221(g)

[O&GForever 387]

59 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

We got engaged and had a enagement party. We even had a pastor to blessed our enagement.

We mailed..Pics of enagaement(30) pics with family/friend, and places we visited (30 or more) we def front loaded....I also got him an engagment ring......we had recipts of our engagment rings

I am sorry you're now experiencing the heartache of being denied. I've been there and know the pain you must be feeling. Unfortunately you're experienced the same thing my husband and I did in 2015...the CO most likely feels you're married. The engagement party, the pastor and the engagement rings all give the the impression you did a traditional marriage...even if you don't feel your married.

 

Next steps: you will need to return to Ghana, legally get married and start again with a CR1. The good news is you have good evidence to move forward with a spouse visa. Also, you won't have the challenge of overcoming a "fraud" finding on the K1. It should be much easier for you to get through the next visa. 

 

Again, I am sorry you have to go through this. It's not easy and sadly the time apart will be hard. But don't give up. We got through it and my husband arrived in March of this year. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. 

[AfricanQ 241]

36 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

So not only did you have an engagement ceremony where a priest was involved, you also exchanged rings. So both you and your fiance are wearing rings?

 

Yeah, you went too far. They may be thinking you are officially married. 

 

Do you have the official denial on the 221g? If so share what it says.

 

If it is in fact ineligibility due to them thinking your are already married, be prepared to forget about the K1, and file for a spousal visa.

Not yet, his interview was just yesterday Dece 6. Yes! We are going to get married after getting the denial letter

[O&GForever 387]

One suggestion. Instead of waiting for the letter which could take months to receive, contact your state Senator or Congressman and ask them to email the embassy on your behalf. They might be able to get the specific reason you were denied and quickly. We had our answer within a week, which allowed us to move forward with planning a wedding. I am guessing they are going to say something along the lines of "they had a traditional marriage and therefore don't qualify for a K1." Once we found out, I canceled our K1, we got married and about 4 months later our CR1 petition was sent in. Right now the process is taking 12-18 months, so I would recommend working quickly to avoid longer separation. 

[AfricanQ 241]

29 minutes ago, O&GForever said:

I am sorry you're now experiencing the heartache of being denied. I've been there and know the pain you must be feeling. Unfortunately you're experienced the same thing my husband and I did in 2015...the CO most likely feels you're married. The engagement party, the pastor and the engagement rings all give the the impression you did a traditional marriage...even if you don't feel your married.

 

Next steps: you will need to return to Ghana, legally get married and start again with a CR1. The good news is you have good evidence to move forward with a spouse visa. Also, you won't have the challenge of overcoming a "fraud" finding on the K1. It should be much easier for you to get through the next visa. 

 

Again, I am sorry you have to go through this. It's not easy and sadly the time apart will be hard. But don't give up. We got through it and my husband arrived in March of this year. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. 

Omg, thank you so much! Ive been cryin  all day and even crying as am writting this. Is very sad! My fiance is feeling down form yesterday, which i was there to support him. I love him with evrrything i have😘. Ill return to ghana in March or April of 2018 and plan our marriage then ill return again October or november and get marriage and start the process that way we are building our case with more trips.

[O&GForever 387]

1 minute ago, AfricanQ said:

Omg, thank you so much! Ive been cryin  all day and even crying as am writting this. Is very sad! My fiance is feeling down form yesterday, which i was there to support him. I love him with evrrything i have😘. Ill return to ghana in March or April of 2018 and plan our marriage then ill return again October or november and get marriage and start the process that way we are building our case with more trips.

You're smart to get more trips in. I've known my husband since August 2014. During the time we were apart I traveled their 5 times...about every 5-6 months. Twice before our K1 was denied, once to get married, once while waiting for the CR1 to process and once for the interview. It was expensive and difficult emotionally and spiritually, but I promise it will be worth it. Time spent together is gold to this embassy. Its the best evidence you can submit. Ghana is a hard embassy and sadly we have to jump through more hoops to get through it successfully. It is possible though. We made it through. Many others have. Just hang in there and be thoughtful of your evidence. I wrote a review about our CR1 interview. It has a list of all the evidence we submitted and when if you're looking for ideas. 

