catknit

That list is pretty much SOP for Delhi when they give AP for more relationship evidence. Many of us over the years have had that exact list of information requested. That's why I'm guessing the letter will state relationship validity as the reason behind refusing the visa.

Many, many people rely on the sworn affidavits as what maybe provided from a local office can look sketchy - in some places handwritten information on onion skin paper is the "official report". Perhaps, there may be a rubber-stamping on the corner. It can look like something someone bought in a back-alley.
In many instances, school records are relied on as the most-official thing you have besides a passport. Things like voter ids or voter records, PAN cards, ration cards, etc are completely a waste for trying to establish date of birth or even residence - typos, inaccurate information, etc is almost never fixed as it involves in many cases more bribes and more time.
To have school records and the passport match, an official record from a local office [if available because you can literally spend years trying to get one as well as any and all money you have], but most importantly, the sworn affidavit from [typically] the mother is usually accepted at the consulate with no issue.
To the OP - your fiance really should have a clue on getting the sworn affidavit. There is specialized paper with a rupee amount graphically applied to the back. If the mother doesn't speak english, there should be a comment made at the end of the statement by the person who translated her statement.

Like sara said - Delhi can be a pain...they are hyper-sensitive about possible fraud.
You need to find out what, if anything, your fiance was given at the end of the interview. Chances are he received a sheet explaining that he was denied based on a 221 or a 212. Both mean roughly the same thing - the CO didn't believe your relationship. Look at this as just a speed bump! [if it is anything other than those two things - please let us know!]
Delhi likes to see more than one meeting, they don't really like internet romances.
Historically, Delhi has allowed the USC to attend the interviews. Unless there has been a change in the last couple of months, I would make every effort to be at the next interview...
So - what happens next: Your case will be returned to the service that approved it. USCIS can do one of a few things - let the case expire or re-adjudicate the case. If the case is re-adjudicated you can get a re-affirmation [meaning USCIS finds you to have a legit relationship and for him to be re-interviewed] or a NOIR/NOID [Notice order with intent to revoke or deny]. You will be able to fight the findings of the NOIR/NOID within 30 days. Here's the thing though - start researching here on vj and you'll see time and again that USCIS usually expires out the K1s. Getting a NOIR/NOID or reaffirmation is kinda rare. You can work with your Senators and Congressperson to try and see what's happening with the case - they may be able to get you a little more info but they can not force another interview or change a decision.
In many cases, especially with Delhi, it appears that continuing the relationship and marrying helps eliminate the doubts that cause these denials. That said, this is not a cure-all fix. If there were major red flags [namely huge age differences or cultural/educational/class differences - however that doesn't seem to be your issue] marrying will not help. You must fix whatever issue led to the denial in order for a future case to be approved.
Now - this is where it may get messy - I haven't a clue how you two can get married. Well, I have a clue - I just bet it will be super messy. He's there as a refugee or asylum seeker? Or, is he there on business? I'd guess [just a guess] you two could marry under the Special Marriage Act but again with neither of you being Indian be prepared to pay "fees" of all types. Costly "fees" as you're a USC. In your shoes, I'd research destination wedding providers in Goa or another touristy area - the fees may be big but they will actually know what to do. Make sure you again have lots of documentation of your trip and wedding. Then file again but for a CR-1 highlighting what was lacking in your first petition/case. Research front-loading here on vj. This practice should help your case...Best of luck!

