IR-1 / CR-1 Visa Denial Rate

[Michael2017 368]

There are companies out there like RapidVisa that claim 99%+ success rates with IR-1/CR-1 visas.

Are those services having superior success rate, or is the normal approval rate of this visa type 99%+?

Are there any statistics out there to see the normal approval rate?

[Unlockable 7,314]

Depends.

I've worked with marketing for several years. I can tell you it CAN be skewed in their favor. Could be 99% of cases THEY ACCEPT. Meaning if it is a difficult case with many red flags that require waivers, they can refer them to a lawyer instead of taking it on themselves.

But it is no different than what we do here on VJ. I have seen many many cases of where the poster was told that they just were not eligible for a visa. Or that their case was too complicated and was advised to get competent lawyer.

I haven't heard anything bad about Rapidvisa but I and a great deal of other VJ members will tell you that if you have a straight forward case (legitimate/bonafide marriage with sufficient proof) then lawyers and agencies are needed. You can save your money and do it on your own.

[Michael2017 368]

Thanks, I found this thread here, but the links are not working anymore. Not sure If just I cant find those statistics anymore, or if they have been removed. I only find how many visas are issued, not how many were denied:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/253246-k-1-visa-approval-rate-95/

[Unlockable 7,314]

Are you looking for denial rates for Rapdvisa or the USCIS?

Try searching here: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/law-and-policy/statistics/non-immigrant-visas.html

Keep in mind that Rapidvisa is not in any way affiliated to US immigration. Their claims is based on their own business.

[Michael2017 368]

Yes, I am looking for the official statistics, just refer to rapidvisa as possible "indication"

[JFH 12,190]

As someone else said, they can manipulate their results by rejecting cases that they feel won't be successful. As a commercial enterprise, they are within their rights to turn potential clients away if they do not wish to do business with them.

The official approval rates are probably higher than we think. We are all naturally nervous that we could be denied. I am worried that I might be denied at the embassy in London, even though London denials are almost unheard of. I did Google 'London CR-1 denials' and found a thread on another forum where people were posting about their denials but they weren't flat-out denials - they were 221(g)s for missing documents or financial requirements.

Take a look at '90 Day Fiance' on TLC and what kind of crazy cases are approved for K-1s. I shake my head in disbelief that COs around the world have deemed these to be valid relationships not for immigration benefit. And CR-1s have the advantage that they are already married and have (usually) been in a longer relationship than K-1s. On this very site I have seen K-1s being applied for after the grand total of 6 days together and a few months of online contact. Not criticising those relationships but I think we have a tendency as applicants to assume that the criteria for approval are stricter than they really are.

[Michael2017 368]

Ok, So am I right to assume, that a legit CR1 petition from a real couple with lots of bona fide proof, and all other requirements in place (e.g. income, health, police certificates) has a something like a 99.5% approval rate, especially if from a visa waiver country considered low fraud?

[millefleur 5,046]

Yes, JHF hits on good point. There's a difference between a denial and a 221(g) request for further evidence/missing documents. In general, I'd say it's extremely hard to put a statistical percentage on something like this due to the variables involved.

There are also common reasons for denials. As I've learned on this site, a previous history of drug use, even if it happened only once, will definitely increase your chances of denial. We can debate about whether or not that makes any sense/is discriminatory, but the reality is it seems to be one of the most common reasons for denials. Needless to say any other kind of prior criminal record will contribute to the denial factor in the end.

Denial rates also tend to be higher at certain Embassies/countries than others. Again, we can argue about whether or not that's discrimination, but it's just the reality. Some places are going to scrutinize more than others.

And then lastly, the individual discretion of the CO. CO's, as human beings, have the ability to make mistakes. You could be denied just because they don't feel the relationship is legitimate. Rare, but it's happened that some unlucky people end up getting denied merely because for whatever reason their case didn't convince the CO. That also works in the opposite way: CO's approve people who are actually just using immigration for a green card.

