Multiple red flags - Worried about the interview

[Seraph2042 37]

My apologies if this topic has been discussed here already. My fiancé is 27 years older than me, I am soon to be 31 and he is 57. We are both Engineers, I know him since October 2016 when he was appointed as the Client IT manager for the team I was leading from offshore (India). He was married at the time but the two were already estranged. We met in India on an official tour in 2018, this was the starting point of our relationship. Then I met him in NY the same year in October. In 2019, we met again in Texas, and for the last time in February 2020. He filed for divorce in December 2019 after their youngest son moved out and the divorce went amicably and finalized in September 2020. We filed I-129F in December 2020 and I now have my NOA2. I see two huge red flags in my petition i.e 

 

1. Age difference.

2. Overlapping relationship. 

 

Has anyone else been through these red flags and made it successfully to the other side? There is no shortage of proof for a bona fide relationship in our case. We have enough post cards, pictures, pictures with my family, communication records, gift receipts etc. I am constantly worried that consular will look at the second red flag and straight away reject my request on moral grounds. Do any of you have any pointers or suggestions to overcome this fear and/or to be better prepared? 

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

It seems as if you have met 4 times. That is good "proof" of legitimate relationship. Don't be fearful. Good evidence that you have not mentioned is passport stamps/boarding passes that show you were in the same country at the same time. I suggest having those as well. The overlapping relationship I see happen so often here on VJ and the age difference is usually more of a red flag the other way- when the woman is significantly older than the man which is not normally culturally appropriate (depending on country). Other red flags are meeting only once/language barriers/US citizen sending a lot of money over to foreign fiance/woman significantly older than man/difference of religion where religion is a huge part of society/meeting online (for what its worth.. these things could be overcome and having 1 verses having 5 also affect a case.). I think you are fine..  It's actually think that you both being in the same career is super helpful as well. good luck  

[Seraph2042 37]

@Luckycuds Thank you so much for that response, I may sleep better tonight. 🙂 Yes, I do have the stamps and some of the boarding passes along with Airbnb stay records, I will put them all in!!

[brevig 28]

On 8/24/2021 at 11:39 PM, Seraph2042 said:

gift receipts

I might not include those, curious what others think, but given the age difference it could support the idea that you are a gold digger looking for a sugar daddy.

 

Also, I would advise making sure your Facebook is super clean.  Anything they can find making them think you just want to go to America or that you only care about money.  With both of you being professionals, older (not 18 like the other poster), and working in the same field, I really wouldn't be worried.  Just always best to be safe, consular officers can use their own whims and bias to deny you, so best to make sure nothing is there to give them any bad ideas.

 

 

[Limey 551]

Overlapping relationships definitely isn't a problem. My wife was married when I first met her and when we got together she was separated but not divorced. Had to wait a while to file k1 because we were waiting for the divorce (there are separation requirements in NC). Its not a red flag - if anything the extra waiting time and process involved tends to demonstrate some genuine substance between your relationship, which is a positive.

Age difference can be a negative, but its only part of a whole load of things that will be looked at. With the history of your relationship, the face to face meetings, the fact that you first met in a work environment, etc, etc  you shouldn't have any problems.

[Seraph2042 37]

On 8/27/2021 at 3:25 PM, brevig said:

I might not include those, curious what others think, but given the age difference it could support the idea that you are a gold digger looking for a sugar daddy.

 

Also, I would advise making sure your Facebook is super clean.  Anything they can find making them think you just want to go to America or that you only care about money.  With both of you being professionals, older (not 18 like the other poster), and working in the same field, I really wouldn't be worried.  Just always best to be safe, consular officers can use their own whims and bias to deny you, so best to make sure nothing is there to give them any bad ideas.

 

 

Thank you Brevig, I had not looked at it from that angle. But these gift receipts are for relatively smaller amounts like $150 - $200 and they were given to him on his birthdays/Christmas. These were for walmart, Spa, iHOP etc. Should I still not include them?

 

I did request my fiancé to clean up his Facebook, mine seem to be okay. Thank you for that as well.

[Seraph2042 37]

On 8/27/2021 at 7:54 PM, Limey said:

Overlapping relationships definitely isn't a problem. My wife was married when I first met her and when we got together she was separated but not divorced. Had to wait a while to file k1 because we were waiting for the divorce (there are separation requirements in NC). Its not a red flag - if anything the extra waiting time and process involved tends to demonstrate some genuine substance between your relationship, which is a positive.

Age difference can be a negative, but its only part of a whole load of things that will be looked at. With the history of your relationship, the face to face meetings, the fact that you first met in a work environment, etc, etc  you shouldn't have any problems.

Thanks so much, Limey! Reading this makes me happy!

[brevig 28]

2 hours ago, Seraph2042 said:

But these gift receipts are for relatively smaller amounts like $150 - $200 and they were given to him on his birthdays/Christmas.

I see.  I think fine to include them in this case just be sure to note they were birthday/Christmas gifts.  Yes, the amounts are reasonable, just don't put anything unreasonable.  Also, good if you can show it both ways as much as possible.  They'll want to see it as a 2-way street, and won't want to see a lopsided relationship.

 

2 hours ago, Seraph2042 said:

I did request my fiancé to clean up his Facebook

It kinda sucks we have to give up our free speech for immigration, but yeah, best to be spotless.  Like in my case, with past criminal convictions I can no longer quote Tupac or Johnny Cash, or rant about the government.  I went to an extreme with my cleanup.  Anything political, GONE.  Anything that someone might disagree with, regardless of what it's about, GONE.