Spousal Visa Rejections Due To Missing Bona Fides of Relationship

[acidrain 325]

I wondered the same thing as it's rare to get a denial from a low fraud country. A few years back when Canada had DCF I had an interview for my i130 at the consulate. I was married for about 2 years at that time and had no kids. I brought tons of proof of our relationship and the interviewer could have cared less about it. He only asked why I didn't take my spouse's last name. The interviewer was super nice and I could not believe how quick the process was (it was approved the same day). It's too bad they don't offer the option to apply for the i130 in Canada anymore.

Edited January 22, 2018 by acidrain

[Michael2017 368]

1 minute ago, acidrain said:

I wondered the same thing as it's rare to get a denial from a low fraud country. A few years back when Canada had DCF I had an interview for my 130 at the consulate. I was married for about 2 years at that time and had no kids. I brought tons of proof of our relationship and the interviewer could have cared less about it. He only asked why I didn't take my spouse's last name. The interviewer was super nice and I could not believe how quick the process was (it was approved the same day). It's too bad they don't offer the option to apply for the i130 in Canada anymore.

Nice, what did you answer why you did not take your spouse name?

[acidrain 325]

1 minute ago, Michael2017 said:

Nice, what did you answer why you did not take your spouse name?

Looking back it was a funny but awkward situation. After he asked he must have seen the expression on my face. I honestly was not prepared for it. I'm one of those annoying feminist types that don't believe in women taking a man's last name. When I look back I should have not taken it so personally. After I answered the interviewer said something like "I'm from Oklahoma City, women aren't usually like that". The poor guy. Knowing my husband he probably rolled his eyes signaling "yeah she's one of THOSE women".

[Dianalorena 1,153]

7 hours ago, Andronat said:

Yes, many couples I know work together or have business together. But who knows how they might look at it...

Here is the link http://prernalal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/USCIS_Fraud_Referral_Sheet.pdf

Just reading that is giving me extreme nervousness, shoot!

 

[Dianalorena 1,153]

 

There is the general perception that certain countries are desperate to move to the US as stated (including mine) which isn't always the case. It feels weird to be one of the exceptions to the rule, (I'm not poor/struggling/desperate to get out of Mexico, but actually moving because my husband loves his job in Texas and wants to be close to his family) but yes, a lot of us are from underdeveloped countries with struggling economies and various grades of conflict, and we are under more scrutiny. 

Is it fair for the bona fide relationships? no. Do I understand why it happens and why we need a more thorough process? yes. 

 

Although being from certain countries on its own isn't enough reason to automatically assume that most relationships from them aren't bona fide,  combined with high fraud rates and the current political climate, well, to say we face uphill battles is an understatement. 

A bit unrelated, but I used to get frustrated with the fact that the Ciudad Juarez Consulate almost always asks during the interview if someone has tattoos, they also take pictures and document them during medical. I'm wondering if that's a common question in ESTA countries (which have thriving tattoo scenes) But in Mexico and Central and South America, having a tattoo is still seen as a big part of cholo/gang culture. The tired prejudice that Tattoos always mean crime/trouble. 

 

Some countries struggle more than others, for various reasons, it's the cards we've been dealt. 

 

[ms_bobdog 501]

7 hours ago, acidrain said:

I wondered the same thing as it's rare to get a denial from a low fraud country. A few years back when Canada had DCF I had an interview for my i130 at the consulate. I was married for about 2 years at that time and had no kids. I brought tons of proof of our relationship and the interviewer could have cared less about it. He only asked why I didn't take my spouse's last name. The interviewer was super nice and I could not believe how quick the process was (it was approved the same day). It's too bad they don't offer the option to apply for the i130 in Canada anymore.

In many cultures, there isn't a practice of the woman taking her husband's last name. My husband struggled with it when I told him I won't be changing my name because 1) it is not common where I come from and 2) I have established myself well enough, career-wise, that it would be quite a hassle to change my last name. He understands now, although he still can't get used to the idea