Age questions and general concerns

[Devkpaik 1]

Answers to the original poster's questions:

-- If you're both of legal age to marry in the jurisdiction where you plan to marry, you should have no problem. You might receive questions about your relatively "tender ages" in your embassy/consulate interview. There is a 15-year difference between my age and my fiancee's age; if I'm asked, I will pleasantly say "Last I checked, the legal age of consent to marry in Texas without anyone's permission is age 18 for men and age 18 for women. Furthermore, the Current Population survey conducted in March 2006 by the U.S. Census Bureau states that 53.7% of U.S. husbands are older than their wives, and we will be very happy to conform with that prevailing demographic. What's your next question, sir?"

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

TboneTX,

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with the K-1 visa process, but to tell someone that they need to attend the visa interview or they will not have sufficient evidence of their relationship is just not true.

Many petitioners are not able to attend their fiances interview, and there is absolutely no problem. In fact, i would say the majority of people do not attend the fiances interview, especially for people who have fiances halfway across the world.

Canada is not a big deal, as if my fiance was in Canada I'd attend the interview in a heartbeat, where as being halfway across the world is more difficult.

The embassy is not going to punish people because they couldn't attend the interview of the beneficiary. They understand that people have work, school, not enough money, etc., and cannot afford to attend the interview.

So I'd have to disagree with your statement that the petitioner sure as heck needs to attend the interview, as this is 100% NOT true.

[Cassie 8]

Answers to the original poster's questions:

-- If you're both of legal age to marry in the jurisdiction where you plan to marry, you should have no problem. You might receive questions about your relatively "tender ages" in your embassy/consulate interview. There is a 15-year difference between my age and my fiancee's age; if I'm asked, I will pleasantly say "Last I checked, the legal age of consent to marry in Texas without anyone's permission is age 18 for men and age 18 for women. Furthermore, the Current Population survey conducted in March 2006 by the U.S. Census Bureau states that 53.7% of U.S. husbands are older than their wives, and we will be very happy to conform with that prevailing demographic. What's your next question, sir?"

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

TboneTX,

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with the K-1 visa process, but to tell someone that they need to attend the visa interview or they will not have sufficient evidence of their relationship is just not true.

Many petitioners are not able to attend their fiances interview, and there is absolutely no problem. In fact, i would say the majority of people do not attend the fiances interview, especially for people who have fiances halfway across the world.

Canada is not a big deal, as if my fiance was in Canada I'd attend the interview in a heartbeat, where as being halfway across the world is more difficult.

The embassy is not going to punish people because they couldn't attend the interview of the beneficiary. They understand that people have work, school, not enough money, etc., and cannot afford to attend the interview.

So I'd have to disagree with your statement that the petitioner sure as heck needs to attend the interview, as this is 100% NOT true.

Correct. Canada's two consulates are not ones that penalize you if your fiance / spouse are not able to be at the interview.

With that being said, TBoneX happened to deal with a consulate that does, which is fairly normal for consulates in Central / South America.

As for the OP, you may not need to have a passport right now, but with the backlog of passports being processed due to the new rules of travelling between Canada and the US, I wouldn't wait too long to get that in motion. That, and passport stamps are wonderful evidence to use in this process. Just something to think about

[Devkpaik 1]

Answers to the original poster's questions:

-- If you're both of legal age to marry in the jurisdiction where you plan to marry, you should have no problem. You might receive questions about your relatively "tender ages" in your embassy/consulate interview. There is a 15-year difference between my age and my fiancee's age; if I'm asked, I will pleasantly say "Last I checked, the legal age of consent to marry in Texas without anyone's permission is age 18 for men and age 18 for women. Furthermore, the Current Population survey conducted in March 2006 by the U.S. Census Bureau states that 53.7% of U.S. husbands are older than their wives, and we will be very happy to conform with that prevailing demographic. What's your next question, sir?"

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

TboneTX,

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with the K-1 visa process, but to tell someone that they need to attend the visa interview or they will not have sufficient evidence of their relationship is just not true.

Many petitioners are not able to attend their fiances interview, and there is absolutely no problem. In fact, i would say the majority of people do not attend the fiances interview, especially for people who have fiances halfway across the world.

Canada is not a big deal, as if my fiance was in Canada I'd attend the interview in a heartbeat, where as being halfway across the world is more difficult.

