Married my cousin, N-400 stokes interview, nervously waiting the result ...

[SteveG1003 1]

I write this out to help others in or will be in my situation. It has been a mess, and if we were just a bit more prepare, it would have save us from a lot of headache.

 

I married my cousin! Please don't judge us. I love her and while I rushed the propose & the marriage to keep her here with me, we do it for love, and have been married for almost 5 years now. Both of us have good jobs, file tax together, live together, share bank accounts, share several credit cards, share car title, insurance ... . The only negative mask for the USCIS to judge us was that she's a couple of years older than me, married one, and we couldn't have kid (and haven't seek infertility treatment).

Married, get 2 years green card, then 10 years green card. Next, we filed for N-400 naturalization based on marriage. We should had consulate a lawyer. We were overconfident in our case, and file all the application ourselves. We expected a smooth process, as our case were so strong, they didn't even interview us when removing the visa condition. Low and behold, they scheduled us for a 2nd N-400 interview. We walked into the interview thinking they just want to verify something and see both of us together hand in hand. Not so! We got separated,  and questioned. I'm not sure what raised the red flag, but probably because the officer found out she is my first cousin (we didn't, and don't have to disclose that, and none of the application form ask for that). They did the stokes interview on us. I think we had about 3 answers not matching, out of about 20, 30 questions. They get nasty, asking each of us separately to confess, then brought in another officer to help scare the out of us (excuse my language).  For a couple who don't even have a traffic ticket in the last 5 years & were expecting a smooth 10, 15 minutes interview, they really did scare the out of us. They threaten fine, jail time, deportation ... and tried to get a us to say that our marriage isn't real. We were questioned for about 4, 5 hours. They let us go and tell us to wait for a mailed decision letter. We were really shaken by the experience, and confused on what will happen next. Talked to a lawyer, and he told us that damaged is done and we should just wait for a decision letter, and possibly a home visit. While we live together, it is still nerve racking waiting for the knock on the door. Wife doesn't even let me go out any more, and makes me stay at home every evening. It has been a month & we are thinking of retaining a lawyer. If any of you guy have any input or advice for us, please share.

 

Lesson learn for all of you our there:

- Do not apply for naturalization based on 3 years marriage. If you can afford it, wait for the 5 years. We should, and would have avoided this whole mess if we wait just another years before applying (we applied late at around the 4 years mark, and would had been able to applied now under the 5 years rule).

- Be prepared for harsh interview, and try to avoid them at all cost. The way they asked make it really hard to get all the answer correctly, unless you have photographic memory.

- It seems like the USCIS has gotten a whole lot harder since Trump came into the office. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

 

 

[Ontarkie 14,221]

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with applying based on 3 yrs married. Something set something off in your case. Whether the 2 yr or the 10 processing CO dropped the ball or something showed up somewhere. Do you think any family/friends/coworkers could have made a false claim that your marriage is fake?  

[Lemonslice 4,838]

Where do you live? Laws on marriage between cousins vary from state to state.

[SteveG1003 1]

7 hours ago, Lemonslice said:

Where do you live? Laws on marriage between cousins vary from state to state.

California. It's perfectly legal here.

[SteveG1003 1]

7 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with applying based on 3 yrs married. Something set something off in your case. Whether the 2 yr or the 10 processing CO dropped the ball or something showed up somewhere. Do you think any family/friends/coworkers could have made a false claim that your marriage is fake?  

 

I read that the USCIS consider the naturalization based on 3 years married is a privilege, thus check very closely about the marriage. On the other hand, the 5 years naturalization only require you to be a good citizen in the last 5 years (pay tax, no arrest ...). In our case, the cousin marriage might had given out the bad vibe.

 

One of the lawyer that we talked to mentioned that someone who doesn't like us might had called and reported us. We keep thinking, but can't tell who that person is. We don't really have any enemy at work, or in our social circle. Maybe someone jealous with us. It's kind of suck getting back-stabbed like that.

 

[Ontarkie 14,221]

3 hours ago, SteveG1003 said:

 

I read that the USCIS consider the naturalization based on 3 years married is a privilege, thus check very closely about the marriage. On the other hand, the 5 years naturalization only require you to be a good citizen in the last 5 years (pay tax, no arrest ...). In our case, the cousin marriage might had given out the bad vibe.

 

One of the lawyer that we talked to mentioned that someone who doesn't like us might had called and reported us. We keep thinking, but can't tell who that person is. We don't really have any enemy at work, or in our social circle. Maybe someone jealous with us. It's kind of suck getting back-stabbed like that.

 

Yes it should be that way. We have seen it on here more times then I can count about them digging into the marriage at the 5 yr mark too. 

 I think a jealous or hateful person must have sent them something. It obviously was enough to cause a stokes interview but it seems you two made it through that. 

[charmander 692]

I agree with others someone who knows both of you must have tipped them off. A friend, a relative, an ex-lover, god knows. I've been following this forum for a while and seen a lot of 3-year based applications. I've seen a few people got RFE'd for no reason despite having their ROC's approved but I've not not seen a single naturalization interview that straight went to stoke interview for a potential marriage fraud.

