Tunisia216

The American school in Tunis is on fire too.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/film-protests-tunisia-school-idUSL5E8KEIC220120914?type=marketsNews

Video of American flag being taken down at the US Embassy in Tunis and the Salafist flag being raised.

Fires inside the US Embassy Tunis, Tunisia compound.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-protests-tunisbre88d0yg-20120914,0,6538719.story

Welcome to the USA and best wishes for you and your wife

now i am i usa and i should find job , i dont know how i start or where i look

do i need a social security number and green card to work? (I STILL DONT RECEIVE THEM YET)

what is the best solution to find a job?

any fiends around west saint paul MN , i would like to meet some arab , maby tunisian

any answear will help and thank you

Legally the stamp in your passport (if you came on a marriage/CR1 visa) is enough to work. Also you can begin work with a letter from the social security office saying that your card is in process/production. The problem is that most employers do not know this and do not believe or accept it. There isn't a lot that can be done for the green card, but you can visit your local social security office and apply for the card. Be sure to take your passport with you and translated birth certificate as well as marriage certificate. Although the card is supposed to come (if you checked that box on the forms while going through immigration) it often doesn't come. That was the case with my husband. We went to our local office and 6 days later, he had his social security card in hand. It would be easier to attempt to start working with the social security in hand and the stamp in your passport.

As far as finding a job - you could try looking online, try going to local unemployment offices, find your local mosque and talk to fellow Muslims about work opportunities, have your wife ask around in her circle of friends and family to see if they know of anything or anyone who is hiring, and create a resume to post on several job search websites.

You could again try the mosque or local Islamic community center to meet fellow Arabs and Tunisians.

There is also a group on facebook called " Tunisians in the USA" They are a great group of guys and gals who network (may have work information for you) and you can ask there about local Tunisians in your area. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4080148739/

There are also employees of the Tunisian embassy that use the group and they may be able to help you in the future.

http://www.tunisiancenterusa.com/

http://www.tunisiancommunity.org/

incha allah hadh saiid wa incha allah ramadanek mabrouk Good luck and best wishes for you and your wife. Good luck.

It didnt say...?? NVC will be the Office asking for Ongoing Relationship, pictures...etc. So I dont know what CA USCIS process for?? Any idea??

You have to get through CA USCIS before you can get to NVC. It is also not necessarily true that the NVC will be the office asking for ongoing relationship evidence. NVC is more responsible for financial verification, security checks, and scheduling the actual interview with the foreign embassy/consulate. In some cases, this information can be requested by USCIS or even by the consulate/embassy at the actual interview.

In any event, there is little that you can do until you find out exactly what the RFE was for. As the previous poster explained, you need to know what information they want from you. It is possible they are not interested in information to validate the relationship, but that the application was incomplete or incorrect.

The RFE that you received - was it in the mail or are you speaking of getting an email notification? Either call to ask them what it was or wait for their official letter stating what they need from you.

I would put all of your additional evidence that you've gathered since you sent your application in together in a 'packet'. It may come in handy to have your spouse take this to the interview, in the event the interviewer wants to see more evidence or the course of your relationship since filing the petition.

Good luck.

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Process_Flowchart_v1-2.pdf

My husband is pretty shocked about the disparity between how the US media is covering Egypt and the way it has pretty much ignored Tunisia. My husband has to spend a lot more time finding stories on with the French media and other sources to know ####### is going on in his country. He is happy that his country has helped spawn a change in Arab regimes but skeptical as to how these changes will play out. THere is a curfew called in Tunisia over fears of violence at the moment.

This is a good site for Tunisian news, post revolution. It's pretty honest and gives different view points. It's in English but I think French and Arabic as well.

http://www.tunisia-live.net/

I agree Tunisia has been mostly ignored although I was surprised a few weeks ago to see an Anderson Cooper round table discussion panel that did actually credit the revolutions to Tunisia. I think Tunisia is largely ignored due to the relative limited amount of violence and bloodshed in comparison to Egypt, Libya, and Syria.

About two days ago things seemed to get rough when an art show in Tunis showcased pieces that included the word Allah written in insects. The Salafists got worked up and insanity ruled again. Two young men lost their lives. Curfews have been lifted or pulled back though in most places.

Two of my favorite Tunisian films are Halfaouine: Boy of the Terraces (1991) and The Wedding Song (2008). Both are a little older but great films. Neither are for kids as they have nudity. Halfaouine is about a boy's coming of age in Tunisia and a lot of it takes places in the hamam (bath house) and The Wedding Song is about the Nazi's in Tunisia and how it affected both the Jewish and Muslim populations- it is fictional centered on two girls - one Muslim and one Jewish who are/were the best of friends.

Halfaouine is on youtube in good quality with English subtitles. It's also cheap on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Halfaouine-Boy-Terraces-Mustapha-Adouani/dp/B00019G4VE

The Wedding Song trailer :

(Available on Netflix)

What would you need a transit visa for? If you are traveling from Tunis to the USA with a visa in your passport and the intent to immigrate you do not need any transit visa - provided you do not leave the airport.

You will need to pay 60 dinar for the Tunisian exit stamp. This is required by Tunisian customs for all Tunisians leaving the country. Once you have your US green card, you won't have to pay it on future visits to Tunis.

Your best bet for Tunisia is USPS. Although FEDEX and UPS will claim to get it there faster, they don't. The problem arises once it gets to the airport and how long it sits there, how long it takes go from processing to the town, and how long it takes for the post office to bother notifying the recipient that they have mail to come and pick up.

When I send mail from the East coast, USA to Jendouba, Tunisia it takes on average 12-14 days to arrive. I would use USPS and get a confirmation tracking number which will at least allow you to track it until the moment it arrives in the Tunis Carthage airport.

Don't waste your money with the huge fedex/ups up-charges. When it arrives in Tunis through them, it's turned over to regular Tunisie Postal Service just like USPS.

The originals they will most likely ask for at his interview are an original updated B3 police certificate and possibly originals of the marriage certificate and/or his birth certificate. They won't request your original birth certificate. They will also return to him any original documents they have in their possession with the exception of the B3.

The embassy staff is very nice and you can email them to ask for a list of original documents that he needs to have with him. He does not need the NOA's but he will need the copy of his interview scheduled date as that is his ticket into the embassy. You can scan and email him a copy in the event he does not get his original in the mail before the interview. My husband took a copy, the mail is slow there.

Our AP has finished and my husband is on his way home to me!!, I am SOOOO HAPPY!

mabrookulations

Let me point out there is no consistancy with Tunisia, requirements seem to change from person to person. The interview at the Embassy is a good example, one person only needed 2 photo's while another needed 3. Some asked 5 questions, another asked 20. Some asked for IM/Skype transcripts while others not asked for them. Bottom line, I would rather be prepare with more than "require or suggested" than to say "I am sure they won't ask us for that" and have more delay

The requirements are set forth by USCIS and NVC and are restated on the Tunisian Embassy website. In regards to fees, necessary forms, and photos go by the websites. In regards to evidence, it only states sufficient evidence to prove the validity or intent of your relationship. In this aspect, it never hurts to have more. In some cases when they feel the relationship is suspect they may request more information ( large age gaps, recent marriages to other foreigners that immigrated, getting married on the first trip, religious differences, etc) and in other cases they may not require any information outside of a few questions. Be prepared to avoid delays and return trips to the embassy with sufficient evidence.

If your husband is coming to the US and he has a visa in his passport and he is NOT leaving the airport he does not need a transit visa. My husband traveled through Germany and France on several occasions and was in the airport over 2 hours and never required a visa. His trip here was through Germany and he was there for 6 hours without a visa - just his Tunisian passport and US visa. They knew he was immigrating. France is the same way. You can read this on most websites. The visa becomes necessary only when he's going to attempt to leave the airport.

