Age Conflict?????

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yup VJ is just a micro-sampling of what actually goes through the embassy, but it is a true sampling, not opinion or obscure information, and there are quite a few that are under 23 years of age.

I don't live my life under a cabbage leaf I know there are scammers out there, that is why the Phils is listed as a high fraud country with the embassy, but I would still like to see some hard data that 90% of those that are linked with scammers and fraud are under the age of 23. I don't care about your opinion... opinions and butts... everyone has one... and most don't want to know about the other guys.

No one here denies their are scammers and fraud, but will the OP have any problems with the embassy because of the age of his fiancee and his age....? NO! You didn't offer the OP anything beyound your opinion when you advised him that the embassy would look at his relationship more closely then others. Just adding fear to an already difficult process for many.

The embassy does not look any harder at someone that is under the age of 23 then they do at someone that is over the age of 23... they are looking for the frauds and scammers, no matter the age. All need to prove a genuine, real, ongoing relationship. Just because my wife is older than 23 did not mean the embassy did not view her under the same criteria as the women that was under 23.

Florida could keep the frost off the oranges with what you are blowing... As the old commerical sez - SHOW ME THE BEEF!

[GaryKO 49]

Actually the information on the 18-23 age group having the highest cases for visa fraud came for a embassy officer several years ago. I never said anyone would have a harder time during the visa interview if the relationship is legitimate, some get asked 3 questions, some get asked a lot. Some get approved, some do not, and some get caught in lies.

All I ever advised in this post was to prepare your evidence, get ready for anything that comes your way at the interview.

The embassy of course looks at the documented evidence , and how they answer questions, then they make a decision. More evidence of a real and on going relationship for K1 the better.

I'm aware of the forum trolls, I don't mind them, thanks for the PM's.

Oh Yeah....Roll Tide Baby.......

Edited November 4, 2012 by Mimi and Gary

[Hank_ 9,174]

So what you are passing on and dragging around like a dog with a bone is just hearsay? Like if I told you all trolls stand under 4' tall.... so you would pass that info on too as fact?

What you are now actually saying is the embassy checks everyone and everyone should have proof of a real and ongoing relationship? Ah! Something everyone is aware of

....

[Mogambi 96]

No offense, but Hank, you have NO more inside knowledge of what cases are under increased scrutiny, and why if any, at the US Embassy than anyone else. The fact is, you have ZERO way to know. None of us do. Because it varies with each CO, each case, etc.

You don't work there. You are not a CO. You have not interviewed, documented and done a scientific analysis of the different age groups and the questions and scrutiny they were under to draw that conclusion, right?

I'm not saying you're right or wrong. I personally cannot believe that a 19 year old girl marrying a 44 year old man wouldn't be at least under a BIT more scrutiny. I could very well be wrong.

So according to you, a 91 year old man, marrying an 18 year old girl, wouldn't set of ANY, not a SINGLE ONE, fraud flag at the embassy?

Because according to you, age doesn't figure into this at all?

[rlogan 2,036]

No offense, but Hank, you have NO more inside knowledge of what cases are under increased scrutiny, and why if any, at the US Embassy than anyone else. The fact is, you have ZERO way to know. None of us do. Because it varies with each CO, each case, etc.

You don't work there. You are not a CO. You have not interviewed, documented and done a scientific analysis of the different age groups and the questions and scrutiny they were under to draw that conclusion, right?

I'm not saying you're right or wrong. I personally cannot believe that a 19 year old girl marrying a 44 year old man wouldn't be at least under a BIT more scrutiny. I could very well be wrong.

So according to you, a 91 year old man, marrying an 18 year old girl, wouldn't set of ANY, not a SINGLE ONE, fraud flag at the embassy?

Because according to you, age doesn't figure into this at all?

It isn't "inside information". It is the public testimony by countless interviewees going through the process and reporting to us. For me, four years of innumerable threads on this subject here and data from countless marriages more than 20 years age difference, and fiances under 21. Nobody is reporting increased scrutiny. But because the majority of Fil-Am marriages are older Americanos with younger Filipinas the question is asked by new people joining the board.

You've reversed the burdern of proof here. We have a guy totally talking through his hat, and he is obviously wrong about the fraud assertion by mere minutes of inspecting public indictments for fraud. So now after being proven wrong with that data, he comes up with a story about talking to an Embassy Offical. Oh really? Then NAME the Embassy official Mimi and Gary. Prediction: you can't. You will have an excuse.

We cite our sources here instead of making them up. I cited public court indictments for visa fraud. Also the Effects of Major Changes fraud cases being discussed on this site. You can CHECK my sources. That is how you determine whether someone is telling the truth.

This is ridiculous because Mimi and Gary has admitted numerous times that any couple submitting sufficient evidence of a relationship passes the embassy interview.

