Aniomaman

Yeah it was a wait but we spent that time topping up our qualifications and we honestly didn't know it would take this long but we are hopefully at the end by God's grace. Just don't let the stress of it all put a strain on your relationship which is more important. They are now paying attention to returned petitions, so you should hear from them in less than a year. You are in my prayers and you'll definitely get past this stronger! All the best.

i watch the dateline show and it says the same thing about nigeria is overflowing with scam artists.

i have nothing against nigeria but it was on the national tv show

Just like I see online everyday about filipina scammers and ladies who go online begging money off men! In all that, when pinay women come on here for help, that is not the stupid response they get to their problems! As much as you watch it on dateline, not all Nigerians are into scams...noob! As for the OP, try contacting another senator but you also need to go through the questions with your husband and see where he went wrong. I can tell you for a fact that those CO's at the embassy return the cases for no just cause, just a hunch can make the power-drunk CO's return them without regards for the pain they are inflicting on the families. Our was returned and reaffirmed without USCIS asking for more info, we now really want to know the stupid reason why it was returned and will be filling a FOI on the case soon. All the best.

You are God's property, your testimony is on the way. My people have a saying that when an elder takes something which belongs to a child and holds it up, the hand will get tired after some time and the child will get it back. It is well.

I sympathise with the OP and I can say that some responses on here are SO WRONG, they sometimes send cases back for no reason and I have been through it. Our case was sent back only to be reaffirmed without the USCIS asking for further evidence, which in itself baffles me because we really wanted to know why the case was sent back in the first place. Don't go hounding your man thinking he's cheating on you, the CO's in most third world countries are power drunk and they sometimes make up false allegations or 'hunches' just to send cases back. Just contact your congressman/woman to pursue the case and find out where it is and start gathering documents incase you are issued with a NOID/NOIR. I wish you all the best.

Just like everyone has said, make sure the case doesn't leave Nigeria, if it does then you are in for a long wait. Contact your Senators and just to make a point clear, the embassy WILL NOT give you reasons why it was sent back but if you need to find that out then you would need to file FOI on the case(which I hear takes about a year). You need to be positive and get your congressman/woman involved asap, it's really heartbreaking since you guys are married but be sure to find out the line of questioning which your husband got from the CO. All the best.

This might not be the case with you though but it's good to cover all grounds and not make final arrangements. I think you do get more scrutiny from London when both parties have African or Asian origins(you can quote me on that). Just don't let it stress you, the only problem then was that we had our engagement planned in Africa and all our families had bought tickets which was why them holding my passport despite having sent the case back really ticked me off. Keep the faith, you'll be alright.

Well this same thing happened to us in 2007, but unlike yours where they took a few weeks to call you; My fiancee was called the same day and they actually woke her up from sleep. Anyways, long and short of it is that our case was returned and has only been reaffirmed this june without the USCIS requesting further evidence, which means the reason for sending it back was in no way valid. We are both from the same African country but we didn't meet online, known each other over 11 years. I would probably think at this stage that they are questioning your relationship and what you'll be fighting is for the case not to be returned. All the best.

P:S

They told me I was approved though and kept my passport for about 2 months, only got it back when my fiancee came down and visited the embassy who then gave her a number for me to call.

Congratulations!

I have a question. I know another woman who is planning on having her Nigerian SO get a visitors visa and then "marry as soon as the plane lands" and try to adjust status. There is a 20 year difference between their ages. What do you think the chances of success are . I told her I thought it was a very bad idea.

Not only a bad idea, but he quite probably won't be given a visitors' visa.

That is what I was thinking also , but I know he has travel experience in Europe so he has the connections to get a visa. And Nigeria is a very connection oriented country. It is really disappointing that this back door exists. It gives a sense of unfairness to the process for those that are doing it by the book to see others just skate through the back door.

Do you have proof of this? Having 'travel experience' outside Nigeria does not get you a US. Visitor visa in Lagos or Abuja . Visitor visas are hard to get in Nigeria and I wouldn't count on him even getting a visitor visa unless he has a really good job and a very healthy bank account plus some landed properties. The CO's know about the culture in Nigeria and their age will difference will definitely pop up at the interview(if they go down the k1 or k3 route), am Nigerian and I know most Nigerian families will not like the idea of a man marrying a woman that much older than him. But to put your mind at rest, there is no back-door or connection business when it comes to the US embassy in Lagos.

Whao! The battle is the Lord's. Congratulations!

Once my fiancee has her K1 in hand would she be able to travel to the US on a 90-day tourist visa without using the K1? For instance if she needs to travel to the state we are marrying in to for some last minute wedding arrangement. If it is possible would it be safe to assume that they would give her a difficult time since they would probably see in their database that the K1 has been issued?

Not possible to use a VWP or B-1 visa once a K-1 has been issued.

Hello, everybody. My friend just called me and she said that her fiance wants tro send her back home. he doesn't want to get married her. but she wants to stay. is there any fine if fiance doesn't get married within 90 days? if she reports to immigration center can they talk to him and make him change his mind i mean some psychological session ?

thanks a lot

If there is anyone that can make him change his mind, it would be his family members and NOT immigration. They are not marriage counsellors or anything of those sorts. If the guy no longer wants her, why would she want to stay though? It's a sad situation but if he doesn't marry her within 90 days, then she needs to go back so as not to be out of status. There is no fine for the USC.

