kenneme

Congratulations spikeyflip!! That's great! I know the feeling of starting to give up hope and then BOOM there it is approved! Now things will go so much faster!

For Ed, Aline and Travis still waiting - hang in there... we're all hoping you'll get it soon. And like spikeyflip said, try not to check all the time, just think about other things and the time will pass more quickly...

We just got a message from Rahim's cousin that a letter arrived for him from the US consulat at his address in Paris - so that's great! We are so surprised it is moving so quickly... now we've got to get the next round of papers together...

How is everyone else doing? Did you stop visiting VisaJourney once you got approved?! hope "no news is good news" for the rest of you!

Hope things are going better for you and your son. It's been a while since there was activity on this post, but I thought I'd mention the possibility of comin to France if you can't find a good doctor you trust in Algiers. Flights are short and cheap and if you come here to Paris there is even the American hospital, and most healthcare is affordable even for serious issues... Just an idea - might be more realistic then rushing all the way back to the US. Praying for your health and your son's.

Just got the letter that the National Service Center received our petition and will send it to the consulate in France in the next week! Wow, I was excited to see such quick action.

One question: Is there any chance of it taking longer at the NVC? Like is there a possibility for other security processes or something or is it pretty much automatic that it is forwarded straight to the fiancés country?

Good luck everyone and let's hear how things are going! Didnt someone have the interview last week?!

I vote for buying several good quality bras at home that fit you well and then maybe taking one or two in other sizes in case of weight changes. Definitely a top priority!

But on weight loss:, yes you might loose weight, but in my experience a lot of women who go to MENA countries actually gain weight (at least at first) because you tend to spend more time indoors and there are less opportunities for sports/aerobics and that kind of thing, eat late at night before going to bed and generally eat more sweets and fried food that you have to eat lots of just to be polite! But obviously it depends a lot on your habits in the US and your living conditions in Egypt (like someone said about being alone vs. with his family, whether or not you are working etc., if you get homlesick/depressed, etc.). Even during Ramadan - it sounds like you will be there for it this year - you will notice that some women actually put on weight (don't know if you fast or plan to...). I thought I'd lose weight with not eating all day but you make up for it with lots of good food late at night and too many sweets , it's like Thanksgiving for a whole month! So especially if you arent fasting that's an easy time to put on weight.

On adapters, yes everyone is right about electronics needing both voltage and plug adapters - I forgot egypt was on the 220 system! sorry! For anything that has a little box along the cord/plug (like on a lot of cell phone chargers, laptop computer cords etc.) you can read on it and it will tell you what the input max/min is. If it says: "input 110 -220" then you are usually fine just using a plug adapter...otherwise you need the voltage converter....

Lizziebits,

That's a great attitude - your positive take on using your intercultural relationship to educate is inspiring! Thanks for sharing and I'll try to remember to take that approach in the future, because you are right that most people aren't trying to be mean they are just genuinely ignorant. Reducing cultural and linguistic ignorance in our oqn country the USA would be revolutionary!! and I think it will have a big positive impact both in the US and around the world....

Just got the letter that our petition is at the national centre... should be on its way to France soon!

Best wishes to everybody!

Megan

Yes we are off topic -and the subject of American's obsession with race merits its own longer discussion but I couldn't resist just to chime in!!! I agree with whoever said above that "races" are all arbitrary social categories in any case - imagined classifications created to have power over people (namely for "white" people to have power over "non-white"). There have been a couple of court cases in the US where Middle Easterners were classified "white" - I remember one in particular where a Persian claimed an all white jury wasn't a jury of his peers and the court ruled it was because he was " white" .

So, for those of you who's partners come from Egypt and are now US citizens why wouldn't you check "African American" as their group identity? That's what they are right? An African that is now American? That's what my partner does (he's Algerian)! And aren't Iran and Jordan in Asia? You should be checking "Asian American"... Isn't it funny when the boxes list a color, a continent, and a language group? white, African American and Latino - like that makes any kind of sense!

Lastly, from what I understand and have seen there are a lot of redheads in MENA countries (not Albinos, just people with "normal" coloring who have red hair) and that is to be explained by the massive amounts of genetic mixing over the centuries (which is true everywhere pretty much...don't fool yourself if you think you're "pure" something! lol) and notably during the Christian Crusades - when pale redheads left behind their genes through violence...

I was enjoying all of your experiences with islamophobia and ignorance in the US - definitely put a smile on my face!!! I especially liked your smart response to the one about knowing who blew up their crappy building! Excellent! You've got to laugh...

Also some very good points about the importance of distinguishing between individuals and cultures and that there are horrors in many MENA countries, but also in our own country the US! I come from a state where people voted to be able to give 14 year olds the death penalty! (that's the great state of California in case you were wondering!) so yes, there are terrible things that happen and sexist and violent traditions all around the world - the point is that stereotyping only reinforces those dynamics - so I agree that our "international" lives are like mini lessons for the world that there are other options and that together we can build a better world

Ok ,now on to the obnoxious things people say!!!

First of all, no one knows where Algeria is (or what it is!) - you say, it's the country in North Africa between Morocco and Tunisia, and they're like, " hmmm, there's a country between Morocco and Tunisia?!" uhhh, YES! and it's freakin' huge!

Personally, I think it demonstrates the latent Islamophobia in the US today that people always feel the need to ask if he is Muslim - in fact that's usually the first question they ask! And the best part is they always kind of whisper it, like it's a bad word... "Is he... [drop voice and sound suspicious and whisper] MOOSLEM?" as if that's the most important bit of information. