RFQ

Hooray!! What fantastic news, and what sacrifice i'm sure it was on your part. I am so happy to see a positive result for you. I pray it only gets better from here on out!

Does your joint sponsor have another household member that can "join income" with him/her? Like a spouse or other relations living in the same household...

Is it bad I've started packing? LOL Its not in the suitcase but I've began acquiring various things and setting them in a pile . I need to revive that gift list somewhere in this forum.

thanks again

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Now its officially official. I blame you dear mates for encouraging me to take the trip. My school gave me the week off after christmas/winter break too. Found a much better price with a later return date.

o.O Alhamdulillah for the new director

im going im going!! insha'Allah

Would you?

So, my plans have taken a step back. Tips from the trenches is needed, because only someone thats been there before can truly get 'it'.

In theory, less than 9 months from now, my husband will [isA] be on his way here permanently. This is our hopes, and seems like a reasonable expectation all things considered, but who ever knows, right?? So we were thinking to do this Egypt trip for me (my first) in December when it costs a soul's worth to travel. Its the only time I'll have in the next 9 months to travel unfortunately.

Neither of us has a huge savings, especially not with the traveling and immigration costs. Students and teachers are not the best paid individuals, y'know? So we can't decide if its irrational to spend near 2000$ to travel and see each other. is it important for our immigration case at this point? We could conceivably know our interview date by then. Would you personally spend the money to see your spouse/SO knowing that 9 months you could be immigrating and could use all the extra cash to get started here?

We're both trying to reconcile emotion with logic and we are failing to see which is the best option.

Also-- you can look into personal trainer certifications. Be sure to talk to some gyms to find out what kinds they want. Not all are created equal.

I'd look into substitute teaching if you have a degree. Also there are temp agencies that you can try. Networking is essential though. get out and meet people, especially within your religious group if you have one-- as others suggested.

I know a couple of us in MENA had spouses who came on B2's. Mine stayed for 2 months and the other gentleman has a 6 month plan. They really didn't ask too many questions. They asked my husband's plan-- he was very honest. "I'm visiting my wife. yes I plan to immigrate and live here. Its my every intention to leave." They asked to see his return ticket... He forgot the confirmation at home, but still no problems. This was at Detroit POE. Of course he didn't come armed with tons of luggage or anything else that was suspicious.

Hope that helps! Perhaps we were lucky?

Good luck! Please try to remember as much questions as possible from what they ask and share it with us-- plus if there was anything memorable about the interviewer. We have several posts through out this forum where people review their interviews. I find them most helpful. I think also, not to far down, there is a discussion on what kind of questions they may ask. From what I gather-- be prepared for everything and be annoyingly thorough with your answers.

Happy Eid, to all those celebrating it

My Eid is off to an awesome start I got a sick baby and thus we are just enjoying a nice day together in the house. We have more planned tomorrow so iA we may get to celebrate then!

I resorted to crying and pouting for several days before hand. Then...He left. I tore my house up and rearranged, reorganized everything... I went so crazy so much I was yelling at myself for being so irrational. I like it now! But it helps me to channel things into a project of some sorts.

I would loveeee to go there- its on my bucket list. I hope you and your family have an amazing trip.

Thank you!! The scenery is a bonus (for me)

Ahhhhhh!!!! Ah!!! Its looking very much like I'll be taking a trip to Cairo over the holiday break. I hope it works out I just have a couple things to sort out and then iA we will book tickets.

Oh my gosh!!! That is breathtaking!! Do/Can you get in the water? The rocks look kinda sharp for that

So lovely! Really I have the urge to go splashing around.

I am trying to use logic here and say traveling during the peak season is baaaaaaaaaaad, but when is love ever logical? I'm in nursing school full time, year round so I unfortunately have peak times if I'm to travel myself.

Things are moving along for everyone Gosh...i dont' know if I could leave Morocco behind-- its soooo beautiful. Love the pictures you've been putting up

We're debating a trip to Egypt for me... I still haven't been, but it'd have to be over Christmas and travel is soooo much more expensive. I am not sure if we will/should spend the money when we will need it to bring my whole family- kids and all, for a trip a few months later.

We both thought we'd tolerate the distance/time better than we have but here its been what... not 3 months and it feels like a lifetime.

Hi, I just wanted to share that I found this account/service through American Express that I think will help those of us who are having issues getting finances "co-mingled" as we can't make a bank account for our beneficiaries minus their presence and a SSN. (its difficult at the least)

http://www.bluebird.com

You, the citizen, can set up an account, and then have "sub accounts." It does require a US address but I just used mine for my spouse. They are sending him a card to my address. You spouse could use the card out of Country should you send the AMEx card to your spouse and choose the option. You can set spending limits on the sub account and transfer money to it too. I think its neat

Anybody else use this? How has it worked for you?

I hope this is good for our case! And maybe it will help some others too.

Hey all! Happy Friday! Found a great article the other day and finally felt compelled to get around to posting it. Cross-posted on Alternet and Naked Capitalism. If this has already been posted on the forum I apologize

http://www.alternet.org/belief/right-wingers-would-be-shocked-learn-islam-has-been-part-american-history-its-founding

We were actually just discussing this in an Islamic forum. A couple of reading materials were suggested including this:

Servants of Allah: African Muslims Enslaved in The Americas

(and a brief wiki biography on a west African prince)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulrahman_Ibrahim_Ibn_Sori

The human race is full of nutjobs .

As for the Qur'an and its interpretation, you simply cannot approach it like people approach the Bible. Its been said once in this post already:

1) the verses/ayats do not and cannot exist independently.

2) The meanings are somewhat lost and often significantly lost with translation.

3) A historical and in depth explanation is required to understand many aspects of the verses. The Qur'an holds battle time and political instruction particular to a specific event in the history of the early Muslims.

Its simple for us, lol, we agree to disagree. Sometimes I think we agree more than it seems at first as things get lost in translation. I think its one of the many good things about our relationship, is that we can discuss things, heated things, but neither of us is inclined to take it personal when we disagree. I can tell him I think he's out of his mind and vice versa, and we laugh it off. It has taken me a bit to get used to his view of the US (not our people, but policy) that I am not used to hearing-- as in world politics/ foreign policy mostly. I've definitely had to reevaluate my views and make them more broad.

Before we even began talking about moving forward with an engagement, we tackled all the major issues. Once we knew we were compatible with those things, the rest we can work through.

I called several times, and every time they told me- No, nothing happening yet-- yes we have your case. No it hasn't been processed.

They already had my email, so I got emailed as soon as everything was ready to proceed, despite the fact that I called and called.

Perhaps you could clarify a few things-

What country are you and your sister originally from?

What country is the husband from?

Where do they live now?

Did you know all the answers to her questions? If i was interviewing I'd probably mess a couple of those up.

For us, a fiance visa wasn't practical as we'd have to live apart until we were married here. Plus I didn't want to bother with extra paper work and costs.

He got a tourist visa. He came here to meet me, and we did the Nikah (Islamic marriage contract) with just a few people for the process. He went home and we filed the first part of the CR1/spouse called I130. We plan to have me visit Egypt and do the big wedding/ceremony there-- we want it small, but I have a feeling my Egyptian mother is going to do it up royally. D: I am nervous.

I guess its individual What works for you and your situation-- Money, time, etc

Great! Thats what I like to hear... smoother-- easier (ha?)

Advice much appreciated and plan underway