Still no green light after 2nd Interview

[Bertls Engelchen 0]

I am sooo frazzled, I don't even know where to begin...

On 8/19, my fiancee had his first interview in Frankfurt, Germany. All seemed to go well and the officer said that the visa will be in the mail within the week...

One week passed... two weeks... nothing. Finally he contacted them to follow up and they came back stating that he needs to come back for a 2nd interview, as they needed his signature again on form D-156 and also my most recent proof of payment, tax return for 2008 and additional proof of our relationship.

Prior his interview, I gathered over 200 pages of e-mail exchanges between us, added my parents as additional sponsors and included a solid letter of explanation from my employer about my upcoming promotion in December. I also explained in a letter as to why I have not yet filed taxes for 2008, due to personal issues with my ex-husband (as we decided to file jointly for 2008, in which also my divorce became final).

My fiancee had his interview yesterday and was practially GRILLED over every single detail: My parent's employment history, what my brother does for living, why I have never visited him in Germany (when he answered because of my 3 kids, the consular arrogantly replied "how about the grandparents or ex husband? They can't just watch the kids?"), how much I made last year and why I seem to earn a lot less this year and why, how we plan to support ourselves in the next few months, etc... She questioned our relationship, but didn't even bother to look at our photos. When she looked at the e-mails, she said that they can't be in German, it all must be in English, although there was a translator standing right next to her (FYI, we also have over 2,000 between each other!). He even showed her a receipt of the engagement ring (on the advise of many others on this forum), which actually left a NEGATIVE impression on her... Like why would he bring that!

Finally, in the end, she said that I have to send to the consulate directly (1) ORIGINAL bank statements from 2009, (2) original 1099-MISC for 2009 and (3) original Pay stubs. Well, here's the problem - I don't get original paystubs! I'm signed up as an independent contractor and my relationship with my employer is very casual. I sometimes get a check, sometimes cash and sometimes direct wire transfers.... So how should I explain not having original pay stubs??? Will another letter from my employer confirming my YTD income suffice???

Why will they even need all that stuff when I have already added my parents as sponsors???

ANY feedback or suggestions you can provide to make our case stronger, please let me know! I was looking forward for my Baby to arrive here before my 10/19 birthday and even had our wedding set for 11/22... Looks like that' ain't gonna happen now. ;(

Thanks in advance for taking your time reading this post, and for your help!

Silvia

[Otto 83]

Well this is all unfortunate to hear.

In my opinion - there must be some irregularities in your case that is causing Frankfurt to react this way - Frankfurt's reputation is pretty clean (in other words the harassment level there is very low).

That said, there may very well be some simple solutions here.

A lot of weight is (apparently) falling on the affidavit of support - my guess is mainly due to a couple of things - the lack of a recent tax return (I mean we're into September now) and proof of current income. I don't know if you did submit previous year's tax returns or not - if not, might not be a bad idea to gather 2006 and 2007's. I also don't know what you submitted for proof of current income (letter of employment and possible upcoming promotion are not enough).

As far as meeting - again, don't know what you submitted - presumably you guys have met in person.

So in those two areas - could you recap in detail what was sent? (Hard proof, not photos or emails/letters/cards etc, but things like boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel/car rental receipts, etc). And what was sent with your I-134.

[Bertls Engelchen 0]

Well this is all unfortunate to hear.

In my opinion - there must be some irregularities in your case that is causing Frankfurt to react this way - Frankfurt's reputation is pretty clean (in other words the harassment level there is very low).

That said, there may very well be some simple solutions here.

A lot of weight is (apparently) falling on the affidavit of support - my guess is mainly due to a couple of things - the lack of a recent tax return (I mean we're into September now) and proof of current income. I don't know if you did submit previous year's tax returns or not - if not, might not be a bad idea to gather 2006 and 2007's. I also don't know what you submitted for proof of current income (letter of employment and possible upcoming promotion are not enough).

As far as meeting - again, don't know what you submitted - presumably you guys have met in person.

So in those two areas - could you recap in detail what was sent? (Hard proof, not photos or emails/letters/cards etc, but things like boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel/car rental receipts, etc). And what was sent with your I-134.

Thanks for your reply... It really felt like he was being harrassed... Just her attitude alone was very unfriendly and when he tried to explain something, she said "that's not what I asked"...

Anyway, to answer your questions:

These are the document we submitted for the 1st interview:

- copies of my tax return for 2006 & 2007

- copy of my 1099-MISC

- copy of 3 months paystubs

- Letter from Chase bank showing deposits of last year - however, that account is closed and they questioned him what happened to the money that was deposited in that account! He tried to explain that was the joint account with my ex husband, which includes his income and the money is no longer there, but that wasn't good enough for her

- Letter for my current bank, stating YTD deposits and current balance. He had this letter in the 1st interview, but for whatever reason, they did NOT keep or take a look at this letter. (Keep in mind, the consular is now requesting this year's ORIGINAL bank statements from Chase, which is the old bank and that letter clearly shows "ACCOUNT CLOSED". If they'd paid close attention, they would have asked original bank statements from my current bank!)

