Age and K1 Petition

[~ameriptian~ 54]

Hello all,

My fiance and I have all our forms and proof of our relationship ready now for our K1... We have a couple of questions before we send the visa packet: Being a 20-year old benificiary do we have to attach cover letters from my parents of consent of our relationship? I am turning 21 in two weeks, is that a problem if all our forms and signatures are dated while I was still 20 if we don't attach the letters and send the forms before turning 21?

Any answers are appreciated. Thank you...

Aya and John

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello all,

My fiance and I have all our forms and proof of our relationship ready now for our K1... We have a couple of questions before we send the visa packet: Being a 20-year old benificiary do we have to attach cover letters from my parents of consent of our relationship? I am turning 21 in two weeks, is that a problem if all our forms and signatures are dated while I was still 20 if we don't attach the letters and send the forms before turning 21?

Any answers are appreciated. Thank you...

Aya and John

In the United States, which is where you will be married if you apply for K-1, you are legally able to marry at age 18 without parental consent. It would only be a problem if you must have parental consent to leave the country before age 21,

18 is the legal age for all forms and documents in the USA and they are being submitted to the USA.

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

Hello all,

My fiance and I have all our forms and proof of our relationship ready now for our K1... We have a couple of questions before we send the visa packet: Being a 20-year old benificiary do we have to attach cover letters from my parents of consent of our relationship? I am turning 21 in two weeks, is that a problem if all our forms and signatures are dated while I was still 20 if we don't attach the letters and send the forms before turning 21?

Any answers are appreciated. Thank you...

Aya and John

The previous post is correct, your age is not an issue to the USA. What is important is that because you are young, the embassy will be VERY interested in the opinion of your parents about your decision to marry an American man and move to the USA. It is nearly 100% likely they will visit your home and ask a zillion questions to your family, your neighbors, the bawab, and everyone they can find.

I hope your family knows all about your plans, AND approves of them. I hope your fiance is Muslim and has visited your parents and asked them for your hand in marriage.... This will make things a lot easier for you in the Administrative Processing portion of your Visa Journey. If your fiance was Egyptian-American, Muslim, and introduced to you by your family or friends, or friends of your family... your process would be very easy... If not, not as easy.

There is alot more scrutiny of mixed marriages than of marriage between two Egyptians, of the same faith, speaking the same language, with the same culture, etc. etc. But you should be fine if your family knows your fiance and approves of your marriage.

Best Wishes,

K

[Klip 0]

Hi

go ahead and file it asap so you guys can be together already... lol lol lol

the age factor is understandable...

The US recognizes anyone over the age of 18 as an adult.

21 is the legal age for drinking (bear, wine...) alcohol beverages in general.

therefore it will be no problem.

good luck!!!

[Ovi 0]

Hello all,

My fiance and I have all our forms and proof of our relationship ready now for our K1... We have a couple of questions before we send the visa packet: Being a 20-year old benificiary do we have to attach cover letters from my parents of consent of our relationship? I am turning 21 in two weeks, is that a problem if all our forms and signatures are dated while I was still 20 if we don't attach the letters and send the forms before turning 21?

Any answers are appreciated. Thank you...

Aya and John

The previous post is correct, your age is not an issue to the USA. What is important is that because you are young, the embassy will be VERY interested in the opinion of your parents about your decision to marry an American man and move to the USA. It is nearly 100% likely they will visit your home and ask a zillion questions to your family, your neighbors, the bawab, and everyone they can find.

I hope your family knows all about your plans, AND approves of them. I hope your fiance is Muslim and has visited your parents and asked them for your hand in marriage.... This will make things a lot easier for you in the Administrative Processing portion of your Visa Journey. If your fiance was Egyptian-American, Muslim, and introduced to you by your family or friends, or friends of your family... your process would be very easy... If not, not as easy.

There is alot more scrutiny of mixed marriages than of marriage between two Egyptians, of the same faith, speaking the same language, with the same culture, etc. etc. But you should be fine if your family knows your fiance and approves of your marriage.

Best Wishes,

K

I agree that the age thing is not an issue, but I do not see how religion is playing a role here. It does not matter what religion you are, I would not worry about that. If you know anything about America you will know that will not be an issue here... One of the reasons I love this country!

