queenofthenile

My husband has his visa.. We would like to schedule his flight. Would like to hear for those who have been through this. How long was spent at POE and which airport was best. I know we have to plan for a good amount of time for the layover, I just want to know how much time for the layover.. I want to plan for enough but not for him to be waiting in the airport too long either.. All advise and suggestions is greatly appr?eciated. We are looking at JFK, Newark, DC, Houston, and Denver..

It is required to send the certificate and the translation. Both should have been sent with the packet. The translation is required to be completed at a specific place & registered at the foreign ministry. Inshallah you completed all of those steps... if so & the lady helping didn't send the arabic certificate with the translation then they are asking for the certificate.

ANY ARABIC documents MUST be translated into ENGLISH.... the visa application is for the U.S. the official language of the U.S. is ENGLISH....

All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations and submitted to the NVC. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator stating that the:

• Translation is accurate, and
• Translator is competent to translate.

Info taken from.... http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html

You can't get out of your I 864 by a divorce clause. The I864 it a contract with the government and the government isn't going to let you off the hook.

correct... but.. the clause grants her the right to sue him for anything the goverment asks her to pay for as a result of his use of government assistance.. the same as any other "credit" issue that a divorce decree gants... the creditor doesn't recognize.. but this is the right for reimbursment!

Here is the link to the guidelines.. this is the income you or your co-sponsor needs to qualify.... FYI... I have read where people meet these guidelines and still have been told they need a co-sponsor... Complete the I-864 with any other assets you may have to see if you need a co-sponsor.... And as per the above information... it may be best for you to go back to the U.S. as it may be easier to find a co-sponsor and a qualifying job.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Your packet should have the required forms and the proof of a bona fide marriage - photos, e-mails, phone records, proof of combined assets..rental agreements for where you lived together.. anything to prove a REAL relationship and cohabitation as marriaged couple G-Rated of course! You need to send all that you can think of and copy when you send the application. So if you plan on sending it soon.. you need to compile all of that now.. You have a complicated situation as you do not plan to reside in Egypt or the U.S. which will only complicate things for you and your husband. The application does ask for the address of where you intend to reside with your husband - you will need to decide what address you want to use for the form etc... as well as your current address (which seems like it will change and you will need to file a change of address)... quite complicated...

MY OPINION - which doesn't matter for much... either move back to the U.S. or stay in Egypt.. makes things less complicated for you guys... that is unless he has a great job offer in Asia to make the extra work worth the hassle.. I do not know your financial info (obviously if you have not been working and are not working now just backpacking across the world..we can assume that you are financially stable or at least you were) At this stage you do not have to provide financial information... but at every stage you need to consider what will be needed at the next stage.. You need to be sure that you are prepared with the financial documents you will need to be able to complete the Affadavit of Support.. showing that you or you and your co-sponsors can support your husband.. If you do decide to move to Asia, think about the next steps of this process and if you have the needed documents and how you will get what is needed to complete the next steps... You mom/dad may be supportive of this and willing to help.. get documents.. forward the mail to you.. please just think about all of that before you decide... This process is long, alot of paperwork.. etc.. and you do not want anything to delay the process such as waiting on documents to be sent for here to there, and your application put on hold with change of address.. etc...

Regarding the red flags - YES you want to address ANY of the major concerns... if there is a HUGE age difference.. that will be a red flag.. but that is not really something you can explain to them.. other than to provide more proof of a REAL relationship...a child together.. photos with his family.. letters from his family.. photos with your family.. letters from your family...

If there is a religous difference... - you can address this within your story and info about how you met and came to decide to get married.. how that religion was discussed and how it is a non issue, and that you have discussed how you will raise your children in a mixed religious home.. etc...how his family accepts you.. your family accepts him...

Yes #1 Take care of you & your health..

#2 Write everything down you can remember word for word... if you can remember agent name.. etc.. check your phone records for the time of the calls. Make detailed notes.. hopefully you never need them.. but better to have them to refer to than rely on your memory. Have your husband do the same thing.. write down everything he can remember, what happened when, where, what was said.. names if he can remember..

