K1 visa returned

[Aya820 33]

Before more errors are made...Will she not have to make a trip there to legally marry at the Registry before filing CR-1? From my understanding there is no certificate when a traditional marriages are held, and she wasn't even present. Since Nigeria does not recognize proxy marriages they can't register the ceremony?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There are a couple of odd things going on . A traditional marriage is normally held in the bride home because it is the celebration of the bride leaving her birth home and going to her husbands. I am hoping that the grooms family funded this party or there are deeper and more troubling issues with the relationship than a proxy marriage. A traditional marriage to the petitioner will make then unable to get a K1 and not able to get a CR1 ( too married for a K1 but no documentation to start the petition for a CR1 ) IF they had someone stand in for her ( a proxy bride ) Then the man is too married to someone else to get any visa with the petitioner. I am feeling they may have proof of a stand in bride.

[TBoneTX 46,067]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Africa/Sub-Saharan regional subforum -- topic is no longer about K-1 process but about country-specific processes. ***

[Schynam 9]

This whole immigration shebang is either one big ol' scam or the USCIS is intentionally encouraging people to lie. So someone applied for K1-Visa, and you deny it on the technicality that he/she may be married which is even a stronger testimony to the relationship.

Why not simply tell the applicant to upgrade to a Marriage Visa for a small fee while the process continues. Instead they will deny knowing the applicant will eventually submit a marriage visa petition and make him pay new fees and make unnecessary travel arrangements.

To the thread opener, you are advised to buy a ticket and head to Nigeria. Get yourself a marriage certificate by taking your fiance/fiancee to the registry. It may be your quickest option to get your love over.

[aaron2020 11,651]

This whole immigration shebang is either one big ol' scam or the USCIS is intentionally encouraging people to lie. So someone applied for K1-Visa, and you deny it on the technicality that he/she may be married which is even a stronger testimony to the relationship.

Why not simply tell the applicant to upgrade to a Marriage Visa for a small fee while the process continues. Instead they will deny knowing the applicant will eventually submit a marriage visa petition and make him pay new fees and make unnecessary travel arrangements.

To the thread opener, you are advised to buy a ticket and head to Nigeria. Get yourself a marriage certificate by taking your fiance/fiancee to the registry. It may be your quickest option to get your love over.

People can't upgrade for a small fee because it rewards scammers.

Let's lie to get the K-1 even thoug we're married because it's quicker than a spousal visa. Oh no we are caught by US Embassy that we are not engaged but actually married. Don't punish us for violating rule. Just reward us with an upgrade for a small fee.

[Schynam 9]

People can't upgrade for a small fee because it rewards scammers.

Let's lie to get the K-1 even thoug we're married because it's quicker than a spousal visa. Oh no we are caught by US Embassy that we are not engaged but actually married. Don't punish us for violating rule. Just reward us with an upgrade for a small fee.

It depends how you define "marriage". So you think the thread opener would be married and then he/she will come to open a thread here about a denied K1?

Look at how people have explained what constitutes "married" above. So even a meeting between two families stating the intent of the two individuals should be misconstrued as "married" in your own village?

There are a couple of odd things going on . A traditional marriage is normally held in the bride home because it is the celebration of the bride leaving her birth home and going to her husbands. I am hoping that the grooms family funded this party or there are deeper and more troubling issues with the relationship than a proxy marriage. A traditional marriage to the petitioner will make then unable to get a K1 and not able to get a CR1 ( too married for a K1 but no documentation to start the petition for a CR1 ) IF they had someone stand in for her ( a proxy bride ) Then the man is too married to someone else to get any visa with the petitioner. I am feeling they may have proof of a stand in bride.

LOL. It's a mess the way you have smoked it out.

[aaron2020 11,651]

It depends how you define "marriage". So you think the thread opener would be married and then he/she will come to open a thread here about a denied K1?

Look at how people have explained what constitutes "married" above. So even a meeting between two families stating the intent of the two individuals should be misconstrued as "married" in your own village?

LOL. It's a mess the way you have smoked it out.

The burden of proof is on the couple to show they are free to marry.

How do they prove they are not married when their family and neighbors say they are married.

Recall that the "husband" was the one that disclosed he had a traditional wedding ceremony during his interview.

[Schynam 9]

The burden of proof is on the couple to show they are free to marry.

How do they prove they are not married when their family and neighbors say they are married.

Recall that the "husband" was the one that disclosed he had a traditional wedding ceremony during his interview.

It was the embassy that saw that as wedding. Between the two couples that matter, they know they still need to go to the registry or some will still be saving for a church wedding. What you called traditional wedding may have been an introduction ceremony.

Unfortunately, had the beneficiary lied that nothing like that happened, he probably would have a visa today. He did not see the need to lie, because within him, he is not married.

