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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.

You need a lawyer for this, this is out of DIY realm.

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.

Wow! Literally right after posting I checked my email and was asked for passport and all documents! 🥳 Not getting too excited yet as still have some waiting and stuff to do but great feeling to finally get an update almost 16 months later!

Thank you all of you, and also thanks to those that DM'd me. Really, thank you all so much, as you possibly kept me from pirouetting off the Brooklyn Bridge which is how I felt on Friday evening when I opened the mailbox... I'm truly, totally and utterly exhausted and sick of this, I'm sick of USCIS, I'm sick of having certain parts of life effectively on hold and in perpetual limbo... However.... So........ No. Way. It is the principal of it. So buckle up buttercups, this is gonna get messy....

I replied but I guess I was ignored. You are not the first to blend families and far from the last. WHat you are wanting is just prolonging the inevitable. They will not adjust until all are in the same house and no longer feel like a vacation. That can be months to years. From a mother of 6

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.

So we have a good update to share! We had our medical / RCMP / passport request from MTL. The request actually came through our Senator, who we asked to reach out on our behalf last week. We're elated since I think we are finally in the end game now. This reinforces a suspicion I had, which is the consulate sits on your clearance from the state department for a while until it is convenient for them to process your case. I wanted to make sure we didn't ask for senatorial help until our case was 'ripe' enough to get action by Montreal. The factors & recent timeline of events that led us to reach out were: - I emailed on April 30th and did not get a response, even though they updated our case in late May. - Many people around my vintage on the tracker were getting processed between late May and now. - I had another update on July 9th, but no additional follow up for a couple of weeks. - I had a hunch that either the May or July update was them receiving the clearance, but they had other priorities. - After waiting from July 9th for an organic update and document request, and it not coming, we felt we could now ask congress to inquire to help expedite things. - We used the Senator's webform for assistance on July 25th. - They confirmed they reached out to the consulate on July 29th. - We had an update on CEAC on July 30th. - Today (July 31st) we received an email from the senator with the documentation request, also explaining how the CO reviewed our file on July 30th. Given the very fast response after the senatorial outreach, I think it is safe to say they helped expedite things. I do, however, believe if we had asked for help months ago (before state department clearance), they would have received push back, making more difficult for them to reach out and expedite things when it is actually possible. All of this is anecdotal, but I'm sharing the details hoping that maybe it could help people decide when it is appropriate to seek outside assistance. Oh, and one more thing. since I was asked for RCMP check again, it is safe to say that they are probably only valid for 1 year.

By whom? That’s a red flag in your context Yet another red flag Another one That’s a hard one. Please tell me you’re a troll. If you’re not, you’re in big trouble.

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.

4th is a holiday so the 5th

This would have been so helpful to include in your initial post... The consulate in the Netherlands generally does not accept DCF requests, so contact Frankfurt. Make sure to very clearly explain the situation: you have to relocate for your job (include documentation), your spouse cannot go back to her home country (explain why: no ties, does not speak the language, unsafe), and it sounds like she will not have legal status in the Netherlands after you leave (on what kind of visa is she currently there?). I think this is a classic example of why DCF exists in the first place, and if presented well I think there is a good chance of getting approval. Feel free to share here what you intend to include in your request, so we can help you to increase your chance of success. Good luck!

Get on a plane to the U.S. Risky. You can be denied and they take your GC as well. I would not attend. Legally you cannot be forced to file I-407. I would not do that. ESTA is not for LPRs. Legally LPRs cannot be denied entry. Your situation comes up several times a year on VJ. In all cases when there is a report, the report is the LPR is admitted into the U.S. as a returning resident. Some times there is warning.

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!

Alright folks, final update as promised! Officially crossed over today, July 17th on an IR1 (airport crossing). No secondary required, was amazed that I only had to stay at the counter for all of maybe 5 mins until I got a "congratulations, welcome to the US" response from the border agent. - Jan 30, 2024 interview with 221g DS 5535 refusal. - Filed WOM June 5, 2024, defendants served June 21, 2024 - Passport requested back July 2 - flew to Montreal to hand deliver passport on the 5th. I had a back and forth email exchange with them the 3rd letting them know I was coming in person on the 5th. - Showed up first thing at 730am and came back to retrieve passport at noon same day. Do I think my WOM played a factor? Yes, and I don't regret spending the money one bit. I wish the best of luck to everyone!

