K1 denied please advice

[Zuwil 2]

They see what they want to see

[lewisandmike 4]

so sorry to hear that!

best of luck!

[usmsbow 801]

I think the embassy in Ethiopia now has a CO that's picky. i know a few months ago, another couple else was denied there and they had a much stronger case than the OP (no significant age gap, no kids, only red flag was they were distant relatives).

Edited September 17, 2015 by usmsbow

[lala64 93]

I had my interivew today but the officer denied my visa due to the reason having 27 years age difference with my petitioner make fiancé and our petition will be experid on October 29 is there hope if we try to find attorney or consider to moving to other country what shall we do

They can not legally deny you for an age gap. Did they say that? I am going through a similar experience but they gave another lame reason. I was able to get my congressman involved and get another interview. I suggest you act quickly to try and get a second interview. Have persons that know of your relationship send support emails and get in touch with your local senator or congressmans liason. If granted be at the next interview. Mine is tomorrow. good luck

[Boiler 45,525]

I have never seen anyone ever denied due to age difference.

[Zuwil 2]

Ok thank you and good luck with that ! I think the addis consulate doesn't do much good in K visa

[Amhara 460]

The CO didn't ask me evidence other than pictures but I brought tons of Viber and emails airline tickets stamps but that's what happens

Zuwil,

Was there evidence in the petition when it was sent to USCIS or no?

In our case, we 'front loaded' meaning we put evidence of everything the embassy will need in the petition that I sent off in the States, then just sent complementary and updated info of the same evidence to my fiance to bring. That way, the CO can see the documents before your interview ever starts.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

A large age gap is a fraud indicator on the fraud referral sheet that the embassies go by. Therefore, since the CO's have such large discretionary

power and interpretation based on their observation of course applicants are denied because of age difference. If 3 different CO's handle an age gap

case, one will approve, one will refuse and one will do AP. I wish people would stop saying they can't refuse to issue the visa because of the age gap.

They will dance around the issue, it will come up in the interview and the CO's personal thought process can, has and will refuse based on his/her

personal bias. They won't say you are denied due to a large age gap but they will say : Refused due to insufficient evidence (even though they don't

want to look at it) or the blanket statement : for immigration benefits only.

Instead of repeating here that they don't refuse due to age gap give advice on how to overcome it.

It obviously "bothered" the CO the the age difference was significant and the fact that she said 'same age as son' should be a flashing neon sign indicator for that.

Overcome this with fighting for a second interview, petitioner present at interview, front loaded petition to begin with and a timeline letter

of the relationship addressing the age gap and how it will be dealt with in the relationship (for example, adoption if woman is past child bearing age)

lots of real face time and visits together with family, taking out a life insurance with beneficiary named, co owned land or property, letters of

affidavits from family and friends etc, be creative in what to submit. Paint your personal story as only you can.

Do they refuse because of age gap ? Of course ! Is that right ? Of course not ! So convince them that you are genuine and that you are not

going away and giving up. Side note* age gap with older men and young women in the Philippines is not a problem but is often viewed as

a negative in African countries and as we all know older woman and younger men are really scrutinized in several countries. It is what it is

no matter how many say age doesn't matter. If it matters to your particular CO then you are screwed.

We were refused the first K1 after 16 months in AP and filed a second K1 and were approved with a stokes interview (on the phone) and the age difference

question was brought up.

The previous CO didn't have the guts to bring it up but refused the visa based on her "gut feeling." True story and her very words.

So are they permitted to allow personal gut feelings (personal bias) to rule their outcome ? No. Do they ? Of course.

I overcame it with common sense answers, plans we have, how I viewed our relationship and 12# of relationship evidence

and 150 photos divided in 5 trips besides 5 years worth of communication chats and phone logs.

Heed my thoughts to you in my previous post.

Best wishes.

[Boiler 45,525]

All I know is that in all the other cases I have seen where there was an age gap and a refusal there were other factors as well.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

All I know is that in all the other cases I have seen where there was an age gap and a refusal there were other factors as well.

Not in many that I see. CO's are required to give a reason with factual evidence why they refuse. If all is so cut and dry with there being other factors

then why don't they mention them. The 'gut feeling' reason given to us was absurd. We had no other factors that were basis for refusal.

Lots of evidence and plenty of visits with quality relationship evidence. Personal bias is a fact. People will be people and even CO's are human

and make stupid decisions or else the DOS memo requiring CO's to state factual evidence and not be swayed by personal bias, assumptions and

speculation would not have been drafted and send to consulates. I have read it.

Instead they back up the system even more sending no brainer cases back to USCIS who almost always return it to the embassy with

recommendation to approve. What a waste and how inefficient.

