Denied visitor visa - considering K-1 (Nigeria)

[raven52 233]

Pictures, pictures, pictures, dated, who is in them and where! Make at least two visits, keep boarding passes, not tickets, hotel receipts, food receipts, gifts bought, letters of intent to marry, hand written and signed, AND anything else you pay for visiting him...,and I would plan on 2 visits at least, and maybe one duringg the K-1 visa process, for the interview.

You cannot have too much proof, but 300 pages of chatting IS NOT proof! But, it is a good piece of the process.

[HawaiianCecil 31]

I wanted to inquire about a K-1 visa process. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married but have yet to meet - how can you consider marrying someone you haven't even met? From the highest fraud country in the world? Wow, good luck with that one!

[livindadream 156]

I went through the K-1 Process around 8 years ago. I don't know how much, if any, has changed since then. I had gone to Nigeria about 7 months after meeting and chatting with the guy. I was supposed to stay 5 weeks, but changed my ticket to return back after staying only 3 because it was veryyy difficult being there. I stayed the majority of the time at the man's family's house with his parents and siblings. One day the whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) showed up in clothes like they were going to a wedding. There was no wedding, but we took pictures like there was.. Returned home, filed the petition...it got approved without me ever having gone back for another visit. I was 7 years older than him, which I believe was the only "red flag" that could've come up, but was never even mentioned. He breezed through the interview, (I still never had gone back for another visit), got his visa, came to the States, we married and then he disappeared. Soooo..........that being said, YES, it is a requirement that you only meet ONE time within two years of filing the petition, and it obviously can be done and approved after only meeting once......and NO the Visitor Visa won't affect the K-1 application.....however, my best advice is to visit more often and stay longer periods of time and keep your eyes open to everything. I was there, in culture shock, blinded by love and was more worried about overcoming the embassy's red flags instead of seeing the red flags flying all around me. So please reconsider your statement of " to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way"......You should go to Nigeria to get to know the person very well before having him come to the States and marry you. Make sure you don't have your own red flags instead of just trying to overcome the ones for a visa.

Edited January 16, 2014 by AYOsGirl

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Good Evening All:

I wanted to inquire about a K-1 visa process. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married but have yet to meet. I had been unemployed and have been the primary caregiver for my mother (who has dementia-like complications) from 2012-2013, and had just started working at the end of 2013, so we tried to bring him in on a visitor visa just ti satisfy the requirement but he was denied. So now I am trying to work on getting things rearranged in order to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way. I may try to stay for a week but no more than 2 due to my mom's separation and health issues, I am not sure how long of a meeting they are requiring but with all that being said:

1. Will meeting once and spending nearly two weeks together (be favorably looked upon) in the K-1 process?

2. Will his denied visa visitor visa have any bearing or weight on our K-1 approval?

Planning to get married and not having even met is probably jumping the shark just a little, especially when dealing with such a high fraud country as Nigeria.

[tehans 52]

Planning to get married and not having even met is probably jumping the shark just a little, especially when dealing with such a high fraud country as Nigeria.

Exactly what I was thinking. Nigeria has a reputation for visa fraud. Keep that in mind

[BethAnn and Omar 42]

Yeah I think you are jumping the gun a little bit by talking about marrying someone you have never met in person. How do you know you are really compatible with one another if you've never spent face to face time with one another? I waited 9 1/2 months before I married my husband- and I visited him 8 times for two weeks at a time before we got married. I understand that may not be possible in your case, but please take it slow and make sure you really know the person before you jump into engagement or marriage. I hope you are not offended by my advice because I really want to make sure you don't get hurt. I know several people who went through the process, not from Nigeria, but from Jamaica, that were essentially used for a visa and greencard. So please be careful and like others have said take it SLOW.

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

I wanted to inquire about a K-1 visa process. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married but have yet to meet - how can you consider marrying someone you haven't even met? From the highest fraud country in the world? Wow, good luck with that one!

Excellent point.

