polarbear

Good morning MENA!

Strangest thing happened yesterday... my husband had a layover in Paris, FR and they let him leave the airport w/out visa or anything I thought they didn't do that! So he had a nice 4 hours in Paris with the brother he hasn't seen in 3 years! He tried to capatilize on his luck and change his plane ticket to the US for the next day, and they said he could but he would have to buy a whole new plane ticket. He didn't want to pay the money, not even to spend an extra day with his brother, so he came home yesterday.

I'm still just flabergasted that the French immigration officers let him enter the country like that - #######? But I am so happy for my husband that he had that opportunity.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Hello MENA !!

I've been lurking too long again... time to post a little

Girrrlllllllllllllllll! I have missed you!! How is everything? How is your health?

Life is a rollercoster - I'm just riding it!

My health was better over the summer, I've relapsed a little again, but my hubby is finally coming back home from a 2 month work trip and I'm hoping I start feeling better real soon

Oh, and I've changed my direction in school - I'm now studying Medical Technology and absolutly loving it! It's great to finally have a really good understandng about what my body is up to and to have a chance to help others with chronic diseases in my own small way.

Hello MENA !!

I've been lurking too long again... time to post a little

A picture together is the best proof of having met within last 2 years.

Applications may be approved without -- probably depends on the USCIS employee looking at the docs.

They are still secondary evidence.

At my SO's interview I submitted plane tickets, stamped passport, and several other pieces of evidence of my trip to Egypt. I don't think they ever looked at the evidence, just the pictures. I didn't include any pictures of us in Egypt in the original application, only some of us where me met (France). My SO was actually asked "Why didn't she visit you in Egypt?" because I didn't include any pictures from that visit until the interview. And even then he had to pull them out again and point it out. Btw: he recieved the visa 5 days later

So moral of the story, I would say its important - even in the original application.

But if you don't have them, the decision isn't always based only on what you submit in the application but the interview also. You will have an oportunity to provide them inshalla

I am a managing partner of an LLC also. What that proves is that I have a business interest with my LLC partners. Nothing else. If you see marriage as a business, you have excellent documentation.

Wow, cold

Marriage is a partnership, as is being partners in buisness. Our LLC is just the two of us, no other managing members to enter the relationship, so in a way this buisness is a very large part of our lives. And yes, it is a part of our marriage because it is something we are committed to together and work on together every day.

What we are all trying to prove with the evidence we submit is that we have co-mingled our lives and are in the marriage together. Co-mingling buisness interests is just evidence of yet another part of our lives in which we are partners. It is by no means the only evidence that will be submitted.

Thanks for the replies

I have all of the other proof like joint personal accounts, insurance, taxes, ect... and I will include some recent bank account info from the buisness and the articles of incorporation.

I'm just starting to all of this together and still have time.

My husband and I own an LLC together, and both of our names are on EVERY official document, including buisness bank accounts, ect.....

I figure the articles of incorporation and tax documents are probably the best evidence, but any advice on the rest of it?

I litterally have an office full of buisness documents with both of our names on it, we even use our home address as the buisness address. Should I include documents from the bank verifying that we both have signature approval on the accounts? I am trying to figure out what would be the best evidence that we have continued the buisness together since the original articles of incorporation 18 months ago.

Any advice is appriciated

Hang in there Nagi!

Happy Tuesday

Hope everyone is doing well, I'm having a busy day googling

Happy Sunday MENA!

Today is Irish Movie Day in my house! The Matchmaker, The Full Monty, Circle of Friends, Secret of Roan Inish, Boondock Saints

A good friend found some tickets online for 7 days in Ireland in a castle hotel (airfare included) for $700/person. We're going in May, but starting to get REALLY excited So she's coming over today for a movie-fest and to obsesivelly google information for our trip

Happy CATurday MENA!

It's so long since I posted, I'm feeling a little shy but I've been thinking about all of the wonderful women (and men) here and wanted to give a big 'ol

MISS YOU!!

Good Morning MENA!

I still read alot of posts, but never seem to find the time to reply - I'm on a mission to post more often

Sometimes I can't believe that I should be thinking about removing conditions soon... the past year has been a rollercoaster ride for sure

Finances are hard in any marriage - I think the only hope is open communcation on both sides about bills, expenses, ect....

I made the mistake recently about making a large financial business decision w/out the hubby. He wasn't very happy when he found out because he thought we had more money than we did. He agreed it was necessary, but I forgot to tell him about it. We put everything into a joint account (althoguh we have individual savings accounts) but I controll all the finances and pay the bills. Since I lost my job this applied to the business accounts as well. He asked me how much he had to make every month to maintain our standard of living and has been doing his best to make it happen.