[sara..... 371]

Hello all,

My fiance and I have all our forms and proof of our relationship ready now for our K1... We have a couple of questions before we send the visa packet: Being a 20-year old benificiary do we have to attach cover letters from my parents of consent of our relationship? I am turning 21 in two weeks, is that a problem if all our forms and signatures are dated while I was still 20 if we don't attach the letters and send the forms before turning 21?

Any answers are appreciated. Thank you...

Aya and John

The previous post is correct, your age is not an issue to the USA. What is important is that because you are young, the embassy will be VERY interested in the opinion of your parents about your decision to marry an American man and move to the USA. It is nearly 100% likely they will visit your home and ask a zillion questions to your family, your neighbors, the bawab, and everyone they can find.

I hope your family knows all about your plans, AND approves of them. I hope your fiance is Muslim and has visited your parents and asked them for your hand in marriage.... This will make things a lot easier for you in the Administrative Processing portion of your Visa Journey. If your fiance was Egyptian-American, Muslim, and introduced to you by your family or friends, or friends of your family... your process would be very easy... If not, not as easy.

There is alot more scrutiny of mixed marriages than of marriage between two Egyptians, of the same faith, speaking the same language, with the same culture, etc. etc. But you should be fine if your family knows your fiance and approves of your marriage.

Best Wishes,

K

I agree that the age thing is not an issue, but I do not see how religion is playing a role here. It does not matter what religion you are, I would not worry about that. If you know anything about America you will know that will not be an issue here... One of the reasons I love this country!

hi, in countries that are predominantly Muslim it does make a difference..(religion).....the embassy's understand the culture and religions of the people in the country that the embassy is in, thats one reason why when matched marriages done by the family's come before the embassies in Muslim countries they pretty much get a pass on proving their relationship prior to the marraige, and if its k1 they accept the pics of the engagement knowing that for the most part there is not much interaction between the couple other than that

Egypt has also been known to pull a Muslim Egyptian aside and talk to him if he is going to marry a non Muslim women from the USA, nope it dont happen all the time but it does sometimes.

When my sis applied for her Egyptian husband she told us that they pulled Ahmed aside and talked to him because of her name they were not satisfied at first that she was Muslim..........

sara

Edited May 21, 2009 by estadia

[Mike B. 231]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

[sara..... 371]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

about ur marraige and what ur family and friends have to say about it

sara

[Mike B. 231]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

about ur marraige and what ur family and friends have to say about it

sara

Why? What difference does it make? The US isn't governed by Sharia, the law doesn't care what someone's neighbors think of a marriage.

Does this only happen in Muslim countries?

[sara..... 371]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

about ur marraige and what ur family and friends have to say about it

sara

Why? What difference does it make? The US isn't governed by Sharia, the law doesn't care what someone's neighbors think of a marriage.

Does this only happen in Muslim countries?

i dont know if it happens only in Muslim counties but i do know that not all couples have home visits at least i am told they dont..........and why they do it is maybe because even if we are the USA embassy we still have to deal with the people of that country, and have to respect their laws towards somethings as well.......and the home visits are to make sure for the most part its a real marraige and not a marraige for visa, or at least that is what i have been told.

there was a time in egypt that it was difficult to marry if ur from the usa because egypt wanted something from the embassy like a no objection letter or something and the embassy refused to give it but thanks of God they got that all worked out

sara

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

about ur marraige and what ur family and friends have to say about it

sara

Why? What difference does it make? The US isn't governed by Sharia, the law doesn't care what someone's neighbors think of a marriage.

Does this only happen in Muslim countries?

No, it happens to some degree in many countries. It's not a religious issue as much as it's a cultural issue. The consulates and embassies are very well aware of what the cultural norms are in the country where they are, and look suspiciously on any marriage that doesn't fit those norms. I know for a fact that in Vietnam they are highly suspicious of any relationship where engagement and/or marriage happen too soon after meeting, or if there is no formal engagement ceremony or the number of people attending the engagement party is very small. It's been said several times on this forum that the consulate in Morocco is suspicious when the USC sponsor is a woman who is much older than the male beneficiary.

