K1 petition denied

[Justme43 2]

Hi guys so I filed for K1 petition for my fiancé and his interview was Feb 1 last Monday. Initially his interview date was March 30 but we worked with the congresswoman in out city to have the date expedited because of medical reasons so we got a date of Feb 1. He was not interviewed when he was called but rather the CO just asked two questions. She had one of our pics in front of her and asked my fiancé who they were and he said his of the family the next question was what did you present at the time of your engagement, and he said drinks money and cloths in our traditional custom. Then the CO said I have bad new for you because in your culture engagement is considered marriage and therefore she denied the petition and gave him a white slip reading 221g and the status on their system states Admin Processing" So the Congresswoman emailed them and asked why they denied the petition and they said because in Ghana, our traditional engagement in marriage therefore the K1 petition is denied and we have to file I130. Money and time wasted and the energy to even ask attorneys about this is just a nightmare. Has anyone gone through this before and how did they proceed?? Please advise

Thanks

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[tomyka81 95]

I don't know if it is the same for Ghana, but Nigeria, regardless of tribe, the COs consider payment of brideprice (money, liquor, kolanuts) to be a traditional marriage.

[Shauneg 762]

Hi guys so I filed for K1 petition for my fiancé and his interview was Feb 1 last Monday. Initially his interview date was March 30 but we worked with the congresswoman in out city to have the date expedited because of medical reasons so we got a date of Feb 1. He was not interviewed when he was called but rather the CO just asked two questions. She had one of our pics in front of her and asked my fiancé who they were and he said his of the family the next question was what did you present at the time of your engagement, and he said drinks money and cloths in our traditional custom. Then the CO said I have bad new for you because in your culture engagement is considered marriage and therefore she denied the petition and gave him a white slip reading 221g and the status on their system states Admin Processing" So the Congresswoman emailed them and asked why they denied the petition and they said because in Ghana, our traditional engagement in marriage therefore the K1 petition is denied and we have to file I130. Money and time wasted and the energy to even ask attorneys about this is just a nightmare. Has anyone gone through this before and how did they proceed?? Please advise

Thanks

​

Is that the custom there? If so nothing to do, but get married and file cr1. They little two question was his interview.

[AB loves AG 54]

That is considered a traditional marriage in Ghana, your husband should know about that? You will have to file for a CR1 now, and also do the court marriage to get the marriage certificate.

[Afedzi_gh 3]

Hi guys so I filed for K1 petition for my fiancé and his interview was Feb 1 last Monday. Initially his interview date was March 30 but we worked with the congresswoman in out city to have the date expedited because of medical reasons so we got a date of Feb 1. He was not interviewed when he was called but rather the CO just asked two questions. She had one of our pics in front of her and asked my fiancé who they were and he said his of the family the next question was what did you present at the time of your engagement, and he said drinks money and cloths in our traditional custom. Then the CO said I have bad new for you because in your culture engagement is considered marriage and therefore she denied the petition and gave him a white slip reading 221g and the status on their system states Admin Processing" So the Congresswoman emailed them and asked why they denied the petition and they said because in Ghana, our traditional engagement in marriage therefore the K1 petition is denied and we have to file I130. Money and time wasted and the energy to even ask attorneys about this is just a nightmare. Has anyone gone through this before and how did they proceed?? Please advise

Thanks

​

Sorry to hear that. Perhaps you should file a I130.

But I'm curious though, I've been wondering why the Embassy in Ghana hasn't been scheduling interviews lately. Quite a number of people here are still waiting for their packet 3&4. When did you recieve your packet 3&4?

[dwheels76 5,463]

Hi guys so I filed for K1 petition for my fiancé and his interview was Feb 1 last Monday. Initially his interview date was March 30 but we worked with the congresswoman in out city to have the date expedited because of medical reasons so we got a date of Feb 1. He was not interviewed when he was called but rather the CO just asked two questions. She had one of our pics in front of her and asked my fiancé who they were and he said his of the family the next question was what did you present at the time of your engagement, and he said drinks money and cloths in our traditional custom. Then the CO said I have bad new for you because in your culture engagement is considered marriage and therefore she denied the petition and gave him a white slip reading 221g and the status on their system states Admin Processing" So the Congresswoman emailed them and asked why they denied the petition and they said because in Ghana, our traditional engagement in marriage therefore the K1 petition is denied and we have to file I130. Money and time wasted and the energy to even ask attorneys about this is just a nightmare. Has anyone gone through this before and how did they proceed?? Please advise

Thanks

​

WOW sorry you didn't know paying a bride's price is a commitment to married. Traditional marriage. A BIG no no. Think about it this way. It's not about the piece of paper or registry civil ceremony. Traditional ceremony means more in Ghana and Nigerian culture than the formal white wedding or the registry wedding.

