Dataunavailable

10 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

This post merits enshrinement in the pantheon of All-Time Greatest VJ Posts.

The bolded parts are completely, 100%, utterly shared and understood.

Blessings to you both.

Thank you, very kind words. 🙏

9 hours ago, Redro said:

@EDDY_PRADO has your fiance ever tried to go to the US before the K1 petition? Were either of you married before?

 You should really talk to her again about what happened but hopefully just spending more time together, marrying, and filing another petition should solve the issue. If it is a bigger issue, marriage and filing another petition isn't the solution and you might have to move to her. 

 

Here are some cases of K1 sent back. You can read about through the experiences and see if anything resonates with you. Do any of the cases seem similar?

The final case I've linked involves a couple who had their K1 denied twice and were finally successful with the spousal visa. So, don't waste time filing another K1. 

 

 

 

Final Case here: 

 

 

 

As one who has had two K1s denied, and Redro linking my posts, I wish so much that we did not waste time filing another K1 and just got married to file a CR1 back in 2019. The time spent apart was just not worth it. 

On 4/9/2024 at 3:39 AM, pushbrk said:

If she will pick up the Passport with visa at the Consulate, then it might not matter, but you have not really provided enough context to be sure.  What is the actual sentence or instruction that precedes the blanks to fill in an address?

Thanks, we did get it figured out. It's for in person pick up but it's at a different building and not the embassy itself. 

36 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Addendum:  There's nothing in life quite like having to triumph over a consulate.  It will be interesting to hear your analysis of your own emotional state (if you wish to provide it) as you begin to recover.

Yeah I'll be happy to. I do have a question regarding the Traveldocs site, we're trying to fill it out how it asks per the instruction sheet she received. We got to the page where it asks for mailing address, is it asking for her address here in Cambodia or my address in the U.S?  This is just for the Visa pickup at the consulate on the date she was given. So I wouldn't think it would be my U.S address, but it's asking for city, state, postal code. 

27 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

I went round and round with immigration too

K1 denied after meeting and spending a month with him and his family/Moroccan woman said she did not like foreigners taking Moroc men out of the country

CR1 denied after spending another 2 trips and 5 months in moroc /another Moroccan CO

IR 1 finally approved /interviewer was a USC 

 

2009 to 2015   now he is a citizen and we are 14 years married

stay faithful  and God bless u both

That's just insane, it's always sad to hear just how ridiculous this whole process can be. Especially when they tell you they don't like a foreigner taking men away. Only in the immigration process can we humans be treated this way with no way to get any sort of over ruling on a decision. That's good to hear the IR1 was approved after the second time. I can imagine you felt the exact same way as I do now, during that time. 

3 hours ago, carmel34 said:

From what you have shared, you have done everything right, so I agree with others that the probability of approval is high.  The previous two K-1 denials may have had something to do with the interviews, maybe her answers were not believable to the officer.  Having a sister and aunt in the USA was likely a red flag.  I suggest that you help your wife to prepare for the upcoming interview so that if she is asked about her family in the USA, she has an answer that is more focused on you and your marriage relationship.  She should know everything about you--past marriages (if any), your children (if any), all of your details including date of birth, place of birth, where you live and have lived in the past, your profession, where you plan on living together, her plans for work, education, starting a family with you, etc.  Practice with her to make sure that she answers with confidence, and that her reason for wanting to live in the USA is to be with you.  Sometimes people get nervous in the interview and the officer interprets this as not being truthful.  Good luck! 

She does know everything and we do practice over video calls. It's not so much the questions vs the previous denial stuff that we worry about for them to just use that as an automatic denial. 

If there was something that came away from the denial it was giving us the opportunity to have the full Khmer style wedding in Cambodia. It was an amazing experience and memories we'll have forever. I remember leading what felt like the entire village down the street to her house where they had her waiting, I had to carry this big metal vase thing that got so heavy after about 15 minutes I could barely move my arms. I guess it was an offering the man brings to the home in exchange for the ladies hand in marriage.  Much more memorable than the small wedding we had planned to do here in the states. 

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

CO claim that she did not intend to marry /what did they base that assumption on?

 

 

That's what neither of us could ever figure out. She told me all the questions they asked in both interviews, I wrote them down and her responses the same day so it was still fresh in her mind. Nothing stood out to me trying to look at the responses from an outside non bias viewpoint. She asked the consular woman why she was denied a second time at the end of the interview, she was told they don't believe it is real. 

