K1 denied wow feel very low

[Pennycat 880]

by reading the question the co ask to you, i can see a red flag. When are you planing to get marriage. The answer shouldnt be like as soon as i get in the usa. Marriage is something very serious that have to be planned ahead of time. Your answer easily show that you are more concerned about being in the usa that actualy being in a true relation. My advice at this point will be to get marriage and to file again for spouse visa.

K-1s *have to* get married within 90 days of arrival. Any answer other than "soon after my arrival" is wrong.

[Unidentified 2,930]

For those of you saying Ethiopia is a high fraud country, where are you getting your info from? Are you just making that assumption because it's in Africa? I searched "fraud Ethiopia" on VJ and this is the only thread that came up. There are also very, very few K-1 reviews for Ethiopia, and very few poor reviews (especially compared to Nigeria). There is another recent one from April. It sounds like to me the embassy has gotten a more "strict" CO recently.

Then maybe you should try another search term. I just googled and came across this VJ thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/352445-high-fraud-countries/

They seem to count as a high fraud country due to their booming DV lottery frauds going on over there.

Edited May 14, 2015 by Maria&Seve

[Boiler 43,433]

For those of you saying Ethiopia is a high fraud country, where are you getting your info from? Are you just making that assumption because it's in Africa? I searched "fraud Ethiopia" on VJ and this is the only thread that came up. There are also very, very few K-1 reviews for Ethiopia, and very few poor reviews (especially compared to Nigeria). There is another recent one from April. It sounds like to me the embassy has gotten a more "strict" CO recently.

Nobody is saying it is Lagos, but must be in the third tier.

[usmsbow 795]

Then maybe you should try another search term. I just googled and came across this VJ thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/352445-high-fraud-countries/

They seem to count as a high fraud country due to their booming DV lottery frauds going on over there.

I found that thread and found it to be all speculation with a simplistic theory with plenty of "exceptions" in East Asia and Africa.

And DV lottery fraud is different from visa fraud. The former are people claiming they can help you "win" the diversity visa lotto for a fee or a similar scam, while visa fraud is misrepresenting yourself or something along those lines.

Nobody is saying it is Lagos, but must be in the third tier.

Ha, well I suppose I can't argue with that. 3rd seems appropriate enough.

[D.Ba 85]

Wilfried, I think you're wrong. You cannot plan a wedding without visa in hand, and that is obviously after the interview.

I would get married right at the airport if that were possible! For practical reasons like insurance, AOS, etc.

Not for all of us a huge event is their dream. And even so, lots of K-1 do court wedding immediately and reception later.

Edited May 14, 2015 by D.Ba

[D.Ba 85]

In 2010, the latest year that could be examined, the top 10 countries for cases referred to fraud prevention units for closer scrutiny were China, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Brazil, Ghana, Cambodia, Jamaica, Peru, and Ukraine. Most cases involve applications for non-immigrant visas. About 74,000 cases were referred worldwide, and 22 percent were confirmed to be fraudulent.

http://cis.org/vaughan/gao-report-state-dept-has-good-tools-lacks-coordinated-approach-address-rampant-visa-fraud

[usmsbow 795]

In 2010, the latest year that could be examined, the top 10 countries for cases referred to fraud prevention units for closer scrutiny were China, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Brazil, Ghana, Cambodia, Jamaica, Peru, and Ukraine. Most cases involve applications for non-immigrant visas. About 74,000 cases were referred worldwide, and 22 percent were confirmed to be fraudulent.

http://cis.org/vaughan/gao-report-state-dept-has-good-tools-lacks-coordinated-approach-address-rampant-visa-fraud

Interesting link- thanks. It had a link to an article about marriage visa fraud too that was pretty interesting:

http://cis.org/marriagefraud

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Quality front loading (not stuffing with useless fillers) is advised for high fraud countries due to the fact that the CO will see the relationship

evidence before the interview and many will not even look at any other evidence brought to the interview but base their decision on what they already have seen.

If you did not front load then there went your chance. This includes the evidence brought in a day before or so before the interview (if allowed).

Face time is always important, the more the better but so is the communication evidence between a couple when apart.

Front load, especially K1's and side load for CR1's at NVC.

Many get by without front loading but many simply do not. Research a bit in your regional forum and study what happened to those who went before you

and even though every case is different you will see a pattern emerge.

Throw in a cranky CO to the mix and there goes the visa.

[CowBoE 429]

My Fiancee was denied due to her being found ineligible under 221 (g). We did everything by the book, photos, text & call logs, letter of intent, evidence of support. The CO gave her the denial paper and walked away without explanations. What could be the reason for the denial and any chance to appeal through lawyer? Or is it a just a waste of time and it's better to get married and apply for that. very disappointed and feel it was unjust decision.

At the worst, they should explain why they are denying. This is totally not fair.

Yes, I think marriage and then spouse visa is your next best option

Look through the most common red-flags and see which of these may

have applied to you guys.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html

The following types of personal characteristics or living situations raise questions in the eyes of USCIS or the consulate.