In order to sponsor her for a K1 visa you must be "engaged" however that does NOT mean you must have had some elaborate proposal or ornate affair. One of you must have asked the other about marriage and there must be an agreement that your marrying...that said COs in India are well aware of typical Indian practices. If she comes from a community/family where an elaborate engagement ceremony is par for the course there will be an expectation that you should follow that practice. But, keep in mind that both of the consulates in India have actually denied K1s based on the thought that an ornate engagement party was actually a covert wedding...India can be a pain in the backside to get through for some couples.
If you are looking for safe, I'd recommend marrying in India and applying for the CR1. The timing differences aren't huge [maybe an extra 6+ weeks depending on how you navigate NVC - this depends on a lot of factors, could be longer] and you'll have the bonus of a green card on arrival [she can work, study, or travel immediately with the stamp in her passport, the physical card should get to her within a few weeks] as well as a cheaper journey [no adjusting status on this side].
A few things you should do - #1 if not familiar with Indian marriage issues, do some research. If you yourself are Indian and the both of you are Hindu, you can darn near walk off the plane and marry. If you are both the same religion but not Hindu, there may be a marriage act that covers your marriage and you'll hopefully be able to marry quickly on that trip. If she is Hindu and you are not, you will fall under the Special Marriage Act that has a 30 day wait in order to post an announcement of the impending marriage. In some places, the resident Indian [in your case, your soon-to-be wife] can get it posted without issue. In others, the registrars are crazy and want both of you there to post the announcement which will mean you need to either stay in India over a month OR make two trips.
#2 - Familiarized yourself with the reviews of the consulate you'll be going through - Delhi seems to not like giving K1s and is harder on inter-racial couples. Mumbai doesn't allow the USC to attend the interview...learn about these things.
#3 - You said you've naturalized - if, by chance, you naturalized via marriage to a USC be prepared for extra scrutiny.
#4 - Pictures are considered secondary evidence but they are good to have. Personally, depending on a lot of factors [like if you became a USC from a prior marriage, etc] I would think it's in your best interest to front load your petition including pictures.

Hey Ms. Sara :luv: !
So, OP, yeah - Delhi can be a tough embassy. Can you give us your back story? Any red flags? [Age issues, mixed faith/race, divorces, kids, short visit, too few visits]???
There are a couple of options:
#1 - Beg the embassy to keep your file onsite and try to get a second interview right away. I honestly don't think I've ever read of that happening.
#2 - Wait to hear back about your denied case - this means you wait for the USCIS service center to get back to you with one of four options. A) They declared your petition expired and your free to go ahead refile, B) They generate a NOIR/NOID and ask you to prove your case, C) They reaffirm you without any additional proof and send the case back to the consulate, D) The case falls into a black hole and you never here from them again about that case. A and D are super common - I'd say 98% of the time out of Delhi. C happened to us in 2009 and there were a handful of couple that it happened to - haven't read about it happening since at Delhi. I've never seen B happen - doesn't mean it hasn't, I just haven't seen it here.
#3 - Decide to marry and go ahead and file the CR-1 [i130]. If you do this you need to send a letter to your service center withdrawing the former petition [unless they have confirmed it is expired and that you are open to file a new case].
If you go with this method, you have got to make sure you covered whatever caused the denial in the first place - lack of face time? Spend more time there. No proof of some of the traditions that are gold standard to India - do them. You need to prove that you have a legit relationship. This is hard for Delhi mainly because it is a high fraud embassy. Crazy stuff happens there all the time. I remember sitting watching dozens of interviews - long story but if you look through my older posts you'll see I spent a lot of time in the embassy - seriously, some of this couples you'd think WTH??? A young guy [couldn't be over 24] with acid washed jeans, long hair, graphic shirt holding hands with a 40+ chunky white chick with a perm and a mullet who couldn't wait to bring him home to Nebraska after falling in love in an online game - now, they may have the best relationship in the world. Seriously - you never know - they could completely "click" personality-wise. But, you could tell the CO wasn't buying it. The woman was on the edge re: child bearing age and that's a HUGE thing in Desi culture - there WILL be grandkids. The guy's English was butchered at best - and they just didn't "look" the part. She was head over heals, that was obvious. The guy? Not so much. Maybe he had a case of the nerves. I don't know...even me, Miss Hopeless Romantic, got bad vibes on that one. And, keep in mind, the COs are trained. Cultural rules, religious rules, family expectations, some speak flawless Indic languages...
Anyway - which ever route you go - GO TO THE NEXT INTERVIEW. I can not stress this enough. Anytime anyone asks me my opinion of attending an interview at Delhi, I always say yes. Both Desi, both Hindu, arranged marriage that was set 4 years ago - sounds like a slam dunk - GO TO THE INTERVIEW. Mixed couple, met at work, reams of proof of the relationship - GO TO THE INTERVIEW. Your marriage was on a reality show on NDTV about over the top weddings - still - GO TO THE INTERVIEW. There are two reasons - you can answer any question that crosses the CO's mind, there and then. Secondly, you are there to hear exactly what the CO wants, questions, get the vibe of what happened etc to help plot your next steps if needed.
We hit this speed bump, made some decisions, went on with life, built a stronger case [that was great for us personally but due to the reaffirmation we didn't need to "prove" on paper], he finally got his visa after 2 interviews, all new reports/pcc/medicals twice, 3 rounds of AP, and 18+ months from our NOA1 [i think]. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, it just may be a long and annoying tunnel.

