Ok, I know there are 'official' things to read about this, but I want to know the reality of it. How possible is it for MENA family members to get visitors visas? My husband has his 2 year card now, but plans to get citizenship in the future. Will it be easier then, or doesn't it matter? I'd love it if his parents could visit, especially since my ex won't agree to having me take my kids over there. They've seen each other on webcam, but it's not the same. Without their father's permission, I think I can't take them there until they are 16 or 18 (the oldest is 11, the youngest is 5).

His parents own a house, and his father works. I know he explained it to me somewhat before we filed the K1, so I know it has something to do with showing compelling reasons for them to go back after they visit....

My kids would really love to meet their step-grandparents. They'd also really love to go to Morocco, but that will probably have to wait.

I'm curious how that works too. I hope you get some good answers.

I think consensus is males have a harder time than females getting visitor's visas from the MENA area... we just applied for one brother (42) and one sister (52) of his, both own their own properties, cars, etc. Brother denied and they wouldn't look at his evidence, sister approved.

We were told by some fellow Egyptians at our Islamic Society that the older they are the easier it is to get a visa. I think they said if the parents were over 60 it can take as little as two weeks but again, I never read this I was told this by others.

I always think of the couple who had the parents visit and the father was deported. That still makes me worry about if we ever sent for his mother.

does your sister in law still planning to come for a visit?

Don't even bother if they're young, you'll just be throwing out the $100 application fee. You might have luck with the parents if they are old enough and have good jobs or a business, but it's a toss up. Men definitely have a harder time getting a visitor's visa then women.

I can't really blame the consulate for not wanting to give out visitor's visas. About half of the Moroccans here that my husband knows came on visitor's visas with absolutely no intention of ever going back.

I hate that there is gender discrimination too though.

Also, that story about the girl's FIL is still scaring me from the idea of bringing my husband's parents here someday to visit.

Apparently, yes. So of course, follwing the regular social norms for there, we're going to have to buy the entirety of teh ticket, etc.

I feel ya on this one....

Yeah, I don't know exactly how he thought we'd afford 2 of them! that would be over 5k! I'm hoping to calm his ideas about what he wants to do when she's here some... because what he wants to to practically drive all over creation and it's very expensive to stay in Chicago, etc., especially since he only wants to spend like 4 days on this.. and it will be over 1k for that. Now, I'm hoping he'll let her have her own room at our house though. he was saying before she'd sleep in our room and his brothers in another room and then no one in the third bedroom because he didn't think she should stay alone. I think she is a big girl and can do it.

I don't see why she can't sleep in her own room, but there are still some things in middle eastern culture I haven't got used to. Maybe thats normal to not sleep alone???

Yeah, I imagine it's not considered very host-like of us to make her her own room or something. Sort of like how if they are respecting you, they all pretty much practically sit in your lap rather than spread out through the livingroom. They don't get into the idea of personal space much. I think it would be nicer though, because you could be free to dress and undress, etc. So we'll see. Maybe if I put it that way, he'll consider it.

I didn't feel crowded with my husbands family. I did share a room with his sister since he was in Syria and I visited them alone in Jordan.

I think they points you made about giving her privacy are valid. I hope he sees that.

Same for me-- my Dh's family mostly left me some space which was nice. It was everyone else i visited LOL. Yeah, I hope he sees it too. She'd only be like 50 feet from us... it's not that bad! LOL!

Sounds like my hubby...LMAO. He was saying having his mom stay in our room w/ me and babies and he would stay in the spare room. I said...ummm, no ur mom and babies in spare room and we keep our room...LMAO!

Yes... that was a configuration mentioned! was like dude, she'll be here for 20+ days!!! I think I may need some privacy at some point of my own! And I didn't like the idea of having to split up

Exactly...LOL.

Great question! My husband and I have already asked his mother to think about coming here around January for a visit. Adams sister is about to have a baby in September and his mom wants to be there and help her awhile for the baby. Adam & his sister are the only two children of his parents and his father passed away almost 2 yrs ago so his mother is all they have and they are all she has basically. We call her at least once a week and I really miss her alot. Probably around November I would think would be a good time for us to start checking into the visitors visa for his mom. Although I must say that after hearing about the FIL deported with no reason given to any of the family has made me a bit uneasy. Adams mom never flown before and I would hope for the best experience for her especially since she is in her late 50s . How long is a visitors visa good for? Thats another thing for us to think about how long does she want to stay and can stay. I will have to keep up with this thread so I can see all the bits of imformation coming along.

I think you can stay up to 6 months on a visitor's visa? If you go to the embassy site for Cairo, they will likely have a link to the DOS where they will list average wait times for recieving a visitor's visa if approved... so you can use that as a rough estimate for when to apply. Also, the itnerview time may be a month or more after you subit the application.. so if you wanted here there in January I would say November is the minimum I'd do it early if both have a wait time of 1 month... but I don't know about Egypt. For us, we submitted their apps on July 2nd, then they had an interview July 28, and they told his sister to come back in 5 days for her visa but DOS said average wait time is 28 days for a visa . So we were pretty close at like 31 if she gets hers on time.

Egypt is at about 1 month out on interviews now. You call up and schedule over the phone, then pay your fee ($131) to a CIB bank, then bring your application and CIB receipt to the embassy interview. From that point, (typical wait time...no hitches) the visa can take about 5 days...I have heard faster times and much longer. We are in the process now with my MIL. Her interview is coming up soon, insha'allah, if/when she is approved she can be here by the middle of Ramadan.