[Jawaree 718]

I went through the K-1 Process around 8 years ago. I don't know how much, if any, has changed since then. I had gone to Nigeria about 7 months after meeting and chatting with the guy. I was supposed to stay 5 weeks, but changed my ticket to return back after staying only 3 because it was veryyy difficult being there. I stayed the majority of the time at the man's family's house with his parents and siblings. One day the whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) showed up in clothes like they were going to a wedding. There was no wedding, but we took pictures like there was.. Returned home, filed the petition...it got approved without me ever having gone back for another visit. I was 7 years older than him, which I believe was the only "red flag" that could've come up, but was never even mentioned. He breezed through the interview, (I still never had gone back for another visit), got his visa, came to the States, we married and then he disappeared. Soooo..........that being said, YES, it is a requirement that you only meet ONE time within two years of filing the petition, and it obviously can be done and approved after only meeting once......and NO the Visitor Visa won't affect the K-1 application.....however, my best advice is to visit more often and stay longer periods of time and keep your eyes open to everything. I was there, in culture shock, blinded by love and was more worried about overcoming the embassy's red flags instead of seeing the red flags flying all around me. So please reconsider your statement of " to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way"......You should go to Nigeria to get to know the person very well before having him come to the States and marry you. Make sure you don't have your own red flags instead of just trying to overcome the ones for a visa.

oops there it is

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Good Evening All:

I wanted to inquire about a K-1 visa process. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married but have yet to meet. I had been unemployed and have been the primary caregiver for my mother (who has dementia-like complications) from 2012-2013, and had just started working at the end of 2013, so we tried to bring him in on a visitor visa just ti satisfy the requirement but he was denied. So now I am trying to work on getting things rearranged in order to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way. I may try to stay for a week but no more than 2 due to my mom's separation and health issues, I am not sure how long of a meeting they are requiring but with all that being said:

1. Will meeting once and spending nearly two weeks together (be favorably looked upon) in the K-1 process?

2. Will his denied visa visitor visa have any bearing or weight on our K-1 approval?

Out of the way? Really? I think it is very important to meet in person! How can you truly and honestly say you want to marry someone you have never met in person?

As you may already know, Nigeria is a high-fraud country and because of this the requirements are much more strict. I am not sure a 1 to 2 week visiting/meeting would suffice in that particular consulate. I would suggest you read the experiences at the consulates of other people who have gone through the process in Nigeria. I would also suspect that having been denied a tourist visa would be looked upon negatively... Again, read as much as you can about your particular country and ask Nigerian members questions about the process. They would be better able to help you out. Best wishes!

[Aztec&Taino 144]

I went through the K-1 Process around 8 years ago. I don't know how much, if any, has changed since then. I had gone to Nigeria about 7 months after meeting and chatting with the guy. I was supposed to stay 5 weeks, but changed my ticket to return back after staying only 3 because it was veryyy difficult being there. I stayed the majority of the time at the man's family's house with his parents and siblings. One day the whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) showed up in clothes like they were going to a wedding. There was no wedding, but we took pictures like there was.. Returned home, filed the petition...it got approved without me ever having gone back for another visit. I was 7 years older than him, which I believe was the only "red flag" that could've come up, but was never even mentioned. He breezed through the interview, (I still never had gone back for another visit), got his visa, came to the States, we married and then he disappeared. Soooo..........that being said, YES, it is a requirement that you only meet ONE time within two years of filing the petition, and it obviously can be done and approved after only meeting once......and NO the Visitor Visa won't affect the K-1 application.....however, my best advice is to visit more often and stay longer periods of time and keep your eyes open to everything. I was there, in culture shock, blinded by love and was more worried about overcoming the embassy's red flags instead of seeing the red flags flying all around me. So please reconsider your statement of " to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way"......You should go to Nigeria to get to know the person very well before having him come to the States and marry you. Make sure you don't have your own red flags instead of just trying to overcome the ones for a visa.