Even in Muslim countries where it's not illegal, a Muslim marrying a non-Muslim is a serious social taboo, especially if the Muslim is a woman. The consulate would be correct to be suspicious of such a relationship, and would be obligated to investigate it. They absolutely do not judge the relationship by American standards, which is the appropriate thing to do when trying to uncover visa fraud.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

Yikes.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

We both are on the same religion if you all are wondering. We weren't in the beginning of our relationship but we now are actually we have been on the same religion for about 6 months now.... It doesn't seem logical to have home visits and people from the embassy coming to ask 'neighbors' about MY relationship with MY fiance... My family and his DO know about our engagement only that mine doesn't 'fully' approve of it till now so we did not have a traditional engagement party... I don't know why would that create a problem to the embassy if we are legally able to marry according to the laws of both countries.... That kinda doesn't make sense if we both are on the same religion and providing formal papers that we both are and we are legally able to get married and they would do visits to ask family 'friends and neighbors' about our relationship.... That kinda doesn't make sense........

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

We both are on the same religion if you all are wondering. We weren't in the beginning of our relationship but we now are actually we have been on the same religion for about 6 months now.... It doesn't seem logical to have home visits and people from the embassy coming to ask 'neighbors' about MY relationship with MY fiance... My family and his DO know about our engagement only that mine doesn't 'fully' approve of it till now so we did not have a traditional engagement party... I don't know why would that create a problem to the embassy if we are legally able to marry according to the laws of both countries.... That kinda doesn't make sense if we both are on the same religion and providing formal papers that we both are and we are legally able to get married and they would do visits to ask family 'friends and neighbors' about our relationship.... That kinda doesn't make sense........

Yeah, I felt the same way when I first started looking into this whole process. I figured I was an American citizen, and it's my right to marry anyone I want, right? After reading lots of articles on the internet, and lurking for a couple of months on this forum, I've discovered that there's a lot about this process that doesn't make a lot of sense.

I read in an article from a well known immigration lawyer in Southeast Asia that the consular officers use the standard of "reasonable person" when determining if a relationship is legitimate. To the CO, the term "reasonable person" doesn't mean your neighbor down the street in Anytown, USA. It means an average person in the country where your foreign fiance lives. In other words, would an average person in that country consider your relationship to be legitimate, given the information the CO has available? If not, you can expect they're going to scrutinize your relationship closely.

Do most people in Egypt have an engagement party? If so, the CO is going to be asking themselves why you didn't have an engagement party, and if the reason isn't because the relationship is about immigration rather than love. Someone involved in immigration fraud is likely to want to skip anything that is time consuming or expensive, and just try to get the visa as quickly and with the least cost possible. Unfortunately, someone deeply in love is going to be tempted to do the same. By trying to take the fast track to getting their fiance/e to America, they lump themselves in with the fraudsters.

I'm glad I decided to investigate and found this site before I filed my petition. I was tempted to get engaged on my first trip. I was also tempted to skip the engagement ceremony and just file the petition. It's going to be a while before I know if the extra time, effort, and money is going to mean we get approved with little hassle. But, I do know that if I'd given in to my temptations then we definitely would have been denied.

I don't think the consulate is going to care much whether your family approves. They're more interested in whether his family knows and approves. In your fiance's culture, people rarely go against their family. It's the same in Vietnam, where many marriages are still arranged by the parents, especially outside of the big cities. If my fiance's family didn't approve of our engagement then she would have a big hurdle to overcome at her interview. At the least, they want to see pictures of me with her family, having a good time and being accepted as a member of the family. They want to see pictures of a big engagement party, with all of her family there having a great time. Family involvement is important in their culture, and I suspect it's the same in Egypt.

I'm curious which one of you converted in order to get engaged, and what religion did you convert to? I would have presumed that he was a Muslim, and that you converted to Islam, but I'm confused by the names "Aya" and "John". That would seem to imply that you were the Muslim and he was not.

[Mike B. 231]

The US embassy in Muslim countries really sends people out to interview your neighbors and friends about your religion?

Yikes.

Is the "yikes" directed at my ignorance of this process? I really hadn't heard about the home visits before. Do they take place before or after the interview? How far are they willing to go just to talk to your neighbors?