Imua

I believe it...especially with all the reports of how many Egyptian men hook up with not only American women, but also European women and use them for money and emigration to other places. I have nothing against Egyptians - many are lovely people; but I do know that with conditions being so severe in Egypt, that there are many men who are super desperate "to get the hell out of Dodge" so to speak, and they will do whatever they have to do to escape the poverty - even if it means scamming a poor woman to do so.

Remember, visa by marriage is the easiest "legal" way to get out of one country and into this one.

Just the other day a yound fella I know told me he will, for sure, be marrying his green-card-holding fiancee after all, to which I replied the customary "Mabrook!". The very next thing to come out of his mouth was, "So do you think it will be hard for me to take the papers?"

Sometimes the scammers can be so obvious.... One time I was on the phone with my (Nepali) ex who was supposedly so in love with me and was just thinking about filing the I-129F and I asked him if he knew anything about the visa process - he said, 'oh yeah, I talked with a friend and he said I had to stay with you for two years......'

Needless to say I did not stay with him for long after that and his mom made it clear her son was not marrying me, green card or no green card, but it's amazing how stupid he thought I was to make his intentions so transparent.

If you have been married for some time and have spent a lot of time together, doing things normal married couples do, don't worry so much. It will be okay. All these people want to know is if it's a genuine marriage and you really love each other. That's all. I'm sure it won't be a big issue.

We have not had the time to do all those things because I could only spend 6-7 weeks max in Nepal at a time - in 2 years of marriage we have been physically together for a little over 3 months

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interview April 28th at 7:15 AM

JBHypno

That is wonderful news JB - finally an end to this madness.

I am stressing about our interview because I flubbed our meeting date when we went to the embassy 2 years ago and am afraid they will have it on file and when G gives the correct date they will think he is lying and deny him the visa without telling him why....

I have thought about faxing the embassy with the corrected info but people are saying not to worry so much... i dunno, maybe it's because I have heard of crazy things happening with high-fraud consulates in poor countries I don't think I can be too paranoid or careful. I have read anecdotal instances where through pre-interview investigation they have found 'dirt' on a beneficiary, s/he has given a flawless interview, all the forms are in order, ton of evidence and still the file is sent back to USCIS because their answers did not mesh with other facts they discovered, and both beneficiary and petitioner are left in the dark. I am just thinking I want to avoid that sort of situation if possible.

As the interview grows closer I am very much afraid - it is hard for me to even chat with my husband now because I don't want him to know how scared I am. I am older than he by 16 years and we were engaged 3 weeks after our first documentable meeting - for these reasons no matter how positive I try to think it is hard not to feel that we will be denied outright and our petition will be sent back to USCIS. I cannot afford legal help.

My biggest fear stems from when we went to the embassy in Kathmandu to get the affidavit of no contest which the Nepal gov't requires in order to legally certify our marriage. When we went there I was nervous and had no idea what to expect. I didn't know that a CO would be asking questions and I got very flustered... She asked when did we meet and I gave the correct date but wrong year('06 instead of '07) and didn't realize it until we walked out the door, affidavit in hand. At the time of course we had not applied for a visa for Govi to come to the US, had not even decided that we would be living here together - we were even thinking of living in Thailand. Nevertheless I would think that the embassy would keep a record of the interview, assuming that we would be applying for a visa at a later date, then when Govi is asked the question again and gives the correct year which does not jibe with my answer two years ago he will accused of fraud and be denied without even being given the reason for denial. I have been having nightmares about this scenario...

Since I cannot be present for the interview I was going to fax the embassy tomorrow and give them my mobile and home numbers in case they have any questions - this has worked for another successful Nepal VJer. I am wondering if I should also bring up my mistake when we were there 2 years ago and explain our correct year of meeting is 2007, not 2006 - really this is the only thing I think I can do at this point.

If anyone else has ideas on how we should handle this situation I would appreciate your advice - thanks....

Pattu, please dont worry too much. I doubt if it will even come up. Its normal to be nervous at that tiime , we all have un- clear moments of thoughts. I cant see them puling the interview from then. If it comes up, question needs to be answered and addressed , and explained. I can not see them holding it against yous for a visa. Plus you have so much proof of a on going marriage, focus on that part, giving them proof of a on going marriage. For contacting embassy, I dont know, its a situation could be of helping or hurting yourself. The point is you met , you fell in love, you married and have a true marriage and you do. I can not see them holding it against you. You will be in my prays.

So do you think that they would actually question if the dates don't match, bring up my answer back in '07 and then G would have the opportunity to correct it? I am afraid it would be more a situation where they would have it on record but not tell Govi, just deny him and then we would never know the reason why.