Visa type: K-1
Consulate: New Delhi
Visa issued (if applicable)? Yes - after 3 rounds of AP and a reaffirmation
Second interview? Yes, after reaffirmation
AP? Twice with the 1st interview, once after 2nd interview
221 g issued? Yes, 3 - Twice after 1st interview, once after 2nd interview
Gender of beneficiary: Male
Religious difference? Yes
Religious background of beneficiary: Muslim
Age Difference? Minimal significant difference (18 months, I'm older)
Method of meeting (online, in person, etc): Online
Engagement Ceremony? None
Traditional (Indian) Wedding Ceremony (N/A if going through K-1)? N/A
Has beneficiary ever been to the US? No
Does beneficiary have relatives in the US? No
Family approval? Yes from both sides
Co-Sponsor required? No
How much time has petitioner spent with beneficiary in person? At the time of the first interview - 15 days, at the time of the second interview 7+ months
Has the beneficiary or petitioner ever been married: Yes, petitioner, once
Did the petitioner attend the interview: 1st interview, no; 2nd interview, yes
The race thing is just one more puzzle piece in a very complicated puzzle. I can't imagine the actual effect it may have on any individual case because each case is so unique. I know it would be great to come up with some magic formula to figure out how to successfully navigate this system but at the end of the day I don't think that is possible. An example, a guy working at an MNC hooking up with an age appropriate/attractiveness appropriate white american woman at a conference and then starting a relationship etc etc is completely logical. A 23 yo guy online in a village spends 4 months sweet talking in butchered english and then invites his 40+ hard smoking, white, obese divorcee, "girlfriend" with three kids on a trip to India and then proposes, well...that's a harder sell. There you may have a 50-50 split on getting a visa with factors other than race that tipped the scales.
For the most part, I would say a mixed raced marriage may get a 5-sec second look. More of a "huh" thing than an actual red flag. If there are other things going on, it may be more than a "huh"....
There are cases were I think it has been much more than a "huh" thing, especially with AA women sponsoring men from India. [Just for the record I'm white]. To me, that would be an interesting statistic to keep track of....Not wanting to speak in depth of someone else's case without their consent - but I know of one case with NO red flags, none, zilch, nada that was denied where the only thing that could be seen as "out of the ordinary" was the female petitioner being black. No prior marriages, no kids, no financial issues, plenty of pics with his family, no disparity in education/class/career objectives, no prior visa requests by him, statements that both families approved, no significant age difference, they worked together in India for 6+ months, typical, textbook workplace relationship/romance, etc, etc, etc - denied.
In retrospect, for the record, I would have denied our case too given the information we presented and how we handle the 1 and only visit we had prior to applying for the visa. I'm a bit of a literalist, we met the conditions and applied, in my head that meant we should have gotten the visa [naive, I know - but like a lot of people here, I had never dealt with immigration before or knew anyone who had]. Now, looking back at what we presented and how we presented it, it was a hot mess and reeked of fraud - having met online, the timing of my divorce, my ex's name, the fact I didn't meet his family on that trip, the fact that all of our pics were at touristy landmarks, the fact that no one from my family met him, etc. Even though we were both well in our 30s, had careers, we felt we were too old to follow the norms therefore we didn't follow typical marriage-based family integration protocols like me meeting his family and that did more harm than good.
All that being said, we're happily married, he's going thru ROC right now [had his biometrics appt today as a matter of fact]...and I completely agree with Sachinky - a whole LOT of the relationships here [on vj] seem to be somewhat sketchy. A lot of quick break ups, irreconcilable differences, other significant others, etc.
Imagine what a CO sees everyday?

