I am a super newbie and I realize that I will probably be asking idiotic questions, but please help me! I have tried to read the guides and FAQ but it seems my questions are too dumb to be covered in those sections!

Ok, I am an American...my husband is Egyptian...we live in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia.

I want my husband to immigrate...but we are totally confused about how to do that and keep getting even more confusing advice/answers.

Since we both live abroad does this mean we do a consular filing? If so, what papers do we need to file first? Do we file a stanard I-30 and then just hand deliver it to the US Embassy here? I am really so confused and it seems that I can't get clear, detailed answers from the internet...

Any advice and help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thank you so much!

Welcome to VJ!
Yes, you can do DCF if you resided in Saudi Arabia for a certain period of time (you have to ask the US Embassy over there about the residency minim required).
You will need:
-form I-130
-a copy of USC's birth certificate
-a copy of USC's passport
-form G-325A for USC
-form G-325A for spouse
-copy of your marriage certificate
-copy of spouse's passport
-a passport-style photo of USC
-a passport-style photo of your spouse
-proof of residency in Saudi Arabia
-proof that your marriage is bona fide : joint bank accounts, rent receipts with both your names, etc etc
-money to pay the fee
Still, call the US Embassy over there and ask if it is something else they need from you.

Good luck in your journey!

Thank you soooooooooooo much!!! (((BIG HUGS)))

Ok, another stupid question..

What counts as a domicile? I don't own a home but I do have a place to live in the USA...

Also, I have no U.S. income so my mother and grandmother (who both meet the requirements) have offered to act as support sponsors...will that be ok?

Thank you again and again!!!

Emily

For the moment your domicile will be the one in the foreign country..later on in the process you will need a US domicile, you can use your parents one.
Yes, you can have a co-sponsor for the affidavit of support
Ciao,
Adriana

Thanks again Adriana!

Ok another question (sorry, each time I come up with one I ask it here if I can't find the exact answer on the guides and FAQ)...

Ok so the newest question is related to property. My husband owns a property (and vehicles) in Egypt but we're not sure how to prove that. The deed is in Arabic and it's not as formal of a document as one would receive in America when buying a house. He also does not want to bring the original document to Saudi Arabia (where we will be filing) because he feels that could be dangerous (if that document gets lost he is majorly screwed)....so, I am wondering if we can copy the deed while in Egypt and get it translated into English. But, does the copy need to be authenticated, and if so....by who? Also, the deed doesn't have the current value of the home on it, is an appraisal necessary?

To be honest my husband is reluctant to even go this route, apparently he had friends who applied for Canadian citizenship and it was recommended to them that if they wanted their visas approved they should sell their Egyptian properties. I don't know the validity of these stories but they are in the back of his mind and he seems like he'd rather not get his Egyptian properties involved at all if it can be avoided. I disagree with him.

What to do?

About the translations you should ask the US Embassy/Consulate if they want a legal translation (you can make it to a english certified translator in that country).
About the property your husband owns, why you have to tell them about it? You will be the sponsor together with a co-sponsor (your mother or grandmother) . I do not see why your husband has to prove his property, maybe I am wrong, I do not know the rules of that country.

You also will need in this process the tax return from the last 3 years. Hope you are done with this!

I suggest you to go to the Regional Discussions and find some members from the area you are. They can help you more with questions related to your spouse's country.
All the best,
Adriana

Thank you again!

Ok I just saw an article which said that as of January people can no longer apply for DCF!!! Is this true? It said we have to apply directly at the UCIS...what does this mean???? Does this mean I have to apply from INSIDE the USA? I am totally confused...

And as for asking my embassy...yea right! We call and call and call them and they don't answer, they don't return our calls, and they don't return emails...oh and the one time they did return an email they told me to look on their website. Their website has no information at all.

*sigh*

In January DCF stopped in the countries without a USCIS Office because of the Adam Walsh Act. But they reopened the DCF for the Embassies/Consulates. I do not know for sure the situation of your country.
Try to get in touch with members from the same area you are. Try to call again and again the Embassy, try to find the web site of the Embassy.......or try to make a visit (if it is not too hard for you) to the Embassy with all the documents you have.
Sorry I cannot help you more. I also read your story from the Regional Discussion and I was so said to hear about the discrimination because of religion. I feel for people in this situation.
Do not stop no matter what , have faith and you will succeed .

give me the link to their web site

You are the best...

Here's the website, you'll see it's totally useless...

http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/saudi-arabia/I...RANT_VISAS.html

Thanks for the kind words of support and for caring enough to take the time and help us!

(((big hugs))))

You right, not much to find out from their web site.
It says :
http://saudiarabia.usembassy.gov/saudi-ara...._Citizens.html
"Immigrant Visas
Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

The immediate relative category refers to the spouse and unmarried minor children of a United States citizen, and the parents of a United States citizen who is over the age of twenty-one. U.S. immigration law places no numerical limits on the number of visas issued each year to persons in this category.

U.S. citizens who are resident in Saudi Arabia may submit petitions for their immediate relatives at the Consular Section in Riyadh."

So, they're accepting petitions

You're my new best friend

Hope to hear good news from you soon!

Ok...ANOTHER question, someone else on this forum said that I will not be able to file a DCF UNLESS I am filing from the country where we were married. I was under the impression that you could file from any country as long as you are a legal resident of that country.

I am American..he is Egyptian...we married in Egypt...however we are both legal residents of Saudi Arabia, living in Saudi Arabia full time.

So, what's the deal?

I am Romanian, my husband is USC, we got married in Denmark and we reside in Germany...we started DCF in Frankfurt Germany with no problem.

Amina,

Email the Embassy again with specific questions and mention that you have not foudn answers from the link that they provided. It seems to me you will be able to do DCF, but you need to find out from the Embassy for sure.