Family support proof - Sam-sex K1 - India

[vavaBB 2]

At the risk of facing homophobia on a seemingly friendly forum, I would appreciate if you guys could help with the following concern.

I'm from India where homosexuality is frowned upon and criminalized. Our i129 petition is already approved and at the Mumbai consulate. I am planning to schedule the K1 interview for someday next month. I have read on some forums that K1s could get rejected due to cultural differences/ familial disagreement to the wedding etc. How true is this?

My family loves my fiance, and they're excited for me- despite societal backwardness in India. Should I be taking a letter from my mom/ sister/ brother in law stating that they have met my fiance and that they're happy with my decision? Should this be notarized?

I have photos to prove he has met my sister and brother in law; but nothing with my mom - except a few cards that he has sent to my mom. She, being Indian, hasn't even reciprocated with a courteous thank you card. LOL. Guilty.

What else can I carry with me to prove that my family is happy with our decision and is supportive?

[Kastrs 723]

Having not been in this situation myself, I will give you my what I would do answer. I would bring an affidavit or two from sisters/brothers/parents stating they met your fiance under such and such circumstances, and their evaluation of your relationship (ie you seem very happy together). I would also bring whatever pictures you have of the two of you together with family. I do not think there is anything else you can provide to really demonstrate your family approves; however, if the embassy has any questions or wants further proof they will specify what they need.

best of luck to you

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Culturally "not the norm" relationships can be considered a red flag, but having family support definitely helps. While time spent together for the two of you is the most important, I think having letters and photos from family will help. Also, make sure you have talked about the potential issues you face as a same sex and inter-cultural couple, because the CO may ask about that.

[baron555 934]

I have read on some forums that K1s could get rejected due to cultural differences/ familial disagreement to the wedding etc. How true is this?

You'll be interviewing at the US Embassy, which follows US laws and "customs". Same sex marriages are allowed in the US>

My family loves my fiance, and they're excited for me- despite societal backwardness in India. Should I be taking a letter from my mom/ sister/ brother in law stating that they have met my fiance and that they're happy with my decision? Should this be notarized?

Won't help.

I have photos to prove he has met my sister and brother in law; but nothing with my mom - except a few cards that he has sent to my mom. She, being Indian, hasn't even reciprocated with a courteous thank you card.

Meeting Mom is not a requirement.

What else can I carry with me to prove that my family is happy with our decision and is supportive?

Your family's viewpoint is not a consideration, so any evidence of such will not affect the decision.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Remember that interviewers are going to know that a same sex relationship is going to be a cause of family strife in many cases. Address any questions confidently and calmly, do not over explain.

[usmsbow 795]

From what I've read on this forum about India and Pakistan is the CO does care about that stuff. Beneficiaries are often questioned about family matters and religious concerns to try to weed out fraudulent cases. While I would agree with your advice if the OP were from a low-risk country or even a high-risk one where homosexuality is more accepted, the OP is not from either one.

OP- I think all your ideas are good, but I don't think you need to get anything notorized.

[Aldi & James 2]

My husband and I faced a similar situation as he is from Indonesia...a primarily Muslim country where homosexuals can be dragged from their homes and stoned to death in rural communities.

The big difference for us is that he had no siblings and both his parents were deceased. We met on Facebook almost a year before I requested the K-1. He tried to come to the USA to meet me, but without strong family or financial ties to Indonesia he was denied a Visa, so I flew to Indonesia a month or two later and stayed for one week. I started filling out the paperwork for the K-1 after I returned in December. Then, I went back to Indonesia for his K-1 interview in the following May, staying another week.

What we submitted for "evidence" of the relationship...which is really all the visa application requires...was copies of my plane tickets there the first time, numerous photos of us together, and a letter from each of us indicating our intent to marry. I think I had added him to my credit card - mostly because he didn't have one and I knew he'd need it to book travel back to the US - so I included a copy of the credit card statement with both our names.

The only awkward issue was the front security guard who was leery about letting me accompany him. My husband is quite a bit younger than me and she seemed confused by what I was doing there. She asked how old he was - I said 25. Then, she asked why I was accompanying him. Implying that since I wasn't a parent, I had no business there. I explained that I was the citizen who petitioned for his visa. She let me in.

The K-1 was really quite easy to get. The interviewer, a man, was very kind and smiling throughout the interview process. My husband was super-nervous because his previous attempts to get a tourist visa to visit me in the US had been denied, so he had bad feelings with the embassy overall. I remained silent as this was not for me...and, in fact, asked if I could be in the room during the interview as I didn't want to appear to be coaching. We were holding hands, smiling at each other, and behaving like a typical couple in love. The questions were basics like what he might do for work and where he would live. My husband also didn't have great English skills, so the interviewer asked him a number of questions in Bahasa Indonesian.The interviewer congratulated us and gave us the good news that the visa would be approved, but took three days to process, so we'd have to come back the following week for it (this was on a Thursday or Friday). My husband was so happy and excited, he invited the guy to the wedding...which I thought was hysterical.

Anyway, it all turned out fine and we didn't need a lot more than photos and our own testimony to support our story. I'm sure you'll be fine. The interviewer is an American citizen working for the Department of State and they have strict non-discrimination policies about these things. I would be shocked if you were required to supply additional supporting materials just because you're marrying someone of the same-sex.

[vavaBB 2]

Oi! As expected, great answers; but conflicting and confusing.

I guess I'll take letters from my mom, sister and brother in law... just to be safe.. I'll obviously also take photos that I have showing family support.

I'll also make sure to not over-explain and make it seem like there's more to the story..

Thank you all.

[Mel&Lal 12]

Since you have approval from your family and pics. I think you will not have a problem. when we first tried k1 visa, my husband ( at the time fiance) was denied his visa. the most cause of it.....his dad disapproved of the relationship even thou his mom, 1 brother and his sister approved and we had letters, but I never went and met my family in law because his dad flat out does not want to meet me. I wish you luck on your journey and I would not fret over it to much. I think you will be fine.