Has anyone had trouble with visas on either side due to a significant age difference in the couple for example 30 years?

It's going to be a factor. It shouldn't be insurmountable. Be ready to provide mountains of evidence.

I assume this is a Marriage-based case, so I'm moving it to the US Marriage Based forum.

Rene
Moderator

It depends on who is the older one (male or female), what country the immigrant is from, and whether a large age gap is common in that culture or not.

The ConOff cannot deny the visa based on age difference alone, but it could raise questions as to the validity of the relationship.

I am the USC (female), and my husband was the immigrant, from Iran. He is 13 years younger than I am. It's very uncommon in his culture to marry a woman so much older. Our age difference was noted by the ConOff in red bold letters on the first page of his immigration paperwork, but it was never questioned in person, and it did not hinder him from immigrating.

30 years is quite a bit more than 13.

Rene

Yes. I couldn't tell you specifically who, but some people have had problems getting marriage-based visas due to large age difference.. I agree with these factors. Regards, JEff

i'm presuming the four year difference (she's just turned 28, i'm about to turn 24) won't be a problem?

That's not an age difference.

Regards, JEff

I'm sure no one will bat an eyelid at a 4-year gap.

Rene

I'm sorry I should have indicated this. It is a (older) UKC man and a USC woman.

And here I thought a 16 year old difference between myself and a former fiancee was biggy. 30 years would be a no-brainer for me. Hell when you were 30 she wasn't born yet and when you are 60 she will be 30 and when you are 80 she will be 50. It will be like caring for an elderly parent.

Sorry if it offends but it is the truth.

Regardless of the difference if you can prove the validity of the marriage/relationship you will get your green card.

In that case, you are better off than an older USC woman and a younger Pakistani male (for example).

You might want to get more than the average documentation showing a bonafide relationship.

Rene

Rete's post reminds me that it would also be important to know the absolute ages. A 75 year old with a 45 year old is going to be looked at much differently than a 45 year old with a 15 year old.

Regards, JEff

That's raises a question, which isn't entirely off topic.

If 45 year old with a 15 year old was the case and the marriage was legal in the country in which it took place, would they still get a visa? Such a marriage being illegal under US law

The US has no law in this regard. The states control family law. [EDIT] True, some states allow same-sex marriages but federal immigration law does not recognize same-sex marriages, even if they are permitted in the state or country where they were performed. Also, once upon a time Mr.F posted about the interesting issues that can arise when filing for divorce in a state where the marriage, performed in another state, would not have been legal.

If you want to go off on this tangent, let's make it 46 and 16, which I believe would be possible in a few states but not in most. And to avoid the further complication of I-864, let's make the 46 year old the US citizen.

Regards, JEff

If the USC is the 15-year old, they have to wait until he/she is 18 years old so he/she can sign the I-864. Until then, no visa.

If the USC is the 45-year old, and the marriage is legal in the country in which it took place, I don't know.

Rene