The previous people I've seen on here who have married prisoners and then filed the Spouse visa application have done so because their partner was going to be in prison for a long time - years -and they wanted to be there in the US to be able to visit on a regular basis. In your case, as he's getting out in a year, I'd give you the same advice I'd give anyone who has begun a relationship with someone online and from another country - give yourselves a lot of time to get to know each other in different circumstances. First face to face - and then in your case face to face outside of the prison environment - meet his family, meet his friends, see if your goals and futures are compatible, see if your living habits and needs are compatible. THEN... make the big life-changing decisions about marriage. Work out what his prison record means for his travel options, will he ever be able to go to Switzerland with you? If you have children with him in the USA then you will have to commit to living there until they are adults if he can't leave the country. This is what I'd advise to anyone in a relationship where there has been little in person experience of each other.

She's not here on a visa anymore. She has her GC and will be able to remove conditions on her own. What I want to know is when did this warrant come to light? What crime is it said she committed? If this is a crime that happened before she received her visa, she can lose everything if it was approved on a lie. Please say you found this out by official sources and not from so and so that so and so knows kind of thing? It would not be the first time someone back home tries to destroy someone's life.

There have been a many threads over the years. These are my thoughts and what I've read on here over the years. First your fiance was supposed to be sure before he uprooted and moved you to the US. He even made a statement of just that. It is always possible that when together full time that reality sets in and that is fine and dandy but you don't get to toy with someone life like that. You get honest with them and end the relationship and let them go home. You've been here a month and he already has changed his mind. Sure he says he doesn't want to break up but not ready to marry. It's not a try before yo buy visa he knew this full well. He's already telling you that he doesn't think he can make-up his mind in 50 days. Well too bad buddy he had nearly 2 years to make-up his mind and now all of a sudden he doesn't know. I call baloney he knew full well long before you came and was too chicken to tell you. You asked about getting married in 6 months. Does he expect you to stay in the US without any type of status and hoping he will marry you one day? While you are waiting for him you put yourself at risk for losing ESTA, getting a ban and even deportation. These are all real possibilities that can happen to you, not him but you. He has no worries at all, he doesn't even have to support you and can even toss you out to the road with no repercussions. The risk for you is too great, pack up and go home long before your 90 days are up. If you have to convince him it is not worth it. If you decide not to give up on this relationship, go home and really really work on your relationship with him. He is the one who needs to step up not you. Let him prove to you he is ready, but make sure he isn't doing it because you are pushing him. As for others stories like this, you can find many on here. The USC changes his mind, something is not ready, too much work, and many other excuses. Sometimes they do get married like day 95 then no big deal life moves forward, but the majority of those couples, the USC doesn't start off saying they don't want to get married. Something out of their control or an emergency. Now this is truly the worst of the worse that I have seen on here. USC convinces the foreign fiance to stay, while draining the fiance's savings dry, boots fiance to the road after, fiance now has a ban for overstaying. the abuse starts (no i'm not saying this is going to happen to you) without marriage the fiance also has no case for VAWA so they stay until they can't take it anymore or stays illegal always worried. If they leave they have incurred a ban. plays house making babies but never marry, kicks the other parent out, ugly custody battle begins, most are not lucky enough to leave with their child(ren) and then can't get back to the US to visit. Thanks to overstaying the 90 days. At the whims of the USC to talk,video chat with their child(ren). I'm also going to guess you have your own doubts about him moving forward to marry or you would not have been on here asking others their thoughts. Please follow your gut, it never lies. I also want to add you cannot come back later on with ESTA or a visitor visa to get married once you leave with the intent to adjust it doesn't work like that. He will have to start all over again with the spousal visa,

Yes, and handcuffing the members here trying to help, by concealing your current country of residence and her country of citizenship, both of which are HIGLY RELEVENT.