You have no choice but to get married. The K1 is dead. Sorry.

[teeak 224]

As said by everyone else, you should get married, file the I130 using the guides here and request an expedite (if you'd like) just as you had for the K1. The CO thinks you're married at this point so there it doesn't make sense to appeal or file the K1 again.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

So long as money or dowry is exchanged, you are married...

Young people of today, we are trying to change that tradition and making a church or court marriage the only legally binding marriage but the culture hasn't changed.

The "Kokooko" used to be just presentation of drinks only to show intent. But now, families want the intent and the payment of dowry at the same time.

Your partner paid the dowry so you are culturally and legally his wife.

You should go and register your marriage at court and file I-130 for the CR-1 route.

Good luck!

As said by everyone else, you should get married, file the I130 using the guides here and request an expedite (if you'd like) just as you had for the K1. The CO thinks you're married at this point so there it doesn't make sense to appeal or file the K1 again.

She is married by that exchange of money and dowry.

That is considered a traditional marriage in Ghana, your husband should know about that? You will have to file for a CR1 now, and also do the court marriage to get the marriage certificate.

She doesn't have to do "court marriage".. She only have to get it registered.

[Shauneg 762]

So long as money or dowry is exchanged, you are married...

Young people of today, we are trying to change that tradition and making a church or court marriage the only legally binding marriage but the culture hasn't changed.

The "Kokooko" used to be just presentation of drinks only to show intent. But now, families want the intent and the payment of dowry at the same time.

Your partner paid the dowry so you are culturally and legally his wife.

You should go and register your marriage at court and file I-130 for the CR-1 route.

Good luck!

She is married by that exchange of money and dowry.

She doesn't have to do "court marriage".. She only have to get it registered.

I guess it's just me, but I like traditional marriage not based on government documents. Marriage is between two people not a church or government. I don't know why it needs changed.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Hi guys so I filed for K1 petition for my fiancé and his interview was Feb 1 last Monday. Initially his interview date was March 30 but we worked with the congresswoman in out city to have the date expedited because of medical reasons so we got a date of Feb 1. He was not interviewed when he was called but rather the CO just asked two questions. She had one of our pics in front of her and asked my fiancé who they were and he said his of the family the next question was what did you present at the time of your engagement, and he said drinks money and cloths in our traditional custom. Then the CO said I have bad new for you because in your culture engagement is considered marriage and therefore she denied the petition and gave him a white slip reading 221g and the status on their system states Admin Processing" So the Congresswoman emailed them and asked why they denied the petition and they said because in Ghana, our traditional engagement in marriage therefore the K1 petition is denied and we have to file I130. Money and time wasted and the energy to even ask attorneys about this is just a nightmare. Has anyone gone through this before and how did they proceed?? Please advise

Thanks

​

The good news is that, you can file your taxes as Married Filing Jointly (extra $$$).

You will need a certified copy of his passport and add his income to yours.

Good luck on your journey!

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

I guess it's just me, but I like traditional marriage not based on government documents. Marriage is between two people not a church or government. I don't know why it needs changed.

I totally agree but in Ghana for instance. Traditional marriages allow men to marry more than one but the gov't or "legal" marriages do not allow that.

So a man with traditionally more than one wife can only register his marriage to only one of the wives.

In case of death without Will, the other wives are out of luck in the court of law.

[kalusha 21]

Sorry to hear what happened, and like everyone said the k1 route is dead now. Proceed with the cr. Next time consider your choice of pictures wisely. This should be a lesson to all Ghanaian's Going the k1 route. The good news you can still file for something. Good luck ?

[butterflies0124 8]

Sorry that you went through all this process and were denied. When you file for your marriage certificate, are you able to use the engagement date as the date of the marriage? If so, your husband might be eligible for IR1 instead of CR1 visa, which means he receives his 10yr green card upon arrival, instead of the conditional one.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Sorry that you went through all this process and were denied. When you file for your marriage certificate, are you able to use the engagement date as the date of the marriage? If so, your husband might be eligible for IR1 instead of CR1 visa, which means he receives his 10yr green card upon arrival, instead of the conditional one.

Only if their wedding date is 2 years ago. IR1 requires marriage of 2 years, CR1 is below 2 years

[NikLR 13,220]

Only if their wedding date is 2 years ago. IR1 requires marriage of 2 years, CR1 is below 2 years

Upon entry.