K1 visa denial enquiry. Minor involvement.

[Lightlight 5]

My partner and I met online and have been in a relationship for the past 6 months. He will be visiting me for the first time anytime now, and we already have a couple more visits planned after that. We plan on filing for the K1 visa next year. The reason for this is that is when I become a legal adult in my country and will be allowed to marry. He is already a legal adult. We are both very young, but he has a job and steady income and there are already plans in place to put me back in university once I'm there. I have 3 questions.

1) Will we be denied if I said we met online? We met in a facebook group. He made a post, I looked through his profile and directly messaged him after that.

2) Will we be denied because we started dating when I was a minor and he was legal? We already know both parties have to be free to marry in all regard which is why we are waiting till next year to file.

3) Will be denied because I am dropping out of university in my country because I want to marry him?
 

Other additional info that might be relevant.

-There's 5 years between us. 

-My parents approve. 

-We're different races, he's white, I'm black. 

-We speak the same language, my English is even better than his and it's the only language I know :-)

-Both Pentecostal Christians. 

 

Thank you.

[Salty2305 504]

It would help to have more specifics. What country are you from? How old are you both?

 

A lot of these questions will depend on if you are from country that is notoriously tough to get an approval from. 

[Lightlight 5]

We started dating when I was 16 and he was 21. We both just turned 17 and 22 respectively, and are looking to file next year. I'm Nigerian. 

[Crazy Cat 41,918]

1.  No.  Many, many couples meet on line.

2.  No

3.  No

 

Study the guides on this web site.  Nigeria is considered to be a high fraud country, and some people experience difficulty getting visas from there.  You will need a lot of solid evidence to prove a bona fide relationship.  Multiple visits are highly recommended. Do NOT engage in any ceremonies which might be seen as "marriage" before filing your K-1.

This is a serious and sometimes stressful process.  It is also very expensive!! I would suggest you both make sure you are 100% committed to a marriage before undertaking this task. 

 

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

 

Good Luck.

[EandH0904 1,184]

I dont think the ages so much pose a problem, but remember that a lot of times people in Nigeria have a difficult time getting visas so just make sure you have as much facetime as possible before you apply. 

[Will_and_Tu 46]

37 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

I dont think the ages so much pose a problem, but remember that a lot of times people in Nigeria have a difficult time getting visas so just make sure you have as much facetime as possible before you apply. 

An age difference itself of 5 years might not pose a problem, but I would say a 21-year-old getting involved with a 16-year-old through an online meeting will be considered a red flag that is going to prompt a lot of questions, scrutiny, and suspicion.

 

As others have said, this is a long, stressful, and expensive process, so the worst thing you can do (not just for your own emotional well-being, but also in terms of convincing USCIS) is to rush.

Edited October 20, 2017 by Will_and_Tu

[Lightlight 5]

We're not rushing and have no problem trying again if it doesn't work out the first time or just getting married and trying some other way or even having him move to Nigeria. We recognize this fact quite clearly. We're just now gathering evidence of relationship and might even have me visit the US and meet his family in person if that is at all possible, in order to build a strong case. We're both highly informed about what it entails, but the devil is in the details they say, hence my post. 

Edited October 20, 2017 by Lightlight

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

The 3 points you listed aren't reasons for denial in and of iteself but the dating online at 16 to a 21 year old may raise an issue.
I highly doubt you will be able to be granted a B2 for a visit to the USA.
Make sure that the petition for a K1 is well front loaded with evidence and an affidavit of your parents approval of the relationship will help.
Spend real time together and have him visit you in Nigeria several times instead and submit photos and boarding tickets of his visit there, also pics of him
and your family.

[Lightlight 5]

Like I said there will be multiple visits soon and in the coming year, so meeting with him and having pictures as evidence is not a problem at all. Evidence will be plenty of stamps on his passport, pictures etc. Again, EVIDENCE IS NOT A PROBLEM. We are not petitioning now but next year when I turn 18. So there is a lot of time to see him and all of that. It will be foolhardy to petition now, and I never mentioned anything to that regard. We're not ignorant of the process, quite the contrary. I only wanted to know if whether we petition at 25 and 30 or 18 and 23 or whatever, if the time we did start dating would be a cause for denial. I can't put it any simpler. 

[Lightlight 5]

Secondly, at 18, I don't need a written approval from my parents to marry. Hence why we're using the wait to kill two birds. First we gather evidence of our relationship, and we wait till I am legally free to marry. I feel like I am not explaining myself clearly enough.

[Crazy Cat 41,918]

Just now, Lightlight said:

Secondly, at 18, I don't need a written approval from my parents to marry. Hence why we're using the wait to kill two birds. First we gather evidence of our relationship, and we wait till I am legally free to marry. I feel like I am not explaining myself clearly enough.

You sound like a very thoughtful and very intelligent person......You are explaining yourself well.  Good luck in your journey....

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

12 minutes ago, Lightlight said:

Secondly, at 18, I don't need a written approval from my parents to marry. Hence why we're using the wait to kill two birds. First we gather evidence of our relationship, and we wait till I am legally free to marry. I feel like I am not explaining myself clearly enough.

I did not say you needed approval from your parents at 18. We are middle aged and still front loaded affidavit of support letters
from friends and family as bona fide relationship evidence. The letter states that your family welcomes (approves of) your relationship
and has watched it grow over time into genuine love.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

16 minutes ago, Lightlight said:

Like I said there will be multiple visits soon and in the coming year, so meeting with him and having pictures as evidence is not a problem at all. Evidence will be plenty of stamps on his passport, pictures etc. Again, EVIDENCE IS NOT A PROBLEM. We are not petitioning now but next year when I turn 18. So there is a lot of time to see him and all of that. It will be foolhardy to petition now, and I never mentioned anything to that regard. We're not ignorant of the process, quite the contrary. I only wanted to know if whether we petition at 25 and 30 or 18 and 23 or whatever, if the time we did start dating would be a cause for denial. I can't put it any simpler. 

Depends on the CO, it really isn't a yes or no question. You won't be denied for it I believe but perhaps scrutinized.

[Lightlight 5]

3 minutes ago, Ebunoluwa said:

I did not say you needed approval from your parents at 18. We are middle aged and still front loaded affidavit of support letters
from friends and family as bona fide relationship evidence. The letter states that your family welcomes (approves of) your relationship
and has watched it grow over time into genuine love.

Oh I misunderstood you. Sorry about that. Thanks for this piece of information. :-)

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

1 minute ago, Lightlight said:

Oh I misunderstood you. Sorry about that. Thanks for this piece of information. :-)

You are welcome.