Sri Lanka CR-1 Spouse Interview June

[mhtl 0]

My wife had her interview on June 15, 2023. All our documents were perfect and we had backup for all the questions CO asked except at the end she wanted call logs from WhatsApp for 2021-2023. Since my wife couldn't provide call logs CO gave her 221g blue paper asking to submit these call logs. Since WhatsApp only store call logs for 3 months tops, this has caused massive headache for both of us. After the interview we submitted what we could put together reflecting call logs from 2023 but CO sent another email stating it needs to be from my wife's phone. Second time we submitted detail screen shots of call logs we could gather from 2023, several days later we received a call from US embassy from a lady stating that they are still looking into our case and if we have additional evidence please submit. After the call we submitted pictures we took from our recent trips, family pictures together, and my board pass showing I arrived in Sri Lanka 2023. After this submission I have sent two more emails and still have not heard anything back from CO. My case is still at "Refused" status which last updated on July 21. We submitted last evidence on  July 24. My question is what other evidence should I put except WhatsApp call logs?

 

Below is a list of evidence we had to prove our relationship

-our wedding pictures

-wedding pictures with family

-financial evidence of my transferring money to her account

 

 

[TBoneTX 45,244]

Thread is moved from the K-3 Process forum to the CR-1 Case Progress subforum.

[TBoneTX 45,244]

I'm not sure that it's the same consular administration, but someone else had an absolutely terrible time with your consulate.

 

It's interesting that they would phone you.  I had not heard of this as a typical procedure.

 

You might not have done any of this yet (most couples with one USC spouse and one overseas spouse probably would not), but have you (the USC) drafted or executed any estate documents -- a will, a power of attorney, or similar -- naming her?  That's all that I can think of.

 

Have you involved your Congressman's immigration liaison by having him/her inquire about your case status?

[mhtl 0]

I have read several forms here about Sri Lanka CO process and that is why I'm really concerned. 

Thank you, I have not done any estate documents naming her but I recently tried to put her as my 401k beneficiary but it requires her to have a SSN. I will try to see if I can do a power of attorney naming her of my assets. 

Her interview was on June 15, should I contact the congressman now to proceed with this?  

[TBoneTX 45,244]

12 minutes ago, mhtl said:

it requires her to have a SSN

This will be the sticking point in regard to most if not all financial accounts.  The immigrant can sometimes be added without an SSN once he/she is in the U.S., but this stage would be after your current hurdle.

 

13 minutes ago, mhtl said:

should I contact the congressman now

This is a guess, but I suspect that the Sri Lankan consulate isn't one of the busiest.  Your case is probably in a consular officer's short stack of 221g cases.

 

It will take a couple of days for the Congressional office to be able to act.  You'll be asked to sign a form that gives the office permission to help with your issue.  If you look today and happen to find that form on your Congressman's website, see if you can complete it in advance.  Before submitting it, I suggest phoning the office on Monday to speak directly with the immigration liaison, and mentioning at that time that you've completed the form and can e-mail it right away.

 

Does the consulate understand that WhatsApp call-logs are stored for only 3 months?  Maybe the Congressman's office can make that point.  If all else fails, try contacting WhatsApp to see if someone can help to recover records that cover a longer period (keep asking for a supervisor).

[TBoneTX 45,244]

Another idea of something to supply the consulate:  create a detailed "relationship timeline" of every visit, substantial conversation, interaction with family, and notable event from the time you met your wife-to-be through the present.  This has been done for Vietnam, I know, years ago.  Perhaps search in the Vietnam regional forum for relevant threads, or in the Portal or the Office Reviews & Info tabs atop any VisaJourney page, to see what you can find.

 

I will post a thread in that forum with a link to this thread, and maybe someone will respond.  Remember that it's the weekend with slower forum traffic.

[mhtl 0]

9 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

 

Does the consulate understand that WhatsApp call-logs are stored for only 3 months?  Maybe the Congressman's office can make that point.  If all else fails, try contacting WhatsApp to see if someone can help to recover records that cover a longer period (keep asking for a supervisor).

When I submitted evidence the second time I created a folder with sections detail explaining that WhatsApp does not store call logs for more than 3 months. After this submission that is when my wife received a phone call from embassy stating bring any other additional evidence we have since they are still looking into our case. I have submitted photo album with 25 picture or more, took pictures of us together and screenshot where it shows the location of the picture than from maps, also submitted my boarding passes. After this submission I have not heard or have not seen any update on my case. I submitted last evidence on July 24th 

7 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Another idea of something to supply the consulate:  create a detailed "relationship timeline" of every visit, substantial conversation, interaction with family, and notable event from the time you met your wife-to-be through the present.  This has been done for Vietnam, I know, years ago.  Perhaps search in the Vietnam regional forum for relevant threads, or in the Portal or the Office Reviews & Info tabs atop any VisaJourney page, to see what you can find.

 

I will post a thread in that forum with a link to this thread, and maybe someone will respond.  Remember that it's the weekend with slower forum traffic.

Thank you so much 

[TBoneTX 45,244]

Is there anything at all that could cause someone to suspect that this is not a bona fide relationship?  Have you sent piles and piles of money to your wife or her family, for instance?

