lutz

I want to thank all of you here on VJ for all the great advice and encouragement over these past few years.  My husband's IR1 visa was approved today, thank God very much.  Luckily, he was asked only a few basic questions.  The officer had taken all of his evidence, looked it over, then called him to the window.  There he was just asked if his case was a reaffirmed one, how many children he has and if his child will immigrate with him.  That was it.  The embassy personnel then gave him the long awaited blue slip of paper instructing him to pick up his visa in 2 weeks. It has been such a long and stressful journey and I wanted to share our success to give others hope.  

Big congratulations!!!  My husband's visa was ready even before the end of two weeks, so if you are in the area of the DHL, stop in and check after one week. You may get a pleasant surprise.  

I want to thank all of you here on VJ for all the great advice and encouragement over these past few years.  My husband's IR1 visa was approved today, thank God very much.  Luckily, he was asked only a few basic questions.  The officer had taken all of his evidence, looked it over, then called him to the window.  There he was just asked if his case was a reaffirmed one, how many children he has and if his child will immigrate with him.  That was it.  The embassy personnel then gave him the long awaited blue slip of paper instructing him to pick up his visa in 2 weeks. It has been such a long and stressful journey and I wanted to share our success to give others hope.  

I want to thank all of you here on VJ for all the great advice and encouragement over these past few years.  My husband's IR1 visa was approved today, thank God very much.  Luckily, he was asked only a few basic questions.  The officer had taken all of his evidence, looked it over, then called him to the window.  There he was just asked if his case was a reaffirmed one, how many children he has and if his child will immigrate with him.  That was it.  The embassy personnel then gave him the long awaited blue slip of paper instructing him to pick up his visa in 2 weeks. It has been such a long and stressful journey and I wanted to share our success to give others hope.  

I want to thank all of you here on VJ for all the great advice and encouragement over these past few years.  My husband's IR1 visa was approved today, thank God very much.  Luckily, he was asked only a few basic questions.  The officer had taken all of his evidence, looked it over, then called him to the window.  There he was just asked if his case was a reaffirmed one, how many children he has and if his child will immigrate with him.  That was it.  The embassy personnel then gave him the long awaited blue slip of paper instructing him to pick up his visa in 2 weeks. It has been such a long and stressful journey and I wanted to share our success to give others hope.  

I want to thank all of you here on VJ for all the great advice and encouragement over these past few years.  My husband's IR1 visa was approved today, thank God very much.  Luckily, he was asked only a few basic questions.  The officer had taken all of his evidence, looked it over, then called him to the window.  There he was just asked if his case was a reaffirmed one, how many children he has and if his child will immigrate with him.  That was it.  The embassy personnel then gave him the long awaited blue slip of paper instructing him to pick up his visa in 2 weeks. It has been such a long and stressful journey and I wanted to share our success to give others hope.  

I want to thank all of you here on VJ for all the great advice and encouragement over these past few years.  My husband's IR1 visa was approved today, thank God very much.  Luckily, he was asked only a few basic questions.  The officer had taken all of his evidence, looked it over, then called him to the window.  There he was just asked if his case was a reaffirmed one, how many children he has and if his child will immigrate with him.  That was it.  The embassy personnel then gave him the long awaited blue slip of paper instructing him to pick up his visa in 2 weeks. It has been such a long and stressful journey and I wanted to share our success to give others hope.  

I also waited the required time and then contacted an ombudsman.  I also scheduled an info pass, and on the day of the scheduled info pass, my husband's case was reaffirmed.  Definitely try the ombudsman.  This link can get you started:
 
https://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance
 
 
 

I want to add to the comment about if your relationship is genuine, you won't have to worry.  I am significantly older than my husband, I was 53 and he 27 when we married.  Our relationship is genuine, and we submitted evidence of owning real estate and other things together and he was still denied.  His case was reaffirmed, but this added 1.5 years to the process.  
So please, even if your relationship is genuine with a large age difference, be prepared to be looked at with more scrutiny.
It's nice that one case with this sort of age difference got through with no problem, but I don't believe that's the norm.

My husband's case was reaffirmed and he now has his second interview coming up in August 2017.  My question is, to anyone who can answer it:  Should I provide evidence of our relationship all the way back to the beginning of the relationship (WhatsApp, Facebook, Calls, etc.), or just from the time the case was reaffirmed.
 
Does anyone know if the embassy has the evidence that was submitted to the USCIS for reaffirmation?  I am supposing all that evidence to reaffirm was sent along to the embassy, but I am not certain.
 
Thank you.

Yes, you are correct.  I misread.  Sorry for your hassles with this and your waiting.  It is ridiculous as all say and seemingly nothing we can do about it.  I made an appointment for an info pass after getting an ombudsman involved.  On the very day my info pass was scheduled was the day the case was reaffirmed.  It can't hurt to make an appointment.