Money has been an issue with us lately since he doesn't know how to check the accounts online. I've tried to teach him, but hes not so good with the computer and I have to show him every time. So, basically I take care of everything in our life except business relations and the more physically aspects of the business. The only thing he has to worry about is the day-to-day opperations of the business - I take care of the house, cook, clean, do the shopping, buy him new work clothes, make doctor's appointments, pay the bills, ect... I also do all paperwork, emails, and finances for the buisness we own together. Hes only home after 6pm and usually leaves the house before I've eaten breakfast - therefore, has no idea what I do with my day. He just knows that dinner is ready and the house clean when he comes home, the bills get paid, and I organize the more tedious aspects of the buisness he doesn't want to deal with

The issue comes in when I have free license to use our money, but he's not around to see how its spent. I've been to at least 1 doctor's appointment per week since the new year began plus being a full-time college student on the side. He's wondering where the thousands of dollars have gone since the new year I just have to keep reminding him how his dental work is costing us over $3,000.

Good Morning MENA!

Should I be feeling guilty about skiping the gym this morning?

It seems like you have given him chances, and he is just acting like a big baby You need to take care of you first - that 50% stuff would make me feel so betrayed!

As for the health insurance - I honestly think they just have NO clue about its importance to us here My husband is flabergasted that I actually pay for COBRA coverage since I lost my job. I've had multiple health problems this year, but I think deep down he still thinks I'm just lazy because he can't see anything physically wrong with me He knows I'm not healthy, but also thinks the doctors are out to scam me for more money - he just can't see how health insurance is worth it. I guess thats what I get for dealing with all of the hospital bills myself and marrying a man who didn't speak English when he arrived (things are so much harder when you are translating all the time ).

My name is Kearin and I have been lurking for waaay too long and this is the perfect place to give an update

I am a laid-off Pastry Chef (my specialty is cheesecakes B) ) who has become my husband's secretary/accountant. I am working on becoming a professional slacker, I just need to teach my husband enough english to write his own e-mails and pay the bills

My husband and I export heavy equipement (bulldozers, cranes, water pumps, generators, ect...) to the ME. Since my part of the job is shipping logistics, accounting, and general office work - I stay home, have a TV in front of my desk, and cook every meal from scratch I love to cook and now I have the time for the real deal!

I also returned to school last year and decided not to give it up, even if I had given up my career . So... I am a senior with a 4.0 GPA (whoot!) at Florida International University - School of Hospitality. Right now I'm taking extra accounting classes to become a CPA (possibly) and specializing in Event Management. I get to be an associate at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival next month! Too bad I don't drink the booze anymore

Amal, Congrats on the house finally, but I am so sorry to hear about your son Being different is hard, but with your support and love he will get through the hard times.

I too had very thick glasses when I was his age, although I can't remember the exact age my eyes started shifting. I'm fairly close to being legally blind, so they were as thick as they could get even with the feather-weight super thin type. The doctors predicted I would be blind by the age of 16 (didnt happen obviously ). I also got random nose bleeds every day, even in class at school my nose would just start gushing and I had to jump up and run to the bathroom The doctors never did find out what was wrong or come up with a solution, but this went on for years. There were other things that made me different, but those were the worst two. Just before high-school I was able to get contacts and the nosebleeds started to occur less frequently, but I still remember it. In all honesty, I remember that these things happened and I have a very old friend who still remembers but I had the support of my family and I don't remember much of the bullying and hurtful remarks. Those bad parts just made me stronger and with the help of my family, more self confident both then and later in life.

The most important thing in my life has been my mother's love and knowing that she is always there for me. Be that for your son and he can get through anything

My husband gets at least 3 "random" security checks every time he goes through the airport whether or not it is domestic or international. Even his carry-on luggage has everything pulled out and inspected. He only has a goatee, not a full beard, and keeps it very short. He also went through the security checks for his visa within days and never had any problems with homeland security (that I know of) upon re-entry 3 times last year.... it has only been the airport security.

I find it very strange, and I don't know what it is about him except that his is very large, tall, and obviously arab The only time I've been singled out was 2001 in Lubbock, TX of all places

We are flying to NY tomorrow and sincerly hope there are no problems this time

Happy Friday

I'm being lazy and procrastinating but I really need to buckle down and clear off my desk and re-organize my office after my hubby spent a few hours in here last night

I've decided that I want to go on a cruise this year for our aniversary We live next to a very large cruise port and can easily spare 3-4 days (inshalla) - I didn't have a honeymoon last year, so I told my husband he has to go somewhere with me for our 1 yr aniversary Only problem is that it's right before Christmas and I think any trip is going to be a little more expensive than normal - I'm hoping to not spend more than $1,000 total but at least we won't have to pay for airfare

Happy Thursday MENA!

I haven't been around much this week - just popping in to say hi!

