lutz

So sorry to read about the denial. The process now, if you cannot get your congressperson to intervene to immediately get another interview before the packet leaves Ghana, is that your file will go back to USCIS. That will take 6 months. Then, it will take another 6 - 9 months of it being at USCIS before you either get an NOIR / NOID stating exactly what the issue is, or your file will be re-affirmed, in which case it will just go back again to the Accrra embassy, through the NVC.

That is correct. No NOIR, Re-affirmation after waiting 15 months from the time my husband was denied.

Not sure what you mean by website, but I was checking my status at USCIS.gov.

Hope this helps.

The letter says to contact the DOS so I would call them. the number is online, i dont have it on me right now

Congratulations on reaffirm we are waiting since last august but has been back to USCIS only since last march, they said when they have a year then they look at it. They have ten month now

Thank you for the kind words. We waited 15 months from the time he was denied.

When the time goes over 12 months, I would recommend calling in. I did two things: I contacted the Ombudsman and got them involved. You can search USCIS ombudsman for the info. You'll have to submit paperwork, like the 221 G, etc., and evidence that you've contacted a congressperson, etc.

Also, I booked an Infopass appointment.

I did all this exactly one day after the 12 months of waiting. Stay on top of everything, I believe it will help. The waiting is not easy, so I wish you the best.

Thank you all for your posts, they help. I will keep the phone number and call in.

No, no additional evidence was needed. We had gone above and beyond in the first place and the woman interviewing my husband could not even tell him why he was denied. On top of that, the checklist she gave him was completely blank.

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Thanks, so as far as I understand, the case goes back to NVC (DOS), then back to the Ghana embassy.

Thank you all for your kind words. The website was just updated and my husband was reapproved, which is a big relief. Now I don't know what steps to take. I made a new posting. The update was just yesterday, and it says to contact the Department of State.

After 15 months of waiting after my husband's denial at the embassy in Accra, Ghana, I just received this update on the USCIS website. Does anyone know exactly who I should contact at the Department of State? Is the DOS the National Visa Center? I don't know exactly who to contact. I still havent' received any hard copy in the mail. This was just updated yesterday.

Any advice, anyone who has gone through this, I will appreciate it. Thank you.

Case Approval Was Reaffirmed And Mailed Back To Department Of State

On December 7, 2016, the Department of State returned your case, Receipt Number LIN14911xxxxx, to us for further review and we mailed you a notice affirming our original approval. Please contact the Department of State directly for any further information on your case.

I always here that Ghana is a tough Embassy to deal with. Sending prayers your way for an outcome soon. Was his medical clear, does he have a clear police record any prior marriages. Was all documents submitted that they requested?

Thank you for you kind words. Yes, everything was clear, police and as far as we know, medical. We have an age difference, but we submitted so much paperwork to prove the validity of our marriage. I lived there with him for almost a year and of course, we have daily contact.

In any case, I would like to know about the CR1 changing to IR1. Do you know anything about that?

I am really sorry to be hearing this. I thought they would tell you right then and there why you would be denied. So are you waiting to find out what is going on?

Thank you. Yes, we are still waiting to hear anything from USCIS. Either an NOIR or a re-affirmation. We are now in the 15th month since he was denied. The sites say one year to get a response, but it's over one year.

The interviewing officer would not tell him. she just gave him a 221G and a blank checklist, and said that I would have to fight it. When he pressed her as to why she denied, she told him to leave. This is in Accra, Ghana.

My husband and I married in early May 2014. His CR1 visa was denied in September, 2015. We have now been married for over 2.5 years. Will this have a bearing on his CR1? Does it automatically change to IR1 if we are married over 2 years?

We are still waiting on the NOIR or some word from USCIS. The file was returned to USCIS on March 4, 2016, but nothing has been updated on the website. I've contacted an ombudsman, but they only say to wait.

Any answers are appreciated.

Thanks.

Look, don't try to understand what goes on at the Ghana embassy , because it's not logical over there. I met this lady who used to work with the Ghana embassy for a non-profit. She told me about 2 years ago, the embassy had an overhaul, and everyone was fired . Now, they treat everyone like their committing fraud. They deny visa fo any type of reason rational or not. It's really a pity because they really waste so much time with filing , being denied, and then having to wait another year for the case to be reaffirmed. I am seeing more cases that were denied in Ghana are being reaffirmed. Hopefully, that should be a clue that something is amidst at that embassy. My husband was denied in June 2015. They held his case for so long! Even USCIS, didn't understand why the embassy has not returned my case file to them. When I received my NOIR, the information for the denial on the letter was totally incorrect. I don't know if they didn't review the evidence or documentation we submitted or if they were just making up information to support the denial. Luckily, I had receipts, documents,pictures, etc. to refute every statement made by the CO, and my case was reaffirmed.

I urge everyone to keep contacting their representatives and senators, and maybe someone will do something about the policy and procedures in that office.

Thanks for this post. My husband was denied in September 2015, and for what, he was never told. We used a lawyer, had more than enough evidence. His case took 6 months to get back to USCIS, and now we are awaiting the NOIR.

I contacted the USCIS Ombudsman to intervene. They did, and still the USCIS says the file is actively being investigated.

It's been over one year. You are right about wasting so much time and money, and for what?

OK, thank you.

Hello,

Congratulations on the reaffirmation.

We are also awaiting word on an NOIR and reason for my husband's denial.

How did USCIS contact you may I ask? Was it through email?

