Marti

Hi, my name is Sandy and our quest began in November of 2012. We met on a website via messages. I never fathomed in a million years that a year later I'd be traveling 7000 miles to North Africa, Tunisia to marry. But I did, and we did on June 20th 2013 at the town hall. My father -in -law missed it due to his cab breaking down. We had two of his father's friends as witnesses. I stayed there for 14 days and then had to leave for home again.. without my Houcem. I wanted to write this to you all to tell you one thing.. it was worth the tears to have him here. There is not a moment in time where I regret where we are today.. I didn't make enough money so I tried for a sponsor, no luck. I ended up getting a 2nd job and worked that until I made what was needed.
We were also told we probably wouldn't get approved due to our age difference. He's here with me. It did get approved. Houcem made a scrapbook of all the western union receipts he had from me sending him money. We had letters from the first time he sent me snail mail. We had messages online. Skype logs, fb logs, phone records from my end, anything we shared or wrote , photos from skype, it's all important.
The biggest issue we had was port of entry in Chicago. He was detained 15 hrs and the airline refused to give me any information on his whereabouts. It was hell for me on my end.. and worse on his. They threatened to send him back to Tunisia. They threatened to put him in jail. There were 14 officers surrounding him, egging him on, pushing whatever button they could find to rile him up, hoping he'd snap I guess. He had to see an immigration judge who was an immigrant himself and thus approved him. It was a fight to get him here, but never did either of us give up.
That's what you all need to do.. fight for the right to have your spouse or family member with you. Just when you think you can't handle the stress anymore, take a deep breath and press on. It's work but it's worth it.
We are having a lot of firsts here. I am seeing the world I sometimes take for granted with a new set of eyes. He's had his first birthday here, first chocolate chip cookies, we actually celebrated our 2nd anniversary with him here on US soil.. and on our anniversary this past June, he received his green card in the mail. He now works for the same company I do. He's my best friend, the love of my life, my Arabian Knight..

It's been a long time in posting. We made ourselves busy with our marriage and our lives and didn't let AP destroy us. After his interview in June 2011 we spent two years in ap only to have our case returned to USCIS for recommended revocation. We responded with an attorney to the issues and sent 17 lbs of information we were reaffirmed within two weeks and send back to the embassy.
We spent the next two years with me visiting yearly and trying to make our lives as normal as possible without making AP take over anything. On Aug 10th we got a phone call regarding an email the embassy sent us. They wanted us to fill our the DS 260 online once we did that they sent him an interview letter for Aug 31st. He called to get the medical done but unfortunately they were overbooked and couldnt get him in until Sept. When he told them why he was calling they told him to come in that night and worked him through the medical exam.
He went to his interview prepped with the ongoing relationship documents and i864, medical etc. He was called to the window asked for updated medical and i864. He was asked to sit down while they review. Then 30 min later he went back to the window to the CO. He asked my husband if he had been out of the country. His answer of course was no. He kept typing then said everything looks good. YOUR APPROVED and will get the Visa within 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My husband received the Issued status on sept 8 and picked up his passport today sept 10!!!!!! VISA IN HAND AND THEY ADDED THE IR1 so he's coming home after 4 yrs!!!!!!!!!!!! His POE is this coming Saturday Sept 19th!!!!!!
We are proof that not giving up will give you your dreams. For those on AP... nobody knows more than us how much that hurts but there is nothing you can do so live your life the best way as possible and make your relationship strong. Nobody is more important than your spouse and your family. DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone.
I was so sad to see what happened to those that had interviews scheduled and then cancelled. I know firsthand how frustrating this is. I am sorry you all are going through this. My husband and I are still waiting to be rescheduled after being turned away from the embassy in Tunisia on our original interview date of August 20th... it's hard I know.. I told my husband I am so tired of people telling me to be "patient".. so I will not say that to any of you. I just wish you all the best and a speedy conclusion.

Congrats to those who got their approvals today! I saw there were a couple of you.. It must be such a relief to have that final "yes".
I saw today that our file is finally in transit to the embassy.. I was beginning to wonder if they would wait for the last minute.