 

I totally understand your frustration, I'd be like you guys too but I don't think it would have mattered even if your case was a 5 yr application since what they are after is whether you gained permanent residency thru marriage fraud.

 

I hope it all works out well, as others pointed out since they are after marriage fraud you might get visited by agents at home, god knows when but since USCIS has to make a decision within 120 days after the interview I assume it would happen within that time period. Best of luck!

[Corey911 37]

Again, it has nothing to do with Trump.

[shell20 746]

16 hours ago, SteveG1003 said:

I write this out to help others in or will be in my situation. It has been a mess, and if we were just a bit more prepare, it would have save us from a lot of headache.

 

I married my cousin! Please don't judge us. I love her and while I rushed the propose & the marriage to keep her here with me, we do it for love, and have been married for almost 5 years now. Both of us have good jobs, file tax together, live together, share bank accounts, share several credit cards, share car title, insurance ... . The only negative mask for the USCIS to judge us was that she's a couple of years older than me, married one, and we couldn't have kid (and haven't seek infertility treatment).

Married, get 2 years green card, then 10 years green card. Next, we filed for N-400 naturalization based on marriage. We should had consulate a lawyer. We were overconfident in our case, and file all the application ourselves. We expected a smooth process, as our case were so strong, they didn't even interview us when removing the visa condition. Low and behold, they scheduled us for a 2nd N-400 interview. We walked into the interview thinking they just want to verify something and see both of us together hand in hand. Not so! We got separated,  and questioned. I'm not sure what raised the red flag, but probably because the officer found out she is my first cousin (we didn't, and don't have to disclose that, and none of the application form ask for that). They did the stokes interview on us. I think we had about 3 answers not matching, out of about 20, 30 questions. They get nasty, asking each of us separately to confess, then brought in another officer to help scare the out of us (excuse my language).  For a couple who don't even have a traffic ticket in the last 5 years & were expecting a smooth 10, 15 minutes interview, they really did scare the out of us. They threaten fine, jail time, deportation ... and tried to get a us to say that our marriage isn't real. We were questioned for about 4, 5 hours. They let us go and tell us to wait for a mailed decision letter. We were really shaken by the experience, and confused on what will happen next. Talked to a lawyer, and he told us that damaged is done and we should just wait for a decision letter, and possibly a home visit. While we live together, it is still nerve racking waiting for the knock on the door. Wife doesn't even let me go out any more, and makes me stay at home every evening. It has been a month & we are thinking of retaining a lawyer. If any of you guy have any input or advice for us, please share.

 

Lesson learn for all of you our there:

- Do not apply for naturalization based on 3 years marriage. If you can afford it, wait for the 5 years. We should, and would have avoided this whole mess if we wait just another years before applying (we applied late at around the 4 years mark, and would had been able to applied now under the 5 years rule).

- Be prepared for harsh interview, and try to avoid them at all cost. The way they asked make it really hard to get all the answer correctly, unless you have photographic memory.

- It seems like the USCIS has gotten a whole lot harder since Trump came into the office. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

 

 

Thank you for sharing your experience. I didn't even realise that they conducted Stoke Interviews for Naturalization.  I don't think your lawyer is very supportive saying something like that.  I know you feel probably shaken from this awful experience and I couldn't imagine how you both feel, but remember you have a valid marriage, so if they decide to do a home visit then at least you can show them how valid it is! 

 

I don't think 3 years, 5 years or even 10 years would make a difference to your case, I just feel they flagged something or someone has written to them about your case.  Who knows it could be someone who doesn't think that cousins should marry, there are some weird people out there who like to meddle in other people's business.   

 

Try and stay calm and although it's easy for me to say as I'm not going through it, welcome any home visit, it gives you the chance to prove it to them and then you can be done with the immigration journey.  Good luck!

[SteveG1003 1]

9 hours ago, Corey911 said:

Again, it has nothing to do with Trump.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/21/us/politics/dhs-immigration-trump.html

 

8 hours ago, shell20 said:

Thank you for sharing your experience. I didn't even realise that they conducted Stoke Interviews for Naturalization.  I don't think your lawyer is very supportive saying something like that.  I know you feel probably shaken from this awful experience and I couldn't imagine how you both feel, but remember you have a valid marriage, so if they decide to do a home visit then at least you can show them how valid it is! 

 

I don't think 3 years, 5 years or even 10 years would make a difference to your case, I just feel they flagged something or someone has written to them about your case.  Who knows it could be someone who doesn't think that cousins should marry, there are some weird people out there who like to meddle in other people's business.   

 

Try and stay calm and although it's easy for me to say as I'm not going through it, welcome any home visit, it gives you the chance to prove it to them and then you can be done with the immigration journey.  Good luck!

We didn't expect it to be a stoke interview either. Why won't they see that if our marriage is fake, we would had divorced shortly after she has her 10 years green card? I wish they had followed us home on that day, or just give us a straight up "no". We can just forget about the citizenship & apply again 5, 10 years down the road. We do fight from time to time, but I don't see us ever splitting up. Wife was a nervous wreck for a whole week after the interview. Lol, she printed a bunch of our pictures to hang around the house just for the INS to see.

