Moonlight2011

They definitely did a background check on both the K1 petitioner and beneficiary. That's why all the biographical information was submitted.
As you are aware visa applicants from MENA countries, especially men, face extra scrutiny.
Best of luck.

The wait time for a spouse of a LPR is significantly longer than for that of a USC. There are annual limits on the number of family visas for LPRs so you have to wait for a space to become available. When I last researched this for a friend several years ago, average wait time was 5 years. It may be different now, but a quick google should give you current data. Many people are still waiting by the time their spouse becomes a US citizen at which time they change their petition. Though in your case, as your husband cannot get his citizenship for almost 5 years, it is probably best to start the process now.
As noted, you should be prepared to show evidence about your relationship and explain why you were not mentioned on his lottery application and were married very shortly after he got his green card.
Having listened to much incorrect visa advice in Algeria, from lawyers, well-intentioned friends and family etc I really encourage you to do your own research and, if you want legal advice, have your husband talk to a lawyer in the US. And please, please, please, even if someone knows someone who did (fill in the blank) and got a tourist visa while married or got the visa in a very short time, take it with a grain of salt and just focus on doing your own process correctly. If you are honest on a tourist visa--as you MUST be--and state that you are married to an LPR, you will not get a tourist visa. So, do this right and prepare for a long wait. Don't listen to anyone who tells you there are shortcuts.

Through their system, both automatic and a person. Usually(no matter what petition) they ask you to wait 30 days beyond the normal processing time before putting in a service request. Processing time(180 days) + 30 days. They sometimes just throw a number out there above 30. Otherwise you can try this; http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=c561767d005f2210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD however it'll most like take longer that what you're already doing.

The 180 days is from the date it was transferred to the California Service Center. If they told you 45 days maybe that is from the date you called them and put in a service request. Did you put in a service request? Did you talk to a tier 2 representative?

This infuriates me. We are not allowed to open the medical in order to make copies, and then if they lose it, its our responsibility to replace it! Not to mention the financial burden of another medical.

up date; Got my driving license. Yesterday ...(1st written i failed ( long story to explain what happend that day), second 80% written. PASSS..and driving was good, my paralel parking was ok, a bit far from the curb but i got it....)........Yahooo
here are few links i used to help in my preparation plus the hand book, i will recommend to read it fully more than one time and study the last page of it where tehre are a sample of questions asked in the Test.
http://www.drivingrules.net/quiz/qa1.htm
http://www.golocalnet.com/st/texas/index1.html
http://driversprep.com/index.php
http://djitz.com/guides/texas-driver-license-test-written-and-road-test-guide/ ( this blog is very good) he created an app game for all the questions that are in the book, you can practise with it, but i recommend to try answer the questions youre self by searching for the right answer you will remember it better.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PLD972762803BBA9EE
Iphone apps:
Texas driver license practise test..........>Free
DMV Genius....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Free
Drivers ED.................................................> You pay 2 $...(its nothing)...its very good too,
Swerve......................................................>..i dont rememebr i think its free.
Here you go and good luck !

Hello,
as all VJ members explained before: youre chances to have you application approved, with out that actual condition: have met in person in the past two years before applying...`ARE NONE`.
Im sorry to be that hard to you, but following the US immigration and other experience....you are going waist money and time...
by the way, when i read youre story(i dont want be judgmental here), but i always find it weird when some people decide to get married with people that they never met in person.
If you think that youre case is going be okay just because you are in love and that you have 4years proof of communication: PLEASE DONT.
As a responsible person, you need to make efforts, to met, to travel to Algeria or meet in an other country..its very important for youre future in this journey:cause its going be a long long Visa process.
Algeria is very safe now, still few places arent but locals know where to do not go , so im sure youre fiance will do the right things.:-)
Good luck

Thank you for your condolences, and I will pass it along to my husband. Thank you also for your suggestions. I have been trying my best to be what he needs, right now. Love, and support when he needs it, and space too when he needs that. We have spent some time with my family, since his fathers passing and Hamza appreciated that. He is more of a private person, and would rather mourn privately, or just with close family. So we really haven't tried to spend so much time with friends. But he is doing much better now, after talking to his family a bit more. Thank you