The embassy is not going to punish people because they couldn't attend the interview of the beneficiary. They understand that people have work, school, not enough money, etc., and cannot afford to attend the interview.

So I'd have to disagree with your statement that the petitioner sure as heck needs to attend the interview, as this is 100% NOT true.

Correct. Canada's two consulates are not ones that penalize you if your fiance / spouse are not able to be at the interview.

With that being said, TBoneX happened to deal with a consulate that does, which is fairly normal for consulates in Central / South America.

As for the OP, you may not need to have a passport right now, but with the backlog of passports being processed due to the new rules of travelling between Canada and the US, I wouldn't wait too long to get that in motion. That, and passport stamps are wonderful evidence to use in this process. Just something to think about

Agreed, that TboneX happened to attend a consulate that maybe doesn't REQUIRE the petitioner to attend, but that is fairly strict on proof relationship and prefers to see the petitioner to attend.

However, with that in mind, I sympathize with him totally about his bad experience, as that's a horrible situation to be in, however because your consulate demands this doesn't mean that you need to tell other people that they HAVE to attend the interview and if they don't, they'll end up in the same situation as h TboneX.

I just don't agree with giving out false information, and I am sorry TboneX to put you on the spot here, nothing against you at all, not angry at you either haha, but just trying to say that this is how incorrect information gets spread around, and that just because one had a bad experience pertaining to an individual embassy doesn't mean that everyone who doesn't follow the guidelines of that individual embassy will have the same bad experience in their own embassy.

And also, I agree with junk needing to get a passport. I don't understand why you wouldn't, as it can only help your proof of relationship by showing that you indeed make numerous trips to the country.

[pushbrk 13,174]

Answers to the original poster's questions:

-- If you're both of legal age to marry in the jurisdiction where you plan to marry, you should have no problem. You might receive questions about your relatively "tender ages" in your embassy/consulate interview. There is a 15-year difference between my age and my fiancee's age; if I'm asked, I will pleasantly say "Last I checked, the legal age of consent to marry in Texas without anyone's permission is age 18 for men and age 18 for women. Furthermore, the Current Population survey conducted in March 2006 by the U.S. Census Bureau states that 53.7% of U.S. husbands are older than their wives, and we will be very happy to conform with that prevailing demographic. What's your next question, sir?"

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

Whether the USC Petitioner is allowed to attend the interview varies with the Consulate. In no case is the petitioner's attendance a general requirement. Even some of the Latin American countries we've seen joint petitioner/beneficiary joint interviews requested, the petitioner is only allowed if requested.

In Canada, the petitioner is not allowed to attend the interview. The vast majority of K1 visas issued are to beneficiaries whose petitioner was not at the interview.

[junkupshoopwhat 0]

Correct. Canada's two consulates are not ones that penalize you if your fiance / spouse are not able to be at the interview.

With that being said, TBoneX happened to deal with a consulate that does, which is fairly normal for consulates in Central / South America.

As for the OP, you may not need to have a passport right now, but with the backlog of passports being processed due to the new rules of travelling between Canada and the US, I wouldn't wait too long to get that in motion. That, and passport stamps are wonderful evidence to use in this process. Just something to think about

Thanks so much. The online wizard is down until tomorrow. I have all the information I need but I originally did my passport papers a few months ago so they are no longer valid.

I'm printing off our photos for the I-129F today, and I'll be printing other proof tomorrow so I hope to send out both packages by the end of the week.

Do you think it is worth it to apply for a passport card as well?

[junkupshoopwhat 0]

Answers to the original poster's questions:

-- If you're both of legal age to marry in the jurisdiction where you plan to marry, you should have no problem. You might receive questions about your relatively "tender ages" in your embassy/consulate interview. There is a 15-year difference between my age and my fiancee's age; if I'm asked, I will pleasantly say "Last I checked, the legal age of consent to marry in Texas without anyone's permission is age 18 for men and age 18 for women. Furthermore, the Current Population survey conducted in March 2006 by the U.S. Census Bureau states that 53.7% of U.S. husbands are older than their wives, and we will be very happy to conform with that prevailing demographic. What's your next question, sir?"

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

TboneTX,

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience with the K-1 visa process, but to tell someone that they need to attend the visa interview or they will not have sufficient evidence of their relationship is just not true.