Having said that most CO's do the right thing and have enough knowledge which ones to return and which ones to approve.

We all know that is not always easy to do but there are certain CO's and I have encountered one that need to raise petunias somewhere

and not be at the consulate.

Can we just admit here that not all CO's get it right all of the time but refuse solely on their personal bias and that there

don't have to be other factors involved ? Unless you believe CO's are a special kind of breed that are never ever wrong.

Just my 2 cents.

[Boiler 45,525]

We may be talking cross purposes, always the bane of message boards.

And this is not to do with the OP's situation, she has not shared her circumstances and is under no obligation to do so.

Many many posts seems to start with a refusal for no reason despite all the evidence, with a bit of probing often there is a litany of issues. Now this one started with the mention of an age gap, I would be surprised if there are not other factors.

One of the benefits of having a Lawyer involved on some cases, they can probe and get to the bottom much quicker.

[Zuwil 2]

Ebunoluwa I couldn't agree with you more my interview took almost 2 min and asked me how we meet ? How many times we meet in person? Did I know he was married before? Then started asking about how old his kids are and mentioned being same as his son then he asked did your friends ever ask you about the age gap ? And age and age ? So she said I can't issue visa I ask why not she said this relation doesn't seem genuine to me but she didn't even ask my proof of on going relation or anything else I had just pic and looked at first two out of 16 ones I provided so basically it's age but she didn't said it forward but will try to contact congress man and go after this thing will see what happens thank you guys

[Zuwil 2]

Amhara yes we front loaded the evidence during sending it uscis pics of family,of us,emails,tickets ,stamps,transfers gift exchanges I mean everything that's possible

[Lowlie 191]

A large age gap is a fraud indicator on the fraud referral sheet that the embassies go by. Therefore, since the CO's have such large discretionary

power and interpretation based on their observation of course applicants are denied because of age difference. If 3 different CO's handle an age gap

case, one will approve, one will refuse and one will do AP. I wish people would stop saying they can't refuse to issue the visa because of the age gap.

They will dance around the issue, it will come up in the interview and the CO's personal thought process can, has and will refuse based on his/her

personal bias. They won't say you are denied due to a large age gap but they will say : Refused due to insufficient evidence (even though they don't

want to look at it) or the blanket statement : for immigration benefits only.

Instead of repeating here that they don't refuse due to age gap give advice on how to overcome it.

It obviously "bothered" the CO the the age difference was significant and the fact that she said 'same age as son' should be a flashing neon sign indicator for that.

Overcome this with fighting for a second interview, petitioner present at interview, front loaded petition to begin with and a timeline letter

of the relationship addressing the age gap and how it will be dealt with in the relationship (for example, adoption if woman is past child bearing age)

lots of real face time and visits together with family, taking out a life insurance with beneficiary named, co owned land or property, letters of

affidavits from family and friends etc, be creative in what to submit. Paint your personal story as only you can.

Do they refuse because of age gap ? Of course ! Is that right ? Of course not ! So convince them that you are genuine and that you are not

going away and giving up. Side note* age gap with older men and young women in the Philippines is not a problem but is often viewed as

a negative in African countries and as we all know older woman and younger men are really scrutinized in several countries. It is what it is

no matter how many say age doesn't matter. If it matters to your particular CO then you are screwed.

We were refused the first K1 after 16 months in AP and filed a second K1 and were approved with a stokes interview (on the phone) and the age difference

question was brought up.

The previous CO didn't have the guts to bring it up but refused the visa based on her "gut feeling." True story and her very words.

So are they permitted to allow personal gut feelings (personal bias) to rule their outcome ? No. Do they ? Of course.

I overcame it with common sense answers, plans we have, how I viewed our relationship and 12# of relationship evidence

and 150 photos divided in 5 trips besides 5 years worth of communication chats and phone logs.

Heed my thoughts to you in my previous post.

Best wishes.

A lot has to do with how the age-gapped couple look together. That seems superficial, but it's true. If a much older woman looks like she's posing with her son or grand-son, they're more likely to question the sincerity of the younger person. I have a UK friend who was denied twice, both times because she was told there was no way a very handsome, fit 30 year old man was in love with a woman who looked like his portly grandma.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

A lot has to do with how the age-gapped couple look together. That seems superficial, but it's true. If a much older woman looks like she's posing with her son or grand-son, they're more likely to question the sincerity of the younger person. I have a UK friend who was denied twice, both times because she was told there was no way a very handsome, fit 30 year old man was in love with a woman who looked like his portly grandma.

So did they file a complaint of age and weight discrimination ? Yep, classic example of personal bias without factual evidence and that time

the CO actually voiced it. As I said it happens more than some care to admit.