As the interview grows closer I am very much afraid - it is hard for me to even chat with my husband now because I don't want him to know how scared I am. I am older than he by 16 years and we were engaged 3 weeks after our first documentable meeting - for these reasons no matter how positive I try to think it is hard not to feel that we will be denied outright and our petition will be sent back to USCIS. I cannot afford legal help.

My biggest fear stems from when we went to the embassy in Kathmandu to get the affidavit of no contest which the Nepal gov't requires in order to legally certify our marriage. When we went there I was nervous and had no idea what to expect. I didn't know that a CO would be asking questions and I got very flustered... She asked when did we meet and I gave the correct date but wrong year('06 instead of '07) and didn't realize it until we walked out the door, affidavit in hand. At the time of course we had not applied for a visa for Govi to come to the US, had not even decided that we would be living here together - we were even thinking of living in Thailand. Nevertheless I would think that the embassy would keep a record of the interview, assuming that we would be applying for a visa at a later date, then when Govi is asked the question again and gives the correct year which does not jibe with my answer two years ago he will accused of fraud and be denied without even being given the reason for denial. I have been having nightmares about this scenario...

Since I cannot be present for the interview I was going to fax the embassy tomorrow and give them my mobile and home numbers in case they have any questions - this has worked for another successful Nepal VJer. I am wondering if I should also bring up my mistake when we were there 2 years ago and explain our correct year of meeting is 2007, not 2006 - really this is the only thing I think I can do at this point.

If anyone else has ideas on how we should handle this situation I would appreciate your advice - thanks....

I was kidding... I may be technically old enough to be Govi's mom (especially if I were a member of the Palin family) but I don't think I look that old - at least we never got any strange looks or comments when we were out together...

Anyway, Haole makes a good point about the tourist visas - I would imagine it is nearly impossible for a Nepali to get a tourist visa to the US, so I never even considered they might be included in the bulk of denied visas. I will bring it up to Govi and hopefully ease his mind(and mine).

I think one thing you have to realize when dealing with this process is that the US gov't, in granting an immigrant visa or even the K1/K3, is not merely giving someone residency but also a path to US citizenship. So while it may be, from our point of view, a question of asking to be allowed to live in the US with our spouse, it is much more than that from the point of view of the gov't. When I applied for Algerian residency I got lucky and did not have too much of a problem (many do as laws there are applied capriciously and it is really just hit or miss). It was just the usual runaround, mounds of paperwork, etc. But, this residency gave me no future right to citizenship. When I really think about it, I am still surprised that someone can come to the US on a K1, get married, do AOS and then divorce and STILL get US citizenship. I wonder in how many other countries it is the case where a divorced non-citizen resident can naturalize on their own. The fact that you can do this in the US makes the scrutiny much more intense. Every country takes the right of citizenship seriously--as they should.

Truly excellent point!

I agree - I know in Nepal until the law was changed recently(a few years ago) children could not be granted the right of citizenship based on the status of their unwed/widowed/divorced mothers, so I imagine it would not be easy for a divorced ex-wife of a Nepali man to get/keep Nepali citizenship. Like in Algeria residency is very easy to get if you are married to a Nepali citizen. I wanted to pursue Nepali citizenship among other reasons so I would be allowed inside Pashupatinath temple(even though my FIL is on the temple council because I am considered non-Hindu by race I cannot do puja with my husband, however if/when I become a Nepali citizen it will be OK...) ...also I would no longer be charged the humiliating 'gora price' to go to museums etc. once I can whip out that citizenship card. Unfortunately unlike the US Nepal(and India) do not recognize dual citizenship so if I had to renounce my citizenship I don't think I would do it.

Lalitpur, Nepal

I understand you all are venting but be a little more reasonable.

Standing in line having papers stamped is a form of beaurocratic bs. It may not be long and drawn out but it's still beaurocratic #######.

Look I had a fairly long AP and yeah it sucked but I didn't expect anything less. When it was all said and done I appreciated that the embassy/immigration took the time to be somewhat thorough.

Yes, this is partially true. I could just enter Egypt pretty much anytime I want but I still would have to go through beaurocratic bs in order to obtain an extended visa. However, if it weren't true I wouldn't assume that I would be owed a visa to Egypt simply because I was married to an Egyptian.

You are not really into comforting your fellow man, are you? Do you also poke bruises?

People are just venting here, not actually looking for someone to offer your brand of "Tough Love"!

And I have 5 year permission to live in Egypt in my passport wasn't a any bearocratic bs, just stood in a line, paid a fee. Sweet and easy.

Well, it's hard o be reasonalbe these days, Mine comes and goes on a daily basis. I can be more resonable when my heart and soul is not in an almost physical unbearable pain of missing my husband. I wish I could be as calm and logical as you seem to have been when you were waiting for your husband.

But I have never been totally sure we'd ever be together because of lack of co-sponsor and other problems I have not shared. So, I have been in crisis mode for almost 3 years and it's so tiring on the nerves and mind. I have cried rivers in the last 3 years.