I guess it is instructive that the person asking the question left the thread long ago and didn't listen to the trolling. It shows us that most people look at evidence - at facts and data - instead of baseless opinions.

[Hank_ 9,174]

No offense, but Hank, you have NO more inside knowledge of what cases are under increased scrutiny, and why if any, at the US Embassy than anyone else. The fact is, you have ZERO way to know. None of us do. Because it varies with each CO, each case, etc.

You don't work there. You are not a CO. You have not interviewed, documented and done a scientific analysis of the different age groups and the questions and scrutiny they were under to draw that conclusion, right?

I'm not saying you're right or wrong. I personally cannot believe that a 19 year old girl marrying a 44 year old man wouldn't be at least under a BIT more scrutiny. I could very well be wrong.

So according to you, a 91 year old man, marrying an 18 year old girl, wouldn't set of ANY, not a SINGLE ONE, fraud flag at the embassy?

Because according to you, age doesn't figure into this at all?

I just go by those that post here on VJ .... its not rocket science, even you can do a simple search on couples that went through the Manila embassy, or better yet just read posts on here as the travel their journey.... THAT's my source.... actual people that have - been there ~ done that. Not some hearsay from someone at the embassy 7 years ago.

Even though VJ is only a speck in the numbers that pass through the Manila embassy, it is still a fair and valid sampling and there are many who were under the age of 23 and they had ZERO issues. Now if USEM had "issue" with beneficiaries under the age of 23 and made it more difficult for them don't you think those in that catagory here on VJ would come back and post about all the TROUBLE they had at the embassy? But instead we get this post by them.......... "APPROVED!!!" and they are all smiles and excited. I will stand by my "data".

Now your personal opinion about age gap... we I already said what I will say about opinions and butts (cleaned up for a public forum ).

Edited November 4, 2012 by Hank_

[actob99 156]

You don't work there. You are not a CO. You have not interviewed, documented and done a scientific analysis of the different age groups and the questions and scrutiny they were under to draw that conclusion,

Testimonials and experience is what I base conclusions on. We had a 20 year age gap, she was under 21, I attended the interview and we never had any additional scrutiny with age. That would be a fact, not an opinion...

[GaryKO 49]

My experience with the visa process started in 1985 when I filed for a K1 visa, after my wife came here we joined a Filipino friendship group in Orlando FL, and a year or so later formed a group inside of that to assist those who wanted to apply for a visa for their parents and family members. We later started helping US citizens who were induced to friends and family members of Filipinos in the club start their visa process. This started on a local basis then spread to include other sections of the country by word of mouth. There was no internet as we know it today it all was done by mail and phone, we had some guides printed up on how to get forms, how to apply and step by step instructions on how to proceed with the visa process. Over then next few years we directly or indirectly were responsible for many visa applications. During that time you learn a lot about the do's and don't of the process. I admit that was a different time, visa's were harder to get approved than now. The visa process it very easy now compared to then, and the approval rate is much better also I think because of the NSO documents that are harder to forge. Manila back then was a high fraud embassy, because it was so easy to get fake documents, because of the fraud this caused the CO's to take more time at the interview with each person and that made the visa process wait time longer. I'm not claiming to be a expert, but I believe what I've learned about the process over the years to be a fact. This site proves if you follow the guides you will have better results.

VJ does a great job guiding and preparing people to enter and complete the visa process, if everyone used this site then I'm sure the overall approval rate with go higher. The big majority who don't use this site and the ones who are trying to get a visa with forged documents, and is into some kind of visa fraud are never heard from on this site if their visa is denied. About the only way we find out about fraud in the process when they catch someone after the fact "public court indictments", you don't really know how many they discovery during the process and at the embassy level.

I don't think anyone disagrees with the need to document the evidence to prove a strong and ongoing relationship with the intent to get married in the US and live a happy life together is necessary to get a K1 visa approval.

That is all I have to say about that

[Hank_ 9,174]

..... finally!

[rlogan 2,036]

You've explained why you have underestimated the combined experience of over 100,000 members communicating at the speed of light in the information age.

Thank you for not repeating your opinion yet again.

[southcalhog 43]

Like they say, Age is just a Number!!!

[melbi&clint 0]

Based on my experienced I didn't have any problems on my K1 journey back in 2010,Me and my Husband has a 23yrs age gap. I was 20 yrs. old when we started our K1. So goodluck to your friend!

[Hank_ 9,174]

One more... with ZERO issues. OP - as said, you should not have any issues, just gather evidences of your ongoing relationship and all will be good.

[GaryKO 49]

..... finally!

[SteveKarlaMayer 21]

Thank you guys. A very healthy discussion indeed.

God bless us all.