Did we "meet" enough? Should I go to the interview?

[Emmandis 67]

My fiance lives in Europe but is from Ghana. The embassy we are using is Naples -he has a legal permit of stay in Italy for attending university. Waiting for our approved NOA2 to get case number at NVC. We met last summer in July 2018 while he was here in U.S. on a J1 visa. We were never previously acquainted until a few days after his arrival. I don't know how many times we "met" specifically. We spent time in the same social circle, a few outings, and a few visits to my house, -from July 2018 through September 2018. He actually hit it off with my parents more so than me at first. I think our first photo ever was a photo of the 4 of us in a restaurant back in August. Not a ton of summer proof in the petition -we were friends and not into selfies, we didn't start "officially" dating until the day after he left. (He along with my parents did spend the last week of his visit uninterrupted here in my home due to a mandatory hurricane evacuation requirement.) ...I physically reunited with him again in January this year in Paris for a 4 day trip that we spent together well documented. -That's when he proposed. We filed a relatively "front–loaded" petition in February... So my questions: 1) He's from Ghana, but using a different embassy -Do we still need to go above and beyond with proof of continued relationship? Like printing a zillion what'sapp pages? I was thinking of printing 2 screenshots of conversation a month since we filed, some wedding plans, and a couple of video chat screenshots with him and my family. 2) Will they say we "only met twice", so should I spend the time off and money to go to Naples for the interview? -Do we already have enough face-to-face time? 3) This might sound cheesy, but should I get my Dad to write a letter acknowledging our bona-fide relationship, and supply screenshots from Dad's phone of them scheduling guitar practice in my living room, my Mom might have a picture of them practicing? ...I'm just concerned that he'll be handled like he's in Accra (Ghana) although he'll be interviewing in Italy. ...It's safe to err on the side of caution, but I want to know that it won't make a difference whether or not I go all the way to Naples for only a couple of days, especially since he should be here with me in a few weeks afterward assuming the visa is approved.

 

 

[Pitaya 2,577]

6 hours ago, Emmandis said:

My fiance lives in Europe but is from Ghana. The embassy we are using is Naples -he has a legal permit of stay in Italy for attending university. Waiting for our approved NOA2 to get case number at NVC. We met last summer in July 2018 while he was here in U.S. on a J1 visa. We were never previously acquainted until a few days after his arrival. I don't know how many times we "met" specifically. We spent time in the same social circle, a few outings, and a few visits to my house, -from July 2018 through September 2018. He actually hit it off with my parents more so than me at first. I think our first photo ever was a photo of the 4 of us in a restaurant back in August. Not a ton of summer proof in the petition -we were friends and not into selfies, we didn't start "officially" dating until the day after he left. (He along with my parents did spend the last week of his visit uninterrupted here in my home due to a mandatory hurricane evacuation requirement.) ...I physically reunited with him again in January this year in Paris for a 4 day trip that we spent together well documented. -That's when he proposed. We filed a relatively "front–loaded" petition in February..GOOD IDEA. So my questions: 1) He's from Ghana, but using a different embassy -Do we still need to go above and beyond with proof of continued relationship? VERY LIKELY Like printing a zillion what'sapp pages? BE REALISTIC. I was thinking of printing 2 screenshots of conversation a month since we filed, some wedding plans, and a couple of video chat screenshots with him and my family. 2) Will they say we "only met twice", so should I spend the time off and money to go to Naples for the interview? THE MORE VISITS THE BETTER -Do we already have enough face-to-face time? HARD TO SAY, LIKELY 3) This might sound cheesy, but should I get my Dad to write a letter acknowledging our bona-fide relationship, and supply screenshots from Dad's phone of them scheduling guitar practice in my living room, my Mom might have a picture of them practicing? LIKELY NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT WOULD BE PRINTED ON, IT IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S RELATIONSHIP...I'm just concerned that he'll be handled like he's in Accra (Ghana) although he'll be interviewing in Italy. .JUSTIFIABLY SO..It's safe to err on the side of caution, but I want to know that it won't make a difference whether or not I go all the way to Naples for only a couple of days, especially since he should be here with me in a few weeks afterward assuming the visa is approved.IF YOU CAN GO, GO, IT WOULD COUNT AS ANOTHER VISIT...

