Previous marriages (third marriage) CR1 denial??

[Jorcruzina 15]

Ok, so i spent days to see if there was a similar thread (please move my thread if it is not in the right topic <- i am new to this )but i could not find one. I do have a attorney, she told me to calm down and not worry about it- yet i am a person full with anxiety

Here is my Story:

In 2005 i married a US military men in Germany. Shortly after he took me to the States and left me for his ExGirlfriend which was followed by a divorce (2006). He never filed anything for me. Shortly after the divorce -still while in the US- i married a US Citizen. He filed for me, i got my conditional permanent residency through him. He started physically abusing me so i left and divorced him in 2007. After my two year permanent residency was up i left the US and returned to my Country. ( there was a 2 months overstay but my attorney said as long as it was under 6 months we will be fine)

I visited the US on the Visa Waiver Programm - never had issues at the POE in June 2014, May 2015 and December 2015 and met my current Husband (we knew each other from the time i lived in the US but met up and started falling in love. We got married in Dec 2015. It was a super small ceremony we did took a bunch of evidence photos and are almost done with our CR1 Visa process. I am waiting on my CC and the Interview in Frankfurt. He visited me in June this year to meet my parents and what not I was honest about my previous two marriages on all my paperwork, submitted all decrees- of course all with the help of our experienced immigration attorney.

Now as it is getting closer to my interview and i become more and more anxious about my Interview and if i get judged based on my previous marriages 10 years ago by the CO. Did anyone here had or even are currently in a similar situation than me? Or heard of anybody with a similar story?

[Ryan H 3,818]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

Not a similar story, but whole two prevous marriages, both to USCs, will be a red flag, the fact that it was 10 years ago will help. I think more likely than not you will be fine.

[Jorcruzina 15]

Not a similar story, but whole two prevous marriages, both to USCs, will be a red flag, the fact that it was 10 years ago will help. I think more likely than not you will be fine.

Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it.

After thoroughly researching the web i did found that a CO cannot deny you based on something that was initially available to USCIS during submitting your I130 petition. So any red flags that might cause issues where addressed in the initial filing aka the two previous divorces and my 2 months overstay. I even sent a copy of my old conditional permanent resident card and a copy of my ticket in 09 back to germany (i just kept it for keepsakes, never thought it might be handy one day) I submitted EVERYTHING and ANYTHING from my time in the US so absolutely nothing was kept during my I130 petition. Since i never had issues entering the US on the Visa Waiver Programm at any POE i hope i will be okay.

I guess i was just hoping for comforting words because i am literally freaking out over here.

[mallafri76 1,012]

Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it.

After thoroughly researching the web i did found that a CO cannot deny you based on something that was initially available to USCIS during submitting your I130 petition.

USCIS review petitions, it is up to the CO at the interview to determine whether or not to issue a visa. You're from an "easy" country but I'd still expect scrutiny at the interview.

[CharBoat 2]

Hey...It is easy to be freaking out with this process. My husband was denied June 2015 at our interview. The "official letter" took 16 months to receive and know the exact reasons the Consular had issues about our "bonafide marriage". The 1st thing mentioned was our age difference. I was given the chance to send more evidence, which I did, and we just received a I-797C Notice of Action in the mail. We are waiting to hear from the Vermont Service Center Department of State about what my husband will have to do next. We are not sure if he will go to another interview or will be given his visa. I am trying to find out about this I-797C NOA. This was my 3rd marriage but nothing was mentioned concerning my 2 previous marriages...only had to send the marriage and divorce papers. My husband and I have been almost 3 years now with our visa journey. I was told by a U.S. Senator's office personnel back in 2013 that this process was a very lengthy process and it has tried my patience but I am "patiently" waiting for this last leg of our long journey to come to our completion with this so we can start our new USA life together. Do not lose heart !!! I don't know what your "faith" is but I have had to take my mind back to a scripture that tells me that a spirit of fear ( which causes us to freak out) does not come from "above". When you are experiencing that overwhelming fear of all the "what if's", just know it is fear based. This is not a fast process and being denied is disheartening....but it has been a time for us to develop a much deeper love between my husband and I. We lift each other up and go through these setbacks together and our relationship is stronger for this time. I will be praying for your process and you. It will all work out.

[Jorcruzina 15]

Hey...It is easy to be freaking out with this process. My husband was denied June 2015 at our interview. The "official letter" took 16 months to receive and know the exact reasons the Consular had issues about our "bonafide marriage". The 1st thing mentioned was our age difference. I was given the chance to send more evidence, which I did, and we just received a I-797C Notice of Action in the mail. We are waiting to hear from the Vermont Service Center Department of State about what my husband will have to do next. We are not sure if he will go to another interview or will be given his visa. I am trying to find out about this I-797C NOA. This was my 3rd marriage but nothing was mentioned concerning my 2 previous marriages..