I lived in France for 2 years, and I have to say, I even had some culture shock coming back to the USA and wouldn't have come if I hadn't been heartbroken and needed to be near my mother. It's hard to come back and resettle, even with the help of family. It's particularly hard to move countries. It's also expensive starting over, because that's what it is when all you have is your parent's house to move back to.

That being said, why would you do it temporarily?

I definantly understand where you are coming from with being financially stable and how good it feels after scrapping by... why not wait and save up more money and wait for the economy to improve? I'm almost worried that you would loose alot of money comeing back to the US now, especially if you husband couldn't find a good job right away - what would be the point then? To spend time close to your parents?

Do the kids there have summers off school? With the income and money saved there you could bring your daughter back and see the family for a few months every summer. Alot of imigrant families that have the money do the reverse every year (I know several who send the kids back home every year for an extended visit).

Just a few thoughts - its up to you and your husband - just don't underestimate how hard moving countries is on both you and the child(ren)

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide

Happy (belated) halloween!

I truely forgot about the holiday I don't get out much lately

Today I rearranged the closet, made a pile for goodwill, washed all the sheets, towels, clothes... oh yeah - and cleaned the kitchen I haven't cleaned in 3 weeks and it finally got on my nerves!

WooHooo!!!!

Well, I've tried Coke Zero today... not so bad. I really love Pepsi, but I just don't like the aspertame (sp?) taste of diet.

All of this is really my own fault I'm the one who blamed the weight gain on it, the hubby is just trying to be helpfull

Now I just have to explain that I CAN drink coke zero because it won't make me fat like the other one

I had known my husband (online) for almost a year when I flew out and married him. I had spent a lot of time online with him, and knew him pretty well. I knew that it would take some time to get the approval for marriage, which would give me a chance to see if he was the same person online as he was offline. It turns out that he was, and we have been married for 4 years now. So it worked for us. So can it work? Yes. Does it always work? No.

Now from an immigration stand point. I think it was PB that stated that you have to look at this as a legal matter. I have to agree. It ticks me off that it has to be viewed that way, but who are we to fight immigration? So it is best to play the game their way.

Just some background information. We met online in November of 2003. My first trip out there was when we married October of 04. He had his interview in August of 05. He was denied a visa, and the petition was sent back to the USCIS with the recommendation of a revokation of our petition. The USCIS sent us a Notice of Intent to Revoke stating the following reasons:

1-Had just met in person, and got married

2-Had a small ceremony

3-No relatives and friends were at the wedding (This one was untrue)

I don't believe that these are the real reasons that we were denied, but it gave them a valid reason to deny the visa.

The bottom line is this. Perhaps if you marry on the first trip you will get the visa easy. Perhaps you will be denied. It is up to you how to handle it. If you take your time and get engaged, then make a second trip for the marriage it will increase your chances of having the visa approved on the first interview. If you choose to get married the first trip then it will increase your chance for a denial.

The total time it took us to get the visa, from the initial petition, was 2 years, and this would have been considered quick for a denial.

You can do as you please, you don't owe it to any of us to do it one way or the other. But on the other hand if things don't go well at least we all know that we gave you the best advice that we could.

Wow, they actually used the fact that you had a small ceremony against you???? So everyone is supposed to blow a ton of money or if you don't have a lot of money to begin with (as in our case) then it's fraud????? Boyoboyoboy, I should have pulled the Bridezilla act then and demanded a huge reception at the Yak & Yeti not to mention a big diamond from my hubby - I only have a silver ring so he is only out for the GC...sheesh....

We have 2 out of 3 on your list - we technically met in '06, called and emailed a few times but don't have any evidence before marriage(were not thinking it would go so far) so it's going to look as if we married right after we met, and we had a small ceremony, though his family was there and we have photos. I am scared... we are at NVC now and getting our stuff together, will be paying the IV Fee bill on Thursday. I will be having cataract surgery soon(on my one good eye) and am telling myself I won't worry about this visa mess until I get through surgery - my appointment with my Optho to set the date is on Friday... I can only deal with one crisis at a time...

Well since you've been married you've gone to see him several times so I think that's going to help you guys.

I hope you're right, Olivia... I am thinking we should have his family write a letter documenting that they have known me since '06, maybe that would help to make up for the lack of evidence before marriage??

Have you kept evidence of your visits since? Those would be good for the interview - something my SO was asked about and seemed to be a deciding factor for the interviewer.

Send him photocopies from your passport and ticket stubs if you have them - include any pics (even if they aren't considered the best evidence).

A quick marriage is not always a reason for denial. If there is other substantial evidence of a strong relationship and no other red flags, it doesn't seem to factor as much. You just never know with the consulates.

Don't worry about it Pattu - its done, there is nothing you can do to change it or any other red flags. The only thing you can do is be prepared to address it if it comes up, just like any other part of the interview