 

 

LOOK AT THE TYPES OF EVIDENCE IN THE VJ GUIDE, PRESENT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN OF ALL TYPES. HE IS FROM A HIGH-FRAUD COUNTRY, ASSUME THAT HE WILL BE SCRUTINIZED.

 

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR IMMIGRATION JOURNEY.

[Emmandis 67]

Thank you @Pitaya (火龙果)! I just wanted to show that in addition to our relationship he is beloved by my friends and family and we have their support. I have heard of people getting eyewitnesses to write letters on their behalf. -Wasn't sure if it was worth it. ...We'll present more proof of our ongoing relationship/communication than I originally intended to send. I'll plan to support him at the interview, even if I can't go in. ...I posted this to confirm that we shouldn't take the consulate for granted. He's spent most of his time in Italy, but also exchange semesters in France and Poland. However, I know US immigration is no comparison to Europe. He has used the Rome embassy in the past when he visited the US on the J1 visa. No issues with immigration at all. BUT, a J1 visa is a totally different story than a K-1 visa. ...I guess it's important to understand that even though he's been in Europe a couple of years they'll still be focused on his nationality with a fine-toothed comb.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Keep this in mind, the US consular official at the interview is trained to try to detect lying and fraud. They are also likely aware of "consulate-shopping" schemes, particularly consulates on the Med. across from Africa.  Your fiancé comes from a very well known HIGH fraud country. Prepare yourself accordingly.

 

While you are waiting, . It helps everyone by giving the VJ stats relevance, the more the better.

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[Emmandis 67]

4 minutes ago, Pitaya (火龙果) said:

Keep this in mind, the US consular official at the interview is trained to try to detect lying and fraud. They are also likely aware of "consulate-shopping" schemes, particularly consulates on the Med. across from Africa.  Your fiancé comes from a very well known HIGH fraud country. Prepare yourself accordingly.

 

While you are waiting, . It helps everyone by giving the VJ stats relevance, the more the better.

 

Good luck on your immigration journey.

I'm quite familiar with their training and detection skills. We have nothing to hide, the officer won't detect lies or fraud because we have none. Our situation isn't a "consulate-shopping" scheme. We submitted our petition when we got engaged. Waited our turn like everyone else. We're approved now, yet he is unable to travel all the way to Ghana just to interview, without sacrificing his education and years of hard work. His schedule is very demanding, we are using the closest consulate to where he has had legal residence over a year before we met. ...Thanks for the advice in preparing accordingly.

 

 

 

[Pitaya 2,577]

My wife and stepson had their K1/K2 visa interview at the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China. That is also considered another high fraud area. It is next to impossible for a single Chinese female to get a visitor/tourist visa to the US, so as a consequence, I did a fair amount of traveling, and got to see a bit of China with my own personal tour guide.  I made a total of 3 trips to the PRC, including one to be with my new family at their visa interview. Due to space constraints, the USC is not allowed to be in attendance at the visa interview. But I was just as nervous, in the consulate vicinity, "enjoying" a doppio espresso. Feel free to read our review of the interview of 12 June 2012.

 

After being there one morning and seeing the ocean of people that deluge the US consulate trying to come to the US...amazing. In the early morning, there was a nice one-block city park, where people would listen to opera and do their exercise programs. Across the street from the park is the office complex where the old consulate was located. At around 8am, the police would show up, putting up the teller lines that stretched all over the large plaza entrance to the consulate, maintaining order in a chaotic situation.

 

Bona fortuna en Napoli.

[Emmandis 67]

Thanks for sharing the personal experience. The interview approval will be a big moment in our future. Even though I may need to wait outside, I think it will be a great thing to share together.