Thank you for your kind and inspiring words. Your story sounds awful and i can't believe they make you go through all this. I also read that sometimes they revoke/return/deny petitions based on stupid evidence just to see if the couple will actually go through with it and fight. I just hope the CO won't nitpick on my petition just because he has a bad day. I am actually planning on my husband accompanying at the Interview since the Embassy in Frankfurt does allow Spouses to be there. Ultimately there is nothing i can do about it now- all i can do is wait of for my interview and hope for the best.

Did you petition for your previous husbands as well?? I- as the beneficiary was married twice before- all to us citizens.(which will probably cause a red flag) My husband -in that case my petitioner-was never married before.

I also will pray and think about you and hope your process will finally come to an end- a positive one that is

[Gretch 11]

I bet you'll be okay, but be prepared for the worst just in case (as far as their questioning goes, I mean). Supposedly the immigration process is sympathetic to domestic violence situations (I don't have a lot of confidence in such things at the moment, but that's what I understand) and I think they will understand that reasoning. You ask if they will judge you for your previous marriages and I don't think that will be the problem--divorce is so common in the US. The question, which I think you understand, is whether they will think you're just dying to move to the US and will marry anyone to get there, therefore this current marriage isn't bona fide. It helps that (as I understand) you have been back in Germany for several years and presumably have had a life and a job there. I don't think anyone considers Germans to be desperate to move to the US the way they think of people in poorer countries. I don't know anything about visa overstays, but I'm sure it will help also that you've visited three times since then and followed all the rules.

My husband and I have both been married before and I was concerned about red flags on both sides. My marriage ended seven years ago but it was a same-sex marriage and I thought the CO might be suspicious and ask why I was marrying a man now. (Obviously this is common enough, but I was still anxious about it.) My husband had been separated for years but only started the divorce process after we got together, and his divorce was finalized only a month before our wedding. I thought that would look suspicious. No proof he and his ex had been separated except for the blessedly gossipy divorce documents, which spelled out every personal detail--if it had been an American-style divorce document, there wouldn't have been any proof at all. And he does come from a poor country. But the CO didn't ask a single personal or accusatory question--he just asked basic facts about dates, etc. Still, I'm glad my husband was prepared with answers for any question we could think of regarding our previous marriages, why our wedding was small, why no one from my family was there, etc.

Best of luck!

[Jorcruzina 15]

I bet you'll be okay, but be prepared for the worst just in case (as far as their questioning goes, I mean). Supposedly the immigration process is sympathetic to domestic violence situations (I don't have a lot of confidence in such things at the moment, but that's what I understand) and I think they will understand that reasoning. You ask if they will judge you for your previous marriages and I don't think that will be the problem--divorce is so common in the US. The question, which I think you understand, is whether they will think you're just dying to move to the US and will marry anyone to get there, therefore this current marriage isn't bona fide. It helps that (as I understand) you have been back in Germany for several years and presumably have had a life and a job there. I don't think anyone considers Germans to be desperate to move to the US the way they think of people in poorer countries. I don't know anything about visa overstays, but I'm sure it will help also that you've visited three times since then and followed all the rules.

Thank you so much for your answer. You saved my troubled mind a little. Thats what other people have told me plus my attorney. That i am from a country where there should be little to no issues. I am kind of reluctant to go to the states since i have a super good job here, make good money, have a nice apartment and we all know how important health insurance is, right? The only reason is my husband. He can't live here with me because he has a family business with his dad and can't speak german. We have by far a better infrastructure and really no-one wants to leave. Hearing your story gives me a little bit of hope- thanks for that. I have been living here since 09, so almost 8 years and my last divorce was 10 years go. I just hope those facts help me. I do have a ton of evidence and my husband will probably be here for the interview since he is visiting me for the second time in december. I just hope they schedule my interview in january.

What did your husband bring to his interview as far as evidence goes?

I would wish you best of luck as well but you already made it

[Gretch 11]

We didn't have anything unusual or any great abundance of evidence--pictures of us in different situations throughout our relationship, wedding pictures, me with his family; wedding cards and letters; receipts. I frontloaded and sideloaded all that. My husband brought a few newer pictures to the interview, along with the originals of all the documents, but they didn't ask to see anything at all.

[Jorcruzina 15]

We didn't have anything unusual or any great abundance of evidence--pictures of us in different situations throughout our relationship, wedding pictures, me with his family; wedding cards and letters; receipts. I frontloaded and sideloaded all that. My husband brought a few newer pictures to the interview, along with the originals of all the documents, but they didn't ask to see anything at all.

Okay, i just bring whatever i have-which is a ton. I hope i goes well. Thanks so much!

