Josie-Be-Happy

I've already sent in my I-130 with my current passport copies (all pages).

My passport is quite damaged (gatorade spilled all over it), so I want to request a new one.

My question is, if I get a new passport will this confuse people further down the line for my NVC process and consulate/POE activity?

If you are using your passport to capture the visas to show you went to visit your spouse/beneficiary, make sure you make a copy of all of the passport pages.

I had to change my passport twice due to name changes which was indicated in my I-130. If you submitted your US passport to Dept of State as proof of your US citizenship, they usually return the passport back to you in a separate envelope.

It's always a good idea to make a copy of your entire passport, to include the front and back in the event your passport is lost or stolen.

You can also look around for Arabic speaking people in your city. For example, I tutor people in Arabic in my hometown. You can also see if you can take a class at a community college or university, although that might be a little pricey. Auditing a class at your local community college would be the most cost-effective.

Check out Craigslist and ask if anyone can teach you Arabic! You can learn to read and write on your own, but speaking is the most important and almost impossible to learn without talking with someone else!

Also, if you really want to speak with your fiance, you'll want someone who speaks the Lebanese dialect. When I first met my fiance, I only spoke fusha (classical arabic) and he just laughed at me! haha. Its important to learn the aamiya (dialect) that your fiance speaks....and it will make him SO happy!

Great advice. Thank you you soooo much.

I wasn't worried about our calls being monitored....we have nothing to hide. But...it does seem very odd that just a few days before I got my approval (NOA2) all the clicking noises stopped. Even tonight, when we spoke on the phone, I purposely listened for anything....NOTHING...clear as a bell. All of our calls have been "click" free for nearly a month. I do know that Homeland Security was given permission to monitor phone calls after 9/11...and as far as not having enough equipment or resources to monitor so many calls....well...we live in the "computer age" and I would say that it is very much possible.

Regardless....just keep talking and enjoy your time on the phone. As I said before...if someone listens in, they will very likely be entertained, because my fiance makes me laugh all the time. He has an awesome sense of humor and I can honestly say that in 4 years, there has not been one day that we haven't laughed. He is my very best friend in the whole world and I am incredibly blessed!

I find phone tapping to be unusual. But with the government these days, you never know if they do random checks. I wouldn't mind if they tapped my calls. More proof to show that we are in bona fide relationship/marriage.

5 Minutes ago I mailed the I-130 package to the Chicago lockBox, I'M so happy Our Journey Begins in bringing my wife here to the U.S.!

Congrats!!! Wishing you the very best.

I've been reading some posts in which people included receipts for sending money through Western Union to and from the beneficiary as part of the I-130. Out of curiosity, what benefit is it to show if the petitioner sent money to the beneficiary. I can understand the opposite as that could be a red flag.

Also - I've seen posts in which the petitioner was questioned as to who purchased the plane ticket when they visited the beneficiary. Why???

Thank you for your input.

Let's face it, immigration involves endless paperwork and requires a lot of patience. As you dig through piles of documents, it is only necessary to be organize and clutter-free. I would like to share some useful tips as to how I kept my sanity through proper filing and arrangement of important documents.

1. Always keep a file of all the forms you submitted, and the email notifications from NVC and/or USCIS. I print out 3 copies every time and arrange them neatly on separate folders. (One copy for me, one for my husband and a back-up copy). I also created a personal timeline in order to track down our case's progress.

2. Before my visa interview, I neatly arranged my documents using color-coded folders and clear plastic separates. I also placed labels on every folder and printed a cover page for each.

Folder A - Affidavit of Support Packet contains husband's employment certificate, tax records and W2's

Folder B - Proof of Relationship Packet contains billing statements, receipts, email correspondence, money transfers, housing arrangements, contract of lease etc.

Folder C - Wedding photos, proof of travels, family celebrations etc

Plastic Separate 1 - Appointment Letter

Plastic Separate 2 - Ds-230 & I-864 (original and photo copies)

Plastic Separate 3 - NSo Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Police Clearance

Please note that in most US Embassies where interviews are held, the applicant and the consul are separated by a glass window with a narrow, 2-inch sloped slot - this is where you slip the documents they request to view. It is advisable to use FLEXIBLE folders instead of hard or spiral binds because they wouldn't fit.

3. If you are married to an expat whose been working outside the States, you also need to produce Proof of Domicile.

[Domicile. Place where a person has his or her principal residence. The person must intend to keep that residence for the foreseeable future. The sponsor of an immigrant must have domicile in the U.S. before the visa can be issued. This generally means that the sponsor must be living in the U.S. In certain circumstances, however one can be considered to have a domicile while temporarily living overseas.]

We requested my husband's company to issue him with an employment certificate explaining the projects he's handling in Asia and the length of his assignment. On top of my husband's Income Tax Forms and W2s, I also included Form 2555 - Foreign Earned Income. All these documents I inserted in the Affidavit of Support Folder.