I know about halal slaughtering, etc.
A couple of years ago I worked for a large chicken producer that also ran halal. In this case, the halal granting group came in and audited our systems to make sure it all complied with their own standards [vegetarian feed for the chickens, quick/well-maintained slaughter lines].
When we would run halal [which wasn't all the time] the slaughter area played a cd of a blessing for the birds and that was the ONLY difference. We had chicken leg quarters being frozen-shipped to Egypt. Because dark meat is so unpopular in the US, they had to find other markets to unload the meat....
Edited to add more detailed info:
The slaughter process was as "stress free" as possible for the birds because it lends to more-tender meat. Believe me, the guys who run chicken plants don't make it stress free just to be nice. Anyhow, birds are offloaded onto a belt, hung be their feet and take a ride on the chain to the slaughter area in a darkened room with music playing in the background [yes, really]. They were then knocked out with an electrical current so the next step would be pain free - the birds would pass through an area where their necks were slit by a very sharp and quick blade. From there, they continued traveling on the chain for a pretty long way to allow them to completely bleed out. Next would be another electric shock to help release feathers and rigor mortis hormone, then de-feathering, then evisceration, followed by USDA wholesomeness check, final stop before being completely processed into the stuff you see in the grocery is a 2 hour bath in 34F water to cool the birds down. From there they were cut into pieces or left whole....

I know about halal slaughtering, etc.
A couple of years ago I worked for a large chicken producer that also ran halal. In this case, the halal granting group came in and audited our systems to make sure it all complied with their own standards [vegetarian feed for the chickens, quick/well-maintained slaughter lines].
When we would run halal [which wasn't all the time] the slaughter area played a cd of a blessing for the birds and that was the ONLY difference. We had chicken leg quarters being frozen-shipped to Egypt. Because dark meat is so unpopular in the US, they had to find other markets to unload the meat....
Edited to add more detailed info:
The slaughter process was as "stress free" as possible for the birds because it lends to more-tender meat. Believe me, the guys who run chicken plants don't make it stress free just to be nice. Anyhow, birds are offloaded onto a belt, hung be their feet and take a ride on the chain to the slaughter area in a darkened room with music playing in the background [yes, really]. They were then knocked out with an electrical current so the next step would be pain free - the birds would pass through an area where their necks were slit by a very sharp and quick blade. From there, they continued traveling on the chain for a pretty long way to allow them to completely bleed out. Next would be another electric shock to help release feathers and rigor mortis hormone, then de-feathering, then evisceration, followed by USDA wholesomeness check, final stop before being completely processed into the stuff you see in the grocery is a 2 hour bath in 34F water to cool the birds down. From there they were cut into pieces or left whole....

I know about halal slaughtering, etc.
A couple of years ago I worked for a large chicken producer that also ran halal. In this case, the halal granting group came in and audited our systems to make sure it all complied with their own standards [vegetarian feed for the chickens, quick/well-maintained slaughter lines].
When we would run halal [which wasn't all the time] the slaughter area played a cd of a blessing for the birds and that was the ONLY difference. We had chicken leg quarters being frozen-shipped to Egypt. Because dark meat is so unpopular in the US, they had to find other markets to unload the meat....
Edited to add more detailed info:
The slaughter process was as "stress free" as possible for the birds because it lends to more-tender meat. Believe me, the guys who run chicken plants don't make it stress free just to be nice. Anyhow, birds are offloaded onto a belt, hung be their feet and take a ride on the chain to the slaughter area in a darkened room with music playing in the background [yes, really]. They were then knocked out with an electrical current so the next step would be pain free - the birds would pass through an area where their necks were slit by a very sharp and quick blade. From there, they continued traveling on the chain for a pretty long way to allow them to completely bleed out. Next would be another electric shock to help release feathers and rigor mortis hormone, then de-feathering, then evisceration, followed by USDA wholesomeness check, final stop before being completely processed into the stuff you see in the grocery is a 2 hour bath in 34F water to cool the birds down. From there they were cut into pieces or left whole....

