Visa refused and being sent to fraud office

[beloved_dingo 1,953]

6 minutes ago, Akin Michael said:

 

When was the divorce finalized? And was it finalized before her 2 visits to see you in Nigeria?

[Akin Michael 12]

1 minute ago, Redro said:

Nigeria has a very long queue before interview. What years did she visit? when was the last time you saw her? 

She visited 2019 and 2020.. Wanted to visit in 2021 but covid-19 travel ban/restrictions impeded her. I explained everything to the CO... 

 

3 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

When was the divorce finalized? And was it finalized before her 2 visits to see you in Nigeria?

2016

[beloved_dingo 1,953]

2 minutes ago, Akin Michael said:

She visited 2019 and 2020.. Wanted to visit in 2021 but covid-19 travel ban/restrictions impeded her. I explained everything to the CO... 

 

2016

It's good that her divorce was final 3 years before she visited you, but it is NOT good that you haven't seen each other in 3 years. COVID may explain the lack of visit in 2021 but it's 2023 now. Why hasn't she visited? 

[Akin Michael 12]

10 minutes ago, beloved_dingo said:

It's good that her divorce was final 3 years before she visited you, but it is NOT good that you haven't seen each other in 3 years. COVID may explain the lack of visit in 2021 but it's 2023 now. Why hasn't she visited? 

She will come later this year as planned. 

[Mike E 11,730]

3 hours ago, African Zealot said:

To the OP, don’t rush to go and pay an expensive immigration attorney over this

 

2 hours ago, African Zealot said:

 A competent immigration attorney who you/she can discuss the history honestly and openly with is the best bet.

[Redro 4,603]

2 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

She visited 2019 and 2020.. Wanted to visit in 2021 but covid-19 travel ban/restrictions impeded her. I explained everything to the CO... 

 

2016

When did she go to Sierra Leone? 
How long was she there? 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Redro

[Mike E 11,730]

11 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

No I have not applied for VISA before. Have never married. She asked when did my wife go for vacation, I said March this year to Sierra Leone, she said why didn't she come to my country or me join her? I said she went for building project and my leave was denied by my employer. 

 

3 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

Yes...

 

 

Was the beneficiary from Sierra Leone?

 

What are her ties to Sierra Leone?

 

3 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

@africanZealot..You're perfectly correct 

 

2 hours ago, Akin Michael said:

She visited 2019 and 2020.. Wanted to visit in 2021 but covid-19 travel ban/restrictions impeded her. I explained everything to the CO... 

 

9 minutes ago, Redro said:

When did she go to Sierra Leone? 
How long was she there? 

March 2023 as per above

 

So the situation is, the petitioner

 

* has filed I-130s for others in the past

* has not seen the beneficiary for  3 years

* opted to take a personal trip to Africa check on the status of a second home instead of seeing the beneficiary

 

The CO is naturally suspicious.

 

[Crazy Cat 40,002]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

 

Was the beneficiary from Sierra Leone?

 

What are her ties to Sierra Leone?

 

 

 

March 2023 as per above

 

So the situation is, the petitioner

 

* has filed I-130s for others in the past

* has not seen the beneficiary for  3 years

* opted to take a personal trip to Africa check on the status of a second home instead of seeing the beneficiary

 

The CO is naturally suspicious.

 

I envision a phone call to the USC from the consulate or fraud division.  I have also seen denial letters using a couple of those things.

[Redro 4,603]

30 minutes ago, Mike E said:

 

Was the beneficiary from Sierra Leone?

 

What are her ties to Sierra Leone?

 

 

 

March 2023 as per above

 

So the situation is, the petitioner

 

* has filed I-130s for others in the past

* has not seen the beneficiary for  3 years

* opted to take a personal trip to Africa check on the status of a second home instead of seeing the beneficiary

 

The CO is naturally suspicious.

 

If that is the situation… 

@Akin Michael I suggest 

1.) Your wife move up her upcoming trip to Nigeria and MOVE there for the rest of the year maybe longer… is she able to work remotely? Take a leave of absence from her job?  

