REF at USCIS pretty specific. Why?

[dwheels76 5,468]

Asking for a friend who got a RFE from USCIS. They submitted petition back in August 2013 and finally after many transfers settled at CSC. Okay the issue.

I haven't seen a list so specific to a case. I thought maybe they just lost her file when she said "they want evidence of a bonafide relationship. But then she read the list. Like WOW.

1. They want affidavits notarized by the father and mother (his parents in Nigeria) why they didn't attend the wedding.

2. They want co-mingling of finances.

3. All records of transfers of monies sent.

4. Receipts of all places they went to in Nigeria on visit

5. Explanation why there wasn't a wedding party or reception

6. Communication and proof of relations from the inception to present

I mean like WOW this was after she the petitioner went through some serious lengthy background checks it took like 6 months.

So what do you think? I told her well its obvious the tonnage of evidence you sent in didn't convince them of anything and raised more questions than answers. That you have to start fresh with a clean slate of evidence.

Any suggestions opinions would be helpful. I am having the official scanned copy of the RFE sent to me I will post. You know its always better to have word for word with USCIS. Thank you all for any help you can give.

[Darnell 8,478]

if that's the list - then either:

1. they lost all the evidence prior or

2. they read all of the evidence - found holes and are seeking hole-filling evidence.

IMO..

[dwheels76 5,468]

if that's the list - then either:

1. they lost all the evidence prior or

2. they read all of the evidence - found holes and are seeking hole-filling evidence.

IMO..

I think #2 because they knew mom and dad wasn't there and wanted an explanation why. It's very unusual in Africa culture not having parents there. She is much older but still.

[kehills 217]

What sort of suggestions are you looking for? It seems like a pretty clear list of requested information.

[dwheels76 5,468]

What sort of suggestions are you looking for? It seems like a pretty clear list of requested information.

Well considering she sent in Facebook. email, chats phone records and that wasn't enough that's why I ask for suggests. They said any other evidence that can show a bonafide relationship.

She hasn't done her 2013 taxes so I told her do that and file MFS to at least have his name on document.

[apple21 953]

IMO, USCIS asking for that much evidence isn't mind boggling considering Nigeria is high fraud.

[dwheels76 5,468]

IMO, USCIS asking for that much evidence isn't mind boggling considering Nigeria is high fraud.

I have notice with the batch of people I help from Nigeria USCIS is getting very strict upfront (its about time). Many having to submit to DNA test at USCIS not at interview. And this evidence.

Where some got through last year and years before with just a marriage certificate (of course denied at interview) no more of that. All she can do is like i told her send to USCIS everything they ask for.

[Darnell 8,478]

Debs - fwiw - 2,3,4 from the list are actually in the primary list on the I-130 instructions - IMO if USCIS is pressing it - they have either found holes or --it's as you have said - exactly as you have said -

USCIS is cracking down on casefiles headed to Nigeria - on purpose. Which is a good thing, really !

[pushbrk 12,895]

It would be helpful to post the exact and complete text of the list of requested items. I suspect this is what I call an "Extensive RFE", meaning the list is mostly NOT specific to the case (some might be) but the list of items itself is just a complete laundry list of possible items that might be available. They should send as much as they can but manufacturing evidence of commingling of finances just for the RFE is probably not a good idea.

The case may even have been pulled out of the queue randomly but more likely for one or more red flags. These people should discuss what the obvious red flags might be and make sure to address those.

[dwheels76 5,468]

It would be helpful to post the exact and complete text of the list of requested items. I suspect this is what I call an "Extensive RFE", meaning the list is mostly NOT specific to the case (some might be) but the list of items itself is just a complete laundry list of possible items that might be available. They should send as much as they can but manufacturing evidence of commingling of finances just for the RFE is probably not a good idea.

The case may even have been pulled out of the queue randomly but more likely for one or more red flags. These people should discuss what the obvious red flags might be and make sure to address those.

Thanks Pushbrk for answering, seems like some things are the basic laundry random list like "send evidence of bonafide relationship". But the specifics of the parents not being there and telling them to send affidavits notarized (Oh boy notary in Nigeria is wayyyyy expensive and hard to get).is perplexing.

