Galfeist

Hi everyone!

Edip and I had our interview Sept 24th. I thought I'd share details that took place in Ankara. Our appt. was at 0930, arrived at embassy at 0900 without a wait, went thru security, they took Edip's two pics (even tho we had sent two with pkt 3, glad we had taken extras) so then you sit and wait for your number to show up. We were right by window 6 when blinds opened and a not so friendly-looking CO was behind the counter. We were saying "please not her, please not her" Some other girl was called to interview with her and the CO was drilling this poor girl so hard and telling her she needs to speak English if she wants to go to a country were that is primary language and back and forth they went. I don't even know the outcome because Edip and I started talking to distract ourselves from that interview. Finally our number pops up and sure enough it's Window 6. So we go up together and she asks me if I was the US citizen and I said "yes" and she told me to have a seat for now.

This is conversation as best as I can remember (you are speaking through a microphone and everyone can hear your questions/answers)

"How did you meet Doris?"

'She came on vacation to Istanbul last year.'

"Is that all you remember? You don't remember any details"

'Yes, of course we met at a restaurant and saw each other and liked each other'

"And so you just walked up to her table?"

'Yes'

"Was she alone"

'No, she was with her friend'

"Were you alone?"

'Yes' (I'm thinking to myself, what the hell is he saying, I mean techinically he WAS alone and did come up to our table, but his friend had called him to come join us so it's not like two strangers' eyes meeting across a room like he was making it sound, I know he was just nervous)

Edip goes on to say, 'we spent time together and then she went to America and came back a few months later and stayed for six weeks'

"For you?"

'Yes'

"Where did she stay?" (At this point she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish, and I'm thinking "oh, she actually IS sweet and wants him to be comfortable speaking in Turkish)

Edip ignored her comment and continues in English.

'We rented an apt'

"Who do you live with regularly?"

'My cousin'

"And he was ok with you two staying together?"

'Yes because we love each other'

"Has Doris met your family?" (Again she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish)

'I want to practice my English since I am going to America' he tells her.

We had about ten photos of us traveling around Turkey and some with his family and we had agreed first chance he had to slip those photos in to take up time and avoid more questions. So Edip hands her photos and she starts asking who's who in pics in regards to his family and then she starts speaking Turkish to him and later Edip tells me she is telling him to speak Turkish because "She is going to hear" referring to me. (so much for my theory on her sweetness) She asks him what I do for work and he tells her "hemshire" then she tells him to go sit down and calls me.

She's looking at paperwork and says "Doris, I see your w-2's here but they're blank."

I tell her she needs to look closer, they are 1099's since I am an independent contractor and contract myself out to hospitals and I have the original and recent pay stubs if she needs to see them. She later finds salary that was partially typed onto the line and could be missed if not looked for. She did not care to see original or pay stubs.

Then she starts interviewing me.

"Where did you and Edip meet" ( I think she felt his hesitation and wanted to verify story)

'I was vacationing in Istanbul and we met at a restaurant'

"Were you alone?"

'No, I was with my friend'

"Was he alone?"

'He came alone but we had met his friend' (I know she didn't hear this response at all cuz she cuts me off)

"Doris I have been to Istanbul and I know how the men like to hassle everyone over there, do you just start talking to any strange man that comes up to your table and wants to talk to you?" (uh, huh I wanted to tell her, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM because I am so desperate for attention from men) Instead I say,

'I think I am a good judge of character and know the difference from the every day hassler and a decent person and he looked harmless, come on look at him' and she just nods. (my mouth is so dry at this time and I keep thinking why am I being interviewed?)

"So then you went home?"

'Yes, and then he called me and we kept in touch.'

"He made an international phone call?"

'Yes' (does she really think he is incapable of such)

'I came back to Istanbul for six weeks and studied Turkish

"Did you learn"

'Some'

"Where did you stay?"

'We rented an apt'

"Who does he normally live with?"

'His cousin'

"Have you met his brothers/sisters"

'He only has brothers and I have met only some of them, the ones who live in Istanbul.'

She sees that I was previously married, "Do you still talk to your ex-husband?"

'No'

"Was he a US citizen?" (She probably sees his hispanic last name and had to ask, I'm hispanic myself)

'Yes'

"How does your family feel about this"

'They don't care'

She then calls Edip back to window and she's just looking at her paperwork and without looking at us so matter-of-fact she says, "I'm approving your visa today."

I was so excited/happy I say "Thank you!" maybe over-enthusiastically and she starts laughing and tells us "Congratulations and have a happy marriage" and then tells us to go to the UPS desk in back of the room.

It was such a relief to get it over with.

We received visa this past Monday. I am so happy for us but I still feel sad for those of you out there still waiting. Julia and Sibel, I will keep you in our prayers. I don't know why we didn't get place in AP. Maybe because Edip's never left Turkey. I just thank God we didn't. We've had a wonderful time here in Turkey and will leave for USA later this week. Take care everyone and God bless. Iyi Bayramlar!!

Doris

Hi everyone!

Edip and I had our interview Sept 24th. I thought I'd share details that took place in Ankara. Our appt. was at 0930, arrived at embassy at 0900 without a wait, went thru security, they took Edip's two pics (even tho we had sent two with pkt 3, glad we had taken extras) so then you sit and wait for your number to show up. We were right by window 6 when blinds opened and a not so friendly-looking CO was behind the counter. We were saying "please not her, please not her" Some other girl was called to interview with her and the CO was drilling this poor girl so hard and telling her she needs to speak English if she wants to go to a country were that is primary language and back and forth they went. I don't even know the outcome because Edip and I started talking to distract ourselves from that interview. Finally our number pops up and sure enough it's Window 6. So we go up together and she asks me if I was the US citizen and I said "yes" and she told me to have a seat for now.

This is conversation as best as I can remember (you are speaking through a microphone and everyone can hear your questions/answers)

"How did you meet Doris?"

'She came on vacation to Istanbul last year.'

"Is that all you remember? You don't remember any details"

'Yes, of course we met at a restaurant and saw each other and liked each other'

"And so you just walked up to her table?"

'Yes'

"Was she alone"

'No, she was with her friend'

"Were you alone?"

'Yes' (I'm thinking to myself, what the hell is he saying, I mean techinically he WAS alone and did come up to our table, but his friend had called him to come join us so it's not like two strangers' eyes meeting across a room like he was making it sound, I know he was just nervous)

Edip goes on to say, 'we spent time together and then she went to America and came back a few months later and stayed for six weeks'

"For you?"

'Yes'

"Where did she stay?" (At this point she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish, and I'm thinking "oh, she actually IS sweet and wants him to be comfortable speaking in Turkish)

Edip ignored her comment and continues in English.

'We rented an apt'

"Who do you live with regularly?"

'My cousin'

"And he was ok with you two staying together?"

'Yes because we love each other'

"Has Doris met your family?" (Again she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish)

'I want to practice my English since I am going to America' he tells her.

We had about ten photos of us traveling around Turkey and some with his family and we had agreed first chance he had to slip those photos in to take up time and avoid more questions. So Edip hands her photos and she starts asking who's who in pics in regards to his family and then she starts speaking Turkish to him and later Edip tells me she is telling him to speak Turkish because "She is going to hear" referring to me. (so much for my theory on her sweetness) She asks him what I do for work and he tells her "hemshire" then she tells him to go sit down and calls me.

She's looking at paperwork and says "Doris, I see your w-2's here but they're blank."

I tell her she needs to look closer, they are 1099's since I am an independent contractor and contract myself out to hospitals and I have the original and recent pay stubs if she needs to see them. She later finds salary that was partially typed onto the line and could be missed if not looked for. She did not care to see original or pay stubs.

Then she starts interviewing me.

"Where did you and Edip meet" ( I think she felt his hesitation and wanted to verify story)

'I was vacationing in Istanbul and we met at a restaurant'

"Were you alone?"

'No, I was with my friend'

"Was he alone?"

'He came alone but we had met his friend' (I know she didn't hear this response at all cuz she cuts me off)

"Doris I have been to Istanbul and I know how the men like to hassle everyone over there, do you just start talking to any strange man that comes up to your table and wants to talk to you?" (uh, huh I wanted to tell her, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM because I am so desperate for attention from men) Instead I say,

'I think I am a good judge of character and know the difference from the every day hassler and a decent person and he looked harmless, come on look at him' and she just nods. (my mouth is so dry at this time and I keep thinking why am I being interviewed?)

"So then you went home?"

'Yes, and then he called me and we kept in touch.'

"He made an international phone call?"

'Yes' (does she really think he is incapable of such)

'I came back to Istanbul for six weeks and studied Turkish

"Did you learn"

'Some'

"Where did you stay?"

'We rented an apt'

"Who does he normally live with?"

'His cousin'

"Have you met his brothers/sisters"

'He only has brothers and I have met only some of them, the ones who live in Istanbul.'

She sees that I was previously married, "Do you still talk to your ex-husband?"

'No'

"Was he a US citizen?" (She probably sees his hispanic last name and had to ask, I'm hispanic myself)

'Yes'

"How does your family feel about this"

'They don't care'

She then calls Edip back to window and she's just looking at her paperwork and without looking at us so matter-of-fact she says, "I'm approving your visa today."

I was so excited/happy I say "Thank you!" maybe over-enthusiastically and she starts laughing and tells us "Congratulations and have a happy marriage" and then tells us to go to the UPS desk in back of the room.

It was such a relief to get it over with.

