Interview Question- What is the best answer?

[WhatAWait! 31]

5 hours ago, Little_Vixen said:

Ouch. I'm not sure how difficult India is, but just one visit adds another 'red flag' to the already glaring age gap. I would advise you to try and get some more visits in. Either you to her, or bring her to you.

 

Aside from the whole discussion about possible red flags I would recommend CR1 any day. I am currently in the process for a K1 visa and if we had to do it again we would've chosen a CR1. Its cheaper and your wife will have a greencard upon arrival, meaning she can work and travel right away. CR1 used to take longer than the K1, which is why most people chose the K1. These days both take about the same time so you don't gain anything with a K1.

The official wedding in court takes 30 days stay in that country. I do not have 30 days time off and this is the very reason why I applied for K1. Got engaged in India -in the presence of both our families. I am in automotive sales and taking 30 days off will leave me without a paycheck for a month.  I have already used my 15 days time off when I went to visit and engage with her last January.

[Unidentified 2,930]

1 minute ago, WhatAWait! said:

The official wedding in court takes 30 days stay in that country. I do not have 30 days time off and this is the very reason why I applied for K1. Got engaged in India -in the presence of both our families. I am in automotive sales and taking 30 days off will leave me without a paycheck for a month.  I have already used my 15 days time off when I went to visit and engage with her last January.

How much contact with her did you have prior to meeting her? Did you provide proof of that communication in your application? You should have visited at least twice before sending in your application. 

 

And if you can't take the time to visit, why choose someone from India? Relationships takes time and effort. If money is an issue, how will you pay for the application? Not just for this one but of AOS, ROC and possibly citizenship?

[WhatAWait! 31]

4 hours ago, Roel said:

Oh uh.

Well. That was a mistake.

 

If that ceremony looked even remotely like a wedding ceremony, then there is a chance the K1 visa will be denied. It happened before, many times.

 

It was not like a marraige Ceremony, it was a small engagement ceremony. In india it is customary to get small engagement ceremony. Me and my fiance both were married previously, I got divorced and my fiance had lost her previous husband due to an accident. We both have children. so we would not have any lavish party. Knowing that we both are giving our lives a second chance.

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

4 minutes ago, WhatAWait! said:

The official wedding in court takes 30 days stay in that country. I do not have 30 days time off and this is the very reason why I applied for K1. Got engaged in India -in the presence of both our families. I am in automotive sales and taking 30 days off will leave me without a paycheck for a month.  I have already used my 15 days time off when I went to visit and engage with her last January.

The point you are missing is that "engagement ceremony" will possibly be seen as a marriage.  If so, you will be too married for a K-1, and you would have to file for CR-1.   It has happened many times here on VJ.  That is why people are saying that it was a bad idea to send pictures of a ceremony.

[WhatAWait! 31]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Will this be an arranged marriage?

It is kind of an arranged marriage. We are not yet married, just got engaged- because it is customary to get engaged before getting married. Getting married in India requires that both parties stay for 30 days in india which is absolutely impossible for me given the nature of my job. I work in automotive industry and I am a fully commission based. If I am gone for a month it will mean no pay check for a month.  My sister knows a remotely related friends family of my fiance. I got introduced to my fiance through my sister.

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

3 minutes ago, WhatAWait! said:

It was not like a marraige Ceremony, it was a small engagement ceremony. In india it is customary to get small engagement ceremony. Me and my fiance both were married previously, I got divorced and my fiance had lost her previous husband due to an accident. We both have children. so we would not have any lavish party. Knowing that we both are giving our lives a second chance.

All that matters is what the Consulate Officer thinks. 

[WhatAWait! 31]

2 minutes ago, missileman said:

The point you are missing is that "engagement ceremony" will possibly be seen as a marriage.  If so, you will be too married for a K-1, and you would have to file for CR-1.   It has happened many times here on VJ.  That is why people are saying that it was a bad idea to send pictures of a ceremony.

Well, In our statement we have clearly stated that we got engaged and these pictures show our engagement and not marraige.

[Unidentified 2,930]

1 minute ago, WhatAWait! said:

It is kind of an arranged marriage. We are not yet married, just got engaged- because it is customary to get engaged before getting married. Getting married in India requires that both parties stay for 30 days in india which is absolutely impossible for me given the nature of my job. I work in automotive industry and I am a fully commission based. If I am gone for a month it will mean no pay check for a month.  My sister knows a remotely related friends family of my fiance. I got introduced to my fiance through my sister.

Like I mentioned earlier, you should have visited more. India is considered high fraud and lots of denials happen because there was only 1 visit. 

[WhatAWait! 31]

Just now, WhatAWait! said:

Well, In our statement we have clearly stated that we got engaged and these pictures show our engagement and not marraige.

The question I guess is- if that is the case - that it may be seen as a marriage ceremony- what is the best way to explain the officers? just because the officer thinks otherwise it can not be truth.

[Roel 7,192]

No need to get defensive.

Point is, people got their K1 denied for having innocent ceremonies like that. No matter what you call it - engagement ceremony, religious ceremony... It happens. That + age gap + limited facetime could be consider red flags. Just keep that in mind.

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

Just now, WhatAWait! said:

The question I guess is- if that is the case - that it may be seen as a marriage ceremony- what is the best way to explain the officers? just because the officer thinks otherwise it can not be truth.

The decisions are based completely on what the officer thinks...and then that becomes the truth as far as the US government is concerned.

[WhatAWait! 31]

3 minutes ago, missileman said:

All that matters is what the Consulate Officer thinks. 

I am thinking about writing my senator- and explain to him about this. Do you think it will help? From the response here what I am gathering is our case is destined to be denied just because the counsellor thinks that way. My question is- what is the way to convince the officer about the truth which is we were engaged as a part of custom there- and also because my inability to spend 30 days in india to get legally married.

[WhatAWait! 31]

5 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

Like I mentioned earlier, you should have visited more. India is considered high fraud and lots of denials happen because there was only 1 visit. 

Will it help if I try and visit her again prior to her interview? That is if we even got that far?

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

No one here can say exactly what the officer will say or decide.  However, we are telling you that there have been cases which ended poorly.  Does that mean your case will be denied?  No.  But the officer will consider the totality of your case.  Face time, age difference, religions, etc. all are pieces of the "pie" he or she will consider.

Again, none of us know what will happen.  We are only relating what we have seen here in the past....good luck.

Edited July 4, 2018 by missileman

[WhatAWait! 31]

18 minutes ago, Boiler said:

So yes?

Yes