Hmmm. Connaught Place is about 5km from Embassy row - this is an entire market area laid out in concentric circles that encompasses many international branded stores and restaurants. I'm sure there is at least a few hotels there with the name "Connaught" somehow in the mix...
There are no hotels truly near the embassy area as that area is embassy after embassy after embassy. The Meridien isn't too far off [in CP] but it will be spendy - 16k rupees/night [~$300] is what their website is currently showing for mid-week in February. You would have no question of cleanliness or comfort there - however you will be paying for it.
I would avoid Paharganj like the plague with an 11 month old. It's fun and adventurous for the backpack traveler but not with a baby - in general, there will be low cost hotels with nice looking websites - but keep in mind stock photos are easy to buy and put on a website!
The only exception, and it's not really an exception because I don't think it is really is in the confines of Paharganj, would be the Ginger Hotel. This chain of hotels is budget friendly, clean, and run by Tata [i think]. My husband stayed in the one by the train station for a night and liked it except for the noise - but in Delhi, other than super high end hotels - there will be noise.
For more family oriented and still budget minded there are hotels in the Karol Bagh. I've stayed in that area on one trip and our hotel was just about full up with Indian families. Nothing too special but clean with a nice staff. Definitely budget but not scary-budget. You'd need to plan for a radio-cab to get you to the embassy but this isn't hard.
For a step up, you may want to look in South Delhi - Greater Kailash areas, they have some smaller but nicer hotels. Again, I'd go with a radio-cab to get to the embassy.

The difference in relationship culture and family drama as seen in India may seem strange to those not familiar with it - do a little research and be amazed by the absolutely crazy stuff that can come from these relationships...also, for kicks, look at MENA for similar issues too. It's all fun to think that there are crazy women who imagine the "true love" back home as some conspiracy theory but there is much, much, much more at play culturally. The sheer amount of infidelity even seen in the subcontinent is astounding. Plus, there is a HUGE reason why Delhi is such a gigantic pain in the backside to get through - this type of thing is tried, ALL THE TIME.

In order to sponsor her for a K1 visa you must be "engaged" however that does NOT mean you must have had some elaborate proposal or ornate affair. One of you must have asked the other about marriage and there must be an agreement that your marrying...that said COs in India are well aware of typical Indian practices. If she comes from a community/family where an elaborate engagement ceremony is par for the course there will be an expectation that you should follow that practice. But, keep in mind that both of the consulates in India have actually denied K1s based on the thought that an ornate engagement party was actually a covert wedding...India can be a pain in the backside to get through for some couples.
If you are looking for safe, I'd recommend marrying in India and applying for the CR1. The timing differences aren't huge [maybe an extra 6+ weeks depending on how you navigate NVC - this depends on a lot of factors, could be longer] and you'll have the bonus of a green card on arrival [she can work, study, or travel immediately with the stamp in her passport, the physical card should get to her within a few weeks] as well as a cheaper journey [no adjusting status on this side].
A few things you should do - #1 if not familiar with Indian marriage issues, do some research. If you yourself are Indian and the both of you are Hindu, you can darn near walk off the plane and marry. If you are both the same religion but not Hindu, there may be a marriage act that covers your marriage and you'll hopefully be able to marry quickly on that trip. If she is Hindu and you are not, you will fall under the Special Marriage Act that has a 30 day wait in order to post an announcement of the impending marriage. In some places, the resident Indian [in your case, your soon-to-be wife] can get it posted without issue. In others, the registrars are crazy and want both of you there to post the announcement which will mean you need to either stay in India over a month OR make two trips.
#2 - Familiarized yourself with the reviews of the consulate you'll be going through - Delhi seems to not like giving K1s and is harder on inter-racial couples. Mumbai doesn't allow the USC to attend the interview...learn about these things.
#3 - You said you've naturalized - if, by chance, you naturalized via marriage to a USC be prepared for extra scrutiny.
#4 - Pictures are considered secondary evidence but they are good to have. Personally, depending on a lot of factors [like if you became a USC from a prior marriage, etc] I would think it's in your best interest to front load your petition including pictures.

