Age difference and kids.

[Mebradu 0]

I am an International student from Nigeria and currently on a F-1 Visa. I am still enrolled in school and my Visa won't expire until June, 2012.

I met my girl friend 3months ago and we plan to marry by January 2012. For real, I love my girl a lot and she has been there for me through thin and thick. I wish to spend the rest of my life with her. My only fear is that I am 26 years old while she is 38 years old. She is not legally married but has 2 kids already. Could these be a red flag? Can I apply for AOS a week after our marriage? What documents do you think I may need to tender to prove that our marriage is legit?

Thanks.

Edited December 30, 2011 by Mebradu

[favored 31]

yah, u got red flags written over ur post.. even starting with the words Nigeria and student.. but if you can hang in, prove it, then u can beat it...

btw, just curious, but u are ready to marry smeone u met 3mnths ago and to be a father of two? Also curious, more often than not, its usually the USC that comes on and ignites the process on vj and USCIS.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Interviews in the US tend to be less nasty than those in Nigeria. The people in Lagos are fully trained that every Nigerian man must 1 ) produce a male child 2 ) not accept a wife tainted by prior children

In the US they usually use more universal norms for the interview. Yes they are red flags but you will have a better chance to prove that you have a valid relationship.

[ceadsearc 516]

An age gap is a red flag, yes. But that doesn't mean you can't overcome it. Continue to gather evidence of a bonafide marriage - joint bank accounts, emails, phone records, leases together, etc. Anything that shows you are in a committed relationship. Be prepared to be heavily scrutinized at your interview just in case, and be prepared to be asked about your relationship with her children. But if your marriage is real, you should be just fine.

[souleymon 27]

RED FLAG or No Red FLag,Just prepare docs that shows strong on-going relationship.

Best of Luck

[glory647 0]

Documentary proof is all that counts, like stated d joint bank account, utility bills, insurance bla bla bla. If u can get em all n prove ur case, u'll be fine buh if not mehn bad news. So be sure u can get al d documents n get a lawyer to guide u.

[rlogan 2,036]

Twelve year age gap? You guys aren't even trying. Ours is 30 years and there are lots of couples with more.

The only red flags that US immigration uses are failures to provide the evidence they ask for. Read the instructions and do what they say: joint bank account, joint utilities, joint ownership of assets, joint residence, insurance, etc. The best submissions are from people that actually have bona-fide relationships because these are all the things they do. You can take boatloads of pictures and have affadavits from other people because it is the truth. We had birth certificates from our children together by the time of the first permanent residency card, so that's kind of a gold standard.

[ceadsearc 516]

A 12-year age gap isn't huge, but in this case the man is younger which is a bit more unusual.

And USCIS does consider an age gap to be a red flag. It's clearly written in the Field Adjudicator's Manual. Not to say the OP will necessarily have a problem, but telling him that USCIS doesn't view an age gap as a red flag is false.