mel.d

Thank you both

7 hours ago, Iscir said:

Then when it’s tax time you could file MFJ and that would help too, since you visit, you can easily get an ITIN number  

Thank you it calms my anxiety to hear others have been successful in similar situations.

Just wanted to clarify this part of your response though - you mean we file jointly on his taxes  while the visa is processing, and I am still living and working in Australia?  I don't quite understand how that would work?

My fiance and I met online in 2012. We decided to meet in Oct/Nov 2014, and since then I have managed to visit every year on the VWP (I am self employed, he is an IC with 3 part time jobs...one reason it's easier for me to travel to the US than for him to come to Aus. He hasn't been able to visit here yet). Four of the trips have been for approx a month, the other two have been 80ish days.

Our end goal is to live together in the US. We've been considering it pretty much since my first visit, but neither of us like to rush into things, plus I've had family and work commitments to sort out here.

Because he works part time in paid work and spends a lot of time working at his parents house and farm in lieu of paying rent, he doesn't earn enough to sponsor me for a K1 or CR1, but his mom can and would be happy to help out.

I've always leaned towards the K1 option, but having read more, we now think CR1 would be our better option.

My main concern with that is in proving a genuine relationship. Most of the guides seem to emphasise shared bank accounts, both names on house deed/rental agreement, etc - none of which apply to us in a long term long distance relationship. I also just don't like the idea of getting married and having to leave, plus the whole changing all my stuff back in Aus to my married name, but honestly, I can just deal with that for a better chance of a visa/cheaper option/ability to work sooner after arrival.

I figure we can't be the only couple who are in this sort of situation, so I figured we'd ask here before making a decision one way or another.

As far as I can tell, our only evidence would be my visits to SC, few photos together and with family and friends (I'm not a huge fan of the camera), conversations over messengers and email, cards sent for birthdays etc, and affidavits from family and friends.

I just worry that this isn't adequate. Any advice?

This question comes up a lot and usually from people who have no real ties.

And it is not something you can manufacture.

On a more positive aspect you very rarely get asked question beyond the usual

Yup. I have no intention of lying. It only gets you caught out in the end. I figure Australia is a low fraud risk, I've left on time before, I can get a letter of lodging from my gran and just rely on being able to honestly answer that we're using this trip for face to face time, plus getting evidence for k-1 application if questioned further.

I have seen some moderators abusing their "power", lecturing and belittling members and being arrogant in general. There have been many threads about this, but not-so-surprisingly all of them got quickly shot down and locked. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, instead of being swept under the rug.

Compared to the forum I met my boyfriend on, this is nothing that place is troll anarchy. Maybe I just don't pay enough attention or I haven't been here enough, but I've always thought the mods here were fine. Maybe I just have low standards after my experience on this other forum

The one about common law marriage?

Nope, that got the answer I expected and very quickly. I asked about ideas for proving ties to Australia when I go to visit my boyfriend next Tuesday. I've just moved interstate and back to my grandmother's to save for the K-1 process, I am self employed and taking 80 day trip before securing clients in my current city. I'm only bringing a couple thousand dollars because we're homebodies, and I've probably worked up more stree and anxiety than I need, but would have liked some reassurance and/or ideas.

Sorry for hijacking the OP with my gripe :/

I had a whole question apparently removed and I don't know what I did wrong. It was moved to a subforum I can't even find on here and now I can't access it at all. Never got any replies except that it had been moved.

Been too anxious and stressed (over the matter I was asking the question about...) to look into it.

It has put me off trying to get help here again. Having seen someone ask a similar question a few days later, I really am at a loss as to what I did that was unacceptable.

I'm going to visit my boyfriend in June. I will be staying with him for 80 days. We met online just under three years ago, been together just over two years and met last Oct/Nov when I went to the US for just under four weeks on VWP.

Last time, at POE (LAX) when asked where I was staying, I said "with a friend", as we hadn't met in person and I felt strange telling strangers I was "with" someone I hadn't met yet, and there was still the off chance we wouldn't work out as a romantic couple.

This time, I feel that saying a friend would be a lie, and I don't want to lie and risk my potential future visits. We have discussed our options and will probably file for a K1 visa at some point in the next year, using this trip to gather further evidence for the petition, as well as for me to decide if I could actually live over there. I'd go back after the trip to save up for the move.

My anxiety lies in the fact that, having read a lot on here, the word "boyfriend" may trigger more questions and require proof of ties to Australia. The problem with that is, I am self employed and will be between clients for now as I am moving back to live with my grandmother in another city. So I won't have proof of work or proof of a lease. Part of moving in with her is to save for the eventual move to the states and the visa/AOS process, and partly to spend time with my elderly grandmother, whose health has vbeen declining.

I am wondering what other ties I could prove? Will needing to spend time with aged and frail relative count, or do I need to find other things?

I also don't have much cash on me. This isn't a huge problem because we aren't the sort to spend lots of money, we'd rather stay home and spend time together than go travelling and whatnot. I have read that lack of funds can be a reason dor denial of entry. My boyfriend likes to pay for me (Southern gentleman...I'm so not used to this...) but I insist on paying my own way, too.

Sorry for the essay. I'm probably working this into more of a problem than it really is.

I'm no expert, but I would imagine that such an obvious lie would result in a visa denial and probably some form of ban.

Well, that answers that. Hah. I suspected as much.

Thank you.

Hi.

This is probably a stupid question, but I was wondering if common law marriage was considered sufficient for entry on a K1 visa?

We would be living in South Carolina where common law marriage is recognised, but I'm not sure that if it's enough or if only a formalised marriage is acceptable for K1?

Thanks.