age diference?

[Cham 3]

There are tons of age gap relationships out their folks. My biggest fear would be the fact she was 17 not 18 which is consider a minor to most people. You might be looked upon as a pedophile.

NOW I do not think there would be a huge issue if she was 18 when you started dating but the fact is she was a minor when you started dating.

[KimandRuss 0]

Regardless of the legal ramifications which may very well play into the equation here...

At certain Embassy's the 'age factor' can have significant bearing on the CO's decision whether to issue a visa or not.

Sydney is not a high fraud post. In places like HCMC, China, Vietnam, PI, the Middle East...etc...a relationship can be scrutinized a great deal. The significant age difference can, and very often does, add yet another level of doubt about the circumstances of the relationship.

In these situations it is best to know just what to expect and prepare well ahead of time with as much proof as you can.

[pushbrk 13,611]

Regardless of the legal ramifications which may very well play into the equation here...

At certain Embassy's the 'age factor' can have significant bearing on the CO's decision whether to issue a visa or not.

Sydney is not a high fraud post. In places like HCMC, China, Vietnam, PI, the Middle East...etc...a relationship can be scrutinized a great deal. The significant age difference can, and very often does, add yet another level of doubt about the circumstances of the relationship.

In these situations it is best to know just what to expect and prepare well ahead of time with as much proof as you can.

I guess I'm ready to stop dancing around the issue. This is a Manila case. As such the 45 year old OP attempting to bring a just turned 18 year old fiancee to the US on a K1 visa is going to have to deal with overcoming some potential red flags or outright grounds for denial.

We don't know anything more than what the OP has told us.

If he met this girl through her family in the US, the assumption will be no bona fide relationship because the whole thing is to get an immigration benefit for his friend's relative.

If she was a prostitute, she'll be denied probably even if it's only suspected.

They'll want to rule out statutory rape being part of the early relationship. (Yes, this is one of those cases where a Consular officer is justified in asking about sexual relations.)

Showing a bona fide relationship is certainly possible, when there is one but it's a greatly larger challenge under some circumstances. Without more information, we really can't help much but let's no encourage the man with false hope based on what may well be very different sets of circumstances.

This couple will need a plausible explanation for how they came to be fiance and fiancee and it's going to have to be the truth.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

Each to their own! I was worried about this cos there's 15 years between us .. not a problem for us.

Edited December 4, 2008 by Eli the Barrowboy

[Cham 3]

Regardless of the legal ramifications which may very well play into the equation here...

At certain Embassy's the 'age factor' can have significant bearing on the CO's decision whether to issue a visa or not.

Sydney is not a high fraud post. In places like HCMC, China, Vietnam, PI, the Middle East...etc...a relationship can be scrutinized a great deal. The significant age difference can, and very often does, add yet another level of doubt about the circumstances of the relationship.

In these situations it is best to know just what to expect and prepare well ahead of time with as much proof as you can.

I guess I'm ready to stop dancing around the issue. This is a Manila case. As such the 45 year old OP attempting to bring a just turned 18 year old fiancee to the US on a K1 visa is going to have to deal with overcoming some potential red flags or outright grounds for denial.

We don't know anything more than what the OP has told us.

If he met this girl through her family in the US, the assumption will be no bona fide relationship because the whole thing is to get an immigration benefit for his friend's relative.

If she was a prostitute, she'll be denied probably even if it's only suspected.

They'll want to rule out statutory rape being part of the early relationship. (Yes, this is one of those cases where a Consular officer is justified in asking about sexual relations.)

Showing a bona fide relationship is certainly possible, when there is one but it's a greatly larger challenge under some circumstances. Without more information, we really can't help much but let's no encourage the man with false hope based on what may well be very different sets of circumstances.

This couple will need a plausible explanation for how they came to be fiance and fiancee and it's going to have to be the truth.

agreed!

[Tsup2 0]

If you are successful in getting the K1 you might want to get The Disney Channel so she can watch Hannah Montana while you are at work.

[Old Dominion 26]

The age difference by itself is not that important, but her "tender" age WILL raise eyebrows in Manila. If you will be there for the interview (even though you are the not the one being interviewed) your presence will help overcome any suspicions the CO might have. Consular officers are authorized to use age difference as a factor in returning the file to the USCIS with the recommendation that the petition be revoked.

[william_wallace 8]

If you are successful in getting the K1 you might want to get The Disney Channel so she can watch Hannah Montana while you are at work.

That was about as funny as a wet fart.

[Beautiful_years 0]

The offensive posts, and those referring to them, have been removed.

No matter your opinion on the matter, it is against the TOS to verbally attack another member of this website.

Please try to be respectful to all in your replies.

To the OP, that age factor does not always come into play but it really matters what Embassy you are going through as not all are created equally. Your significant age difference, and the fact that your fiance is so young, may very well play into the CO's decision. There will be much higher scrutiny involved at a high fraud Embassy. More details are needed to get a more accurate answer.

