Same Sex couples ( One from from African country)

[Dsam 1]

3 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

My opinion is that if you continue to be evasive or vague, you'll fail.  Be open and up front.  Build a true relationship.  Spend time together in person.  Then move forward with confidence and honesty.

 

Noted, Thank you very much for your input.. I appreciate… we do have a true relationship together and proof of knowing and meeting him prior to him getting married to his ex and it developing it into a relationship now that his awaiting a divorce decree but I’m just scared based of what I’m hearing that if the divorce decree was too soon and we got married that it could be a problem at either uscis level or nvc level … hence that’s why I’d like to know if we wait 5 months after the divorce decree to get married, would that be reasonable? And if the zoom marriage or flying to a country where it’s legal would be better in my case ??  It’s just really a lot to be honest 

[WeekendPizzaiolo 47]

14 minutes ago, Dsam said:

Noted, Thank you very much for your input.. I appreciate… we do have a true relationship together and proof of knowing and meeting him prior to him getting married to his ex and it developing it into a relationship now that his awaiting a divorce decree but I’m just scared based of what I’m hearing that if the divorce decree was too soon and we got married that it could be a problem at either uscis level or nvc level … hence that’s why I’d like to know if we wait 5 months after the divorce decree to get married, would that be reasonable? And if the zoom marriage or flying to a country where it’s legal would be better in my case ??  It’s just really a lot to be honest 

Zoom marriages are so new. In-person marriage will be better in your case because your case is already very complex. So it's just one less thing to worry about.

[Dsam 1]

16 minutes ago, DE CS said:

Zoom marriages are so new. In-person marriage will be better in your case because your case is already very complex. So it's just one less thing to worry about.

Thank you for your response, is 3 months or 5 months after the divorce decree enough time to wait before getting married?.

[WeekendPizzaiolo 47]

19 hours ago, Dsam said:

Thank you for response, I appreciate. I’m from Nigeria but studying in Europe (Soviet union), it’s a big pressure in my country to date women from family and society …Our relationship is real and I’ve never met anyone who made me feel normal and accepted, that being said is the zoom marriage not advisable because of the short time frame between divorce and marriage to me ? My boyfriend has visited me in the country I study and is coming again during the summer , we’ve known each other since 2019 but it didn’t blossom to a relationship then . We have proof of communication since 2019 when it didn’t blossom due to distance and time and the continuation of being just friends in 2020 till it blossoming into a relationship towards the end of  2021 ,we have pictures taken together when I visited him America in 2019 and when he visited me where I study and would have more as time goes on ,on his next visit.. I also have 2 to 3 friends who are aware of my sexuality who can give an affidavit as well as my boyfriend’s family members who are aware. Do you still suggest we wait and not get married a month after his divorce decree ?? Is 3 or 5 months after his divorce decree sufficient enough to wait before getting married.. we also don’t mind flying to another country where it’s legal  to get married , if zoom marriage is bad for our case …. Your honest and undiluted opinion would be appreciated especially if 5 months after the divorce is okay for us to get married  .

That's good that you have friends and his family who are familiar with the depth of your relationship and who you think can write honest letters attesting to this. I really don't know what a comfortable time period after the divorce decree would be before you both got married. Perhaps others can weigh in. If your boyfriend separated from his spouse a decent time period before his eventual divorce decree, then I imagine that would look better.

 

This page may be informative: (removed)

 

Or this post:

You can try google searching "I-129F recent divorce site:visajourney.com".

Edited February 13, 2022 by Ontarkie
3rd party link removed

[carmel34 3,631]

7 hours ago, Dsam said:

Thank you for your response, is 3 months or 5 months after the divorce decree enough time to wait before getting married?.

I gave you my advice in my first response:  you are from Nigeria, this reinforces what I said.  I recommend multiple visits, to spend more time together, face to face, after his divorce is final.  This may take more than 5 months, depending on your boyfriend's ability and means to travel so that you can spend more time together once he is single, maybe up to a year.  Only then should you get married (Germany or France, other third country where same-sex marriage is legal) and he can submit the I-130 petition with lots of evidence of those visits (original boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel receipts), to increase your chances of approval.  Photos together and meeting once or twice in person are not sufficient for Nigeria.  If you have legal residence in Russia as a student, I'm not sure if you will eventually get an interview there a year or two after the I-130 is submitted because the embassy is only processing limited visas right now, and people have to go to Warsaw.  You have a long road ahead if you truly want this to work out.  If your visa is denied you should have a back-up plan, to move to a third country to live together legally, then apply later for another spousal visa.  Good luck!!

