Denied at Lagos

[OlasKween 3]

Hello,

I am new to this site, but I am so glad to find a group of people who understand what my fiance and I are going through!! I have felt so alone during this whole process. My fiance Ola had his interveiw on November 21st, and our K-1 was denied. We are devastated. He was not given a fair interview, and though we have lots of evidence and proof, it was not even asked for, looked at or mentioned. I have tried to contact the Lagos embassy repeatedly, and I can not get anyone to answer the phone. (has anyone else had this problem?) I contacted my senators, and congressman, and though they are willing to help, they are telling me there is not much they can do. Is there someone more influential we could call on? I am at a loss. I dont know where to turn next. We used a lawyer to file our case, but we cant afford to pay for another lawyers service. Does anyone have any ideas? I am just sick about the whole thing.

[ndu26 114]

So sorry to hear this.

Could you recount how his interview went as much as you can from what your fiance told you?

what did they ask?

what makes you say he had an 'unfair" inteview?

did they ask for documents or a question that raised red flags?

did they return his passport to him?

what kind of paper was he given at the end of the interview?

etc

Maybe with any of these answered , someone may be able to offer some opinion.

Stay strong

Meanwhile about conatcing lagos, it is very difficult or nayone to pick up that phone and when they do it is usuaaly one of the lower level workers hwo has no clue what is going on that answers...and they annoy you more by saying something like " can you do what they ask you to do" or "why dont you email them" and I keep wondering who is "them" this is your office!!!!

so dear, email the consulate with your case number in the subjetc line. make sure you direct it to the appropriate section IV ( LagosIV@state.gov) or NIV LagosNIV@state.gov and state your questions. within 2-3 business days you should get some kind of response from them.

Edited December 14, 2011 by ndu26

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Don't waste your time on the phone , they either don't answer or ask you to hold and never come back. There have been the usual group of early December denials showing up. If you can tell us more about what happened maybe we can help you.

We were denied the first time for a totally stupid reason and are about to celibrate 2 years together in the US.

Edited December 14, 2011 by NigeriaorBust

[souleymon 27]

So sorry to hear this.

Could you recount how his interview went as much as you can from what your fiance told you?

what did they ask?

what makes you say he had an 'unfair" inteview?

did they ask for documents or a question that raised red flags?

did they return his passport to him?

what kind of paper was he given at the end of the interview?

etc

Maybe with any of these answered , someone may be able to offer some opinion.

Stay strong

Meanwhile about conatcing lagos, it is very difficult or nayone to pick up that phone and when they do it is usuaaly one of the lower level workers hwo has no clue what is going on that answers...and they annoy you more by saying something like " can you do what they ask you to do" or "why dont you email them" and I keep wondering who is "them" this is your office!!!!

so dear, email the consulate with your case number in the subjetc line. make sure you direct it to the appropriate section IV ( LagosIV@state.gov) or NIV LagosNIV@state.gov and state your questions. within 2-3 business days you should get some kind of response from them.

You need get the whole conversations your fiancee had during his interview.what were those things he was asked.Are u both from Nigeria.did he go with Pics/Docs that showed you guys are married sorta.

His detailed interview review will help people here in providing answer to your question.

Just know you are never alone in it.People get denied and approved at Lagos Consulate..Just believe

[patient2010 93]

Sorry this has happened to you I hope things work out for the best

[OlasKween 3]

So sorry to hear this.

Could you recount how his interview went as much as you can from what your fiance told you?

what did they ask?

what makes you say he had an 'unfair" inteview?

did they ask for documents or a question that raised red flags?

did they return his passport to him?

what kind of paper was he given at the end of the interview?

etc

Maybe with any of these answered , someone may be able to offer some opinion.

Stay strong

Meanwhile about conatcing lagos, it is very difficult or nayone to pick up that phone and when they do it is usuaaly one of the lower level workers hwo has no clue what is going on that answers...and they annoy you more by saying something like " can you do what they ask you to do" or "why dont you email them" and I keep wondering who is "them" this is your office!!!!

so dear, email the consulate with your case number in the subjetc line. make sure you direct it to the appropriate section IV ( LagosIV@state.gov) or NIV LagosNIV@state.gov and state your questions. within 2-3 business days you should get some kind of response from them.

[OlasKween 3]

So sorry to hear this.

Could you recount how his interview went as much as you can from what your fiance told you?

what did they ask?

what makes you say he had an 'unfair" inteview?

did they ask for documents or a question that raised red flags?

did they return his passport to him?

what kind of paper was he given at the end of the interview?

etc

Maybe with any of these answered , someone may be able to offer some opinion.

Stay strong

Meanwhile about conatcing lagos, it is very difficult or nayone to pick up that phone and when they do it is usuaaly one of the lower level workers hwo has no clue what is going on that answers...and they annoy you more by saying something like " can you do what they ask you to do" or "why dont you email them" and I keep wondering who is "them" this is your office!!!!

so dear, email the consulate with your case number in the subjetc line. make sure you direct it to the appropriate section IV ( LagosIV@state.gov) or NIV LagosNIV@state.gov and state your questions. within 2-3 business days you should get some kind of response from them.

[OlasKween 3]

He had an unfair interveiw because the CO didn't look at any evidence we had, and wouldn't even allow Ola to answer the few questions he asked of him. Ola was questioned about my ex-husband's ethnicity (which happens to be Native American) and which tribe he was a member of. Then he asked my fiance who was to perform the wedding. Ola handed him a document signed by the bishop who was to perform our wedding, and the CO attempted to find the bishop online, and was unable to. He then excused himself and returned with a denial letter stating "for immigration purposes only". We have evidence that wasnt looked at.

