Age gap with woman being older... Is this a problem for K1 visa approval?

[aa1979 100]

1 minute ago, Crazy Cat said:

Beware of comparing cases which seem to be similar.....

If I was an CO myself, and I am asked to pick one case to be concerned of out of the two cases.  Age difference of 40 years man being older VS age difference of 10 years woman being older at mid age:  I would be concerned of the 40 years age difference (even with the man being older).  

 

However, I would do my job and focus more on all elements of the relationships looking for whether they are sincere. I would not judge based on one factor or one element.  It would be a full picture for both relationship because people do things differently and they do not have to follow one rule of man being older or no more than this many years of age gap. What works for this person may or may not work for that person.

[Crazy Cat 41,010]

3 minutes ago, aa1979 said:

If I was an CO myself, and I am asked to pick one case to be concerned of out of the two cases.  Age difference of 40 years man being older VS age difference of 10 years woman being older at mid age:  I would be concerned of the 40 years age difference (even with the man being older).  

 

However, I would do my job and focus more on all elements of the relationships looking for whether they are sincere. I would not judge based on one factor or one element.  It would be a full picture for both relationship because people do things differently and they do not have to follow one rule of man being older or no more than this many years of age gap. What works for this person may or may not work for that person.

Two words.....Cultural norms.

I have seen cases where the age gap was mentioned in a denial letter...when the age gap was outside of cultural norms (older female marrying a much younger male).  I have not seen that mentioned when the male was older. 

[aa1979 100]

8 minutes ago, JKLSemicolon said:

For us the limbo of the adjustment of status process turned out to be more of an issue than the cost. Just a personal data point from someone who feels that the CR-1/IR-1 is the far superior option in most cases.

The quicker route of being together would be the K1 route.  Otherwise, I agree, it would be more superior to go CR-1 route.

 

In their case, they want to be together as early as they may and therefore they prefer the K1 route regardless of the extra costs and the other inconveniences.

[aa1979 100]

9 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Two words.....Cultural norms.

I have seen cases where the age gap was mentioned in a denial letter...when the age gap was outside of cultural norms (older female marrying a much younger male).  I have not seen that mentioned when the male was older. 

I am aware of two cases from Jordan that the woman was much older (14 years difference in one of them) and they successfully finished the CR-1 route. So, from a cultural norm stand point, this happens and it is not unheard of.

[Crazy Cat 41,010]

Just now, aa1979 said:

it is not unheard of

"not unheard of" is not the same as a cultural norm.  As I said, a much older female will draw attention in some countries.  The only way to overcome that is by spending a LOT of time actually together.  This is not a CR-1 case...which also is a factor.

Are you the foreign fiance in this case?

[aa1979 100]

11 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

 

Are you the foreign fiance in this case?

No, I am not! I am simply a friend of the US citizen applying.  She knows that I am well-versed with this process and therefore she is asking me.  I told her my thoughts but I also thought I could ask others to give their thoughts.  But, no... I am not the fiance hahahahaha!

I am glad you asked!  It seems like a good motivation for some of you to insist that the petitioner should come on here. I was wondering about the reason of why people are insisting over that point. I can see a one time invitation though!

I never thought that someone may mistake me with a foreigner to the US. Wait until my wife hears that...  

Edited June 14 by aa1979

[Crazy Cat 41,010]

16 minutes ago, aa1979 said:

I never thought that someone may mistake me with a foreigner to the US. Wait until my wife hears that...

Noone is accusing you of anything.  However, you might be surprised at how often the foreign spouse/fiance comes here as a "friend".  They do that specifically to prevent the US citizen from getting ALL the info and cautions we offer.  Normally the US citizen is here asking these questions.

Edited June 14 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,010]

Both the US citizen and the foreign fiance/immigrant should be here for this conversation.

[JKLSemicolon 388]

34 minutes ago, aa1979 said:

The quicker route of being together would be the K1 route.  Otherwise, I agree, it would be more superior to go CR-1 route.

 

In their case, they want to be together as early as they may and therefore they prefer the K1 route regardless of the extra costs and the other inconveniences.

I’m not convinced it’s all that quicker even in more conventional cases, and even less so in a case with any red flags. Good luck to them.

[randomstairs 283]

1 hour ago, aa1979 said:

If I was an CO myself, and I am asked to pick one case to be concerned of out of the two cases.  Age difference of 40 years man being older VS age difference of 10 years woman being older at mid age:  I would be concerned of the 40 years age difference (even with the man being older).  

Both are red flags. Beyond cultural norms, age difference is asymmetrically applied because of biological differences between male and female reproductive potentials. Even with extreme age differences of 40+ years, the younger female can still have children with the older male, with *minimally* increased risk of birth defects resulting from his age. Even though they do not plan to have children together, the age difference will most likely prevent them from changing their minds in the future. This is why this is a red flag. Of course, as many others have said, no one can tell how significant this issue will be in the ultimate decision-making by the officer. 

[Marieke H 2,395]

You seem extremely focused on the age difference in your questioning, but the reality is that everything else that people have been asking questions about matters.

 

An age gap in and of itself is not a reason to deny the visa. It is about the totality of circumstances. Cultural norms, family acceptance, country, etc, all matter. And a very important piece of this is time spent together. A short 10-day visit likely won't be enough.

 

Please have them do some proper research on the differences between a K-1 and CR-1. K-1 is not much faster and the CR-1 has so many benefits. A young man immigrating from Jordan might become very miserable having to sit at home for many months while his spouse needs to work to provide for both of them.

[Boiler 44,700]

3 hours ago, TexasRafael said:

If the relations is legitimate and can clearly prove it to the USCIS and the Embassy, the age difference does not matter!  My spouse is 40 years younger than me and we had no issues getting the K1 approved and for reasons that are not important, also the CR1 approved.

You married a male 40 years younger?

[mam521 1,964]

3 hours ago, JKLSemicolon said:

I’m not convinced it’s all that quicker even in more conventional cases, and even less so in a case with any red flags. Good luck to them.

This.  K1, on a good day, is mildly "quickER".  It certainly won't be if the case receives RFE's and additional scrutiny beyond what one might expect.  Considering the totality of the circumstances as mentioned by @Marieke H, expect the scrutiny.  There's faster and then there's safer bet. 

[aa1979 100]

5 hours ago, randomstairs said:

Both are red flags. Beyond cultural norms, age difference is asymmetrically applied because of biological differences between male and female reproductive potentials. Even with extreme age differences of 40+ years, the younger female can still have children with the older male, with *minimally* increased risk of birth defects resulting from his age. Even though they do not plan to have children together, the age difference will most likely prevent them from changing their minds in the future. This is why this is a red flag. Of course, as many others have said, no one can tell how significant this issue will be in the ultimate decision-making by the officer. 

If they change their mind, they are good with the adoption option.  I already asked them that question!

[aa1979 100]

5 hours ago, JKLSemicolon said:

I’m not convinced it’s all that quicker even in more conventional cases, and even less so in a case with any red flags. Good luck to them.

It is quicker especially these days.  All you have to do is take a look at the most recent applications and how they get their NOA2 in less than 4 months at times for the K1 process.