Edited February 13, 2022 by carmel34

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

Due to the suspension of immigrant visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, the U.S. Department of State has designated the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw to process immigrant visas for residents of Russia.  

 

u will need the criminal report from Soviet Union before u leave

 

Follow Carmel34's advice above

 

and understand that you will go thru extended AP (administration process) after interview (no matter which embassy) as u are studying in Russia and from Nigeria 

 

the following site lists reasons a CO suspects a petition

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

 

It would be a good idea for your USC bf to join the group and read thru these messages and the guides on the blue bar above to understand the process

 

[Dsam 1]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

Due to the suspension of immigrant visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, the U.S. Department of State has designated the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw to process immigrant visas for residents of Russia.  

 

u will need the criminal report from Soviet Union before u leave

 

Follow Carmel34's advice above

 

and understand that you will go thru extended AP (administration process) after interview (no matter which embassy) as u are studying in Russia and from Nigeria 

 

the following site lists reasons a CO suspects a petition

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

 

It would be a good idea for your USC bf to join the group and read thru these messages and the guides on the blue bar above to understand the process

 

Thank you for your response. Administrative processing , why so ? I’m aware all cases for beneficiaries based in Russia are transferred to Warsaw, which i don’t mind going to for the interview. I read through some stories of some beneficiaries who were dating their spouse while separated and they all seem to say something in common which is being able to prove to the CO  that the usc was separated and living separately from his or her ex while you were both dating , I was shocked to have seen plenty success stories while reading through several threads . But I’m guessing having the interview in Nigeria seems to be the worry from most of the replies I’ve seen to my question…I’m guessing if we decide to go ahead and get married after his divorce then having the interview where I’m currently based would be a better option (Warsaw due to case transfer )?

[Dsam 1]

4 hours ago, carmel34 said:

I gave you my advice in my first response:  you are from Nigeria, this reinforces what I said.  I recommend multiple visits, to spend more time together, face to face, after his divorce is final.  This may take more than 5 months, depending on your boyfriend's ability and means to travel so that you can spend more time together once he is single, maybe up to a year.  Only then should you get married (Germany or France, other third country where same-sex marriage is legal) and he can submit the I-130 petition with lots of evidence of those visits (original boarding passes, passport stamps, hotel receipts), to increase your chances of approval.  Photos together and meeting once or twice in person are not sufficient for Nigeria.  If you have legal residence in Russia as a student, I'm not sure if you will eventually get an interview there a year or two after the I-130 is submitted because the embassy is only processing limited visas right now, and people have to go to Warsaw.  You have a long road ahead if you truly want this to work out.  If your visa is denied you should have a back-up plan, to move to a third country to live together legally, then apply later for another spousal visa.  Good luck!!

Thank you for your advice, I appreciate your opinion…from all what I’ve been able to gather from your reply and from the threads I’ve read of other peoples experiences- the biggest issue seems to be doing the interview in Nigeria if I go ahead without waiting for a long time , because I read multiple threads with plenty people sharing their success experiences in low red flag countries and red flag countries with similar situation , some weren’t asked about the details of previous divorce and some just needed to prove that the petitioner was separated and not living with their  ex while they were dating the beneficiary that they petitioned for . I’m guessing If we can’t wait as long as year after divorce, since we’ve know each other prior to his marriage, we’d just get married in a another country and have to do the interview where I’m based which I know is technically going to be transferred to Warsaw . 

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

you can be asked any question regarding the USC like "why the divorce?"   only for the CO to know how well u know your partner./  they don't care why he divorced

and why the extra AP ? there are always extra security checks when an bene for a US visa travels to check the travel history

 

there are several same sex couples on VJ and they are best to help u and will chime in

[WeekendPizzaiolo 47]

Not to be pedantic but the Soviet Union ceased to exist over 30 years ago on December 26, 1991.

[pushbrk 12,883]

11 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

you can be asked any question regarding the USC like "why the divorce?"   only for the CO to know how well u know your partner./  they don't care why he divorced

and why the extra AP ? there are always extra security checks when an bene for a US visa travels to check the travel history

 

there are several same sex couples on VJ and they are best to help u and will chime in

AP after interview is not automatic for Nigerian males.  No matter where he interviews, it will be with a Nigerian passport.  Any US Consular Officer anywhere in the world knows how much attempted immigration fraud comes from Nigeria and will evaluate accordingly.  As always, evidence of time spent together in person is the best way to overcome ANY red flags.

