32 year age gap - older American woman

[Jon and Krissy 452]

Only one visit for 3 days. It wa all I could take away from my job. ?. We did all we could. It feels like trying to convince my father it's a good idea. Truth - I cannot help the love I feel. - good and bad sides to that.

3 day visit + age gap + high fraud country = very slim chances of approval. I would also question the wisdom of marrying someone you've spent a total of ~72 hours with. Regardless of anything else, such marriages rarely work out.

[Cathi 5,771]

It's a red flag if it's culturally not the norm. For cultures that are heavily family/having children oriented, a young man marrying an older woman (likely outside of child-bearing age), is against the cultural norms and causes a red flag.

This is very much not true. I am 21 years older than my husband, I am divorced with 2 children, totally different culture, different religion. Age was NEVER an issue or ever mentioned throughout our entire journey. We never had any RFEs, petition was approved quickly, sailed through NVC and his interview was 7 months after NOA2. He has been here 2 and a half years, removed conditions without an rfe or interview and now he is preparing for citizenship in July. I wish people would stop with the nonsense, telling couples with a significant age gap with the woman being older that there is a a big chance they will be denied merely because she is older just is NOT true. Time and time again, over and over on this site we see these types of couples APPROVED. The consulate looks at the entire picture and no one can be denied based on age difference alone. We have yet to see a single couple ever denied for an age difference. The consulate wants to see an ongoing, bonafide relationship. If you don't have enough evidence to back up the relationship that reason for denial, not age.

Edited April 18, 2015 by mimolicious

[lost_at_sea 995]

OP, you can read visa interviews here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Ghana&cty=&dfilter=5&topic=K1+Visa It'll give you a good impression of how much cases in Ghana are scrutinised.

Red flags don't mean denial is guaranteed - they're simply that - flags. And as such, you'll have to work on ensuring that both the embassy AND you & your partner are confident about those flags and your answers to them.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Look at the potential red-flag conditions.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

The following types of personal characteristics or living situations raise questions in the eyes of USCIS or the consulate.

• No shared language. If the couple can’t talk to each other, how can they really build a shared life together?
• Vast difference in age. People of different ages certainly do get married sometimes. But when combined with other red flags, the thinking is that it may represent a compromise by someone who is either interested in obtaining a green card or in being paid to help someone else do so.
• Difference in religion. Because religious beliefs are fundamental to many people’s approach to life and daily behavior, the U.S. government takes a second look at applications from people of different religions who have married.
• Different social class or cultural background. People of different wealth levels or place in society often get married, too – but the U.S. government will be curious to know more about how this occurred, and whether it’s for real.
• Difference in race. You can see a pattern here – any time a couple doesn’t share basic characteristics, it raises questions.
• Unequal educational background. Studies show that most women don’t believe they could admire a man less educated than they; and that men put intelligence and education at number five on their ranking of desirable qualities in a mate. So if one person in the couple is highly educated and the other not, expect questions.
• Different addresses. After marriage, most couples live together. If you don’t – particularly if both of you are living in the same country – you will need to provide a good explanation, for example, that one of you is finishing a university degree and the other one can’t leave his or her job. Also be ready to show that you plan to live together as soon as possible.
• Same house, but no actual interaction. If, for instance, your work and other schedules are set up so that you are never home at the same time, the U.S. government will wonder whether that was intentional.
• Secret marriage. If you haven’t told your friends and family, USCIS will wonder whether it’s because you don’t want them to get all excited about a marriage that you plan to end as soon as the immigrant gets a green card.
• All-too-convenient timing of marriage. A goodly number of marriages happen after an undocumented person in the U.S. is caught and placed into removal proceedings, or before someone on a nonimmigrant visa is reaching the date by which he or she must leave the United States. (One can apply for a green card based on marriage as a defense to deportation.) You will have to explain why you didn’t choose to marry until it became a matter of urgency.
• Attempts to manufacture evidence of shared life right before the interview. You will be asked to provide evidence of joint accounts, assets, memberships, and so on. Those items will likely have dates showing when they were begun. If those dates are mere weeks before the green card or visa interview date, it will create suspicion that you were trying to make your case look good rather than taking natural steps to join your lives.
• Marriage soon after you met. Most people like to take at least several months to consider getting married. If you got married after only a few meetings or weeks, the government will wonder whether the cause was more romance or, say, money.
• Marriage soon after a divorce. Again, this would indicate that the “courtship” was suspiciously short. (Or you might have to prove the existence of a long affair!)
• History of U.S. petitioner sponsoring other spousal immigrants. If the U.S. citizen or permanent resident has married and petitioned for one or more other immigrants in the past, it stands to reason that those marriages ended in divorce. Did that mean a real marriage fell apart – or was the earlier marriage(s) nothing more than a green card scam? And now, since the petitioner didn’t get caught the first time around, is he or she trying it again?
• Noncitizen comes from a country with a history of immigration fraud. The U.S. government keeps track of which countries’ citizens commit visa or other immigration fraud at high rates. Though it’s not your fault, if the immigrant spouse comes from one of these countries, he or she will face extra scrutiny.
• No children if woman is of childbearing age. Having children is not a requirement of marriage – but if no children is an added factor in an otherwise questionable case, it won’t help.
• Impoverished U.S. citizen or resident petitioner. If the U.S. member of the couple lacks a job or apparently needs money, the immigration authorities might wonder whether he or she is looking to make some quick bucks through a fraudulent marriage.
• History of crimes, fraud, or lies by either spouse. Anyone who has committed past illegal acts may be looked at as more likely or willing to enter into marriage fraud.

I have seen the fraud referral sheet that embassies use and this is all correct. Like it or not, a big age gap will cause many CO's from high

fraud posts to refuse the visa. Our age difference has prompted the CO to ask very specific personal questions related to age and it was clear

from the get go that it was a concern to him which we overcame with the second filing.

Married and happy now !

[ohzee64 1]

I am in a similar situation like you. I am an older woman 19 year gap. he has children. bringing one with him. It is not easy to make someone know through pen and paper how you feel about someone. especially a stranger, however and just my point of view. I know its the process that is in place but had it not been those who have tried to scam the system we would be free to be with whomever we chose without so much controversy and wait. Its just as easy to fall in love with a younger man being an older woman as it is for an older man to have a younger wife. I am sure they are not scrutinized as much but hey. Get all your ducks in a row bona fide is what will make the difference and how they are able to determine that from phone calls and pictures is beyond me. Good luck

[milimelo 4,503]

Only met his mother over the phone and not introduced to any other family members?

Make a number of visits to his country, meet all family members and hang out with them before even thinking about filing.

[TBoneTX 45,540]

The child bearing issue [...] feels like an extremely private thing to share in the interview, however.

Be prepared to be asked far more private things than this.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Tough love post to follow.

A man just starting his life in a west African culture has the thoughts of his heirs and many children. This is nation where people have little chance to raise out of where they are if they aren't a part of the corruption that is found at every piece of the country. Young men spend their every cent trolling the internet of a way out on every dating site and social network you can think of. They will even have several phones to help them keep their marks straight. They find an easy mark in past their prime US women who are ignored on the home dating market by men in midlife crisis trying to live out their dreams with their daughter classmates on a Viagra fueled second childhood. I know of women that have been talked out of tens of thousands of dollars chasing they young love. These men are full of sweet words and could write several books on how to sweep a woman off their feet. Even if the chase for a visa is successful the long term chances of such a relationship lasting more than a few years is dismal. If you are into helping someone escape a terrible place and likely moving on in a few years then go for it. However you will need to spend at least 30 days in country for even odds at getting a visa and get a lot more involved in his family and culture.

[ohzee64 1]

Classical scam story.

It may be a classical scam story but who Is to say if this is the case. If you were to address my relationship that way I would be offended but this is America 1st amendment freedom of speech ect... I am a true believer if you don't have anything positive to say then... I am in a similar situation 19 year age gap. met online last year I visited for 1 week we have talked or have web cam every day since we met. Is this a scam? He is from Jamaica, I am African American, he has 2 children with no desire to have more. I refuse to. So you would judge her why? and demean her relationship. It is her Visa Journey to travel not ours. Good luck to you and your relationship and stay positive in spite of all the negative comments. I sure am. And if my k1 gets denied because of age difference then looks like I will be having a Jamaican wedding. No risk.. no reward!

[Shesaid67 5]

I would like to know is there any couple where foreign fiance is much older than her handsome and young boyfriend-petitioner? I'm just thinking about it...

[Boiler 45,670]

Most are in the MENA forum.

Most are in the MENA forum.

[mohdirfan08787 16]

Wait, You are 57 years old, and he is 25 years old... Seems very cool... Can you please hold ur K1 for another year or two...Just to find out he really loves you???

Like Jon and Sol said. {25+ Ghana+Love & Romance} vs % { 57 + American + Daughter } = God know what ?

In my opinion enjoy your romance and forget about k1 for few years No one wants to break your heart but think,be your best judge, take your time and enjoy your life:)

[Boiler 45,670]

Immigration aside if somebody you knew said they just got engaged to somebody they had known for 3 days what would you say?

And the add in everything else.

So what do you expect the Consulate to think.

Much easier than taking a boat across the Mediterranean.

[jessiepatt 7]

FYI - I already filed the I-129f in December. I have only been in person with him for 3 days, but I've spent every day with him through digital means since the beginning. I'm now feeling the potential for denial, or expiration - for this petition, no matter what I do. With my young daughter invoked, and both of our need to be together, waiting feels like a major drain on us too. Now I'm just feeling stuck and deflated, sad and exhausted. I'm not sure I can face a denial, and not sure he can endure this either. Our love is on the line, and that's what matters most. No easy answers.

[Bosco/Nairobi_KE 2]

I don't see any problem at all with that age difference. its just numbers, i had almost the same problem, i first applied for a k1 visa and it was denied and after that we decided to marry then filled for CR1 and it was approved we all now happy each other here, but we really submitted a strong package with enough evidence of bonafide marriage.

all i can i say is that i believe that always the decision is always premade before you go for interview so all its needed is to file with a very strong package