Deal Breakers

[mfa 1]

What are typical occurrences that result in spousal visas not being approved?

That is, if a citizen gets married, moves overseas, remains there for correct length of time, has co-sponsor with sufficient income...barring medical/legal troubles...what could go wrong?

What should be watched for?

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Not being able to legally marry

No bonafide relationship

Beneficiary convictions (guns and drugs and gangs mostly)

Petitioner convictions (sex mostly)

Good luck

[jaycali 415]

What are typical occurrences that result in spousal visas not being approved?That is, if a citizen gets married, moves overseas, remains there for correct length of time, has co-sponsor with sufficient income...barring medical/legal troubles...what could go wrong?What should be watched for?

Aside from medical/income/legal/immigration troubles..

Not being able to convince the CO that a legitimate, bonafide marriage exists.

What should be watched for? Well, you can't really change any red flags that might be present, but red flags should be a warning that the CO might want a larger amount of evidence to believe the marriage is in fact bonafide.

Common red flags:

1. The beneficiary is from a "high fraud" country (typically countries with significantly lower average standards of living compared to the US)

2. Large age gaps. (Especially of the USC woman is older, and especially if the woman is not of childbearing age)

3. Significant cultural differences which would typically be considered "unacceptable" in the beneficiary's country.

4. Lack of a common language.

5. Very limited in-person meetings.

6. Frequent money transfers from the beneficiary to the USC, but not the other way around.

7. Limited knowledge of the spouse's life. (work, family, friends, living situation etc.)

8. Recent, denied asylum applications (either to the US or other countries).

If any of these apply to you, it's not necessarily a denial, but be prepared to be questioned a little more.

Edited June 11, 2012 by jaejayC