Many petitioners are not able to attend their fiances interview, and there is absolutely no problem. In fact, i would say the majority of people do not attend the fiances interview, especially for people who have fiances halfway across the world.

Canada is not a big deal, as if my fiance was in Canada I'd attend the interview in a heartbeat, where as being halfway across the world is more difficult.

The embassy is not going to punish people because they couldn't attend the interview of the beneficiary. They understand that people have work, school, not enough money, etc., and cannot afford to attend the interview.

So I'd have to disagree with your statement that the petitioner sure as heck needs to attend the interview, as this is 100% NOT true.

Correct. Canada's two consulates are not ones that penalize you if your fiance / spouse are not able to be at the interview.

With that being said, TBoneX happened to deal with a consulate that does, which is fairly normal for consulates in Central / South America.

As for the OP, you may not need to have a passport right now, but with the backlog of passports being processed due to the new rules of travelling between Canada and the US, I wouldn't wait too long to get that in motion. That, and passport stamps are wonderful evidence to use in this process. Just something to think about

Agreed, that TboneX happened to attend a consulate that maybe doesn't REQUIRE the petitioner to attend, but that is fairly strict on proof relationship and prefers to see the petitioner to attend.

However, with that in mind, I sympathize with him totally about his bad experience, as that's a horrible situation to be in, however because your consulate demands this doesn't mean that you need to tell other people that they HAVE to attend the interview and if they don't, they'll end up in the same situation as h TboneX.

I just don't agree with giving out false information, and I am sorry TboneX to put you on the spot here, nothing against you at all, not angry at you either haha, but just trying to say that this is how incorrect information gets spread around, and that just because one had a bad experience pertaining to an individual embassy doesn't mean that everyone who doesn't follow the guidelines of that individual embassy will have the same bad experience in their own embassy.

And also, I agree with junk needing to get a passport. I don't understand why you wouldn't, as it can only help your proof of relationship by showing that you indeed make numerous trips to the country.

The only reason I didn't get a passport back in April was because I only had one official copy of my birth certificate, which I needed to go to Canada at all and since my parents lost my last passport they told me at the post office it would take longer for a reissue. Now I'm applying for a job where I might need it but hopefully my SSN will suffice.

In Canada, the petitioner is not allowed to attend the interview. The vast majority of K1 visas issued are to beneficiaries whose petitioner was not at the interview.

Am I allowed to be in the building or should I wait outside?

[miss*cordova 0]

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

Oh I hope this isn't the case for everyone! My fiancé is in Ecuador, and I cannot be with him because I have to go to school in the fall. Why would you going provide more evidence for them? This is the same consulate that my fiancé has to go to...now I am scared!

I guess we will see how it goes and if I need to be there, then I guess I will go there...

[bora bora 1]

-- You'd sure as HECK better be there at the visa interview!!! I wasn't at my fiancee's original interview, and she got the bum's rush after 3.5 minutes for "need more proof of validity of relationship" even though the Consul didn't even LOOK at the copious evidence that she had brought. Now, I must expend time and funds to make a special trip back down there. Regardless of whether your consulate SAYS (on its website, in advance, or anywhere) that "only the applicant is allowed in the interview," attend anyway, just in case.

Sadder but wiser. Si, man.

Oh I hope this isn't the case for everyone! My fiancé is in Ecuador, and I cannot be with him because I have to go to school in the fall. Why would you going provide more evidence for them? This is the same consulate that my fiancé has to go to...now I am scared!

I guess we will see how it goes and if I need to be there, then I guess I will go there...

I wouldn't say that it is true that a lot of the consulate in Latin America expect for the USC to be there. Brazil does not require, or even suggest, that the USC go to the interview. I went for a number of reasons - I wanted to be with my hubby, I didn't want him to go alone, we wanted to meet up in Brazil to return together, it's stressful, and we had our pre-honeymoon in Rio.

The CO allowed me to be interviewed too, he even spoke with me more than my husband.

But I've read a lot of reviews from all over LA and was never under the impression that the USC SHOULD attend as a GENERAL RULE.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The only reason I didn't get a passport back in April was because I only had one official copy of my birth certificate, which I needed to go to Canada at all and since my parents lost my last passport they told me at the post office it would take longer for a reissue. Now I'm applying for a job where I might need it but hopefully my SSN will suffice.

