Iyawo_Omo_Yoruba

Oh I forgot to tell you Guys.

I had two guests (friends of friends) who showed up at our wedding reception. One was on vacation from Los Angeles and the other on vacation from Agoura Hills. What are the odds?

Is it improper to ask them for 3rd party affidavits?

I don't think it's improper at all! Just explain yourself, what you would like them to say in the affidavit and leave it up to them to decide. You're not asking them to purger themselves, just to give an account of you and your wife at the wedding reception.......the worst they could say is no. This is no easy Consulate, and if they know your story, they may be more inclined to help.

alright, i will, but the thing with them checking the website scared me i wont lie. can i seriously get in any trouble?

You haven't filed for anything yet....but, if they check it, they could use this information against you to deny and/or ban entry. Please be careful what you share anywhere on the internet! You simply could have asked what the best route to go was, regarding your situation instead of blasting your intentions for all to see.

I understand you want an easier, quicker way through this process, but it simply doesn't work that way. As for others being denied despite all the proof in the world, you are only getting their side of the story. There can be things in their past that can cause them to be denied, without immigration disclosing the information.

Seriously, just do it the way America says to. Why fight a government and lose?

I will share, Tracy.

Awesome, thanks!! Don't wanna miss out on those fajitas

Kazuuuuuuulie thank u. U rock thank u.

I have Fajitas for u.

Thank u Iyawo_Omo_Yoruba for the insight so helpful. I appreciate ur input.

Hey! Where are MY fajitas??? Lol

You're welcome sis

Ahhhhh a Wiki!!!

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Returning_Petitions_to_USCIS_via_221g

In addition to the information in the Wiki, some petitions are just reaffirmed, no NOIR, no NOID, no additional proof needed, as in my own personal case and a few others.

Thanks for finding this Kazulie!

Speedwell, you are right. This is why I use the words "I believe", because I can only go off what I went through as advise, and what was told to me by these agencies while going through it. Plus, things change within the agencies without my knowledge, so its hard to know what this email means or that email means having never received them myself.

And every case is and should be treated individually, with a common baseline to go off of, yet being of the understanding that because it went this way for one or more, it may be different for you.

Okay I have heard a lot and thought I would get the low down on procedures after a denial.

1. How do you know when your petition leaves embassy

2. How do you get a diplomatic pouch number?

3. Can I the individual track my case myself? Or do this pouch #'s only go to my congreSman or senator?

4. How long does a case usually stay at embassy before sent back?

5. Where does it go? Like NVC, DOS than USCIS? Or straight to USCIS?

6. I have heard of an expedite is this true to get through processing to get reaffirmed or NOIR under 6 months?

As to when it leaves and how long it stays.....ALL petitions sent back due to revocation recommendations travel from one country to another once they are picked up from your particular Embassy. I do not know the country pattern they follow, so its hard to say how long this part will take. DOS CAN tell you the date it left, but most likely it isn't on a direct flight to NVC from that date. As anxious as you are to have it arrive state side, it still goes through a lengthy process. Returned petitions are last on the totem pole, so to speak. New petitions take priority over returned ones.

Diplomatic pouch numbers......these are classified, you the individual cannot get access to it, but I do believe a governemt official can have access and track it for you.

Travel.....I believe it goes to NVC first, then DOS, then USCIS. And it could sit at any one of those agencies for a bit.

Expediting from this point on.....IF you qualify, you may apply, but get your Senator or Congressman involved!

Texy, this is what I personally know regarding my own case. I met my husband in 2008, travelled over in 2010 stayed 4 days and got married that same trip. We filed his petition late 2010. I had every intention of going back over in 2011 but had a medical mishap that cost me my travel money, so I never made it. He was granted his interview late 2011 and was denied for the exact same reason as you. I planned a trip and went over early 2012. Our petition was reaffirmed, no additional proof needed. He was interviewed again in October 2012. Piece of cake, approved. Go check out our review, 5 questions were asked, no proof asked for even though he carried in 6 pounds. We had red flags but really Lagos just wanted to be sure we were real and making us wait it out is how they did it.

When its Gods time, it comes easy. Now was not Gods time for you. I know a few others who have the same story as mine, reaffirmed no issues, and visa was already approved when they walked through the door. Still, this does NOT mean you dont prepare and have extra evidences. You still have to be ready, ok? All this doom and gloom here on VJ had me worried. But it was unecessary worry in my case! To me it simply sounds like Lagos wants you to wait a year and see if you return for a second interview, but thats just my opinion, having gone through this myself and others I have talked with.

You have all the information given by members to work on. I suggest you calm down and prepare for a wait, encourage your wife that you will stand by her while you are in this holding pattern while your petition is returned and goes through the proper procedures. At this point, a second immediate interview might not do you any good if she can't be there for it. If you ARE granted another immediate interview and she isn't there, what additional proof will you have? How will you handle it differently? And if denied again, then what happens? I do not know the answer to that question, you might want to think about these things before demanding another interview. Best bet is like I said, go through the proper procedures and wait it out while gathering evidence to take to the second interview. And be sure she comes for a visit or 2 over this time frame.