I think everyone here is paranoid about getting denied, especially if you have anything which could be remotely considered a red flag. If I were you, I wouldn't look at it like "Yes, I'm going to be approved because I'm from a low fraud country/don't have red flags/etc!" I'd just do the best I can preparing my case and hope for the best, but be prepared for any bumps along the way.

[JFH 12,190]

I think the majority of denials are cases where the person has NO possible path to immigration due to drug use, certain crimes, material misrep - the kind of stuff where even if you were married for years and living together, etc, etc would not make any difference. If you don't fit the requirements for US immigration because of your character, there's nothing you can do. Things that cause 221(g)s are fixable. Even 'not enough evidence of bona fide relationship' is fixable with a few more visits. I sometimes think a denial is a test to see if the couple comes back fighting or whether they give up. A true and genuine couple would carry on fighting to be together.

My husband has been denied a spousal visa from the UK with a lifetime ban due to his criminal record. In truth, we should never have bothered applying for him because I read the requirements and saw that anyone who has been sentenced to 3 years in prison has no chance but we thought/hoped they would take pity on us and make an exception. We quickly learnt that immigration has no shades of grey - you either qualify or you don't. His denial had nothing to do with being from a high-fraud or low-fraud country (I would imagine the US is seen as a low-fraud country for the UK) but based on his poor decisions in the past. There's nothing that can be done about that. We can't erase it.

[Unlockable 7,314]

OP,

Follow the tips on this website on gathering the evidence for your marriage and you should be fine.

I sometimes think a denial is a test to see if the couple comes back fighting or whether they give up. A true and genuine couple would carry on fighting to be together.

I'm glad you mentioned this because I have thought of this about how Ghana is handling K1 visas.

[JFH 12,190]

I'm glad you mentioned this because I have thought of this about how Ghana is handling K1 visas.

Yes, it was exactly Ghana that I was thinking of. Almost as if the COs are saying 'You reckon you're genuinely in love? Let me put that to the test and you show me how serious you are about this. I'll deny you and let's see if you come back with a CR-1 or disappear altogether.'

[JenniferNangel 137]

I know for a high fraud country like Dominican Republic the approval rate is 87% (if I'm not mistaken) I can't imagine any visa company having a success rate of 99% but I do know from experience that the whole process for me and my husband was pretty easy and the folks at vj have been extremely helpful

[JenniferNangel 137]

Also me and my husband have known each other for 3 years, dated 8 months and married for 4 months. We front loaded our application with conversations since February, close to 100 photos and some conversation between me and my family. We gave a lot more evidence than we needed to but we worried about being in high fraud country. He barely knows English and I barely know Spanish but we're learning each other's language so of course that was a worry also and we use google translate for most of our conversations but The interview was extremely easy they didn't really talk to my husband just me. They did ask about how we communicate and the co was satisfied with our answer. We're waiting on his visa now

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Ok, So am I right to assume, that a legit CR1 petition from a real couple with lots of bona fide proof, and all other requirements in place (e.g. income, health, police certificates) has a something like a 99.5% approval rate, especially if from a visa waiver country considered low fraud?

A rate like this isn't a useful metric because every case is judged on its own merits. If one year the denial rate goes up or down it only has to do with the cases that are presented.

If you are a real couple, if you are not otherwise barred from the US (for crimes or drug use or communicable disease), and if you can do all the forms the right way (have a suitable sponsor, etc), you will not be denied.

The surprise denials that you hear of most often are for suspicions of romance/ immigration fraud, where one person pretends to be in a relationship to get to the US.

So the answer to your question is if a person has all those the things you mention the approval rate is 100%.

[gregcrs2 1,778]

There are companies out there like RapidVisa that claim 99%+ success rates with IR-1/CR-1 visas.

Are those services having superior success rate, or is the normal approval rate of this visa type 99%+?

Are there any statistics out there to see the normal approval rate?

If you've done everything correctly, if you didn't lie about anything, if you haven't broken any laws, if you meet all the requirements, you will be approved.

Success rates by companies are not verifiable and have little meaning.

People are too paranoid about getting a denial.