I just feel I can't take much more and my husband feels the same. We feel trapped with no way out. We are having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I am usually a nice person so I'm sorry if I'm being a b****, really I'm not trying to be at all.

I am feeling the same way - I really feel like I am going crazy. I am definitely not sure that we are going to be together - next Tuesday may be the end of our marriage. Financially I make enough to barely support us, have been at the same job for 9 years so that isn't the problem but we have big red flags and no evidence before marriage. If I were a pretty 25 year old Nepali-American girl it would be no problem, we could be married after only knowing each other for 2 weeks but I am white, 16 years older than him and too old to have kids so hard to pull the 'Nepali tradition' card. I feel like it is almost certain that he won't get the visa and I have been fooling myself these last 2 years. I know that if he got denied I am financially unable to fight it, can't afford a lawyer, and if they decide he is a fraud because the CO thinks I am too old or ugly to be lovable or if he gets nervous and messes up our meeting dates etc. and the petition gets sent back to USCIS then really we are at a dead end. I don't know many people that could write an affidavit on our behalf - I can't even ask my own family because my stepfather is paranoid of having any dealings with the federal government. We will just have to give up - since we are already married it isn't as if we could marry and file a K-3 after a denied K-1. It is one thing to say 'well I could go to his country' but c'mon that really isn't feasible. There are no jobs for Nepalis let alone foreigners. There are thousands of Nepalis willing to risk expoitation even death in order to have a better life in a foreign country and I always knew that no matter how much we both love Nepal and want to go back that him coming here and us working for a few years and saving money was part of 'the deal' - if he doesn't get the visa then I really don't think he will want to stay with me. Hopefully I am underestimating his true intentions but I know I cannot fool myself... I cannot give him a ticket to a better life, I cannot give him children, really honestly besides love and support what can I give him??? In a way it is good we are not together now, I am trying hard not to let my anxiety and doubts show so he won't be more nervous than he already is but inside I am going nuts - it has been a nice dream these last couple of years that after a life of loneliness maybe I might have a shot at love and marriage but now my own government will take even that small chance away.

Nepalganj, Nepal

I originally submitted a photocopy of my 2007 1040EZ with W-2 and got an RFE so I requested transcripts from the IRS for the last 3 years and was approved by NVC.

For all of you on AP - just be thankful your petition wasn't sent back to USCIS - that is what I am dreading and don't know how we will handle it if we get a NOID. I know it must be hell to be in your shoes - I have not seen my hubby in over 8 months - but in most situations there is usually a worse alternative. There will be an end to the AP, you know you don't have to prove your relationship to anyone anymore.

Sorry guys - I am just so afraid like I have never been afraid in my life and not trying to diminish your pain. I need access to good eye care and if he gets denied I cannot move to Nepal so trying to think of 'what if'.

I've seen others who had little wait time split up, too, and real quick.

AP for purposes of testing staying power is ridiculously flawed.

Actually any method of weeding out the bad is flawed. Anyone see that episode of Family Guy where Peter and Lois are being interviewed by the Immigration Officer and the officer asks to prove how real his marriage is by remembering Lois' birth date? That was hilarious and somewhat true in that immigration thinks they can prove something intangible as real love and commitment by simply having ppl remember dates and produce emails and such.

It's crazy... How many men(and women, less often) forget birthdays and even anniversaries, for crying out loud? Even knowing where your spouse works, if you have never been there to visit it would be easy to forget or just memorize it, how does that prove love? It seems like love isn't the issue though - witness the thread where the Pakistani girl was trying to get her visa denied because she was in a forced arranged marriage(and yet they would likely be approved because of 'cultural norms', especially if she is young) - while I am stressing and thinking we are likely to be denied because although we love each other our marriage does not fit 'cultural norms'.

IV Visas are rarely denied if the following is in order:

1) The sponsor is eligible (i.e. having sufficient income and reliable source of income)

2) The paperwork is in order (i.e. no missing PCCs, etc)

3) The CO sees no red flags to doubt the validity of the marriage / relationship.

Mumbai has a very high rate of approval for IV visas. Those with issues are either AP cases or ones with poor paperwork or ineligible sponsor (too little income).

Or the USC sponsor wife looks like the Indian guys grandmother.

We're toast....

Narayanghat, Nepal

Eklebatti, Nepal

Amdo, Tibet

Hana, Maui, HI

Aotearoa(New Zealand)

Thanks - I don't think there is anything to be worried about, just curious. They said all docs are in order and we just need to wait until next Tuesday.....

Oxford, England

Haridwar, India

Mustang, Nepal

Just chatted with G before the electricity went out and he said tomorrow he is going to the embassy for fingerprints - I thought this was done after visa was issued? Just curious if this is standard procedure - his interview is one week from today.

Aiea, HI