Hoping for a Second Interview

[Love To Teach 161]

Hello---greetings from Pakistan! I'm here on my 8th visit in the past 4 years (yes, you read that right), enjoying quiet time with my husband of almost two years. Our papers arrived back in Nebraska after our refusal, dated 8-22-17.  I actually sent our CR1 papers in December of 2015. I see where they are just now processing last year's Dec., 2016 papers. Of course, with our continuing ####### luck, we get the place that is almost a year behind. Does this mean it will be almost another year before we hear about our papers again?

 

Another question: Has anyone accompanied his/her spouse to the second interview? I am planning to come back if we get another interview. If so, would I be allowed to be with him during the interview? Will they interview me? Any info is appreciated. Sometimes I'm not sure what will run out first---our money or our health..so sad.

 

Thanks for any info!

[Mary Lou 682]

13 minutes ago, Love To Teach said:

Hello---greetings from Pakistan! I'm here on my 8th visit in the past 4 years (yes, you read that right), enjoying quiet time with my husband of almost two years. Our papers arrived back in Nebraska after our refusal, dated 8-22-17.  I actually sent our CR1 papers in December of 2015. I see where they are just now processing last year's Dec., 2016 papers. Of course, with our continuing ####### luck, we get the place that is almost a year behind. Does this mean it will be almost another year before we hear about our papers again?

 

Another question: Has anyone accompanied his/her spouse to the second interview? I am planning to come back if we get another interview. If so, would I be allowed to be with him during the interview? Will they interview me? Any info is appreciated. Sometimes I'm not sure what will run out first---our money or our health..so sad.

 

Thanks for any info!

I can only answer one question for you, but yes, your case will go to Nebraska again, current processing time for I 130 is 8- 10 months on average.

 

Hopefully someone else can answer your other questions.

[Dianalorena 1,153]

13 hours ago, Love To Teach said:

Hello---greetings from Pakistan! I'm here on my 8th visit in the past 4 years (yes, you read that right), enjoying quiet time with my husband of almost two years. Our papers arrived back in Nebraska after our refusal, dated 8-22-17.  I actually sent our CR1 papers in December of 2015. I see where they are just now processing last year's Dec., 2016 papers. Of course, with our continuing ####### luck, we get the place that is almost a year behind. Does this mean it will be almost another year before we hear about our papers again?

 

Another question: Has anyone accompanied his/her spouse to the second interview? I am planning to come back if we get another interview. If so, would I be allowed to be with him during the interview? Will they interview me? Any info is appreciated. Sometimes I'm not sure what will run out first---our money or our health..so sad.

 

Thanks for any info!

Hi there!

I don't have any country-specific answers since I'm not familiar with Pakistan,  but for CR1/R1 interviews the spouse doesn't have to be there, and they don't get interviewed since the approval is all about the beneficiary.  Why was the first CR1 denied? Did you appeal? What is your new priority date? without this info is hard to guesstimate when you'll hear about your papers again.

Nebraska is currently at least 5-6 months behind other centers, unfortunately. We filed in February 2017 and 8 months in, are still waiting for approval. Some people from November-December continue to wait. I've heard that it takes up to 18 months for appealed cases to be approved, which is just absolutely bonkers. That's if they are approved.

I'm sorry this has been such a long and stressful process, these are hard times for us immigrants. You've guys have made it this far, which is impressive. Stay strong!

[Love To Teach 161]

The sad part is that they don't tell you the reason for the denial. You have to wait until they get to your papers again. I sent in Cr-1 papers in Dec. 2015. They requested a second kind of divorce paper from him...took another 4 months. Put our papers back to starting over. So he finally had his interview May 15, 2016. We were denied. The only thing we can figure is that I have 4 divorces (all justified), one including a K-1 with an abusive Moroccan. Papers finally arrived back in Nebraska Aug. 22, 2017, where we went to the bottom of the pile again. Nebraska is now working on December of last year.....ridiculous!

 

We are so discouraged and tired. I am presently here in Pak visiting him for the 8th time. We have been together for 6.5 years. I just feel like my health is starting to fail, as I am 66 years old now and have several health issues. We will have been married 2 years in a few weeks, and sent in our papers right after that.  I'm not sure how many more times I am going to be able to make this long trip, etc. And this is costing us a fortune, as we stay at a hotel because the govt says it is dangerous to stay at his house because of its location and holiday celebrations going on, people in the streets, etc. Sometimes I just feel like giving up, but we won't because we truly love and care about each other.

