brad836

I dont know anything about the embassy in havanna, but we had big problems at the embassy as you can see by the timeline below. my wife was denied the visa when we went there the first time. if i was in your shoes i would wait 2 more weeks and be patient, and let the embassy get this paperwork sorted out, think the best, if your fiancee has still not been given any explanations on why it is taking so long or has not received the visa after 2 more weeks, i would contact the office of your representative for help. when i contacted my district representative through my family in the states, he was very helpful and sent a fax to the embassy for us, If that do not get results i would then contact a lawyer which is gonna cost some bucks. was your packet complete? i mean did you have photos, letters, telephone records. im not understanding why why your case is taking so long?

Don't give up and be patient and persistant, it will be completed soon. Have her take her cv back to the embassy, and godwilling after they look at that they will give her the great news, that she got the visa. Be in a positive state of mind, she was not denied the first time. Please keep us posted.

if for some reason the embassy says that they are needing more documents, and are not convinced, then due to the length of your case, i would advise on contacting your district representative or state senator which is free or a lawyer, for assisstance in getting your case dealt with and approved in a timely manner.

but let us think the best for now, that she will be granted the visa when she takes her cv.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Unfortunately a tourist visa from nigeria to america would be very difficult to impossible to be granted.

If you home county is a certain country it is necessary to prove that you will not overstay because you have strong ties to your home country mostly this is financial ties, and it does not appear that they have much money. If you can not prove this then no tourist visa. It would be much less difficult to meet on holiday in his home country, russia, or europe if he can get a schengen visa.

Its sad we have not had any update from her.

Yeah, you have to meet in real and there's also The Poverty Guideline requirement...

Which can be taken care of with a co-sponsor, so that's really the least of her issues right now...needs to meet in person.

Asking a loved one to put their nuts on a potential chopping block for years for a man she's never met? I'd say the two issues go hand in hand.

I wouldn' be so cavalier about the severity of the favor to ask someone to be a co-sponsor

I agree, it is a big undertaking as a sponsor, and many like yourself are of the opinion its not generally a good idea, but I think we should be giving this person advice on how the K1 process is working at this stage, and sponsorship is a legal alternative for someone who is unable to meet the support requirement, and a uni student might find themselves in this predicament.

I think you can still do this god willing. There is much good advice here. Use this forum for information, help and advice. Start reading!

First

Start saving a little money, budget your money and be disciplined about that, try maybe a temp part time job and put that money towards the visa process. The K1 process can take years until completion and a visa is finally granted, so if you can save some bucks each month. for all that time it will make the financial burden of the fees and travel much less daunting for you.

Second

Shop around for the airfare and buy in advance. Plan your holiday to meet your fiance to the very smallest detail, and this will give you a good idea of the costs. If you're patient good deals can be had.

Be flexible in your travel dates.

If you are not living near an international airport where you can fly directly overseas, consider driving or taking a bus there instead of a connecting flight.

If your fiance can meet you in Europe that would save you even more money, good places to consider are Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Austria.

If your fiancee can meet you in Russia that would be even better and cheaper for you and him, travel on Aeroflot Russian Airlines (very cheap internationale airline, but only has few destinations in US) to Moscow, you will need to get visa for Moscow, but it so easy and you can get the information online, just go in the summer, Moscow is very cold in winter.

Try to have a meeting with your families, even if its just on the webcam, your future husband should be willing to seek the approval of your family before the matrimony. I really believe in this!!!

Start looking now, like today, for employment that will place you above the minimum support requirement if you don't place above. If you cant meet it right now with being a student and all, go to family and friends and ask if they will be a sponser, dont be waiting, sort this out sooner than later. you are or will be educated so leverage that into a better salary for you

Third,

and most most important, be strong and be persistant, pray to God every day, dont get discouraged, there will be times when you will have depression, and feel like your dream will never come true, but DO NOT EVER GIVE UP!

Best of luck to the both of you! please keep us posted in your progress

Be patient, say some prayer, and wait for the visa to arrive to your fiance. If they said she will get it by courier, I would think that information from the embassy in Mumbai would be much more reliable right now than what a DOS person said on the phone. Please keep us posted.

I do agree with the other posters. You gotta meet first. Even though there is the exception. Your visa process will most likely be much faster and less costly if you travel to meet in person for at least once.

Hello,

It is possible to be exempt from the meeting requirement if it can proven that a meeting before matrimony is forbidden or highly undesirable in your religion or custom. I think this is more common in arrangements by family. I must add though that I have never heard of a couple that has done this with a K1, and I can't recommend it for more than a few reasons. Perhaps you should consult with a lawyer.

I believe that its very important to meet first in person in the presence of family, and I totally agree with the meeting requirement. I hope you do this. If your commitment and love is strong matrimony can wait until you have a proper meeting first.

The best of luck to you both.

Yes, I thought it was strange too, actually I wanted to ask him if it would be possible for me to move my car to the carpark near the embassy because we got to the interview early in the morning and they made me park so far away and I knew it was going to be so hot that day, about 115 fahrenheit, and I didn't want my mother in law to melt on the way back to the car.