As said before the type of visa he had when he came before and the type of visa he had when he was traveling this time is important.

The type of visa he had would determine your method of seeking assitance in resolving this issue. (I am not sure I will agree that this has anything to do with what is going on in Egypt... as this was not an issue with the Egyptian police or airport security.. this was U.S. forces/police from what you described)

I don't know where to tell you to begin.. but I would begin with contacting my local legislature, senators.. call & write the USIC..local media.. anything to get attention.. He may not be a U.S. citizen but he was not treated properly or given adequate information. You deserve more information as to who's authority was it under that he was returned to Egypt and for what reason etc... I am not an attorney so I can't tell you what to do.. I am just telling you what I would do.. I would make a big deal about this.. tweet it.. facebook it.. blogg it.. get your story and your husbands story out there in the public eye... this was not right.

It is probably enough time, but better safe than sorry...and having to make last minute plans to stay the night.. better to just prepare for it.. Sure there is alittle added expense to spending the day in NY.. but it is New York after all.. plenty to see plenty to do.. When will the two of you have a chance to go to New York, see the Statue of Liberty.. Empire State Building.. Twin Towers memorial.. walk down 5th avenue... etc.... Take it as a mini vacation... plus there are MANY small hotels that are not that expensive.. When I went to NYC in 2000 I stayed in a small hotel, the staff did not speak english... the building was old, but had more character than any name brand hotel.. I didn't book the trip my friend did, so I don't have the contact info or I would share it with you. When my husband comes.. I hope that we can plan it that way.. to have an overnight layover... so that we can have a mini vacation!

It is probably enough time, but better safe than sorry...and having to make last minute plans to stay the night.. better to just prepare for it.. Sure there is alittle added expense to spending the day in NY.. but it is New York after all.. plenty to see plenty to do.. When will the two of you have a chance to go to New York, see the Statue of Liberty.. Empire State Building.. Twin Towers memorial.. walk down 5th avenue... etc.... Take it as a mini vacation... plus there are MANY small hotels that are not that expensive.. When I went to NYC in 2000 I stayed in a small hotel, the staff did not speak english... the building was old, but had more character than any name brand hotel.. I didn't book the trip my friend did, so I don't have the contact info or I would share it with you. When my husband comes.. I hope that we can plan it that way.. to have an overnight layover... so that we can have a mini vacation!

If you want your name back.. do the paperwork.. it is your right.. However please take alittle time to consider the future.. if you and your husband intend to live in the U.S. and have children- it will make life easier as it is customary for the wife to take the husbands last name.. no it is not required but it is customary.. to others you will naturally be Mrs. (husbands last name) and you will have to correct them. And for some when they see your children have a different last name then you.. it will be assumed that you are divorced. As for your parents.. you passport has you maiden name and will continue to.. so to you family you will always be Mrs. (maiden name) Shakespear has it correct.. a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!

Alhamduliliah! Mabrook!!!!! Inshallah this will be the best journey of your life.

May allah continue to bless you..as there is sooooooooooooooooo much more ahead!

we can not say if or not you are rushing things.. that all depends on your husband and if he feels overwhelmed.. yes.. here in egypt there are some interviews.. but most positions are filled by who you know rather than a formal interview and a resume/c.v. so it may be different for him...and i can imagine cause him to feel a little discouraged as this is a different process than he is used to... Absolutely he needs to build his social network..and most likely will feel more comfortable with some native arab speakers... If you have not yet.. find the nearest mosque/masjid...as well as any arab food places, anything to help him feel a little more at home in this foreign place... I can't speak for the masjid where you are, but I know mine...and I look forward to taking my husband there...as I know that the guys will take him under their wing and help him...to help with something to do while you are at work..help him adjust..and possibly help him to find a suitable job..

