filing a petition

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

If you are planning several visits why marry on the first. It greatly increases your chances of denial. You can go, meet him and the family, get some photos, exchange some gifts, have uniforms made. Come back and then marry on a second visit. It is the first visit marriage that is one of the big red flags for Lagos.

[TJ 4EVER 40]

I generally do not post often here because of the amount of attacks one receives for giving their opinion but I figured I'd stick my neck out for you just to share MY experience which then influences my opinion. My husband and I were married during my first visit. I returned home, front loaded my I-130 and sent in the petition. I visited him three more times after submitting my petition, sent more evidence during the NVC stage of my visits after our wedding and guess what? My husband has been home with me for the past seven months. My opinion is if you are intending on visiting him after your initial visit while the petition is being processed you should be fine. My advice is to front load you petition and send whatever evidence you have at the NVC stage and it should go a long way. I pray you have a blessed and wonderful wedding, God bless you in your future endeavors.

[jenkatx 52]

No, the response answered your question. She is saying NO, don't meet & marry. Go visit several times before you marry.

[Ryan H 3,818]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Africa: Sub-Saharan regional forum; topic is specific to Nigeria.

[mrsnija 1]

I would like to suggest which we didnt know at first but try and use rebtel as your international calling, you can actually print out your phones calls from them. Its great to have for the interview when you get to that phase. God Bless you on your journey

Brenda

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Marrying on the first trip is not advisable for the mere fact that Lagos routinely makes up their mind to approve or deny before seeing the beneficiary at the interview based on the evidence provided with the petition and application.

So, even if you visit several more times while the petition is pending, ask yourself how much more evidence you can submit before the interview.

I have read numerous times that the CO did not even look at all the evidence (chats, visits, etc.) submitted at the interview and even with multiple

visits denied the visa in the first 5 minutes.

I also know that a few ( one personally ) made it through with one visit, marrying on the first and then filing without any further visits but that is a gamble and a risk you take and the consequences could be long AP or a refusal.

Having a formal introduction and engagement on the first trip with family trumps marrying on the first trip in my opinion.

You will need itemized phone records showing the name/date/length of each phone call. There are other calling cards out there.

In addition to Rebtel, there is Rynga ( also showing his itemized calls to your phone number ) Pingo.com, Tel3Advantage, Noble.com etc.etc.

I wish you the best and a successful visa journey whatever you may decide.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Thanks for your comment, but unfortunately the above response is way off from the question.

If you had read my comment in the content it was intended. The person asked

"Can you please tell me how you know this? Who have you heard this from?"

But she answered the question very well.

[Nigerian Queen 16]

I generally do not post often here because of the amount of attacks one receives for giving their opinion but I figured I'd stick my neck out for you just to share MY experience which then influences my opinion. My husband and I were married during my first visit. I returned home, front loaded my I-130 and sent in the petition. I visited him three more times after submitting my petition, sent more evidence during the NVC stage of my visits after our wedding and guess what? My husband has been home with me for the past seven months. My opinion is if you are intending on visiting him after your initial visit while the petition is being processed you should be fine. My advice is to front load you petition and send whatever evidence you have at the NVC stage and it should go a long way. I pray you have a blessed and wonderful wedding, God bless you in your future endeavors.

Thanks sis. That's wat I wanted to hear. I want to get input from someone who had actually gone through the process already thank you.

[Nigerian Queen 16]

I would like to suggest which we didnt know at first but try and use rebtel as your international calling, you can actually print out your phones calls from them. Its great to have for the interview when you get to that phase. God Bless you on your journey

Brenda

Thank you. How do you go about setting up an account?

[Aya820 33]

Hi all. I'm going to naigi to Wed my Nigerian fiance. I would like to know how soon could one file a petition after marriage without getting a possible red flag. Bcz I will be meeting him for the first time as well as marrying him.I was thinking to file the petition after my second visit. So Wadda you guys think about that? Or what do you think us best?

There are no set rules for Lagos. What worked for one couple, may not for another. Some have made several trips before marriage/filing and were denied, while others married on the first trip and filed right away and got approved. You have to do what you feel is best for you and your fiance`. As I can only speak for us and our experience as my husband and I married on the first trip (7/2008), and unfortunately I haven't been back since due to finances. In the same instance, it also took me almost 2 years to finally start the process (again due to finances). There were plenty of red flags (age difference for one, not returning to Nigeria came up briefly). I can only contribute our Visa approval the first time out to God. I did front load the I-130 with EVERYTHING we had.

God bless on your journey!

[forchika 4]

How long have you been talking with him online/on the phone before going there? How long do you plan on staying when you go to visit? Are there any other things that they would consider "red flags"? Going to meet him for the first time and marrying him during the same visit is not the only thing they will look at. It is just a small part of the big picture. There will be at least a year to wait during the petitioning process before the interview, so you could plan another visit in that time period. And then evidence of that can be presented at the time of the interview. Best of luck and have a great trip to Nigeria!

Good advice ibogal

[Nigerian Queen 16]

There are no set rules for Lagos. What worked for one couple, may not for another. Some have made several trips before marriage/filing and were denied, while others married on the first trip and filed right away and got approved. You have to do what you feel is best for you and your fiance`. As I can only speak for us and our experience as my husband and I married on the first trip (7/2008), and unfortunately I haven't been back since due to finances. In the same instance, it also took me almost 2 years to finally start the process (again due to finances). There were plenty of red flags (age difference for one, not returning to Nigeria came up briefly). I can only contribute our Visa approval the first time out to God. I did front load the I-130 with EVERYTHING we had.

God bless on your journey!

Edited July 22, 2012 by Nigerian Queen

[Nigerian Queen 16]

Thank you so much for your blessing. They are well appreciated.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Thanks sis. That's wat I wanted to hear. I want to get input from someone who had actually gone through the process already thank you.

We share similar research traits.

Good luck on your VisaJourney.

[Olomi_811 130]

I'm a little late in reading this, but here goes. I met my husband online chatted for a very short time. Went to Nigeria and we got married on my first trip (we didn't know anything about VJ, the embassy, blah blah...we did what was in our hearts to do.) I spent 16 days during that trip. I filed my petition less than 2 weeks after I got back,and I only put what the instructions requested (some pics, copy of marriage license, the initial filing paperwork, passport copy, passport pics, and I got 2 affidavits *his father and his cousin*). I found VJ about 6 days into filing. I promised my husband before I left that I would be back so I returned for exactly 1 week during Christmas (I spent 23 days total). At NVC stage, I sent additional evidences. Hubby got approved and has been here a little over 2 months.

Nay sayers are good. Prove them wrong.

Edited July 31, 2012 by Olomi_811