Visa refused and being sent to fraud office

[Akin Michael 12]

After my interview, consular officer wrote "will be contacted by our fraud office". Also asked to find joint sponsor. For how long will it take the fraud office contact us? Interview date was in Lagos, Nigeria. My wife is currently disturbed. 

[nastra30 2,284]

Have you applied for any visa in past? Have you been married before?

[SalishSea 17,810]

1 hour ago, Akin Michael said:

After my interview, consular officer wrote "will be contacted by our fraud office". Also asked to find joint sponsor. For how long will it take the fraud office contact us? Interview date was in Lagos, Nigeria. My wife is currently disturbed. 

There is no timeline, involving the fraud office is relatively rare.   
 

You must have some red flags:   Large age difference, wife is much older, etc?

[Akin Michael 12]

48 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

Have you applied for any visa in past? Have you been married before?

No I have not applied for VISA before. Have never married. She asked when did my wife go for vacation, I said March this year to Sierra Leone, she said why didn't she come to my country or me join her? I said she went for building project and my leave was denied by my employer. 

[Dashinka 24,483]

49 minutes ago, Akin Michael said:

No I have not applied for VISA before. Have never married. She asked when did my wife go for vacation, I said March this year to Sierra Leone, she said why didn't she come to my country or me join her? I said she went for building project and my leave was denied by my employer. 

That did not completely answer the question as to why your wife was not able to take a few days to come to Nigeria while she was in Sierra Leone since you were not able to get the time off work.  I agree with @SalishSea, involving the fraud office is fairly rare, so no one knows how long it may take.  I am curious about the request for a joint sponsor, so your wife has a job that sends her to Sierra Leone, but it does not meet the I864P requirements?  I would focus on the request for a joint sponsor from the consulate.

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

@Akin Michael

There is more to this story.  Consulate Officers don't normally refer cases to the fraud division simply because they doubt the relationship.  There is something else going on.  What could be in your background or the USC's background to initiate a fraud investigation?   I suggest your wife hire the very best immigration attorney as possible....

Edited July 20, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Redro 4,611]

1 hour ago, Akin Michael said:

No I have not applied for VISA before. Have never married. She asked when did my wife go for vacation, I said March this year to Sierra Leone, she said why didn't she come to my country or me join her? I said she went for building project and my leave was denied by my employer. 

Going to Sierra Leone for a building project is not going on vacation... 

I can see how the CO might think you don't know your wife very well. 

Fraud case investigations out of Nigeria don't have a set timeline. 

But, this poster's husband interviewed in January 2021. A few months later he had a home visit (Nigeria) 

and then sometime after that he had to get another medical but he was ultimately given a visa.  So, if it follows a similar timeline something might happen 9-10 months after the interview. 

 

[Akin Michael 12]

55 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

That did not completely answer the question as to why your wife was not able to take a few days to come to Nigeria while she was in Sierra Leone since you were not able to get the time off work.  I agree with @SalishSea, involving the fraud office is fairly rare, so no one knows how long it may take.  I am curious about the request for a joint sponsor, so your wife has a job that sends her to Sierra Leone, but it does not meet the I864P requirements?  I would focus on the request for a joint sponsor from the consulate.

Thanks for your message. According to our lawyer, she(my wife) met with the threshold of Sponsoring an alien, she made $70,000 in 2022. So she concluded that the consular officer made mistake on that. But this fraud issue, I don't know what's really going on. Pls what can we do? 

[Redro 4,611]

4 minutes ago, Akin Michael said:

Thanks for your message. According to our lawyer, she(my wife) met with the threshold of Sponsoring an alien, she made $70,000 in 2022. So she concluded that the consular officer made mistake on that. But this fraud issue, I don't know what's really going on. Pls what can we do? 

When was the last time you saw your wife?

You cannot do anything about the visa until you get some communication from the consulate or fraud unit. 

You need to continue your relationship. Your wife should visit you or you should meet in a third country. 

You should write down all the questions the CO asked you so you don't forget- this can help you figure out if they are planning to deny you based on your answers. 

You both should also research the possibility of her moving to Nigeria or moving together to a third country. 

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

8 minutes ago, Akin Michael said:

So she concluded that the consular officer made mistake on that.

What she earned in 2022 is not important as what she is CURRENTLY earning.  What can you do?  Hire a very good immigration attorney.  Until you figure out what the fraud issue is, you're spinning your wheels.  

[Dashinka 24,483]

4 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

Thanks for your message. According to our lawyer, she(my wife) met with the threshold of Sponsoring an alien, she made $70,000 in 2022. So she concluded that the consular officer made mistake on that. But this fraud issue, I don't know what's really going on. Pls what can we do? 

I agree with @Redro, more together time is about the only thing you can do.  How many times have you met before and after marriage?  Is there a large age difference?  Is there a religious difference?  Those are some of the things I would be asking if I were a fraud officer or a CO.  

 

Also, the CO may have made a mistake with the I864, but the record reflects they are requesting a joint sponsor.  You may want to get updated financial information from your wife showing that she is maintaining her income.

 

Good Luck!

[SalishSea 17,810]

5 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

Thanks for your message. According to our lawyer, she(my wife) met with the threshold of Sponsoring an alien, she made $70,000 in 2022. So she concluded that the consular officer made mistake on that. But this fraud issue, I don't know what's really going on. Pls what can we do? 

What's going on is that they suspect it is a greencard marriage.  Most likely you haven't spent enough time together.

 

How much older than you is she?

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

you ,  the Nigerian ,  may never hear from fraud unit

the wife visiting Sierra Leone may have triggered the security checks 

[Akin Michael 12]

40 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I agree with @Redro, more together time is about the only thing you can do.  How many times have you met before and after marriage?  Is there a large age difference?  Is there a religious difference?  Those are some of the things I would be asking if I were a fraud officer or a CO.  

 

Also, the CO may have made a mistake with the I864, but the record reflects they are requesting a joint sponsor.  You may want to get updated financial information from your wife showing that she is maintaining her income.

 

Good Luck!

I w

 

6 hours ago, Dashinka said:

That did not completely answer the question as to why your wife was not able to take a few days to come to Nigeria while she was in Sierra Leone since you were not able to get the time off work.  I agree with @SalishSea, involving the fraud office is fairly rare, so no one knows how long it may take.  I am curious about the request for a joint sponsor, so your wife has a job that sends her to Sierra Leone, but it does not meet the I864P requirements?  I would focus on the request for a joint sponsor from the consulate.

I will. Thanks. 

[Akin Michael 12]

20 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

What's going on is that they suspect it is a greencard marriage.  Most likely you haven't spent enough time together.

 

How much older than you is she?

She's 34yrs, am 32yrs