Fiance has K1 interview in Beirut, Lebanon- Denied

[staystrong0214 0]

When I filed the i-129f petition originally, I provided passport stamps showing how many times I visited, several photos of my fiance and I when I visited and call longs and chat historys along with emails. When my fiance went to the interview, he brought more than 10 pictures with him, including pictures from our engagement party with friends and family.

We are also Christians, but it seems that the lady interviewing was trying to find any little excuse not to approve his visa. The interview was also in English and my fiance speaks mainly Arabic, so they provided an English translator, but the depth of love and affection simply cannot be shown to the same degree through a translator.

I have emailed the embassy requesting a second interview. I have also contacted our two state senators for their help. I hope God helps us and we are granted a second chance. Thank you to all those that responded with advice.

[JusticeWarrior67 3]

i feel like everybody from the middle east is going to have a hard time at the consular interview simply because they assume that everybody wishes to escape from the region somehow... same reason why tourist visas over there get denied left and right while in other countries the same candidate would have a much better chance of getting it

[Boiler 45,948]

Is that assumption unreasonable?

[Becca and Doody 18]

Is that assumption unreasonable?

It is unreasonable. Many Middle Eastern countries (especially the Gulf countries) are much nicer than the U.S. btw ... no reason for "escape". Most of the candidates I'm sure are sincere and just want to be together with their love. That is the entire purpose of having a face to face interview... to judge the character and detect fraud. If the applicant is the same in regards to evidence and doing well in the interview, the bias based on country of origin is completely unfair. If they want to make things strict, do it for every applicant regardless to where they are coming from or their religion.

Getting slightly irritated watching everyone get their visas while my fiancé is stuck in Arab Processing .... I mean Administrative Processing .

OP, I wish you success in this process and hope you get a second chance at the interview and all the best to everyone on their visa journey.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Considering the stupid propaganda the US politicians are spreading about Islam and how bad it is (their opinion not mine) I don't think the assumption that they have already started to put extra extra scrutiny into Muslim countries is wrong. Especially considering they might cancel the whole K1 visa in the future. We'll see what happens. I don't think think there's a point in taking away the K1's. I think the whole visa processing in general needs to be changed and more training for CBP officers in what people can and can't do on their visa's would be way more beneficial.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Maria&Seve

[Boiler 45,948]

The longest processing time are found in Pakistan, so Arab Processing is a misnomer.

I could be wrong, but I am not aware of a similar site to VJ for those moving to the ME or many people coming on here asking for guidance on how to do so.

I know of one about moving to the UK for Yanks, would be interested in knowing about others.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

The interview was also in English and my fiance speaks mainly Arabic, so they provided an English translator, but the depth of love and affection simply cannot be shown to the same degree through a translator.

Do you speak Arabic? As I recall in the time I was going through K-1 inability of beneficiary to communicate n English always had been a red flag for the interview unless petitioner speaks beneficiary's language because consulate officer may be concerned about efficient communication between petitioner and beneficiary.

There also could be lack of evidence, what you've sent in the petition is often not enough, beneficiaries typically bring a lot of additional and updated evidence of relationship to the interview. Some extra photos may be not enough. The pack of evidences I brought to my interview was a few pounds heavy, I was printing and copying it entire day. How about new chat/call logs, any kind of documents from the time you've spent together beside (tickets to both names, reciepts from the places you attended together etc.).

- Victor from Russia

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I'm done for. 100-200. I've got maybe 10 more with us together. I have taken a lot (maybe 100 total) of her; she's the photogenic one.

We stay at a 'guest house' same used by locals--she picked it for cost, and I prefer it as not being "American" (safety to avoid those places frequented by Westerns). No credit cards at these places, all cash. I could get them to attest to our staying there, we are now friends--they save my room. She stays in the other room with family.

So this next trip prior to the interview, I should request her father come so we take photos together. I take a bunch of pictures with her, cousin, and sisters. I get a letter or receipt with back dates from guest house.

Anything else i could do this late in the game? Would a letter from her father, uncles, or cousins?

Anything----

Let someone else take the pics of you all so you are actually in the photos with her and her family and yes the letters may help from her parents

and siblings. Make sure they write in their own style and words, nothing written by you and then them just signing, authenticity counts, made up stuff

gets laughed at. They will know who wrote it.

[walran 24]

Unfortunately the logs are from a calling card. So they only show phone numbers called. I only use this card for her, cousin, sister, and uncle. I identified each in the front of the log so that they could see who I had called, when, and for how long. That went in the 'front-load', along with all the other evidence I could find, which include the letter from the priest. I just didn't send in a lot of pictures, just the 10 total (3 from each trip, and 1 extra). I also included the financial commitment form with letter from my employer---my financial situation is very very strong, and I was hoping that might tip the scales.

I mentioned in that submission my next trip, which was this past November.

"Be there for the interview"---of course that goes without saying. I have no problem going back and forth as many times as they like (29 hours each way), but will do whatever they want. It is very difficult for her to meet me, she has to travel all day in buses (several) to get to Addis--but never complains.

If she has access to any internet "What'sApp" keeps a record of calls and the sound or call quality is much better than phone call quality and it's free..