Excellent points raised here... Everyone should be careful as to who they choose to petition... Thanks for sharing your experience!

[nigerwife 17]

Face time for those of us going through the Lagos Consulate is really important. Face time in Nigeria is even better!

This is just my personal opinion and advice, based upon my own person experiences.....

A cross cultural marriage is no joke--it's hard. Nigerians do not think or react like Americans. Living/visiting in Nigeria will allow you to understand his culture and family in a more intimate way. Your experiences in Nigeria as a minority will be eye-opening and give you a better perspective on how he might feel living as a minority for the first time in his life. These are a few of the key reasons I recommend you going to stay in Nigeria for a short time--but there are many more.

I would also second any advise previously given that you should very carefully consider who you are marrying and be confident that you truly know them as a person before petitioning for them. I know it's hard to think clearly when you are caught up in the rush of love--believe me, we've all been there! But the K-1 is not meant to "figure out" if you want to marry someone or to use as a holiday to get to know someone; it is for those already in a commited relationship.

I wish you all the best on your journey!

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

Good Evening All:

I wanted to inquire about a K-1 visa process. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married but have yet to meet. I had been unemployed and have been the primary caregiver for my mother (who has dementia-like complications) from 2012-2013, and had just started working at the end of 2013, so we tried to bring him in on a visitor visa just ti satisfy the requirement but he was denied. So now I am trying to work on getting things rearranged in order to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way. I may try to stay for a week but no more than 2 due to my mom's separation and health issues, I am not sure how long of a meeting they are requiring but with all that being said:

1. Will meeting once and spending nearly two weeks together (be favorably looked upon) in the K-1 process?

2. Will his denied visa visitor visa have any bearing or weight on our K-1 approval?

1) Others have been approved even with only one week and one meeting, sometimes this process is the luck of the draw. Now that been said are you sure that you're ready to petition for someone that you'll have had only one visit of two weeks with?

I don't know your boyfriend, he may be your anointed soul mate but please understand that many before you have rushed headlong into the immigration process before the get their relationship house in order.

I know you didn't ask a question on relationship but I have to mention it as I have a skin in the game so to speak. When these things go south, USC are quick to blame Nigerian males which includes me.

Until you've been in Nigeria many times, lived there for weeks at a time you cannot begin to grasp the quality of life that exists in which some people will go to extremes to escape. Mind you, not all Nigerians, I was in traffic one day in Lagos next to a Veyron, I've never even seen one in the US, so not all Nigerians need to escape at all cost but many really do.

I'm not saying to not go forward with your plans but it seems that you're moving very fast. perhaps you are just still doing research and you have a better game plan but we can only go on what you wrote. Many female USC have gone down this path and many can only show empty bank accounts, emotional turmoil, etc to show for it.

Please be careful, go to Nigeria to get to know your boyfriend, his family, do a one on one with him without family for days to see how compatible you are. Then go back in a few months to verify that what you saw on your initial visit. Then decide to file if everything is on the up and up but even this is no guarantee.

2) The denial is actually a good thing and could be useful in the future as proof that he was not allowed to visit the US and that he made an attempt.

The pitfall with this is that the information on all documents presented during that petition process for the tourist visa must match what you will now present during your K1 process. A person that I believed to be the Chief of the IV unit in Lagos posted that the assume that majority of all documents presented to them is bogus. So you don;t want to be put in a position where you have any inconsistency.

I actually think that they should cancel the K1 visa completely or make in non available in non VWP countries at least.

Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

PS: Spend a few evenings reading through the effects section as well as the Nigerian portal. Grab a drink, fire up the laptop and read up.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

there is no rule that says you need to visit anymore than one time. I get what Janice&Micah is saying but i also know how much of a drag it is to delay an already long process. I would start the process right away... sure it would help but you meet the requirements with a single visit (i hope you have some good pics at least)! during the process, you could plan your additional trips which will strengthen your case for your interview date.