4. On the day of your interview, it's always better to come in prepared and memorize important details mentioned in your forms. It's ridiculous if you would have to dig thru your documents every time you need to answer simple questions such as:

- Petitioner's full name (emphasis on the middle name)

- Place of residence in the States

- Your petitioner's employment background

- Wedding date, or the day you and your spouse first met

- If you are constantly travelling, dates when you left and arrived in diff. country, and length of stay.

It creates a positive impression if you remember these things by heart.

5. You have to remember that NOT every consul would like to view ALL your documents. In our case, the consul just asked for the wedding photos but she complimented us for coming in "extra-prepared." So yeah, it's a major plus to carry excessive amount of proof, documents and forms - than lacking.

To everyone who's scheduled for an interview, keep smiling and be charming! I hope you find this post useful and best of luck!

Excellent information. Thank you for sharing.

When I first started learning Arabic, I tried various CD's. Sometimes that it hard because of the pronounciation....the Cd's don't correct you. I really mutilated some of the words.

I finally started taking Arabic classes at the University and that made all of the difference....I have 18 hours (3 years) of Arabic. I don't know about your area, but there are other places in my city that a person can study Arabic other than the University. There is a cultural center here that offers Arabic classes in the evenings and of course the mosque also offers them.

I am attaching a link http://press.georgetown.edu/book-list/al-kitaab for Arabic textbooks. The Alif Baa book will help you with your pronounciation, the alphabet, writing, amoung other things. It will start you in all of the basics. I hope you find these helpful.

This is a link for several arabic websites.. http://www.uni.edu/becker/arabic.html they add more all links all the time. There are so many sites here that you could spend days looking at them.

I hope you find these sites useful. =)

Thank you soooo much!!!

Hehe that's so cute Arabic is kinda hard language you can't learn it fast but you have anything specific in your mind you would like to know I can translate it to you !! Good luck

Shokran. Yes, it's very hard. And people say English is the hardest language to learn?? I learn new words every day and then tell my husband in a middle of our conversation and he's amazed. Glad to see you're from Lebanon. I will be going there in November....Yeahhhhhh!!!

Salam Josie,

I have been learning Arabic for over a year and have tried various methods but have found ArabicPod podcasts to be the most effective since they’re fun to listen to and convenient as they can be downloaded to any MP3 player. I download the podcasts from ArabicPod.net

EXCELLENT.....Thank you so much.

Salam everyone,

My husband is from Lebanon and he writes and speaks English very well. He's been teaching me from the beginning of our relationship about the Arabic language. I'm really interested in learning and being fluent in speaking and writing in Arabic. I would love to surprise him one day.

If you have any suggestions on how I can learn more about the Arabic language, please let me know.

I also want to wish everyone from MENA the best of luck on your journey to unite with your loved ones. I can't wait for the day to bring my omre home.

Josie

dear my fellow vjers,

My wife had her visa interview yesterday and good news she got approved!!!! I don't think it has settled in with me yet I don't know what to think. I am very happy that I am that much closer to having her in my arms once again.

She arrived early as required by the embassy. They asked her the standard questions whats your husband's name?, where does he work? where are you going? How did you meet?. After the interview was done the interviewer( a lady) took her passport and told her that she will receive the visa after two weeks. She was quite nervous about the interview as she did not know what to expect but it turns out she thought it was easy. We discussed questions they will ask her a couple days before the interview in which helped her prepare for when they ask her those same questions.

I wish everyone the same that is going to have or will have an interview scheduled. I was waiting forever for this day and it finally came alhumduallah. I hope everyone has a great Ramadan.

Monalisa don't worry I know you will do great in your interview! Make sure you and your husband discuss the questions they will ask you in the interview and you should be just fine inshallah. Rabna ma3ky ya Mona.

Congrats to the both of you!!! Good to see families being united coming from MENA.

Please refer to my timeline below. When I sent I-130 in March, that was the only time I got a text message from USCIS. Then in June, I noticed a few petitions were being approved with WAC#'s close to mine. I called USCIS on 06/23 and was informed my petition was approved on 06/20/11. To this date, whenever I log on to USCIS website and enter my WAC #, it still reads "Initial Review" even though it was approved on 06/20/11 and we're at the NVC stage already.

Good luck to you as well

How are you able to track the WAC#s of other petitioners? Your timeline is wonderful!!! I hope ours will be quick. It's unfortunate that people from MENA are treated harsher....I understand the reason but in my case, we just want to be together permanently. I go to Lebanon about every 6 months, but it's well worth the trip and the time we get to spend together.