[carmel34 3,631]

20 hours ago, Dsam said:

I’m guessing If we can’t wait as long as year after divorce, since we’ve know each other prior to his marriage, we’d just get married in a another country and have to do the interview where I’m based which I know is technically going to be transferred to Warsaw

Whether the visa interview is in Warsaw or Lagos won't matter much.  Any beneficiary with a Nigerian passport will be scrutinized more, for reasons many have mentioned.  To overcome the red flags in this case (you met your boyfriend before he married someone else, then you met again while he was separated but still married, and you're from Nigeria), you will need much more evidence of time spent together, in person, before getting married.  Step one is obviously that your boyfriend needs to get divorced before anything else.  You seem to be in a hurry to get married now and start the immigration process as soon as possible, and I'm just saying that this approach may not be successful.  Of course, it's your decision, and more so, your boyfriend's, as he is the one who starts the process by filing an I-130 petition.  You have receive some very good advice here from experienced VJ members, and I suggest that you follow it.  Good luck!

Edited February 14, 2022 by carmel34

[pushbrk 12,883]

9 hours ago, carmel34 said:

Whether the visa interview is in Warsaw or Lagos won't matter much.  Any beneficiary with a Nigerian passport will be scrutinized more, for reasons many have mentioned.  To overcome the red flags in this case (you met your boyfriend before he married someone else, then you met again while he was separated but still married, and you're from Nigeria), you will need much more evidence of time spent together, in person, before getting married.  Step one is obviously that your boyfriend needs to get divorced before anything else.  You seem to be in a hurry to get married now and start the immigration process as soon as possible, and I'm just saying that this approach may not be successful.  Of course, it's your decision, and more so, your boyfriend's, as he is the one who starts the process by filing an I-130 petition.  You have receive some very good advice here from experienced VJ members, and I suggest that you follow it.  Good luck!

Very well said.  Nigerians who appear to be in a hurry for whatever reason, do tend to get visa applications denied.  Best to cease with the hurry and get on with the relationship and time together in person.

[Dsam 1]

On 2/14/2022 at 4:22 PM, carmel34 said:

Whether the visa interview is in Warsaw or Lagos won't matter much.  Any beneficiary with a Nigerian passport will be scrutinized more, for reasons many have mentioned.  To overcome the red flags in this case (you met your boyfriend before he married someone else, then you met again while he was separated but still married, and you're from Nigeria), you will need much more evidence of time spent together, in person, before getting married.  Step one is obviously that your boyfriend needs to get divorced before anything else.  You seem to be in a hurry to get married now and start the immigration process as soon as possible, and I'm just saying that this approach may not be successful.  Of course, it's your decision, and more so, your boyfriend's, as he is the one who starts the process by filing an I-130 petition.  You have receive some very good advice here from experienced VJ members, and I suggest that you follow it.  Good luck!

Thank you very much for your input and advice , I appreciate. I totally understand where you’re coming from in regards to time overlapping divorce and marriage . Yes our relationship is genuine and unfortunately I come from a country stereotypically known to have red flags . I won’t say I’m a hurry ,it’s rather the circumstances regarding being able to Cope with a homosexual relationship in an extremely homophobic country, that’s my boyfriends worry and mines as well not that I’m in a hurry .we’ve known our selfs for 3 years plus just that at some point it didn’t work out but now I do think the chances of us spending the rest of our lives together. But all the same I get what you’re saying. I seem to have seen a link here on Vj where people with similar cases where approved despite the overlap. We’d definitely put all this into consideration when the time is right for sure .

[Dsam 1]

On 2/15/2022 at 1:57 AM, pushbrk said:

Very well said.  Nigerians who appear to be in a hurry for whatever reason, do tend to get visa applications denied.  Best to cease with the hurry and get on with the relationship and time together in person.

Thank you for your advice, we have and do intend to spend time together via trips and more, after all his someone I intend to spend the rest of my life with and his who I’m genuinely in love with . We honestly just don’t know if me going back home to my home country and still being in a relationship is the best option for my safety , hence the reason I’m asking how to overcome such red flags if we decide to go that route of not waiting for years more seal our love.