My Story

[pushbrk 14,164]

thread reopened, several personal attacks removed along with those posts quoting them.

keep it civil. discuss the topic posted by the op. let's not get off the rails again.

Thanks Charles. The OP's questions were addressed very well by several members in the first few posts on opening day. My suggestion for those who wish to discuss changes in the immigration process, is to start a new thread in the appropriate forum. Unless the changes they wish to discuss, are limited to spouse visas, the General Immigration Forum would seem to be the place for those discussions.

[Ebunoluwa 6,140]

In regards to what can be done to tighten fraud investigations versus "gut feelings" of a CO I want to add that with the enormous internet usage people leave digital tracks that can be incorporated in the investigations, aside from the conventional home /friend/family visits, document verification and on and on....

There is software and there are paid companies to hunt for someone's entries, sites, etc. This may be a lame example to cite, but what if the fraud investigation would do internet behavior sweeps on a beneficiary and what if he is currently active on 20 dating web sites confessing his love left and right to umpteen other women. I say hang him by the balls and deny him, it is obviously a case of 'who will come through for me first'.

Maybe this is already used but if someone has been found to leave very obvious facts and tracks behind on the net, then why are the petitioners not told exactly what has been found ? Privacy issues ? Require the beneficiary to sign a waiver on his right to such disclosure to the petitioner without going into details, just a nice blanket statement short and sweet, without tipping him off. Now you are doing the petitioner a big favor.

Visa denied or petition withdrawn, case closed. Everyone is happy but the fraudster. Internet investigation is just one small example of the tools that can be used without stereotyping everyone into a "cultural norm". Heck, cultural norm is an all encompassing catch phrase where no one is treated like the individual he/she is. Outdated, archaic, stereotypical,cultural "norm" inside the box thinking yields nothing but unfair results.

Co's are not God's to define human beings just because they "feel" something may be off. Gut level madness has no place in government bureaucracy, give me the cold hard facts instead. Times are changing, cultures are changing. Let the immigration system change for the better with solid factual standards to deny or approve family based petitions instead of humiliating beneficiaries, instead of mystery denials and long drawn out over the top time frames. Can we ? Yes , we can. Will they ? Write your senators as soon as they can manage to resolve our budget crisis. For those who do not see anything wrong with the system as it is, you are in denial and it may do you some good to kick in a little emotion/enthusiasm/passion for a cause from time to time. It does catapult one forward towards progress ! Just because we have always done it this way doesn't mean we have to remain stagnate in a mode of operation or in a way of thinking, there is ALWAYS room for improvement in anything. Speak up and take action. Being stagnant may just be an outer layer of faux protection we wrap ourselves in. For those who have no clue what I am talking about, who are snuggled up to their loved ones and don't see what I see, well enjoy your honey and put the torch down if you want, we will march on. It's always easy to say everything is fine as it is when your journey is over and you aren't affected any longer. God bless all your journeys wherever you are !

[jenkatx 52]

In regards to what can be done to tighten fraud investigations versus "gut feelings" of a CO I want to add that with the enormous internet usage people leave digital tracks that can be incorporated in the investigations, aside from the conventional home /friend/family visits, document verification and on and on....

There is software and there are paid companies to hunt for someone's entries, sites, etc. This may be a lame example to cite, but what if the fraud investigation would do internet behavior sweeps on a beneficiary and what if he is currently active on 20 dating web sites confessing his love left and right to umpteen other women. I say hang him by the balls and deny him, it is obviously a case of 'who will come through for me first'.

Maybe this is already used but if someone has been found to leave very obvious facts and tracks behind on the net, then why are the petitioners not told exactly what has been found ? Privacy issues ? Require the beneficiary to sign a waiver on his right to such disclosure to the petitioner without going into details, just a nice blanket statement short and sweet, without tipping him off. Now you are doing the petitioner a big favor.

Visa denied or petition withdrawn, case closed. Everyone is happy but the fraudster. Internet investigation is just one small example of the tools that can be used without stereotyping everyone into a "cultural norm". Heck, cultural norm is an all encompassing catch phrase where no one is treated like the individual he/she is. Outdated, archaic, stereotypical,cultural "norm" inside the box thinking yields nothing but unfair results.

Co's are not God's to define human beings just because they "feel" something may be off. Gut level madness has no place in government bureaucracy, give me the cold hard facts instead. Times are changing, cultures are changing. Let the immigration system change for the better with solid factual standards to deny or approve family based petitions instead of humiliating beneficiaries, instead of mystery denials and long drawn out over the top time frames. Can we ? Yes , we can. Will they ? Write your senators as soon as they can manage to resolve our budget crisis. For those who do not see anything wrong with the system as it is, you are in denial and it may do you some good to kick in a little emotion/enthusiasm/passion for a cause from time to time. It does catapult one forward towards progress ! Just because we have always done it this way doesn't mean we have to remain stagnate in a mode of operation or in a way of thinking, there is ALWAYS room for improvement in anything. Speak up and take action. Being stagnant may just be an outer layer of faux protection we wrap ourselves in. For those who have no clue what I am talking about, who are snuggled up to their loved ones and don't see what I see, well enjoy your honey and put the torch down if you want, we will march on. It's always easy to say everything is fine as it is when your journey is over and you aren't affected any longer. God bless all your journeys wherever you are !

