PLEASE HELP! K1 VISA DENIAL DUE TO DOWRY PAYMENT

[Ngodigydi 0]

I APPLIED FOR A FIANCÉ VISA FEBRUARY 2. MY FIANCÉ HAD HIS INTERVIEW AUGUST 25, 2014 AT THE LAGOS, NIGERIA US EMBASSY. HE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HE ANSWERED YES TO PAYING MY DOWRY WHEN WE MET DECEMBER 2013. THEY SAID I SHOULD APPLY FOR SPOUSAL VISA. I EMAILED THE EMBASSY AND THEY STATED THAT PAYING OF DOWRY IS CONSIDERED MARRIAGE UNDER NIGERIAN CUSTOMARY LAW. THIS IS NOT TRUE, DOWRY ESTABLISHES INTENTION TO MARRY. PAYING OF DOWRY ALONE WILL NOT EVEN MAKE ME ELIGIBLE FOR A SPOUSAL VISA SO HOW CAN THEY DENY HIM?

WHAT SHOULD I DO? SHOULD I APPEAL?

I AM SO DEVASTATED. I WAITED MONTHS FOR THIS AND EVEN HAD TO GET IT EXPEDITED WITH THE HELP OF MY LOCAL CONGRESSMAN BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT. I AM DUE FOR DELIVERY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY FIANCÉ BY MY SIDE. HOW CAN THEY DO THIS? NIGERIA IS MADE UP OF SO MANY TRIBAL GROUPS/RELIGIOUS GROUPS, WHAT DOES THE EMBASSY KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CUSTOMS OF MARRIAGE.

SOME FEEDBACK WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED!

[canadian_wife 1,785]

Since this seems to be country specific, you might want to post this in the sub-forum.

Until then, what did the paper say that was received at the interview - the exact reason for denial

good luck

[Boiler 43,396]

The Consulate will be familiar with local practices.

I thought the dowry was paid by the Woman's father? My guess is that they may have been thinking it was payment for a visa.?

Edited August 26, 2014 by Boiler

[Ngodigydi 0]

They did not provide any paper stating denial

[favor367 0]

I APPLIED FOR A FIANCÉ VISA FEBRUARY 2. MY FIANCÉ HAD HIS INTERVIEW AUGUST 25, 2014 AT THE LAGOS, NIGERIA US EMBASSY. HE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HE ANSWERED YES TO PAYING MY DOWRY WHEN WE MET DECEMBER 2013. THEY SAID I SHOULD APPLY FOR SPOUSAL VISA. I EMAILED THE EMBASSY AND THEY STATED THAT PAYING OF DOWRY IS CONSIDERED MARRIAGE UNDER NIGERIAN CUSTOMARY LAW. THIS IS NOT TRUE, DOWRY ESTABLISHES INTENTION TO MARRY. PAYING OF DOWRY ALONE WILL NOT EVEN MAKE ME ELIGIBLE FOR A SPOUSAL VISA SO HOW CAN THEY DENY HIM?

WHAT SHOULD I DO? SHOULD I APPEAL?

I AM SO DEVASTATED. I WAITED MONTHS FOR THIS AND EVEN HAD TO GET IT EXPEDITED WITH THE HELP OF MY LOCAL CONGRESSMAN BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT. I AM DUE FOR DELIVERY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY FIANCÉ BY MY SIDE. HOW CAN THEY DO THIS? NIGERIA IS MADE UP OF SO MANY TRIBAL GROUPS/RELIGIOUS GROUPS, WHAT DOES THE EMBASSY KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CUSTOMS OF MARRIAGE.

SOME FEEDBACK WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED!

Dang, that sucks wow. (edited to remove comment advocating fraud) Am a nigeria n I kno dowry means marriage. Anyways best of luck. U have to appeal , so get a good lawyer.

On the other hand, did u fiance picks up his package #3 at the embassay or wat is delivered to him.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Kathryn41

[samkoll247 0]

They did not provide any paper stating denial

So what are the other questions they asked him?

[onye uwaoma 131]

The embassy knows your culture and they rightly state it was customary marriage. If your parent accepted a dowry you're not free to marry somebody else unless you return the dowry. Its just that simple. Sorry this sucks...