We are currently trying to get the case reopened or reconsidered, but in the meantime, our approval date with the USCIS has passed! sooo, we are trying to get the USCIS to extend its approval date so we can work this out. they are being less than co operative. I have had senators, congressmen, and the ombudsman contact USCIS, and the Lagos embassy. I feel like i am kicking against a stone wall. i dont know where to turn next.

I have contacted USCIS by email, by phone several times, and have even made an appointment with the local USCIS office in Boise to speak to them about extending this approval date. I was told there is nothing that can be done, and that we should refile. I fail to see the sense in refiling. We have done everything required of us, and were still denied. If it is believed, by the consulate, that we only want to be married "for immigration purposes only" ,and we refile our petition, will it not still be the same belief next year when our interview is conducted again?

We have been in a relationship for almost 2 years, and engaged for over a year. We have ample proof of this. We have all the proof necessary to establish that we have a real, bona fide, loving, caring, engagement. We have plans together, dreams for the future. We have done everything expected of us and more. We hired a lawyer, we paid all fees, Ola has a clean health record, a spotless police report, we have evidence of our relationship including 2 years worth of DAILY contact thru email, telephone calls, yahoo, and postal exchanges; we also have the building reservation (for the wedding) signed by the woman in charge of it, a letter from the bishop (who has agreed to perform the wedding), invitationsletters from both of our mothers, pictures. There is no reason we should have been denied. We had our wedding planned for the 9th of December, and have had to cancel the building reservation, and notify everyone involved.

I am outraged that we have been treated so poorly. He is a great man, and he did not deserve to be ignored, humiliated, and treated as a criminal. Furthermore, he is college educated, holds to strong morals and ethics, is a devoted Christian, has a clean health record, and a clean police record. We are both good, solid, law abiding people.

[OlasKween 3]

I did write to the consulate in Lagos, several times, and I got the same reply, "there is nothing we can do about it" basically is their reply.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Sometimes Lagos is just thick headed. My now husband and I were denied the first time. We had known each other for years , we both have engineerng degrees. We had daily calls. They still denied it the first time. They approved it the second time. Your first petition has most likely expired ( the lazy mans denial )

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hello,

I am new to this site, but I am so glad to find a group of people who understand what my fiance and I are going through!! I have felt so alone during this whole process. My fiance Ola had his interveiw on November 21st, and our K-1 was denied. We are devastated. He was not given a fair interview, and though we have lots of evidence and proof, it was not even asked for, looked at or mentioned. I have tried to contact the Lagos embassy repeatedly, and I can not get anyone to answer the phone. (has anyone else had this problem?) I contacted my senators, and congressman, and though they are willing to help, they are telling me there is not much they can do. Is there someone more influential we could call on? I am at a loss. I dont know where to turn next. We used a lawyer to file our case, but we cant afford to pay for another lawyers service. Does anyone have any ideas? I am just sick about the whole thing.

Well hate to say it but what I have seen in the last year is Finace'/K1's are getting denied like crazy in Lagos and people are being told to tell American citizen to come to Nigeria and just get married. You have to think like they do. Nigerian is the visa fraud capital of the world. They feel we give you a 90 day K1 Visa and what if you don't marry he is on american soil and can disappear. So they feel married folk have a better chance.

Its also about your red flags. How often have you seen each other and for how long did you see each other. It's not as much about how you meet (Most of us have meet online) but how much time spent in -person not online or phone.

So your next move is getting marrried and submitting the Spousal Visa CR1. Hope that helps.

[ndu26 114]

Well hate to say it but what I have seen in the last year is Finace'/K1's are getting denied like crazy in Lagos and people are being told to tell American citizen to come to Nigeria and just get married. You have to think like they do. Nigerian is the visa fraud capital of the world. They feel we give you a 90 day K1 Visa and what if you don't marry he is on american soil and can disappear. So they feel married folk have a better chance.

Its also about your red flags. How often have you seen each other and for how long did you see each other. It's not as much about how you meet (Most of us have meet online) but how much time spent in -person not online or phone.

So your next move is getting marrried and submitting the Spousal Visa CR1. Hope that helps.

I agree. if you have to refile , I think you should go to Nigeria and get married in a court ceremony and then file as CR-1. while the petition is pending , try and see if you can go for at least one more visit before he is called for interview

Stay strong

Edited January 5, 2012 by ndu26

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Getting married doesn't mean getting a visa at Lagos. Many married couples are also denied at interview and I know a few denied K1's that got married and got denied for their CR1's. You now have to overcome whatever they have written in your file. The trick is figuring that out.

[X Factor 1,112]

Wow that is so sad for you. So are you going to refile? Please keep us updated at to your actions.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Getting married doesn't mean getting a visa at Lagos. Many married couples are also denied at interview and I know a few denied K1's that got married and got denied for their CR1's. You now have to overcome whatever they have written in your file. The trick is figuring that out.

Amen to that so true. You must find out what was the issue. What if anything did the CO tell your fiance". And honestly many who refile get approve because they figure if its a scam or for immigration purpose the scammer (be it the petitioner or beneficiary) will move on to the next fool. It seems they give you a approval for stickin in there ya know.

But try as you might investigate to find out what was the issue. usually the CO always writes something. "get married", "Not enough pics with family", too many kids USC has, Doesn't make enough< fiance'/husband couldn't remember key dates and people. Something so do investigate.

Its frustrating, devastating and not fair. But now you have to get on defense and think like them and get everything in your arsenal you need to get an approval.