Facebook Concern?

[Marina-Del 10]

I could see something being an issue if you petitioned for a fiancee but your Facebook stie said you were already married to someone else.

I can't. I don't think that USCIS is stupid enough to think that because it says I (a female) am married to Jessica (obviously another female) and I'm petitioning for my fiancee (who is again obviously a male) that my relationship is not valid and they should deny our visa. Or even if I was "married" to another male....if they ask questions, then explain! I agree that you should be prepared to answer questions about it though. If the consulates did ask questions about it, then answer and that's that.

I've been married to Jessica (my best friend) on FB for about 5 years. If they asked about that at the interview I'd say, "oh yes. That's my best friend and we were also college roommates. We don't like putting our personal life on the internet for everyone to see so we marked that were are "married" to each other, which obviously everyone who knows us knows is not true and we're just friends. I'm friends with lots of people on the internet that I meet on briefly and I don't like them having complete access to my life, ect ect ect"

Edited July 6, 2009 by Marina-Del

[*JG* 2]

I doubt it, but the bigger question is:

You let everyone see your page on Facebook?? Time to edit those privacy settings.

Yeah, I agree on that. Be careful of your privacy settings. Need to really set them to just friends and you control who sees what.

Believe me when I say it. Had a couple of stalkers on there just itching for some fodder to use against me.

[D&R 0]

Wasn't there a thread about this a few months back? Specifically stating that, yes, immigration can (and has on occassion) check out Facebook and MySpace pages to verify the authenticity of a relationship.

Not to say that it happens to everyone, but I remember a discussion reporting that it has begun to happen on occassion and that it is part of the terms of use that gives access of these sites that to the government even if they aren't your "friend".

If USCIS is checking Facebook to verify the "authenticity" of anything they need to be confined to an asylum! NO ONE CARES ABOUT FACEBOOK, get over yourselves.

Though I do not doubt some one posted it...it would be as accurate as anything you see on Facebook.

Good grief.

So you are saying that everything posted on the internet may not be the honest truth?!!!!!

Can you imagine a visa petition being denied...reason? "But their Facebook profile said they were only Friends" Absolutely preposterous.

No, but I can imagine it denied if your facebook status says something about how high you were at the weekend, or how you spent the night in jail for some reason, or how the police didn't catch you after you committed a crime etc

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

The Intelligence Community is data mining social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace for evidence of illegal activity. Some narcotraffickers, for example, are actually stupid enough to post their drug running comings and goings to their profile—can you imagine?

This sort of thing, which they call OSINT—Open Source Intelligence—is the latest craze in the intel and law enforcement communities, so it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Homeland Security (including USCIS) is in on it too.

Gary, I also highly doubt that they would deny a petition or visa based solely on what they found on someone's Facebook, but I bet it could lead to some pointed questions at an interview.

Edited September 28, 2009 by Stephen + Elisha

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The Intelligence Community is data mining social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace for evidence of illegal activity. Some narcotraffickers, for example, are actually stupid enough to post their drug running comings and goings to their profile—can you imagine?

This sort of thing, which they call OSINT—Open Source Intelligence—is the latest craze in the intel and law enforcement communities, so it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Homeland Security (including USCIS) is in on it too.

Gary, I also highly doubt that they would deny a petition or visa based solely on what they found on someone's Facebook, but I bet it could lead to some pointed questions at an interview.

I had dinner Saturday with a director at the VSC. His wife is Russian,came on a K-1 and is now a citizen and friend of Alla's, and she is an adjudicator there. Small world. Happens when you live next door (across the lake) from the place. They are a big employer in this area. I specifically asked him about this as it was an issue in a thread on Saturday where someone was denied at AOS and they claimed it was from facebook issues.

He was emphatic in that USCIS does not care about such things and that the IOs interviewing this woman (the USC in the relationship )were using a well known tactic of distraction. It was a stokes interview. The theory is they pummel the subject with irrelevent questions she would never expect or prepare for, such as questions about her facebook page. As they are doing this (three IOs) every so often one of them asks a relevent question and the woman, so confused about facebook is unable to think and can give only the honest answer, not enough time to think of the rehearsed answer. After an hour of this, her "husband" was called in, asked one question, his answer (which any husband should know) was opposite hers and the interview is over. AOS denied.

He still thinks it is because of facebook.

USCIS does not use facebook for investigating petitions at the VSC. He cannot speak for the NVC or anyone else, but the VSC does not consider it valid information and that there is nothing there that they need to approve or deny a petition. They also are somewhat afraid of the liability of such, since there is no indication anything on facebook is accurate. In his words "We do not like to deny petitions for US citizens, they make a lot of trouble when we do" There simply is not enough there for them to approve or deny and defend their decision on.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Very very interesting. Thanks for posting this, Gary!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Wasn't there a thread about this a few months back? Specifically stating that, yes, immigration can (and has on occassion) check out Facebook and MySpace pages to verify the authenticity of a relationship.