Congratulations!

I posted my Packet 3 to the address provided on the checklist and got this message ...'Your item with reference SCXXXXXXXXXGB was delivered before 07:23 on 21/07/09. As the item was redirected, it will have taken longer than usual. Please ensure the correct address is used for future mailings'.

Can anyone who has sent special or recorded delivery tell me if they got this same message please?

Thank you for your help in advance.

Mine said the same thing, but it got there just fine.

Thanks a lot for that, makes me feel at ease.

I had a laugh reading that...So TRUE

I am actually terrified to the fact that I may be facing a removal proceeding. I was on legal status when my Father filed for my petition and even filed for an extension. Not intending to go out of status, I seeked legal counsel and hoping that I will get an approval within that time frame. But the immigration took 4 years to process my I-130. And I waited another 4-5 years to be able to file for an adjustment of status, hopeful through all these years of wait, only to find out due to the gap in their system guidelines I would be denied. There is certainly a gap in their system, and that is not my fault. Because if their guidelines meet in all areas, I wouldn't be put in this position as well as many others whose in the similar situation, and we would've been on legal status already. I suffered through these years trying to pursue legal status and due to all the significant time of delay I grew up unable to establish myself because I've already gone out of status just waiting. Deprived with so many opportunities. I put my life on hold for 9 years, I wasn't able to get a real job and wasn't able to pursue my education because I didn't have the documents. Within that 9 years I would've been a doctor or something else already. But even through these years of neglected status I have not seeked nor spent money from the government. I survived through the support of my family and relatives, that now I may be taken apart from. It feels like my heart has been eaten out. I've been crying every day I don't know what is going to happen to me if I get sent back, I have no family nor a place to stay over there anymore.

I made an appointment with another attorney hopefully he has something good to say about my case.

Stop trying to blame others for not telling you about the status of your case and find a qualified, experienced immigration attorney who can give the proper guidance.

Very insensitive reply and the OP was not blaming you, she was pointing to problems in the system but of cos as is typical of people who have gotten their visas on VJ, they loose their manners and start acting obnoxious! To the OP, what you need is a very good immigration lawyer. I don't see anyone on VJ being able to provide the kind of advice that will help you through this.

I wish some people would bother not replying to a post if all they are going to do is pass judgement, people come on here for advice/help not for your smart and silly answers which in no way profers any solution to their problems.

I would advice the OP to put her case number(it should be on the NVC letter) on the subject line when sending an email to the Lagos embassy, that way it probably won't be deleted and might catch their attention.

Congratulations

Congratulations

Please can the organisers move this to the African sub-forum where she will get more help.

To the OP: Your Fiance should have gone to pick his packet 3 up from the Lagos Embassy but since he hasn't done that, my advice would be for you to email them to know the next step since they changed that rule 1st July. The mail service in Lagos is not reliable except it's a private mail box( I grew up in Lagos). Now they send packet 3 out to beneficiaries address and there are some areas in Lagos where I don't think mails get delivered to but your Fiance might not live in one of those.

And you don't get married within the 4 months approval notice period but 90 days from when your Fiance enters the US once he is issued a K-1 visa. Don't worry about the time, just start gathering all the documents he will need for the interview and he needs to get police reports and his long style birth certificate from the local government. You need to get pro-active to avoid any issues.

Those who have gone through Lagos will be in a better position to advice you though.

All the best.

Congratulations

Congratulations

CONGRATULATIONS

I posted my Packet 3 to the address provided on the checklist and got this message ...'Your item with reference SCXXXXXXXXXGB was delivered before 07:23 on 21/07/09. As the item was redirected, it will have taken longer than usual. Please ensure the correct address is used for future mailings'.

Can anyone who has sent special or recorded delivery tell me if they got this same message please?

Thank you for your help in advance.

Among some Nigerians, what you did is consided marriage according to the old tribal traditions, i.e, family consent with witnesses. It does not need to be recorded anywhere nor does there need to be an officiant. Had you been there for the interview, maybe the result would have been different. Nigerians are among those who will look for any legal reason to enter the U.S.

What does your boyfriend's family say about this?? Lagos is difficult in any event, and unless you get that decision changed, and because it will take months to appeal it, best thing is to go for a spousal visa.

I am Nigerian and from a tribe which upholds tradition and despite paying the bride price, my wife cannot move in with me until I wed her in the church. I don't know which Nigerians you are talking about but your marriage has to be recorded for it be considered legal. Don't come on here giving false information please and if you don't understand a culture or tradition, don't claim to 'cos it's offensive. You can't appy to USCIS for a K-3 with family consent, you do so with your marriage license and even if it's Nigeria where I am sure they get cases from, they will ask that of you. Her being there at the interview would have made no difference IMHO, since the CO made a statement in the lines that Nigerians see the K-1 as a faster option.

The OP cannot apply for a spousal visa because she is NOT MARRIED. USCIS will instantly deny her K-3 application and throw it in the trash. What she needs to do is make sure this case isn't returned because what the CO has done is very wrong and unethical. They know pretty well they are not married but those CO's in Lagos like to mis-use authority given to them.