[Tinifrog 1]

It was more of a ritual for his family and the elders in the village to accept me and our decision to marry. I went to village in April 2013, met with his family and elders and we presented our intentions. In June 2013, after I went home, he, his family and village elders performed the ritual in my absence. There was no one would stood in my place. Prayers were said at his fathers grave site, a goat was slaughtered, wine and kola nuts were partaken.

I had already filed the petition before any of this took place. There was no intent to hide anything. We both think of ourselves as being married from the moment he proposed..but that doesn't make us legal married.

Either way..the law and immigration regulations state we are not married for immigration purposes and should still apply under K1 visa. The CO heard traditional rites and then didn't listen any further, to explanation.

[dwheels76 5,469]

This whole immigration shebang is either one big ol' scam or the USCIS is intentionally encouraging people to lie. So someone applied for K1-Visa, and you deny it on the technicality that he/she may be married which is even a stronger testimony to the relationship.

Why not simply tell the applicant to upgrade to a Marriage Visa for a small fee while the process continues. Instead they will deny knowing the applicant will eventually submit a marriage visa petition and make him pay new fees and make unnecessary travel arrangements.

To the thread opener, you are advised to buy a ticket and head to Nigeria. Get yourself a marriage certificate by taking your fiance/fiancee to the registry. It may be your quickest option to get your love over.

The reason why is this and many have done it and this is why immigration stops it. You see K1's getting processed fast fast. I know of 4 personally its been under 30 days. They are already at embassy under 3 months with interview scheduled.

So your theory oh lets get married why wait like those married folks for months. That's not how it should work. You shouldn't be able to circumvent immigration and change your Visa at a whim.

I finf it funny peoplre say "we are just as married as if we signed a document" then are shocked when they are denied. If you say in your heart you are married, act married well why should a CO think otherwise.

No one said waiting was going to be fast or slow. Immigration has come along way in just 6 years you wait and the end result for many hopefully is being together. And thats all that matters. Follow the rules prove what you got it should be good.

Also getting married proves nothing. but that you got married. It's the other evidence that show bonafide.

[Schynam 9]

It was more of a ritual for his family and the elders in the village to accept me and our decision to marry. I went to village in April 2013, met with his family and elders and we presented our intentions. In June 2013, after I went home, he, his family and village elders performed the ritual in my absence. There was no one would stood in my place. Prayers were said at his fathers grave site, a goat was slaughtered, wine and kola nuts were partaken.

I had already filed the petition before any of this took place. There was no intent to hide anything. We both think of ourselves as being married from the moment he proposed..but that doesn't make us legal married.

Either way..the law and immigration regulations state we are not married for immigration purposes and should still apply under K1 visa. The CO heard traditional rites and then didn't listen any further, to explanation.

They think they know our traditions better than we do. Which is a load of #######.

[Schynam 9]

The reason why is this and many have done it and this is why immigration stops it. You see K1's getting processed fast fast. I know of 4 personally its been under 30 days. They are already at embassy under 3 months with interview scheduled.

So your theory oh lets get married why wait like those married folks for months. That's not how it should work. You shouldn't be able to circumvent immigration and change your Visa at a whim.

I finf it funny peoplre say "we are just as married as if we signed a document" then are shocked when they are denied. If you say in your heart you are married, act married well why should a CO think otherwise.

No one said waiting was going to be fast or slow. Immigration has come along way in just 6 years you wait and the end result for many hopefully is being together. And thats all that matters. Follow the rules prove what you got it should be good.

Also getting married proves nothing. but that you got married. It's the other evidence that show bonafide.

It is actually not about changing the Visa application at a whim. The applicant submitted aplications for what she felt applied to her situation. It was the CO that thought otherwise. Well if you think the two were married, and they are still elligible for immigration relief under the circumstances, why not upgrade the ticket instead of outright denial. The denial is eating into the finances and time of the denied couple. It is wrong.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It is actually not about changing the Visa application at a whim. The applicant submitted aplications for what she felt applied to her situation. It was the CO that thought otherwise. Well if you think the two were married, and they are still elligible for immigration relief under the circumstances, why not upgrade the ticket instead of outright denial. The denial is eating into the finances and time of the denied couple. It is wrong.

The application was reviewed to see if they presented enouigh evidence that they are fiance's not spouses. They would need to send the application back to start over and that means you don't get to stay at the front of the line A K1 petition would expire before it could be re reviewed so there is no "opps I lied " option actually the couple would be guilty of a misrepresentation and rightfully should be denied the fiance visa.

[Tinifrog 1]

It is not a lie or misrepresentation. It was a misunderstanding on the CO part.

[Schynam 9]

The application was reviewed to see if they presented enouigh evidence that they are fiance's not spouses. They would need to send the application back to start over and that means you don't get to stay at the front of the line A K1 petition would expire before it could be re reviewed so there is no "opps I lied " option actually the couple would be guilty of a misrepresentation and rightfully should be denied the fiance visa.

How did you come to the conclusion that the applicant lied? The CO took his/her little knowledge of African culture too far. This idea that every African lies is outplayed.