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Trapped in paradise: K1 Visa Couple Stranded Overseas due to Consulate Denial

June 5th, 2008
by VJ News

Independence, MO — It is in their fate that Chuck Bennett and Teresita Aldana be married.

And they almost were.

“I love Teresita more than anything,” says Bennett, a resident of Independence. “All I want is to call her my wife and have her at my side for the rest of my life.”

But America’s immigration system won’t allow it.

For the past several weeks the couple has been in Juarez, Mexico – stranded. Wondering whether they can change the opinion of a consulate officer who saw pictures and a marriage license and deemed them already married (note: they were not however the officer did not beleive their proof — a certified letter from the Mexican government stating they were never married).

“We played by the rules, and now we’re paying for it,” Bennett says.

The couple was set to be married – having even completed a nine-month marriage preparation course – but was told it was illegal for Aldana, a Mexican national, to marry while in the United States on a tourist visa.

“We were informed that she needed a K-1, or fiancé visa, so she applied for one last year,” Bennett says.

Many months later, the fight has only begun for the couple as matters such as these frequently occupy years, even decades.

They have on their side a member of Congress and one of the nation’s foremost immigration attorneys.

But they’re up against an opponent with absolute power who could have already delivered the knockout blow.

read the full story at the examiner.net

As a note: VisaJourney News has emailed the US Consulate in Juarez, Mexico regarding this case. We will update with any information we recieve back.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 at 3:46 am and is filed under General Immigration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.