[Lemonslice 4,987]

1 hour ago, Love To Teach said:

The sad part is that they don't tell you the reason for the denial. You have to wait until they get to your papers again. I sent in Cr-1 papers in Dec. 2015. They requested a second kind of divorce paper from him...took another 4 months. Put our papers back to starting over. So he finally had his interview May 15, 2016. We were denied. The only thing we can figure is that I have 4 divorces (all justified), one including a K-1 with an abusive Moroccan. Papers finally arrived back in Nebraska Aug. 22, 2017, where we went to the bottom of the pile again. Nebraska is now working on December of last year.....ridiculous!

 

We are so discouraged and tired. I am presently here in Pak visiting him for the 8th time. We have been together for 6.5 years. I just feel like my health is starting to fail, as I am 66 years old now and have several health issues. We will have been married 2 years in a few weeks, and sent in our papers right after that.  I'm not sure how many more times I am going to be able to make this long trip, etc. And this is costing us a fortune, as we stay at a hotel because the govt says it is dangerous to stay at his house because of its location and holiday celebrations going on, people in the streets, etc. Sometimes I just feel like giving up, but we won't because we truly love and care about each other.

Could you live together for a while - time spent together is the best proof there is - In Pakistan, or in another country?  Have you visited his home and family during your other visits?

[Love To Teach 161]

No, I have to work a few more years for medical coverage, etc. I have some responsibilities I can't leave. When I retire in about 1.5 years, we will see what to do next if he still isn't here.

[Lemonslice 4,987]

I understand. Are you going to visit his home and family and enjoy the celebrations together?

[Love To Teach 161]

No, we will just go and visit this weekend. When he registered me with the police, they told him the hotel is safer than his house because of the holiday. The kids all work or go to school during the week, so we will spend time with them this weekend. When I arrived, there were hundreds of people milling around the airport for this holiday. It was chaos. Anyway, it is just so sad that this is taking all these years. We just want some years to spend together before it's too late. But that's life, I suppose. I love my job, just now making decent money. It would be a great life for him here. That's what makes it so hard. I'm really still in shock that we got turned down with all of our evidence, trips, and years together.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Love To Teach

[carolynhotstuff 252]

20 hours ago, Love To Teach said:

No, we will just go and visit this weekend. When he registered me with the police, they told him the hotel is safer than his house because of the holiday. The kids all work or go to school during the week, so we will spend time with them this weekend. When I arrived, there were hundreds of people milling around the airport for this holiday. It was chaos. Anyway, it is just so sad that this is taking all these years. We just want some years to spend together before it's too late. But that's life, I suppose. I love my job, just now making decent money. It would be a great life for him here. That's what makes it so hard. I'm really still in shock that we got turned down with all of our evidence, trips, and years together.

Your case was denied and sent back. You are no longer in the same department as those just filing their I-130's. Usually USCIS says give them 180 days to send you a NOIR. That is short for a Notice of Intent to revoke. That will come in your mailbox and will tell you the exact reasons your visa got denied. You will have 30 days to answer each and every point the embassy is making against your case. USCIS sometimes grants extensions to the 30 days but I've only known that to be done with really complicated cases. If USCIS agrees with you and not the embassy you will get a notice saying your case has been reaffirmed and will be sent back to the embassy for another interview. I think it is a great idea for you to be at this interview and they will question both of you. Expect for them to grill you and have you almost in tears.

 

While you are in Pakistan take plenty of pictures with his family. You can also write letters for his parents and siblings to sign saying they know about the marriage, approve of it and that everyone is happy with the marriage. He can also write and sign a letter giving a time line of your relationship. Bring all this proof back to the USA and keep it until you respond to the NOIR. It will save you the expense  of him have to send this stuff to you. Do not trust the regular mail of Pakistan. I am still waiting for cards my husband sent 8 years ago. I just got a card from a friend there mailed 2 months ago. Also copies of cards or letters you sent him and Western Union proof of any money he sent to you will be great too. Usually they deny the visa in Pakistan because they don't believe the relationship is for real. It's called fraud. You want proof that shows you are a real married couple and sending money is one such proof. I used a charity lawyer when I did our NOiR. She guided me and did an excellent job for me but our case was complicated. The embassy said among other things that we were not legally married cause a Pakistani Muslim can't marry an American Christian. Good luck with your case. It is just a waiting game now but there things you can do to get prepared.