[walran 24]

Considering the stupid propaganda the US politicians are spreading about Islam and how bad it is (their opinion not mine) I don't think the assumption that they have already started to put extra extra scrutiny into Muslim countries is wrong. Especially considering they might cancel the whole K1 visa in the future. We'll see what happens. I don't think think there's a point in taking away the K1's. I think the whole visa processing in general needs to be changed and more training for CBP officers in what people can and can't do on their visa's would be way more beneficial.

Ill informed might be a better word.. Having lived in a couple Arab countries and having employees who are Muslim who I love dearly I would still scrutinize petitioners from those countries far closer than any others.. Personally having lived there in Morrocco, Egypt, Israel etc. Peace isn't a word I would use for any of those countries and most people except one of my Islamic friends.. At a dinner here a while back with one of our Muslim friends here on green card he let us know that the "Muslim Brotherhood" were the good guys.. When all of the high profile terrorist cases have a common denominator you look at that..

Now if the love of my life were Islamic then I would fight to get her here, be sad that it was a longer more difficult process, but would definitely understand where some of the phobia was coming from.

Now I think that the K-1 ( I am filing for one) could be done away with if they would expedite the spousal approval process.. It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever that the K-1 process is faster when a marriage may or may not take place vs. getting married and then having a process that seems to be 3-6 months longer. When married the spouse has a claim on me regardless of where she is or whether she has a visa or not. There is commitment, financial obligations, children are born to at least one US citizen and no chance of not getting married after all....sigh..Government!

[Boiler 45,948]

Ill informed might be a better word.. Having lived in a couple Arab countries and having employees who are Muslim who I love dearly I would still scrutinize petitioners from those countries far closer than any others.. Personally having lived there in Morrocco, Egypt, Israel etc. Peace isn't a word I would use for any of those countries and most people except one of my Islamic friends.. At a dinner here a while back with one of our Muslim friends here on green card he let us know that the "Muslim Brotherhood" were the good guys.. When all of the high profile terrorist cases have a common denominator you look at that..

Now if the love of my life were Islamic then I would fight to get her here, be sad that it was a longer more difficult process, but would definitely understand where some of the phobia was coming from.

Now I think that the K-1 ( I am filing for one) could be done away with if they would expedite the spousal approval process.. It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever that the K-1 process is faster when a marriage may or may not take place vs. getting married and then having a process that seems to be 3-6 months longer. When married the spouse has a claim on me regardless of where she is or whether she has a visa or not. There is commitment, financial obligations, children are born to at least one US citizen and no chance of not getting married after all....sigh..Government!

Interesting

Thanks for posting.

[Boiler 45,948]

Ill informed might be a better word.. Having lived in a couple Arab countries and having employees who are Muslim who I love dearly I would still scrutinize petitioners from those countries far closer than any others.. Personally having lived there in Morrocco, Egypt, Israel etc. Peace isn't a word I would use for any of those countries and most people except one of my Islamic friends.. At a dinner here a while back with one of our Muslim friends here on green card he let us know that the "Muslim Brotherhood" were the good guys.. When all of the high profile terrorist cases have a common denominator you look at that..

Now if the love of my life were Islamic then I would fight to get her here, be sad that it was a longer more difficult process, but would definitely understand where some of the phobia was coming from.

Now I think that the K-1 ( I am filing for one) could be done away with if they would expedite the spousal approval process.. It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever that the K-1 process is faster when a marriage may or may not take place vs. getting married and then having a process that seems to be 3-6 months longer. When married the spouse has a claim on me regardless of where she is or whether she has a visa or not. There is commitment, financial obligations, children are born to at least one US citizen and no chance of not getting married after all....sigh..Government!

Thanks for posting, very informative.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Boiler

[Unlockable 7,315]

Now I think that the K-1 ( I am filing for one) could be done away with if they would expedite the spousal approval process.. It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever that the K-1 process is faster when a marriage may or may not take place vs. getting married and then having a process that seems to be 3-6 months longer. When married the spouse has a claim on me regardless of where she is or whether she has a visa or not. There is commitment, financial obligations, children are born to at least one US citizen and no chance of not getting married after all....sigh..Government!

This surprised me also. I've seen K1 cases on here where it took about 4 months whereas the spousal visas are a year long.

And I agree that there will be an overhaul on the immigration process and it looks like the K1/Fiance visa will take the brunt of it.

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

Unfortunately the logs are from a calling card. So they only show phone numbers called. I only use this card for her, cousin, sister, and uncle. I identified each in the front of the log so that they could see who I had called, when, and for how long. That went in the 'front-load', along with all the other evidence I could find, which include the letter from the priest. I just didn't send in a lot of pictures, just the 10 total (3 from each trip, and 1 extra). I also included the financial commitment form with letter from my employer---my financial situation is very very strong, and I was hoping that might tip the scales.

I mentioned in that submission my next trip, which was this past November.

"Be there for the interview"---of course that goes without saying. I have no problem going back and forth as many times as they like (29 hours each way), but will do whatever they want. It is very difficult for her to meet me, she has to travel all day in buses (several) to get to Addis--but never complains.

Photos are not primary evidence, but secondary evidence. However, photos of you with your fianceé and her family make really strong secondary evidence. If you are able to go before the interview date (assuming your K-1 is approved), it would be a good thing

[dreamer19 0]

I hoped embassies in muslim countries should understand muslim practices. I am not even friends with my fiance on fb. We both use fb rarely but its not good to post our personal life on social media for religious reasons actually, i just use it for news and thoughts, i hope this won't be against us.