On March 23rd, 2022, my girlfriend, Emily, and 2 children (from a previous marriage) landed at SEATAC airport, and they were denied entry into the USA. They spent about a day (overnight at a local hotel) and were sent back to Kenya. The reason given by the immigration officer is that there was intent to stay and live in the USA rather than to visit - suspicions of malicious intent or suspected of overstaying their visa. The officer confiscated her phone and read messages that Emily and I had shared about our plans to get married in the USA and to start a family. We had even setup an appointment with a lawyer during the first week of her arrival. All this was used as the basis to deny her entry into the USA. During the hours they were locked at the airport, I tried all I could to get them into the USA without success. I reached out to my local representative here in Olympia, WA but she said she could not help unless they were in the USA in one way or the other - she even hinted if they could get arrested into the USA, she might be able to help but as long as they were "outside" the USA, her hands were tied.
I have attached copied of the documents that were given to Emily (including form I-275) and what was marked into her passport. The kids' passports were also marked the same - with the revocation note & the other markings you see.
Anyway, that is the background of what I'm actually wanting to ask.
I have been thinking of the quickest way to get Emily and the kids here. FYI, the kids are 15 years & 12 years. We are not yet married.
I have been thinking of doing the follow:
1. Find a country where they don't have visa requirements for Kenyans to enter - I found Barbados.
2. Go there (in this case Barbados) and get married officially.
3. Make an application at the local USA Embassy in that country for a Fiancée Visa to the USA. FYI, I am a Permanent Resident of the USA (I have Green Card category IR6 expiring in Feb 2024). I plan to apply for citizenship next year in May/June.
4. Get Visa in that country for all of them - Emily & the 2 kids.
Please let me know if this plan can work. Or if there is a better way, something I can do to get my family here. I'm looking for the fastest way and most cost-effective way to get them from Kenya into the USA.
FYI, Emily is divorced in Kenya - she has all the divorce documents. I'm also divorced here in USA. Let me know if you have any questions.
I just want to bring my new family to USA and for us to start living together.
Thank you all for your time and advice.
Mwamba
On March 23rd docs.pdf