You can't "start the process right away." You must meet in person before you start any process whatsoever. And yes, as the previous poster said Nigeria is a high fraud country so meeting just once for a week or two might not be enough. Note I said "might not be." It could be that one visit would do it...depends on the American Consul that does the interview on that fateful day in the embassy. Is he/she in a good mood or had a rough night? Does the CO believe you?

If I were you this is what "I WOULD DO." I would go to Nigeria and visit him for a while. Make sure that this love is real. (That's what I did. It only took a few minutes to know that my finace at the time really loved me just by looking into her eyes. I proposed 3 days later and we were wed 4 days later in a beautiful ceremony.) If you believe the love is real then I would get married in Nigeria, come back to US and proceed with the CR-1 route. (I know there will be many that might argue this but in my humble opinion getting married shows perhaps a more serious committment on the part of both parties involved.) Then I would go to Nigeria at least one more time maybe two more times, take tons of pictures, don't forget the wedding photos from the first trip, save all airline receipts, boarding passes, hotel receipts, family photos, etc... If at all possible I would be in Nigeria when your spouse goes for the interview. Not sure if Nigeria lets spouses into the embassy interview but I WOULD BE THERE IRREGARDLESS. Even if not allowed into the embassy for the interview process I would provide my spouse with my passport so he could take it into the interview. Make sure your spouse shows the consular staff your passport and that he tells them that you are there, outside the embassy waiting. I have heard of some countries where this has happened and the embassy has the beneficiary go outside to get their spouse and then allows them to come in to be interviewed also.

Now remember, many people are going to argue some of these points. I am just telling you what worked for us and these are merely suggestions. This is what I would do if I were in your situation.

I wish you both the best of luck but most importantly, GOD BLESS

David

[Darnell 8,479]

Good Evening All:

I wanted to inquire about a K-1 visa process. My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting married but have yet to meet. I had been unemployed and have been the primary caregiver for my mother (who has dementia-like complications) from 2012-2013, and had just started working at the end of 2013, so we tried to bring him in on a visitor visa just ti satisfy the requirement but he was denied. So now I am trying to work on getting things rearranged in order to go to Nigeria just to get the meeting requirements of meeting out of the way. I may try to stay for a week but no more than 2 due to my mom's separation and health issues, I am not sure how long of a meeting they are requiring but with all that being said:

1. Will meeting once and spending nearly two weeks together (be favorably looked upon) in the K-1 process?

2. Will his denied visa visitor visa have any bearing or weight on our K-1 approval?

I say he keeps trying for his tourist visa, until he gets it.

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

May I ask whats both of U age range, you have to meet with the last 2 yrs, show

on-going relationship, pictures of both of also friends, have met the family, and

verify there's no other wives, this is a high fraud country where men seek out lonely

vulnerable women online...In saying that there are also many upstanding men from

the country that should not be painted with the same brush.

Red flags....If only one visit

You are unemployed, how will you petition him, and visit him at least 3 times. the

airfares aren't cheap.

Will you have a co-sponsor above the poverty line to do I 864 (agree & sign)

Do you know you will have to marry him in 90 days & financially responsible

for any relief he takes from the gov. for 10 yrs even if he leaves you, unless he

naturalizes after 3 yrs.

Very expensive for someone unemployed.

It's incredibly expensive absolutely for someone that wants to make sure that they're ina committed relationship. One visit = cheap, 3 to 4 visits = pricey.

With Nigeria proof of meeting his family and going to his village helps a lot. A lot of scammers think nothing of parading a mark about Lagos, but fewer will take them home to parents. ( Unless the while family is in on the game ) Meeting family and friends with photo documentation is important. At least 30 days in Nigeria is advisable if you can't actually live there. .

I'm trying to put together a chart to see how many K1 versus CR1 fails.

I want to validate my opinion that CR1 folks have a higher chance of success relationship wise than K1s. I think it's harder to fake through a marriage (definetly possible) in Nigeria if it wasn't a fly by night wedding but a proper one in church with at least 100 guests, reception, etc