strawberry2007

Hi All,

I am in the process of completing the forms for my husband's AOS and EAD. For our past forms, I have used my mother's mailing address, since she lives in the same town as me, and I have tended to move about once a year, so I did not want to go through the change of address process each time. (My husband and I will be moving again in December). My question is: will it matter if I continue to use her address? Our lease of course has our address on it, and I will include this in the package, but I do not want to create any confusion. Can I use her address as a mailing address and our address as "place of residence address." Since I'm moving, I don't want any mail to go to this current address, but to my mother's house.

Thanks for your help.

Thank you very much, polarbear. I didn't realize that it's a temporary EAD that is issued at the port of entry. We'll probably go ahead and file for it with the AOS paperwork, too. Our 2-year anniversary is in 7 mos., so we may wait a bit to file, shooting for an approval date after our anniversary. I'm looking at other people's timelines to see how they've been going.

Awesome, thank you both! It will not be hard to have a fluent speaker translate and certify it for us.

As for the EAD, I just read that he may be able to receive that at the port of entry (JFK). I'm going to email my husband a letter that he can give to the officer that requests the EAD stamp in case they don't give it to him automatically. I'm assuming if he gets it, he'll be able to work, even without a SSN. I had not been anticipating that, but would be wonderful if so, since he'd be able to work when he's ready, instead of waiting for us to file the paperwork for the EAD. Hopefully he'll get it at the port of entry.

I'm getting ready to pick up my husband from the airport in 8 days!!!!!!! and trying to get an understanding of the EAD and adjustment of status process. I've read the guides on this website, and wanted to ask the folks coming from Egypt if someone could please confirm that these are the only documents of my husband's that we'll need for the process:

Birth certificate

Marriage contract

Medical exam documents

Also, would it be better for him to get translations of his birth certificate and medical in Egypt rather than here? I am not sure where to find an official translator here.

Thanks very much.

Wow!!! AK!! Thanks for these clips, Nawal! I met these guys back in 2006. They were friends of a friend and I saw them perform at a concert in Cairo. I even wrote a paper about their lyrics last year, too. I've been looking at hip hop music/culture in the MENA region. Anyway, I'm so happy that they're gonna have an album coming out!! Good for them!

EXCELLENT news!!! My husband's interview was last Monday. He was told that they would send him his visa in 2 wks, and it just arrived yesterday!!!!!

366 days after our filing date...I thought this day would never come.

Thanks to everyone who helped us out along the way. Without VJ, I probably would have lost my mind! Good luck everybody and hang in there!

Congrats.... sorry it took a year for all that.... I'm sure it was worth the wait!

Thanks, all! Yes, it was, Moto.

EXCELLENT news!!! My husband's interview was last Monday. He was told that they would send him his visa in 2 wks, and it just arrived yesterday!!!!!

366 days after our filing date...I thought this day would never come.

Thanks to everyone who helped us out along the way. Without VJ, I probably would have lost my mind! Good luck everybody and hang in there!

Hi All,

First, thanks for all your comments and feedback so far. I really don't mean to belabor the whole K-3 vs. CR-1 topic, but my husband just received packet 3 (for the K-3) a couple days ago, and I got AOS fee bill from NVC (for CR-1). In packet 3, it mentioned something about pictures, and we are not sure whether we need to send in photos of us together or if those are supposed to be for the interview? I really don't want to have him send in our wedding pics and never see them again! He went to the embassy to try to get some answers, but that was fruitless. I have tried to call the embassy, but have not gotten through. So my questions:

1. Anyone have the correct number to the embassy in Cairo, where I can speak with a live person?

2. Can someone tell me about your packet 3 from Cairo (i'm posting this in the Egypt portal, too)

3. If we go ahead with the K-3, and he goes to the interview and then our case is held up for several months, in administrative processing or whatever, and then the paperwork for CR-1 arrives at the embassy, can we switch to the CR-1?? Or does this switch need to happen AT the interview?

I guess I am trying to predict best/worst case scenarios, which is probably impossible. And I think I'm giving myself an ulcer worrying about it all! Thanks again.

Yaaaay!! Best of luck to you guys!!!!!!

Congratulations on the approvals!!

