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Bad marriage can cost a lot more than tickets to see each other. I wouldn't want to marry somebody I've never met in person.

Sounds like you are getting your wake-up call now. This site is here to help people do it themselves, but you came here only after starting without doing the homework part. You are going to have some hard decisions to make, and must get your head around accepting a path and timing you don't like. The sooner you drop the "I'm not going to...." from your mind, the sooner you can move ahead productively.

I think this is a great plan. Americans can pretty much stroll in anywhere: that is our superpower and we should use it more often. I'm honestly disappointed I haven't used it more.

Folks I strongly recommend that everyone with a pending VAWA application carry a copy of their USCIS receipt notice and a copy of their I-94. Having these documents on hand ensures that if stopped by ICE, you can present official documentation from Immigration to verify your status. I have always advised my clients that they could travel abroad with advance parole. However, last week, I emailed all of them, advising against traveling abroad with advance parole for the time being. While VAWA petitioners do not trigger the 3/10-year ban, there is currently uncertainty about how CBP will handle cases involving VAWA petitioners who were previously without status and left the country, then attempt to reenter. Legally speaking, it should not pose an issue, but due to these uncertainties, I recommended they refrain from traveling abroad for now.

He needs to contact the consulate and ask if he can reschedule. However, I think you have more serious issues to consider. Good luck.

Why did you not have a plan for providing health insurance for your wife? It is your responsibility, as the petitioner.

Getting married before ever meeting in person, then applying for the spousal visa immediately after that first and only meeting, is a blueprint for how to get a spousal visa denied. During the visa interview, the consular officer must be convinced that the marriage is a valid marriage and not one just for immigration purposes. With just one meeting — that occurred after the marriage — that will be very difficult. Waivers for the two-year meeting requirement for a fiancée visa are extremely rare for a reason. People can be far different in person than they appear online. Having two young children that make travel planning more complicated is not a reason for a waiver. Waivers for the “consummation” meeting after the wedding are non-existent. There is no provision for this meeting to be waived. Even if there were, it would not be approved in a case where it means the couple would have never met at all before the immigrant visa was issued. You will need to figure out how to meet — perhaps in a third country so you don’t have to travel as far and he doesn’t need a US visa. Even without it being a requirement, I would urge anyone (especially with young children involved) to meet before marrying anyone and bringing them into a household

Like everyone else here is saying. Meet do not get married at this first visit. Make the visit as long as you can. Spend as much time as possible with her friends and family too. Then go home and start planning and saving for another trip. With High fraud countries getting married the first trip together is a sure fire way to be denied. Especially if it is a short visit.

Hi Everyone - after my updated medical results and passport were delivered to the embassy on July 31st, I have gotten my passport back with the visa in it! My interview was back in April 2023.

Your posts are coming across as very aggressive to people who are just trying to help. All I said is that flights were leaving in 2020 so the pandemic wouldn't be a valid reason for overstaying that long. There's nothing you can do but wait and see what happens. What document was requested on the 221g?

Turns out my prediction was correct. CEAC says Issued now!

First I want to thank this community! The advice, the pool of knowledge available here and just the feeling of belonging that most members project is such a source of comfort during this crazy process. I don't know if Jaycel and I would have maintained our sanity if we didn't have our fellow travelers to lean on. So thank you all so very much! 8 Months and 2 weeks from application received to card in hand. (And exactly 4 years from the day we started talking ) No RFEs and EAD in 51 days. Pretty happy with that timeline! Now we get a break from USCIS for the next 21 months Our full timeline in case it's helpful to anyone else: I-129F Receipt Date: 09/18/2023 I-129F RFE: 05/20/2024 I-129F RFE Response Received: 06/01/2024 I-129F Approved: 06/04/2024 I-129F Sent to DOS: 06/11/2024 DOS Case # Assigned: 07/01/2024 K1-FTP: 07/16/2024 Embassy Interview: 08/13/2024 (Approved) Visa in Hand: 08/20/2024 Entered the US: 08/30/2024 Married: 10/25/2024 AOS Receipt Date: 11/18/2024 Biometrics: 12/26/2024 EAD Approved: 01/08/2025 Interview Scheduled: 06/16/2025 Interview Attended: 07/23/2025 I-485 Approved: 06/16/2025 Green Card Received: 08/01/2025

Wasn't there a thread couple days ago about a USC woman who brought a Pakistani husband in and he took off after getting his 10-yr green card. I'd read that before deciding to proceed with this guy. Plenty of red flags already flying - refused visas, wants to get married fast...

