irahaymeh

Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing your citizenship experience. My husand arrived in Atlanta on May 17, 2007; he received his 10 year green card in August 2009. Can he apply for citizenship now (3 months prior) or does he have to wait until May?

We found the bidet at the Mediterranean halal grocery store. It cost about $35.00 and my husband hooked it up to the toilet. The water is a little cold for me so next time we'll try to invest in one with the thermostat for temp control.

lol@butt-sprayer If ya don't have one be prepared for him to hang his #### in the bathtub for a quick 'shower'

Get the watering can if you cant find the bidet.

I agree with other members....show strong ties, but....

Nobody has ask of why he got denied in the first place...Did they tell him why they refused his visa ?

Hi Nigel,

The embassy officer asked him several questions. The interviewer only spoke English which was unfair since my stepson's English is not that good so he had some difficulty understanding some questions. He thinks they denied him because he did not have much money in the bank. Most of the questions centered around how much is his salary and how much money does he have in the bank. So he thinks that he was denied because he has very little money in the bank. My stepson makes a pretty good salary but they still rejected him because he has very little money in his bank account.

He says they hardly even looked at the other documents that would prove he has strong ties in Egypt, nor did they look at my invitation for him to visit, the pics we took together in Egypt; they were only concerned about how much money he has. He owns his own house in Egypt but they did not look at this document.

http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/niv1.htm

Thanks

This is a tourist visa, right ? B-2 ?

there is no 'wait time' to re-apply.

He has to prove up strong ties to Egypt - all VO's make first assumption he is trying to immigrate, and the son must prove to the VO, through documentation, that this is NOT the case. This assumption is mandated, by Federal Guidelines and Laws - there is NOTHING you can do to pursuade a VO to NOT start with this assumption.

Usually, this documentation list is covered on all of the US Embassy websites, for a tourist visa -but - if you can't find it - let me know - I'll post a list .

Hi Darnell,

Thanks for replying. I appreciate any help you can give. Please post the list that you referred to re tourist visa.

Best regards,

Irene

Hello everyone,

We have not posted here in a long while. Can anyone help us with our situation? My stepson from Egypt had his visit visa interview this week and was denied. He is 26 years old, has a job in Cairo and owns his own home.

My husband has his 10 year green card and I am US citizen. How long does my stepson have to wait to reapply for a visit visa? And, what should he do differently this time to hopefully get approval?

Please give us your suggestions for how to reapply and this time hopefully get approved for a visit. Thanks for all your help.

Irene

Praying that he'll get his visa; looking forward to hearing the good news!

Thanks for your help and all the info. I received your email.

OMG! I am still in shock...a few months back my BIL (19 yrs old) in Egypt applied for a visitor VISA with my MIL but was denied. She was approved for a 5 year. We figured the reason...young male, ME backround, no ties, etc.

Today my SIL (married/24 with a son), the same BIL (19 yrs) and nephew (4 yrs) had their interviews. They were taken together and the male that interviewed them was very nice. He looked at all their proof, pictures together, my info and hubbys plus babies pics, etc. However, at the end he said SORRY YOU ARE DENIED. My SIL was so upset...she started to get angry with him stating, WHY? Tell me how you can deny me to see my family, twin neice/nephew and brother. If you deny me now, I will not see them for 5 years. Are you kidding me?!? You're denying our family the right to see eachother, what is your reason?!? I want to talk with your supervisor, please this is my family and its just not right. I must see my neice/nephew now...I can not wait till they are grown up. It's hard enough just staring at a webcam. We cry to hold them just one time. Please I want to see your supervisor. He called another man over and they told her, okay, listen fill out another the application again, this time instead of visiting for 6 months (which they had put on the form as my MIL did last year) put down 2 months. We will approve you.

So it took her 2 hours to fill out all three forms (BIL, SIL and Nephew) but she did it! The supervisor took their passports, said congrats, you are approved! You will get them back in about 3 to 5 days.

They called us screaming at 4am But well worth the screams! WE ARE DANCING!!! Our entire family is actually coming from Egypt now (minus one brother in the military). Hamdulillah!!!!!!!!!

Alhamdullilah! Congratulations! We are so happy for you!

We would also like to invite our family to visit from Egypt. My husband has been here since May 2007. My 25 year old stepson is dying to visit us here. Can you give us some insight or some suggestions on what to say to help get his visit visa?

How long did it take for them to get the interview after filing the forms? Should he apply at the American consulate in Cario? What forms should he fill out?

Any help you can give us would be appreciated.

CONGRATULATIONS! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL LIFE FOREVER...........

Sincerely,

Irene and Tawfiq

Hi,

I'm Irene from Atlanta, GA and my husband is Tawfiq from Rusaifah in Jordan. We married in February 2006 and Tawfiq arrived here in May 2007. We applied to have his conditions removed in February 2009 and hopefully he will receive his 10 year green card soon.

I am a residential manager at an addiction treatment center for women. My husband has been working with the US Army in Iraq for the past year as a translator; professionally he is a teacher. He is currently here with me on vacation. We traveled to Egypt in February to visit his 25 year old son. I have 4 adult children and 3 grands; my husband has one adult son.

