lutz

OK, thanks for the input. I want to be prepared for them in any way I can.

Someone in an earlier post recommended taking notes as a way to hold the COs accountable for their decisions.

Ah yes! How could I forget putting my phone in the small plastic tray before entry. Thank you. I will scribble.

Hello VJ members,

I'm wondering if it's legal to record the interview at the Ghana embassy? My husband has already been denied, but if / when he gets another interview I am going and I want to know if I can record the interview.

Does anyone know?

Thank you.

Yes, this is a great idea about going in with a notebook. Would it be legal to record the interview? That's what I plan to do once my husband's case gets back to USCIS, and I understand why he was denied (though I have a feeling I know why).

I believe that these COs play with sending the applications back and forth just to see which couples will stay together.

I've always paid my taxes and been proud to be a USC, I used to condemn those who condemned the government. In my naivete, I didn't know what really goes on. Now I see the type of people they employ and how they can really mess with people's lives.

My husband wasn't even that keen on coming to the USA, it was me who didn't want to live in Ghana. I make more money here, and have my career and contacts.

I will sign a letter. Please post it so we can read it and do something about this awful situation with the embassy in Accra.

Wow, what is going on at that embassy???? First they put you in AP, then they tell you the case is being sent back, then they tell you to come in for an interview again.

The best of luck for whatever happens. I do hope the protest happens and something comes of it. The way they play with people's lives is not right.

If I were there, I would definitely go. Something has to be done about these denials. So many is not right! My husband is in Accra, I will ask him if he can join when you organize it.

My husband was denied, and I asked him specifically if the CO had been rude to him. He said, no, she hadn't. Just was asking him questions matter of factly

Yes, it's unfortunate that Ghana is a high fraud country, but as other posters have said, it's the price to be paid. If your relationship is real, you will just have to buckle down and bear it out. Some things in life are easy, some are not, that's just the way it goes, what can we do?

One more thing I forgot to put into my earlier reply. You can get the transcripts of the interview by filing for the Freedom of Information Act. It may take months, but I did it. Search on google how to do it. That way you can see in black and white what was said.

I am so sorry this has happened to you and your husband. My own husband was denied a month ago and we were devastated. We also used a lawyer and had so much evidence.

As the other posters are saying, once your husband calms down, have him go over everything that was said in the interview, especially anything the interviewer dwelled on. On top of that, think like the interviewer would think (suspicious by nature).

I contacted my congresswoman, and she got word back from the embassy that his case has been sent back to USCIS. If this happens to you, which is likely, you and your husband will have to wait six months to get word from USCIS, as to why exactly your husband was denied, with an NOIR (notice of intent to revoke). Then you will have 30 days to appeal .

Again, I am so sorry this has happened, and I feel your pain. Many posters gave me a lot of insight as to why my husband was denied, and it helped a lot. We've gotten over it now and have new goals, but will just wait for the six months to take more action. I think time will help with the shock.

I should have stated it is a CR1 visa, not fiance visa. My husband had plenty of photos, which she looked at, chats, phone calls, etc....The denial letter and checklist did not state anything specifically about what the CO found to make my husband ineligible.

But she focused on questions about my husband's daughter, and the girl's mother, which is how we figured out what the problem may be. He has a daughter that we didn't petition for at this time. We would wait until he came here, got himself settled and working, then petition for her. But the CO probably thinks otherwise.

This is the sort of thing we didn't even think about. So that's what I'm saying. Look at your relationship as if it is by someone who is immediately suspicious, not a kind hearted person. That's the harsh reality.

Our relationship is real, but my husband was denied, so the advice about it being real and having nothing to worry about, well that wasn't the case with us. What was the case was a situation we didn't think would be a big deal, turned out to be what the CO focused on.

The fault was mine, I see now, because I was thinking like me, not like the suspicious CO. Even if your relationship is real, make sure you keep reading all these posts and try to foresee what may be a red flag to the CO. What may seem innocent to you, may not be to them.

I wish you the best luck!

Congratulations!!! You've overcome all the obstacles and kept yourselves together. Enjoy life!

Oh, Thank you again. We've spoken a lot about our age difference, so he would have handled that very well. unfortunately, she didn't ask that. I'll stop thinking about all of this because I'm making myself crazy about it. I'll just wait for word from USCIS and take it from there, but have in mind how to counter the denial.

OK, sorry about that Ryan.

Thank you. That's what I thought, but after what has happened, I am questioning everything.

