What is red flag and how to check it?

[Nazokat 13]

I very often see the topic about red flag but I still dont understand what that exactly means. Actually I know its something what can warn that there's something wrong with case BUT how should I check that I'm under the red flag or nor?

[KULtoATL 1,551]

• Nothing in common - age, religion, language, educational, financial etc. 
• Lack of evidence of a bonafide relationship.
• Your story does not match up with the evidence.
• Brief relationship preceding the petition filing.
• Multiple K-1 petitions by US petitioner OR foreign beneficiary was petitioned by different US petitioners at different times.
• Relationship is kept a secret from people in real life.
• Past visa attempts - frequent and failed - seems desperate to move to the US.

[dentsflogged 352]

2 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

• Nothing in common - age, religion, language, educational, financial etc. 
• Lack of evidence of a bonafide relationship.
• Your story does not match up with the evidence.
• Brief relationship preceding the petition filing.
• Multiple K-1 petitions by US petitioner OR foreign beneficiary was petitioned by different US petitioners at different times.
• Relationship is kept a secret from people in real life.
• Past visa attempts - frequent and failed - seems desperate to move to the US.

I know there's probably no hard-and-fast rule, but who defines which of these is a red flag and what sort of weight it carries?

 

ie: I'm 7 years older than my partner (which apparently is odd since normally the male in a relationship is older, especially in Western countries) - I'm sure that's a red flag to some, but not others. 

"Brief" relationship - define brief?  My partner moved in with me 3 days after we met, and we've known each other now for over a year and will (hopefully!) file in December, so that'll be 16 months of knowing one another and 5.5 months of that time physically together.... many of my friends think that's "way too soon to know" but again - who defines that?

 

I'm really new to all this but it just seems to arbitrary and based on so much (potential) presumption.  My partner and I are not at all lovey-dovey in front of other people or in text - when we talk about our feelings it's face to face or on the phone - occasionally he'll send a blowing-kiss emoji which is a big deal for him... but reading more I'm starting to get paranoid that if I don't seem "in love" or "invested" enough then we may be declined? 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

7 years isn't an issue. You being the older female in the relationship (no offense!) won't be an issue either because it's very common in the Western world these days. And I mean, you do come from Australia so it is not as uncommon as you think  

 

Yours isn't that brief by the time you file. Brief is more like people who only met once, dated like 3-4 months and then already file a I-129F. Surprisingly, these people still got approved 

 

How you guys text don't really matter. Not everyone uses emojis. Some people think it's immature. Not like you have to show all your conversations with your partner. Just pick a few whereby you guys discuss about your relationship future, families etc. Something more substantial you know? Photos with each other, well, you don't need kissing photos if that's what you are worried about. Normal photos of you guys together as well as with family and friends are perfectly fine.

[broppy 204]

14 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

I know there's probably no hard-and-fast rule, but who defines which of these is a red flag and what sort of weight it carries?

That's ultimately down to the consular officer handling your visa interview (and possibly his/her supervisor). Someone who's presumably familiar with both US and local cultures and understands what doesn't quite ring true for some reason.

14 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

ie: I'm 7 years older than my partner (which apparently is odd since normally the male in a relationship is older, especially in Western countries) - I'm sure that's a red flag to some, but not others. 

"Brief" relationship - define brief?  My partner moved in with me 3 days after we met, and we've known each other now for over a year and will (hopefully!) file in December, so that'll be 16 months of knowing one another and 5.5 months of that time physically together.... many of my friends think that's "way too soon to know" but again - who defines that?

 

I'm really new to all this but it just seems to arbitrary and based on so much (potential) presumption.  My partner and I are not at all lovey-dovey in front of other people or in text - when we talk about our feelings it's face to face or on the phone - occasionally he'll send a blowing-kiss emoji which is a big deal for him... but reading more I'm starting to get paranoid that if I don't seem "in love" or "invested" enough then we may be declined? 

Like KULtoATL just said - none of that really stands out as odd - my missus is 12 years older.

[dentsflogged 352]

1 minute ago, broppy said:

That's ultimately down to the consular officer handling your visa interview (and possibly his/her supervisor). Someone who's presumably familiar with both US and local cultures and understands what doesn't quite ring true for some reason.

Like KULtoATL just said - none of that really stands out as odd - my missus is 12 years older.

12 years? Are you guys relatively young (I'm sorry if that's rude to ask).   

I've had several people question me already over the age gap, because I'm in my mid 30's and they're all coming up with "oh, but don't you want kids?" (nope) and then follow on with "Oh, but he's young, what if he changes his mind?" (he's already talking about getting a vasectomy, so... nope?) so I can't imagine the side-eyes that you guys must get! 

I guess all we can all do is just try to be as prepared as possible and have reasonable explanations for anything that may seem "odd" (as evidenced with my previous post lol)

[broppy 204]

4 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

12 years? Are you guys relatively young (I'm sorry if that's rude to ask).   