We are enjoying a very happy life together and give thanks to Allah for being so merciful to us. We wish the best to all VJ members.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I'm Irene and I'm a substance abuse counselor at a residential treatment center in Atlanta. My husband works with the US Army in Iraq as a translator. We will apply to lift his conditions in February.

Hi Wendy,

I am so sorry this happened to you. I pray that God will restore everything that you have lost and that you will find peace and happiness despite what has happened to you. Put your faith in God and He will see you through.

Love and Blessings,

Irene

Ramadan Mubarak to everyone!

My stepson lives in Egypt near Cairo; he's 25 years old, never been married, no children and looking for a wife living in the states.

If you know of a good family who has a daughter interested in marrying a good muslim man, please let me know. I'd like to introduce her to my stepson by phone, yahoo messenger, etc.

We will be traveling to Egypt on vacation in December, and it would be wonderful to have a wedding while we are there....

My husband is a translator with the US Army working through a contractor stationed in Iraq. He is a civilian working with the Army. And yes, the salary is $3,900 twice each month. And he does get 2 weeks vacation but it is every 6 months for the 2 weeks vacation. The pay is excellent! He's been there since December, 2007. He works with several other Arabs who have been there for 2 years.

It's verifiable information lol However taking into account things that come out of a recruiter's mouth may be total BS. And considering they have a contract with you but you do not have one with them.

I'm not *that * naive but that's what they'be promising these days!!!

They offer leave every 3 months (sometimes longer) for 2 weeks and they will fly you just about anywhere.. So for instance, you are serving in Iraq for a year and every few months they could fly you to Egypt or the US for a one to two week visit.

They are also offering monthly salaries in the range of $3500 USD per month up to $5000 USD per month (based on your level of education, english speaking ability and family size) That includes a housing allowance of up to $1300 USD (depending on your region) for your wife in the US while you are away.

i think the monthly wage you listed is a bit high. plus the leave bit is quite unusual - a gal i work with, her fiance just came back from there on his 3rd trip and i've heard nothing from her about anything similar to him being able to leave every few months. (this is army - if you are referring to contractors then nevermind).

eta: pay scales link below

link

I agree with Ara. We live in Atlanta too. My husband is from Jordan and muslim; I'm Christian. We respect one another's religions and are very happy together. I feel so secure when I watch him pray with such devotion to God. On Fridays, I go to Jumah with him at the masjid, and he sometimes goes to church with me. He would prefer that I become muslim but does not try to force me and we encourage one another in our different walks and relationships on how we worship God. I have so much respect for Islam; it is awesome how muslims stop what they're doing 5 times a day to salute God, pay him homage and to pray. My husband does not only pray salat 5 times daily but he continually talks to God and sings to God all the time, and so do I.

Well My husband is from Nigeria and he is Muslim and I am Christian. We talked about this before we were married in detail. No big problems have come about so far not that they won't but we are prepared to compromise on certain things.

I think he would be happy if I converted but he doesn't pressure me I respect his religion deeply and admire it.

I knew this when I was in Nigeria he went to the Mosque all the time there when I was there I just didn't go. He goes to mosque here as well and has been to church a couple of times with me just to see what it was like.

As long as you love and respect each other and your beliefs and communicate it should not be a problem which it is not for us some people feel differently but that is just how we are.

Best Wishes

With Deepest Sympathy,

Our Prayers are with you and your family. We pray that God will strengthen you.

Irene & Tawfiq

Haven't been to a MENA party in a while, but, I'll try not to miss this one.

Our biggest problem by far is "food". My husband is older and set in his ways and refuses to try anything "new". He only wants to eat food that he is accustomed to so all of our meals consist of flat or pita bread, olives, zatar, homemade falafel (he makes a "mean" batch of falafel), homemade humus, molikiyya, lamb, chicken and fish. And, no dish is ever complete unless it has tomato paste. The good thing is, he loves to cook, so I leave most of the cooking to him. The bad thing is, he wants me to stay in the kitchen with him as a student and learn how to do all these things.

Another issue was the "money" - he too, says I spend too much money. When I want or need something, I'm used to just buying it with no thought. He wants to watch every penny. Once he made me very angry when he said "people back home in Jordan would never spend like you do; they save for emergencies". So I angrily said, "if it was so good back home in Jordan, then, why did you come here?" Anyway, he quickly apologized and said that I misunderstood what he was trying to say.

Also, he is a "home-body" and does not like to go out much, and hardly ever do we eat out. He wants all meals home-cooked and home. This is an adjustment for me, cuz I love to eat out.

He has a good job and makes good money so now he does not question my spending as much. All in all, he's a good friend, a good provider, an excellent leader-type husband. I thank God for him everyday!

May the interview be quick and easy! Good luck to the both of you.

Irene

My husband is very religious. He smokes but never drinks. He prays 5 times a day 365 days a year. He only eats halal foods. He loves God and prays and talks to Him all the time. I am Christian and I pray and talk to God all the time too. We both go to Jumah prayer at the masjid on Fridays. He has visited my church with me a few times.

5 days from interview to visa in hand; No AP. Interview was 4/18/07 - visa delivered by Aramex to the school where he works on 4/25/07.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Sorry I missed the party Jackie. CONGRATULATIONS! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU.