Help...Passport kept after interview (told "not eligible for K-1") - New Delhi

[RCG 3]

My fiance just had his k1 visa interview at New Delhi. He had a really weird experience. BTW, he was interviewed by a chinese man..Interview lasted less than 5 minutes.

He was asked the following questions:

1. How do you communicate with her?

2. Where does she work?

3. How did you meet?

4. Who is her fiance?

Then my fiance was told, "you are not eligible for the k1 visa" .

My fiance was shocked and he asked if he would get his passport back and was told he would receive it in 2-3 days..

The consular officer did not even look at the additional photos, emails, and letter from me that he had with him.

He was not given any slips at all. Do they give you a slip or just give you a verbal denial?

Does anyone know what to do next?

We called VFS and we both were told not to worry that they only keep the passport if the visa has been approved.

But it was such a strange interview...

We both assumed there would be red flags for the following reasons:

- i am 37 and he is 28

- He was hindu but converted to christianity for me

- He is indian and i am native american

- his family does not know he is marrying me.

- we did not have an engagement ceremony and he hasn't yet bought me the ring (financial reasons).

As proof of our relationship - (we met on bharatmatrimony.com)

I had sent him a letter from my mom stating her approval and also an email from my pastor stating he would marry us but would require us to do premarital counseling. He also included about 100 emails, tons of phone bills and skype phone bills, photos etc.

We met Nov. 2009 and I met him in May 2010 in India.

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON THIS? HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN DENIED WHO HAD THEIR PASSPORT KEPT BY THE CONSULAR OFFICER??

[Fela's Girl 1]

Hi. Yeah it appears very odd, but they only keep your passport if they have considered to approve it. Just wait to see if you get passport in 2-3 days before you panic, if nothing then after 5 days you should have a visa. Good Luck!

[jrmejia 31]

I am sure your fiance answered all the questions correctly?

[southcalhog 43]

I am sure everything will be fine.like the previous post said, they only keep your Passport its my understanding if they Approve it!

[RCG 3]

I am sure your fiance answered all the questions correctly?

Yes, he answered all the questions correctly.

[C Med 14]

I think it's strange to have kept the passport if the embassy intended to deny it. You mentioned that the officer was Chinese, and your fiance is Indian. Is it possible that there was a language barrier? Could your fiance have misunderstood?

Edited May 16, 2011 by C Med

[RCG 3]

I think it's strange to have kept the passport if the embassy intended to deny it. You mentioned that the officer was Chinese, and your fiance is Indian. Is it possible that there was a language barrier? Could your fiance have misunderstood?

No language barrier..My fiance said the guy was speaking Hindi to him. And my fiance is fluent in english so there shouldn't have been any problems if the interview was in english.

[R.&S. 2]

No language barrier..My fiance said the guy was speaking Hindi to him. And my fiance is fluent in english so there shouldn't have been any problems if the interview was in english.

I am sorry for your denial. Same Chinese young guy was there at my interview, Denied!!

Your red flags:

No ceremony means no family involvement( They need this!!!)

Do not give up

Good luck

[RCG 3]

I am sorry for your denial. Same Chinese young guy was there at my interview, Denied!!

Your red flags:

No ceremony means no family involvement( They need this!!!)

Do not give up

Good luck

So what happened at the end of the interview?Did he keep the passport with him or returned it to you? Would be great if you can tell us about your experience .

Thanks in advance

[Bec_Dipu 103]

I am sorry for your denial. Same Chinese young guy was there at my interview, Denied!!

Your red flags:

No ceremony means no family involvement( They need this!!!)

Do not give up

Good luck

My fiance and I didn't have an engagement ceremony either. I am not Indian (which I guess you can tell from my picture lol) and this is not a common practice in my family. My fiance is Muslim and it is not a common practice for Muslims in his part of the country and no one in his family has ever had one.

Do you think they apply this standard to all relationships based on what they think a traditional Indian relationship should be like or do they show sensitivity to the fact that what they see every day isn't necessarily the norm for everyone?

I'm very nervous about being judged against cultural standards which are alien to me and do not necessarily apply to minorities such as my fiance. I keep reading horror stories about this Chinese man denying people left and right because he doesn't think their relationships are real. The rest of the denials seem to come from a tiny woman. So I guess I'll just pray that our CO is neither a Hindi speaking Chinese man or a tiny woman

[RCG 3]

My fiance and I didn't have an engagement ceremony either. I am not Indian (which I guess you can tell from my picture lol) and this is not a common practice in my family. My fiance is Muslim and it is not a common practice for Muslims in his part of the country and no one in his family has ever had one.

