer addresses do not fit into the form, so I am using the additional space at the end. My question is - do the addresses need to follow the same format listed? For example, the format looks like this: a. Street Number and Name: _____ b. Apt/Ste/Flr __________ c. City or Town _______ d. State __ e. Zip Code _____ f. Province ______ g. Postal Code ______ h. Country ______ As some of you know, many foreign addresses don't follow that format. For example, Thai addresses can be somewhat chaotic and there's no place to put certain information. When I use the additional information section, do I need to follow the same format listed above to the best of my ability, or can I just write the addresses as they are meant to be written (which differs from the format)? I could see where I might need to follow the specified format if the USCIS officer has to input the information into a computer system based on that format, but then again, I'm not even sure the addresses would be accurate if so. Just trying my best to avoid an RFE over addresses.

For background, I've been in a relationship with a girl from Thailand for 6 years. We're 1-year apart (29 and 30). We met when I went there to teach from 2016-2018. Then I had to go home and we were unable to meet for 4 years until 2022 (due to Covid and taking summer classes...I'm a teacher so I can only visit summers). During this recent trip, we decided to get engaged and file for the K1. Honestly, I am a bit overwhelmed - I just started the i-129F form and I'm confused, but likely overthinking. I did use the search, but just want to clarify. 1. Address History - it says to list all addresses the last 5 years, including those abroad. That would include my Thai address from 2017, but I don't know if this is official? Like I kept my parent's address (where I was living before I left), still voted at home. I did file taxes while abroad and get the exemption because I didn't make enough, but I don't know if I used my Thai address for that so I don't know if it's even on file. Will that matter? 2. Date History - how accurate do all the dates need to be (residences, employment, etc.)? I'm not sure the exact dates of employment. I also was a substitute teacher for 3 districts during the year 2018-2019. I will list all of them of course, but I really don't know the dates I got hired at each, just rough estimates. Will that be okay? 3. NONE of the Thai addresses fit onto the standard address and there are a lot of address spaces. I was going to write See Attached at Part 8, section __ for each. Is that normal to have literally ALL addresses at the back? 4. Section 54 - "describe the circumstances of your in-person meeting...attach evidence to demonstrate that you were in each other's physical presence during the required two-year period." This seems to literally ask for evidence of meeting within 2 years. But I've read you should frontload the I-129F with evidence of your entire relationship, as that is what the officer will have at the interview. Should I also include details (concise, but quality) of the history of our relationship....like how we were together for almost 2 years in 2016-2018 (with pics), history of our LDR (call/chat logs/screenshots of video calls) of 4 years and why we couldn't meet, and then the meeting this summer? Or is front-loading not necessary/recommended? Thanks all! Love this page and I'm really looking forward to the day where I can contribute rather than ask for help. I'm sure I'm overthinking these, but I really want to make sure all goes well the first time with all the delays.

Thanks a ton for that info. Doesn't Part 3 state that it's only for the specified crimes of: (1) a restraining order (2) domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, child neglect, dating violence, elder abuse, or an attempt to commit any of those crimes (3) homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, incest, torture, trafficking, peonage, holding hostage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false imprisonment, or attempt to commit any of those crimes (4) 3 or more arrests due to controlled substance or alcohol From my understanding, there is nothing required for traffic offenses, correct? Most I ever had was traffic court once and even that was dismissed (put the wrong registration sticker on a car).

There's a small chance we forgo the K1 and I fly back in December on my Winter Break to get legally married in Thailand and do the CR1, but I'm not sure we want to proceed with a Zoom marriage. I know the CR1 is a lot more convenient and "better" but I think we've accepted that the pandemic truly limited our options and will just go for the K1. Has we been able to see each other over the past 4 years, we would have proceeded with the CR1 route, but we wanted the focus of this trip to spend a few weeks together to really make sure we were ready and wanting to marry.

Thanks for the tips! We will definitely include pictures and chats from our time together and in long-distance. We have plenty of photos dating from 2016-2022. The challenge is picking from all of them hah! I'm really happy to hear no concrete wedding plans or engagement ring is necessary. It's hard to make plans when the timeline is so long and Covid has made things difficult too. And thanks for that final tip - we do not talk as if already married, but we will certainly proofread everything carefully.

Thanks! Unfortunately, we don't have a ton of photos with family and friends, but we will take a couple in our last week. We do have photos from 2016-2018 with family, as I've met her family many times, so hopefully that will help. I don't have screenshots of video calls with my own parents, however. Thanks for that info on Tinder - had no idea about IMBRA, but upon further research, it seems others were able to obtain copies, terms of service agreements, etc. that they sent in case. Fortunately, there is no criminal background for us. My partner has not been to the US. Do we still need to submit background checks at this stage? I don't see that in the guide. I'll build financial support proof as soon as I submit. Luckily I qualify for the income thresholds and my employer is able to offer letters of employment and I have paystubs and everything. I'll contact my banking institutions as well. I definitely plan to continue using the timeline and help others as I learn - this seems like a great resource!

Thank you for the info! For some reason, I thought the Letter of Intent to Marry had to be an original copy signed in pen by the beneficiary. I'm glad an electronic photo will suffice. We have plenty of photos from the current trip, boarding passes, passport stamp, tickets to attractions, hotel receipts, etc. so we are definitely gathering evidence of meeting.

Background: I (29M USA) met my partner (30F Thailand) back in October 2016. I went to Thailand to work as a teacher. We met on tinder and started as friends and that developed into a relationship. I left Thailand in May 2018 due to health insurance and we went long distance. As a teacher, I can really only visit during summers. In summer 2019, I was taking 2 grad school classes so we couldn’t visit. Our planned trip summer 2020 was canceled due to Covid and again in summer 2021 as delta was raging in Thailand then. Finally I was able to visit this year. We wanted to use this trip to see if we wanted to get married after 4 years of distance and we definitely do now. So we’re doing the k1. I know it’s slower and more inconvenient that the CR1 but we weren’t ready to get legally married after 4 years apart without spending a summer together. Now, we are ready and feel strongly about the relationship. I read the guides and just have a few questions. 1. Are there any documents we should get together before I leave for the I-129F? I plan on getting some passport photos of her and do our signed statements of intent to marry. Anything else? And how do I know the appropriate addresses to write on the intent to marry (from the example on the guide)? 2. In proving the genuineness of the relationship, we have countless chat logs dating back to 2016. We’ve talked nearly everyday via phone while long distance. We have a few Facebook posts but not a lot as I don’t use Facebook. How exactly do you choose your evidence out of so much? I know Thailand is a country where they might be skeptical of relationships from there. We don’t have concrete wedding plans or an engagement ring yet either. Also concerned with how we met on tinder, but that’s a common way for people in my generation to meet. She’s a working professional and has been gainfully employed throughout. Am I overthinking this part? 3. There’s a lot of copies of documents….some parts that I complete and others that she completes. I know there are times where I have to mail documents and vice verse. How simple is this process? Does it get complicated where only originals are accepted and you can’t send things digitally? thanks all! Great website and I’m trusting that I won’t need a lawyer for all this. I’m organized so I know I can get it done, just fee a bit overwhelmed