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Jeffiejay01

I130 denied. Need clarification on denial reason.

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Nigeria
Timeline

Hello guys, please I need some insight.

I'm the beneficiary of an i130 petition and two years ago we received a NOID. Reason given in the NOID was "the marriage was a marriage of convenience entered into to circumvent the laws of the US". With the aid of counsel we responded with a strong rebuttal. A year later we were officially denied but this time around, reason given was "based on the review of testimony and documentation, USCIS finds that you have not meant your burden of proof in demonstrating the bonafide nature of your marriage by a preponderance of evidence. Therefore USCIS denies your form i130".


1) Does the INA 204c bar apply here given the denial reason was clear and did not mention "sham marriage, fraud marriage etc"? 

2) Does the denial letter have to expressly state a fraud finding as the reason for denial if there is one? (I assume the have a statutory obligation to do so) 

3)If we provide preponderance of evidence (which we lacked in the denial reason) would that be enough or are we subject to the clear and convincing standard of proof if we apply again? (we are still happily married)


Thank you. 
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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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A lack of evidence to demonstrate a bona fide marriage is different than a finding of a willful, material misrepresentation, or fraud.

It's impossible to know exactly what happened in your case with the information presented here, but personally - assuming I was comfortable with the evidence now - I would file again.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: Other Country: China
Timeline
3 hours ago, geowrian said:

A lack of evidence to demonstrate a bona fide marriage is different than a finding of a willful, material misrepresentation, or fraud.

It's impossible to know exactly what happened in your case with the information presented here, but personally - assuming I was comfortable with the evidence now - I would file again.

Presumably, there have been more visits, resulting in more time together in person and other additional evidence of bona fide relationship.  Whether it will be enough to overcome the REAL REASONS the original petition was denied will depend on those reasons and how valid they appeared or still appear.  I advise the petitioner to make a judgment call based on their own understanding of the totality of the circumstances and motivations.  That it is the beneficiary and not the petitioner who is asking these questions at this time is somewhat worrisome.

Facts are cheap...knowing how to use them is precious...
Understanding the big picture is priceless. Anonymous

Google Who is Pushbrk?

A Warning to Green Card Holders About Voting

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Nigeria
Timeline
On 3/9/2020 at 11:31 AM, geowrian said:

A lack of evidence to demonstrate a bona fide marriage is different than a finding of a willful, material misrepresentation, or fraud.

It's impossible to know exactly what happened in your case with the information presented here, but personally - assuming I was comfortable with the evidence now - I would file again.

Thank you Geo, we re-filed immediately and have our interview coming up in a few months. We have addressed all the reasons indicated in the denial by providing ample evidence this time around. Hopefully it would be enough this time. Thanks again. 

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

~~Bickering posts removed.~~

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Nigeria
Timeline
2 hours ago, Babu Frik said:

What evidence did you provide prior and what's different now?

Great question Farik. I'd give you a bit of background. At the time of our first interview, we were living at my wife's mom's since we didn't both have jobs. My wife also had a blemished record which raised further flags. We were seperated and sent home and our case was placed under review. Things got better after my EAD arrived. My wife also got a job and we were able to move into our own place two months after the interview. Over the next two years, we survived one home visit to our place and two visits to my wife's parents place. One of the visits to my inlaws created a problem because they met my father inlaw home alone and he said he didn't know me. They sent us an NOID with reason stating the marriage was to circumvent immigration laws. We sent a strong response with medical records showing my father in law had dementia and didn't recognize his wife, or daughter anymore let alone me. It included police reports of the cops showing up to their house after he made several bogus calls to 911 because he was hallucinating about seeing people in the house. We also included pictures of all the previous holidays spent together showing us together as a family which indicated he knew me. We added evidence of joint taxes, joint leases, utilities, auto, health and renters and life insurance, affidavits, letters from the apartment management, pictures etc. Our evidence went from Exhibits A to T literally. By my own admission though, we didn't submit joint bank statements because it was impossible to add by wife to my bank account due to her flagged banking history. We added a letter from the bank and credit bureau stating her failed credit check and reasons. We had credit card statements but didn't submit them since they were maxed out and we weren't using them. I basically paid the bills and she gave me cash. A year later they denied us anyway due to not meeting our burden of proof by a preponderance of evidence. Thankfully thought, they accepted the medical records and dismissed my father in law's testimony. They reiterated other minor reasons which we already addressed in our response to their NOID. 

 

Long and short, we re-filed immediately and our interview comes up in a few weeks. We have addressed all the minor issues raised and have more evidence. My wife's banking flags have been been dropped and we now have one single account where our pays checks go and all our bills come out of. The statements only go as far as eleven months ago so we hope that's okay. We also have joint brokerage accounts that we fund monthly and she's also listed as the beneficiary on my 401k, IRA and health insurance plans at work. We now have joint debt together as well. We also have a living will and power of attorney. We would be submitting credit card statements too. IDs showing same address, different letters, cards and mails addressed to both of us, joint purchases, joint memberships, dog adoption paperwork, gifts receipts, gifts exchanged with my wife's family during Christmas, more pictures(my parents also visited from my home country and stayed with us for two weeks and met my wife's parents) affidavits, more recent taxes all of these in addition to the previously submitted taxes, joint leases, utilities, auto, health and renters and life insurance, pictures etc. We would also be submitting three years worth of daily text conversations as husband and wife and phone records dating back to a year ago. That's all I can think of for now. Our document stack is about ten inches tall. Besides the evidence, we've also addressed all minor reasons listed in the denial and just hope it would be enough this time. We would also be going with an attorney this time. Do you think our evidence of bonafides is okay? 

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Filed: Other Country: China
Timeline

Note that one reason you are getting strange advice is that you are adjusting status, but posted your question in a spouse visa forum.  Expect your topic to be moved to the correct forum soon.  What kind of visa are you adjusting from?

Facts are cheap...knowing how to use them is precious...
Understanding the big picture is priceless. Anonymous

Google Who is Pushbrk?

A Warning to Green Card Holders About Voting

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/606646-a-warning-to-green-card-holders-about-voting/

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas forum.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Nigeria
Timeline
41 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Note that one reason you are getting strange advice is that you are adjusting status, but posted your question in a spouse visa forum.  Expect your topic to be moved to the correct forum soon.  What kind of visa are you adjusting from?

OH. Didn't realize that. Thank you. I'm a newbie here so I don't have a grip of it yet. I'm adjusting from F1 Visa. 

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