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It is bride price , and it means you are off the market so to speak, returning it would mean you are divorced. Too married for a K1 not married enough for a CR1. You can't appeal as K1 will expire before Lagos returns it. You need to go get married, or your family needs to return the bride price ( which would probably lead to other issues )

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Africa:Sub-Saharan regional - topic specific to cultural practices in Nigeria ~

[dwheels76 5,459]

I APPLIED FOR A FIANCÉ VISA FEBRUARY 2. MY FIANCÉ HAD HIS INTERVIEW AUGUST 25, 2014 AT THE LAGOS, NIGERIA US EMBASSY. HE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HE ANSWERED YES TO PAYING MY DOWRY WHEN WE MET DECEMBER 2013. THEY SAID I SHOULD APPLY FOR SPOUSAL VISA. I EMAILED THE EMBASSY AND THEY STATED THAT PAYING OF DOWRY IS CONSIDERED MARRIAGE UNDER NIGERIAN CUSTOMARY LAW. THIS IS NOT TRUE, DOWRY ESTABLISHES INTENTION TO MARRY. PAYING OF DOWRY ALONE WILL NOT EVEN MAKE ME ELIGIBLE FOR A SPOUSAL VISA SO HOW CAN THEY DENY HIM?

WHAT SHOULD I DO? SHOULD I APPEAL?

I AM SO DEVASTATED. I WAITED MONTHS FOR THIS AND EVEN HAD TO GET IT EXPEDITED WITH THE HELP OF MY LOCAL CONGRESSMAN BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT. I AM DUE FOR DELIVERY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY FIANCÉ BY MY SIDE. HOW CAN THEY DO THIS? NIGERIA IS MADE UP OF SO MANY TRIBAL GROUPS/RELIGIOUS GROUPS, WHAT DOES THE EMBASSY KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CUSTOMS OF MARRIAGE.

SOME FEEDBACK WILL BE MUCH APPRECIATED!

No have no other recourse but to marry and file a I-130 petition start all over. Sorry.

Edited August 27, 2014 by dwheels76

[Girl from Celebes 588]

The Consulate will be familiar with local practices.

I thought the dowry was paid by the Woman's father? My guess is that they may have been thinking it was payment for a visa.?

I believe it is a (Hindu) custom in India.

[EOC 440]

I EMAILED THE EMBASSY AND THEY STATED THAT PAYING OF DOWRY IS CONSIDERED MARRIAGE UNDER NIGERIAN CUSTOMARY LAW. THIS IS NOT TRUE, DOWRY ESTABLISHES INTENTION TO MARRY. WHAT DOES THE EMBASSY KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CUSTOMS OF MARRIAGE.

1. I am a nigerian and I will tell you that payment of dowry is indeed a marriage under the customary law.

*our forefathers and customs only recognize the traditional/customary marriage as the only bona-fide marriage. But this days things are been civilized* that is why any Nigerian that wants to get married in church or court must still do the payment of dowry before its accepted in Nigeria. *The pastor that wants to conduct the marriage won't even join the couple together except the dowry has been paid*

2. Payment of dowry does not establish an intention to get married. It is indeed a marriage.

3. The embassy knows every customs and laws of each country that they are based.

I doubt if it can be appeal because the embassy is right under Nigeria customary/traditional law. My advise is that you should get married in the court and file for spousal visa for your fiance.

[doshi8000 19]

Dang, that sucks wow. (comment advocating fraud has been removed- VJ Moderation) Am a nigeria n I kno dowry means marriage. Anyways best of luck. U have to appeal , so get a good lawyer.

On the other hand, did u fiance picks up his package #3 at the embassay or wat is delivered to him.

This is so WRONG!! false misrepresentation will cause a permanent harm than this temporary one!!

Edited August 27, 2014 by Kathryn41

[doshi8000 19]

1. I am a nigerian and I will tell you that payment of dowry is indeed a marriage under the customary law.

*our forefathers and customs only recognize the traditional/customary marriage as the only bona-fide marriage. But this days things are been civilized* that is why any Nigerian that wants to get married in church or court must still do the payment of dowry before its accepted in Nigeria. *The pastor that wants to conduct the marriage won't even join the couple together except the dowry has been paid*

2. Payment of dowry does not establish an intention to get married. It is indeed a marriage.

3. The embassy knows every customs and laws of each country that they are based.

I doubt if it can be appeal because the embassy is right under Nigeria customary/traditional law. My advise is that you should get married in the court and file for spousal visa for your fiance.

Good one!!!!! you just said nailed it right

[aaron2020 11,651]

Dang, that sucks wow. (comment advocating fraud has been removed - VJ Moderation) Am a nigeria n I kno dowry means marriage. Anyways best of luck. U have to appeal , so get a good lawyer.

On the other hand, did u fiance picks up his package #3 at the embassay or wat is delivered to him.

Brilliant idea. Commit fraud. No one at the US Embassy in Lagos will be looking for fraud.

(comment containing inappropriate comment removed - VJ Moderation)

By the way, the do not "have" to appeal. It's optional.

By your own statement that a dowry is marriage, what is there to appeal? Why was the US Embassy wrong that a appeal would be successful?

What do they need a good lawyer for?

Bad advice all around.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Kathryn41