Shockingly, I do agree that we need to start a thread regarding this. I think your suggestion is very good & fairly easily implemented. If we can come up with some concrete suggestions as well as proof as to the effectiveness/implementation to those suggestions we could then start a petition that could be forwarded to our politicians & the Department of State. I believe it would be a lot more effective if we did this as a large scale as opposed to us all individually writing our individual legislators. We should also include any ideas for checks and balances within the embassy's. I think we are also lacking greatly in that area. There are a lot of people here on VJ and this would give us an opportunity to make a difference, especially for those coming in behind us.

[LoveNigarmostyle 165]

In regards to what can be done to tighten fraud investigations versus "gut feelings" of a CO I want to add that with the enormous internet usage people leave digital tracks that can be incorporated in the investigations, aside from the conventional home /friend/family visits, document verification and on and on....

There is software and there are paid companies to hunt for someone's entries, sites, etc. This may be a lame example to cite, but what if the fraud investigation would do internet behavior sweeps on a beneficiary and what if he is currently active on 20 dating web sites confessing his love left and right to umpteen other women. I say hang him by the balls and deny him, it is obviously a case of 'who will come through for me first'.

Maybe this is already used but if someone has been found to leave very obvious facts and tracks behind on the net, then why are the petitioners not told exactly what has been found ? Privacy issues ? Require the beneficiary to sign a waiver on his right to such disclosure to the petitioner without going into details, just a nice blanket statement short and sweet, without tipping him off. Now you are doing the petitioner a big favor.

Visa denied or petition withdrawn, case closed. Everyone is happy but the fraudster. Internet investigation is just one small example of the tools that can be used without stereotyping everyone into a "cultural norm". Heck, cultural norm is an all encompassing catch phrase where no one is treated like the individual he/she is. Outdated, archaic, stereotypical,cultural "norm" inside the box thinking yields nothing but unfair results.

Co's are not God's to define human beings just because they "feel" something may be off. Gut level madness has no place in government bureaucracy, give me the cold hard facts instead. Times are changing, cultures are changing. Let the immigration system change for the better with solid factual standards to deny or approve family based petitions instead of humiliating beneficiaries, instead of mystery denials and long drawn out over the top time frames. Can we ? Yes , we can. Will they ? Write your senators as soon as they can manage to resolve our budget crisis. For those who do not see anything wrong with the system as it is, you are in denial and it may do you some good to kick in a little emotion/enthusiasm/passion for a cause from time to time. It does catapult one forward towards progress ! Just because we have always done it this way doesn't mean we have to remain stagnate in a mode of operation or in a way of thinking, there is ALWAYS room for improvement in anything. Speak up and take action. Being stagnant may just be an outer layer of faux protection we wrap ourselves in. For those who have no clue what I am talking about, who are snuggled up to their loved ones and don't see what I see, well enjoy your honey and put the torch down if you want, we will march on. It's always easy to say everything is fine as it is when your journey is over and you aren't affected any longer. God bless all your journeys wherever you are !

Thank you for being so in tune with what is being stated here in the first place. I think you have a valid point in regards to the internet checking of the beneficiaries, with the respect of the proper lawful avenues. I agree completely, let there be an investigation done on these beneficiaries and if there is any indication of fraud or criminal activities, then by all means let's let the petitioner know and make their decisions based on facts not "gut feelings".

All along in this post I have been saying the system needs a change for the same reasons you are stating above. This is not to help only one US Citizen it is to help us all regardless of the culture, country, age or other differences.

There are a definite need for the system to reform is all that is being said here, what changes? that is the topic of discussion, not how 'I feel" or "think."

Also, I agree with NigeriaorBust about the lie detector, it is not conclusive but it is a plus and it should be looked into as a way to weed out the soulless people who are in this for the visa alone.

Thanks for your input and thoughts, it is greatly appreciated for it is a guidance in the right direction as to what is being discussed and being attempted to convey.

Shockingly, I do agree that we need to start a thread regarding this. I think your suggestion is very good & fairly easily implemented. If we can come up with some concrete suggestions as well as proof as to the effectiveness/implementation to those suggestions we could then start a petition that could be forwarded to our politicians & the Department of State. I believe it would be a lot more effective if we did this as a large scale as opposed to us all individually writing our individual legislators. We should also include any ideas for checks and balances within the embassy's. I think we are also lacking greatly in that area. There are a lot of people here on VJ and this would give us an opportunity to make a difference, especially for those coming in behind us.

HALLELUIAHS HOUSTON WE HAVE A LIFT OFF! WE ARE BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK...I AM ALL FOR THIS!

We will work on this together. Thanks again.

