To everyone denied: What would you have done differently?

[duraaraa 203]

Well, I don't mean to bring any negative memories back to those who were denied at the interview level, but I would like to ask your advice.

It is my biggest fear that, for whatever reason, my fiancee is denied at the interview. I'm sure I share that fear with many people. If my fiancee is denied, it means I'll need to quit my job in the U.S. and move back to Mongolia, because, among other reasons, I am unable to sit here and wait while her kids, who I love very much, grow up without me around.

What I would like to do with this thread is compound, as much as possible, reasons people think they might have been denied. What would they have done differently at the interview, what they think the reason they were denied was, etc. Hopefully, people can learn from it and avoid denials.

Thanks for anything you can teach me.

EDIT: I should mention before people correct me on the semantics, I mean by denied, not issued a visa at the K-1 interview.

Edited April 12, 2013 by duraaraa

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I would have been physically there in support of my fiance and insisted to speak to the interviewing CO and/or chief consul.

[stevie b 141]

Well, I don't mean to bring any negative memories back to those who were denied at the interview level, but I would like to ask your advice.

It is my biggest fear that, for whatever reason, my fiancee is denied at the interview. I'm sure I share that fear with many people. If my fiancee is denied, it means I'll need to quit my job in the U.S. and move back to Mongolia, because, among other reasons, I am unable to sit here and wait while her kids, who I love very much, grow up without me around.

What I would like to do with this thread is compound, as much as possible, reasons people think they might have been denied. What would they have done differently at the interview, what they think the reason they were denied was, etc. Hopefully, people can learn from it and avoid denials.

Thanks for anything you can teach me.

EDIT: I should mention before people correct me on the semantics, I mean by denied, not issued a visa at the K-1 interview.

i totally understand where you are coming from and being that i am on a different path (cr1) feel free to dismiss my comments, but.....

the main thing you will need to be on the look out for is the fraudulent marriage piece.. and no i am not saying that is you. the way to combat this is by ensuring you are OVERLY documented and your fiancee is able to answer each and every question accurately that they mite ask. read up on all the consular reviews to get an idea of the stupid questions they mite ask in this interview and from what i have seen they are crazy stupid sometimes. you will get much more information going through the consular reviews on vj than anywhere else on the web.

last problem is the individual doing the interview. each consulate is different as is the individual conducting the interview. a great portion of the success depends on what side of the bed your interviewing officer woke up on.

last suggestion would be to sort through the vj site for the country specific she will be interviewed at and try to find anyone who has been denied and see about contacting them directly.. even if it was from year or years ago.

wish you the very best of luck

Edited April 12, 2013 by stevie b

[UK-USA-K1 128]

I'm hoping never to have a personal story to tell, but I've read many on here in the short time I've been around, and many seem to be denied for 2 reasons, one is they, for whatever reason, can't convince the interviewer that the relationship is real. The other reason I've seen a few times, but it seems very specific to certain regions, is when some people have elaborate engagement parties, they are presumed to be weddings and are denied for being married.

In a lot of these cases, the people just change course, get married and file for the spousal visa. I would guess that it really depends on the reason for the denial. If there was something in the background check that caused the denial, I don't know what could be done then. If it's just not enough proof of a true relationship, then moving to spousal seems the logical step.

I know my relationship is real, and I know that the UK isn't a high fraud country, so I don't believe we'll be denied, but if we are, the spousal visa would be my personal next step. Each case is different though.

[TBoneTX 45,957]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion -- topic can apply to many visa types. ***

(Organizer hat off)

When there's any doubt, the petitioner should be on the consular premises during the beneficiary's interview. When the beneficiary hands the petitioner's U.S. passport to the consul, it can give a borderline case a fighting chance and turn a good case into a slam-dunk. It can even result in the petitioner's being invited in to the interview itself. The petitioner's presence on the premises NEVER hurts and ALWAYS helps, if only for emotional support to the beneficiary.

That's the general advice. Specific to your case, good dude... you seem to have plenty of objective evidence of a bona fide relationship. Have you contacted the embassy to ask them specifically if your presence is mandatory or a crucial part of the decision? An answer might rest your mind. In your e-mail, stress that you want your question to be answered by the Section Chief of the Immigrant Visa unit.

Let us know the response, si man.

[FrenchieKaty 0]

Do you think that it is important to bring your fiance at the interview? I don't even know if we can do that because the visa is just for one of us but I was just wondering. It's not something that seem easy to do and I think we have a lot of evidence already but I'd like to know from other petitioner's experiences.

[rodceasar 34]

For K-1, I would probably have gotten married after denial, as typically told to do by consulars. For our spouse visa, I made sure I was present at the interview to avoid even the potential for a denial, regardless of whether they say that the petitoner cannot come. I did just that and obtained entry into the embassy for the interview and was also interviewed which gave the success we wanted.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Do you think that it is important to bring your fiance at the interview? I don't even know if we can do that because the visa is just for one of us but I was just wondering. It's not something that seem easy to do and I think we have a lot of evidence already but I'd like to know from other petitioner's experiences.

Depends on your country and the specifics of your case. I went to the interview with my husband and I think it helped in some respects. The embassy had 0 evidence of ours (no photos, leases, joint accounts) and approved us. For some embassies the petitioner almost has to attend, for others it doesn't seem to matter.

[sara..... 371]

First thing i would do different is not hire an attorney as he did not deal with anything that we had felt could be a red flag......i would have front loaded the petition.....and i would have attended the interview or at least been there so that they would know i was supportive and able to answer any questions they may have had......

sara