I even went to the embassy in person on a visit and was given the run around when trying to speak with someone. I finally was sent an email the day before my flight left stating, the consular officer determined your fiance did not display adequate intent to marry in the U.S, the consul chief agreed with the finding. 

Every question was given a truthful correct response except one, who owns his apartment, she said, I don't know. In all honesty, I would have even had to look at my lease to know offhand which company owns my apartment if I was just randomly asked. Just seems like a dart at a wall to find one answer that was an I don't know so they could issue a 221g. 

3 minutes ago, Family said:

I will let @TBoneTX walk you through …and add only it’s time to fight

 

 

🤼‍♂️

I just need to word it in a way that comes from myself without sounding like an a hole or that I'm telling them how to do their job. 

Stern and to the point so they know we'll never back down. 

They should already be aware of that from the times they pushed us down and we keep getting back up. 

50 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

When you say that you won't be allowed inside, I hope that it means the interview, rather than the building itself.  The following advice applies if you're let inside the building:

For the time being in Cambodia, only the beneficiary is allowed inside the building, allowed one person if a minor child or person with disability. So I do have to wait outside. They used to allow the petitioner inside from the consulate reviews I've read. Unfortunately they changed it now. 

54 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Give your U.S. passport to your wife with a note taped to it:  "Vice-Consul:  I'm close by outside the building.  Because it may be helpful toward granting the visa, I encourage you to call me inside for a thorough USC-to-USC face-to-face interview.  In addition, please let me know the name of the IVU Chief.  Thank you.  [signature]

Good idea, I was debating what to write from @Family suggestion. 

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

Your time together will probably carry the day, but I was asking about things she's done that would be clear evidence to a Consular Officer, not just to you.  I'm optimistic.

I wholly appreciate your optimism and straight to the point no bs way of getting across what you're saying. We'll know the outcome in around a week and a half. 

45 minutes ago, Family said:

You need to channel those nerves into a healthy dose of anger. You have survived 2 denials and have more bonafides than majority of long distance marriages. 

You will be approved…I suggest you growl and show some fangs. ..such as drafting a short (notarized ) strong letter addressed to Consular Officer to be handed in with your passport at interview.

 

Perhaps,  “ It has taken six years …I am here in support of Mrs My Wife. I will not be hosed” 

@TBoneTX  and others may have suggestions for drafting a loud , no cursy word roaring statement.

 

Of course I'm upset, angry with the way the current system is, trying to stay positive while having stress is tough. Avoiding getting in to the political side, I'll just say we all are fully aware of what is happening on the borders currently, we're all not blind to it. And while it's on us to affirm our legitimacy, it still feels like a punch to the gut when you fight for so long and see what is happening. 

While I would love to give my worded feelings to them, would it really help anything?, The stress is already enough on a daily basis and I try to stay as positive as I can just for the mental health side of things and to stay strong for my wife. But I'd be wholly dishonest if I said I'm never angry about the situation, I think I'm most upset about the time that is gone. She never got to meet my father in person before he passed away, there is just things in life that happen that we can not control, it's time that you can not replace. In cases of immigration, it can be years. And many here have dealt with it the same as I have.

It's sad as born citizen when I've already had to tell my job that if she is denied, that I'll be back to tie up loose ends, sell my belongings, put my two weeks in and give up my citizenship just so my wife and I can begin our family together. 

Sorry, I guess you can see with that last paragraph, that I do have some frustration inside about the immigration process. 

26 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

How much time have your spent together in person, before and after the marriage.  How many trips before and after?

Two visits prior to marriage, about a month and a half total in 2018 and 2019. They had the covid lockdown from 2020 until 2022 when Cambodia reopened to tourists. Marriage visit was an entire month in 2022, went when Covid was still affecting everything, and quarantines were still commonplace. But we wanted to get married and decided it was worth the risk, 2023 I should have visited but I was saving my vacation for the interview which we thought would be before year end since we got DQ in Nov 2023. 

Total time around 3 months to date and I'll be there for another month, leaving next week. 

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Are there some things about what SHE has done to show HER relationship is bona fide (on her part) that you haven't mentioned

Besides staying together during this entire process we've dealt with, it's the personal things that show me her love is real and to me those are irreplaceable. She could of left anytime after the first or second denial, the lockdown period when we didn't know what would happen or when the world would essentially reopen. But we stayed together strong the entire time. If that's what you're asking about in a way. 

1 hour ago, Dashinka said:

I agree, I don't think either of these would be an issue now.

I think the proof of ongoing visits particularly after your wedding, and the fact that you are outside the consulate awaiting the outcome of the interview will be positives in your case.