My husband was denied in September 2015. The case was returned and reached USCIS in March 2016. It is now November, 2016 and we STILL have not heard anything from USCIS about an NOIR.

We have no idea about why he was denied. I used a lawyer, we submitted so much evidence, and still he was denied.

I contacted the Ombudsman, who in turn contacted USCIS. I am told it is actively still being reviewed by USCIS. So we've been waiting over the required 6 months since the case found its way back to USCIS.

What is going on at that embassy. We are a legitimate couple as are so many denied. What can we do about this? It's beyond awful and discriminatory. What other country do you see this type of behavior.

I'm sorry this has happened to you. It happened to my husband and me also. I would not listen to those saying to re-apply. I would wait out the process of your husband's file making its way back to USCIS (this will take at least 6 months from the time the Casa embassy sent it).

Then you will have to wait at least another 6 months (probably more) from the time the USCIS receives it to the time they notify you about why your husband's visa was denied.

I wouldn't muck up the waters with filing a new petition. You don't even know why the first one was denied, so you may hit the same road block. Just wait out the process they put in place.

I am so sorry for you and your husband. The same thing happened to my husband. I am the USC, and we supplied so much evidence, used a lawyer and thought everything would be fine.

He was denied last September. The case finally got back to USCIS on 4 March 2016. We are told to wait 6 months from that date to hear from the USCIS for why he was denied.

When September 4, 2016 reached, I still had not heard anything from USCIS. It's over a year now. As others have written, it can take up to 18 months.

The CO at the embassy would not tell my husband why he was denied. We have no idea and are now waiting for the NOIR.

Please keep the faith. It's a stressful and painful time I know.

Thank you for laying out your timeline from denial to reaffirmation. It takes longer than the 1 year I was supposing. This information is very helpful.

My CR1 was reaffirmed and on it way to Ghana for second interview. I have been reading on visa journey so much and I have not come across anyone whose case was reaffirmed and he was given visa on the second interview, all I read is most or almost all the cases that are reaffirmed are still put on AP after second interview. Pls I want to know if there is anyone here or anyone who knows people who have been given visa after their case was reaffirmed in Ghana. Any information will be much appreciated. Thanks to all.

Congratulations on being reaffirmed. My husband and I are also waiting for word from USCIS after his first interview, the visa was denied and sent back to USCIS.

It's been over a year now since his denial, and still I've heard nothing from USCIS about an NOIR or anything. I've filed the case with the USCIS ombudsman, but still now word.

How long did you have to wait from denial at the Ghana embassy to now, when you've gotten your reaffirmation?

any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,

One of the posters stated 'in a few months, you will get a NOID / NOIR'. Believe me, it will be more than a few months. It will be at least one year to get the NOID / NOIR. It takes 6 months alone for the file to get from Ghana back to USCIS, then it takes at least another 6 months for USCIS to let you know the reason for denial.

I know because my husband was denied in September 2015. His case reached back to USCIS on March 4, 2016, and we're still waiting for the reason and it's almost October 2016.

Hello MonaLisa,

Yes, I remember your case. I'm so glad to read it was reaffirmed. Thank you for this insight. I was waiting until the 6 month wait is over for the NOIR to really start calling them, because when I do call, they ask if I've waited this long, and if I say no, they tell me I must wait.

I am so happy for you and your husband. Best of luck and thanks again for this advice.[/quote

I understand you do have to wait the 6 months. I'm happy our case is reaffirmed but its not over yet. So many cases have been reaffirmed, then after the interview they are stuck in ap for months and don't hear back from the embassy. So I'm just praying this is over quickly.

Yes, especially Ghana! I'm hoping for the best for you both and that your case doesn't languish there for another 6 months. Please keep us informed here on VJ. It gives me hope.

Hello MonaLisa,

Yes, I remember your case. I'm so glad to read it was reaffirmed. Thank you for this insight. I was waiting until the 6 month wait is over for the NOIR to really start calling them, because when I do call, they ask if I've waited this long, and if I say no, they tell me I must wait.

I am so happy for you and your husband. Best of luck and thanks again for this advice.

Thank you. I met with the attorney I've been using, and he said in a way, it might be a good thing that nothing was marked on the 221g form. He stated that if the interviewing officer really thought there was something clearly amiss, she would have noted it clearly, especially on the checklist.

To Empress: Thank you for the kind words. Yes, it was like a punch in the gut, but Ghana is a terrible embassy to get through, which I found out. No, the interviewing officer would not tell my husband anything, only that I, the USC spouse can fight it. He kept asking her, until I believe she was annoyed with him. She would not tell him the reason.

In any case, I'm glad to read that others have overcome this. Our union is genuine, and we continue together. The time apart is stressful, this waiting is stressful.

I am looking for feedback from others who have been in the situation I find myself, along with my husband.

He was denied his cr1 visa in Ghana in Sept. 2015. The case has been sent back to USCIS, where it was received in early March 2016.

Early September, it will be 6 months since they received it, and I know the USCIS tells us to wait 6 months before even contacting them for a reason for denial, NOIR / NOID.

I'm waiting a few more weeks to contact them. I know about the USCIS ombudsman and plan to use that feature if needed.

My question is: Has anyone here on VJ successfully overcome a 221 g CR1 denial? When my husband was denied, he was given two pieces of paper, the vague 221 g denial (not qualified), and a checklist with nothing at all checked.

Any information you can give me will help. Thank you.

Congratulations!! Had your case been sent back to USCIS, then reaffirmed? Is that how you got a second interview?