Nag & Matt

Just wanted to give everyone hope inshallah:
 
my husband's visa was issued! After 4 months in administrative processing. He will come to the US inshallah next week.
 
Keep pushing anyone around you that you can for support. This is the only way. Be respectful to embassy staff but follow up over email at least once a month. Talk to your senators and representatives. Get anyone who can to make an inquiry on your case! I have a feeling we were only successful because of sustained pressure over time, from media as well if you can! I wrote a personal essay and last week when things were being spoken about in the news again, I posted it on FB and I believe this had some part in it.

Finally got to the 7 month mark and Nebraska has shot back up to 7.5 -10 month processing time😠 This is killer!

Thanks a lot. I will check it out now. 

Hello Nagham
This is the link for the bill that was introduced by the congress. you can look for the updates in here
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/810/cosponsors?r=20&s=2

Hello guys
2 days ago, congress introduced a bill that blocks the implementation of the travel ban.
I don't know how much time can it take, I am not really familiar with the procedure.
lets hope for the best

We got approval notice by mail.
IR1, Texas Service Center
NO1: 06/10/2018
NO2: 12/19/2018

thank you for sharing your good news, it means so much to us! 
 
Besides your husband's clean travel record, did you make any extra efforts on his behalf? like contacting congresspeople, submitting additional documents for waiver consideration.... any details can help us. were you in contact with the embassy frequently?
 
thank you!
 

That's so awesome to read.  I can't wait to post when our dumb AP is over. I hope that the government shutdown doesn't delay the issue of the visa.

Husband sent in all his paperwork & passport.We’re waiting for visa to be printed.

Unfortunately, you are right! It's just so damn hard to keep optimistic  

This group is sometimes useful 
 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/580057072441088/
 
 
someone today said they called the Norway embassy and they said average AP time is 6 months. 

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas to all of you.
I know that the holidays, since they are family time, are the hardest on us. 
So, to all of you who are meeting for the holidays have fun.
And to the rest of us who couldn't meet this year, believe that it will get easier.
 
My best wishes to all of us to be able to live near our family members next year. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas to all of you.
I know that the holidays, since they are family time, are the hardest on us. 
So, to all of you who are meeting for the holidays have fun.
And to the rest of us who couldn't meet this year, believe that it will get easier.
 
My best wishes to all of us to be able to live near our family members next year. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas to all of you.
I know that the holidays, since they are family time, are the hardest on us. 
So, to all of you who are meeting for the holidays have fun.
And to the rest of us who couldn't meet this year, believe that it will get easier.
 
My best wishes to all of us to be able to live near our family members next year. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas to all of you.
I know that the holidays, since they are family time, are the hardest on us. 
So, to all of you who are meeting for the holidays have fun.
And to the rest of us who couldn't meet this year, believe that it will get easier.
 
My best wishes to all of us to be able to live near our family members next year. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas to all of you.
I know that the holidays, since they are family time, are the hardest on us. 
So, to all of you who are meeting for the holidays have fun.
And to the rest of us who couldn't meet this year, believe that it will get easier.
 
My best wishes to all of us to be able to live near our family members next year. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Hello everyone. Merry Christmas to all of you.
I know that the holidays, since they are family time, are the hardest on us. 
So, to all of you who are meeting for the holidays have fun.
And to the rest of us who couldn't meet this year, believe that it will get easier.
 
My best wishes to all of us to be able to live near our family members next year. 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Let us all hope for the best and prepare for the worst. 
 
I wish the best will come to all of you.

Thanks for sharing this. 
I am crying. I was able to relate with almost every word. 
 
I will be reading this thread soon, i just found it today. But in case you haven't mentioned them earlier could you tell us what are the names of the Facebook groups you mentioned in the essay? 
Thanks a lot ❤
 
I am Syrian, my husband met my family and my friends, they attended our very small less than 2 hours wedding in Lebanon (I live in Syria but we always had our meetings in Lebanon since it is less complicated). I didn't meet anyone from his side in real life for the same reason as your family's, they think it is not safe.
 
And also the part where you speak about future plans is very deep. Living this uncertainty of where we will be living when we live together and when will we make it? It is very hard, It is stopping me from seeking for better career it is affecting every choice.  Should I seek for higher education or will I have to drop the education before i finish because the Visa got approved?
 
I wish you the best with your future plans and may you unite again soon.

Yes, definitely let me know when the podcast is out - I’ll be happy to share it.

Hi All,
   I just wanted to point out for everyone that the American Immigration Lawyers Association updated their practice pointer for the Travel Ban on Friday. https://www.aila.org/infonet/applying-for-a-waiver-pursuant-to-presidential
 
It is about 10 pages longer than the first version and they have slightly changed their advice on when to submit a travel ban waiver packet. I have found it to be a very straightforward and useful document. 
Stay strong in this tough process!
 
-Jess 

Thank you @bashar26 for sharing your story with me. I am sorry to hear about your situation too. My husband and I are also considering our options. We are both in our mid-30s and want to start a family and know that time is against. Do we start a family while living apart? Do we try waiting a little longer? Or do we just find somewhere else to live together? It is so frustrating- I usually feel that you can get through anything that you know there is an end to it- but in this case I don't know that there will be an end. It's a tough situation and I hope to highlight that in the podcast. Best of luck in your situation. 

Thanks for speaking out! I think you probably are experiencing all the same stuff as us. I would just emphasize the fact that there is no timeline. My husband is Syrian and we are both really seriously considering starting our lives together in Syria rather than wait in separation for this travel ban waiver to come through (when we have no good reason to believe it will actually even come!). It seems pretty ridiculous that I can't return to the country where I was born and start my adult life just because my husband is from Syria. Also, I have spoken with 3 congresspeople and have seen no results following their inquiries into my husband's status. The limbo is truly torturing. We can't plan anything. We are both 26 years old and just in a total forced pause. 

Hi guys, i am the applicant of IR5 visa (parent of a US citizen), i've had my interview in Frankfurt last week and was refused due to the proclamation.
I am Syrian, my daughter is AC.
The consular told me i am eligible for a waiver and still waiting further instructions.
I will update you if anything happens.
 
 

Hi All,
  I found a new podcast- They tried to Bury Us- and the guy who is putting it together is interviewing immigrants. I contacted him and asked if he would do people in the process of immigrating. He said yes and I told him about my husband trying to come to the USA. I told him that I thought it would be great to highlight what is happening to families as a result of the travel ban. He is interested and we are trying to set up a time to do the podcast. I wanted to see if you all had any thoughts on specific things I should include. I plan on talking about how the Department of State is not giving statistics and clarification of the process. Thanks for your time and consideration in this matter. I am hoping that the more we can make people aware of the travel ban and its impact the better. 
-Jess