An American woman in her sixties says she was left traumatised after U.S. consular officers allegedly mocked her relationship with her 27-year-old Nigerian fiancé and denied his K-1 visa application.
The woman, who identified herself only as Deborah, shared her experience during a live show hosted by U.S.-based immigration lawyer Jim Hacking, where callers seek advice on immigration matters.
Deborah said her fiancé was issued a 221(g) refusal form following his interview at the United States Embassy in Nigeria.
Reading from the document during the broadcast, she quoted: “Information provided in the case or interview indicated that the beneficiary does not meet the qualifications for the visa class.”
Hacking explained that consular officers typically issue a 221(g) form when they are uncertain about the legitimacy of a relationship or require further review. He suggested that such refusals often arise when officials suspect prior marriages or other undisclosed factors.
Deborah, however, insisted she was “positive” her fiancé had never been married or had children.
According to her, the interview had been progressing smoothly until the consular officer asked about her age. Deborah said she is 64, while her fiancé is 27, creating a 37-year age gap.
“When it came to the age difference, he said my age, then she said, ‘Oh! She’s this age!’” Deborah recounted, adding that the officer repeatedly referenced her age during the interview.
She believes the line of questioning was intended to unsettle her fiancé.
Deborah also claimed her fiancé presented approximately 20 documents — including photographs and chat records — to demonstrate the authenticity of their nearly two-year relationship. She said the officer dismissed the documents as unnecessary at that stage of the process.
She further alleged that the interviewing officer briefly stepped away, approached a colleague, and that both laughed while discussing the case within sight of her fiancé.
“And then she went back to her colleague. They were both White, and then they were laughing,” Deborah said during the live broadcast.
The officer later returned and handed her fiancé the refusal form, she said.
Deborah told Hacking that the visa denial was a major setback, as she had already visited Nigeria twice and hoped her fiancé could now travel to the United States so they could spend time together there.
Seeking advice, she asked whether there was any way to expedite the process. Hacking suggested that in such circumstances, marrying first and then filing a spousal petition might be more viable, though he cautioned that even that route could take up to two years.
He described a fiancé petition in cases with significant red flags, such as a large age gap, as potentially “dead on arrival.”
Deborah reacted with frustration, expressing disbelief that there was no faster option.
“There’s no way to make him come sooner? Oh my God! That’s terrible,” she said during the show.
Hacking maintained that there was no mechanism to significantly speed up the process, leaving Deborah visibly distressed.
Efforts to obtain immediate comment from U.S. authorities were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting.