OK Here’s what actually happened at JFK We used the mpc when approaching the immigration line which saved us hours of queuing and put us literally right to the from of the line. The officer took my photo and fingerprints as usual then asked when was I last In US? Said March 2020 left at start of Covid (wasnt gonna lie) I was politely taken to secondary but US Wife was forced to enter the country and wait other side of glass which upset her to be forced to go in alone. Officer asked why been out for so long, said Covid for a year then Wife dealing with medical issues and then we sold a house to help coming here for good (all true and had docs to support) He asked if I’m staying now. Said yes, we just purchased house here yesterday and have documents supporting all this stuff in hand. Didn’t want to see then but just told me if gonna be out for over year get reentry permit, if less than a year will be no problem from now on, stamped my passport and let me through border! Thanks so, so much to everyone on here and the forum owners for the fantastic help and support. I don’t think I would have even thought about just coming and trying it without you all…. We are just on the plane waiting to get off at Las Vegas, Wife excited to see her family after 3 years 6 months away.

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.

Hey so great news got my passport back on Thursday and crossed over and got it confirmed over the weekend!

You had 4 yrs to discuss all things needed to blend your two families. If she arrives at the border with a different address then you and they ask about why you all will be living seperate. You can bet your last dollar that she will be on the next flight out. If they catch any whiff of something off they will turn your fiance right back. The visa as mentioned is to get married and adjust asap. They give you 90 days because sometimes it can be difficult to get a JP or someplace to get married. It is not a try before you buy visa. Kids will do better adjusting when they aren't living in a temporary place and then put into the next place and wondering what is next. I moved here with 4 kids ages 8-16 I can tell you for sure if we lived in a temp home first then moved to my then fiance's home it would still be just as much of a learning curve for all involved. It takes months, possibly years to adjust. 90 days will not cut it. Have you talked about expectations? Discipline? Bedtimes? From experience you discipline your kids and only your kids, do not step on the other parent's toes. The other parent handles their own kids. THis does not mean each other kids can be disrespectful at all. YOu two really need to come up with parenting plans. This can be easy or hard depending how you both handle things and the kids involved. If any have any type of learning, special needs, behaviour, disabilities and the other parent is not used to it that alone can cause issues. The way one handles a child who is not like the others can vary and many times if the other person has zero experience with things like that they will not understand. Check this forum too we have many posts like this about kids.

Immediately file for divorce. Have him legally evicted from your residence. You do not have to get him an apartment that is extortion. Do not worry about him filing VAWA. They know false claims when they see them.

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.

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.

Hi everyone! Quick update! ! We received our passport with visa stamp today Documents Sent: July 8 CEAC says Issued: July 17 Thanks and hoping other VJ members in this long journey hear the good news soon!

Hi folks. Wanted to share the good news that we got the long awaited email to send the consulate my passport and complete a medical and police certificate. I also have to update my DS-260 form. I had sent an email to them requesting an update on April 30th. Never received a response to that email, only an Update on May 23rd, followed up with updates on May 28th, June 6th, June 11th and June 12th. And then the email on June 14th. Lucky for us it progressed pretty quickly. it’s a tough road and I honestly feel so sorry for everyone on here being in this dreadful situation. It’s been over 15 months since my interview and probably the toughest 15 months in my life being apart from my wife. The only thing I can say is that your time will come guys. It’s a waiting game no matter whether you file a WOM or choose not to it’s still months upon months waiting for answers but just know that it’s coming to you. It’s just a matter of time!! If any one has any questions feel free to dm me!! Stay strong everyone!!

Within 2 months of marriage you filed for divorce…thus knew the adjustment was sham. Days or a month later you start new relationship ( skip to 3 months after filing divorce)..and while still married and first spouse ‘s adjustment is still pending, you leave the States and marry in Syria. Bigamy. Your current marriage is bigamous , and deemed a criminal act in most US States . ..so a bit more than simply “not valid “for US immigration. That first green card was not yours to give away, you were complicit in the sham and an immigration benefit was obtained by fraud. Does it matter that this time …it’s the real thing? Not really, if they find /allege fraud. … K-1 is a waste of time. ..and you will have a very long road ahead even w I-130.