I have changed my mind, go for it.

It seems like he doesn’t want to. Does this not raise a red flag with you? And don’t you mean: “I can’t think of anyone who would purposely want to miss their interview to go to the person they are about to get married to”? If his desire to come to the US would be bigger than his desire to get married to you, that wouldn’t be good. Him purposely missing his interview shows that he is not ready to get married to you yet.

You’re focusing on the wrong thing. You need to spend much more time together in person rather than focusing on which wedding route to go. You can also marry via Utah Zoom marriage either when you’re both together in person or visit after the ceremony to consummate the marriage. But your primary focus should be spending much more time together otherwise just marrying isn’t going to resolve the denial.

Sounds like you dodged a bullet. Take time to heal and move on. You acknowledge this man hurt you. This marriage would not have ended well.

After such a long journey the day is here. My wife passed her citizenship exam and we are awaiting the naturalization ceremony. I am so excited for her !

Way too many red flags and you know this or you would not be posting. This is how I am seeing it. She came in and applied for asylum. She is well aware that she has a slim chance of being successful of it being granted. She married you, stalled as long as she could to keep stringing you along to stay out of the home (not really being married because her church said so). I would bet money she has someone coaching her. She has outright told you she is in it for the GC. She's not doing this for the kids and church. Tells you to go find someone else because she is in love with her (probably husband and child's father) in her home country. Once she gets that green card she is going to bounce and then bring him over. Please pull the AOS now and talk to a lawyer.

This is not the intention of K-1 visa. The idea is that you know for sure you're marrying the person before sponsoring them for visa. People are not toys you can return to store within 90 day period. They're leaving their home, family, friends, jobs, everything they have to rely on you for some time until they can settle in new and totally different place which is USA. It would be totally irresponsible and immoral to break somebody's life like this by betraying them in their most vulnerable moment. Now, to the question... Prenup does not waive your I-864 obligations to US government.

You are coming across as quite entitled. Legal immigration involves planning and waiting. Most of us here have had to do loads of planning and waiting in our journeys. No one else is more special than the next person.

After almost 16 months in AP, I finally received the email to submit passport and medical report. the long wait is over, I pray all of you guys receive it sooner than later to be reunited with your family.

OP: There are things I must now say and I hope it does not cause offense. You say you love him. He does not love you. He is an abuser. He will harm you, and he *has* caused harm to you. He has caused harm to others. At some point you knew all of this, and at some point you reasoned that through your love, compassion, and kindness that this would make him stop being abusive. That he would change via your love or even worse, that you are the problem. It is a lie. A lie that people in these relationships tell themselves to survive. There is nothing more to be done now. Move on from him and find someone that understands your worth and actually loves you. Not just the idea of you, or an imagining of you - but actually loves and respects you for you. From a period of three years of my young life long ago, I once learned what it was like to love an abuser. The places it took me were harmful and will effect me for the rest of my days. They will destroy you until there isn't anything left and nothing will make them happier in doing so. I know how much I desperately loved that person and I know that now I look back on it and feel nothing for them. You will move on, grow, and love again.

Your main challenge will be your partner having a very recent history of SH. From my understanding, and comments made directly from the panel physician at my medical, they are concerned with matters that have occurred within the last 12 months. Clearly your partner continues to struggle with severe mental health problems, but the only way to combat this for visa purposes is to evidence an effort to seek help and trying to get better. If your partner is continually being given support but their circumstances are not improving, then I am not sure how you would go about this. USCIS' main concern here is that the immigrant won't be a public charge, and a strong pattern of requiring emergency medical assistance doesn't seem to indicate as much. If it were me, I would be considering a move from US to Canada instead, to allow your partner to still have the avenues of support available to them as a Canadian citizen. You say they don't have problems while with you in the US, but let me say from first hand experience as a K1, the time that you move and find yourself at home alone, while your partner is at work, away from your family and everything you once knew, it can get hard. There's a chance that your partner may not fare so well when the "vacation mode" of visiting ends and real life sinks in. Wishing you the best of luck in your journey.