 

14 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

Yes it should be that way. We have seen it on here more times then I can count about them digging into the marriage at the 5 yr mark too. 

 I think a jealous or hateful person must have sent them something. It obviously was enough to cause a stokes interview but it seems you two made it through that. 

We are not sure if we made it through. We got a couple of answers mismatched. I read from others that they would give the couple a chance to explain. Not in our case. They jumped on us and asking us to make confession. I asked them if they want me to lie & make the confession the way they want.

[shell20 746]

39 minutes ago, SteveG1003 said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/21/us/politics/dhs-immigration-trump.html

 

We didn't expect it to be a stoke interview either. Why won't they see that if our marriage is fake, we would had divorced shortly after she has her 10 years green card? I wish they had followed us home on that day, or just give us a straight up "no". We can just forget about the citizenship & apply again 5, 10 years down the road. We do fight from time to time, but I don't see us ever splitting up. Wife was a nervous wreck for a whole week after the interview. Lol, she printed a bunch of our pictures to hang around the house just for the INS to see.

 

We are not sure if we made it through. We got a couple of answers mismatched. I read from others that they would give the couple a chance to explain. Not in our case. They jumped on us and asking us to make confession. I asked them if they want me to lie & make the confession the way they want.

Ok getting on my high horse here, did they actually deny your application?  I don't think what I read they did!  Fight for what is yours, your stronger than that, if you can marry each other knowing it might cause a few bias opinions from blind sided people, why can't you both say you know what, this is a true, legal marriage and we will prove it! It sounds like you have a defeatist attitude and I don't know why when you have both followed love instead of other peoples opinions.

 

Ok off my podium now, good luck with whatever route you choose to take!

[Going through 5,671]

On 10/10/2017 at 7:49 PM, SteveG1003 said:

I love her and while I rushed the propose & the marriage to keep her here with me, we do it for love

I'm wondering if this is the part the IO was focused on....and perhaps he/she is wondering if the GC was adjudicated properly in the first place.

In some instances, USCIS doesn't "catch up" with certain circumstances until the N400 and maybe the IO is questioning the validity of the marriage now, and whether the issuing of the green card was appropriately done.

 

When you say "rushed"----how rushed was it?  When you say "to keep her here with me"---what kind of visa did your wife cross the border on, and how quickly after crossing the border did you get married and file? 

 

Not judging you here, just trying to see what the IO may have been thinking when putting all the pieces together.

 

 

On 10/10/2017 at 7:49 PM, SteveG1003 said:

- Do not apply for naturalization based on 3 years marriage. If you can afford it, wait for the 5 years. We should, and would have avoided this whole mess if we wait just another years before applying

 

Filing at the 5-year mark doesn't make anyone any safer than filing at the 3-year mark.  During my interview last month, the IO started questioning when I got married, how I met my husband, how I crossed the border, etc. too....I filed under the 5-year eligibility rule and have been a GC holder for 12 years now....so I don't think that makes any difference in their eyes when adjudicating cases.  Part of how they weed out fraud is by being harsh when doing a Stokes interview as they want the person to crumble under pressure and confess to wrongdoings or catch them in lies.   If you were able to answer their questions calmly and coherently, and what you said matches the evidence they have in your file, you will have done well.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[SteveG1003 1]

On 10/12/2017 at 2:30 AM, Going through said:

I'm wondering if this is the part the IO was focused on....and perhaps he/she is wondering if the GC was adjudicated properly in the first place.

In some instances, USCIS doesn't "catch up" with certain circumstances until the N400 and maybe the IO is questioning the validity of the marriage now, and whether the issuing of the green card was appropriately done.

When you say "rushed"----how rushed was it?  When you say "to keep her here with me"---what kind of visa did your wife cross the border on, and how quickly after crossing the border did you get married and file? 

Not judging you here, just trying to see what the IO may have been thinking when putting all the pieces together.

 

We married after she were here for almost 3 months, and submit the application just a few days before the 3 months mask. She didn't need a visa to enter the US (citizen of a visa waver country), but still under the 3 months rule (i.e. have to exit and return every 3 months if you want to continue to visit the US legally)

 

On 10/12/2017 at 2:30 AM, Going through said:

Filing at the 5-year mark doesn't make anyone any safer than filing at the 3-year mark.  During my interview last month, the IO started questioning when I got married, how I met my husband, how I crossed the border, etc. too....I filed under the 5-year eligibility rule and have been a GC holder for 12 years now....so I don't think that makes any difference in their eyes when adjudicating cases.  Part of how they weed out fraud is by being harsh when doing a Stokes interview as they want the person to crumble under pressure and confess to wrongdoings or catch them in lies.   If you were able to answer their questions calmly and coherently, and what you said matches the evidence they have in your file, you will have done well.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Those questions that you got are what we were expected, and they can't be compared to a 4, 5 hours of interrogation. We were traumatized for a week after the interview! 

[Holt 73]

Any new update?

[IPv6Freely 64]

On 10/11/2017 at 9:43 AM, Corey911 said:

Again, it has nothing to do with Trump.

Does anyone else see the irony here?