Please refer to my timeline below. When I sent I-130 in March, that was the only time I got a text message from USCIS. Then in June, I noticed a few petitions were being approved with WAC#'s close to mine. I called USCIS on 06/23 and was informed my petition was approved on 06/20/11. To this date, whenever I log on to USCIS website and enter my WAC #, it still reads "Initial Review" even though it was approved on 06/20/11 and we're at the NVC stage already.

Good luck to you as well

Thank you all for responding. Good information. Congrats on your journey...one step closer.

No need to post same question in separate topic. Use one thread so that responses are together for other members to see.

I'm fairly new to VJ...how do you search for a particular topic?

I have seen many posting in which a VJ member indicates that their case was touched. I recently filed our I-130 and I created an account on USCIS' website to track the status of my case and also requested email/text msgs updates. However, how do I know if my case has been touched and will I be notified by email/text msgs? What exactly does "touched" mean?

I pray for everyone's visa journey and an expeditious approval to finally unite.

Thank you.

I was reading the instruction sheet for the I-130 and it speaks of proof of relationship. On a sworn affidavit where people who attended the wedding vouce for the validity, do you have to have it notarized or is a simple signature with the address and birth place information sufficient? ( I am not sure exactly what they should say on this affidavit)

Does this sound like the proper way to word the affidavit? I here by swear and confirm the marriage of ???? and ??? on July 1st 2011. I attended the service and spent time with them after the wedding cerimony. They have 100's of facebook photos and speak to eachother everyday over the phone or other means of communication.

Thanks for the help, I have never done anything thing like this so want to do it right and I am nervous about mistakes so it makes me want to confirm things before I do them.

You should get sworn affidavits from persons that know you and your spouse well. The affidavit needs to include their full name, address, DOB and place of birth, his/her relationship to you and details as to how he/she knows about your marriage. They do not need to be a US Citizen. Don't forget to complete and sign the G-325A (for biographic information) - one is needed for each of you. You will also need to include a passport photo of yourself and your spouse.

View this website for sample affidavits relating to a bona fide marriage to assist you. I had my supporting affidavits notarized, although, I have seen people who didn't.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/243745-affidavit-for-bonafide-marriage/

Hope that helps. Good luck!!

ok guys..thank to SU AND MARVIN he told me to ask my husband to call uscis..so i did last night my husband call uscis and then when i woke up i receive this email from uscis..U.S. Department of Homeland Security

CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER

24000 AVILA ROAD

LAGUNA NIGUEL,CA 92677

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Friday, August 5, 2011

Emailed to xxxxxxxx

Dear M. xxxx:

On 08/05/2011 you, or the designated representative shown below, contacted us about your case. Some of the key information given to us at that time was the following:

Caller indicated they are:

-- Applicant or Petitioner

Attorney Name:

-- Information not available

Case type:

-- I130

Filing date:

-- 07/19/2011

Receipt #:

-- WAC-11-xxx-xxxx

Referral ID:

T1K21xxxxxxxxx

Beneficiary (if you filed for someone else):

-- Information not available

Your USCIS Account Number (A-number):

-- Information not available

Type of service requested:

-- Expedite

The status of this service request is:

WAC-xxx-xxxx-xxxxxx

Upon receipt of your request for expeditious handling, your case was reviewed and a determination was made that we need additional information to make a decision regarding your request. Please fax a legible copy of your military identification card/ and or orders to the following number 949-389-3441/ attn: Officer Wheaton. Please include this notice with your fax.

If you have any further questions, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

Please remember: By law, every person who is not a U.S. citizen and who is over the age of 14 must submit Form AR-11 AND notify this office of their change of address, within 10 days from when they move (persons in "A" or "G" nonimmigrant status are exempt from this requirement). To notify this office of a move, visit our website at: www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. The Form AR-11 can be downloaded from our website or you can call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and we can order one for you. Instructions for filing the Form AR-11, including mailing instructions, are included on the Form.and wondering what is this..

If your husband is deploying, he will receive orders for his deployment. Some orders do not specify the service member's name due to security reasons. If this is the case, he can go to his Commander or his S-1 and request a letter for his deployment that specifies his name and other personal identifying information - include both his orders and the letter from his Commander/S-1. Good Luck!!

Dear my vj friends

this wedensday morning august 10 ,i will go from alexandria to cairo with my kids to attend our interview in us

embassy,im really so scared

as many years im waiitng for that point over than 10 years some friends calling me saint monalisa , for me and my

littel kids who dream to be with their father and being lonely wife here plsssss put me in your paryers thank u

Salam,

Your family are in my prayers. Inshallah, you will all be together. Keep your mind strong and think positive. Your long waited journey will soon be over.

Question 25 on the I-864 is what he's referring to.

Thank You!!!

Current and continuing income is what is most important. That's the number that will make or break you as a sponsor.

Regarding the past tax returns simply submit transcripts from the past 3 years along with your W2's/1099's, etc. to document your share of the combined income. Your individual income from the past 3 years is listed on the lines in Q25.