The difference in relationship culture and family drama as seen in India may seem strange to those not familiar with it - do a little research and be amazed by the absolutely crazy stuff that can come from these relationships...also, for kicks, look at MENA for similar issues too. It's all fun to think that there are crazy women who imagine the "true love" back home as some conspiracy theory but there is much, much, much more at play culturally. The sheer amount of infidelity even seen in the subcontinent is astounding. Plus, there is a HUGE reason why Delhi is such a gigantic pain in the backside to get through - this type of thing is tried, ALL THE TIME.

The difference in relationship culture and family drama as seen in India may seem strange to those not familiar with it - do a little research and be amazed by the absolutely crazy stuff that can come from these relationships...also, for kicks, look at MENA for similar issues too. It's all fun to think that there are crazy women who imagine the "true love" back home as some conspiracy theory but there is much, much, much more at play culturally. The sheer amount of infidelity even seen in the subcontinent is astounding. Plus, there is a HUGE reason why Delhi is such a gigantic pain in the backside to get through - this type of thing is tried, ALL THE TIME.

The difference in relationship culture and family drama as seen in India may seem strange to those not familiar with it - do a little research and be amazed by the absolutely crazy stuff that can come from these relationships...also, for kicks, look at MENA for similar issues too. It's all fun to think that there are crazy women who imagine the "true love" back home as some conspiracy theory but there is much, much, much more at play culturally. The sheer amount of infidelity even seen in the subcontinent is astounding. Plus, there is a HUGE reason why Delhi is such a gigantic pain in the backside to get through - this type of thing is tried, ALL THE TIME.

Nothing to appeal. Appeals would be very long and costly. You can't appeal anything if they want to see a visit with family that didn't happen. You can't appeal more face time together. K1's at CSC that are returned will be allowed to expire and as I said before NOT reaffirmed. Been there done that.
A lawyer is a waste of money. Use that money to visit and spend time with him/family and make your case stronger.
Many third countries will require a residence permit of him, again be careful which country you chose. Take your time researching what is required and ask people who went through the same scenario. Wedding planners have a good grip on what is needed.
We tried that route and though we were told by the third country's officals it would only take about 7 days to get the marriage application approved so we could marry, they changed their mind and said it can take 3 months or more when I got there and I had to leave and couldn't stay longer so there was no wedding after dragging all my wedding stuff there. Talk about Bridezilla !
They also wanted to see original documents which they didn't tell us about nor did they list them on their web site. It can get very messy with marriage requirements between foreigners in a third country.
Research, research,research and then research again and call them on the phone and verify what you read or hear. We did all that and still the ding dongs messed it up. It was a very backwards mentality and at their own pace kind of situation that defied all logic.
I insisted they tell me where our marriage application is and drove all over the place and finally found it under a tall stack
of files and they refused to accommodate us during my stay there. This included bitching at the Minister of the Interior.
It was a no go.

Next is to visit again, continue to gather relationship evidence and photos together with family and then re file for a K1 or marry and file the CR1.
Whether to marry or not is not an overnight decision but takes some time to arrive at.
Be there for the next interview, even if they don't let you inside, he can give them your passport as proof that you are waiting outside and
would be glad to be seen if they have any doubts.

Blurg - the face lift didn't allow for longer editing times?
Anyway, since there is a political party angle to this too - my county [Accomack, VA] historically votes Rep [2012 Romney, 2008 McCain, etc etc]
Interesting side note, the foundation helping to make this research tool available is Kellogg - this country's food processing folks know there is big money is keeping SNAP well funded.

I see I'm still in the lead...why am I not surprised

I would not discount Boiler's comment - sometimes this very issue is brought up at the interview. Proof of insurance can be asked for. You may be in a great situation where you are a business owner and can add parents as employees or may be independently wealthy and able to pay large premiums. If so, that's great. If not, just know that this issue may come up and do some research on ways to address it [preferably before the interview] otherwise the visas may be held up in AP or some other nonsense.