We received visa this past Monday. I am so happy for us but I still feel sad for those of you out there still waiting. Julia and Sibel, I will keep you in our prayers. I don't know why we didn't get place in AP. Maybe because Edip's never left Turkey. I just thank God we didn't. We've had a wonderful time here in Turkey and will leave for USA later this week. Take care everyone and God bless. Iyi Bayramlar!!

Doris

We're approved!!! Thanks to God! Will follow up with interview details later since we're off to Antalya now, just wanted everyone to know. They said we should get visa in a few days. He's coming home with me!!!!

Thanks for everything everyone,

Doris

Thanks Sibel for your well wishes!

I am off to Istanbul in about 8 hours. Interview on the 24th! I will let everyone know what happens. Just keep us in your thoughts/prayers. I am so nervous/excited now that it's getting so close.

All the best to everyone!

Doris

Hey Congratulations! I am so happy you will be with your family now.

God bless,

Doris

Hi Everyone,

So am getting excited about interview date but even more because I will get to see Edip again. I'm praying we may be coming home together. I want to take a gift for his mother but am at a blank as to what to get her. Anyone have any ideas what a Turkish mom would enjoy, aside from fragrances/chocolates/scarves.

Julia and Sibel-you're in my thoughts/prayers

Wendy-am sorry about your loss, I know the feeling.

Mina-Thanks for your well wishes

God bless everyone,

Doris

We got our interview date....September 24th. We're so excited! See you there Serdar.

God bless,

Doris

Hi everyone!

I know I usually don't post in this forum but think it's time I did so others might know what to expect with their process also. Looking at others' timelines we seem to be out of the normal range for K1ers in receiving packet 4 from Ankara with actual interview date. (I know you waited a while too Becca) We never received packet 3 from embassy but I knew since we could download everything online it wasn't a big deal. I was just waiting to know Ankara had our file in hand to go ahead and send in our pkt. (Another VJer gave me this tip, thanks again!) When I called earlier this week they said we'd know by Friday, we still don't. They did say they were short staff with it being summer. I did receive an email today (as a follow up to a previously sent email) saying they are still processing our file and when complete we would be notified. In my phone call I had mentioned to them I would like interview date last week of September if possible, (since they are closed Bayram week) and looking at interview schedule on their web site, last date I'm seeing posted is 9/25 as of 8/15 so I didn't think it was an unreasonable request. Nice lady said although she couldn't make promises she would note it down. I was happy to see that indeed she had and email included this fact saying. "We have the note that you would like to have your interview end of September." Whether or not we'll get it remains to be seen.

I will be attending the interview with my fiance Edip, neither he nor I are worried about the interview itself, we have enough proof of a valid relationship, just the fear of the possibility of going into AP. As I have mentioned to some of you, his first name being Muhammet might generate a name hit with it being so popular. The one true fact is NOT ALL SINGLE MEN END UP IN AP. Edip's friend/roomate (no military time served) went to interview last month and in 3 days had visa in hand and is now in Oregon. So there is hope for some. Since we seem to still be in the dark about why some/not others end up in AP it's even crazy enough to think/wish/hope that they might hand out a "get out of Turkey free" card to every 100th customer! (oh, if only we could be so blessed), we're rooting for you too Serdar to get one of these since your so close to our timeline. I will keep everyone posted on updates. Have a great weekend everyone!

I pray that all of us may be with our loved ones together soon.

Doris

Hi everyone!

I know I usually don't post in this forum but think it's time I did so others might know what to expect with their process also. Looking at others' timelines we seem to be out of the normal range for K1ers in receiving packet 4 from Ankara with actual interview date. (I know you waited a while too Becca) We never received packet 3 from embassy but I knew since we could download everything online it wasn't a big deal. I was just waiting to know Ankara had our file in hand to go ahead and send in our pkt. (Another VJer gave me this tip, thanks again!) When I called earlier this week they said we'd know by Friday, we still don't. They did say they were short staff with it being summer. I did receive an email today (as a follow up to a previously sent email) saying they are still processing our file and when complete we would be notified. In my phone call I had mentioned to them I would like interview date last week of September if possible, (since they are closed Bayram week) and looking at interview schedule on their web site, last date I'm seeing posted is 9/25 as of 8/15 so I didn't think it was an unreasonable request. Nice lady said although she couldn't make promises she would note it down. I was happy to see that indeed she had and email included this fact saying. "We have the note that you would like to have your interview end of September." Whether or not we'll get it remains to be seen.

I will be attending the interview with my fiance Edip, neither he nor I are worried about the interview itself, we have enough proof of a valid relationship, just the fear of the possibility of going into AP. As I have mentioned to some of you, his first name being Muhammet might generate a name hit with it being so popular. The one true fact is NOT ALL SINGLE MEN END UP IN AP. Edip's friend/roomate (no military time served) went to interview last month and in 3 days had visa in hand and is now in Oregon. So there is hope for some. Since we seem to still be in the dark about why some/not others end up in AP it's even crazy enough to think/wish/hope that they might hand out a "get out of Turkey free" card to every 100th customer! (oh, if only we could be so blessed), we're rooting for you too Serdar to get one of these since your so close to our timeline. I will keep everyone posted on updates. Have a great weekend everyone!

