K1 Visa denied in Lagos after 8 months of AP!

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

y fiance finally was called back to the US Consulate in Lagos after almost 8 months of being in AP. His final interview was today and he was denied. Based on what, you may ask?

Last month, I took my 4th trip to Nigeria in 15 months to have an interview (at my request) with the investigator handling our case in hopes of expediting the AP. He interviewed me and my fiance separately and we believed that all went well.

One of the questions I was asked was why I had decided to file a K1 visa petition instead of the marriage visa petition? I explained, that initially, we thought it would be nice if he met my kids first and my family and friends first as my fiance and then we'd get married within the 90 day period.

The embassy denied my fiance's visa because of that reason. They claimed that my reasoning sounds like I'm not sure and that the purpose of the K1 visa is for people that are sure and committed to getting married and that the 90 day period is just a time period granted to plan the logistics of the wedding. I filed this K1 visa petition over 13 months ago and they're interpreting my initial reasoning as doubt???? At this point, we wanted to marry immediately after he got here! I'm heartbroken and angry....I feel robbed and cheated. After 3 interviews, 8 months of AP, a home visit and 4 trips to NG from me, they denied it for THAT reason????

Please....if anyone has any advice to offer on how to get this judgement overturned before the paperwork is sent back to the USCIS, PLEASE respond!!!

Thank you....and God bless....

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Somebody else once said...

The consulates are rated according to their difficulty on a 5 point scale:

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

The fires of Hell!

Lagos

Seriously, I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. Don't try to deal with this yourself. If you're going up against the consulate in Lagos, then you need professional assistance. A very VERY good immigration lawyer is required.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Somebody else once said...

The consulates are rated according to their difficulty on a 5 point scale:

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

The fires of Hell!= Guayaquil, Ecuador

Lagos

Seriously, I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. Don't try to deal with this yourself. If you're going up against the consulate in Lagos, then you need professional assistance. A very VERY good immigration lawyer is required.

Si, man -- don't give up.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

y fiance finally was called back to the US Consulate in Lagos after almost 8 months of being in AP. His final interview was today and he was denied. Based on what, you may ask?

Last month, I took my 4th trip to Nigeria in 15 months to have an interview (at my request) with the investigator handling our case in hopes of expediting the AP. He interviewed me and my fiance separately and we believed that all went well.

One of the questions I was asked was why I had decided to file a K1 visa petition instead of the marriage visa petition? I explained, that initially, we thought it would be nice if he met my kids first and my family and friends first as my fiance and then we'd get married within the 90 day period.

The embassy denied my fiance's visa because of that reason. They claimed that my reasoning sounds like I'm not sure and that the purpose of the K1 visa is for people that are sure and committed to getting married and that the 90 day period is just a time period granted to plan the logistics of the wedding. I filed this K1 visa petition over 13 months ago and they're interpreting my initial reasoning as doubt???? At this point, we wanted to marry immediately after he got here! I'm heartbroken and angry....I feel robbed and cheated. After 3 interviews, 8 months of AP, a home visit and 4 trips to NG from me, they denied it for THAT reason????

Please....if anyone has any advice to offer on how to get this judgement overturned before the paperwork is sent back to the USCIS, PLEASE respond!!!

Thank you....and God bless....

I can understand their reasoning (like you wanted to see if your kids liked him first) just as I can see yours (that it's wasn't about like, it was more about not being "here's your new daddy!".

Perhaps if you can show proof of having your family/friends talking to him, meeting him already? Perhaps a few letters from people saying they know all about him and approve etc? Perhaps proof of wedding plans/ideas? More emails/chat logs proving you seriously discussing marriage? Perhaps a letter/statement from yourself discussing how at the time you didn't realise the process would take so long and that to some people the engagement might seem sudden (I know some people in my husbands family didn't know about me.. distant rellies) but as it's been waiting so long you've already got the wedding lined up. That it was nothing to do with not being serious and instead taking the feeling of family and friends into consideration when allowing them to meet your fiance and THEN your husband. Also perhaps you could mention that travelling to Nigeria was too difficult for people so no wedding there, and that you wanted to get the process started ASAP rather then wait for planning a wedding first and THEN filing the application and that that should prove your urgent need/want to be together. That people such as family and friends needed more time to save money for the wedding, that you needed more time to save. Show evidence of money you or he have sent each other? Stuff like that?

Good luck.

[Bernie C 24]

Unfortunatley it sounds like you gave them the opportunity to "interperate" the meaning of your words.

After reading your post I can see where it could be viewed in two differetn ways.

One simply as meaning that you wanted him to meet your family before the wedding.

The other could be interpreted as meeting to determine a decision.

The fact that you made 4 trip in 15 months would lead me to belive that the full intent was a commitment to get married - why else would someone go throught the expense of traveling so far if the intent wasn't there.

Another case of failure by the CO to look at objective evidence and make a determination on personal opinion.

Hopefully you will get some good advice but it may be necessary to discuss with an established and reputable immigration attorney with experience in Lagos.

[Pman's Wife 0]

Hi Debby,

Have you contacted your senators and congressperson?

Have you contacted one or more lawyers?

I'm sure you know that Lagos operates as a 'high fraud' consulate. They're not very objective. Their default answer is denial and they look for reasons to deny. Having been subjected to three interviews, AP, and a Stokes interview with an investigator just further stacked the odds in their favor. Like the 4-legged officers on sniff duty at international airports, I suspect they get rewarded for sniffing out flaws. I have heard of K-1 denials at Lagos turning into approvals, but not without a fight. Are you fighting?

The 'deciding question' was flawed. You could not apply for a marriage visa because you are not married. You are engaged so you filed for the K-1. It was a set up. The Stokes interview may have seemed harmless and/or friendly, but they were trying to get this case out of their system. I'd be interested in what the Freedom of Information Act would reveal on this case. Do you know which CO worked your case? Have you spoken to the IV Chief or anyone else in authority at the consulate?

Seriously weigh your options and please keep your thread updated.

[resurgam_koye 0]

hello nice forum here been reading through and its real helpful.

Does any one in here know what to expect at the 2nd interview right after administrative Processing.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

Any update on this?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Read the time line in the signature.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

**** closing zombie thread *****