Caykay1

My husband's CR1 visa was denied after having waited one year after initially filing the I130. It was denied in September 2015. It was sent back to USCIS, where it now is, awaiting review. It reached USCIS on 4 March 2016, so hopefully, soon we will get word on why he was denied.

My question to the folks here on Visa Journey is about length of time married. There is a large age difference between my husband and myself. I am older. We married in May of 2014, so have now been married over 2 years, though I applied for him on the CR1 prior to our 2 year anniversary.

I lived in his country of Ghana for almost a year with him. Though we've been physically separated now, I'm in the USA, we communicate everyday. It's too expensive for me now to travel there, and work does not allow me to do so.

When he received the 221G, nothing at all was checked on the checklist. Though I don't know exactly why he was denied, I gathered a lot of additional evidence, submitted to my attorney and he in turn submitted it to USCIS with a Request for Action. I have heard nothing yet from USCIS why he was denied, but the lawyer said sometimes submitting this request helps.

After all that, my question is: Does length of time being married favor us? I mean, we are sticking together through all this. Does the USCIS recognize this as part of a commitment? Has anyone had a similar situation?

Thank you for any light you can shed on this for me.

Staying in Ghana for one whole year is enough commitment and proof. A huge age difference can be a factor and reason for denial. Other than that' I think you guys had enough evidence. The length of marriage shouldn't be a problem. I see people get married and file and get visa after everything. Good luck

Do not wear any ring. Engagement in Ghana is considered as marriage by American consulars. I hope you didn't do any ceremony or what others said above me. They hate that.

4). Some insurance will take that and mostly it gets you a better deal. I have mine from Ghana and my foreign drivers license and it save me almost $90 each month.

2) yes bring it over. It will save you some bucks with some insurance company. They want to know years you've been driving.

Prayers to you ma adamfo, Jehovah will open the door for you very soon, and you guys will be together as a happy family. Will kept you in my prayers. Thank you

thank you very much. We all need prayers in one way or the other. Good luck with your transitioning.

I was crying when I was reading your post, as I have been feeling the same way, I have been hear since March, no job, nothing. Have made lots of applications, attended lots of interviews. Still nothing. I think is because we are just at home and not working. Back in UK I have a good job working with TFL (transport for London) now am at home, no work, nothing.

I feel like going back to UK. But also I think about my other half, how he will feel if he also move to UK and doesn't have a job and he feels bad because he is the head of the family and should be providing for us.

Take it easy, u have ur driving licence, I don't. That is one accomplishment. Take it easy, am doing the same with my boy

Hugs. It will get better soon. Hang in tight. I'm still fighting to bring my husband here. You are here already and that's your accomplishment compared to me.

Transitioning has never been easy. Hang in there. Just know one of you will have to make a commitment for this marriage to work. Try looking for Indonesia group or club around where you live or online. Maybe look for a group for the career or business you had. I understand you need to meet people and be able to move around. That will make easy. Don't give up hope. It will all fall in place. It's a little early to give up. Hang in tight.

I understand there can be some financial difficulties. I saw your case is in Ghana. Try your best to speed it up because even after the final NVC process which can take about a month to complete, you don't get interview until 4,5 months. You don't want to delay more on your part. Good luck.

Damn this was a mistake that could have been prevented. Now another whole year or more to sit and kick your behind. It's too bad most Ghanaians feel intimidated by the COs. It's ok to ask for clarification if you don't understand what they ask you in interviews.

Can I ask where were the other countries you have visited? Can't believe you made such a big era. Did you live in any other countries 1 year or more.

I know. This mistake have been easily prevented.

You're good. Just states the dates correctly when you get to that part of the application.

From what I understand, you state places you've worked in the past to show you've been living in the country same goes for listing previous addresses. I don't know but I'm sure if you lied about your status on a job application, it can really hurt your citizenship application. Most time they ask you any findings and you explain. If you don't have anything else, I wouldn't worry.

You are lucky that it was the old I-9. If you're not sure what you checked, you should say so. If they dig it up (unlikely) and the citizen/national checkbox is checked, you can say you meant to claim to be a US national NOT a US citizen.

Waiting 10 years does not make a difference. False claim to US citizenship is a permanent, unwaiverable ban, but luckily you can get out of it due to the old I-9 form.

Exactly what I'm thinking. If he has clean background and has been a good law abiding resident, I think he can get through with the process.

Im so frustrated. Delta.com will only let me search tickets originating from the USA. I need to bring my husband here from Lagos Nigeria. Delta has a flight from St. Louis to Lagos Aug 23 for $1,164. But I can't look up Lagos to St. Louis, so I called them. The lady said the cheapest fare is $2700 !! and that was using the flexible days(round trip because its cheaper that way). I asked her why such the big price difference and she said because it isn't originating here in the states. And she said that was the average fare and I wouldn't find anything cheaper even looking at different dates. I think people on here have found tickets a lot cheaper. Please tell me how you did it.

Let you husband find travel and tour office in Lagos. The best guarantee way. Buying from here for someone coming into the country is not Possible. There are local travel and tour agents. Won't be the best price tho. Just saw people saying some websites. I tried same situation 3 years ago after getting stranded in Ghana. Couldn't use websites here to get a ticket to come into the country. That's why I said that earlier

Emmsheen sorry to read your story .. but it seems me and you are on the same path.. I went for my interview since October 7th 2014... I was ask by the consular to do DNA, my wife quickly arrange for the DNA from a recognize hospitals by the US embassy.

After all the effort my wife put up by arranging for the DNA the embassy end up sending our case back to USCIS for a review. We got intent to revoke in March 2016 and we rebut the findings by the consular.

