221(g)

[MaleAlpha 314]

Next time you go to Ghana, you can go to the registrar general's office and sign paperwork to get you officially married if you're not ready for a wedding yet. 

 

With the marriage certificate, you can start filing for the CR1.

Good thing is you have people on this thread who have dealt with the Ghana embassy and can give you some great tips. I wish you and your partner all the best! I will be going to visit in 3 weeks.

 

[O&GForever 387]

The letter you got is the exact same one we received. So you were probably denied for the same reason you were. 

 

I think since you've lived in Ghana for many years and my guess met your hubby there instead of online like many of us, you should have no problem getting through the spouse visa. Make sure to frontload with quality evidence. We submitted a letter from both of us explain that we didn't view ourselves as married and weren't trying to evade the immigration rules. 

Edited December 7, 2017 by O&GForever

[AfricanQ 241]

21 minutes ago, O&GForever said:

The letter you got is the exact same one we received. So you were probably denied for the same reason you were. 

 

I think since you've lived in Ghana for many years and my guess met your hubby there instead of online like many of us, you should have no problem getting through the spouse visa. Make sure to frontload with quality evidence. We submitted a letter from both of us explain that we didn't view ourselves as married and weren't trying to evade the immigration rules. 

We met on facebook....didnt knw hom while living in ghana

[AfricanQ 241]

25 minutes ago, O&GForever said:

The letter you got is the exact same one we received. So you were probably denied for the same reason you were. 

 

I think since you've lived in Ghana for many years and my guess met your hubby there instead of online like many of us, you should have no problem getting through the spouse visa. Make sure to frontload with quality evidence. We submitted a letter from both of us explain that we didn't view ourselves as married and weren't trying to evade the immigration rules. 

What other evidence do we need for marriage aside from pics, call logs, text etc?

Edited December 7, 2017 by AfricanQ

[AfricanQ 241]

4 hours ago, mytruelove18 said:

Very sorry, but did they tell him that the case will be returned to usa?, or just did they give him a 221 paper?,

I ask because my case is under ap, i was given a 221 paper on my interview, and i am waiting, the consular officer told when they review some papers and if all is in order they will issue the visa

Theres the letter

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

1 hour ago, AfricanQ said:

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. 

I understand but in the end the embassy has final say.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

28 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

What other evidence do we need for marriage aside from pics, call logs, text etc?

You basically have everything you need other than a marriage certificate. 

Keep collecting more evidence 

[AfricanQ 241]

3 minutes ago, IcezMan_IcezLady said:

You basically have everything you need other than a marriage certificate. 

Keep collecting more evidence 

Yes, ill go there in March or April prepare for our wedding then go back around october n get marry. ( that would total 4 trips in all)  While doing that ill get more evidence from the trips. Do we need a bank account or property together ( something with out name on it)?

[AfricanQ 241]

5 hours 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.

Yes, we are both wearing rings and we havent gotten the official denial letter. Just what they gave at the embassy. We are preparing for spousal visa. 

[O&GForever 387]

30 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

Yes, we are both wearing rings and we havent gotten the official denial letter. Just what they gave at the embassy. We are preparing for spousal visa. 

This is your official denial letter. The next thing you would get is a letter from USCIS stating your petition is expired. 

[AfricanQ 241]

5 hours ago, O&GForever said:

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. 

Thats smart! Ill email them today. When i go to Ghana March 2018 that would be my 3rd trip there in total. My question is should we get married when i get there in March or go back again in October 2018 and get married then file when i return? That would make it 4 trips total. Or is 3 trips ok?

[AfricanQ 241]

40 minutes ago, O&GForever said:

This is your official denial letter. The next thing you would get is a letter from USCIS stating your petition is expired. 

So this was the same letter u got?

[O&GForever 387]

31 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

So this was the same letter u got?

Yes

 

34 minutes ago, AfricanQ said:

Thats smart! Ill email them today. When i go to Ghana March 2018 that would be my 3rd trip there in total. My question is should we get married when i get there in March or go back again in October 2018 and get married then file when i return? That would make it 4 trips total. Or is 3 trips ok?

If I were you, I would try to get married in a March and get your paperwork sent in soon after. Right now it’s taking 12-18 months to get through the CR1 process. So it would be good to get the clock running on that. Then if possible return for another trip with your visa is processing. Your timeline is similar to ours. Our K1 was denied in December 2015, got married March 2016, paperwork in April 2016. Ours took 10 months, but things have slowed down a lot this year. 

[AfricanQ 241]

13 minutes ago, O&GForever said:

Yes

 

If I were you, I would try to get married in a March and get your paperwork sent in soon after. Right now it’s taking 12-18 months to get through the CR1 process. So it would be good to get the clock running on that. Then if possible return for another trip with your visa is processing. Your timeline is similar to ours. Our K1 was denied in December 2015, got married March 2016, paperwork in April 2016. Ours took 10 months, but things have slowed down a lot this year. 

Thats what ill do! If not we wont be together until 2019

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

2 hours ago, AfricanQ said:

Yes, ill go there in March or April prepare for our wedding then go back around october n get marry. ( that would total 4 trips in all)  While doing that ill get more evidence from the trips. Do we need a bank account or property together ( something with out name on it)?

A joined bank account in Ghana would be good and joint property also.
You can take out a small life insurance policy here ($20 a month) and list him as your beneficiary.