Hi all,

My husband and I (USC) are about to schedule our first interview for DCF in Cairo and I was hoping you all could give me some insight on what we can expect. My husband and I met online three years ago, married in Cairo one year ago, and I've been living in Egypt with him for 6 months now. From reading some of the other posts on here, I'm getting more than a little worried about the application process.

What can we expect at the initial interview? Are there any additional documents that were not stated in the packet from the Embassy that we need to bring with us? Is there anything we can do to ensure a smooth and (Inshallah) fast process?

It's nice that there is a forum like this. I've read other posts here on the forum and I've seen how helpful you all can be.

Thanks everyone and Happy Ramadan,
~E~

Is there no one who can help me, or am I supposed to do something on the site before I ask a question?

Hello. I have not seen many people posting about petitioning in Egypt, which is why you haven't received any specific response yet.

As a general point, unless the embassy explicitly states otherwise, you should bring the I-130, the G-325As, two passport style photos (one of you and one of the hubby), evidence of a bonafide relationship (something that shows you live together is good here), and the fee for filing the petition. Also, proof that you have been residing in and not just visiting Egypt for the past six months.

If you ask in the MENA folder in the Regional Forum, you will probably get general information about what the embassy in Cairo is like. Good luck!

in order to make DCF ..

1- get an opintment for a petition interview .. you both will have to show up at that interview , and more than likely you both will be interviewed separated .
_ try to take all of your evedince with you to support your case hopefuly your petition will be approved the same day and if so you will receive ( packet3 )
2- follow the instructions and complete the packet3 requirements .. send it to the embassy as soon as you finish it .
3- you will receive packet4 ( interview letter ) and this interview is ONLY for your husband , the USC is not required to be there .

I thought Cairo didnt do DCF anymore??

1- cairo doesn't allow marriage anymore .. but they are already married .
2- they are still able to file a petition because she has been in Egypt for more than 6 months now .. this link will explain under what condetions the petition may b accpeted ...

http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/iv003.htm

Thanks everyone for replying. I was starting to worry there was no one out there!

Cairo does allow DCF, but only if the USC has lived in Egypt for 6 months. The laws changed as of 1/1/2007. Unfortunately, our first attempt to schedule an appointment was 1/14/2007 and I had not been living in Egypt then. So I missed the deadline by 14 days.



Can the embassy just look at my passport and see that my entry visa is dated six months ago and there is no exit stamp?

Thanks again to everyone for replying!

Unless it is very different from applying in London, they will want to see more than that, such as proof of your residence (a bill or a lease with both your names on it), proof of working if you have, etc. Anything that's official type stuff showing you've been resident there for six months.

My husband called the embassy and they said that I didn't need any special visa or documentation to show that I am a resident. I plan to take envelopes from the packages my family has sent me while I've been living here. That's really the only thing I have. We live with my husband's family and I don't work, so I really don't have anything more "official" than that.

Did you not get some type of resident permit or register with the police or something? Usually there is some requirement along these lines when you are 'living' there vs. on a tourist visa.

NO. I called the embassy when I first moved here and they told me I didn't need any special visa or anything to live here. Please tell me this doesn't mean that I will have to wait another six months before I can apply!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It sounds like you explained to the embassy what documentation you have and that you don't have any specific visa, but they said it was okay. As long as they accept your I-130 it's fine. I would go ahead and send it still but on the cover letter asked that it's returned to you instead of forwarded to the US if they cannot process it.

EDIT - Oh, wait, I think Cairo is one of the locations where you take it in person right? I think it's worth a shot still because they made it sound fine over the phone.

Thank you to monnik for resolving this!

I can go to a ministry office to get a visa stamped in my passport and they will back date it to the time I arrived. So everything is good.

Too bad the embassy didn't tell me that when I called!

FYI...

Called the Cairo Embassy about the "proof of residency" issue. They said I do not need a residency stamp in my passport, they will just look at the entry stamp from the airport and entry on the standard tourist visa is O.K. No special visas or stamps required!