Okay just heard from my fiance. He is an Algerian National who has been living in Spain for the past 2 years, but does not have permenant residency in Spain. His interview was in Madrid. He got there at 9, they called him to a counter, took all our forms but not any of our letters/cards/photos and then told him to wait. He waited 2 hours (I would have freaked out sitting there for 2 hours) then they called him for the actual interview. He said the guy was kind of "looking him over" and asked him some pretty easy questions - How did you meet your fiancee, what does she do, what do you do in Spain. They asked about the Police certificate, and my fiancee explained he could not get it because he does not have residency in Spain, and they said ok.

Then they asked for my phone numbers, and told Mohamed that they were going to call me before issuing a Visa. Mohamed gave them my home and cell numbers. They gave him back the letter from the Medical Clinic and told him not to open it and to carry it to the US. Then they checked his address to mail the Visa and he was done.

This sounds pretty good to me - I was really preparing for the worst. He is pretty skeptical however. I have a few questions:

Has anyone ever had an embassy calling the USC to verify? What kinds of questions did they ask?

I have read on these boards that the immigrant is given an envelope to carry with them to the POE - is this envelope just the medical report from the clinic or are they going to mail my fiancee another envelope with his visa?

Is there any way to tell if they are going to run security checks on him? They did not mention anything...

Thanks
Christina

This sounds good Chris - the brown envelope must be the medical records is *not* to be opened. I have heard of the USC being called but have no idea what questions they may ask. As for security checks - **everyone** coming into the US will go thru security checks. It sounds like it went well and I hope he hears something soon!

Thanks!!! Are these security checks the same thing that people from Morocco go through (you know that takes months - Avanced Processing?)

yep, but it doesn't always take months - ours took one week. Folks from Muslim countries most definitely have security checks, but I'm pretty positive that everyone does. It shouldn't be a big deal, but it could be any length of time.

Thanks!!! Now I'm just in class waiting for the Embassy to call

I think in most other countries though they do the checks *before* the interview, which is why the visa is often issued the same day as the interview. I'm not sure of Spain's procedures.

I think there's more to the brown envelope than just the mdeical. I think they'll be delivering the other envelope along with the visa.

Congratulations!!

Sounds like pretty good news!! Hopefully we can give a firm congratulations for the visa in hand sometime soon.

congrats on good news

Sounds like good news Christina! MABOURK to Christina and Mohammed!If you got over the hurddle of him living in Spain without papers, all is good then!


In recent case that I know of(same consulate), the USC was called to verify certain informations on the application. It is not common, buuuuuut it is done. They do have right to do that.


The brown envelope contains all files pertaining to your case. These papers are what gets him in the US.
The visa in Alger is computer generated, then sent visa UPS to either the benefactioner's home or he can pick it up at the UPS office in Hyra. The consulate should given him some type of ye or nay answer. They make their decision there. If they said it is a ýes' then he will have to wait about 10 days for the visa (if there is more need for reviews) UPS takes about 3 days (no matter where the visa is sent to) But I recommond picking it up in the UPS office. And do not verify anything on the phone with them... they love give people the run-a-around. Here is the UPS address.
UPS Algerie
8, Rue Imam El Ghazali
Colonne Voirol 16035
HYDRA - Algiers

Tel.: 213-21-69-33-55
Fax: 213-21-69-35-55

Did the guard hug him? That is a good sign from Alger. And if the officer mentioned anything about coming back or AP...then they are running security checks. But with the recent John Walsh law, I would just tell you to except *some* delays with checks.

Bonne chance and donnot worry. Alger is a great consulate!

In Alger, these checks take no longer then 3 weeks. But usually aorund 10 days. But like I said I would not worry.I have been hearing all good news from Alger lately.... approvals approvals approvals!

Thanks Henia for your support but we actually went through the Madrid embassy. But your advice about picking up the the visa at the post office is great I will make sure to tell him to do that

Actually speaking of Algeria - I actually have another question. My fiance has not seen his family in Algeria in 2.5 years. He did not have the residency in Spain and therefore if he left Spain he couldn't reenter. He also was very concerned about the Algerian police force taking away his Algerian passport upon entry because he overstayed his tourist visa to Spain (I have heard different things about the truth to this, but my fiance swears its true).

Anyway, if inchallah we get the visa I would love for him to travel to Algeria to see his family from Spain, then come to the US. Is this at all possible? I'm assuming the visa is good for entry into the US regardless of the country your flight comes out of? He is pretty scared to but I'm scared that our AOS will take really long for whatever reason. Any thoughts?

