Unusual question

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

Hello everyone,

My husband is set to interview within a week at the US embassy in New Delhi. I will be attending the interview alongside him.

I have an unusual inquiry regarding a question I am assuming they will ask during his interview. My husband and I met in 2008, while he was in the US on a J-1 visa. We dated for about a year and he left to return to India after his program ended.

We attempted LDR but it was tougher than we anticipated. We were both young, neither of us had jobs, and we had no idea about the future of our relationship even though we wanted it to work out. With the stress, we ended up breaking up in early 2010. We were not in contact during our break up. During this time, he applied for an F-1 visa twice. He truthfully answered the question regarding any relatives in the US with "No" as we were not a couple. He was refused the F-1 twice and he did not apply again.

In late 2010, we reconciled our relationship and got back together. He officially proposed to me several months later (in April 2011) and in May 2012 we got married.

I assume he will be asked some questions about his previous F-1 refusals. What answer would be appropriate to give if the CO asks what our relationship was during his F-1 applications? We don't want to get into a long explanation about our breakup if possible.

Secondly, I have heard that COs do not like to see relationships that show instability. Will we be scrutinized for our breakup 4 years ago? FWIW, we have been a rock solid couple since we reconciled and will be celebrating 2 years of marriage soon.

My husband is a well travelled man and does not show a history of "visa shopping". He has lived abroad in the UK, US and Southeast Asia and has always been responsible, law abiding and left the countries on time within the terms of his stay.

I truly hope this will not be an issue at the interview.

[imse82 45]

My short answer just say the truth and be as brief as possible. Breaking up then deciding to be together again shouldn't be an issue. I highly doubt your husband will be questiond about his F1 visa application. Obviously he was trying to enter on a student visa and adjust status but that didn't work. If they do ask he needs to be prepared to explain the program of study he was seeking and why he wanted to do it. If they ask him about you, then his answer shouldn't imply that you two wanted to get married after his arrival on student visa. Do you know why his student visa was denied??

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

My short answer just say the truth and be as brief as possible. Breaking up then deciding to be together again shouldn't be an issue. I highly doubt your husband will be questiond about his F1 visa application. Obviously he was trying to enter on a student visa and adjust status but that didn't work. If they do ask he needs to be prepared to explain the program of study he was seeking and why he wanted to do it. If they ask him about you, then his answer shouldn't imply that you two wanted to get married after his arrival on student visa. Do you know why his student visa was denied??

Where are you getting that he was trying to AOS from an F-1? He would most certainly have not tried to AOS from his F-1. If that were the case, it would have been much easier for him to AOS from his J-1 instead of reapplying for a whole new visa.

I don't know the exact reason he was denied. The interview was quite a while ago and my husband only remembers the CO telling him that she was not satisfied with his answers and encouraged him to try again later. I can only assume this means that he did not show convincing enough ties of returning to India at the conclusion of his program of study.

[imse82 45]

Where are you getting that he was trying to AOS from an F-1? He would most certainly have not tried to AOS from his F-1. If that were the case, it would have been much easier for him to AOS from his J-1 instead of reapplying for a whole new visa.

I don't know the exact reason he was denied. The interview was quite a while ago and my husband only remembers the CO telling him that she was not satisfied with his answers and encouraged him to try again later. I can only assume this means that he did not show convincing enough ties of returning to India at the conclusion of his program of study.

Oh OK adjusting from F1 usually isn't an issue if this wasn't planned prior to his entry to US. Being on J1 visa means he was required to go back to his home country for two years after finishing his first program unless he was eligible for waiver.

[pushbrk 12,883]

The first post indicates you know very well how to deal with questions. You give frank and direct answers. If your relationship is legitimate, there's no need to fear additional scrutiny.

[NikLR 13,227]

I completely agree with pushbrk.

You guys will do well. Answer the questions as concisely as you have stated them on here if they're asked. Don't bring up anything they do not bring up first as it's likely not an issue if they're not needing to talk about it.

[sirius 32]

Plenty of people from WVP countries are often denied entry whilst their immigration is pending. VJ is awashed with stories of Canadians being turned away. This is the same as saying: they are refused a visitors visa.

This, however, has no impact on their immigration case. The CO may or may not ask, but if they do, your answers should be honest and to the point. Superfluous details of events should always be avoided.