France and Italy are strict because of the Tunisian illegals in their country. The numbers are enormous and this is why they place restrictions and act in sometimes hateful ways toward Tunisians traveling there. However the American visa in his passport will illustrate his intent to immigrate to the United States and as long as he does not attempt to exit the airport he will be alright.

Also unless something has changed (I've not heard that it has) The doctor who does his medical will send his exam info right to the Embassy. He will not touch it or do anything. You can't schedule a doctors appointment though until you know the date of the interview. As soon as you know the date, he can call the doctor to get an appointment. 95% of the doctors are in Tunis that the embassy approves. There should be a list of civil surgeons on the embassy's website (I think its there as a pdf you can download) After his interview if he is approved they will give him an envelope with the visa and tell him not to open it - he is to keep it unopened and give it to the customs agents at the first US airport he arrives at. Its a large envelope - I believe xrays, medical results, etc. After he gives that to the customs at the airport he won't get it back. But they aren't going to be happy if he has opened it.

He will take the new B3 to the interview. So neither of those things are things he 'mails' to the embassy. I can't think of anything he would mail them. He will get a letter in the mail from the Embassy about his interview and such but it will be so late. My husband got this mailing 3 days before his interview - I had gotten it over a month before the interview. You can fax or scan/email this as it is his 'ticket' into the embassy on the day of his interview. If his official letter makes it to him before the interview -that's great and he can take them both but just in case he will have the one you sent him. You will definitely get that before he does.

Yes, we're preparing our packets and everything. I'm visiting my husband in April, I'm pretty sure we'll be completing our documents together and being proactive like you said.. Yes, I'm doing a lot of reading on my own trying to get familiar with the process. Thanks so much for your reply..

Just a heads up regarding the B3 or "police certificate" - In 2007/2008 when we processed our paperwork it was taking a few weeks to get a B3. At that time it was unheard of as it use to take only a few days. Around 2010 it was taking more like 3-4 weeks in some places. Post revolution the place is a mess and a B3 could take one week to 6 weeks or more (If you know someone or possibly bribe someone it can move faster) If you're wanting to take his B3 home with you after your trip, you may want to have him request it now so that it is ready when you get there. Further after he requests it, if he should get it before you arrive, he could do the translation as well and it will be ready to go when you get there. That is if you're needing it at this step of the process.

When you get one for the interview the very minute you find out the date of your interview, have him go and ask for the B3 right away. If you wanted to be super proactive - when your case is already at NVC and you're close to 'the end' Have him request one. If you get lucky and you move quickly from NVC to the embassy and they have an available appointment sooner rather than later, you'll be ready to go and not freaking out about a B3 that is not ready. They will not give him the visa in his passport until he has the B3. They will interview him, approve him, and tell him to come back with the B3 and they'll trade him for the visa. The B3 for the interview has to be as new as it can be (w/in 30 days or sooner) No need for translations on the B3 he will take to the interview.

Hello, I have a Question?? Since, I'm visiting my husband in April 2012. Would it be a good idea, if we both went to the US Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia and TRY to do anything about our I-130 Petition or his Interview. I'm expecting and my Due Date is in August 2012 and need my husband with me. Anything suggestions would help.. Thanks!!

You have gotten 100% accurate advice. The embassy is not going to know anything about your case. Even if you tried to call them now from the U.S. they would tell you that until they receive the packet from NVC for scheduling they have nothing in their systems.

I have a friend who was able to get a pregnancy expedite but her case was based on the fact she was having multiples, complications, and had proof that she had no family (deceased parents) which she had to prove with doctor's notes and death records, etc. In the end, though they did consider her request and approved it, he only got here about a month sooner than he would have anyway and it was just at the moment the babies were born.

As others have said, it certainly never hurts to ask but minus a complication they aren't likely to approve it. And that request would be put in from the US via USCIS or NVC not the embassy staff.

