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Military Service? Starting out on a k1 visa from Egypt! First question...

By haslokas in Middle East and North Africa

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haslokas Newbie

haslokas   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Egypt
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Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, visajourney is really a wonderful and helpful community!

So, am a US citizen, 28 year old female, and I am engaged to my 25 year old Egyptian fiance. I am currently living in Egpyt with him, and we are planning to start the visa process. Before I start the petition, however, we have an extremely vital and specific question/circumstance:

He is currently enrolled in university and so is temporarily exempt from his compulsory military service. He is exempt until 2017 or upon graduation.

Since his university holds his military service record, he cannot access it until he either graduates or withdraws from school, therefore he cannot include that documentation in his 3rd packet. The only document he can get regarding his military service is a letter from his university indicating that he is currently enrolled and is therefore temporarily exempt. This letter is apparently authenticated by the Ministry of Education, etc, and so is a legal document.

Has anyone been in this situation? Can a student with temporary military exemption apply for a K1 visa? If so, what documentation fulfills the military service record requirement in the 3rd packet?

If by some luck that question can be answered, we have another doozy: Will the military grant him permission to leave the country with a K1 visa? While technically it is a non-immigrant visa, we are afraid the military might realize that a K1 typically leads to immigration, and so might not let him travel with this visa.

Fwew. I am eternally grateful to you all who even take the time to read all this, and if you have information that might help, or know someone who might, I would be so appreciative.

Thanks again, and best of luck to you all!

-Erin and Tarek

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Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,576

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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Welcome to the forum.

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Smelserjl Collaborator

Smelserjl   137

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Egypt
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My husband had the same issue. He got a copy of it from the military hq that's out in the desert (I cant remember the name of the city), but I think somewhere near 6 of October. I'll check with him tomorrow and get back to you.

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   43,003

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
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Posted

*** Thread moved from Introducing Our Members forum to the Middle East/North Africa regional forum, for country-specific advice. ***

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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  • 4 weeks later...
Cali&Safi Rookie

Cali&Safi   3

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Morocco
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Posted

In order to receive the visa, he will have to have a exemption from the military, and I do not mean a temporary exemption.

The military will have to give their permission for him to leave the country no matter what visa he may obtain through this process and no matter if he was exemption he has from military service or if he served his mandatory military service.

Good luck, do your homework very carefully on this one, it could get sticky.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Romet Enthusiast

Romet   28

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Egypt
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Posted

In order to receive the visa, he will have to have a exemption from the military, and I do not mean a temporary exemption.

The military will have to give their permission for him to leave the country no matter what visa he may obtain through this process and no matter if he was exemption he has from military service or if he served his mandatory military service.

Good luck, do your homework very carefully on this one, it could get sticky.

Hello Cali&Safi,

We got our "Packet 3" and in the itemized list it does not list this document. Is this something that we'll need to obtain as well and submit either with the Packet 3 and/or during the interview process?

Thanks!!

Our lovely journey!!

10/08/2015: AOS packet sent to USCIS (Chicago lockbox) via USPS Priority mail (They received it 10/10/15).

10/16/2015: Text/eEmails received from USCIS with receipt number. We received 3.

10/22/2015: Received hard copies of NOA's for I-131, I-765, & I-485.

11/01/2015: Got NOA for biometrics appt (for 11/12/15).

11/03/2015: Did WALK IN biometrics appt - took 15 mins. Person taking said work permit should be in mail in less than 4 wks.

12/09/2015: Got email/text notification for INTERVIEW date.

12/28/2015: Got email/text notification EAD card has been mailed.

12/31/2015: Received EAD/AP card.

01/11/2016: INTERVIEW (in Los Angeles office).

01/11/2016: Case in in "CONTINUANCE". Awaiting approval. (Feels like AP).

06/27/2016: I-485 APPROVED - (FINALLY!!!) / 264 DAYS (8 MONTHS 20 DAYS)

07/01/2016: GREEN CARD RECEIVED

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  • 4 months later...
haslokas Newbie

haslokas   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Egypt
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Posted

Hi everyone! I should have shared this info as soon as I found out, but I ended up emailing the US consulate (consularcairoiv@state.gov) and asked them about this specific case, this is what they replied as follows:

ME: He is still in school and so has not yet completed his military service. Can he still get a K1 visa?

THEM: In this case , we will ask the applicant for enrollment certificate from the school instead of the military certificate.

As some of you mentioned, he needs a permit to travel anyway, but this is a separate issue from his military card, which is held by his university. In that case, it will be easiest (necessary) for him to travel during a school break, and while I am not sure if he can easily get travel permission on a K1 visa (might seem fishy to them?), the other option is for him to buy a ticket anywhere else (like Lebanon) on a tourist visa, and then continue on to the United States from there.

Good luck on all of your paths!

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