I pray that all of us may be with our loved ones together soon.

Doris

Those of you who's beneficiary got packet 4 via email, did embassy send petitioner an email notifying of interview date also or just the beneficiary gets email? Thanks for any info. God bless us all!

P.S. Feel free to respond to the poll regarding your web cam use before living together/receiving a visa.

Tried to send you a message, ur inbox is full. Hope you're doing good.

Got letter from NVC with a case number assigned. Is this the same case number Ankara's embassy will use for their paperwork? From other cases assigned it looks like it would be. Can someone confirm this for me. Thanks in Advance!

Just know am thinking about you guys and praying for your togetherness and happiness!

Doris

My fiance's visa interview is in less that 36 hours (4am Tuesday morning, eastern standard time). We are both very anxious and excited and the next 36 hours are going to be hard to get through, but I'll be letting you all know the status of his interview soon enough. I hope we have good news to share!

We're planning a trip to Turkey in late summer and are curious what current ticket prices are with the inflation and all. I've done a little searching online and have come up with $1000+/pp RT! Ouch!

Anyone finding lower fares/specials?

Thanks!

Here's what I do when I need to go cheap. Book roundtrip lax/london. Orbitz has reasonable deals now. And then go to easyjet web site and I book on to Istanbul which is my final destination. Easy Jet has a strict weight limit on luggage so be careful and it's Luton to Sabitha airport and not Ataturk. Another thing I've tried is skyscanner.net and they can have great deals also. Airfares usually drop 21-23 days prior to departure and then they start going up. It's a bit of a gamble some might say, but it's worked for me. Do some sample airfare search for confirmation to this theory. I leave to Istanbul later this month and can't wait. All the best!

Doris

I have a ways to go, but just wanted to know if packet 3 had to be mailed from USA or can I just download forms and give it to my fiance in May when I go to visit him so he can have it in hand when needed and he can send it.

Thanks everyone

I have a ways to go, but just wanted to know if packet 3 had to be mailed from USA or can I just download forms and give it to my fiance in May when I go to visit him so he can have it in hand when needed and he can send it.

Thanks everyone!

Hi Julia,

After reading this post, I have to say "wow", am going thru same thing myself. Having 3 brothers, they don't hesitate to continue to tell me what a huge mistake I am making. Being an RN, we do very well here in the States financially, but materialism has never been what I've been after. Yes, I will be the breadwinner of our relationship, at least for a while, Edip is business-minded and I know he will succeed in his dreams of having a carpet shop of his own like his uncle does here in San Francisco, people don't understand the land of opportunity we as Americans have here, it literally is a gold-mine for the ambitious. I know many of my friends that have dropped out of college and now have entry-level jobs where they are miserable. I see ambition in Edip and am confident in him but most importantly, I have found a pure form of love I haven't seen in a long time. I met Edip last summer while vacationing in Istanbul, his roomate and my girlfriend hooked up and he invited Edip to keep me company and the rest is history. He is a carpet salesman which apparently are, as my friend who lives in Istanbul says "bottom of the barrel" and equivalent to used cars salesmen in the States, where everyone considers them liars and they don't make alot of money. Initially, it created some doubt, wondering if a visa was all he was after, but I know now that couldn't be further from the truth. I am first generation Mexican-American and am thankful for the opportunity my parents were given and it is an honor to be able to give someone else the opportunity to live in this great country of Freedom. Let's keep in touch. I am about 3 months behind you in filing so any tips let me know. I had posted I wanted to wait out my wait in Istanbul and teach English, but now I am not so sure, since people tell me, it's best for embassy to see recent pay stubs, I am headed back to Istanbul in May for 3 weeks, I love that place! I was there Sep-Nov taking a beginner's Turkish course and spending time with Edip. A question about packet 3. I thought I read somewhere it had to be mailed to Embassy from the USA, I was hoping to prepare everything and take it to him for him to have so he could send it when he needed to, but now am not sure if that's how it works, I need to read up more on that. Hope we can be friends. Best luck and wishes to both of us!

Doris

I plan on going back to Turkey for a few months and wait out the K1 process over there with my fiance. Do I need to be home for packet 3 or are the forms that will be in it be available online and I can just gather info prior to my leaving. Any suggestions? Thanks so much.

Seems like everyone has to go through Ankara, I put down on my K1 application I would use Istanbul's consulate, I know there's one there and my BF says some people go through there but not sure about K1 visa. Will my application automatically be redirected to Ankara. Anyone with answers please inform. Thank you sooooo much!