The Embassy in Tunis has a whole different vibe these days. It does not seem to be the happy go lucky place it once was. That's not to say they are over- denying, but with the influx of Libyans they had/have they are short staffed and overcrowded. Add into that the Tunisian Revolution and current political climates (which ain't rosy) and I'm hearing first hand stories of a place that sounds nothing like I knew.

If the embassy is on your way you might stop, but I wouldn't center your trip around it and lose time you could spend with your husband and family over it.

incha allah hadh saiid et mabrook.

I've been with my Tunisian for 6 years, married for 5 years, and he's been in the US for 4 years.... and I did not go with him to the interview. It is not necessary at all. In fact of all the American women married to Tunisians that I know (and I've made friends with quite the bit bunch of "Twags" -Tunisian Wives & Girlfriends) none of them went to their husband's interview. My husband is from Jendouba and everyone seems to have something to say about everything. There is always going to be a friend that told him this or that and you just have to let him see these posts to know its not true at all. My particular favorite is a friend that said this or that and is married to someone from Germany which has a totally different process or who has never even been in a relationship with a foreigner. I hope you can convince him that while it might be nice and supportive emotionally, its not likely to make a difference in the outcome (though I suppose others may say it does make a difference). Good luck.

Happy Labor Day, ya'll. I hope that everyone is doing well

Daily thread to weekly thread to Monthly thread? Wow! Where did everyone go?

Just doing my regular check in to see if there are any Tunisiano's I can help and wanted to say hello.

Hope everyone is doing well.

No need to be nervous. Things are calm and back to normal right now.

The only real worry or pain in the butt is that everyone, everywhere for every ( and no ) reason is striking. You know freedom and democracy brought freedoms to complain about things that aren't even worth complaining about. So sometimes the strikes are causing delays in service but at the moment both Tunis Air, all the airports, employees, etc are working and I am not hearing any whispers of strikes.

There are random strikes at the MIR (Monastir) Airport due to the fact that Enfidah (NBE) Airport is ready to open and most of the traffic will be diverted there while renovations are undertaken at Monastir. Employees are bitter over having to drive 20 minutes more to get to work and over the deal with TAV for the new airport. I imagine you're going into Tunis Carthage though coming from the US so it shouldn't be any issue at all for you.

I hope that you have a good time and take care!

No, no I'm pretty sure that Sara got it right. You're calling us all old, aren't you?

Hi

Being a young, single Tunisian male with no job, real estate, etc in Tunisia will not go over well for his application on the tourist visa. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's highly unlikely. If he had a wife, family, etc in Tunisia and was younger that is often also considered as reason to return. But with the circumstances you've explained, I don't see it likely that they will grant the visa.

In fact, honestly, if the ultimate intent is for him to live in the USA with you, I wouldn't even bother wasting the time and money on it.

If he has 30,000 in the bank - You didn't say if that was USD or Tunisian dinar, he can purchase a ticket for you. He'd need to go to either a travel agent or directly to the Tunis Carthage airport. He can purchase a ticket through Air France, Alitalia, or Lufthansa who all have offices in the Tunis airport. If he went through Air France it would be from your US city to Paris more than likely. Then he could purchase the connector from Paris to Tunis with Air France or with Tunis Air. After he buys everything he can send you the information and you would pick up the tickets at the counter in your airport or use check in with the online systems/ registration info.

It's true that you can not send money outside of Tunisia. It's a non exportable currency. Traders/ importers can send money outside and the families of students studying abroad can transfer money out of the country. Another option would be if he has family members living out side of Tunisia ( In Europe - UK, France, Italy, Holland, etc) that visit Tunisia often. Perhaps they could send you the money for your ticket via Western Union and he can pay them back when they next visit Tunisia.

After just that one visit, you could proceed with the fiance visa application process OR get married while you are there and file for the marriage visa.