 

Good Luck!

Thanks. Was fine most of the time after submitting, now that we're just a few weeks away from a decision, the stress and self questioning if we have enough, has been eating at me. I personally think it's just worse with the two previous K1 denials, so I'm stuck with that doubt of is anything enough? Crossing fingers the nearly decade long fight to be together is over. 🤞

As some are aware from past posts over the years, my now wife and I have had 2 K1s denied at embassy level and are now a short time away from her IR1 interview. 

One K1 was focusing on her family here with a generic 221g and the second was me being told by email from the embassy she did not show adequate intent to marry in the U.S. 

Questions are basically for brevity and peace of mind, since I'm leaving in a week to go over and be there during the interview period, I know I can't go inside, but she'll have my passport. 

What if any, of the previous K1 denial factors can be used as a basis of judgment on the IR1? IR1 as we have passed two years of marriage when she will enter the U.S. 

They focused on her sister/aunt her in the first denial, since we are doing a spousal immediate relative Visa, this should no longer have any bearing correct? And the second was not believing intent to marry, which we overcame through a marriage in her country. 

I guess I'm just asking since we've been fighting this process since 2018 as my mind always feels like we never have enough to show them our legitimacy. 

401k beneficiary

Life insurance beneficiary 

Joint credit card she uses

Letters from employer about adding to health insurance on her arrival

Less impact but have none the less

Notarized letters from my family stating awareness of our marriage/relationship

Proof of visits and consistent daily video communication

I'm not sure honestly what else can be done to show we are legitimate of the worst happens. But I have come to terms of knowing I will give up U.S citizenship if I have to, to be with her and start our family. 

On 3/25/2024 at 8:53 PM, bck86 said:

Good luck to you @Hex123 and @Dataunavailable on your upcoming interviews. If you could please share how it went after they’re complete, or message me if that’s better, I would appreciate it. I’m still waiting on my interview date. 😭

Thanks, I'll update once it's over. Crossing our fingers for a good outcome this time. There has not been any new Phnom Penh embassy reviews for a long time. 

Are you part of any other socialgroups, facebook groups etc? My wife is in one on facebook, but they all message in Khmer so I can only understand small pieces until she translates for me. But they give good information there too. Since it's Cambodia specific. 

On 3/4/2024 at 7:06 PM, Merappi said:

Hello, 

 Has anyone added their non-us citizen spouse to their health insurance before without a SSN? I am trying to add my Ghanaian husband to mine to support our IR-30 Process

I talked to my employer, they gave me a signed letter from HR that she will be added upon arrival, because ours usually only allows changes due to life change events, like a marriage. But she is not here in the U.S yet, so I sent a letter along with my I130 that states she will be added when she arrives here. 

On 3/1/2024 at 2:24 AM, Hex123 said:

Great news !!! I just got an email from NVC that my interview appointment has been arranged on 1 April 2024. 

Do you have all your paperwork ready to go? I won't be able to go inside with my wife but I'm giving her my passport to bring in to show I'm in the country.  Have a good amount of proof so I hope it's just an easy in and out approval. 

50 minutes ago, bck86 said:

 

Wow, congrats!! No email for me, but happy for you both! And really happy to see any kind of CR1/IR1 action from the Embassy at all. That means I’m moving up in the queue too. Yay!

What was your DQ date? I'm in the U.S and the email came around 1am my time. 

On 3/1/2024 at 2:24 AM, Hab304 said:

Great news !!! I just got an email from NVC that my interview appointment has been arranged on 1 April 2024. 

We also got email for early April interview. 

On 2/22/2024 at 2:59 PM, bck86 said:

Breaking my heart. 💔 Every day I keep hoping today is the day. I didn’t realize this would be potentially as long as the initial I-130 approval.

Let us know when you hear a date. 

On 2/11/2024 at 11:22 AM, bck86 said:

Sorry, I meant what was the response from NVC but it sounds like no response yet.

 

There’s a silver lining for you! My husband and I won’t hit 2 years until Jan 2025. If this ends up taking until we qualify for IR1 then it will have taken way too long, so we’re kinda lose-lose either way in that regard, haha.

Still nothing, according to a few in a Facebook message group, some are waiting over 5 months now since DQ. 

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Upload the 2023 tax return complete copy or Tax Return Transcript and a recent pay stub once you are near the interview date.

Appreciate it ,thanks. 

Is there a timeframe that we have to update the I864? If nothing changed with income and only filed taxes for the 2023 year. DQ Nov 2023, still waiting for interview date. Would it need to be updated or just do it either way?