(pushbrk @ May 31 2008, 08:20 PM) *

In Canada, the petitioner is not allowed to attend the interview. The vast majority of K1 visas issued are to beneficiaries whose petitioner was not at the interview.

Am I allowed to be in the building or should I wait outside?

You should get your passport as soon as you reasonably can for your own purposes, although it isn't a requirement for this process. You can also use it as proof of your US citizenship rather than having to use your birth certificate all the time. It would be a good idea to get another copy of your birth certificate in the meantime. If you are applying for a job the only reason they should ask if you have a passport is if you are required to travel internationally for the job. They will need your SNN and for some jobs, proof that you are a US citizen. That is all. It is vital, however, for your Canadian fiance to have his passport from Canada as they put the visa directly into the passport.

When the time comes for his interview, it will be held in either Montreal (if your fiance lives in Ontario or east) or Vancouver (if your fiance lives in Manitoba or west). Yes, you will be allowed to sit in the waiting room with him but you will not be allowed to go into the interview room with him.

I know you are bothjust starting to look at what is involved. What you do need to do, though, is look forward to what happens in the whole K-1 process. Your fiance will need to provide police records, have a medical done and yes, have an interview. At the interview he needs to present, among other things, a form I-134 which is called an "affidavit of Support" that is completed by you. It is a financial contract between you and the government stating that you earn enough money (at least 125% of the poverty guidelines) to support your fiance, and guarantee that your fiance will not require any financial assistance during the time the contract is in place, usually about 10 years. You need to include back account statements, a letter from your employer, and tax records with that to the Consulate. The reason I am letting you know this is because being young you probably are not yet in a financial situation to do this and will require a 'co-sponsor', someone who joins you in making this contract with the government and who provides copies of their financial situation to the Consulate. This is something you should start thinking about now as well, as your fiance will need it for the interview. After you are married, you need to provide a different Affidavit of Support when your then husband applies for AOS - to get his green card and be allowed to stay permanently in the US, so financial concerns are important all the way through this process.

Oh, the current deadline for having a passport to travel to or back to the US is June 2009. Proof of citizenship is all that is required to enter Canada. The US will be requiring a passport for citizens and visitors alike to return to the US at all land border crossings, so that is why you should look into getting your own passport sooner rather than later.

Edited June 1, 2008 by Kathryn41

[TBoneTX 46,276]

[...] to tell someone that they need to attend the visa interview or they will not have sufficient evidence of their relationship [...]

I am re-reading what I wrote, and I did not write this.

[...] however because your consulate demands this doesn't mean that you need to tell other people that they HAVE to attend the interview and if they don't, they'll end up in the same situation as h TboneX. [...]

I did not write exactly this.

[...] just because one had a bad experience pertaining to an individual embassy doesn't mean that everyone [THIS PART TEMPORARILY OMITTED] will have the same bad experience in their own embassy. [...]

This is very true, and it is good that places such as Canada and England apparently don't require that the petitioner attend. There are different expectations at different consulates/embassies, which leads to the next point.

[...] just because one had a bad experience pertaining to an individual embassy doesn't mean that everyone WHO DOESN'T FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THAT INDIVIDUAL EMBASSY will have the same bad experience in their own embassy.

Ah, but I followed the guidelines of my consulate, and was blindsided. The entire point of my earlier post was: Regardless of what the embassy or consulate SAYS, would you want to risk initial "failure to issue" or outright denial of the visa purely because you weren't there, when your presence even outside the building could turn the tide in your favor? As others have stated, the risk varies from embassy to embassy; furthermore, your tolerance to risk may vary. I encourage everyone who CAN be there to BE there... just in case. You may not be allowed in the interview itself, yet you can certainly wait in the outer area, or even outside the building. That way, SHOULD a question arise or SHOULD your presence prove desirable (or required), you'll be around to handle things then and there.

Even if you're not allowed inside the building at all, you can give your U.S. passport to your fiance(e), who can then show it to the C.O., si man. Naturally, be sure to retrieve your passport afterwards!

And thanks to littleasianman7 for the kind words, si man! (We need an emoticon on here for "si, man," si man.)