I will post the actual letter soon as she gets home and scans for me. Just trying to get some ideas. I did tell her to resend the original bunch and now that she has visited him again since she filed 9 months ago do have all that evidence.

I tell you Nigeria is cracking down hard now. Can't be mad at them I do understand.

[pushbrk 12,895]

Thanks Pushbrk for answering, seems like some things are the basic laundry random list like "send evidence of bonafide relationship". But the specifics of the parents not being there and telling them to send affidavits notarized (Oh boy notary in Nigeria is wayyyyy expensive and hard to get).is perplexing.

I will post the actual letter soon as she gets home and scans for me. Just trying to get some ideas. I did tell her to resend the original bunch and now that she has visited him again since she filed 9 months ago do have all that evidence.

I tell you Nigeria is cracking down hard now. Can't be mad at them I do understand.

Sometimes at church, it seems like the speaker knows just what will get my own personal attention, but it only SEEMS like it. The extensive RFE's I've seen all request evidence of parents at wedding etc. It's just an item on a list, not an indicator USCIS even has a clue whether they were there or not.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I have a hunch that perhaps they did not have enough co mingling evidence which of course is necessary, not sure what co mingling/evidence

they actually had. So I think it's more about the co mingling than the communication. However she wrote a letter bringing attention to the

parent/wedding issue so it seems they do want to know what is behind it all straight from the parents.

I was not aware that extensive RFE's require parent affidavits for explanation of wedding attendance/absence. Thought that would be dealt

with at the consulate level.

Which brings me to the thought of yes, it is great that high fraud countries get scrutinized more, however this thing about parents not

attending weddings can go beyond 'cultural norm' and adult children can do as they please and do have issues with parents and family just like

here in the US parents who are at odds with their children, don't speak or whatever. So I hope it does not become the new

yard stick to rigidly measure all bona fide marriages by for these countries.

Their 'cultural norm' yard sticks are already pretty archaic and stuck in past centuries. Sorry but people are individuals and do deviate away

from the so called cultural norm in today's modern world and not all have a village mentality as the filed manual may suggest of what is

and really is no longer the cultural norm. Updated potential fraud lists are needed to keep up with the modern day fraudsters in my opinion.

Just a pet peeve of mine.

[pushbrk 12,895]

They really don't expect commingling of finances from people who have never lived in the same countries. It is just an item on a list. You provide what you can and don't provide what you can't.

I didn't say explanations of parents at wedding were "required" with extensive RFE's. I said that that along with all the other questions mentioned here are commonly included in the list of OPTIONS for evidence with which to respond. It would likely have been on the list regardless of what they already know about whether or not the parents attended, why or why not.

They were selected for an extensive RFE (my term). The list of potential evidence items is consistent with other such RFE's I've seen in the past.

[Mr&MrsO 3]

USCIS is not mandating the presence of parents at the wedding. They are just investigating the circumstances of the marriage. An answer such as "They did not approve of the wedding" will set off alarm bells - but only in the context of suspected fraud.

[kehills 217]

But when you're mingling cultures, an explanation for why something that is the cultural norm in one place not being done is generally a good idea. If it were a cultural norm for bride and groom to, I don't know, dance to Waltzing Matilda with a tame kangaroo* in Australian weddings, and it was so rare to not do that in Australia that an Australian couple would have to explain it to friends/family, then it would make sense that my husband and I would have to explain why we didn't dance to Waltzing Matilda with a tame kangaroo at our wedding. ("We weren't in Australia, so tame kangaroos that waltz were not readily available." "As Buddhists, our religious requirements didn't allow for waltzing kangaroos." "Given that we are committed to animal rights, we could not in good conscience expose anyone, human or animal, to the earworm of Waltzing Matilda.")

Explaining a difference from the prevailing culture of a region is also a good way to show that you and your (future) spouse have discussed the important cultural differences between you. ("Yes, honey, I know that waltzing kangaroos are important to you, but I really hate that song. Maybe we could dance with the kangaroo to a Savage Garden song, instead?")

*Work with me here; I was trying to go for the most non-sensical, non-any specific culture thing I could think of.