Can previous denials affect my CR-1 visa application?

[Selorm 0]

My husband and I met through a mutual friend who lives in the US 3 years ago(2015). I am 31 and he is 38.I live in Ghana and he lives in the US.I applied for a tourist visa the same year we started talking because up until then we had only spoken on the phone and never met in person.Sadly,i was denied.The consular officer's remarks was that i had been found ineligible for non immigrant visa under section 214b of the US immigration and national act.We went on to build our relationship nonetheless and he visited Ghana the following year (2016). He started working on a fiancee visa when he returned to the US.He came back in 2017 to propose and support me for the K1 visa interview.Sadly,once again i was denied.The consular officer's remarks was" we are unable to issue a visa because applicant is ineligible under section 221(g) of the immigration and national act." We got married in Ghana in August (2018). My husband is applying for spouse visa for me.

 

My question is, can these two denials affect my chance in any way and how do i overcome it? Please advice

 

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

No, not really. A lot of people go through denials.

 

Ghana is a tough embassy, realize, just getting married won't guarantee approval for this visa.

[Boiler 43,397]

Overcome, the biggest thing we see is lack of face time, lots and lots of time together.

[geowrian 22,335]

As long as you were honest in the application and interview, it won't impact a CR-1 process.

[John & Rose 7,237]

1 hour ago, Selorm said:

My husband and I met through a mutual friend who lives in the US 3 years ago(2015). I am 31 and he is 38.I live in Ghana and he lives in the US.I applied for a tourist visa the same year we started talking because up until then we had only spoken on the phone and never met in person.Sadly,i was denied.The consular officer's remarks was that i had been found ineligible for non immigrant visa under section 214b of the US immigration and national act.We went on to build our relationship nonetheless and he visited Ghana the following year (2016). He started working on a fiancee visa when he returned to the US.He came back in 2017 to propose and support me for the K1 visa interview.Sadly,once again i was denied.The consular officer's remarks was" we are unable to issue a visa because applicant is ineligible under section 221(g) of the immigration and national act." We got married in Ghana in August (2018). My husband is applying for spouse visa for me.

 

My question is, can these two denials affect my chance in any way and how do i overcome it? Please advice

 

What did the 221(g) actually say?  It shouldn't impact future petitions but the reason for the previous denial was vague.  MANY people survive a denial.  Each petition is its own entity.  As long as everything was honest and accurate you should be fine.  Ghana is a tough embassy.  Just keep faith.

[O&GForever 387]

11 hours ago, Selorm said:

My husband and I met through a mutual friend who lives in the US 3 years ago(2015). I am 31 and he is 38.I live in Ghana and he lives in the US.I applied for a tourist visa the same year we started talking because up until then we had only spoken on the phone and never met in person.Sadly,i was denied.The consular officer's remarks was that i had been found ineligible for non immigrant visa under section 214b of the US immigration and national act.We went on to build our relationship nonetheless and he visited Ghana the following year (2016). He started working on a fiancee visa when he returned to the US.He came back in 2017 to propose and support me for the K1 visa interview.Sadly,once again i was denied.The consular officer's remarks was" we are unable to issue a visa because applicant is ineligible under section 221(g) of the immigration and national act." We got married in Ghana in August (2018). My husband is applying for spouse visa for me.

 

My question is, can these two denials affect my chance in any way and how do i overcome it? Please advice

 

The previous denial shouldn’t impact your next petition. However you need to review what questions were asked during the interview and try to determine why your K1 case was denied. I know the Ghana embassy often doesn’t give the exact reason, but a lot of times you can figure it out based on their line of questioning.

 

Make sure when you apply this time that you frontload with lots of quality evidence. Ghana is incredibly tough and it requires a lot more trips and proof of relationship than many other embassies. You should also plan to submit more evidence at the NVC phase and again at the interview. To give you an idea of what it takes to be successful with this embassy, read my review from my husband’s CR1 interview. I listed every piece of evidence we submitted at each phase.

 

Best of luck! I’ve been in your shoes. I know the pain of being denied and having to start all over.  

[carmel34 3,529]

Lots of evidence of time spent together will be one way to overcome the previous denials.  Based on your post, you have only been together three times.  How many days total were you together in Ghana? Based on the toughness of the consulate there, you will likely need weeks or even months of time in each other's company, and multiple visits.  Plus now that you are married, you will need evidence of co-mingling of finances.  There are lots of good suggestions if you read through the threads here on VJ.  Look in particular at Ghana CR1 filers and learn from their experiences and advice.  Plus, do a timeline here on VJ so that people can know more about your specific situation.  Talk to your husband and try to find out what questions were asked in the previous interviews when he was denied.  Good luck!

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[pushbrk 12,093]

Consular Officers make visa decisions.  When they do so, they consider the totality of circumstances.  Previous attempts to secure visas, are part of the totality of circumstances.  So, YES, the denials DO have an impact on the totality of circumstances.  More important than the denials are the actual reasons for the denials.  Being "found ineligible" is not a reason.  I suspect you were found ineligible for the K1 visa because they did not think you provided enough evidence (including answers to interview questions) that your relationship was bona fide.  The fact that you married and spent more time together in person, is going to go on the positive side of the totality of circumstances ledger.  The more time together the better.

[Selorm 0]

Thank you all for the advice and well wishes