[Love To Teach 161]

Thanks so much for the advice, Carolyn. Of course, it is not true that a Pakistani Muslim man cannot marry a Christian woman. My husband will set up an appointment with an Imam/scholar who he will get to cite the Koran evidence and write that it is legal for us to be married. He will also get his lawyer to do the same as far as the law. You would think that the embassy would know the law.

 

I will write the letters ASAP and get the signatures. Do you think it would be ok to get all family members to sign one letter attesting to our marriage and that they are happy for us? We would get them to sign, date, put their relationship, and ID number. We don't have tons of pics because the kids are all working, studying,  and gone a lot of the time, as they are all older. They are really shy and don't say much....lol  We will only get together with them a few times while I am here.

 

I am so glad you reminded me of this. I was thinking that he was the one who needed the evidence, but it's me. I want to be prepared. I am thinking they will wait til the last minute to send us the NOIR, which would be Feb, 2018. I will definitely be at his next interview.

Edited October 5, 2017 by Love To Teach

[Ahmed&Freda 628]

3 hours ago, carolynhotstuff said:

Your case was denied and sent back. You are no longer in the same department as those just filing their I-130's. Usually USCIS says give them 180 days to send you a NOIR. That is short for a Notice of Intent to revoke. That will come in your mailbox and will tell you the exact reasons your visa got denied. You will have 30 days to answer each and every point the embassy is making against your case. USCIS sometimes grants extensions to the 30 days but I've only known that to be done with really complicated cases. If USCIS agrees with you and not the embassy you will get a notice saying your case has been reaffirmed and will be sent back to the embassy for another interview. I think it is a great idea for you to be at this interview and they will question both of you. Expect for them to grill you and have you almost in tears.

 

While you are in Pakistan take plenty of pictures with his family. You can also write letters for his parents and siblings to sign saying they know about the marriage, approve of it and that everyone is happy with the marriage. He can also write and sign a letter giving a time line of your relationship. Bring all this proof back to the USA and keep it until you respond to the NOIR. It will save you the expense  of him have to send this stuff to you. Do not trust the regular mail of Pakistan. I am still waiting for cards my husband sent 8 years ago. I just got a card from a friend there mailed 2 months ago. Also copies of cards or letters you sent him and Western Union proof of any money he sent to you will be great too. Usually they deny the visa in Pakistan because they don't believe the relationship is for real. It's called fraud. You want proof that shows you are a real married couple and sending money is one such proof. I used a charity lawyer when I did our NOiR. She guided me and did an excellent job for me but our case was complicated. The embassy said among other things that we were not legally married cause a Pakistani Muslim can't marry an American Christian. Good luck with your case. It is just a waiting game now but there things you can do to get prepared.

How did they explain that it is not legal?   The Quran states that a Muslim man can marry a women of the book (Christian or Jew) however a women can not marry a non Muslim man,  Dr. Zakir Naik has made some valid points on this topic there is another verse in the Quran about Jesus and that the women should not believe that Jesus is God or the son of God.     On the other hand a Christian is not suppose to marry unequally yoked but the meaning of that can also be argued considering it means non believers or one belief being stronger than the other.    I was raised Christian but have always struggled with the trinity and although I have not converted to Islam I do not believe that Jesus is God but I feel he is divine (considering he was born of a virgin birth).   lol.. sorry if I rambled.     I'm so glad your finally together you had a long journey!!  What a heck of a time you had getting him home.   

 

@Love To Teach  hopefully you will here something soon!  ((HUGS))

 

~Freda

[Love To Teach 161]

" I'm so glad your finally together you had a long journey!!  What a heck of a time you had getting him home."

 

How I wish that was true! No, I'm just here in Pakistan for my 8th visit with him. We have heard nothing about our refused CR1, still waiting since May 15, 2017, when he had his interview. Of course, the date it was received in Nebraska was Aug. 22, so that puts us so far behind. Carolyn (above) said we are supposed to hear something by 180 days, so at least there is a deadline. Then we will know why we are refused. By then, we will have known each other for 7 years....it's just crazy! Thanks for the encouragement!!!

 

[bilal467 1]

On 10/5/2017 at 2:19 PM, carolynhotstuff said:

The embassy said among other things that we were not legally married cause a Pakistani Muslim can't marry an American Christian. Good luck with your case. It is just a waiting game now but there things you can do to get prepared.

Hello Carolyn! so did the embassy finally accept that a Pakistani Muslim can marry an American christian girl? If yes, how? how did u prove embassy about that?
Thank You!