 

If not, it sounds to me that the consulate is intentionally throwing roadblocks in front of a straightforward case.  Unless you hear specifics from the consulate, you'll have to rely on advice and information from this site and from your Congressman's office.  I've been in your position, sadly.

 

Give us consistent updates, and we'll all put our heads together regarding how to proceed.

[janet3 1,170]

Have you contacted Whatsapp? They may be able to give you more than the online history. If they can't give you more history, I would definitely follow T bones advice. Record your history....here is how I would record it (give me some grace...it's been years now)

Met Mr Wonderful July 3, 2016 via the website international cupid. 

Spoke to Mr Wonderful via Skype and Whatsapp (and his family) for 9 months.

Met Mr Wonderful in person in Germany December 27, 2016. We stayed with friends of his in Germany. 

We traveled from Germany to Prague on December 30, 2016 where he met my sister. We stayed in Prague for three days.

I traveled to Algeria on March 16, 2017 and stayed with Mr Wonderful and his family. 

I traveled to Algeria on October 18, 2017 and stayed with Mr Wonderful and his family. 

Add pictures and receipts. 

It worked for us in a fairly difficult embassy. 

[TBoneTX 45,244]

Janet3's advice is excellent.  If you do a timeline, even more detail will help.  If I remember, dealing with the Vietnam consulate necessitated an exhaustive, almost microscopic account from start to finish.  There has to be a sample or an outline somewhere in that forum.  Pursue WhatsApp and scroll through or search the Vietnam forum.

[mhtl 0]

7 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Is there anything at all that could cause someone to suspect that this is not a bona fide relationship?  Have you sent piles and piles of money to your wife or her family, for instance?

 

If not, it sounds to me that the consulate is intentionally throwing roadblocks in front of a straightforward case.  Unless you hear specifics from the consulate, you'll have to rely on advice and information from this site and from your Congressman's office.  I've been in your position, sadly.

 

Give us consistent updates, and we'll all put our heads together regarding how to proceed.

I have sent money to my wife every month to show that I financially supported her. She took statements from my bank accounts showing evidence money being transferred via XOOM to her bank account. Her bank account statements showing my name appearing as the person money transferring to her account. During the interview CO asked for financial support evidence and my wife provided all the statements, there was no issue with financial evidence at all. Because CO only asked for WhatsApp call logs and since she couldn't provide it that is what she wrote on 221g form under section other: 2021-2023 whatsapp call logs

My wife also took with her all of chat history from 2021-2023 which was about 250 pages. When CO asked for call logs my wife showed the missed calls that showing up on the chat log but CO didn't seem to care about that. When I submitted evidence second time I took screenshots of chats showing missed calls from 2021-2023 as well. 

I also wanted to mention that CO kept my wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and passport 

 

I also saw someone here was given 221g yellow paper without any request for documents from US Embassy in Sri Lanka, do you think they are giving everyone 221g to give them more time to verify original documents with the Sri Lankan government agencies? 

Edited August 20, 2023 by mhtl

[mhtl 0]

5 hours ago, janet3 said:

Have you contacted Whatsapp? They may be able to give you more than the online history. If they can't give you more history, I would definitely follow T bones advice. Record your history....here is how I would record it (give me some grace...it's been years now)

Met Mr Wonderful July 3, 2016 via the website international cupid. 

Spoke to Mr Wonderful via Skype and Whatsapp (and his family) for 9 months.

Met Mr Wonderful in person in Germany December 27, 2016. We stayed with friends of his in Germany. 

We traveled from Germany to Prague on December 30, 2016 where he met my sister. We stayed in Prague for three days.

I traveled to Algeria on March 16, 2017 and stayed with Mr Wonderful and his family. 

I traveled to Algeria on October 18, 2017 and stayed with Mr Wonderful and his family. 

Add pictures and receipts. 

It worked for us in a fairly difficult embassy. 

I sent an email asking for help with call logs, they only reply back with emails and I have not heard anything back yet. I haven't done a timeline but last evidence packet I submitted had sections detailing our additional wedding pictures, family pictures, pictures with location, my boarding passes, my credit card statements with my paying for flights to Sri Lanka

 

I honestly don't know what other evidence to provide

Edited August 20, 2023 by mhtl

[D-R-J 192]

You might check if you have any additional WhatsApp history in iCloud or Google Drive backup. Probably won’t be everything, but maybe at least more evidence.

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

different phones have different ways to retrieve phone logs from  whatsapp

 

if u have an android

How can I retrieve old WhatsApp call history?

 

 

Step #1: Uninstall and Reinstall WhatsApp from your Android mobile. Step #2: Open the app and then tap "Agree and Continue" > "Allow". Step #3: Type and verify your phone number. Step #4: Tap "Restore" to recover WhatsApp call logs from Google Drive.Jul 12, 2023

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

1  has USC added u as married to tax returns?  either MFJ or MFS as both require the name of the foreign spouse

2. looks like they think  u did not meet  when your cover letter says u did and have not talked that long/ have u provided proof of the 1st talk like facebook or other?    2 Moroccans also faced this issue -to provide old chats -u must have said u talked on whatsapp so  thats what the CO wants