My husband's was denied in September 2015.  USCIS received it March 2016.  It was reaffirmed December 2016, sent back to the embassy.  Only heard that the embassy touched his file in March 2016, and again in late April.  You are in for a painful wait, I am so sorry to have to tell you.

Thank you again Nyala.  Being able to communicate with you and others on this thread make this process bearable.  

This entire process is not for the faint of heart.  You sound frustrated yes,  but as others say, you will need to calm down and take the attitude of overcoming one challenge after another.  As one poster wrote, send an email, if they don't reply, keep sending until you get an answer.  Google your questions in addition to looking here on this great site.  Good luck, it's a long road, and your patience will be tested time and again.  Sorry to say, but you'll have to become accustomed to it.  Just keep plugging away and you will get the answers you need. 

I am sorry this is happening to you.  My husband was also denied at the Ghana embassy.  His case was sent back to USCIS (it took over a year for us to hear from USCIS).  
For our case, we were re-affirmed without being issued an NOIR (notice of intent to revoke).  Many are issued this NOIR, but we weren't, which I'm glad about.  When my husband was denied, the CO checked nothing on the checklist and did not give him a reason for the denial.
His case was sent back again to Ghana, and we are awaiting word for the second interview.  We are waiting now 3 months to hear anything from the embassy.  The NVC sent it there at the end of Dec. 2016.
I am sharing this to  to prepare you for a long wait now.  There really is nothing you can do except wait.  I agree with the other posters.  While Facebook may have played a small part in the denial, it's probably the quick courtship and wedding.  
Do not give up hope.  Stick together.  If you really love each other, you will get through it.  I sometimes think the embassy does this to see which couples will fall apart and prove their suspicions.  Of course, the ones that are not real will fall apart, but the real ones will stick through all this.  

I am sorry this is happening to you.  My husband was also denied at the Ghana embassy.  His case was sent back to USCIS (it took over a year for us to hear from USCIS).  
For our case, we were re-affirmed without being issued an NOIR (notice of intent to revoke).  Many are issued this NOIR, but we weren't, which I'm glad about.  When my husband was denied, the CO checked nothing on the checklist and did not give him a reason for the denial.
His case was sent back again to Ghana, and we are awaiting word for the second interview.  We are waiting now 3 months to hear anything from the embassy.  The NVC sent it there at the end of Dec. 2016.
I am sharing this to  to prepare you for a long wait now.  There really is nothing you can do except wait.  I agree with the other posters.  While Facebook may have played a small part in the denial, it's probably the quick courtship and wedding.  
Do not give up hope.  Stick together.  If you really love each other, you will get through it.  I sometimes think the embassy does this to see which couples will fall apart and prove their suspicions.  Of course, the ones that are not real will fall apart, but the real ones will stick through all this.  

But they gave him a definitive date, however the date may have been February of last year when they first sent it back to the USCIS.  Maybe someone just read it quickly, carelessly.   They told him it was sent back February 21st, but |I do know they sent it back the first time in February of 2016.  Well, you've given me some hope.  However, my CEAC update has been updated on March 7th, and it still says that the visa is expiring soon.  I've confused all around.

Really?  Ok.  I did call the USCIS and they don't have it, at least that's what they told.  I'm so disgusted with it all.  Like you say, I'll just relax, exhale and wait.  thanks.

I just wrote to my congress person today.  I will also send to Senator as well.

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'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'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.

This is all great information. Thank you all. It's a very stressful situation to be in, so I wish everyone the best, and I wish my husband and I the best also!

I am happy you got this news, but something sounds strange to me that your case was sent back to USCIS, but somehow stopped at NVC and then from NVC was sent back to the embassy in Ghana.
I write this because my husband's case was also sent back to USCIS after his interview and denial. We did get an update from USCIS that the case is received and is being reviewed.
Be careful, because the NVC woman may be talking about the INITIAL approval from USCIS. That's what happened to me. I contacted USCIS to get info, and they say, "Oh yes, your petition was approved." Yes, it was approved initially, went through the system all the way to the embassy in Ghana, then was denied and sent back.
You may have to be very, very specific that your case was denied and sent back. Just my two cents. Good luck. This process is not for sissies!

I am happy you got this news, but something sounds strange to me that your case was sent back to USCIS, but somehow stopped at NVC and then from NVC was sent back to the embassy in Ghana.
I write this because my husband's case was also sent back to USCIS after his interview and denial. We did get an update from USCIS that the case is received and is being reviewed.
Be careful, because the NVC woman may be talking about the INITIAL approval from USCIS. That's what happened to me. I contacted USCIS to get info, and they say, "Oh yes, your petition was approved." Yes, it was approved initially, went through the system all the way to the embassy in Ghana, then was denied and sent back.
You may have to be very, very specific that your case was denied and sent back. Just my two cents. Good luck. This process is not for sissies!