Thanks Henia for your support but we actually went through the Madrid embassy. But your advice about picking up the the visa at the post office is great I will make sure to tell him to do that

Actually speaking of Algeria - I actually have another question. My fiance has not seen his family in Algeria in 2.5 years. He did not have the residency in Spain and therefore if he left Spain he couldn't reenter. He also was very concerned about the Algerian police force taking away his Algerian passport upon entry because he overstayed his tourist visa to Spain (I have heard different things about the truth to this, but my fiance swears its true).

Anyway, if inchallah we get the visa I would love for him to travel to Algeria to see his family from Spain, then come to the US. Is this at all possible? I'm assuming the visa is good for entry into the US regardless of the country your flight comes out of? He is pretty scared to but I'm scared that our AOS will take really long for whatever reason. Any thoughts?

Welcome, trying to help. Buuuuuuuuuut Oooooooooo ok I donnot know I assume you went throu Alger...

Um, not for sure, but I know in Tunezia (even thou we are not even talking about Tunezia he would have lost his citizenship. But I will ask my husband to be sure about Algerie.

That would be nice idea! But better have his family check. And as I said I am going to ask my husband too!


Well, if you check the timeline for AOS you can get an idea of the time frame in which he will not be able to leave the US. Visiting the family is a great idea, but it means losing the passport, then better to just wait. As above, all I can say is: Have his family go to the local police station or to the Gerndaime to ask. I would actually have them ask in their town which they live in, in the wilaya they live in and also in Alger. Before to hear it from 3 different sources...then to have one say one thing and then lose the passport. Algeriens are afamous for giving the run-a-around and false information.
And if this helps any, the UPS in Madrid:
United Parcel Service España Ltd. Y Cia SRC
Vía de los Poblados, 1 - Edificio Alvento 2
28033 Madrid
Tel.: 902-88-88-20

The manager is Jesús Frontelo there.

O BTW in the UPS Alger, donnot talk to the woman that works there on the phone, she is a moron. And when you speak to them ask for their names (they like to say they *never* talked to you )

Haha wow SORRY...blame it on the sleep deprevation

Sounds like it went well!! Congrats!

Congratulations!!! I'm glad to hear that things seem to be going smoothly for you.

As far as your fiance visiting his family, if there is any chance they might take his passport from him (along with his visa, which will be inside the passport), then I wouldn't risk it. It would be horrible if, after all of t he waiting for the visa, he loses it right before he comes to the U.S.

Once he gets here and you get married and fill out all of your AOS papers, he can get Advance Parole and go visit his family after just 2 or 3 months. I know it would be so much less expensive to have him travel from Spain to Algeria, and from Algeria to the US than to take a round trip to Algeria later on, but the risk is still there that they could take his papers.

Just FYI, my husband is familiar with the problems of the Algerian gov't confiscating passports, but he thinks that if you rub elbows with the right people, they won't mess with you.

I guess you just need to decide if the benefit outweighs the risk. Good luck and keep us posted!

I am glad his interview went smoothly. I hope he has his visa soon!

Meriem

MHandMB is right. In Algerie it is allabout who you know, and/or how much you are willing to pay them.

Thanks guys for the info about dealing with Algeria, my fiance is concerned as well I just really really wanted him to get a chance to see his family. He also kind of has the belief that having anything related to the US in his passport will give him more "power" in Algeria, but I'm not quite sure that is true...I guess we will make the final decision when/if we get the Visa - but you are right it is a big risk.

This sounds very positive ! Seems like the lack of the Spanish police report was not an issue. I have heard of the consulate calling the USC -- a couple of people here on VJ have mentioned getting such a call.

Overall, I think it sounds like it went very well. Wishing you a speedy completion to your case, and the visa in hand very soon !



-MK

This does sound good! Hope to hear "VISA IN HAND" very soon!!

good news, keep your fingers crossed

COuld work both ways... Work for him or against him (I found people in ALgerie to be very jealous when it comes to foreign lands and *opportunies* their fellow countrymen get...so who knows...I am praying it works out

It sounds like everything went well and he will be getting his visa soon. Congratulations!

~Kiyah~

Congratulations! I think it all sounds positive. How nice of the Americans to understannd he could not get a spanish police report because he was undocumented. Hope to hear the good news regarding the visa soon!

Did she post anything yet?

Congratulations, I hope he gets the visa soon. As for visiting the family, I would not risk it. Let him make it to you and maybe you can plan to visit together. He should be able to get AP within a few months at most after he arrives, then you have no need to be worried. Just my two cents. Either way, congratulations!!!!

Congratulations.