And howdy to you neighbor, flutter95!

Is there no IKEA in the UK?

Congratulations and good luck, it's a big relief isn't it. Very nice story.

I tried to start a chat with the policeman too, while waiting at the embassy, but he told me he only spoke french? very short chat, merci

Not my type of movie and I don't intend to see it. From what I read about the movie. it's mostly fiction. In my view this movie only serves to further widen the sea of misunderstanding between Iran and the west, and that is very sad to me and my family.

Cyrus the great lead through generosity and peace, and would not rule if the people did not want him. He did not force any person to change their religion and he worked for freedom, tolerance and the abolishment of slavery. The charter of Cyrus the great is known as the first document of human rights found in history, and a replica of that cylinder that it is written on is on display and honoured permantly in New York at the united nations for all to see.

Yes, that's right. You can take the passport, but

DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE INSIDE.

Congrats and good luck!

Digital Pictures are fine, and I think they're probably the norm now. It doesn't matter how or where you print them. The important thing is that you have alot of them with the both of you in the picture, and the both of you with family and friends in the picture is even better.

Very nice Story. Congratulations!

I saw this in the news. I think it's really sad. The increase in immigration fees will only hurt those who are trying to immigrate legally and marry the person they love, like us in this forum. In my opinion I feel this administration is doing these things to make immigration in the U.S. less accessible and more difficult for the average person. I feel the same about the excessive taxes charged on international airfare. I know it's due to the increased security measures and that's a good thing, but it also makes it more difficult for someone to find an affordable ticket to travel overseas, and I think that is also part of the strategy of the administration. Try to reason it all you want, but it's too high. I think there is probably a very big difference between the fee and the actual cost incurred in reviewing an application. It's sad. It discourages marriage and legal immigration.

Yes, that's right. The interview is not there, my wife also had her boimetrics on Penn Avenue, so did her friend, but that's not where the interview is. Our interview was at the DHS office on the southside, and I think that is the only place that interviews.

I'm sorry I don't have a timeline. I am going to create one soon. We filed for AOS in May 2006, and our Interview was 17th, August 2006. The DHS office was very conveniently located on the southside of Pittsburgh. The interviewer was very polite and friendly, and the interview was pleasant experience, and less than 30 minutes, very different from the embassy interview. He asked my wife a list of questions that I guess they have to ask everyone. Then we showed him some wedding pictures and utility bills that sort of thing. After that he said my wife's green card would be sent in the post. We received it I think about two weeks later. I hope this helps .

thank you very much.

does the interview take place at the same place as where the biometrics are done?? i had my biometrics in downtown on 800 Penn ave. which is in downtown, so i assume that's not where you guys had the interview?

I'm sorry I don't have a timeline. I am going to create one soon. We filed for AOS in May 2006, and our Interview was 17th, August 2006. The DHS office was very conveniently located on the southside of Pittsburgh. The interviewer was very polite and friendly, and the interview was pleasant experience, and less than 30 minutes, very different from the embassy interview. He asked my wife a list of questions that I guess they have to ask everyone. Then we showed him some wedding pictures and utility bills that sort of thing. After that he said my wife's green card would be sent in the post. We received it I think about two weeks later. I hope this helps .

Hi,

We filed the AOS in Pittsburgh. Do you have a particular question?

Unfortunately I think it's important to understand that currently no true muslim country exists. Even in countries that many might consider to be very islamic in the western world, in reality, in many areas of the local culture nothing can be further from the truth.

A muslim country is a country that has its laws based on some degree of shariah and the majority of the population is muslim.

Well I phoned DHS and the person I talked to was very helpful. She said that the ticket should be purchased in my wife's married name on the green card, and she said she should have a certified copy of the marriage certificate present. I also phoned her uncle in Tehran and he called the equivalent office, and they also said that with the marriage certificate the passport not matching is not a problem on her entry and exit to Iran. I'm still not convinced with reentry to the US, so I will phone the airline and DHS one more time and then we're gonna purchase the ticket next week.

I've traveled to the UAE mainly Dubai for business and pleasure alot of times. I met my wife there. We had our interview in Abu Dhabi. I would be happy to answer any questions you have and offer any help I can.. To quick tips. Be prepared, and go with your fiancee to the interview.

salaam alaikum,

Any advice will be appreciated. My wife is planning on holiday by herself to Tehran to visit her family for 3 weeks. Inshaallah she will have no problems, but this is the 1st time she will be traveling abroad since she received her green card in August. Her passport has her family name, and her green card has her married name. What name should I use to buy the air ticket? What additional documentation should she take? I am most concerned about her re entry into the U.S. since as I'm sure you know the U.S. considers Iran to be a state sponsor of terrorism. Also what should she have with her to transit through Europe either through France, Germany, Russia, or Dubai. I have not chose an airline yet. I'm going to call the DHS, but first I wanted to get some great middle east visajouney advice.

thank you