That's pretty strange that a husband would not want his wife to legalize. Any reasonable spouse, if wanting to continue building joint life, would help their immigrant spouse to get the legal papers. Looks like a toxic relationship. Why is she staying married to this person? Without his cooperation, she has no protections.

You got a green card that you weren’t eligible for, and then citizenship that you weren’t eligible for either. As @nastra30 said, it will be a long drawn out process before your citizenship is revoked and you’re deported. Your call, but if it was me I would just return to my home country rather than facing the stress and expense of all of that, and to reunite with my children much sooner too.

Now not so secret

Issued !!!!!! Thank you all for the direct or even indirect support as i went through this tediously long process. Honestly my hopes and expectations were set very very low , and i believe that is what probably helped me cope mentally. With so low expectations anything really was a surprise. a quick timeline for me march 2023 - DQ Oct 27 2023 -interview and given ds5535 Nov 1st - Submitted ds5535 form Nov 3rd - First case creation and update march 2024 - first update despite sending form months prior radio silence again July 30th - first unsolicited update(that i noticed) july 31st - Update 1st Wk August - a couple of updates August 8th - Request to send passport and medical August 9th - Took medical exam (was very lucky to find so soon) Aug 9th. - sent in passport and photos after medical appointment Aug 19th - Received confirmation from clinic that they sent medical to embassy Aug 21st - finally Shows the beautiful words Of “issued” . honestly when i read those words i began crying as this was a very stressful and emotional process for my partner and I. I want you guys to know though there is an end to the tunnel. And they seem to be processing them faster now , hoping that trend keeps going .

I'll be blunt, direct and honest. I knew VAWA was the goal, right from your first post. See the response that I had pre-written below. Such a short time to have even known what a protective order is and how to file it. Seems your friend might be playing high stakes game. This looks really suspicious and coached.

Finally .. received the happy, happy - joy, joy email this morning. Requested passport, updated medical, and RCMP Certificate. Nothing else. @Superluminal please update (we received two additional case status updates before today’s request.) Thank you!

Sorry to hear of this misfortune. Prayers for both of you. Since 2007 on VisaJourney, I've never heard of a K-1 being expedited for the stated reasons. I've never heard of the in-person meeting requirement's being waived, for ANY reason. If he hasn't even filed the I-129F, I regret to report that you can forget both of these. The chances are zero. As to what I would do in your shoes: Provide love and support from afar until the pancreatic cancer or the chemotherapy take their inevitable toll. Prayers for both of you.

Because Marriage does NOT grant ANY legal status or authorization to stay in the US. When the I-485 was denied, she immediately became deportable since it was beyond the authorized 90 days. If she then immediately refiled a PROPER I-485, she should be granted authorized stay until the new I-485 is adjudicated. However, now that she has a court date, she better get an attorney TODAY! Seems to me her only defense will be that she refiled the I-485. This is not DIY. This is pretty serious.

It’s a huge ask of anybody, I don’t think any stranger would agree to be on the hook financially for potentially decades for somebody they don’t even know. But I’m amazed your lawyer suggested you try to find somebody on an anonymous internet forum when it sounds like you already qualify yourself - frankly I’d be firing him and demanding a refund for that atrocious advice! It’s not ‘forward thinking’, it’s basic immigration knowledge. And if he doesn’t know that I’d be worried about what else he’s missed.

I would find another DMV office. You are already legally married, else, she would not have been issued a Green card. I don't recall my state requiring our marriage license. They wanted proof that she is legally present int he US.