I am not speaking from experience, my own living in Egypt, the worst feeling is isolation and lonelyness...and everyone will say your spouse should be enough..i disagree..they are never enough..which is why we have friends and family..you are in a foreign place because you want to be with the one you love, but when life feels hard and not normal, you begin to dream of just being normal...and you don't want to say anything to your spouse to make them feel bad so you keep these feelings inside..I am not one to keep it inside so I spoke out..and I got a job and meet other Americans here and they have helped me find things to help me feel normal in this foreign place... and as said before.. Independence.... doing something on your own.. gives you a feeling of ownership in the foreign place...the 1st time I took the metro alone here...was sooooooooooooo exciting.. the 1st time I took the micro bus alone...even better.. my husband was paranoid...as he didn't want me to..scared of the "what if" but being able to be me.. and do things on my own..was comforting.. so i would imagine.. if he drove in cairo...being able to get his DL and drive with be an incredible step for him to begin to feel normal and not stuck.... Inshallah this will help you.. May Allah bless your husband in this new journey!

Thanks..then I will have her send them today. and I guess I should keep the envelope to show where she sends it to me here to verify my address in Egypt since I am not on the lease here.

"So make sure you flag your paperwork as NO DCF available" How do I flag my paperwork like this?

I alone will not qualify with assets.. that I am sure of.. but with a co-sponsor should have no problem.

My concerns are should I use a company to prepare the paperwork?

When completing the paperwork do I list the current employment I have... since I do not have a permit to work in Eygpt? I guess I would have to since I would need to list it on my taxes.... hummmmmm... any advice???

I did file for 2010.. I need to file for 2011... I do have U.S. assets, checking and savings..just not u.s. income thus the need for a co-sponsor..my grandmother's home is my permanent residence and where i receive my mail..I am just not sure I will be able to file 2011 taxes by the deadline.. I may have to file an extention this year..which this is the 1st time to do that..or i will have my grandmother send what i have there to me here and try to file online..I have the copies of the past 3 years, as i ordered those from the IRS when I was considering the K-1...

Yes I am the USC.. born in the U.S.

I am just beginning the process.. getting the documents needed to file the I-130 petition. Before I begin I want to seek the experience of other.. what they would have done if they knew then what they know now.. The forms seem pretty easy and the documentation seems like it should be fairly easy to put together. However I have seen many sites that offer to do the work for a fee...with guaranteed results...Do you recommend I do it myself.. or hire assistance?

Here is the basic information for our situation..

We met online as friends 9/2010..and then in person when I came to Egypt 12/2010 to stay with friends for vacation. (I stayed with a friend's family so there are no hotel receipts. My divorce was final 2/2011 I came back to Egypt 3/2010 to meet his family and were were engaged. We considered doing a K-1 visa at that time, but rather I move to Cairo. 8/2010 I moved to Cairo and we married here. I am living in Cairo. I am teaching English for KG1 & KG2.. but I just found out that I am really working illegally as really I need a work permit that my employer should get..which I am sure they won't..from what I have read it is a HUGE process.. Dec 2011 my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away.. I went back to the U.S. during Dec & Jan.. My grandmother came back with me in Jan to see Cairo and meet my husband and his family. Being back in the U.S. really made me homesick and with the death of my mother.. I really want to be in the U.S. to take care of my grandmother, so my husband has agreed that we could go to the U.S. I have been reading and doing research for the CR-1 visa which is the most applicable. However I have some concerns.. I read that I must be a U.S. resident to complete, yet it states you can file if living abroad.. so I am assuming that means you claim residency in the U.S. and are just temporaraly living outside the U.S. I would like to continue living here and file and then go together to the U.S. Yet I believe it may be best for me to go back to the U.S. work and file from the U.S. I will have a joint sponsor who's income and assets combined with my assets will qualify... my concern is my current employment..as I do not have a work permit I do not see the benefit of asking for an Employment Letter... Living here in Egypt.. we use cash..so we do not have joint banking.. he rented the flat before I came..so we do not have a joint-lease...He does own land that we are building on, however that is in his name..not joint.. I really want to stay here and continue to work at least until the end of the school year.. I am looking for advice about what I should do.. What I will need.. etc... Thanks in advance