[TBoneTX 46,276]

Oh I hope this isn't the case for everyone! My fiancé is in Ecuador, and I cannot be with him because I have to go to school in the fall. Why would you going provide more evidence for them? This is the same consulate that my fiancé has to go to...now I am scared!

I guess we will see how it goes and if I need to be there, then I guess I will go there...

Didn't mean to scare you. Here's some logic that might pertain to your case:

-- You had no control over the scheduling of the interview, which conflicts with your school year.

-- Schooling is a legitimate conflict.

One suggestion: Before the interview, try to procure a letter from someone important at your school -- Dean of Academic Affairs, or some unignorable title -- even the Graduate or Undergraduate Advisor in your major department -- who can state in one paragraph that you are officially enrolled for X hours in ____ program, and the school year begins on [date], and that you are therefore realistically unable to be present at the K-1 visa interview of your fiance. It will be good to get such a letter on school or departmental letterhead.

Then, get this letter and all possible "proof of valid relationship" into your fiance's hands, and have him walk up to the C.O. and hand over the letter, first thing, to show that there was at least the will for you to be there (you asked the school, and the school discouraged it). This could defuse the issue of why you're not present. How does that sound?

[TBoneTX 46,276]

Why would you going provide more evidence for them?

Forgot to answer this: Apparently, not only does the U.S. citizen's presence itself add to the picture of a valid relationship, but there are things that a C.O. can observe and perceive by seeing the couple together.

I'm not the only one who was "ordered" to appear at Guayaquil -- Roy of roy&katy is another. He has been very quiet lately.

Also, Dear: FILL IN YOUR TIMELINE! There's so little on Ecuador that everyone's help is needed, si man.

[TBoneTX 46,276]

It just struck me how the confusion (mine and others') is arising. It could easily be perceived that I was saying that "you, the U.S. citizen, must be interviewed." What I intended to say is that "you may or may not be personally interviewed along with your foreign fiance(e), but simply be there on the scene with your foreign fiance(e) in the waiting room or outside the building, just in case your presence proves necessary or desirable."

[Devkpaik 1]

It just struck me how the confusion (mine and others') is arising. It could easily be perceived that I was saying that "you, the U.S. citizen, must be interviewed." What I intended to say is that "you may or may not be personally interviewed along with your foreign fiance(e), but simply be there on the scene with your foreign fiance(e) in the waiting room or outside the building, just in case your presence proves necessary or desirable."

TboneTX,

I apologize for putting you on the spot, or rather your post on the spot. What I initially got out of your post was you telling the OP that he/she sure as heck better attend the interview or they will be denied.

Now with your response to your post, I understand better what you were saying.

And I agree, it probably does help to attend the interview, and in some cases they may see the petitioner who doesn't attend as evidence that they have a fraudulent relationship, however there are many people who don't attend the their fiance's (beneficiary) interview. In fact, the majority of petitioners don't attend.

MissCordova,

You don't need to be scared, I suggest contacting other people who are having an interview at the same embassy that your fiance will, and ask them if it's "needed" for the petitioner to attend the interview. Don't only contact one person, contact as many as you can, as we are all here on VJ to help each other.

Good luck!

[TBoneTX 46,276]

TboneTX,

I apologize for putting you on the spot, or rather your post on the spot. What I initially got out of your post was you telling the OP that he/she sure as heck better attend the interview or they will be denied.

Now with your response to your post, I understand better what you were saying.

And I agree, it probably does help to attend the interview, and in some cases they may see the petitioner who doesn't attend as evidence that they have a fraudulent relationship, however there are many people who don't attend the their fiance's (beneficiary) interview. In fact, the majority of petitioners don't attend.

Good response -- thanks, and no apology necessary.

MissCordova,

You don't need to be scared, I suggest contacting other people who are having an interview at the same embassy that your fiance will, and ask them if it's "needed" for the petitioner to attend the interview. Don't only contact one person, contact as many as you can, as we are all here on VJ to help each other.

Good luck!

Another good response. Information on Guayaquil is VERY lacking. The two most recent (me, and Roy of roy&katy) have been ordered to show up at a "marriage interview." The interviewee previous (Comanda) attended because she had planned to be there anyway, and ended up being interviewed, and seems to have disappeared from VJ since. I recommend that Miss*Cordova do her best to attend, or else to follow the suggestions that I made in the previous post, si man.

Edited June 2, 2008 by TBoneTX