I would expect three additional kinds of scrutiny. One for the bona fide ongoing relationship issue which multiple visits tends to satisfy. A second may well be an investigation of whether your relationship was a bit too "bona fide" prior to her 18th birthday, so be prepared. Third or actually integral to the first two will be the issue of how you met. There are various "meeting" possibilities that could be reasons for denial outright or just raise additional red flags. Other than that, Manila is accustomed to seeing large age differences and that in and of itself is not a legitimate reason for denial.

I copy you on this one, cos if you have been dating over a year she would have been a minor then, still they are just red flags! goodluck on your visa journey.

[pushbrk 13,611]

The offensive posts, and those referring to them, have been removed.

No matter your opinion on the matter, it is against the TOS to verbally attack another member of this website.

Please try to be respectful to all in your replies.

To the OP, that age factor does not always come into play but it really matters what Embassy you are going through as not all are created equally. Your significant age difference, and the fact that your fiance is so young, may very well play into the CO's decision. There will be much higher scrutiny involved at a high fraud Embassy. More details are needed to get a more accurate answer.

I would expect three additional kinds of scrutiny. One for the bona fide ongoing relationship issue which multiple visits tends to satisfy. A second may well be an investigation of whether your relationship was a bit too "bona fide" prior to her 18th birthday, so be prepared. Third or actually integral to the first two will be the issue of how you met. There are various "meeting" possibilities that could be reasons for denial outright or just raise additional red flags. Other than that, Manila is accustomed to seeing large age differences and that in and of itself is not a legitimate reason for denial.

I copy you on this one, cos if you have been dating over a year she would have been a minor then, still they are just red flags! goodluck on your visa journey.

I just want to acknowledge that "dating" is not always a code word indicating a sexual relationship and neither is "fiance(e)".

[Luke and Deanna 0]

Well does it not depend on what state you live in?

For example my fiancee is the US petitioner and she was 17 when we first started dating. In Minnesota the legal age of consent is 16, other states such as Florida are 18. So me being with my fiance in the US, Minnesota was not illegal as she was not under 16.

But I mean she is not the US petitioner. So I don't know.

What does everyone else think? Me and my fiancee have a 5 year age gap. She is now 18 and I am 23.

Luke and Deanna

[pushbrk 13,611]

Well does it not depend on what state you live in?

For example my fiancee is the US petitioner and she was 17 when we first started dating. In Minnesota the legal age of consent is 16, other states such as Florida are 18. So me being with my fiance in the US, Minnesota was not illegal as she was not under 16.

But I mean she is not the US petitioner. So I don't know.

What does everyone else think? Me and my fiancee have a 5 year age gap. She is now 18 and I am 23.

Luke and Deanna

The applicable law is that of the Philippines. The best information I can find on that is the "age of consent" is 12 but that sex with somebody between 12 and 18 is only legal if the other participant is no more than 10 years older.

So, in this case, sex before the fiancee turned 18 is illegal.

[Luke and Deanna 0]

Ohh OK, I see.

So how would he prove the relationship was not 'intimate' when she was 18? Or how can he disprove any claims it was?

How much of the relationship was during the time she was 17?

Luke and Deanna

[pushbrk 13,611]

Ohh OK, I see.

So how would he prove the relationship was not 'intimate' when she was 18? Or how can he disprove any claims it was?

How much of the relationship was during the time she was 17?

Luke and Deanna

We don't know and you can't and don't "prove" it wasn't sexual. I just said they could ask about it and based on the answers and any other information available, they'll make their decisions.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Regardless of the legal ramifications which may very well play into the equation here...

At certain Embassy's the 'age factor' can have significant bearing on the CO's decision whether to issue a visa or not.

Sydney is not a high fraud post. In places like HCMC, China, Vietnam, PI, the Middle East...etc...a relationship can be scrutinized a great deal. The significant age difference can, and very often does, add yet another level of doubt about the circumstances of the relationship.

In these situations it is best to know just what to expect and prepare well ahead of time with as much proof as you can.

I guess I'm ready to stop dancing around the issue. This is a Manila case. As such the 45 year old OP attempting to bring a just turned 18 year old fiancee to the US on a K1 visa is going to have to deal with overcoming some potential red flags or outright grounds for denial.

We don't know anything more than what the OP has told us.

If he met this girl through her family in the US, the assumption will be no bona fide relationship because the whole thing is to get an immigration benefit for his friend's relative.

If she was a prostitute, she'll be denied probably even if it's only suspected.

They'll want to rule out statutory rape being part of the early relationship. (Yes, this is one of those cases where a Consular officer is justified in asking about sexual relations.)

Showing a bona fide relationship is certainly possible, when there is one but it's a greatly larger challenge under some circumstances. Without more information, we really can't help much but let's no encourage the man with false hope based on what may well be very different sets of circumstances.

This couple will need a plausible explanation for how they came to be fiance and fiancee and it's going to have to be the truth.

agreed!

There is one possibility that no one (at least still present in the thread) has discussed. The possibility exists that the OP is a troll jerking our collective chain.