Age Gap

[Sea Leslie 430]

Hey guys...

 

So, I was just reading a post from a fellow VJ member and I was thinking about the age gap situation. I am a US citizen and my last husband who is a US citizen was much older then me and we had a significant age gap. No one even questioned it, and of course, I am totally aware that this would be an issue for some individuals in other countries because of marriage fraud. 

 

My thoughts are... how can the interviewer really determine if the marriage is a fraud because of the age difference? I, of course, do not have a concern with age because love is all that really matters, but I am worried (I overthink at times) that this issue (age gap) prevents other people from being together. Seems so unfair, but what are your thoughts? 

[Thegirl 225]

They use all the information they have including  examining cultural "norms" and whatever evidence is presented. It's up to each couple to present their best case. They are also experienced. You do something enough you learn to pick up on certain things and in sure there's also some kind of rubric that exists as a general guide. 

[Lil bear 4,181]

34 minutes ago, Sea Leslie said:

Hey guys...

 

So, I was just reading a post from a fellow VJ member and I was thinking about the age gap situation. I am a US citizen and my last husband who is a US citizen was much older then me and we had a significant age gap. No one even questioned it, and of course, I am totally aware that this would be an issue for some individuals in other countries because of marriage fraud. 

 

My thoughts are... how can the interviewer really determine if the marriage is a fraud because of the age difference? I, of course, do not have a concern with age because love is all that really matters, but I am worried (I overthink at times) that this issue (age gap) prevents other people from being together. Seems so unfair, but what are your thoughts? 

Whether or not the decision about the relationship that the interviewing officer comes to is or is not correct, it is unfortunately what dictates if the visa is granted or refused 

[Boiler 45,442]

Age alone is not an issue, many people are approved with large age differences.

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, Sea Leslie said:

My thoughts are... how can the interviewer really determine if the marriage is a fraud because of the age difference?

Age Gap, beneficiary's country norms, different religions, marrying on the first visit, high fraud countries, are all things that, to some extent, can be offset with face to face time.  Of course the less red flags the better.

 

For Jamaica, as long as you have spent a good amount of time together, there shouldn't be much of an issue with age gap.  Think totality of the circumstances being presented.

[Pinkrlion 2,715]

Age gap is only questioned in any country when it is the woman who is older than the man.  Then they cry fraud.  Sexism at its finest.  

[Sea Leslie 430]

8 hours ago, Thegirl said:

They use all the information they have including  examining cultural "norms" and whatever evidence is presented. It's up to each couple to present their best case. They are also experienced. You do something enough you learn to pick up on certain things and in sure there's also some kind of rubric that exists as a general guide. 

Yes, this makes sense, but the societal norms have changed vastly over the years. However, like you said, they have been doing this for a long time and I'm sure they can sniff out the fraudulent marriages. 

[Sea Leslie 430]

8 hours ago, Lil bear said:

Whether or not the decision about the relationship that the interviewing officer comes to is or is not correct, it is unfortunately what dictates if the visa is granted or refused 

Yes, it almost seems like they have a lot of power.

[Sea Leslie 430]

7 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Age Gap, beneficiary's country norms, different religions, marrying on the first visit, high fraud countries, are all things that, to some extent, can be offset with face to face time.  Of course the less red flags the better.

 

For Jamaica, as long as you have spent a good amount of time together, there shouldn't be much of an issue with age gap.  Think totality of the circumstances being presented.

Yeah, they are looking at the bigger picture.

6 hours ago, Pinkrlion said:

Age gap is only questioned in any country when it is the woman who is older than the man.  Then they cry fraud.  Sexism at its finest.  

Really? Now I never even thought of the gender. This boggles the mind

[geowrian 22,337]

I've seen cases where an age gap was brought up as an issue with an older male. Rare, but it happens.

Cultural norms tend to not be as concerned about an older male with a much younger female. YMMV.

COs follow cultural norms. If something is out of the norm, they apply scrutiny. Scrutiny does not mean a denial...it's just one factor for consideration.

 

As noted, age alone is never a reason to refuse a visa. There are plenty of cases on VJ even with large age gaps in an area where that is uncommon that have had success. It all depends on having and showing sufficient evidence.

[Crazy Cat 41,806]

10 hours ago, Sea Leslie said:

how can the interviewer really determine if the marriage is a fraud because of the age difference?

I've never seen it used solely as the reason for denial......but......I have seen numerous denial letters which have included that factor, along with he other red flags....EDIT:  The interview always goes sour in these cases.....

Even in cases with multiple red flags, there is one thing that almost always cures the doubt.....a lot of time spent together.

Edited January 31, 2020 by missileman

[Lil bear 4,181]

1 hour ago, Sea Leslie said:

Yes, it almost seems like they have a lot of power.

Yes. They do. They have all the decision making power in this . 

[carmel34 3,620]

I was more concerned about the age gap issue than my husband was prior to his interview, he's the younger one so maybe that's why.  Our age difference is 28 years, and after doing lots of research on how to overcome it, we chose the CR-1 path and on spending as much time together as possible.  I went to visit him every two months or so.  We also had lots of evidence of financial co-mingling, as much as we could gather living in separate countries.  In the end, we were approved with no issues or delays, 11 months from filing the petition to visa in hand.  My view is that an age gap can naturally lead to closer scrutiny of a visa application, so more evidence than normal can be helpful in being successful, lots of front-loading and side-loading of evidence.  I also traveled to Brazil to be with him for his visa interview, and I think that really helped as well.  The CO saw us together, the way we interacted, looked at each other, held hands, spoke to each other in Portuguese, etc.  People who see us together do not realize how big the age gap is because I do not look as old as I really am, so being there for the interview may have helped for that reason too.   You'll be fine, try not to worry, and good luck with the visa interview!

Edited January 31, 2020 by carmel34

[Orangesapples 1,954]

12 hours ago, Sea Leslie said:

Hey guys...

 

So, I was just reading a post from a fellow VJ member and I was thinking about the age gap situation. I am a US citizen and my last husband who is a US citizen was much older then me and we had a significant age gap. No one even questioned it, and of course, I am totally aware that this would be an issue for some individuals in other countries because of marriage fraud. 

 

My thoughts are... how can the interviewer really determine if the marriage is a fraud because of the age difference? I, of course, do not have a concern with age because love is all that really matters, but I am worried (I overthink at times) that this issue (age gap) prevents other people from being together. Seems so unfair, but what are your thoughts? 

I don't think it's unfair, most people don't fall in love and marry someone who's their parents' age and from a different generation. It makes sense to question whether the relationship is legitimate or for immigration purposes only. I'm sure there are quite a few calculating young people (men and women) preying on older and desperate Americans. COs are right to scrutinize those relationships. 

[MelissaHussain 52]

2 hours ago, Sea Leslie said:

Yeah, they are looking at the bigger picture.

Really? Now I never even thought of the gender. This boggles the mind

Yes its so frustrating! We have several red flags including this one. I'm 11 yrs older than him but he's far more emotionally mature than many men much older! He also looks older while I look younger so we end up looking about the same age. I've visited him 6 times in the last 13 months and I'm going again in 42 days. The culture and citizen country could be an issue but he immigrated away 8 years ago and has perm residency in Italy so hopefully that helps too. As someone who doesn't care what other people think, its been hard to have to think so carefully about how to prove our love. But I believe we have evidence to negate the red flags. Just to say yes it boggles the mind that in this process things considered discrimination in other situations are fair game.