RFQ

Thanks for the 411.  Is it weird that they didn't figure that out on their own? I mean we filed the change of address. I can't understand why they scheduled it out their in the first place.

My husband said when he called in to USCIS they said "they can refuse to transfer the file."  I thought that was odd and that totally contradicts what the link above says and what you all have told me.  Time...we've got nothing but time. After years in the wait to join each other after marriage...waiting together is a piece of cake :).  

So my husband and I lived in a remote part of the US and lived there for 3+ years. We applied for citizenship on his behalf while there but I transferred with my job and we are in an entirely different region of the US now. We notified the USCIS of address change. I guess we thought they'd change the venue as well. We got a letter at the end of January with our local USCIS address but an interview back at the interview station that was nearest to our old home (which was 4 hours from our old home consequently).  Its been about a year since we applied and 9 months since we last heard from USCIS until now.

He stopped by our local office which told him to send request and a copy of the letter to the USCIS which he did. We were told its possible they will deny the change of venue.  We'd be looking at a loss in employment and/or 1000$ ticket to fly half way across country to the tiny airport near the old venue for my husband to make that interview. Its just not feasible really with 4 kids and 2 working parents. He is of course in a newer employment position given our relocation. 

What can we expect going forward? Should we prepare for the worse or just a longer delay? 

So we are applying for naturalization for my dh. 20 years ago my husband was a student in the US and says he was arrested somewhere in California for "reckless driving" aka speeding pretty fast. He said he paid some fine and had a lawyer handle it but was released from jail the same day he was arrested after a few hours.

We have no idea how to obtain records or documentation. He wasn't even residing in California at the time and was just on a road trip. He wants to answer the questions honestly but we have no way to know what the actual charge was settled as or how to find documentation on it. By which authority could/should we search?

Thank you all for the insight on the different visa possibilities.

The situation is not relevant at this point to what I needed to know so I will not get into it. Getting a minor brother in law to high school here in the US under our supervision when money is not a concern is my objective and I have some good information for a starting point, thanks to VJ. I appreciate all those that stopped by to chime in.

there is no aunt petition or sister in law one. Only sibling and those take over 14 years To attend school legally he must NOT use a public school without paying for attendance ( most schools wouldn't turn him away but it would cause him future headache in getting another visa until the unpaid fees are paid and recently has been coming up as an issue for parents ) private schools exist, you need to find one that will issue him an I90 Expect the fees to be about 15-20 a year.

Like I said-- money is not an issue. Tuition is not an issue.

The issue is visa more if there were any other options besides a one year visa-- and if its possible to reapply for a 2nd year the next school year

Hmm.... Yeah, if it was early in his schooling waiting until next year for citizenship of my husband would make sense but due to some situations back home it would be better if he could join us sooner than later. Money is not an issue at all for tuition or otherwise.

Can he come on a student visa?

I guess F1 is the requirement for a student to travel here for a year. Can it be re-applied for after a year for a high schooler? I just buzzed through J1 information-- guess sponsoring an "exhange" student doesn't work out to well for relatives. This sort of feels like an uphill battle to manage by Aug 2016, but its worth a shot for the kid's sake. A visitor visa wouldn't work either I suppose. I'm not sure if high school is considered "for credit" education. It wouldn't be that difficult to have him leave the country and come back on holidays, but I am guessing high school is not allowed on this type of visa.

And for family immigration purposes-- I couldn't sponsor him myself as his aunt? Do I have to be a biological relative?

Hmm.... Yeah, if it was early in his schooling waiting until next year for citizenship of my husband would make sense but due to some situations back home it would be better if he could join us sooner than later. Money is not an issue at all for tuition or otherwise.

Can he come on a student visa?

So could you all please point me in the right direction?

My SO (who is a green card holder and will apply for citizenship next year) has a minor brother with dual citizenship for UK and Egypt. The boy will be turning 16 in a few months. We would like for him to come here and attend high school for a couple years and after that he would of course be on his own to manage his college applications and visas from there.

What sort of options should we be looking at? Where should we begin our investigation?

Salam alaikom,
It seems you have a steep hill to climb. In US culture, a relationship between a kid of 16 and an adult >40 would be frowned upon. Build a strong relationship and strong ties together that show you live as much like an American couple as possible over the distance.

On a lighter note, when you do get here insha'Allah, know that South Dakota is remote and a bit lonely for Muslims, but my husband and I are out here making it work, with no mosque around. You'd have to drive 4-5 hours to get to a mosque from where I live. And its cold! If you need any SD advice drop us a PM.