USCIS got the evidence on 6th April 2016 till date we are still waiting.... So just prepare for anything in this process.. you and your partner should try to be strong and calm till you hear from them... We are heading to 3 years since we started the process so be prepared...I pray yours wouldn't take that long.... If you wish to know more you can drop me yours whatsapp contact for more details .... Once again sorry sorry ......

the embassy was wrong. They never gave you guys a chance. They just wasted your time . Time you could have spent with your wife and kid. Good luck and hopefully you get good news soon.

It's more advisable to get married and go for CR1. There's a 98% of approved when you marry and do CR1 after denied K1

I married my US citizen husband less than two weeks ago with the understanding that we need to file my papers quickly because my i-94 is almost up. Without any arguments or such he told me a lot of lies and then disappeared. He won't answer my calls or text. Before he left he signed the 130, 465 and 864 forms. He didn't give me any passport pictures nor a copy of his birth certificate. Now my time is just about up and I don't know what to do. Please help.

From what you're saying, it looks like you're more concerned about getting your papers than the marriage. Maybe he thought about it later and realized he doesn't want to do this anymore. Especially with your papers being the primary concern. You can't send in anything because you're going to need him for other initial steps. Good luck.

Hello. I am a K-1 Visa Beneficiary. My fiancee filed a petition for a K-1 visa in California back in January. Everything has been approved up to this stage and the visa interview is scheduled on the 20th of July 2016 in Accra, Ghana. I have two criminal offences and I am a bit worried. They are as follows:

-21 SEPTEMBER 2010 (AGE 19 YEARS OLD): UNAUTHORISED DEALING WITH SHOP GOODS (MAXIMUM $150). WITHOUT CONVICTION. RELEASED ON ENTERING RECOGNISANCE TO BE OF GOOD BEHAVIOUR FOR 12 MONTHS. PAY RESTITUTION: $3.50

-10 MARCH 2009 (AGE 17 YEARS OLD): UNAUTHORISED DEALING WITH SHOP GOODS (MAXIMUM $150). CONVICTED. FINED $300

These offences occurred in Australia and I was young and silly. They didn't affect me working there as a Systems Analyst. After the offences, I completed my Bachelor of IT and Masters Degree in IT and I am a Red Cross blood donor (don't know if that will show I have changed but I added it to list of Charitable Organizations I have contributed to on DS-160 application). Should I be worried about this in the interview and how much will it affect my chances of getting a visa approval? I have the police certificate and court records ready and I have listed these offences on the DS-160 online application. If anyone could provide some insight that would be great!

the Ghana embassy is tough. I'm a Ghanaian too and people with clean background are getting refused. To each is his/her own so go try your luck.

If he has visa and passport in hand, I wouldn't worry about that.

Those with their case completed in March are having interviews this month.

You can find out from the Processing Times>>> IR-1/CR-1>>>> set country to Ghana>>> Look at those with interview dates in July and check from their timelines to find out when their cases were completed.

Ok. Thank you

So I can go to the US for some week... try to tempt fate and no risk of getting arrested by police?

Auditioning is not working. When you get the role that's when you do the necessary step. Let them know you're on a tourist visa upfront. Good luck

1.they enter and get the green card mailed to them

2. It's 6 months( I will advise doing at most 5months 3 weeks to prevent any issue at CBP when returning) unless there was some issue like illness or lost of GreenCard when your parents were abroad, then they can extend but that's a long route to go.

3. USCIS can answer you better than me. (Not sure)

I might be able to help....If your husband gets his Michigan DL, I know someone that will give him a tool route.....kinda like snap-on....also I have a few friends that may help you...I will talk to them

That's very nice of you.

I understand you pain and frustration too because just spending a week and having to miss a flight is awful. It happened to me before. Was flying 3000+ to spend just 8 days and had to miss a flight due to something similar like yours. It's just bad these people don't care about money and all.

It's not about you OP but I'm even laughing about not having pictures with mother in law. So everytime I'm in Ghana, I go to my mother in law's house to eat and just sit, lay around in the couch and talk for good time. So now these consulars want me to go and whiles having a good time, say mom lets take pictures and start putting cameras in her face. Smh. Listen were talking about traditional Ghanaian mothers. These are mothers still with flip phones and Nokia phones. Can't even have a good time without technology interrupting. It's all good because we will do what they want. Next time my mom in law should be ready for bunch of selfies. Smh.

Hello all!

So my finace had his rescheduled interview this morning and he was denied. I am absolutely heartbroken. My fiance told me that the CO didn't even look through our evidence, not suprised by this. But she told him that she was not convienced and claim that it was because their was no picture of his mom and I. In retrospect, I wish we has been more forceful with this part. I had skyped with her a few times and I didn't have the sense to screenshot them. So please learn from my mistake. Mind you this is what he has told me since I was not there. He also stated that he got confused with one question that was asked differenly. I will have a more detailed conversation with him later after both having a bit of time to reflect so that there are no unnecessary arguments.

I immediately sent an email to my congressman and left voice messages. Hopefully they can get back to me quickly.

But I hope you all take my experience as a way to make it through your process with even less mistakes. Even though we had great evidence, with this Embassy it doesn't take much to undermine it and all the hard work and time put into it.

Have a good day all.

I'm surprised one reason for the denial was not having picture with his/her mom. I know a friend who was denied because she had pictures with her fiancé family

Members. They told her they're already engaged(which equals marriage/wedding) in Ghana so they should go back and file for spousal visa. I believe the consulars in Ghana are just punishing most of us for some evil some did in the past.

Yes you must pay the fees when they become available on the website. And when the status changes from in process to PAID then you can proceed with the next step. Alien registration number is your green card number if you're not a citizen. The Ellis whatever, I googled it and it didn't apply to me so I can't remember. Google and USCIS number is there for such reasons. Also VJ is here for further questions. Good luck.