Shiya&Maxwell

If you sign up for an account on USCIS you'll get a notification upon approval.
It takes at least 2 weeks then start calling the NVC. There is nothing between NOA2 and doing the NVC process.

Op...remember one thing. No one hear can really tell you yes meeting once is good enough to satisfy the adjudicator that will handle your particular case. Just like no one can really say that meeting more than once will satisfy. I have seen couples here meet once and not be approved, just like I have seen couples meet more than once and not be approved. Although you have a lot of comments on VJ that are excellent! I have seen some that were way wrong...The only thing that I can had that may be of consolation is..."eat the watermelon and spit the seeds." Read and study the guide--->http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide. Stick to the hard facts. Many people add a whole lot of extras which lands them with RFE's and AP and they don't know why. Build you a solid case and pray most of all this is the key. If its God's will..he will open every door that man has shut. I know this for a fact, I have seen it in my own life. Yes Ghana may be a high fraud country, but I believe most African countries are, and maybe even Asian countries as well. This is solely my opinion, if your relationship is solid and you have all your proof {documentation}, submit it and see! I hesitate to say that because of the awful system but that is the only solid answer. If you can afford to make another trip do so. I to have only seen my husband once, but I had an extended trip. So research, gather evidence, and pray! God will lead you. And to those that may comment on me including God I will say this now...yes God is a very important part of my life and I do nothing without consulting him first. Even when I give my opinions. Finally, Op the choice is yours. May God Be With Ye!

Dear friend,
I have never paid 2400 for a ticket to Ghana and I have been there twice. You must watch your traveling time so you can get the cheaper ticket. I went to Ghana this past February and I only spent 1000.00 roundtrip for my ticket. Also I found a great house to stay in for 25 US dollars a day. Also I agree with traveling more than once because it does play a role when establishing your relationship. The more information you have regarding your relationship and statements from family and friends from both sides helped us out a lot. Be Bless
Shiya

Dear friend,
I have never paid 2400 for a ticket to Ghana and I have been there twice. You must watch your traveling time so you can get the cheaper ticket. I went to Ghana this past February and I only spent 1000.00 roundtrip for my ticket. Also I found a great house to stay in for 25 US dollars a day. Also I agree with traveling more than once because it does play a role when establishing your relationship. The more information you have regarding your relationship and statements from family and friends from both sides helped us out a lot. Be Bless
Shiya

the current processing time for I-130 is 8months and then once approved, another 5months at the NVC before interview

If you are at the beginning of filing your I130 then I wouldn't worry about it for awhile. But I would try to be self sufficient by the time you have to file your affidavit of support when it gets transferred to NVC. Good luck to you!

There are no real numbers, but it is well-known by both the USCIS as well as the US State Department that a large number of K-1 applicants are marrying Americans for the sole purpose of immigrating to the US. This is especially true for applicants from third world countries, Ghana included. I'm not saying this case is fraud, but the sad reality is that the state department (consulate/embassy) rejects all applications in which they are not fully satisfied that the relationship is bona fide - This inevitably affects a large number of legitimate couples as well.In order to determine the legitimacy of the marriage, the interviewing officer at the embassy (who will be handling your fiance's K-1 application) will make a subjective decision as to the legitimacy of your relationship, and how likely it is to be real, or a sham in order for the foreigner to gain immigration benefits. The burden of proof is always on the intending immigrant.
The consular officers usually tend to look for red flags, especially in third world countries (where immigrants are statistically more likely to commit fraud for purposes of immigrating). "Unusual" relationships are usually scrutinized:
1. Relationships with huge language barriers.
2. Relationships with large age gaps, especially in which the female is significantly older than the male.
3. Relationships in which the couple has not spent significant amounts of time together.
4. Relationships with big, often "socially unacceptable" cultural differences.
5. Relationships in which the foreign fiance(e)/spouse is from a "high-fraud" country.
If any of the above are true, it does not mean the application will automatically be rejected, but the more red flags, the more difficult it becomes to show that a real, ongoing relationship exists. If more than one of the above is true, it becomes increasingly difficult to get a visa.
Again, I'm not saying this to be mean, or accusing you or your fiance of anything, I'm saying it to prepare you, because the better prepared you are, the better the outcome will be.

Thanks for the advice regarding living together before making a commitment. I have actually known him almost all my life because our families are so close and we actually thought we were related growing up. We were like fric and frac and so close (best friends) almost all pictures of me include him and vice versa from my childhood. Anyway, I stay with him or he stays with me and my family when I visit home but I still do not think that is enough to find out everything I would like at this point. Maybe I am just gun shy since I have been married twice already and divorced both times because they turned out to be different people as soon as we got married. For this reason, I had applied for a tourist visa for him to come stay with me for a while before I applied for a K1 or CR1. He still my best friemd amd will forever be in my life no matter what but I am determined to make this marriage work and hence my questions and asking for advice from people. We are also scheduled for pre-marital counseling at our family church when I visit next month. I just want to be the best wife I can possibly be and not give up like I am prone to do.

8-10 Months is an avg CR1 visa, ignoring any AP or unexpected hold.
The real questions you should be thinking about are:
Do I want to get married very soon?
No.
Then file for a K1 fiance and get married in the US in 8-10 mos
Yes.
Then get married and file for a CR1 and be in US 8-10 mos post marriage
Do I have the money to Adjust status and wait on employment?
No.
Then get married and file for CR1.
CR1 comes with immediate ability to work with 2year green card.
No immediate additional payments post entering the US (except the new green card fee).
Yes.
Then you can go the K1 visa route.
You must adjust status post entering the US which is more money and more time.
During this time, you cannot work for a few months and must also wait on the ability to travel until Advanced Parole is approved.

Hello VJS:
To response to many things that are being questioned, I can only speak of experience with my husband. For one, all Ghanaian men are different, my husband is very affectionate more so than I am. lol. I love it!!! Praying together has been the center of our relationship before we got married. If your man is traditional in his ways then he request the submissiveness and etc. But if he is not, he will value you more than words can explain and he will love you and care for you like a husband should. I am USC married to a Ghanaian man and we have our first year Anniversary next month. In this marriage, I have never been so grounded. When I lived with him in Ghana, we balanced off of each other. My husband loves to cook and he is particular about the way our house looks. He is also hard worker. Doing the time I was with him, he did it all and I was treated like a Queen. Now, I didn't expect it nor did I ask him to do all these things. When he comes home he will be treated the same as I was treated and that had nothing to do with being submissive. As the old saying goes, treat him as you wanted to be treated. That is what I do. Be Blessed
Shiya