Not to say that it happens to everyone, but I remember a discussion reporting that it has begun to happen on occassion and that it is part of the terms of use that gives access of these sites that to the government even if they aren't your "friend".

If USCIS is checking Facebook to verify the "authenticity" of anything they need to be confined to an asylum! NO ONE CARES ABOUT FACEBOOK, get over yourselves.

Though I do not doubt some one posted it...it would be as accurate as anything you see on Facebook.

Good grief.

So you are saying that everything posted on the internet may not be the honest truth?!!!!!

Can you imagine a visa petition being denied...reason? "But their Facebook profile said they were only Friends" Absolutely preposterous.

No, but I can imagine it denied if your facebook status says something about how high you were at the weekend, or how you spent the night in jail for some reason, or how the police didn't catch you after you committed a crime etc

No. First they do not check this, second they are concerned with you meeting the criteria. What are the criteria?

1. US citizen

2. Free to Marry

3. Have met in person in the last two years

4, Intend to marry within 90 days of arrival

They do a background check but what it says on facebook is not a background check. As long as you have never been convicted of a crime, you are good to go.

The director I spoke to Saturday did point out about the interview we discussed that the IOs had looked at facebook for this couple in order to get information they could distract her with during questioning. She will not be denied because of what facebook said. It was merely a ruse, using information she put out there. They really couldn't care less except it gave them "talking points" for the Stokes interview.

Edited September 28, 2009 by Gary and Alla

[TBoneTX 45,329]

In his words "We do not like to deny petitions for US citizens, they make a lot of trouble when we do"

Did you (or can you) probe this comment further? What trouble, and how? Inquiring minds want to know, si man. Thanks.

[HYENA 4]

In his words "We do not like to deny petitions for US citizens, they make a lot of trouble when we do"

Did you (or can you) probe this comment further? What trouble, and how? Inquiring minds want to know, si man. Thanks.

I'd suggest whoever lives near VSC to give them a pie in the face if you don't mind.

Next is this question...yeah if a government wants to control a person's life then of course someone will complain. Who would want to be married but not live with their spouse?

I had a FB wedding pics before we came here (although it wasn't "legal" everyone panicked and said "dont do it, don't mention it....on and on...

Everyone does this...at least a ceremony in traditional parts of the world then do it back home again (ok maybe half). Had the video and pics while we were awaiting our

k1

still gotta get married here and soon!

Edited September 30, 2009 by HYENA

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In his words "We do not like to deny petitions for US citizens, they make a lot of trouble when we do"

Did you (or can you) probe this comment further? What trouble, and how? Inquiring minds want to know, si man. Thanks.

I'd suggest whoever lives near VSC to give them a pie in the face if you don't mind.

Next is this question...yeah if a government wants to control a person's life then of course someone will complain. Who would want to be married but not live with their spouse?

I had a FB wedding pics before we came here (although it wasn't "legal" everyone panicked and said "dont do it, don't mention it....on and on...

Everyone does this...at least a ceremony in traditional parts of the world then do it back home again (ok maybe half). Had the video and pics while we were awaiting our

k1

still gotta get married here and soon!

You do not detail your problem but it appears to be with the consulate, NOT USCIS and they are two very different and distinct entities in no way related to each other. Your petition was approved (USCIS) and sent to Bangkok and there is where you have a problem. That is the Department of State. USCIS does not issue, approve or deny visas, they handle petitions.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In his words "We do not like to deny petitions for US citizens, they make a lot of trouble when we do"

Did you (or can you) probe this comment further? What trouble, and how? Inquiring minds want to know, si man. Thanks.

Just a bit. He said when petitions get denied, unless there is a very strong reason (i.e. the people have not met, ever, or not within the last two years, or the petitioner is not a citizen) then people usually pursue this with their congressman or an attorney and they have to be prepared to give solid evidence of a fair decision. He just said there is no way they could use Facebook as a source of reliable information for any kind of decision, good or bad.

Apparently they DID use it as a distraction in this one case that was posted about Saturday, but not as a "reason" for denial. Though the OP in that case may think so or have that impression, I am sure it will not say that on thew official denial and I am sure the fact she hadn't changed her "status" from single to married on Facebook was NOT the reason it was denied.

[TBoneTX 45,329]

unless there is a very strong reason (i.e. the people have not met, ever, or not within the last two years, or the petitioner is not a citizen) then people usually pursue this with their congressman or an attorney and they have to be prepared to give solid evidence of a fair decision.

This makes sense. Thanks, si man.