Edited July 31, 2011 by LoveNigarmostyle

[jenkatx 52]

I posted the topic under immigration discussion and news. Please put your CONSTRUCTIVE ideas! Have a great Sunday!

[Ban Hammer 14,791]

one person thread banned for continuing to bicker with another member after a posted warning.

back to topic.

eta: one post removed

Edited July 31, 2011 by charles!

[Ebunoluwa 6,140]

Thanks for the interesting discussion Jenkatx and Lovenigarmostyle, I am talking from the moccasins I am walking in. Ah dey waka waka dis wahala misef ! I may see you in the other thread, I don't post much but lurk occasionally and this has been on my heart and mind burning holes for a long time.

[Ebunoluwa 6,140]

One more thing....when you cross every T and you dot every i and educate yourself on every possible detail as suggested by someone earlier....then you get asked why do you know so much and why did you start collecting relationship proof from the beginning ? Yep, happened to me. How can you win in a situation like this ? You are damned if you do and damned if you don't. I answered without missing a beat : Because the filing seemed complicated, I hired an attorney and I printed relationship proof according to my attorney's advice to do so.

[GodwithHK 0]

Thank you all for your reply, my work took me out of the office, so i could not reply most of the post. I have taken time to read every post here and i understand it all. I agree with LoveNigarmostyle, jenkatx,NigeriaorBust, Ebunoluwa that the embassy should state everything in writing, so we know what we are in for.

If we knew we are going to pass through this in our life, we would have prepared very well, taken enough pictures before my husband travelled, my husband would have been coming to see me every year and before the interview we would have enough evident.

My husband is in school and he is working in two places, just to make ends meet. He has only 2 to 3weeks vacation a year, so how then can we spend time together. he has used the 3weeks for our wedding, the next vacation is next year. I don't know what to do, but we have other evidents to prove our relationship.

I think i want to join the team for a change. May God help us all.

[jenkatx 52]

The new topic is now up under general immigration discussions. Hope there is no more drama!

[Kehinde 45]

Hi,

I am a new member to this forum, i am glad to be. I have found this forum helpful, educative and interesting. I have read people's story and how members help out.May God bless you all.

This is my story: i was denied visa last year Dec. on the ground that the purpose was for immigration, which is not true on K1 Visa. We contacted the congressmen, Marc Ellis(lawyer) and sentors who help to fast forward our case back to US. We are now married and have file for CR1 Visa this July, the NOA1 has been sent and another letter that our case is being review, we are waiting for the NOID or NOIR which ever, i do not know or whatever they will tell us to do. My question is,1. how long does it take 2. Has anyone been through this before and how was it handled 3. Is it the same CO that will interview me again 4. What is my changes of getting this VISA and not being denied again 5. Any advise for me.

Please help. Thank you all.

Me and my husband are going through it right now we were given a note that said they were sending it back for review for possible revocation. Reason: "Relationship for immigration purpose only". It took 45 days for the NVC to receive it from Nigeria and another week for the USCIS to get it and then we received a letter saying that we should wait 120 days before receiving the NOIR. which is 4 months. so we have another 3 months to wait cos they just received ours in July. I heard that approx.90 percent of I-130 petitions get reaffirmed. So your chances of getting reaffirmed are great.

Edited August 3, 2011 by Olami

[GodwithHK 0]

Me and my husband are going through it right now we were given a note that said they were sending it back for review for possible revocation. Reason: "Relationship for immigration purpose only". It took 45 days for the NVC to receive it from Nigeria and another week for the USCIS to get it and then we received a letter saying that we should wait 120 days before receiving the NOIR. which is 4 months. so we have another 3 months to wait cos they just received ours in July. I heard that approx.90 percent of I-130 petitions get reaffirmed. So your chances of getting reaffirmed are great.

[GodwithHK 0]

Thank you Olami for your reply. I am grateful.

We did not receive a letter that we need to wait for 120days for the NOIR, we were only advise that they will notify us of any action taken on our case by UCSIC.

4 months is a long time just to review and be given a NOIR. I pray it will be shorter, the waiting is too much.

May God help us all.

[pushbrk 14,164]

Me and my husband are going through it right now we were given a note that said they were sending it back for review for possible revocation. Reason: "Relationship for immigration purpose only". It took 45 days for the NVC to receive it from Nigeria and another week for the USCIS to get it and then we received a letter saying that we should wait 120 days before receiving the NOIR. which is 4 months. so we have another 3 months to wait cos they just received ours in July. I heard that approx.90 percent of I-130 petitions get reaffirmed. So your chances of getting reaffirmed are great.

While it is true that many I-130 petition approvals are reaffirmed, it is also true that many of those beneficiaries are denied visas at the second interviews anyway because they still haven't demonstrated they have a bona fide relationship. USCIS does not issue visas. Consulate's do. Petition approvals are not visa approvals. Particularly in high fraud countries, what most reliably, changes the mind of Consular officers about whether a relationship is bona fide is evidence of significant time spent together.