Most likely difficult IR1 case, any general advice?

[Quattro 0]

Here are some general facts we've been married close to two decades, we met online and talked for years, we have children. On our first meeting we married in her country, then I returned to the USA and we were going to do CR1 but due to many factors like my co-sponsor falling through we ended up apart for 3 years. At this point I was kinda suicidally depressed and said BLEEP it and moved to and naturalized in her country. Everything is fine until the kids were diagnosed with severe disabilities, she coped by blaming me and hating me and a good few years were not nice, so we're not your average lovey dovey couple. I'm burnt out and basically here putting up with it because of my kids. Shes bitter but tolerable, seems better, both of us are older and have put on the weight too but shes obese.

 

Here is what concerns me, when going for the CRBA for our first kid it was an ODD experience. Compared to what others have shared here and what I observed of others there that day(you can hear everyone in the citizen services section its one room) as the officer spent more time grilling me and her on the details of how we met and our marriage than anything else. My wife had an attitude, both of us are extreme nerds and lack social skills and by local standards we're a wacky couple I admit it. Its a high fraud country too, and you'd have top be nuts to move to the area(red zone sometimes put under martial law but I'm not nailed to the floor) I did, but I was and am nuts heh. I wanted crazy experiences and since I am a programmer it worked, I didn't have to worry about the local job market. Here were some questions that were asked.

 

Why did your parents not attend your wedding? I answered because I didn't want them there, the officer made a strange face(I had a horrendous home life and was glad to escape).

 

So you got married and then you were apart for three years as newlyweds? I answered yea.(kind of a frown or are you kidding me expression)

 

I tried to explain we had done VOIP at all times we could with an early program before skype you had to enter IP addresses, basically at all times and web cam etc.

 

I had to return alone with extra documents and was asked why my wife was acting like she was when she was being asked questions, I just said she blames me for our kids.

 

Anyway yea it uh did not go smoothly, and that was just for a CRBA for a kid born inside wedlock, much less a IR1. Everything about us shoots up red flags, but we're legit.

 

Ok to lay it out I'd like any advice on how to proceed with the IR1 to actually get it, any advice at all. Can I just be honest about the grief we both kinda went through and how well that changes you? Neither of us plan to divorce or separate, my wife flat out doesn't even really want to live in the USA but it would be easier on me. I'm tired of the country we live in and work is drying up so money is also an issue. We plan to live together in the USA as we do now, we have not separated or divorced. Shes not releasing the kids, and it already is breaking my heart to be separated from them while establishing domicile and such. They would be way better off on medicaid etc too since they are USA citizens. My absolute worst outcome is me living and working in the USA and just sending money here and not seeing my kids, that would kill me.

 

I'm also seeing a lot of recent daunting looking stuff about visas being turned down if a US citizen member of the household is receiving benefits or disability, or that they now expect the beneficiary to be able to self support properly even with the affidavit of support(wife has almost no employment history) that is confusing me honestly. And the 1,500 USD fees would be a big hit honestly if we were turned down.

 

Advice?

 

 

[NikLR 13,232]

~~moved  to process and procedures from progress reports ~~

[Crazy Cat 42,734]

The fact that you have lived as a married couple in her country is very strong evidence.  Even in high fraud countries, this seems to overcome many red flags.  I suggest you:

1.  Establish domicile in the US

2.  Establish sufficient income to support your family including medical insurance or find a sponsor

3.  Collect quality evidence of your bona fide marriage

4.  Submit the paperwork for IR-1 visa for your wife

 

This might not be as difficult as you think.

[EmmNM 180]

46 minutes ago, missileman said:

The fact that you have lived as a married couple in her country is very strong evidence.  Even in high fraud countries, this seems to overcome many red flags.  I suggest you:

1.  Establish domicile in the US

2.  Establish sufficient income to support your family including medical insurance or find a sponsor

3.  Collect quality evidence of your bona fide marriage

4.  Submit the paperwork for IR-1 visa for your wife

 

This might not be as difficult as you think.

I agree. Another suggestion is to research and practice the questions you will be asked. Be honest but be prepared. That way it won't come across so awkward and surprising.

[pushbrk 13,259]

The criteria for an IR1 visa is far different than for a CRBA.  You've lived together a long time and have four children together.  Have your wife well coached and tranquilized (naturally or otherwise) enough to drop the "attitude" if necessary for the interview, and then welcome home sometime next year.

[Quattro 0]

On 7/21/2018 at 8:32 AM, missileman said:

The fact that you have lived as a married couple in her country is very strong evidence.  Even in high fraud countries, this seems to overcome many red flags.  I suggest you:

1.  Establish domicile in the US

2.  Establish sufficient income to support your family including medical insurance or find a sponsor

3.  Collect quality evidence of your bona fide marriage

4.  Submit the paperwork for IR-1 visa for your wife

 

This might not be as difficult as you think.

Yea I was just basing it off the reaction of the officer, so wanted any tips going into it. It would be big undertaking not to be approved.

 

Most of the pre marriage evidence is just gone to the wind really, stuff like AIM logs etc. If we even thought to keep it its probably on a dead hard drive.

 

I can meet the income requirement for the household size. When you say medical insurance this applies to the beneficiary correct? I assumed anyone who is already a citizen(kids) were not counted.