Alright then, as promised, report from new US citizen 🤠 Had an interview in the morning. Had a long wait (approx an hour) in the waiting area. Glad my lawyer was with me, since she kept listening to my name being called while I went to the restroom and also was a great source of entertainment (OK, not only entertainment, we went through questions few more times). Got called by a IO lady, she was about 30-35 y.o. She welcomed me and my attorney, told there's going to be trainee in the interview, then took to the room. After swearing in, she asked for my passport, GC, DL. Confirmed my name. Then she went through civics questions, it was a breeze. Same reading / writing on tablet. I got all 6 questions right, so she resumed with N-400 application. She confirmed few personal questions, address, work etc. Interestingly enough, she (I feel like) made a couple of mistakes on purpose reading my travel dates and other dates on form. For example, she said "so you were back from Italy on September 6th, 2024?" But I knew it was September 10th, so I answered "No officer, it was September 10th". Then she apologized for reading incorrectly. And it was 2-3 questions like it. The she asked me how many times I was married, and more importantly, who lives at my address. When I replied "Just me and my wife", she asked whether anybody else lived with us. When I said "No", she proceeded asking about whether at any point me my wife lived apart. At that moment my attorney immediately jumped in, and pretty much told IO it's a 5 year rule application, and these questions are irrelevant. IO got visibly dissapointed (😃), proceeded with Yes and No questions. After those questions I double checked my answers and details on tablet and signed it. Then IO was pleased to announce I passed the exam and the interview. She also told me they had same day ceremony available about 1.5 hrs later. I surely agreed 😃 The longest wait in my life was sitting in the other area for 1.5 hrs, mostly starring at US and DHS flags. I kinda reflected at that point and thought that paying a lawyer wasn't a bad idea, even though my case was easy and straightforward. I brought about 400 pages of various evidence including marriage bonafides. I brought all J1, work visa docs, marriage cert for our marriage, divorce papers for my wife's prior marriage, her naturalization cert, all passports and IDs, my naturalization cert from other country, my birth cert and translations. Essentially I was ready to fight to the end, no matter what they would have asked I had it. But I feel like my lawyer helped keeping interview short and focused. All and all, I feel like it took about 15-20 mins max. Eventually, me and other folks got in a different room, had our GCs taken away, and read the oath together! After ceremony we got naturalization certs and checked the details before leaving. I'm super happy the way everything went. I'll keep disagreeing with anybody who says N-400 is the easiest part. No, officer could have made it hell if I wasn't prepared, went without a lawyer, wasn't confident or didn't listen carefully. Good luck to everybody still waiting ! Next stop - need to apply for passport 😃

Public Charge determination or financial support is not even considered or applicable in the Naturalization process. They are non-issues. I can tell you that the N-400 was, by far, the easiest part of the immigration process for us. It was a piece of cake from application to approval.

The Kiwi is a citizen! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸. Applied 11/29/24 under the 5 year rule. He brought all our tax transcripts and civil documents, but the officer didn’t need to look at any of them. He was asked 6 questions, got all right. The timing of having an afternoon appointment in Seattle was great, we waited about half an hour for the oath ceremony. Sitting there as a born American, I realized that many don’t ever get to attend one- it was an honor, and so interesting. Everyone was SO happy ❤️🇺🇸.

Your case is not taking a long time because of any "investigation". It's just sitting in a queue, waiting for a human to spend less than an average of 30 minutes with it before approving, sending an RFE, or denying. You file an I-130 into a black hole and wait. Then you deal with NVC and wait for an available interview appointment. Having the proper expectations allows you to be prepared, and more relaxed as you wait.

This looks like abusive relationship to me. He must enjoy having a total control over her life. Wawa comes to mind.

Let me lay some heavy advice on you. The US Federal Government knows way more about you and your habits than you do. During my trip to SE Asia with my Filipina fiance'; we traveled to may places. It was her first time out of the Phills. After our travels, We parted ways and took different flights to our respective homes. When I returned, the CBP asked me what countries I traveled to. I was exhausted and I could not remember everything. I just told him "I can't remember them all, you will just have to look it up". He smiled and said, "Oh you knew I already had the answer to the question as soon as you stepped off the plane?" I said, "are you kidding me, I should ask you if my fiance made it home safely". He said "hold on." Click click on the keyboard. "Yup, she made it to Cebu safely" I was not surprised in the least. I said, "thanks for letting me know." He said, "no problem and welcome home" So, yes they ARE going to check your travel records. They know everything. The US Treasury trades information real time with CBP. As soon as you hit the purchase button on the American Airlines website, CBP knows all about your plans. How did the CBP know who my fiance was? Easy, I purchased the plane tickets in the Phills with my US credit card with me and my fiances name. I purchased the ticket for her to get to Cebu, under her name. I should have asked him if she took a p!$$ on the plane too, he probably knew the answer. CBP uses algos (AI). So while your fiance may not have technically broken the law, she violated the spirit of the law. The visa is not for her to live in the USA with an American boyfriend, playing house for months at a time. An education visa is for formal education and not sex education. Also, even if you are lucky to get a K1 visa, the CBP is the sole arbitrator whether she gets in or not. If they are having a bad day, you are $h!t out of luck. So if a CBP was upset with you or your fiance, take heed. Say "I'm sorry, may I have another. It will not happen again.". They hold your happiness in their hands. I agree with the others here. She needs to stay away for a very long time to "clear the deck". Most of us wait over a year for our fiance's to get here. You need to stand in line like the rest of us. Good luck. Please do not play with fire.

I am an Immigrant

Please fill out your timeline. You'd have eliminated a number of questions ahead of time, had you done so. https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=481781 Immigration is a privilege, not a right. Your partner is not entitled to live in the US any more than you are entitled to live in her country. Tossing comments around like skipping the queue and having an overall bad attitude isn't going to help your family on this journey. As many have stated, it is 100% possible for you to return to the US, establish domicile and work while your wife and child are in her home country. Many, many of us have done it. You are not special in any way when it comes to this situation. Immigration takes time, money and patience, end of story.

Your marriage date is before the end date of your prior marriage. That's not going to work. Surely, you were required to sign something saying you were unmarried, in order to get a marriage license in Georgia or any other place. You have committed two crimes, bigamy, and fraud. You cannot immigrate to the USA based on this marriage.

I'm not interested in arguing with you, which seems to be your goal since you've replied to me twice because I didn't take the bait the first time. You can believe whatever your ego wants to believe. I will not be responding to you again.

Significant time together in person, is the solution. How many visits is not the issue. It's how much time together. If you're planning a single visit for a week or two, don't expect success. It seems you've developed a long distance relationship, without considering the practical side. You're an adult. You know the practical aspects are going to cost quite a bit of money and YOU will be the one doing the traveling. My advice is to hold off on commitments to marry, until you've sorted out how you're going to make at least two trips to Kenya, and spend at least a 5 or 6 weeks total together.

I'd think having never met would be a bigger red flag. You'll obviously need to meet in person before applying anyway, but for a high fraud consulate I'd personally recommend a lot more time together first, across several visits. Best of luck.

Our ceac is now issued!!!!

So the B-2 is just to possibly come to US and overstay. Got it. Additionally, you are looking for someone for her to marry for immigration benefit. This thread is about to get closed as soon as the new sheriff see it. Wait for it.

My Visa is in hand and flight is booked in 2 days. I want to thank everyone in this thread and also all the other resources provided on Visjourney.com. It helped guide me through the process and set my expectations appropriately LOW. It's been an awful long process for me, and I know from reading this thread that many of you are suffering even longer waits than I have. I wish you all the best! Honestly, what an inhumane process and wait time for people who are getting married, trying to start a family, or trying to raise kids. Here's the timeline in case whoever's in charge of the spreadsheet wants to include it: Oct 2 2022: Paid for I-130 Aug 30 2023: NVC case creation date Nov 27 2023: Consulate Received Mar 7 2024: Interview letter received Apr 5 2024: Interview & additional processing DS-5535 requested, DS-5535 was filled in and sent on the same day July 25 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) July 30 2024: Passport requested from me, sent via Canada post on the same day, received by Montreal on July 31 2024 Aug 9 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) Aug 12 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) Aug 13 2024: Status changed to ISSUED from REFUSED Aug 16 2024: Tracking number issued Aug 19 2024: Passport picked up with Visa in hand I'll bring a copy of my marriage certificate to show the border agent. Because of the extensive wait time, I will be married for over 2 years by the time I cross the Port of entry. Hopefully they won't mess it up and give me a short term green card instead of the 10 year one due to my CR-1!

High Fraud Country Engaged in 6 months Filed for Immigration 2 months after engagement Different Religious Faiths Older woman/younger man Fertility