For our K-3 timeline:

6/11/08......NOA2

6/20/08......arrived at NVC (call them and speak w/ representative to learn updates by telling them your USCIS number, and if your case has arrived, they will give you a new number that starts with CRO......I read that Tuesday morning is the best time to call because that's when they make the updates.)

6/23/08......letter sent to me stating that our I-129f will be sent to the embassy within a week.

6/30/08......I called NVC and was told that our case has been sent to CAIRO!

June was definitely the month for us! After nearly 10 mos at USCIS, it feels SO GOOD to be moving on.

thanks so much strawberry! How were you able to talk with someone directly from the USCIS on the phone? that is something I would like to figure out. How far are you in the process? I would love to speak with you more about this!

Sure, when you call USCIS, press

1

2

6

And that should get you a live person.

Our 1-129f has arrived at the National Visa Center, (thank God) and we are waiting for it to be sent to Cairo. Then I'll send my husband some more paperwork (copy of I-130 and I-129f application, affidavidt of support, and I'm not sure what else). Send me a message sometime and we can figure out a time to chat. I know this is an emotional, loopy experience--the highs and the lows and the not-knowing, like a rollercoaster, can make you feel pretty helpless at times. It helps to get as much support as you can and VJ is the place for that! Drop me a line sometime. Now I need to get some sleep so I'll be able to get up for work!

Hi Heather,

As you'll see from our timeline, it was 8 mos. between NOA1 and approval (NOA2). I hope this will not be the case for you guys. We may have been slowed down a bit because we got a request for further evidence due to incorrect picture size. I did write to my congress person after it had been 6 mos, and would advise you to do the same if you have not heard anything by then.

I really don't know if calling helps, but I did call USCIS regularly and sometimes touches seemed to correspond with when I called. But there were a lot of times I called, and nothing ever happened, and that can be all the more frustrating. I know the waiting is hard....hang in there and best of luck.

Hi folks, I just received our two approvals in the mail today for I-129F and I-130!!!!! I was reading the shortcuts page, and it suggests asking those who have gone through the same embassy, Cairo, what was required for the DS-230 package? Also, could someone tell me if the beneficiary needs to complete both parts I and II of the biographical data sheet (DS-3032)? How could I find out this information, by calling Cairo?

I'm sooo happy to be moving on!!!! Salam.

Hi everyone, please excuse me if this question has been asked several times already...June 11 I received emails that our I-129f and I-130 have been approved!!! Now the big question: can we have both processed simultaneously and take whichever comes first?? My understanding of the K-3 process is: the case gets sent to NVC, then to Cairo, then they request some paperwork, which I send to them and my husband; he has an interview. Whereas the CR-1 process: case sent to NVC, they request paperwork, and we send paperwork to NVC, the case gets sent to Cairo, and he has an interview. Is it true that when he gets an interview for K-3, he could go and request to have it processed as a CR-1?? And if so, would this take extra time? I was told this by a uscis rep. several months ago after I first filed. We both realize that the CR-1 route is less expensive, and would allow him to get a green card and SSN sooner, but our priority is to take the quickest route to be together.

I recently contacted my rep: Senator Barack Obama's office and got a call from them today. They called USCIS, but unfortunately can't do anything until June 10. Since I got an RFE because of those pictures, USCIS has 60 days to let me know something. If I don't hear anything by then, I was politely informed by the intern at Obama's office, they will be glad to file an inquiry for me.

I'm an August filer. So, I'm feeling the pain, too. But we've gotta hang in there. Staying busy really seems to be good therapy. I hope all our cases speed along. Good luck.

(And amen to KipandSarahJayne!)

That must be it! The Coptic Easter! And today's Sham El Naseem...Thanks!!

Was today a religious holiday in Egypt? My husband told me kul senna wa inti tayiba today because he said it was a Christian holiday, but I have no idea what it is. And he didn't know exactly either, but said it was a national holiday.

I tried to look online, but have not found anything.

For an American to be married in Egypt, they must get an affidavit from the Embassy that the American must fill out before having the civil marriage. AFter the civil marriage takes place, then you must have the marriage certificate translated and take it back to the embassy for them to notarize so that it will be recognized in the U.S. as a legal marriage.