This is some great background expectations for the OP however I would take a lot of this with a large grain of salt...
Relationships are a two-way street. Even though there can be some very embedded cultural expectations by one party or the other, it is neither fair or practical to take either person involved and have them adjust completely into the other's expectations.
A simple example, the OP most likely has a job outside of the home and it appears they are taking the K1 route. It is not practical to think that her man will come over here and while waiting for his AOS not help out around the house. She will also be going through an adjustment period. Nevermind that short of him being able to provide financially and her being able to leave whatever job she has, he should be able to pick up a broom or wash a dish...having the OP on the hook for their financial needs, cooking, cleaning, kids, and taking care of him solely during AOS or until he can find a job is going to lead to resentment and burn out.
This is where open communication is a complete and total must. A lot of this type of thing is a work-in-progress also. There won't be any easy answers from the get-go. What seems like ration thought [hey - I know - we'll do a chore list and then everything will be ok!] can blow up in your face. So, you dust yourselves off and start again. Marriage, in general, is not for the faint of heart or lazy. Mixing two cultures just makes it all the more challenging.
I married a man whose cooking ability revolves around making tea and ramen noodles - things happened and now he can cook a handful of things. But, there was a time when I was working 15+ hour a day on nightshift and he got mouthy about not having lunch made for him. He was still awaiting AOS and not working. That didn't go down well with me given my cultural expectations [namely, he isn't mentally or physically disabled - therefore he can make a freaking sandwich!!!!]. My frustration was probably on par with his frustration; that it was lunch time and there was no food ready because at home his momma would have had his lunch ready for him. He now has the abilities to cook/reheat/feed himself and honestly, I think he likes it to some extent [more choice and making things for himself the way he likes it].
Another communication talking point is whether or not he really gets he is marrying someone who is culturally American and what that means. There will be compromise [like making your own sandwich]. If he hasn't picked up a broom or has never done laundry - there needs to be some discussion about that. I used to call my husband when I was at the laundromat before his came over on his K1 so he could get a sense of the time involved. Again, your lives together, especially during AOS, shouldn't be about your SO looking at jobs online and making some phone calls while being waited on hand and foot [unless that is what YOU want to do and have agreed to doing].

Many local Chamber of Commerce have business start up classes. I took one locally and it was 10 weeks, had open question times with local CPAs, insurance agents, and attorneys, plus you ended up with a written business plan and a certificate. The cost was $175. The information/contacts were worth much, much, much more.
Depending on what you want your business to be/do - you need to be super careful with the classification [s-corp vs LLC vs sole proprietorship, etc]. You want to be able to do business as freely as possible as well as protect yourself as much as possible.
Keep in mind that it is not just federal laws/fees and state laws/fees, there can also be regional/county/parish laws/fees as well as town laws/fees. An example, in my little town, there is a $150 one-time-fee to start an at-home business. I would have never known or thought to ask until I mentioned in passing to my neighbor about starting something - he's on the town council and let me know. Try to be as thorough as you can from the get go...
Best of luck.

I had to look up PTCB to even see what that was - are you interested in becoming a pharmacy technician or did you fall for one of the "for-profit" schools that sold you on the idea that this was a good idea?
What did WES say? Was it an equivalent degree or not? If so, can you sit the PE exam for civil engineering? That can open doors. You can also look at Project Management and a few other certificates that can get your resume through screening software easier. But, look at certificates that align with your work history/education and that will get you the type of jobs you are interested in. Some of them may be expensive, some may take a long time to get [maybe even a year], but that's where you need to be focusing if you want to stay in that field.
It took my husband 1 year to find a job in his field - what he did volunteer in his field while looking and that gave him some US references. Maybe look at local municipal departments that will take on volunteers or heck, even Habitat for Humanity - not the "same" but a close fit that may get your name out with local builders, construction co, architects, etc.

Excellent advice - and I know quite a few couples who handle their marriages in the same way as your friend. To me, being in a love marriage, it's odd and strange. But, again, different culture, different expectations, different ways of life...

Excellent advice - and I know quite a few couples who handle their marriages in the same way as your friend. To me, being in a love marriage, it's odd and strange. But, again, different culture, different expectations, different ways of life...