Worrying about Interview

[Paul&Vha 2]

Hi all. My wife's i-130 petition was accepted back in April, and we are getting ready to send in her DS-230 package this week along with my AOS package. All the paperwork is fine and without error, but I am still concerned about something. I was recently reading that a conditional resident (or any marriage visa for that matter)can be denied for many reasons that would lead the officer to believe that the marriage is not bonafide. My wife and I are 100% bonafide, but we got married rather quickly. We met online on a facebook dating application in April of 2011. I visited her for the first time in June, 2011. I then returned back to Indonesia in September 2011 to marry her, and I have been here with her since we've been married. Is either marrying so soon/from a dating site a possible red flag? And what can I do to ensure that the VO doesn't misjudge the situation? Me and my wife are very real but I just heard some horror stories about visa denials and my wife and I do not want to experience this ourselves. Any input or suggestions? Thanks a lot for the answers guys.

Edited June 7, 2012 by vhariiva

[JohnR! 5,495]

1339078221[/url]' post='5427532']

Hi all. My wife's i-130 petition was accepted back in April, and we are getting ready to send in her DS-230 package this week along with my AOS package. All the paperwork is fine and without error, but I am still concerned about something. I was recently reading that a conditional resident (or any marriage visa for that matter)can be denied for many reasons that would lead the officer to believe that the marriage is not bonafide. My wife and I are 100% bonafide, but we got married rather quickly. We met online on a facebook dating application in April of 2011. I visited her for the first time in June, 2011. I then returned back to Indonesia in September 2011 to marry her, and I have been here with her since we've been married. Is either marrying so soon/from a dating site a possible red flag? And what can I do to ensure that the VO doesn't misjudge the situation? Me and my wife are very real but I just heard some horror stories about visa denials and my wife and I do not want to experience this ourselves. Any input or suggestions? Thanks a lot for the answers guys.

While the quick marriage may be a red flag, IMHO the fact you have been living together for almost a year now and remain married should help dissipate any suspicions in the mind of the interviewer, if any there should be. Having said that, anything that might corroborate your story - pictures, special occasion cards, etc - might help.

It is also important to remember that regardless of what others may thing, be confident that you are not scamming the system nor doing anything wrong. Infuse your attitude throughout the interview with confidence.

Good luck!

[AmyWrites 593]

It was a red flag for me (we got married quickly and filed the I-130 after a month of being married, but didn't meet on a dating site), but I agree that the fact that you've been living with her is a great thing. Just bring maybe more evidence, affidavits, etc.

[Paul&Vha 2]

While the quick marriage may be a red flag, IMHO the fact you have been living together for almost a year now and remain married should help dissipate any suspicions in the mind of the interviewer, if any there should be. Having said that, anything that might corroborate your story - pictures, special occasion cards, etc - might help.

It is also important to remember that regardless of what others may thing, be confident that you are not scamming the system nor doing anything wrong. Infuse your attitude throughout the interview with confidence.

Good luck!

[Paul&Vha 2]

Thanks a lot guys. That's what I was wondering. I was hoping that me staying here would be helpful for that purpose. My wife is very confident and excited for the interview. I am anxious as this has been such a long wait and would hate for it to get further delayed. I just know that certain consulates are very strict and I can see the quick marriage raising some eyebrows. Also, I have an affidavit from her parents and my parents as well that state that they are very supportive and they all love us very much. Hope that will help as well.

[Bule&Cantik 8]

My wife and I are 100% bonafide, but we got married rather quickly. We met online on a facebook dating application in April of 2011. I visited her for the first time in June, 2011. I then returned back to Indonesia in September 2011 to marry her,

We were slightly quicker. Very much 100% bonafide. Met online in April 2011. Met in May 2011. Married in June 2011.

We have submitted pictures from every trip to visit. I have visited 9 times in last 1 year. I hope that they find the quantity and quality of evidence sufficient and do not have issues with a quick marriage. (We married so quickly because we knew this visa would take forever. The sooner we were married the sooner we could file for the visa.)

[Paul&Vha 2]

We were slightly quicker. Very much 100% bonafide. Met online in April 2011. Met in May 2011. Married in June 2011.

We have submitted pictures from every trip to visit. I have visited 9 times in last 1 year. I hope that they find the quantity and quality of evidence sufficient and do not have issues with a quick marriage. (We married so quickly because we knew this visa would take forever. The sooner we were married the sooner we could file for the visa.)

Bule, your situation is a lot like mine, haha. I think submitting pictures is a good idea. I only visited for the first time in June, 2011 for 2 weeks, but I've got about 300 pictures on my laptop from that visit with her family, friends, etc. The second time back here I came to get married and I've been here since. Is your wife in the Jakarta area also?

[Bule&Cantik 8]

Bule, your situation is a lot like mine, haha. I think submitting pictures is a good idea. I only visited for the first time in June, 2011 for 2 weeks, but I've got about 300 pictures on my laptop from that visit with her family, friends, etc. The second time back here I came to get married and I've been here since. Is your wife in the Jakarta area also?