OHH! OHHH!!!!! Speaking of naked men.
Gee, I have a BA in physical therapy and 80% of my client base were males. I had been a physical therapist for 7 years before moving on to a "gentler" career. I was a physical therapist for "Coal Miners" down in the remotest parts of Alabama for a few years AND on top of that, I worked with YOUNG men between the ages of 18-25 that suffered from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Naturally, the boys with TBI have no sense of modesty, and they are unaware of their inhibitions, often times disoriented, discombobulated, out of sorts and all depending on the "Glasgow Scale" of severity. Well, during their course of care, a lot of times they would just ambulate the halls during therapy and start to "disrobe" and become incoherent ON the spot. They expose themselves because they are NOT right in their heads. IT's almost like reprogramming a 3 year old brain in a 20 year old body.
During those therapy moments, I have seen plenty of PENII (it's a plural term for MANY ####### / not penises) in my whole life, more than I need to. None of these moments faze me. I mean, you've seen one #######, you've seen them all.
RIght now, in my teaching career, AGAIN is predominately males... my student ratio is 4 males to one female. I am an agriculture/horticulture teacher SPECIFICALLY for sensory impaired kids. So, a lot of "tactile" instructions take place.
I'll have to address this matter with my man during round 2. I don't think he's ever met someone like me - a female doing this kind of thing. SERIOUS talk is needed!
Well, thinking about it right now.... I am not the sweet helpless diminutive girl who sits and waits for her knight in a shining armor to rescue her. I grew up in a very dominant male household (4 BIG uncles, 8 BIG male cousins, 6 BIG male 2nd cousins, 1 BIG brother, 2 BIG fathers step/bio), and situated right outside of the Marine base.
I am starting to realize maybe my fiance does not KNOW enough about me and he thinks he can "impose" such edict on me.
We're gonna have another BIG talk and I'm ARMED and ready for a match.
More to follow....

Update:
I butted heads with him tonight ALL THE WAY from beginning to the end for 2 hours. SERIOUSLY, nails, tooth, my wolverine claws, and my brains. "Sticking to my guns and all"... He relented at the end and said, "Emily, can't you just say 'I won't smile at men?'" REALLY!? I said what kind of smile are we talking about. This has gotten to the point where it's becoming RIDICULOUS. He finally said, "Let's change topic."
Truly, my confidence, resolve, and inner strength has become only stronger after reading all of your supportive VJ input. Nor did I falter and became a wimpering little kid.
I told him tonight, "ADAPT, or move on" , "ACCEPT me, or say good bye" , "Love me or Leave me be" His face changed when I challenged him being a Salafist Jihadist, an extremist, and all. He was pretty shocked I found the meaning of this word. (THANKS Moonlight ). To have knowledge is to be forearmed! He lambasted me for "not knowing" enough about the salafist's roles. SO, I lambasted BACK at him for not knowing the full reason for "smiling."
I told him I have adjusted enough and made a point that even the BEST people acting PIOUS can have evil and impure intentions, while so called country bumpkins (like me) knowing nothing about rules/laws/expectations can have the BEST interest at heart.... Allah/God will look at BOTH sides and not just based on "appearances."
He was .... dumbfounded more like it.
We have one more night, ROUND 2 and I am prepared for a LONG bumpy ride. I'm armed with information, your guidances, and etc.
Again I thank you all SO much for your support. More to come... ROUND 2 tomorrow at 3pm....

