32 year age gap - older American woman

[jessiepatt 7]

We think we'd like to relocate to Ghana after my daughter graduates high school, and hopefully we've provided enough funds to do so.

Should we share that info in the interview?

[mallafri76 1,012]

1. She's worrying about what can be a very big Something.

2. No one can say this with assurance -- she's referring to the consular process, which is never to be taken lightly.

[Moderator hat on]

Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to Embassy/Consulate forum -- OP is thinking ahead to the consular stage.

Was just trying to make OP feel a little more at ease. All any of us can do is prepare, read up on the process and hope for the best. Worrying like crazy is not gonna help and can in fact do the total opposite and make you seem nervous. I was trying to reassure the OP and make her feel a little more relaxed. The difference between men and women I guess?!?!

[Boiler 43,432]

If you are looking to marry first realistically you will have plenty of time to make trips.

[jessiepatt 7]

?

Boiler. That's true. Marrying first we consider pla B, God forbid, we are rejected.

Plan B not pla B.

[Ilovemyman 147]

Only one visit for 3 days , in Africa it is a bad short time to do k1.

Africa is usualky very hard to get visa approved,

You gave many red flags age diference and short visit.

Only one visit for 3 days. It wa all I could take away from my job. ?. We did all we could. It feels like trying to convince my father it's a good idea. Truth - I cannot help the love I feel. - good and bad sides to that.

[jessiepatt 7]

So...gotta go back, cause I surely cannot change our age gap!

[Ilovemyman 147]

So...gotta go back, cause I surely cannot change our age gap!

Try to readcabout Ganha consulate, there are a lot of storieas about that consulate.

I have red a lot of them, there are a lot of couples denied even with more than 2 visits.

Read and get preper.

[jessiepatt 7]

Kk. Thanks.

[UnaMexicana 153]

Thanks ChicagoSarah, I have not thought of it that way. It does make sense!

UnaMexicana

It's a red flag if it's culturally not the norm. For cultures that are heavily family/having children oriented, a young man marrying an older woman (likely outside of child-bearing age), is against the cultural norms and causes a red flag.

[UnaMexicana 153]

I completely understand. A lot of things play a part in deciding where to settle... and I found myself waiting and praying because this seems to be the way for my husband and I to be together/have better chances.

I really hope this works out for you as the US seems the most logical place to be at this point.

Many hugs,

UnaMexicana

UnaMexicana. Yes, your point is beautifully made. Stupid cultural norms. Sad, but true. We've talked about me going to live in Ghana, but it seems unrealistic for a couple reasons. Main one is my daughter's schooling & social life. She's 9. But I would do it if it became the only way to live in our future marriage.

[Boiler 43,432]

Not something I keep a particular note of, but I think I have seen many older ladies looking to sponsor younger males through this Consulate, I have never been to Ghana so perhaps it is not that unusual.

[CowBoE 429]

Look at the potential red-flag conditions.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

The following types of personal characteristics or living situations raise questions in the eyes of USCIS or the consulate.

