2017 K1 Statistics Show Almost 40% Denial Rate!?!?

[Chris in Florida 2]

I was looking through some websites and I came across some statistics published by the US State Department concerning non immigrant visa approval/denial rates. 

 

If I am reading these stats correctly, it appears as if about 40% of fiance visas were denied in 2017. I can only imagine with our current president, the denials have ticked upward for 2018. Anyone else have any information on this topic? Would anyone recommend better success with a CR1 visa?

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/NIVWorkload/FY2017NIVWorkloadbyVisaCategory.pdf

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

If I am seeing those numbers same way as you are, it is a lot of denials; but it doesn't specify where these denials happened. I am going to make an assumption a lot of those denials came from 'high fraud' countries. Or perhaps things came up while in AP.  I wouldn't be stressing Trump being the issue with this. Other years may be fairly similar honestly in approval and denials.

[Marcelina 246]

There is not such a thing as "better success visa" in my opinion. Both fiance and spouse visas have some conditions to fulfill. I have seen countless posts here about people petitioning for K1 without even being able to make basic visa condition - a meeting in person within last 2 years.

 

CR1 is just better for a future immigrant to live - GC after a month of entering US, also cheaper.

So if married 'CR1, engaged K1 - I just don't see a point of the questioning a success rate here, if relationship/marriage is real and proven there are no problems.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

I always think, when one of the first things people say is "with the current President" or "because of Trump", they probably need to stop watching CNN/MSNBC, ect. 

[Boiler 45,558]

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/NIVWorkload/FY2016NIVWorkloadbyVisaCategory.pdf

 

Here is a link to 2016 which is similar, I can only imagine they are due to our past President the denials were pretty much the same,

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

You have to look at the waived\overcome column as well...Waived/overcome means that these number of applicants were originally denied, but ended up being approved after waivers (or administrative processing)...

Edited May 30, 2018 by boris64

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

More info https://www.visatutor.com/k-1-visa-statistics-2017/   Google is your friend))) The number of applications and approvals has increased steadily over the years. Low 80% approval rate is pretty good considering I'm pretty sure the number of unprepared applicants has risen.

[Springrain22 427]

What does "current President" have to do with those denials? Stop watching TV, please. I can say that under current administration immigration system has improved.

[geowrian 22,337]

Data is one thing, interpreting it is another.

 

That "refusal" rate only includes initial refusals. A 221g pending additional documentation (i.e. anything missing at the interview, regardless of who is missing it) would be included in that. Anybody with a bar that needs to be waived is included in that. Anybody with an inadequate I-134 (financially or documentation-wise) would be included in that even if they later provided proper documentation or a co sponsor.

When you include refusals that are then overcome, the rate is ~85% approval rate / 15% refusal rate. That seems much more suitable given the high variance of cases and all countries.

This rate is very similar to past rates. Nothing to see here.

 

Moral of the story? Present a good case and bring proper documentation.

 

Interesting tidbit...K-3 is even more dead now than I thought. Only 29 issued last fiscal year, apparently. And the few dozen more refused is a very high rate (~58% ultimately refused)...so even if it somehow gets through USCIS and NVC, embassies still seem to be refusing them very often.

[JMCKNG 156]

1 hour ago, Springrain22 said:

What does "current President" have to do with those denials? Stop watching TV, please. I can say that under current administration immigration system has improved.

I would agree as well with the above comments, if you have a true relationship and meet the requirements involving the copies of official documents, proof of meeting continuously especially the twice in the past 2 year requirement, and are taking this seriously financially and truthfully there is no need to worry. Yes are there a lot of fulfillment, sure, but are those fulfillment easy if you are taking this seriously, yes in my opinion 

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

19 hours ago, boris64 said:

You have to look at the waived\overcome column as well...Waived/overcome means that these number of applicants were originally denied, but ended up being approved after waivers (or administrative processing)...

This.

 

Also - I'm pretty confident a majority of denials are a result of applicants not complying with the outlined requirements and rules. That is not the fault of any current political office occupants, or of any procedures/processes currently in place or newly in place. You see far too many people forgetting required information/items, leaving out information, not following directions, etc.

[javadown2 308]

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

Data is one thing, interpreting it is another.

 

That "refusal" rate only includes initial refusals. A 221g pending additional documentation (i.e. anything missing at the interview, regardless of who is missing it) would be included in that. Anybody with a bar that needs to be waived is included in that. Anybody with an inadequate I-134 (financially or documentation-wise) would be included in that even if they later provided proper documentation or a co sponsor.

When you include refusals that are then overcome, the rate is ~85% approval rate / 15% refusal rate. That seems much more suitable given the high variance of cases and all countries.

This rate is very similar to past rates. Nothing to see here.

 

Moral of the story? Present a good case and bring proper documentation.

 

Interesting tidbit...K-3 is even more dead now than I thought. Only 29 issued last fiscal year, apparently. And the few dozen more refused is a very high rate (~58% ultimately refused)...so even if it somehow gets through USCIS and NVC, embassies still seem to be refusing them very often.

I'll elaborate on your Moral of the story...ADD: research and hopefully come across VisaJourney website to guide you into an almost guaranteed approval!  

[Paul & Marina 53]

Look at the questions that are asked daily. Think about all thoses that file that lack VJ and other resourses. All things considered maybe the approved rate reflects the lack of research.

 

Wishing all a great outcome,

[dirtyhippiegirl 85]

3 hours ago, Springrain22 said:

What does "current President" have to do with those denials? Stop watching TV, please. I can say that under current administration immigration system has improved.

How so? My husband came over 11 years ago on a K1. It was significantly cheaper and faster back then.

[jskibo 588]

4 minutes ago, dirtyhippiegirl said:

How so? My husband came over 11 years ago on a K1. It was significantly cheaper and faster back then.

I bought a car 11 years ago, it was cheaper than the one I bought this year too....shocking!