My first two children are 9 and 6 and thank God its gone quite smoothly for us. I try not to undermine my husband. I TRY to discuss things in private unless I feel that he is starting to discipline them for something I have previously allowed. It was difficult at first, but my kids adore my husband and have embraced him in a special way. Only they know how they feel inside but they give him all the respect of a father and freely give their love to them. Its tricky sure-- we've had many discussions, some in front of the kids on our differing opinions. I still hold the ultimate decision when it comes to them but I have trust in my husband's decisions as well.

ty! Cant believe a year has passed us by already tho truth is I feel like we've been together forever. That year of AP feels like a distant dream...or nightmare. Hubby caught our little girl in his hands in January.

Hows the Cairo consulate treating everyone these days?

Salams from the cold northern great plains region of USA! I maybe have to PM a few peeps-- not sure if they still check in but after 2 years of a visa journey together and now nearing a year together it seems good to check in and make sure all is (finally?) well.

March marks 1 year since DH and finally united in the USA. Shortly thereafter I took a job in a different state, and so before even unpacking we loaded up our household items in a UHAUL and both headed out on a new journey together. In the next month we are expecting our first child together insha'Allah. DH was able to get a decent job out here too (alhamdulillah). Also we applied for a B2 for MIL who is here now with us-- no problems at all with it or AP. I'm still not sure why DH and his mom were both able to get B2's with no problems but gosh we had a long wait for AP for the spouse visa.

Patience pays off! Hang in there fellow VJ'ers. Its a daunting journey but prayers and patience are key.

Only 11 months of AP-- we were approved pending AP. They had his passport the entire time.

http://www.bookonline.saudiairlines.com/pl/SaudiAirlines/wds/StartOver.action;jsessionid=7RQWTnGY102D55n1Lgrb5GBxwYYVdN9vkpFvrXpHTSQcXGtGWyys!-1121155913!-1769754116

Check this on Saudi Arabian Airlines (very nice) 738$ 22hr trip time (long i know) on April 15 Casa to JFK.


We used momondo.com to buy a ticket from JFK to his final destination and found some decent flights from Cairo to JFK as well on momondo-- SA airlines had the best fair and travel time to the US in our instance.

We booked tickets for about 500-550 one way from Cairo. Can it really be that much more from Morocco?

I am a cross between so nervous I'm about to throw up and so excited/anxious I might have an anxiety attack and burn a hole in my carpet pacing. :D :D

Thank you Means the world to have had some sort of support through the initial VJ process. I am just so happy the next journey I need VJ for will have my husband near me, and maybe some VJ nieces and nephews

IsA...

It totally doesn't feel real. My whole life is somewhat in limbo right now for more than one reason. This is really more than a bit terrifying and exciting... like what normal couple feels when they get married maybe... because now I will reallly get to be married and I hope I'll be good at it. >.< I hope we'll be good at it.

Congrats! Good to hear from you again. Been awhile

7 days!! AHHHHH... except it hasn't really hit me. I mean it doesn't feel real yet.

Yay! Trips are too exciting to keep quiet. I love my forum buddies because I can tell them all the things I'm dying to blab but have to keep "secret"

I sent all my husbands stuff for him from the US. I picked up originals on one of our visits and copies he needed he just emailed to me and I printed myself.

My parents sponsored my husband as I'm a full time student.

My girlfriend has been married almost 2 years to a Moroccan man who was hear on a student visa. He has been an amazing husband to her and they are really such a great match. They knew each other only a couple months when they married-- though it was done through halal/Islamic terms with the intent of marriage from day 1 (or ruling out their compatibility). They spent 6 months in Morocco recently. They are an adorable couple and I pray God blesses them with many children and a long life together.

As of 2/3/2014 there is no word from the Embassy. I am at a lost. Why would they send through DHL his passport and a letter stating he needs to renew his passport and medical. If he is planning to travel before February 1 2014, he needs to do half medical exam. If he planning on traveling after February 1, 2014 do the full medical again.

I emailed the embassy and got the same generic reply.

Is there any advise out there??

Yes, because your medical, I presume was one year ago, and has expired. The TB expires in 6 months, but if the beneficiary will not be making it into the US before the 1 year mark then the entire medial process needs to be renewed. I know this because we were just approved for our visa and only given 2 months to get into the US before our visa expired. Our visa expires on the one year mark of his full medical even though we renewed the TB in December.