Our timeline is as follows:
Summer visit: 1.5-2 months long
Either 3 week Christmas visit or 2 week visit over spring break
Working holiday: Summer 2013, departing in either July or August
After that? We're not sure.
Many of you probably remember my post about having no "real" future plan according to a friend of mine, and how neither my boyfriend nor I are making any real plans beyond my working holiday. We know that I plan on coming out after graduation. We know that we plan on living together throughout the duration of that time. We know that even though a year (or two) is the general honeymoon period and that we'd both like to have longer than a year to "test drive" our close-distance compatibility, a year is what we've got to see if we can make a serious relationship work when having to handle work/school, rent, keeping the house, making sure his brother is cared for, etc. We both have confidence and feel secure in our relationship, but both of us believe in living together before marriage. Living together by way of a working holiday visa is also a way of closing the distance without having to rely on marriage, which neither of us are ready for.
Now, he and I will definitely have a lot to consider as far as our future goes when (or if) it comes to deciding what happens after the working holiday. I for sure have grad school and though his brother will be 18 and a legal adult, well, his brother will still only be 18. But we do know that ultimately, we will be applying for a K-1, as I have made it clear that though I would be willing to move, I would not be willing to move permanently. I could not do it based on my ties here, and it would not be practical given where my psychological licensing is going to be recognised (not even sure my degree would/will cut it over there, being an American earned degree). He's been aware of this since day one and though things change, this is one thing I'm uncertain ever completely will, even if I am able and willing to temporarily relocate. That being said, because of that, relocating to here is definitely in our future.
Applying for the K-1 requires evidence of having met within two years in addition to having evidence of an ongoing relationship. My question is how soon is too soon to start compiling the evidence of that relationship? I have essentially put together a file where I can file everything away, starting from our visit in 2011 (this includes the flight itinerary, hotel reservations, pictures - though I'm aware only 2-5 are required/requested - etc.). I will also be making copies and keeping originals, where possible, of various documents on my working holiday proving that we have lived together. I have printed out copies of his itinerary and he has kept the boarding passes. We have also both kept envelopes sent, and both have extensive conversation history. I also have phone bills proving that I have texted and called the same number consistently for over a year. I am aware that I don't want to include every single thing but that I don't want to leave anything out, and I'm also aware to take longitudinal evidence from varying time frames as opposed to providing a ton of evidence from a single time frame, but let's say we applied in 2014 or 2015. Would evidence from 2011 even matter?
I ask because, as this thread may betray, I easily become very hyperfixated and with that hyperfixation comes a very ritualistic compulsion that involves constant research to absorb new information, constant filing and re-filing, making sure everything's in its proper place, etc. The obsession eventually dies down, but the hyperfocusing can sometimes last months, and I don't particularly want to spend months putting together information from 2011 if 3-5+ years down the line, it's not going to matter what we did last summer. :P If it is going to matter, the obsession will still die down eventually, but at least I'll have a place to keep everything and it will all be organised and in one place so that I don't end up misplacing something important for one reason or another. I simply want to know if the "two year" restriction is really a restriction or if it's more of a minimum if/when you have proof of a relationship that's lasted 3+ years with one of those years having lived together.
Summer visit: 1.5-2 months long
Either 3 week Christmas visit or 2 week visit over spring break
Working holiday: Summer 2013, departing in either July or August
After that? We're not sure.
Many of you probably remember my post about having no "real" future plan according to a friend of mine, and how neither my boyfriend nor I are making any real plans beyond my working holiday. We know that I plan on coming out after graduation. We know that we plan on living together throughout the duration of that time. We know that even though a year (or two) is the general honeymoon period and that we'd both like to have longer than a year to "test drive" our close-distance compatibility, a year is what we've got to see if we can make a serious relationship work when having to handle work/school, rent, keeping the house, making sure his brother is cared for, etc. We both have confidence and feel secure in our relationship, but both of us believe in living together before marriage. Living together by way of a working holiday visa is also a way of closing the distance without having to rely on marriage, which neither of us are ready for.
Now, he and I will definitely have a lot to consider as far as our future goes when (or if) it comes to deciding what happens after the working holiday. I for sure have grad school and though his brother will be 18 and a legal adult, well, his brother will still only be 18. But we do know that ultimately, we will be applying for a K-1, as I have made it clear that though I would be willing to move, I would not be willing to move permanently. I could not do it based on my ties here, and it would not be practical given where my psychological licensing is going to be recognised (not even sure my degree would/will cut it over there, being an American earned degree). He's been aware of this since day one and though things change, this is one thing I'm uncertain ever completely will, even if I am able and willing to temporarily relocate. That being said, because of that, relocating to here is definitely in our future.
Applying for the K-1 requires evidence of having met within two years in addition to having evidence of an ongoing relationship. My question is how soon is too soon to start compiling the evidence of that relationship? I have essentially put together a file where I can file everything away, starting from our visit in 2011 (this includes the flight itinerary, hotel reservations, pictures - though I'm aware only 2-5 are required/requested - etc.). I will also be making copies and keeping originals, where possible, of various documents on my working holiday proving that we have lived together. I have printed out copies of his itinerary and he has kept the boarding passes. We have also both kept envelopes sent, and both have extensive conversation history. I also have phone bills proving that I have texted and called the same number consistently for over a year. I am aware that I don't want to include every single thing but that I don't want to leave anything out, and I'm also aware to take longitudinal evidence from varying time frames as opposed to providing a ton of evidence from a single time frame, but let's say we applied in 2014 or 2015. Would evidence from 2011 even matter?
I ask because, as this thread may betray, I easily become very hyperfixated and with that hyperfixation comes a very ritualistic compulsion that involves constant research to absorb new information, constant filing and re-filing, making sure everything's in its proper place, etc. The obsession eventually dies down, but the hyperfocusing can sometimes last months, and I don't particularly want to spend months putting together information from 2011 if 3-5+ years down the line, it's not going to matter what we did last summer. :P If it is going to matter, the obsession will still die down eventually, but at least I'll have a place to keep everything and it will all be organised and in one place so that I don't end up misplacing something important for one reason or another. I simply want to know if the "two year" restriction is really a restriction or if it's more of a minimum if/when you have proof of a relationship that's lasted 3+ years with one of those years having lived together.
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