• No shared language. If the couple can’t talk to each other, how can they really build a shared life together?
• Vast difference in age. People of different ages certainly do get married sometimes. But when combined with other red flags, the thinking is that it may represent a compromise by someone who is either interested in obtaining a green card or in being paid to help someone else do so.
• Difference in religion. Because religious beliefs are fundamental to many people’s approach to life and daily behavior, the U.S. government takes a second look at applications from people of different religions who have married.
• Different social class or cultural background. People of different wealth levels or place in society often get married, too – but the U.S. government will be curious to know more about how this occurred, and whether it’s for real.
• Difference in race. You can see a pattern here – any time a couple doesn’t share basic characteristics, it raises questions.
• Unequal educational background. Studies show that most women don’t believe they could admire a man less educated than they; and that men put intelligence and education at number five on their ranking of desirable qualities in a mate. So if one person in the couple is highly educated and the other not, expect questions.
• Different addresses. After marriage, most couples live together. If you don’t – particularly if both of you are living in the same country – you will need to provide a good explanation, for example, that one of you is finishing a university degree and the other one can’t leave his or her job. Also be ready to show that you plan to live together as soon as possible.
• Same house, but no actual interaction. If, for instance, your work and other schedules are set up so that you are never home at the same time, the U.S. government will wonder whether that was intentional.
• Secret marriage. If you haven’t told your friends and family, USCIS will wonder whether it’s because you don’t want them to get all excited about a marriage that you plan to end as soon as the immigrant gets a green card.
• All-too-convenient timing of marriage. A goodly number of marriages happen after an undocumented person in the U.S. is caught and placed into removal proceedings, or before someone on a nonimmigrant visa is reaching the date by which he or she must leave the United States. (One can apply for a green card based on marriage as a defense to deportation.) You will have to explain why you didn’t choose to marry until it became a matter of urgency.
• Attempts to manufacture evidence of shared life right before the interview. You will be asked to provide evidence of joint accounts, assets, memberships, and so on. Those items will likely have dates showing when they were begun. If those dates are mere weeks before the green card or visa interview date, it will create suspicion that you were trying to make your case look good rather than taking natural steps to join your lives.
• Marriage soon after you met. Most people like to take at least several months to consider getting married. If you got married after only a few meetings or weeks, the government will wonder whether the cause was more romance or, say, money.
• Marriage soon after a divorce. Again, this would indicate that the “courtship” was suspiciously short. (Or you might have to prove the existence of a long affair!)
• History of U.S. petitioner sponsoring other spousal immigrants. If the U.S. citizen or permanent resident has married and petitioned for one or more other immigrants in the past, it stands to reason that those marriages ended in divorce. Did that mean a real marriage fell apart – or was the earlier marriage(s) nothing more than a green card scam? And now, since the petitioner didn’t get caught the first time around, is he or she trying it again?
• Noncitizen comes from a country with a history of immigration fraud. The U.S. government keeps track of which countries’ citizens commit visa or other immigration fraud at high rates. Though it’s not your fault, if the immigrant spouse comes from one of these countries, he or she will face extra scrutiny.
• No children if woman is of childbearing age. Having children is not a requirement of marriage – but if no children is an added factor in an otherwise questionable case, it won’t help.
• Impoverished U.S. citizen or resident petitioner. If the U.S. member of the couple lacks a job or apparently needs money, the immigration authorities might wonder whether he or she is looking to make some quick bucks through a fraudulent marriage.
• History of crimes, fraud, or lies by either spouse. Anyone who has committed past illegal acts may be looked at as more likely or willing to enter into marriage fraud.

Edited April 18, 2015 by DualityOneness

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

With Ghana being a high fraud country and many desperate young men defrauding older women for a visa to the USA (where money grows on trees)

I join the chorus of : visit again and for a longer time before filing.

Consider having a marriage there with all the family and file a CR1.

Many K1's with your major red flags ( big age gap, quick engagement, super short visit ) will be denied or spend a very long time in AP.

Once the K1 gets returned to USCIS "for review" ( it won't be reviewed, it will expire) that train will have left the station and you have to start over with a

new petition. However, if your CR1 gets returned for review ( and it will ) you then have a second chance to convince them that you are a

bona fide couple with the right evidence to back it up.

Front load your petition with a well rounded quality package of evidence, which is just too hard to do now because you have only the bare minimum.

Take it slow, grow the relationship and be able to convince them that you are genuine.

They usually believe the USC does truly love the foreign fiance but will have doubts of his intentions and motive.

[raven52 233]

I think you would have a better chance if your "ages were reversed" as older men especially from the Phils., are frequently approved with this age difference, but the woman older than the man.,.,..and only spent 3 days in each others company.,.,.,

I just do not know!

I wish you great luck if this is what you want, everyone should be with ""WHO"" they choose, it is not for others to choose your mate.,.,..,..its up to you.

[Fan_Dancer 171]

Classical scam story.