2.) Get a joint sponsor 

 

You are going to need a lot of face time together to show you are a real couple. Your wife should be in your home in Nigeria if and when someone from the fraud unit visits. This could be anytime from this month to the end of the year to 10 months time… 

[powerpuff 6,091]

55 minutes ago, Mike E said:

* has not seen the beneficiary for  3 years

* opted to take a personal trip to Africa check on the status of a second home instead of seeing the beneficiary

That is a very odd thing to do, even if the reason was different (work). Not seeing your spouse for 3 years “due to Covid” but going to a another West African county for business and not using the opportunity to see you spouse 

Edited July 20, 2023 by powerpuff

[Mike E 11,730]

2 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

but going to a nearby West African county for business

As per clarification from @African Zealot and OP, this was not a business trip. So it is even more strange

[AfroKing 48]

OP, like others have pointed, If i was the IO, i would be very puzzled as to why a couple who haven't seen each other in 3 years would have one of them in a neighbouring West African country, less than 2 hours flight apart, and not seize that time to see each other; a time span of almost 3 years with no physical presence with each other is bad already.

 

That said, i'll like to point you a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, which is the Interview officer telling you about the fraud department getting to you. They don't often let out that information, especially if they will be investigating the beneficiary-in my view, that would be counterproductive. They might just want to establish that your marriage is bonafide which i assume might involve checking the Petitioners past records with USCIS to establish a pattern since she's sponsored before or probably going to the petitioner's residence to confirm some things. But then, that's just an assumption, you should get ready for a potential visit from them too and even a stoke interview.

 

Secondly, I will STRONGLY suggest you avoid any steps that might look like you are forcing evidence out of the norm, that's more suspicious and might seem like someone covering their tracks, even if the motive is honest. If your wife work don't permit her to leave for a long time, it would be absurd for her to now take months off just to be with you, stick to the what's natural. 

 

on a final note,  if its possible that your wife can visit sooner, make an appearance at the Lagos Embassy, that will help your case. They have different departments for Citizens but its still within the same establishment. i wish you the best

[SalishSea 17,008]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

As per clarification from @African Zealot and OP, this was not a business trip. So it is even more strange

I wonder if there are other red flags pertaining to the other West African she petitioned.  As we know, having legitimate divorce paperwork is required, but perhaps not adequate if there was anything sketchy about that marriage, divorce or immigration journey.

[Akin Michael 12]

16 minutes ago, AfroKing said:

OP, like others have pointed, If i was the IO, i would be very puzzled as to why a couple who haven't seen each other in 3 years would have one of them in a neighbouring West African country, less than 2 hours flight apart, and not seize that time to see each other; a time span of almost 3 years with no physical presence with each other is bad already.

 

That said, i'll like to point you a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, which is the Interview officer telling you about the fraud department getting to you. They don't often let out that information, especially if they will be investigating the beneficiary-in my view, that would be counterproductive. They might just want to establish that your marriage is bonafide which i assume might involve checking the Petitioners past records with USCIS to establish a pattern since she's sponsored before or probably going to the petitioner's residence to confirm some things. But then, that's just an assumption, you should get ready for a potential visit from them too and even a stoke interview.

 

Secondly, I will STRONGLY suggest you avoid any steps that might look like you are forcing evidence out of the norm, that's more suspicious and might seem like someone covering their tracks, even if the motive is honest. If your wife work don't permit her to leave for a long time, it would be absurd for her to now take months off just to be with you, stick to the what's natural. 

 

on a final note,  if its possible that your wife can visit sooner, make an appearance at the Lagos Embassy, that will help your case. They have different departments for Citizens but its still within the same establishment. i wish you the best

Thanks for this advice. 

16 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

I wonder if there are other red flags pertaining to the other West African she petitioned.  As we know, having legitimate divorce paperwork is required, but perhaps not adequate if there was anything sketchy about that marriage, divorce or immigration journey.

Thanks

[Redro 4,603]

40 minutes ago, AfroKing said:

 

on a final note,  if its possible that your wife can visit sooner, make an appearance at the Lagos Embassy, that will help your case. They have different departments for Citizens but its still within the same establishment. i wish you the best

People can’t just “drop in” and visit the embassy or consulate… 

you need to make an appointment. 
Others have tried this before and been denied… 

do you know for a fact OP’s wife will be allowed to interact with the visa officers? 
to me this seems like a bad idea.

best idea would be to write the immigrant visa department for information…