K1 denied at Embassy. When to get married?

[Unlockable 7,314]

10 minutes ago, hope00012 said:

They were very aware of cultural norms. They actually even asked how is she going to go to USA with her fiance before she is married.

 

They did file after meeting once because it was arranged marriage and thats every normal there. I thought the requirement was to meet just once before.

 

They sent pictures of the engagement ceremony, pictures of dates, passport stamps and airline tickets. 

The above in bold may have what gave the officer doubt.

 

Need more info on the ceremony. Did it look official in any way? Reason I ask is because many K1 visas have been denied because couples have ceremonies that look too much like a wedding.

 

 

You say it was an arranged marriage, how much time did they spend getting to know each other? Note... sometimes officers are hard in arranged marriages because they may see it as families collaborating for relatives to get visas.

Edited January 10, 2019 by NuestraUnion

[geowrian 22,337]

11 minutes ago, hope00012 said:

They were very aware of cultural norms. They actually even asked how is she going to go to USA with her fiance before she is married.

 

They did file after meeting once because it was arranged marriage and thats every normal there. I thought the requirement was to meet just once before.

 

They sent pictures of the engagement ceremony, pictures of dates, passport stamps and airline tickets. 

The minimum requirement to petition is to meet at least once within the 2 years before filing. But just one meeting when dealing with a high fraud embassy raises concerns about a relationship.

 

Arranged marriages are permitted fine, but do tend to raise extra scrutiny of the relationship (to ensure it's not done just for immigration benefits of the foreign fiance or -eventually - their family members).

 

What exactly was int he photos of the engagement ceremony? Were they dressed up? Any religious members present? Any rings? Where was it?

The reason I ask is it's not uncommon for the CO to determine that one may have already married, or be "too married" for a K-1 visa. This can also result in a refusal and returned petition.

 

If that was all that was sent, then that's very, very little relationship evidence.

Edited January 10, 2019 by geowrian

[geowrian 22,337]

5 minutes ago, hope00012 said:

Is there a way to ask them what exactly was the reason for the denial or will it just come with the USCIS notice? Which i heard takes a long time. 

The petitioner or beneficiary can always contact them to ask. But generally, if you're not given a slip telling you why, you're not going to get a clear reason. The USCIS notice will just say that the I-129F has expired....USCIS policy is not to review a returned I-129F.

[hope00012 1]

30 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

The above in bold may have what gave the officer doubt.

 

Need more info on the ceremony. Did it look official in any way? Reason I ask is because many K1 visas have been denied because couples have ceremonies that look too much like a wedding.

 

 

You say it was an arranged marriage, how much time did they spend getting to know each other? Note... sometimes officers are hard in arranged marriages because they may see it as families collaborating for relatives to get visas.

They did not even look at the pictures. 

28 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The petitioner or beneficiary can always contact them to ask. But generally, if you're not given a slip telling you why, you're not going to get a clear reason. The USCIS notice will just say that the I-129F has expired....USCIS policy is not to review a returned I-129F.

Thank you for the help. I think the best bet it just to get married. 

[Just Paul 4,595]

7 minutes ago, hope00012 said:

I think the best bet it just to get married

And they need to do more than  just the minimum.  They need to meet a few times and have  a very strong front loaded application with commingled assets shown.  That is going to be hard when they need a co sponsor.

 

If they are married they need to act married.

[hope00012 1]

15 minutes ago, Paul & Mary said:

And they need to do more than  just the minimum.  They need to meet a few times and have  a very strong front loaded application with commingled assets shown.  That is going to be hard when they need a co sponsor.

 

If they are married they need to act married.

Yes. They will open a joint bank account, meet each other several times, go on a honeymoon, and make this a strong application. He had a great job last year but due to some circumstances, had to change his job. He will be becoming full time this year and will be good financially. 

 

I also called the USCIS helpline and they said that to start the CR1 they do not need to send a letter or wait for their letter. 

[Going through 5,671]

2 hours ago, hope00012 said:

They did not even look at the pictures. 

They wouldn't have had to look at the pictures again.

 

 They were already on file when they sent the photos with the petition--- so perhaps the CO deemed them "too married" for the K1 based off of that and other evidence.

 

 

[SalishSea 17,832]

Are they related by blood?  First cousins?

[hope00012 1]

2 hours ago, Going through said:

They wouldn't have had to look at the pictures again.

 

 They were already on file when they sent the photos with the petition--- so perhaps the CO deemed them "too married" for the K1 based off of that and other evidence.

 

 

They have to prove they are no too married but then again they have to prove they are engaged enough. It's very difficult,  especially in Pakistani culture. They asked her how she is willing to go with her fiance to usa before her wedding, so they are aware of the cultural boundaries and how couples can't live together until married. She did they she has an aunt she will stay with till the wedding but i guess that was not good enough. 

14 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Are they related by blood?  First cousins?

No, no blood relation. 

[SalishSea 17,832]

1 minute ago, hope00012 said:

They have to prove they are no too married but then again they have to prove they are engaged enough. It's very difficult,  especially in Pakistani culture. They asked her how she is willing to go with her fiance to usa before her wedding, so they are aware of the cultural boundaries and how couples can't live together until married. She did they she has an aunt she will stay with till the wedding but i guess that was not good enough. 

No, no blood relation. 

This is why CR-1 is generally a better choice than K-1 for Pakistanis.

[hope00012 1]

I asked them to reach out to the embassay and ask what was the reason. I'm not too optimistic about getting an answer back. It is hard not knowing what it actually was, too married, not engaged enough or whatever. I feel so bad for them. All this waiting and money and just like that its all over. 

Edited January 10, 2019 by hope00012

[hope00012 1]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

This is why CR-1 is generally a better choice than K-1 for Pakistanis.

Yea. I did a CR-1 in Abu Dhabi for my husband. All they asked him was where I was and our wedding date. But then again by that time we had a baby so that was proof enough of a relationship.

[Mimicherie 142]

7 hours ago, hope00012 said:

They did not even look at the pictures. 

Thank you for the help. I think the best bet it just to get married. 

But were the engagement ceremony pictures already included in the package when sent to USCIS? If so, they definitely saw the pictures. 

[Shiran 1,134]

I apologize for being culturally insensitive here but I've see stories like that a few times, where couple is denied at the interview, and it seems they just... walk out?? It seems like the best place to at least get fully detailed explanation for the denial reason right then and there??

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/interview/after-the-interview.html

 

According to official website, you are suppose to be told why you are denied at the end of Interview. I understand not being able to do anything about it, but it seems so strange to me to have no clear reason for denial after waiting for over half a year. 

[geowrian 22,337]

5 minutes ago, Shiran said:

According to official website, you are suppose to be told why you are denied at the end of Interview. I understand not being able to do anything about it, but it seems so strange to me to have no clear reason for denial after waiting for over half a year. 

"Why" would be the section of the INA that makes one ineligible for the visa or inadmissible. If the petition is being returned then that would be under 221g (incomplete application). If you can get any more info than that then that's a courtesy.