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

56 minutes ago, IcezMan_IcezLady said:

 

2.  I don't know of which culture that has men wear engagement rings... certainly not Ghanaian.

 

Some Scandinavian men do, emphasis on some.  When we submitted our I-129F in the process of doing the K1, we left out that little bit to not create any confusion.

[AfricanQ 241]

1 hour ago, Going through said:

 

Sometimes this can be considered "too married" for the K1 visa.

Yes! Because we have never been married, no kids, background clean and ive lived in ghana for 10 year. Am also from west africa

[AfricanQ 241]

11 minutes ago, O&GForever said:

You're smart to get more trips in. I've known my husband since August 2014. During the time we were apart I traveled their 5 times...about every 5-6 months. Twice before our K1 was denied, once to get married, once while waiting for the CR1 to process and once for the interview. It was expensive and difficult emotionally and spiritually, but I promise it will be worth it. Time spent together is gold to this embassy. Its the best evidence you can submit. Ghana is a hard embassy and sadly we have to jump through more hoops to get through it successfully. It is possible though. We made it through. Many others have. Just hang in there and be thoughtful of your evidence. I wrote a review about our CR1 interview. It has a list of all the evidence we submitted and when if you're looking for ideas. 

Ill def need idea for the next visa.  Fyi am also afrian (liberia.) Ive lived in ghana for 10ys. 

[AfricanQ 241]

3 hours ago, G Walters said:

This statement you made could be part of the problem. I went to see him Feb 9, 2017 thru Mar.1(1st trip)  we got engaged and had a enagement party. We even had a pastor to blessed our enagement.  Engaged on first meeting and an engagement party with a blessing by a pastor. They may be looking at this as you are to married for a K-1. Some times the party and such can cause you to be to married for a k-1 but not married enough for a CR-1. You need more info on what is holding up the visa issuance.

Yes, ill contact my sentor office to get the information. The officer didnt sau anything abt the case being returned. He give my fiance the white form took his # and said he,will call him

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

23 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

Yes, ill contact my sentor office to get the information. The officer didnt sau anything abt the case being returned. He give my fiance the white form took his # and said he,will call him

So if the CO did not say the case is being returned, am I understanding correctly that the 221G states specifically that your case is being 
returned ? Is it handwritten in the form or a box checked ?

[AfricanQ 241]

3 hours ago, IcezMan_IcezLady said:

You did too much :

1. we got engaged and had a enagement party. We even had a pastor to blessed our enagement.

2. " I also got him an engagment ring"  

 

^^ those were your problems based on what you wrote. The Ghanaian "engagement" is an actual marriage under customary law of Ghana.

Adding a "party" solidifies this point. And a pastor on top seals..You are married.

2.  I don't know of which culture that has men wear engagement rings... certainly not Ghanaian.

 

You had good intentions but you did "too much" in trying to show that you are indeed engaged to him.

A word of advice to American women dating Ghanaian men, please stay away from these traditional "engagements". it is a complicated concept and would easily get you denied especially for K-1 process. You can do it later after your fiance has arrived in the US.

Am also african. I was born in liberia (west Africa) and grew up in Ghana. We both believe in God and wanted it this way....we werent going to do anything without putting God in it becuz we knw how hard is was for us to begin with and how hard marriage life is...so if they see it as marriage so be it. My God will answer for us. 

[AfricanQ 241]

16 minutes ago, Ebunoluwa said:

So if the CO did not say the case is being returned, am I understanding correctly that the 221G states specifically that your case is being 
returned ? Is it handwritten in the form or a box checked ?

It was typed, and the 221g states is being returned with no box checked....am trying to insert the form

[Quaksaphya 0]

So sorry to hear this. Ghana is a tough embassy and having an engagement party with a pastor blessing it proves marriage to them. 

[AfricanQ 241]

[AfricanQ 241]

Just now, AfricanQ said:

So this is the letter that was given to my fiance after the interview. Remember he wasnt told it would be returned. The officer told his telephone number, his fiugerprints and said he would call him.