Im very sorry to hear that.
my advice after all this, is RUN, RUn and RUN far ...very far.
Email the embassy as the people adviced u, stop the process, call the embassy.
Im algerian, and i only can give you the best advice on Algerians.
I feel very sorry for you that its happening to you, but i feel if this is happening now its better than later when he will be in the Us, and u will be responsible for him for 10 years.
Im algerian woman, and im very surprised that ure finace didnt show his real algerian caracter earlier than now.Not all algerians are like that,but some are and you got unlucky to pick up this one.
Usually the algerians that are like that, uses women to have a visa and travel, and try to control the foreign woman, if she agrees in everything(like to convert, to wear hidjab, to stop all relation with male and woman friends that are not muslim...stop eating porc ,or drinking..going out alone, shopping alone...)...they will stay married..but in most cases, foreign woman dont accept and feel in prisn after few months or years..and ask for divorce, from that the man will ebhappy to divorce and have a new girlfriend(usually they already planned to marry an algerian (the moms will be happy to find a girl from same town or family to marry to..)
my question to you: is how did you feel about him, his family when u were in Algeria? u came to algeria yes? did he ever asked you to change something before: like religion, drinking...teh way you dress up??friends??what does he do in life?did he studied ?
please dont get me wrong, but im just trying to figure out how this person is, from wich area he is...you know algeria is very big and it contain a lots of different people....!!!
unfortunatly,there are many like the new salafist, that talks about religion all time,there wifes wears burka and they have a beard and wear strange clothes (im not judging them..but this is not our clothes and culture they brought that from pakistan..and excttt countries).
i feel very a shamed to hear that he is treating you that way. please think twice, but i will recomand you to broke up with him and run away, he doesnt deserve you, and believe me youre life is going be a night marre if he gets to the US.
if you need any help just send me an email here on VJ.i will be happy to talk to u and share my thoughts on this situation.

Im very sorry to hear that.
my advice after all this, is RUN, RUn and RUN far ...very far.
Email the embassy as the people adviced u, stop the process, call the embassy.
Im algerian, and i only can give you the best advice on Algerians.
I feel very sorry for you that its happening to you, but i feel if this is happening now its better than later when he will be in the Us, and u will be responsible for him for 10 years.
Im algerian woman, and im very surprised that ure finace didnt show his real algerian caracter earlier than now.Not all algerians are like that,but some are and you got unlucky to pick up this one.
Usually the algerians that are like that, uses women to have a visa and travel, and try to control the foreign woman, if she agrees in everything(like to convert, to wear hidjab, to stop all relation with male and woman friends that are not muslim...stop eating porc ,or drinking..going out alone, shopping alone...)...they will stay married..but in most cases, foreign woman dont accept and feel in prisn after few months or years..and ask for divorce, from that the man will ebhappy to divorce and have a new girlfriend(usually they already planned to marry an algerian (the moms will be happy to find a girl from same town or family to marry to..)
my question to you: is how did you feel about him, his family when u were in Algeria? u came to algeria yes? did he ever asked you to change something before: like religion, drinking...teh way you dress up??friends??what does he do in life?did he studied ?
please dont get me wrong, but im just trying to figure out how this person is, from wich area he is...you know algeria is very big and it contain a lots of different people....!!!
unfortunatly,there are many like the new salafist, that talks about religion all time,there wifes wears burka and they have a beard and wear strange clothes (im not judging them..but this is not our clothes and culture they brought that from pakistan..and excttt countries).
i feel very a shamed to hear that he is treating you that way. please think twice, but i will recomand you to broke up with him and run away, he doesnt deserve you, and believe me youre life is going be a night marre if he gets to the US.
if you need any help just send me an email here on VJ.i will be happy to talk to u and share my thoughts on this situation.

This general guides apply to people who are required to file for Adjustment of Status once they enter the US to maintain their legal status. This applies to certain non-immigrant visa holders with a K1, K3, and others. Once you file you will have several options available to track your case.

Review the following:
Please read the Step-by-Step Guide to AOS What is Adjustment of Status? Please read the Step-by-Step Guide(s) on getting a Social Security Number and initial or a renewal EAD. Here are two documents that describe your rights and responsibilities as a Legal US Permanent Resident:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/B4.pdf http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1____ Helpful Tips:

Tip #1 (updated by member: Joanna&Bobby):


Tip #2



Tip #3 (from Meauxna)

Hello,
as all VJ members explained before: youre chances to have you application approved, with out that actual condition: have met in person in the past two years before applying...`ARE NONE`.
Im sorry to be that hard to you, but following the US immigration and other experience....you are going waist money and time...
by the way, when i read youre story(i dont want be judgmental here), but i always find it weird when some people decide to get married with people that they never met in person.
If you think that youre case is going be okay just because you are in love and that you have 4years proof of communication: PLEASE DONT.
As a responsible person, you need to make efforts, to met, to travel to Algeria or meet in an other country..its very important for youre future in this journey:cause its going be a long long Visa process.
Algeria is very safe now, still few places arent but locals know where to do not go , so im sure youre fiance will do the right things.:-)
Good luck