-Employment letter cofirming permanent employment and future promotion by end of the year

- Photos from our Dec 2007 and Dec 2008 reunion - However, they did NOT take a look at any of them during the 1st interview

- E-mails & phone records - They also did NOT take a look at these during the 1st interview either

So, on the 2nd interview, we provided the following documents:

- Updated letter from employer

- Letter of explanation of why I have filed for an extension for tax year 2009. (I'm at the stage though of filing separate and not wait for my ex, but I don't have the $$ right now to pay for the taxes I owe. It's more advantageous to file joint due to the business deductions)

- Complete Affidavit of Support from my Mom

- Complete AFfidavit of Support from my Dad

- Phone records from 2009

- Emails: Daily e-mails from 7/2007-12-2008 and at least 4 emails for each month of 2008 and 2009, a total of over 200 pages in small print!!! My fiance and I communicate primarily in German, so just because this consular does NOT speak German, she demanded them to be translated (she didn't even bother to ask the Translater that was translating to look them over or translate any of them!)

-Additional photographs - didn't even want to see them

-Engagement ring receipt - she found it pathetic, that he even brought that. She didn't see the point... Felt that he was trying too hard

On a personal side note, my house was foreclosed in March '09 and I live in the large, self sufficient in-law unit at my parent's property with my 3 young children since April '09. I make just enough to get by, but with the child support it puts me above the minimum income level. I don't have sufficient proof of my child support, except the court order, but my ex has not been following through with his payments... I don't have to pay any rent to my parents and am able to get by with what I make so far. I guess the consulate questions my ability to be able to support an additional family member. But now that I have added my parents as sponsors, why should that still be an issue? They do not claim me or my kids (nor are we!) as dependents!

I hope this sheds some light on my situation and on the material I submitted. Might I add too that this 2nd interview was conducted with NO WITNESSES (except the translator, who was very friendly) around. His interview was at 10am. He came on time, submitted his paperwork, then waited 1 1/2, then was called to the window and told that "something came up" and that he had to come back in 2 1/2 hours. He left the consulate and when he returned, he was the ONLY ONE in the entire waiting hall with only a janitor cleaning the place. Then he was called to the window with the American consular who was unfriendly from the start....

I'm really at a loss for words. I'm afraid that after submitting the required documents, they will come up with other excuses or reasons.... This is my High Schools sweetheart whom I found again by chance online after no contact for 17 years!!! Why would they question our relationship?? He even brought our old love letters from our teenage years, just in case.....

Should I write to the Congressman? And if so, how fast would I get an answer from them???

I'm so sad, angry and upset... This has completely thrown both of us off guard.

Thanks for listening!!!!!!!!!!

[Dakine 26]

why I have never visited him in Germany"

Where did you guys meet in person?

[Willow2009 0]

I am sooo frazzled, I don't even know where to begin...

On 8/19, my fiancee had his first interview in Frankfurt, Germany. All seemed to go well and the officer said that the visa will be in the mail within the week...

One week passed... two weeks... nothing. Finally he contacted them to follow up and they came back stating that he needs to come back for a 2nd interview, as they needed his signature again on form D-156 and also my most recent proof of payment, tax return for 2008 and additional proof of our relationship.

Prior his interview, I gathered over 200 pages of e-mail exchanges between us, added my parents as additional sponsors and included a solid letter of explanation from my employer about my upcoming promotion in December. I also explained in a letter as to why I have not yet filed taxes for 2008, due to personal issues with my ex-husband (as we decided to file jointly for 2008, in which also my divorce became final).

My fiancee had his interview yesterday and was practially GRILLED over every single detail: My parent's employment history, what my brother does for living, why I have never visited him in Germany (when he answered because of my 3 kids, the consular arrogantly replied "how about the grandparents or ex husband? They can't just watch the kids?"), how much I made last year and why I seem to earn a lot less this year and why, how we plan to support ourselves in the next few months, etc... She questioned our relationship, but didn't even bother to look at our photos. When she looked at the e-mails, she said that they can't be in German, it all must be in English, although there was a translator standing right next to her (FYI, we also have over 2,000 between each other!). He even showed her a receipt of the engagement ring (on the advise of many others on this forum), which actually left a NEGATIVE impression on her... Like why would he bring that!

Finally, in the end, she said that I have to send to the consulate directly (1) ORIGINAL bank statements from 2009, (2) original 1099-MISC for 2009 and (3) original Pay stubs. Well, here's the problem - I don't get original paystubs! I'm signed up as an independent contractor and my relationship with my employer is very casual. I sometimes get a check, sometimes cash and sometimes direct wire transfers.... So how should I explain not having original pay stubs??? Will another letter from my employer confirming my YTD income suffice???

Why will they even need all that stuff when I have already added my parents as sponsors???

ANY feedback or suggestions you can provide to make our case stronger, please let me know! I was looking forward for my Baby to arrive here before my 10/19 birthday and even had our wedding set for 11/22... Looks like that' ain't gonna happen now. ;(

Thanks in advance for taking your time reading this post, and for your help!

Silvia

Take a deep breath.... did you take it?.......take a deep breath

Be patient. Give them everything they ask for, as accurate as you can be. And don't give up. Try with everything you have, all your heart.

Good luck!

[Bertls Engelchen 0]

He visited me in Dec 2007. We spent a week in Solvang/Santa Barbara, CA

December 2008 he visited me again for the holidays for almost 2 weeks. This time he met my kid and my parents, family & friends...

Financially it was impossible for me to go to Germany, let alone I have three young kids under the age of 6. I don't think it was appropriate for the consular to snap back with "what about the grandparents?" Excuse me, but they are just in their 50's and work full time jobs!