Welcome to the Lagos Consulate, it's in a category all its own! Best of luck to you!

Congratulations and happy married life!

Hang in there Gowon, I know the process is trying but the best is yet to come!

You can call your local Congressional offices and see if they can get a more detailed reason as to why. It is in your best interest to get rolling with the calls for help before the petition is returned back to the United States. If they can ask for and get a second interview, this is what you should do, in my opinion. Some countries go through an automatic denial to make you wait it out, get married or reapply. But you will still need to address the issue they have with the relationship or paperwork. Good luck!

Thanks suga! Kisses!

You're welcome

Are there a contact number to call for people who want to save traveling time? We have our on December 20th but we are together in Lagos so it is not a big deal if my husband doesn't get his visa before Christmas.

I don't think my husband's visa would be ready until after New Years because of the holiday and people may vacations etc. How do you guys call to see if the visa is ready (those in America)?

Here is the local info for beneficiary....

Call Center no.: 09-460-1748

Email: support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com

Website: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng

Business Hours:

Working hours are from 0800 to 1230 hrs; 1330 to 1600 hrs.

Monday To Friday except declared Nigerian and U.S. Holidays.

Definitely NOT buying tickets yet. Just doing some thinking and kinda hoping to get them all here before Christmas.

I like to plan i guess...then have a back-up plan and a back up to that....

A family Christmas would be lovely! Praying you will have your wishes granted this holiday season!

Ours took about 2 weeks time, but our situation was different, we had to complete the medical and police report after the interview and drop everything where the visa gets printed. I have been seeing with other approvals at interview, with all documents in place at that time, its been a week for issuance.

But if you are looking to buy tickets, you need to wait until you have visa's in hand, and not count on timelines for printing, because anything can happen, delays with printing do occur, and most international flights are nonrefundable, and unable to make changes to.

I don't mean to add to your stress but you really should follow your gut on this one. Many of my friends have used Qatar and have rated it highly. Its a 5 star airline but the layover can be very long.

It wasn't an issue with Qatar, I was having. My tickets have been purchased and confirmed...I do not have any stress now, but thank you.

I have used them and had no issues. They saved me quite a bit of money and found flights on short notice when no one else could.

Thank you for your input. I do believe I got a very good deal myself booking only 2 days out.

Okay, everything has been confirmed. And if you go through these people, YOU must call the airlines directly to confirm and give necessary info, because they tell you it isnt needed, but when you call to confirm direct with the airlines, they are in shock the ticket could even be purchased without a passport number and expiration date. Stress be gone now...POE in 69 hours, home in approximately 76..

Haha, do you think I should have some ready?? I have a batch frozen, defrost and heat, easy peasy.....but no chicken and no rice, ooops, gonna have to make that before I leave to pick him up

Oh Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria!!!

"Because of the high fraud coming out of Nigeria, we only accept bank wire transfers". That is what the agent just told me through ASAP. So wire transfer it will be, even though I am highly uncomfortable with it.......

Just a heads up for any that in the process of purchasing airline tickets.. I work in the reservations department of an airline and 90% of the time it will be cheaper to buy a ticket with a return than it is to buy one that's one way.. You just never use the return flight and you can claim a refund for some of the taxes of the unused part of the ticket.

This is close dated, and I am unable to do this option at this point. But good information for others, thank you geena!

I have not used them personally, but I hear Debbie has. Are you not using Qatar? They are running about $850 one way flights to the US. You can get him pretty close then fly him the remainder of the way to you from probably less than 100 bucks. Divine is flying into (IAD) Washington DC, Dulles. Then I will arrange flight from Washington to Birmingham, Alabama. That is $118 through Delta. Not too bad.

But you know I'm watching out to see if ASAP tickets may be cheaper cause I would like to fly round trip to greet my hubby and fly back with him.

They are booking through Qatar, I am unable unless they had a home office here, cant pay online...total is 1224.00 to get to him here. I don't think I can get it cheaper doing it myself. Its just the manner in which the agent is discussing payment options with me that I dont like. Plus have read some very bad reviews, tickets not issued etc. I cant afford to be out this money.

Okay I am asking for any and all people who have used ASAP tickets. I am concerned about the methods used in my conversation with the agent. I dont wanna get taken....are they legit or not? And what are your opinions about their company? Please only respond if you have used them!!!!

If the child was US born it is a citizen and is ok for aid. If the child is born out of the US it needs a visa and an affidavit to come to the US

Yes, but what I think she meant was would the divorced USC be responsible for the immigrants child, with another USC, if said child were to receive assistance. I don't think this can even apply, because the original I 864 was for the immigrant only, not any children they conceive outside of the marriage or after the divorce.

And I am saying if he received personal assistance because of this child, the USC would then be responsible. That is simply my own thoughts, any assistance he receives whether it is on his own or because he had a child and it qualified him for any benefits, it would then be her responsibility to pay his portion of it back. Not the total benefit amount, as they would divide it up into however many people qualified and thats what she would owe.

Again, this is only my thoughts, I have no proof of this, but knowing the system from previous experience when I was much younger and had to pay back due to unknown circumstances.