Yes, there were some issues this past summer, and for whatever reason the embassy was not giving out these affidavits. Luckily, we had completed our affidavit from the embassy in January, and got married in May. But when I was there in May, the embassy was no longer issuing these affidavits. So, I'd say that if you didn't go to the embassy first, and you did not have your certificate notarized by them, then no, I don't think it will be recognized as a legal marriage. In that case, K-1 is what you guys should file. It seems like those are going faster than IR/CR-1 anyway. Best of luck!!

Hi, although I have not received my NOA2 yet, I am trying to get things together for NVC. Regarding the financial information requested: what type of information is needed in the letter from the employer? My situation is that I'm a graduate student and have had a fellowship that puts me over the 125% for the past 2 years, and also will have this same fellowship next year. AFter that, i'll probably get some kind of assistantship for the next couple of years, but I can't say this for sure. Are there any other grad students out there sponsoring their spouses? And if so, what do you put in your letter?

I'm starting to seriously contemplate applying for a FT job on campus and just be a part-time student in the fall. But w/ my fellowship, I'm already over the 125% mark, I just don't know how it is going to be evaluated as employment. (although it is what pays my bills and as much time that's involved, is already a FT job! ) I can envision getting a letter from the grad college stating that this is my fellowship for 2008-09, for instance, but is that going to be enough for NVC to go on?

Thanks in advance for any advice or comments.

In my case, USCIS certainly is picky about size. I got an RFE last week b/c our photos were a half inch off. I just went to a professional photographer to have my husband's picture resized, and took another one of myself. But apparently this is something you can do yourself. Just make sure you get the measurements right. The head should be between 25-35mm, and the eyes to the bottom of the photo should be 28-35 mm. Hopefully, you won't get called on this, but be prepared just in case.

I sent mine in a couple days ago. Will keep updated on how long it takes...

Thanks for posting the specific photo measurements, FSUmome.

Hi everyone, just a heads-up to make sure to send 2x2 photos with your applications. I just got an RFE today requesting 2x2s. (Bummer, since the ones I sent were about 2x1.5). My husband's going to scan one and email it to me and I'll print out the right size and send them ASAP. It would probably be really wise, too, if you keep extra passport sized photos of your SO just in case something like this happens. I really hope it doesn't slow things down much, but, at least now I know that they're looking at my file!

I can't leave my daughter with no one to watch her and I do not want to have to look in my husbands eyes at the airport knowing I may never see him again due to my own poor health while living here. Any advise would be appreciated.

Joni

Joni, I really sympathize with your situation. I've had to leave my husband at the Cairo airport 3 times - each time does not get any easier. We have to agree not to cry, as that just makes us both more upset. Of course, after I get through the security, I break down. It's not easy, I know. At the same time, my husband and I know this is best for our relationship, in order to secure our future. I have responsibilities in the US, and he wants me to go on and live my life and build for our life together. For you, both your health and your daughter are serious factors that you must consider. I've lived in Egypt for about a year, and eventhough I loved it, I understand the environmental differences and challenges that you are facing on a daily basis. At the same time, it is a culture where family is *extremely* important, and I suspect your husband would honor and respect whatever decision you have to make for the sake of your daughter.

I'll be thinking of you and hoping you will have some peace of mind in whatever you choose to do.

Yes, it is an immigration lawyer (although she is fairly new at it). I agree that it may be a risk, and my husband isn't too keen on the idea either.

Thanks for sharing your experiences Gabi. A letter from me would be a good idea for him to have at the POE, so I'll remember that. And I can try to contact the embassy in Cairo if we do end up trying this.

Good luck to you all!!

PS. Your pics are adorable, Gabi.

Hello everyone! I'm a new member, delighted to be reading and learning so much about this (at times excruciating) process. My quick story: I met my hubbie while studying in Egypt a couple years ago. We were married in Egypt this past summer. I returned to the US and filed the I-130 and received NOA1 in October. I filed the I-129 for K-3 in Nov. and received NOA in Dec. and that's it so far. I've been mainly going at this on my own, (and from the budget of a graduate student), as well as some help from a local NGO who gave me some guidance on the forms. I recently decided to consult a lawyer, who presented the option of filing a B-2 visa for my husband to come for a visit at least, and that would perhaps get him here quicker than waiting on the IR/CR. Even though the B-2 is for tourism and not the intent to immigrant, the lawyer said if we were honest and upfront w/ the consular, and tell them we just want him to be able to visit, then it could work. Does anyone have any experience doing this or advice on this matter?