Do you think they apply this standard to all relationships based on what they think a traditional Indian relationship should be like or do they show sensitivity to the fact that what they see every day isn't necessarily the norm for everyone?

I'm very nervous about being judged against cultural standards which are alien to me and do not necessarily apply to minorities such as my fiance. I keep reading horror stories about this Chinese man denying people left and right because he doesn't think their relationships are real. The rest of the denials seem to come from a tiny woman. So I guess I'll just pray that our CO is neither a Hindi speaking Chinese man or a tiny woman

BAD NEWS...PETITION IS BEING SENT BACK TO NVC (((..

Rahul and i kept calling and emailing VFSDelhi. he often was told the visa is being approved cuz they kept the passport. he got an email last nite stating the petition was in administrative processing per 221g. About 3 hrs later I received an email stating the consular officer did not think we had a valid relationship and was sending our petition back to NVS and DHS and to contact DHS for further inquiries.

I' completely stunned and so angry that they judged our relationship only based on the cultural standards of India. Not everyone conforms to society rules. I had written my senator last week and called today but they said they just received my email..I called and faxed docs to my congressman, senator, and tribal president. lady at senator's office said they have probably already placed the petition in the diplomatic pouch mail by now but I can send my request anyhow.

Any other ideas on what to do?

[R.&S. 2]

So what happened at the end of the interview?Did he keep the passport with him or returned it to you? Would be great if you can tell us about your experience .

Thanks in advance

I am sorry to hear that your petition is also being sent back. Unlike you they did not kept my passport for admin. process.

You can have basic idea about my case in these two threads.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/278140-k1-visa-refusal-at-new-delhi-221gwhite-slip/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/283728-should-i-do-somthing-now-would-you-help-me-here/page__p__4302189#entry4302189

Wishes for speedy process.

[R.&S. 2]

My fiance and I didn't have an engagement ceremony either. I am not Indian (which I guess you can tell from my picture lol) and this is not a common practice in my family. My fiance is Muslim and it is not a common practice for Muslims in his part of the country and no one in his family has ever had one.

Do you think they apply this standard to all relationships based on what they think a traditional Indian relationship should be like or do they show sensitivity to the fact that what they see every day isn't necessarily the norm for everyone?

I'm very nervous about being judged against cultural standards which are alien to me and do not necessarily apply to minorities such as my fiance. I keep reading horror stories about this Chinese man denying people left and right because he doesn't think their relationships are real. The rest of the denials seem to come from a tiny woman. So I guess I'll just pray that our CO is neither a Hindi speaking Chinese man or a tiny woman

Engagement ceremony is not a common process for my Fiancee either and we both explained about it in a letter already but I do not think they even were bothered to read this because they already have decided at the time of interview. I could say it because of my experience that they want family involvement and approval(which is very strange) I mean come on we are not kid anymore!!!!

As per their view( which I guess), anyone engaged with an Indian means a lot of traditional/cultural functions and family involvement. We were also different because we did not have any pic. with my family and no engagement ceremony( A lot of questions in interview were about family and engagement ceremony). Rest we sent a lot of chat,phone logs and 10 letters from family members.Nothing mattered.

I am sorry I think these are the two people who sit there for Immi. visa interview.

Are you joining him at the time of interview?

Good Luck!

[RCG 3]

NEW UPDATE - R called VFS helpdesk today and was told we were sent email about denial by mistake. He was told our case is still pending. Not sure what to think, but we spent the weekend faxing, calling, emailing officials of all kinds. I even asked for inquiry into delhi embassy practices and gave evidence from visa statistics etc.. pray for favor and good outcome for us..thanks everyone!!!

Engagement ceremony is not a common process for my Fiancee either and we both explained about it in a letter already but I do not think they even were bothered to read this because they already have decided at the time of interview. I could say it because of my experience that they want family involvement and approval(which is very strange) I mean come on we are not kid anymore!!!!

As per their view( which I guess), anyone engaged with an Indian means a lot of traditional/cultural functions and family involvement. We were also different because we did not have any pic. with my family and no engagement ceremony( A lot of questions in interview were about family and engagement ceremony). Rest we sent a lot of chat,phone logs and 10 letters from family members.Nothing mattered.

I am sorry I think these are the two people who sit there for Immi. visa interview.

Are you joining him at the time of interview?

Good Luck!

[R.&S. 2]

NEW UPDATE - R called VFS helpdesk today and was told we were sent email about denial by mistake. He was told our case is still pending. Not sure what to think, but we spent the weekend faxing, calling, emailing officials of all kinds. I even asked for inquiry into delhi embassy practices and gave evidence from visa statistics etc.. pray for favor and good outcome for us..thanks everyone!!!

I would certainly say that you still have hope then..

I will pray for you

Good Luck