I've had several people question me already over the age gap, because I'm in my mid 30's and they're all coming up with "oh, but don't you want kids?" (nope) and then follow on with "Oh, but he's young, what if he changes his mind?" (he's already talking about getting a vasectomy, so... nope?) so I can't imagine the side-eyes that you guys must get! 

LOL! That sounds exactly like us. I was 31 when we married - neither of us wanted kids - and I'd already had the vasectomy before then.

Edited September 11, 2017 by broppy

[bakphx1 789]

You don't register on the radar for those reasons. 

 

[Nazokat 13]

We have known each other since may 2016 but our relation has started from September 2016 and in January 2017 we did meet in Turkey 1st and once for 15 days, he made such a beautiful proposal what I surely agreed ^) My interview scheduled October 3, and now he's under uzbek visa proccess that he will accompanying me at my interview. But everyone knows(including my family,frnds,coworkers...) about our relationship, also we had small engagement party with my sister and brother-in-law when we have been in Turkey. He supports me financially as well so I have all money transfer proof. We have just 3 years age diffirence( he's older) which is perfect match for Muslims(we both are).

The only thing what makes me to worry is that we have met just once for short time because his job schedule is very comlicated and stressful, not easy to take vacation... I really hope that will not be cause to get denied...

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Use the advance search tool and type in red flag.  There you will see numerous topics on the subject of red flag that you can read to learn more about them.  It has been discussed here many times.

http://www.visajourney.com/sitesearch/?cx=partner-pub-3407508467788263%3A9725800110&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=red+flag&sa=Search&siteurl=www.visajourney.com%2Ftimeline%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D270421&r

[Nazokat 13]

11 minutes ago, LionessDeon said:

Use the advance search tool and type in red flag.  There you will see numerous topics on the subject of red flag that you can read to learn more about them.  It has been discussed here many times.

http://www.visajourney.com/sitesearch/?cx=partner-pub-3407508467788263%3A9725800110&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=red+flag&sa=Search&siteurl=www.visajourney.com%2Ftimeline%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D270421&r

I meant is there any official website to check the red flag status just like ceac.state.gov where we can check case status?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

13 minutes ago, Nazokat said:

I meant is there any official website to check the red flag status just like ceac.state.gov where we can check case status?

No.  Not aware of any official red flag status case tracker.  It is all within the regular case status tracker.

[amul 229]

1 hour ago, Nazokat said:

I meant is there any official website to check the red flag status just like ceac.state.gov where we can check case status?

No, these red flags are just that -- there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to concerns as each case is different and the VO looks at the whole picture before making a decision. We are a living proof of that! 

 

So there are no official "red flag" websites, but more like, stories and experiences (forums like VJ) of what might or might not cause a concern during a petition. 

 

Bol sans (best of luck!)  

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2017 by amul

[amul 229]

4 hours ago, dentsflogged said:

12 years? Are you guys relatively young (I'm sorry if that's rude to ask).   

I've had several people question me already over the age gap, because I'm in my mid 30's and they're all coming up with "oh, but don't you want kids?" (nope) and then follow on with "Oh, but he's young, what if he changes his mind?" (he's already talking about getting a vasectomy, so... nope?) so I can't imagine the side-eyes that you guys must get! 

Oh wow! This particular thing has always interested me -- to hear others lay on the assumption that kids make a marriage, marriage. I have come to accept that it is something people tend to pry about and have lined up an answer that fits me (even when I was 20 something I delivered the same line!) and it silences most folks gently.  

 

Oh and about the side eye thing, my hubby and I are 20+ years apart!  

 

4 hours ago, dentsflogged said:

I guess all we can all do is just try to be as prepared as possible and have reasonable explanations for anything that may seem "odd" (as evidenced with my previous post lol)

Just stay true to yourself, be honest with VO folks, be prepared and live your life. Try getting in extra visits as face time spent squashes most red flags!

 

Best of luck.

[dentsflogged 352]

4 minutes ago, amul said:

Oh wow! This particular thing has always interested me -- to hear others lay on the assumption that kids make a marriage, marriage. I have come to accept that it is something people tend to pry about and have lined up an answer that fits me (even when I was 20 something I delivered the same line!) and it silences most folks gently.  

 

Oh and about the side eye thing, my hubby and I are 20+ years apart!  

 

Just stay true to yourself, be honest with VO folks, be prepared and live your life. Try getting in extra visits as face time spent squashes most red flags!

 

Best of luck.

Thanks!

 

We have a lot of face-time (not as much as I'd like obviously!) between when he lived with me for 3 months, then I was there for a month in May and another 7 weeks over the end of year holidays (leaving in 70 days and 13 hours, not that I'm counting!) that I'm hoping to extend to 10 weeks if my boss is going to be super amazing. 

 

Looking forward to startibg the process but it's scary st the same time!