Hello,
as all VJ members explained before: youre chances to have you application approved, with out that actual condition: have met in person in the past two years before applying...`ARE NONE`.
Im sorry to be that hard to you, but following the US immigration and other experience....you are going waist money and time...
by the way, when i read youre story(i dont want be judgmental here), but i always find it weird when some people decide to get married with people that they never met in person.
If you think that youre case is going be okay just because you are in love and that you have 4years proof of communication: PLEASE DONT.
As a responsible person, you need to make efforts, to met, to travel to Algeria or meet in an other country..its very important for youre future in this journey:cause its going be a long long Visa process.
Algeria is very safe now, still few places arent but locals know where to do not go , so im sure youre fiance will do the right things.:-)
Good luck

Hello everyone, I used to participate on this forum regularly back a few years ago. My husband and I got married in May of 2007, but he didn't arrive here until December of 2008. It was a long journey filled with the angst I'm sure many of you are going through now. He was Iraqi and and a refugee. He couldn't go back to his country and wasn't very welcome in Syria or Jordan, where he stayed for a couple years before finally coming to the United States. We never did get his spouse visa in those eighteen months. The whole process dragged and was completely frustrating. We got lucky that the US approved him for a refugee visa, so he came here on that. It saved us some money in the long run though I spent a lot already trying the other route.
Anyway, I know many people hear horror stories about MENA marriages. Part of me worried about it myself, but I believed I was the exception to the rule. We were open and honest with each other and around the same age. Thankfully, my marriage was among the small percentage that make it. He hasn't needed me since the day he arrived in the country, due to the US government sponsored his coming here rather than me. Yet it will be three years in December since he arrived and our relationship is stronger than ever. We still don't have any children, but we hope some day it will happen (God willing). Due to the economy going bad right before he got here, it took eight months for him to get his first job. The first two he found paid less than four hundred a month since they were part time. The third job, at a gas station, gave him full time work but barely above minimum wage. It wasn't until seven months ago that he got a job through Walmart's distribution center that he finally got something making about $15 an hour. We live in a cheaper state so this is okay. It is labor intensive and not what his degree is in, but we are thankful that it at least pays the bills. I have been able to go back to school and finish my degree as well, which has been great.
I have to say, the first year was the worst. Those that may have told you this are not lying or exaggerating. It is awful and takes tremendous patience. Not everyone can survive it because it requires both spouses to really try. The MENA spouse will need help with every tiny thing. You will go to the grocery store and they will want to know why there are one hundred kinds of salad dressing, ketchup, cheese, vinegar, etc. You have to explain about credit cards, banking, pumping gas, fast food drive-thrus, and the list goes on. My husband didn't even understand why we had to pay the electric every month since they only paid it quarterly or something. It all sounds amusing now, but I swear the endless questions and acts of helplessness were enough to drive me insane. We definitely fought and occasionally thought our marriage wouldn't last. Yet, we still remembered that we loved each other. How could we go through all those eighteen months of pain and troubles to get him here just to give up? So we rode it out. I compromised on some things, he compromised on others. We learned what subjects were safe to talk about and which ones were best left alone. He learned to fend for himself and get around without me helping him. I forced him to become independent and he hated it, but he learned and is quite happy now to be self-sufficient. Don't get me wrong, the man still will not cook or clean, lol. Yet he will work, occasionally take the trash out, buy groceries, and other small things. He has mastered the credit card quite well (which can be a bad thing but he hates debt so not too bad). The check book is still a mystery to him no matter how many times I explain and even show how he can copy the previous entries through the carbon copies. I think he just doesn't want to write the rent check out himself. He will walk it down to the office though!
The other day I was on the phone with a service company about something and I had to ask my husband a couple questions for the lady on the line. We got to joking and laughing and she asked if we were newly weds! I told her no, we had been married for over four years. She was shocked. We often laugh now like we did when we first met. Keeping a sense of humor and lightheartedness has helped tremendously. Remembering to say "I love you" and maintaining affection help as well. What amazes me most is how hard my husband still tries to make me happy, even when I'm being the less than pleasant one. He still cares a lot and it always touches me.
So, I just wanted you all to know that there is hope. Not all MENA relationships fail. Some do work. I think occasionally one of the older crew pops in to let you know, but thought I would add to the list. For everyone waiting, keep your faith and hope alive. I wish you a short journey to reuniting with your spouses and much happiness.