If you were married before and filed jointly there is no red flag. That is just the truth of your life.

I could not locate line Q25. The transcripts do not provide any line numbers, just categories, i.e. Income, Adjustments to Income, Tax and Credit, Other Taxes, etc. I was trying to locate my income from the W-2 to match it up with the IRS transcripts....can't find it.

Current and continuing income is what is most important. That's the number that will make or break you as a sponsor.

Regarding the past tax returns simply submit transcripts from the past 3 years along with your W2's/1099's, etc. to document your share of the combined income. Your individual income from the past 3 years is listed on the lines in Q25.

If you were married before and filed jointly there is no red flag. That is just the truth of your life.

Thank you for your response. I've seen a lot of your postings/responses which have been very helpful.

I'm hoping to get some good advice for my particular situation.

For the I-864 Affidavit of Support, I can provide a copy of my tax returns with the supporting documentation that was used when I filed my 2010 Federal income tax returns. I was separated from my x-husband but I chose to file our 2010 federal income tax return jointly so that it would reduce the amount of federal taxes he would have owed. My x-husband and I have a great friendship and we were separated for almost two years before finalizing our divorce. I ordered my last 3 federal income tax return transcripts from the IRS, but unfortunately the IRS transcripts does not separate our gross income.

Question: When I file the I-864, should I include both - a copy of my 2010 Federal tax return and the IRS transcripts? Or should I not include the IRS transcripts since it combines both of our gross income? I think I should also include a statement as to why I filed married/jointly. My income is well over the poverty guidelines so I don't need a co-sponsor.

Do you think that there could be any red flags since my prior 3-year tax returns were filed with my now x-husband? I want to avoid any problems that may occur and have any possible red flags covered when it comes time for me to file the I-864.

I appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

Alhamdulillah!!! Today we got our NOA 2!! I literally screamed out loud in my office where I work! I got the text and email notifications then checked the website and AHH! Alhamdulillah! Approved!

Now I need to call the NVC to have them send the packet to Lebanon since the Syrian consulate is closed. I hope that doesn't cause any delays!

Best wishes to everyone else who is waiting! Your day will come soon, inshallah!

Congrats to you!!!!!!

HI

From my experience sales is actually a field that prefers bilingual employees especially Spanish speaking. Sometimes it depends on where you live. If there is a high concentration of Spanish speaking population there will be a high demand for Spanish speaking sales reps/managers. Look into the wireless retail industry ( cell phones) they constantly look for bilingual store managers with sales experience.

Most programs used in the business world come with spell check.Composition is not the forte of any person with a Business degree.

Your fiance will be fine.Begginings are rocky for everyone but it all works out in the end.

Good luck

I agree. Spanish is the second language in our country which is an added bonus for him. Sometimes people get nervous when they are speaking their non-native language. Just tell him to be positive and the more that both of you speak and write to each other, the better his English will become.

Salam,

I wish you the best, and a fast smooth approval. Your wedding was in Cyprus, I see. It is a beautiful country and I love it. By the way, you can NEVER go wrong taking a Lebanese guy... (I am an originally lebanese dude)

All the best to you guys!

Thank you for your warm wishes. We both hope that the process will go smooth. I never thought I would be in this position today. If someone told me 2 years ago that I would meet a man in Lebanon, visit him and get married, I would have thought they were crazy. But I am so glad that we met and he is the best man that I have ever known...so I think you are right about Lebanese me. I also love visiting him...Lebanon is a beautiful country. I wish more Americans would go there. It was a big eye opener for me. Our wedding in Cyprus was wonderful and we spent extra time there as a honeymoon. The weather was perfect and we stayed at a 5-star resort that faced the Sea. What a wonderful experience.

Salamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you),

I would like to introduce myself and my fiance. This is my second Journey and for personal issues I would like to keep my first Journey private.

My name is Salma and my Fiance is Aly. We met in 2005 Online and have been friends ever since. Our lives took differnt paths but we have recently reconnected and found that we have loved each other all these years and that love never stopped.

The communication was a barrier in the beginning but after sometime he took an English course to better himself and now we communicate in many ways. We cannot wait to see each other again and get this process started.

Our case will present some issues because of my first Journey, however, we know that our love is real and we are ready for the long haul.

We would like to wish you all luck on your Journey's and we look forward to a long lasting relationship with you all.

Patience and True Love is what will get you through all the waiting

RAMADAN AKREEM AND SALAM

Welcome Salma. I'm fairly new to VJ and just filed the I-130 for my spouse who is in Lebanon. It's very hard to be so far apart from your loved one. I visit my husband in Lebanon just about every six months. The trips are costly but well worth it. We miss each other so much. We have a few hurdles ourselves and only hope for the very best. I wish you the very best on your visa journey.