I posted last week about my Ghanaian husband's CR1 denial, and VJ members helped a lot in opening my eyes about his daughter and how the CO may view her not immigrating with him. Thank you for all that.

I do seek some more input.......the CO also asked my husband a lot about my friends here in the States. She asked about it at the beginning of the interview, then stayed on the topic of his daughter for a while, then went back and asked again about my friends.

He's heard me speak of two of my friends, both female, here in the states. He told the CO we go out to restaurants etc. What do think this can mean, her staying on this subject, and actually returning to it.

After the final question about my friends is when she closed down the interview and told my husband the case is being sent back to USCIS. I understand now about the daughter, but I'm racking my brain to figure out the questions about my friends. I'm not a kid, so I don't see how friends are so important.

I'm sorry to read about what you're going through.

My Ghanaian husband was just denied last week, and his case sent back to USCIS. Take heart, at least you and your wife are only (I don't mean only - I know it's so disappointing) in AP and not completely sent back to USCIS, which means another 6 months minimum of waiting, and a fight to overcome the denial.

As far as I know, at least your file then is still in Ghana, and they are checking you out more closely. Please Don't despair. It's so easy to do so. You will overcome this.

Keep talking to your wife daily and stay busy. Where there is a real bond, the time apart will be painful, but stick together. This embassy is so tough, and I believe they are just waiting for their behaviors and denials to separate people. Don't let that happen.

Thank you for your response. Yes, we may have to do that. I am meeting with a lawyer today. I plan to fight the denial, but am willing to do whatever it takes to get my husband here. Thank you again, the support I've found here on VJ has been very, very helpful

I agree with others, five years is nothing to worry about.

Update on relationship after husband's arrival to US. Although I have not been on VJ for a while, I periodically come back and post updates to help others who are still in their VJ journey. My husband now has been here over two years. Recently we removed his conditions and he received his 10 yr green card. He is working hard and our relationship still going strong. The first two years did present its challenges for regardless of the fact we knew each other for a long time and he has remained very true to his promises and he is a very caring and loving man. The adjustment period was interesting nevertheless! There are so many things that they, as new comers to this country don't know about or how to adjust to. Time and patience will iron out those kinks ? I want to mention AGAIN that just because someone comes from a "HIGH" scam country doesn't mean you are married to one! There are good and bad people in every country/culture. Your experience is yours only. Choose carefully and expect to work hard to get your loved one to this country. It is not for everyone to go through the visa journey. It is emotionally, mentally, financially, and physically draining BUT if you have chosen the right partner, then it is all worth it. I am a living proof that even with red flags a relationship with a Nigerian is possible and a happy outcome is not far fetched! All relationships are hard work and with love and commitment, a happy ending is possible! Blessings and good luck to those who are still in their journey!

Thank you so much for posting this. I am currently going through challenges getting my Ghanaian husband here, simply because he is from a very difficult Embassy country. He is a man of integrity, but because of where he comes from, he's immediately looked upon suspiciously. Your post presented itself just at the time I needed it. His CR1 was just denied, but I plan to fight for him to get here. Thank you and may God bless you further.

Thank you all commenters.

First, I really do appreciate all comments because it has opened my eyes to how the CO thinks. I'm not a babe in the woods, but because I haven't had this experience in my life, especially with an embassy like Ghana, I simply didn't know many things.

Second, I don't take the judgmentally toned posts to heart. No one knows my husband and no one knows me and what we've been through, and I don't care to tell anyone too much of our personal life. I can see where judgment and suppositions come from, that is just human nature.

Ghana is a tough place to live, and if you are a person commenting from a relatively comfortable country, you will see this situation through those comfortable eyes and judge. I really don't care about that.

So again, thank you. Now I will know how to fight this situation.

And the last thing I will say is: Boiler, I got your tone, OK? At first I didn't know what went wrong, but because some people on VJ enlightened me, I now know. I thank them very much. The rest, with the snarky tone, thank you too, for some morsels of advice, but please go pick on someone else. I'm just trying to solve my problem.

Thank you posters for coming to my defense. Yes, I am just asking questions and I don't need to be judged, but I know in this life there are always those people around, so I don't let them bother me too much.

I will do my best to solve this problem. I don't really care what others think (well, only those that can offer me constructive advice and criticism). My husband and I know what we are and what we've been through. I don't let negativity get me down, no time for that.

He intends for his child to follow after he gets settled in the US. You cannot judge everyone in the world. You do not know what every father will do. I understand what you're getting at but he will get on his feet in the US then send for the child. I cannot support the child financially.