I forgot to say:
You have to meet once to launch the process, but still you have to try meet as much as you can, cause its really strange to marry sombody without knowing the Max of this person in reality..(contact online are sometimes not good for in the eye of the embassy).
The embassy will question everything in this relationship. You have to make sure that is a bonafide relationship.
Cheers

Hello,
as all VJ members explained before: youre chances to have you application approved, with out that actual condition: have met in person in the past two years before applying...`ARE NONE`.
Im sorry to be that hard to you, but following the US immigration and other experience....you are going waist money and time...
by the way, when i read youre story(i dont want be judgmental here), but i always find it weird when some people decide to get married with people that they never met in person.
If you think that youre case is going be okay just because you are in love and that you have 4years proof of communication: PLEASE DONT.
As a responsible person, you need to make efforts, to met, to travel to Algeria or meet in an other country..its very important for youre future in this journey:cause its going be a long long Visa process.
Algeria is very safe now, still few places arent but locals know where to do not go , so im sure youre fiance will do the right things.:-)
Good luck

Do not rush because the petition will be denied and you will lose a filing fee. They will not accept proof of meeting that happened after filing. Meet in person, gather evidence and then file.

I dont know much about the markets in Casablanca and Marrakech, but in Agadir there's a famous '' souk'' called Souk L'hed ( translation: Sunday Market) it is opened throughout the week except Monday. You will find some nice Moroccan arts and crafts in Marrakech. Also close to Agadir there's my city Taroudant, it's a small old city i have some pictures of it below. It's famous for its '' artisanat'' and its products are sold throughout Morocco, leather stuff, sandals, bags, lamps, caftans... I am not advertising for the city, but just because it has what you're looking for and it's about 45 mins from Agadir.
Caftans prices vary, it depends on the fabric and the type of work, try to check out as many shops as you can to have an idea about what you want and the prices.
I forgot how much i paid for the trip from Casablanca to Marrakech on the train, i bought a first class ticket and it was between 100 and 150 moroccan dirhams, i have just checked the train service website but it didnt give me the prices: http://www.oncf.ma/Fr/Horraires2.aspx?md=201&rb=491
I wish you a great and fun trip in Morocco.

my fiance's response to this when I asked her. My POE is Vegas right???? sssooooo....let's get the family to meet us there.....
(her first answer was: how soon after we get off the plane????) I have no idea what her response will be during hte interview... she has some really interesting answers. She is very, very playful.....
I just imagine the interviewer at the embassy or the Customs official.... She might actually ask the Customs official, "can't you marry us?.... No, well hurry.... I want to get to the little white chapel...." (and she is wearing a leopard print dress with a red ribbon sash while saying this.)

I'd say
Tuesday, at 11 AM. Now, as to WHICH Tuesday it is, that all depends how fast I can get through the rest of this stuff, but I'm betting it'll be prior to the 90 day expiration date on the I-94. We both like Tuesdays, so we're picking Tuesday, 11 AM.

Today Ahmed called me from work to say "baby check your email" so off I went... and there it was that interview letter we have been waiting on!!! JULY 21ST!!!! Wow I don't know what to do with myself. I know one thing it has been a long haul to get to this point. Today I am so overwhelmed I don't know if I should celebrate or just take it all in and be happy finally we have a date with the embassy!!! Best wishes to those waiting, your time is a coming folks!!!!

I would think that multiple trips (and/or less trips but for extended periods of time, if possible) during this process (time between petition filed and interview) would be nothing but positive. Bonus points for timing one of those visits to coincide with the interview.

Sorry to hear what happend to ure husband.
well if u want my advices please contact me, i know very well how hard to be burned out by the Co, theya re usually unfaire...
but as people told u here, if u wan advice(complete ones..): u have to give more details about ure situation and story...cause : yes each case is diffrent, but when we do have some pertinent details like: if he works, how much u guys dated... ure situation in US....how many time su guys visited each other in Algeria and abroad...)..Than we can really advice u regarding ure personal case, and also help u focus and identify what can be ure Red Flags..than work them out..or just try to clarify them to the Co
U have to click up Watch topic: at ure right in the top so u can receive emails that notify u peope comments..
I sent u a private message by the way.
Cheers