Well boys and girls. My I-485 was finally approved today.

Hi Everyone, My long wait is finally over. My CEAC case finally changed to Issued today! Now I await my passport. It has been a very long road since the interview (Nov 22, 2022! Yes, 2022!). And I also had to wait a year for the interview itself! Given that we sent all requested documents and passport in for which were received on March 22, this stretch felt the longest. We asked our Senator for assistance. She did follow up with Montreal yesterday I believe. Whether this is just coincidence my case would have been approved today regardless, I do not know. I will give her the credit though. I checked first this morning and the date change so I know something was possibly going on, but still refused. Then checked early this afternoon and it read Issued. Thank you to this group for your continued support. You were a life line during this. None of you should be here! It will be my mission going forward to advocate for change! I wish you all nothing but the very best and hope your Issued day will finally come, sooner than later! Stay strong and fight! If I can do this so can you.

Your travel history is connected to your passports. It will not matter if you get a new passport, they are all linked. Get a new passport if you are allowed as many countries will not renew a passport that has more than 6 months validity to it. Please stop discussing ways to hide your travel history. Any further discussion on this needs to stop. It is clear intent to commit fraud which is a TOS Violation. -Condone or instruct, either directly or indirectly, others on how to commit fraudulent or illegal immigration activities in any way, shape, manner or method. Any further posts on this topic will result in Admin action Ontarkie Lead Moderator

- What do you mean by buying time? - Once again, what was the reason for denial? Alleged fraud? Something else? - Why is the travel important right now, why not focus on immigration status you're losing? Tell us more and we can help. Tell us less and we can't help, because vague descriptions don't allow us to establish a fact pattern.

Having colitis does not prevent someone from traveling, let alone not meeting someone for over 10 years. There are medications that treat colitis very successfully. It's a fact. My son has colitis and there has never been a time in his 26 years of life that colitis ever prevented him from traveling, and we travel VERY often (at least 3 or 4 times a year), including internationally. We just traveled to Europe this summer for an entire month and we just came back from Bermuda less than a week ago, he had zero issues that taking his meds couldn't handle. Not only does he travel all of the time, he's an athlete who's played soccer since childhood, including high school and college, he skis, hikes, rock climbs, runs marathons, races cars, scuba dives and has his pilot's license, I could go on and on and on. All while living with colitis. Is he on a special diet to control his colitis? Absolutely. Does having colitis sometimes interfere with things? Sure, but never enough to put his life on hold for any extended amount of time, let alone for an entire decade. You are looking for excuses and grasping at straws. Even IF it was a disease that prevents travel (it doesn't), why on Earth would you ever expect to get approved after having not seen your fiancé for an entire decade? No lawyer is ever going to get around that fact. Any lawyer from Catholic Charities is free of charge and most likely knows little, if anything about immigration. Any immigration attorney would have told you straight up that you had no chance.

If you left the US before the I-131 was approved, your Adjustment of Status I-485 has already been abandoned. That is one of the major drawbacks of Adjustment of Status. In addition, you can't legally enter the US as a visitor with the intent to submit another I-485. Even if you managed to get inside the US, your current I-485 would be denied during an interview. You can withdraw the current I-485 and start the spousal visa process which will take around 18-24 months. That I-130 would have to be moved to NVC via an I-824. That, in itself, could cause a delay. Did you ask for emergency travel I-131?

That’s unfortunate. Cut your losses and move on….there’s nothing that can be done now. For others reading, this is a lesson in why it is SO important to spend as much time as possible together before marrying. Two visits in 5 years of marriage is not enough time to know someone!

They probably thought you are hot.

Get them what they want if you want the K-1 visa. Original documents are always required for interview and she should've had that with her at the interview - they return the originals back after they make a copy. That's for your divorce decrees.