miamiwife

ybutt20--there are a lot of people here on this Forum who have been suffering from Islamabad with AP. The DOS can be frustrating to call, so take the call with a grain of salt. Note to Forum--can we add his information to our AP tracking guide?

Is there anyone with similar experience who can help 2Bay out? I have been wondering why not many people have given any advice. Any waivers or experience with problems as interview for a criminal background? Surely someone has some advice for 2Bay?

If you go to the Guides section there is information on all the forms and steps for the K-3 visa with links to the forms your husband can fill out. As far as Ankara goes--they are back this week from holiday so you can e-mail them and see if they received your case from NVC. If they have, you can send in the packet 3 items that are listed on their website. I think the actual packet took a couple of weeks for them to send to my husband, but we already had it all ready to go. Their website gives you the exact packet 3 instructions and forms that they will send to you. Just make sure to make copies of everything, get everything in Turkish translated into English, and get some extra photos since you will need this for the medical exam and possibly at the interview. It is all exciting and you run around getting all your paperwork in place and then have to wait for whenever they schedule your interview. Some people get the interview a week later, and some (like Julia and me) get their interviews scheduled 3 months after sending in all the paperwork. It is a fickle system. Good luck!

Yes--Congratulations--you get to add your husband to that Christmas background now!

Thank you so much for the information. This entire visa process has been a game of hurry up and wait. I can see by the other responses that AP is tracked in months rather than weeks. I called the DOS today and was told that our visa is still in AP. He couldn't (wouldn't ) tell me the reason. He did suggest to wait until we reach the 90 day mark before calling anyone else. In the time being, I will compose a letter to my rep. just in case we need it.

Thanks again!!

No harm in asking your Senator to do an inquiry now, then at least you'd know why your case is in AP. Good luck.

Yeah--and don't think that the inquiry with be instantaneous either--the senator/congressman could ask even a month after you request them too.

Erika,

You might have to wait even 3 months for the interview date--we did--after sending in Packet 3. I didn't go to the interview and a lot of people do not go with their significant other.

Okay, so--the point of checking the Internet is because there are packages for every budget including elopment packages! The point is you are paying to have someone do the paperwork for you, unless you are planning on attempting to master Turkish red tape yourself. It is one thing to just go to Las Vegas and get married in your car in a drive thru, but usually if you are getting married in another country somebody needs to know where to go to get the paperwork done so the wedding is legitimate. Since you and your fiance are not from the country where you are getting married then it would probably be helpful to find someone who can get your paperwork stamped a million times like the Turks like it, translated, and notarized. The wedding doesn't have to be a traditional American wedding in Turkey! You are going to be in front of a civil officiant, say I marry so and so, sign a paper and you are done. You don't need to wear a Vera Wang dress and you don't need an expensive ring, or a ring at all. You don't say vows, you don't exchange rings, you are just doing paperwork.

I don't know about Iran, but American consulates are in Istanbul and Izmir or the embassy in Ankara. As far as scenic, Ankara is not that nor is it very affordable and it is pretty darn cold if you are getting married in the Winter. Have you checked on the Internet yet for packages? Go with the packages, do yourself a favor with all the planning!

Cassandra--totally can relate! I am approaching 6 months of AP this month after applying for my husband's visa 16 months ago! We have been married for 17 months and have been separated the whole time waiting. I threw away all of the wedding favors I made for my U.S. ceremony and all the stuff I bought since it is soooo anti-climatic to have a wedding ceremony now after almost a year and half have passed in waiting for him, not to mention all the money spent flying to visit him. Numb is right--what can we do. I don't even care much anymore, I just want this to be over so I have some closure!

Julia,

You don't need to make an appointment at Ankara--just show your passport and they will let you in. There is a separate line for U.S. citizen services. As far as getting anything done, well I hope someone here can offer advice on that.

Can they hold your passport for that long? I mean, what right do they have to hold your passport for a year!?

I don't understand what you mean khengool--we are anxious for you. Please help us understand what is happening with the visa. Aren't they finished? Your number showed up on the website--what else must you do?

So I have to ask this Turkish group how many times they have gotten this question (especially since Thanksgiving is coming up), "Do they eat turkey in Turkey?" You don't know how many times I have gotten that one! Hope your Thanksgiving is full of many blessings and lots of tofurkey!

Weekdays are of course the most affordable days to get married, but hey, let us know what you find!

khengool--what is happening with the visa? Anything?

Hey chaingang--what is going on? Tammy finished--how are you doing with your visa? Anything?

I don't think the security checks have anything to do with the petitioner. Besides, Julia and I were both told that our beneficiary's name had been sent to Washington, not the other way around. What we can not figure out is what triggers this. Is it name only? Hey Onur and Julia--if Muhammet's visa does not come by December 1st, I am also going to Turkey for Winter Break--maybe we can all meet? We can have a party at the embassy;)

WontanNara--I know how you feel--I HATE visiting my husband and then having to say good-bye and not knowing when I will see him again.

She is right--the Turkish side also had wedding packages in Cyprus and when I went there on vacation with my husband we stayed at a resort and a British couple were getting married there on the beach. Just something simple with their two children. Usually for the civil ceremony in Turkey people just wear nice clothes. I wore a wedding gown there because we had the reception right after. They charge different prices based on the day of the week. I think notaries range from $40-$60 per item notarized, but I am sure that fee depends on where you go--you can bargain too. I would check into the packages though--it seems so much easier, plus someone else will do all the paperwork for you. Cyprus is just an hour and half flight from Istanbul and is fairly laid-back. There is a lot of Turkish military present, but the resorts are nice and you can see lots of castles!

Julia--Take your PRAXIS--concentrate on that right now. Seriously--you should have Onur call Muhammet (I sent you the number)--they are in the same situation, from the same country, and going through the same anxiety. Plus, Muhammet has been waiting even longer, so Onur might feel like his situation isn't so bad. You know, like we always think our situation sucks, then we see people like Tammy who just became reunited with her husband after waiting 13 months in AP and it makes us more humble and feel encouraged.

Sibel

This is the best news I have heard in months! I am so happy for you Tammy--I truly am!

It depends. Tell us a little about you situation. Some of us here in the AP group have been waiting several months for security checks and some only have to wait a few weeks. Seems to depend on the embassy, the country, name of the person, and the wind these days.

I am still waiting for my husband, but I became an aunt last week! I am going to visit my brother and see my nephew next week. I am very excited--finally someone to spoil!

Sibel

Do you have to pay for the second interview? How odd.

Interesting! I got married in Turkey, but my husband was Turkish so the paperwork will obviously be more than you will encounter. We had to get tested for sickle cell anemia, have a doctor verify we were healthy, pay various people, get a certificate from the U.S. embassy that I was eligible to marry, pay for a translator, pay for an officiant, etc. Since neither of you are Turkish it is a different ball game. All marriages in Turkey are civil ceremonies--so that is no problem. I would checked on the Internet for "getting married in Turkey" and you should be able to find some good information. Notaries are expensive in Turkey (in comparison to the U.S.) and you do have to get everything translated since the Turkish marriage certificate is in Turkish and French (not sure why) and that is not a language in either of your countries. I am sure there are package deals where someone will do all the work for you--check the Internet.