[Mrsamoah2019 593]

 1) He's from Ghana, but using a different embassy -Do we still need to go above and beyond with proof of continued relationship? Like printing a zillion what'sapp pages?

 

yes just because he in italy he still born in a high fraud country ...all u need is 3 days of chats per month..simple...just to show consistency

 

I was thinking of printing 2 screenshots of conversation a month since we filed, some wedding plans, and a couple of video chat screenshots with him and my family. ---YES  this is exactly what I did...I frontloaded the heck out of mine

 

2) Will they say we "only met twice", so should I spend the time off and money to go to Naples for the interview? -Do we already have enough face-to-face time? ---quality over quanity..if ur two visits have a lot of evidence in them then yes if not then i would say go

 

3) This might sound cheesy, but should I get my Dad to write a letter acknowledging our bona-fide relationship, and supply screenshots from Dad's phone of them scheduling guitar practice in my living room, my Mom might have a picture of them practicing?  yes my mom and brother wrote one..also his mom and pastor from Ghana wrote...i also did screenshots of us with each other familes..the more the better

 

but dont be thinking because he in another country he will have it easy...put all u can into it

[Emmandis 67]

Thank you @Mrsamoah2019. Those are VERY helpful suggestions! When it came to conversations, I wondered how much was enough. Thanks for sharing what you did to demonstrate consistency.

[Limey 551]

9 hours ago, Emmandis said:

I'm quite familiar with their training and detection skills. We have nothing to hide, the officer won't detect lies or fraud because we have none. Our situation isn't a "consulate-shopping" scheme. We submitted our petition when we got engaged. Waited our turn like everyone else. We're approved now, yet he is unable to travel all the way to Ghana just to interview, without sacrificing his education and years of hard work. His schedule is very demanding, we are using the closest consulate to where he has had legal residence over a year before we met. ...Thanks for the advice in preparing accordingly.

 

 

 

We can't know what goes through the minds of USCIS, but I don't think you have too much to worry about...

The fraud they are looking out for is people trying to either trick or collude with a US citizen in order to gain entry to the USA. Your fiance has 2 big things in his favor

 

1) he's already been in the USA legally on a J1 visa. If his aim was just to get to the USA, he'd either have overstayed that, or found someone to marry in the USA in order to stay. But he didn't - he left and returned to Europe. This tends to point to him being honest, and the relationship being genuine.

2) he's legally living in Italy. Again, the incentive to commit visa fraud to get to the USA is reduced quite a bit if you are already living in a developed rich country.

He's not consulate shopping by going via an Italian consulate, since he lives in Italy. It would make no sense for him to go via Ghana.

No one can guarantee success in this process, but I'd say you have less to worry about than many others from Ghana. Are you of similar ages (large age differences can be a red flag especially if he's much younger than you)?

[Emmandis 67]

59 minutes ago, Limey said:

We can't know what goes through the minds of USCIS, but I don't think you have too much to worry about...

The fraud they are looking out for is people trying to either trick or collude with a US citizen in order to gain entry to the USA. Your fiance has 2 big things in his favor

 

1) he's already been in the USA legally on a J1 visa. If his aim was just to get to the USA, he'd either have overstayed that, or found someone to marry in the USA in order to stay. But he didn't - he left and returned to Europe. This tends to point to him being honest, and the relationship being genuine.

2) he's legally living in Italy. Again, the incentive to commit visa fraud to get to the USA is reduced quite a bit if you are already living in a developed rich country.

He's not consulate shopping by going via an Italian consulate, since he lives in Italy. It would make no sense for him to go via Ghana.

No one can guarantee success in this process, but I'd say you have less to worry about than many others from Ghana. Are you of similar ages (large age differences can be a red flag especially if he's much younger than you)?

Thanks for the positivity! He is 4 years younger than me. He's comfortable with the European lifestyle -but relocating so that we can be together. My fiance also has options abroad following his graduation, but we've both made adjustments/sacrifices to make this work.