Need advice

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Okay, Thanks guys.

The plan is to return to UAE, to his job. He wants to put in for a transfer to the US and feels he needs to have a visa to enter the US first. I'm not sure if he could just get a work visa first or of the laws for getting married while on a work visa and filing AOS...

Well the thing is, if you apply for AOS, he would have to remain in the USA at least 6 months out of the year to maintain his green card status until he acquires US Citizenship. To be outside the country more than six months can jeopardize the green card.

[Cathi 5,782]

I just want to comment on the age difference thing. My husband is 21 years younger than I am., It was never an issue for us once during the entire process. I attended the interview with him and we were both asked if the age difference bothered us, we said no( that's the truth), and the CO dropped it. Age difference isn't a big as a red flag that everyone says it is, we were told by so many that the was no way we would be approved because of it, and they couldn't have been more wrong. We also have other red flags, difference in religion and culture and I am divorced with children, we still didn't have any issues. I will say that we did spend a lot of time together in real life, but a lot of that time was AFTER the petition was approved. My first visit I spent a month living with him and his family, and I had 3 more long visits before the interview.

Beneficiaries from Pakistan are put through the ringer, there is no doubt. Meeting only once for a short amount of time will work against you, whether or not you apply for a k1 or cr1. You need to go to the Pakistan portal and get acquainted with others from his country and study up on the process. It isn't as simple as applying and getting approved, it is a long, stressful process that requires a lot of evidence and just as much patience. Listen to the previous poster whose husband is from Pakistan, she has been waiting over 2 years and I'm sure she has a lot of good advice for you. There are many different factors that play into it. The consulate will also want proof that his family is aware of what he is doing and they approve. Family is a big part of their culture.

[christeen 966]

What do you mean GC?

Green Card

[Abby&Mario 100]

I called a few lawyers and did some research on the internet and found that the Cr-1 appears to be much more scrutinized. It can take much longer and you need to have more, for the lack of a better term, burden of proof.

Huh, this is the exact opposite of everything I have ever read and heard. It was my understanding that the K-1 petitions face much more scrutiny.

Regardless, MM & MN, I am confused about why you would file for a K-1 if you both want to reside in Abu Dhabi for a while after getting married in the U.S. You don't have to have a K-1 to get married in the U.S. if you leave afterwards. And if you do get a K-1 and get married in the U.S., he has to stick around for a while and adjust status. Wouldn't make any sense with what you have in mind. Go read the guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Why not get married in the U.S. or elsewhere (doesn't matter where), go live in Abu Dhabi and start your lives together, and then start the CR-1 process from abroad? You will be scrutinized because of where he's from, but even more so if you've barely spent any time together and have next to no evidence of a bonafide relationship other than online communication. The CR-1 will take longer, but at least you'll be together, and he'll get the green card mailed to him once he lands in the U.S.

About the age difference-- that would be the biggest double standard if it caused a problem. There are tons of older men who marry or get engaged to women 20-30 years younger and get approved. You're only 10 years apart!

[Abby&Mario 100]

Oops (why can't I edit my post?)-- I see he was denied the B2. Get married abroad, start your life together and file from abroad. My two cents.

[Ryan H 3,819]

Oops (why can't I edit my post?)--

There is only a 5 minute window to edit a post from the time it is posted.

[Ning 619]

I can tell you that you are in for a long, hard road with the Islamabad embassy. Based on my experience, your case has many of the "red flags" they consider at this embassy. My husband and I were married in 2011, I have been back to pakistan 3 times and I am booking my fourth.

As USC we are scrutinized under a 100x microscope and even if everything appears in order they will claim your case is over documented and that you are trying to commit fraud. Again, this is based on my experience because at the interview (which was January 2013) the CO gave my husband the entire contents of the case file. In that file there were some internal USCIS memorandums (which I was probably not supposed to see) and one of those was actually a "Suspect Marriage Referral Sheet" that has a check list of the red flags. Some of those are age difference, cultural difference, physical mismatch, over documentation, and several others.

K-1 visas seem to get issued quicker, but it still takes many months and sometimes even years.

I don't mean to discourage you in any way, but I do think you should know what you are up against. When I started this process, my attorney said it would take 8-10 months...it has been 2 years and 4 months with no end in sight.

I don't wish the kind of pain we see in this members case but it is real life when it comes to Pakistan related cases. Interesting that USCIS seems to have included some inside info by mistake that gives insight we seldom get to see.