She is in Jakarta area. I am in Chicago. We have been very fortunate that I have been able to visit as much as I have. I basically shift work forward or backward in a given month and then fly to Jakarta.

I have had trips as short as 2 days in country and as long as 26 days in country. Sometimes work just gets in the way....

Are you still in Jakarta? You work there?

[Paul&Vha 2]

She is in Jakarta area. I am in Chicago. We have been very fortunate that I have been able to visit as much as I have. I basically shift work forward or backward in a given month and then fly to Jakarta.

I have had trips as short as 2 days in country and as long as 26 days in country. Sometimes work just gets in the way....

Are you still in Jakarta? You work there?

Ah, I see. Yes that's lucky that you are able to visit her so many times. I can imagine that work gets in the way sometimes. I am in Jakarta but I am not working here, just waiting for her visa to finish. I have kept my job in America though and I will continue working as soon as I get back. I am in the Kansas City, KS area. I bet you were tired after that long flight just to stay two days. If your flight was like mine, you could've spent two days just getting here

[Bule&Cantik 8]

Ah, I see. Yes that's lucky that you are able to visit her so many times. I can imagine that work gets in the way sometimes. I am in Jakarta but I am not working here, just waiting for her visa to finish. I have kept my job in America though and I will continue working as soon as I get back. I am in the Kansas City, KS area. I bet you were tired after that long flight just to stay two days. If your flight was like mine, you could've spent two days just getting here

usually 35 hours door-to-door. the 2 day in country was last August. Was Ramadan so asked boss for more time off (he gave me exactly 1 extra day off). I was planning only 1 day in country that trip but was fortunate enough to get 2 days there with my wife.

[Paul&Vha 2]

usually 35 hours door-to-door. the 2 day in country was last August. Was Ramadan so asked boss for more time off (he gave me exactly 1 extra day off). I was planning only 1 day in country that trip but was fortunate enough to get 2 days there with my wife.

Yep, same here. First time I had to stay the night in Tokyo, second time I had a 4 hour layover at Taipei, Taiwan. I arrived here last year during Ramadan. It's pretty cool to be here during that month.

[Tohoku 6]

Hi all. My wife's i-130 petition was accepted back in April, and we are getting ready to send in her DS-230 package this week along with my AOS package. All the paperwork is fine and without error, but I am still concerned about something. I was recently reading that a conditional resident (or any marriage visa for that matter)can be denied for many reasons that would lead the officer to believe that the marriage is not bonafide. My wife and I are 100% bonafide, but we got married rather quickly. We met online on a facebook dating application in April of 2011. I visited her for the first time in June, 2011. I then returned back to Indonesia in September 2011 to marry her, and I have been here with her since we've been married. Is either marrying so soon/from a dating site a possible red flag? And what can I do to ensure that the VO doesn't misjudge the situation? Me and my wife are very real but I just heard some horror stories about visa denials and my wife and I do not want to experience this ourselves. Any input or suggestions? Thanks a lot for the answers guys.

Hi, first, I have no personal in IR-1 interview myself, (and have been procrastinating in filing the DS-230, lol), and your timeline might be a red flag, but I think you will be fine, since you have the best asset for this interview and the whole process: your marriage is real, and you are nothing but being honest about your relationship and your intention. I had experience for interview with US Embassy in Jakarta about 8 years ago for B1/B2 visa, and the officer was pretty reasonable. He didn't try to make me nervous, and just basically doing his job. Once he saw that I was truthful about my intention for visiting the US at that time, the rest was smoothly done and I got a five year visa. The same happened at the US embassy in Tokyo when I applied to re-new my B1/B2 visa. I am hoping that the IR-1 interview will be the same, and go smoothly for us and for you and your wife.

Best of luck!

PS. I think the officers will be smart enough to see that it wouldn't make sense at all for someone to live in Indonesia for almost a year just for a scam marriage

[Paul&Vha 2]

Hi, first, I have no personal in IR-1 interview myself, (and have been procrastinating in filing the DS-230, lol), and your timeline might be a red flag, but I think you will be fine, since you have the best asset for this interview and the whole process: your marriage is real, and you are nothing but being honest about your relationship and your intention. I had experience for interview with US Embassy in Jakarta about 8 years ago for B1/B2 visa, and the officer was pretty reasonable. He didn't try to make me nervous, and just basically doing his job. Once he saw that I was truthful about my intention for visiting the US at that time, the rest was smoothly done and I got a five year visa. The same happened at the US embassy in Tokyo when I applied to re-new my B1/B2 visa. I am hoping that the IR-1 interview will be the same, and go smoothly for us and for you and your wife.

Best of luck!

PS. I think the officers will be smart enough to see that it wouldn't make sense at all for someone to live in Indonesia for almost a year just for a scam marriage

Tohoku, thanks for the post Good to hear that the officer in Jakarta was decent enough. I had an appointment there before and I saw 2 people get denied, but it was because the guy didn't bring any papers (not even his passport haha). The officer was nice about it and seemed reasonable. Thanks again for the info.

PS Good luck to you and your husband as well! Hope the process is fast and smooth.

Edited June 9, 2012 by Paul&Vha