[millefleur 5,047]

I'm in a similar situation to you except that I'm the USC. I've never petitioned for anyone before, but my previous spouses were foreigners. I'm a little nervous about it as well, just trying to be prepared for the barrage of questions which will no doubt accompany my husband's interview (and mine since I'm doing DCF) which is added to the fact that we have an age difference. Just be prepared for it and even try to do a "mock" interview together with a friend or your spouse.

Anyway, like the others said, Germany usually isn't too hard....and it's good you're preparing now. Prepare and gather as much evidence as you can! If your husband actually goes with you to the interview, that might help at least ease the tension for you. But I don't know if they will interview him or not?

Edited November 22, 2016 by millefleur

[Jorcruzina 15]

I'm in a similar situation to you except that I'm the USC. I've never petitioned for anyone before, but my previous spouses were foreigners. I'm a little nervous about it as well, just trying to be prepared for the barrage of questions which will no doubt accompany my husband's interview (and mine since I'm doing DCF) which is added to the fact that we have an age difference. Just be prepared for it and even try to do a "mock" interview together with a friend or your spouse.

Anyway, like the others said, Germany usually isn't too hard....and it's good you're preparing now. Prepare and gather as much evidence as you can! If your husband actually goes with you to the interview, that might help at least ease the tension for you. But I don't know if they will interview him or not?

How many times have you been married before? I don't think they care if you have never petitioned for anyone. This is my second petition.. :/ When i told my lawyer i've been married two times before she shrugged it off like it was no big deal. She is from russia also and has been married two times before. She said that is the most normal thing in america to be married more than once. Russia also seems to be more lenient, since it is also not a country that has a lot of fraudsters. Ugh, i wish we could do DCF it takes way less time. You are lucky I think you will be fine, really. How big is your age difference?

I am preparing for the worst and my lawyer and i are going to have a preparation Skype session.

[millefleur 5,047]

How many times have you been married before? I don't think they care if you have never petitioned for anyone. This is my second petition.. :/ When i told my lawyer i've been married two times before she shrugged it off like it was no big deal. She is from russia also and has been married two times before. She said that is the most normal thing in america to be married more than once. Russia also seems to be more lenient, since it is also not a country that has a lot of fraudsters. Ugh, i wish we could do DCF it takes way less time. You are lucky I think you will be fine, really. How big is your age difference?

I am preparing for the worst and my lawyer and i are going to have a preparation Skype session.

Twice before, petitioning for my third. Despite the fact that I didn't petition anyone before, the fact that they were foreigners is kind of a red flag I'm told, especially because I'm just you're average joe American lady, it's not like I had foreign blood or roots to logically end up with them. It's all kind of a doozy of a story, but such is life! It is pretty normal to have multiple marriages in the US....both my parents are twice divorced.

Yes, the DCF thing is hugely convenient. I'm really glad we have it as an option. Our age difference is a little over ten years, it's just odd because it's an older woman/younger man scenario and I think they might be skeptical of that because my husband is so young.

It's great that you have a lawyer to help. I thought about getting one, but frankly I don't trust lawyers here. My dad is friends with an immigration lawyer stateside and if anything goes wrong, I'm planning to rely on her.

[Jorcruzina 15]

Twice before, petitioning for my third. Despite the fact that I didn't petition anyone before, the fact that they were foreigners is kind of a red flag I'm told, especially because I'm just you're average joe American lady, it's not like I had foreign blood or roots to logically end up with them. It's all kind of a doozy of a story, but such is life! It is pretty normal to have multiple marriages in the US....both my parents are twice divorced.

Yes, the DCF thing is hugely convenient. I'm really glad we have it as an option. Our age difference is a little over ten years, it's just odd because it's an older woman/younger man scenario and I think they might be skeptical of that because my husband is so young.

It's great that you have a lawyer to help. I thought about getting one, but frankly I don't trust lawyers here. My dad is friends with an immigration lawyer stateside and if anything goes wrong, I'm planning to rely on her.

It is pretty common to be married more than once in the States. Here in Germany it is different. All my girlfriends still aren't married and i have been married twice and now i am on my third. I actually wasn't going to get married anymore but after 10 years and being with the man of my dreams, you reconsider. We have been together for 2,5 years now, married for 1 and talking for 3 years. He came here i always went back to the states, so we saw each other a lot. So i hope all these things weigh out the fact of my previous marriages.

I am older than my husband. 3 years. I think the age gap - mind me speculating after reading some of the threads on here- are red flags in asian countries.

If it would've been my first petition, i would have filed it without a lawyer but i wanted the petition to be perfect and without any flaws. She checks for everything and makes sure it all looks good plus if anything goes wrong she is the waiver queen. She went to a top notch law school and is very familiar with consular processing. She keeps me sane when i freak out again about my petition and have odd questions

Let me know if you need any help since we are both cruising in the marriage boat