• No shared language. If the couple can’t talk to each other, how can they really build a shared life together?
• Vast difference in age. People of different ages certainly do get married sometimes. But when combined with other red flags, the thinking is that it may represent a compromise by someone who is either interested in obtaining a green card or in being paid to help someone else do so.
• Difference in religion. Because religious beliefs are fundamental to many people’s approach to life and daily behavior, the U.S. government takes a second look at applications from people of different religions who have married.
• Different social class or cultural background. People of different wealth levels or place in society often get married, too – but the U.S. government will be curious to know more about how this occurred, and whether it’s for real.
• Difference in race. You can see a pattern here – any time a couple doesn’t share basic characteristics, it raises questions.
• Unequal educational background. Studies show that most women don’t believe they could admire a man less educated than they; and that men put intelligence and education at number five on their ranking of desirable qualities in a mate. So if one person in the couple is highly educated and the other not, expect questions.
• Different addresses. After marriage, most couples live together. If you don’t – particularly if both of you are living in the same country – you will need to provide a good explanation, for example, that one of you is finishing a university degree and the other one can’t leave his or her job. Also be ready to show that you plan to live together as soon as possible.
• Same house, but no actual interaction. If, for instance, your work and other schedules are set up so that you are never home at the same time, the U.S. government will wonder whether that was intentional.
• Secret marriage. If you haven’t told your friends and family, USCIS will wonder whether it’s because you don’t want them to get all excited about a marriage that you plan to end as soon as the immigrant gets a green card.
• All-too-convenient timing of marriage. A goodly number of marriages happen after an undocumented person in the U.S. is caught and placed into removal proceedings, or before someone on a nonimmigrant visa is reaching the date by which he or she must leave the United States. (One can apply for a green card based on marriage as a defense to deportation.) You will have to explain why you didn’t choose to marry until it became a matter of urgency.
• Attempts to manufacture evidence of shared life right before the interview. You will be asked to provide evidence of joint accounts, assets, memberships, and so on. Those items will likely have dates showing when they were begun. If those dates are mere weeks before the green card or visa interview date, it will create suspicion that you were trying to make your case look good rather than taking natural steps to join your lives.
• Marriage soon after you met. Most people like to take at least several months to consider getting married. If you got married after only a few meetings or weeks, the government will wonder whether the cause was more romance or, say, money.
• Marriage soon after a divorce. Again, this would indicate that the “courtship” was suspiciously short. (Or you might have to prove the existence of a long affair!)
• History of U.S. petitioner sponsoring other spousal immigrants. If the U.S. citizen or permanent resident has married and petitioned for one or more other immigrants in the past, it stands to reason that those marriages ended in divorce. Did that mean a real marriage fell apart – or was the earlier marriage(s) nothing more than a green card scam? And now, since the petitioner didn’t get caught the first time around, is he or she trying it again?
• Noncitizen comes from a country with a history of immigration fraud. The U.S. government keeps track of which countries’ citizens commit visa or other immigration fraud at high rates. Though it’s not your fault, if the immigrant spouse comes from one of these countries, he or she will face extra scrutiny.
• No children if woman is of childbearing age. Having children is not a requirement of marriage – but if no children is an added factor in an otherwise questionable case, it won’t help.
• Impoverished U.S. citizen or resident petitioner. If the U.S. member of the couple lacks a job or apparently needs money, the immigration authorities might wonder whether he or she is looking to make some quick bucks through a fraudulent marriage.
• History of crimes, fraud, or lies by either spouse. Anyone who has committed past illegal acts may be looked at as more likely or willing to enter into marriage fraud.

[MouadsWife 161]

K-1s *have to* get married within 90 days of arrival. Any answer other than "soon after my arrival" is wrong.

Why is that a red flag....? "soon after his arrival" was our thought and we certainly didn't plan a date and a big 'ta do'.... there is nothing wrong with that answer. Why rush rush rush?? Not everyone has to have an date, time, a plan. Everyone is to each his own... when your filing a k1, the right answer is as long as it's within the 90 days of arrival. it doesn't matter how you do it or when... as long as it's within.

Edited May 14, 2015 by MouadsWife

[Jawaree 717]

In 2010, the latest year that could be examined, the top 10 countries for cases referred to fraud prevention units for closer scrutiny were China, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Brazil, Ghana, Cambodia, Jamaica, Peru, and Ukraine. Most cases involve applications for non-immigrant visas. About 74,000 cases were referred worldwide, and 22 percent were confirmed to be fraudulent.

http://cis.org/vaughan/gao-report-state-dept-has-good-tools-lacks-coordinated-approach-address-rampant-visa-fraud

Jamaica frauds were for inflated pay-scales/job letters when

applying for visitors visa...not to immigrate. The embassy did

thorough checks & found out

[Boiler 43,433]

Jamaica frauds were for inflated pay-scales/job letters when

applying for visitors visa...not to immigrate. The embassy did

thorough checks & found out

I have seen a couple of situations where people who were single claimed to be married.

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

For those of you saying Ethiopia is a high fraud country, where are you getting your info from? Are you just making that assumption because it's in Africa? I searched "fraud Ethiopia" on VJ and this is the only thread that came up. There are also very, very few K-1 reviews for Ethiopia, and very few poor reviews (especially compared to Nigeria). There is another recent one from April. It sounds like to me the embassy has gotten a more "strict" CO recently.

Ethiopia is a poor, economically and politically unstable 3rd world country. Have common sense, of course it is high fraud. Like others said, maybe it is not like Nigeria but it is very close. Try to apply for a tourist visa from there and you will see.

Edited May 14, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[usmsbow 795]

Ethiopia is a poor, economically and politically unstable 3rd world country. Have common sense, of course it is high fraud. Like others said, maybe it is not like Nigeria but it is very close. Try to apply for a tourist visa from there and you will see.

I have common sense. Tourist visas have nothing to do with K-1s. Just ask the gazillion K-1 applicants from the Philippines. Ask my wife, who comes from a country where it is very difficult to get a tourist visa but is considered super easy for K-1s and low fraud. There are countless developing countries that are considered relatively easy for K-1s (including a number in Africa too).

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

I have common sense. Tourist visas have nothing to do with K-1s. Just ask the gazillion K-1 applicants from the Philippines. Ask my wife, who comes from a country where it is very difficult to get a tourist visa but is considered super easy for K-1s and low fraud. There are countless developing countries that are considered relatively easy for K-1s (including a number in Africa too).

I am very well aware that tourist visas and K1 visas are different. However, there is a general tendency.