K-1 Visa for Khmer Fiance(e) Foreign Male Over 50

[csosdny 0]

I understand the crazy Cambodian law restricting male foreigners over the age of 50 from marrying (in Cambodia) a Khmer women.

Is it possible to instead apply for a K-1 Fiance(e) Visa and bring the women to the US to marry? It seems plausible because

you would not be violating the law by marring her in the US.Thanks.

[pch1 64]

I don't see any problems with you filing K1 fiance visa to bring your fiance. If approved then you can get married in the US within 90 days of your fiance entering the US.

[NikaMo 39]

US Embassy strictly follow local law. It is the local Cambodian law. They will void your application the day of the interview. You will get approval initially from USCIS because they are not familiar with the local law but US Embassy is. I witnessed they voided someone's application. Anyway don't just take my ward. Email US Embassy, Cambodia to confirm. But how ridiculous it sounds like it is the fact. Only exception to the rule is if someone older then 50 is married to a Cambodian and there is a child involved who is by the way automatically a US Citizen. I know Brick is trying to help you answering but he/she is not familiar with Cambodian law. It's one of a kind in the world

[csosdny 0]

I did email the US Embassy and they just replied. They told told me I could file for the K-1 visa. I told them I was over 50 and that I know I could not marry in Cambodia, but could I file the K-1 instead and have her come to the US marry her here they said Yes! I just received the email yesterday. It was from the "American Citizens Services Unit" "Consular Section!' The said , correct, you can apply for a K-1 visa for your fiancé. This seems to be directly "from the horses mouth" as they say.

[csosdny 0]

When will the Cambodia government stop victimizing their own people once and for all. Such a terrible law.

[NikaMo 39]

I did email the US Embassy and they just replied. They told told me I could file for the K-1 visa. I told them I was over 50 and that I know I could not marry in Cambodia, but could I file the K-1 instead and have her come to the US marry her here they said Yes! I just received the email yesterday. It was from the "American Citizens Services Unit" "Consular Section!' The said , correct, you can apply for a K-1 visa for your fiancé. This seems to be directly "from the horses mouth" as they say.

Good to know.

[NikaMo 39]

When will the Cambodia government stop victimizing their own people once and for all. Such a terrible law.

Cambodian government created this law because of few bad situations in the past. Older man taking advantages of poor and trafficking very young girls and had some bad situations. But generally it is a bad in discriminatory law for most. But very careful on filing K-1. You must have overwhelming evidences. US Embassy in Cambodia is extremely difficult to pass K-1 visa.

[csosdny 0]

I really believe they created it for other reasons and did not want to put much time or effort into weeding out the real problems that spurred them to create it in the first place and then paint everyone with a broad brush who is over 50. I am not even remotely close to having a fiancé in the Kingdom, but not want to purse anything further with any aquintentces if even a K-1 Visa was not possible. It is not how old you are but the age spread between you and the person you want to marry that should be one of the deciding factors.

[NikaMo 39]

There were few high profile abuse cases during 2009/2010 by older Ameticans involving very young girls that made national headlines in Csmbodia. Instead of looking into real problem, they hurriedly created this law. Also people under 50 have to get permission from ministry of foreign affairs which is time consuming and a trap for government officials to make bribe money. I had to stay over a month and spent a lot of bribery to get that permission. Many steps, many interviews with many government officials and nothing moves if tea money not paid. Everyone knows it but nobody cares. I guess it's a revenue generating system under the table.

[csosdny 0]

Actually I read it was Koreans who were mass marring women and then abusing them which lead to a ban on all marriages for them then I guess not to seem discriminatory towards Koreans they came up with this disaster of a law.

My original statement remains about their government hurting their own citizens. Just think of how many 30-40 year old Khmer ladies will never get married because of this law.

[Daniel n Somphos 3]

I know these two that just got engaged. there is almost 20 years age difference... the man has 3 kids and oldest is 18. The woman he engaged to is only 22. How likely are they to get approved?

[NikaMo 39]

Hey Damiel that sounds like me! I am 17 years older them my wife(Then fiancé 5 years ago), and my oldest of 2 daughters was 15. But wife was 26, Anyway age was never a factor or focus during the interview. It's local culture or normal to marry older man. My wife was denied visa for something different. Completely no reason at all just like yours. Which was normal those days to deny visa to 99% of the time for no reason. It's greatly improved recently but still one of the lowest anywhere in the world.

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/foreign-low-earning-and-over-50-you-can-forget-about-wedding-cambodian-woman-58258/

Edited April 28, 2016 by NikaMo

[csosdny 0]

I know these two that just got engaged. there is almost 20 years age difference... the man has 3 kids and oldest is 18. The woman he engaged to is only 22. How likely are they to get approved?

USCIS Petition(s) Filed

Form I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiance(e) / Case#2:

Date I-129F Sent : (2014-05-14) #2: (2015-09-03)

Date I-129F NOA1 (Receipt) : (2014-05-22) #2: (2015-09-11)

-- I-129F RFE(s) : (N/A) #2: (2015-10-14)Received in mail (2015-10-19)

-- I-129F RFE Reply(s) : (N/A) #2: (2015-10-20) Replied to RFE Next Day

Date I-129F NOA2 (Approved) : (2014-06-25) #2: (2015-10-29)

National Visa Center Processing

Date Package Received By NVC : (2014-07-10) #2: (2015 N/A)

Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : (2014-07-10) #2: (2015 N/A)

Date Package Left From NVC : (2014-07-12) #2: (2015 N/A)

Consulate Processing

Date Received By Consulate : (2014-07-15) #2: (2015 December)

Date Rec Instructions (Pkt 3) : (2014-07-15) #2: (2015 N/A)-Downloaded and followed Packet3 Instructions while in Cambodia

Date Complete Instructions (Pkt 3) : (2014-07-20) #2: (2015-12-19)

Date Rec Appointment Letter (Pkt 4): (2014-07-29) #2: (2016 N/A)-SOON!!!

Interview Date (K1 Visa): (2014-11-24) #2: (2016 03-21)

-- Interview Result: Denied #2: Approved!

Hello, I have a question for you in regards to the schedule of events listed at the bottom of your post. Is this 2 different people and a comparison, as I see that

one has Interview "Denied" and the other "Approved."

Also, why if the above person is not over 50 why wouldn't he just marry the lady in Cambodia and have a much better chance of a spousal petition being approved?

I know everyone has their own reason(s) for what path the take, but if he is able to and plans to marry the Khmer lady why not just do it there? Thanks in advance.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to Asia: East & Pacific Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

[wongkong69 0]

not a problem, i did my interview and pass last week. i am 55 she is 28 cambodian lady. she looks young, then again i looks in good shape. on the picture we looks like a matching loving couple. if you guys looks like a grand father and a grand daughter in the picture, they will highly suspect that is going to work out and might want u to go through couple more time to prove it. it means fail the first time for sure.