Background
Our clients, Burt, a U.S. citizen, and Leslie, a resident of Ecuador, first connected on a Catholic dating website after each had struggled to meet someone who shared their faith and traditional values. What began as a few couple of messages quickly grew into daily conversations and video calls that became the highlight of their days. Over time, prayer, shared devotion, and conversations about marriage, family, and faith drew them close. Six months after they met online, Burt flew to Ecuador to see Leslie in person. He then booked three more trips to Ecuador to see Leslie in person, and then she made trips to the United States to meet Burt’s family and friends.
Burt had lived a long life before meeting Leslie. He had been married three times, and unfortunately, they all ended in divorce. Undoubtedly, he started to doubt whether a lasting, faith-centered marriage was still in the plan for him.
However, Leslie was different from Burt’s previous wives, as Leslie shared the same faith with him. Both of them are deeply religious, and they wanted to take time to prepare for marriage properly. This included premarital counseling, prayer, and they wanted a traditional church wedding in the U.S.
Case
Our team determined that a K-1 visa was the best approach for Burt and Leslie. You may ask, isn’t it weird that Burt was going for his fourth marriage? Or is it different when navigating the process for a K-1 visa to a green card for a religious couple? The answer is no, love has no boundaries. Everyone goes through life differently, and if certain relationships weren’t meant to last, that’s okay. Our clients come first, and this was not going to be an issue as the marriages occurred over the past 50 years, with divorce documents solidifying that he was single. Immigration officers closely review cases involving multiple prior marriages to confirm that the new relationship is bona fide and entered in good faith. At the same time, Burt needed to work with his church to ensure he could marry as well.
Burt wanted:
- A full Catholic wedding ceremony in the U.S.
- Time to complete the required faith preparation
- Flexibility to pay and plan for a wedding on top of visa fees
With those three goals in mind, we had to be clever about the case. Many of the couple’s early interactions were discussions around faith, joint online praying sessions, and bible study groups. This was not the typical joint bank accounts or leases that often help to bona fide a relationship.
In the supporting evidence, we included screenshots of prayer groups, video call logs, airline tickets for visits, photos, and letters from friends and families who witnessed their relationship blossom.
Multiple divorces and an international relationship from a dating site can draw extra scrutiny in the case. However, we organized all the certified divorce decrees with clear end dates for all.
After we prepared the I-129F filing, we coached the couple for their interview, reviewing sample questions, highlighting how to discuss Brut’s marital history while remaining focused on the facts of their relationship.
Once Leslie’s K-1 visa was granted, she entered the U.S., and they completed their Catholic wedding within the 90-day window.
Now, it was time to file Leslie’s adjustment of status, and we included everything we had previously emphasized about their relationship, with new marriage certificates, updated photos, joint plans, bills, and proof that they were living together.
Verdict
Within a year of filing the Adjustment of Status, USCIS approved Leslie’s green card.
How VisaNation Helped
Today, our clients live together and have a marriage rooted in faith, family, and love. Burt told us that meeting Leslie restored his belief in lasting love. Our team at VisaNation listened to our clients. Their religious priorities shaped their immigration journey, and we supported that. From interview prep to finding enough evidence to bona fide the relationship, our clients were in good hands.
If you are thinking about the fiancé visa route, reach out to us. We help faith-driven couples choose the process that supports you. Reach out today for a free call!