AlwaysStressed

The foreign spouse lives with immediate family but isn't close due to years of neglect, cultural differences, and bullying. They prefer to cite cultural differences/privacy concerns if asked, avoiding in-depth discussion. The US spouse is aware of this and has witnessed it via video calls. They also have evidence the foreign spouse was never married before and they have known each other for a long time. The marriage is genuine. The US citizen’s family knows and approves of the marriage. Surely, this can’t still raise suspicion or denial? It’s difficult for the foreign spouse to discuss, and privacy regarding past traumas should be respected. Many US marriages follow similiar patterns (elopement/estrangement)...

Could it raise a red flag with USCIS if the foreign spouse comes from a strict cultural background (with privacy concerns) and their family is unaware of the U.S. spouse? Could this become an issue during the Consulate interview, particularly if they ask why the U.S. spouse's family is aware of the relationship, but the foreign spouse's family is not or seems disinterested in that part of the foreign spouse's life?

Thank you! Yes 🙂 we are all not alone in this. I'm compiling evidence as we speak with my husband before he goes back to the states. What paperwork would you recommend ad evidence. Even though our relationship is genuine, we're scared of being denied based on financials. Since both of us aren't in prestigious spots so we are going to be using a co-sponsor. I hope it works out. How's it going for you?

Hi Going through consulate process. I've read that when at the US Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the visa interview, they take in the originals of your birth, marriage and police clearance certificates etc. as well as the copies. Do they give these back after ?

I understand. It just sucks for those of us in genuine relationships who have been separated for years and seeking to sooth the pain through reunion and a normal life. It's depressing to have life almost frozen for so many years and watching others move on and build their lives with their partners. I've even seen innocent people and genuine relationships be so heavily scrutinized. Then there's the fear of being one of those couples wrongly suspected and misjudged leading to denial its really so hard....

This whole process feels like a really hard test and excruciatingly long job interview 😪 So tired. Stressed. Constant migraines.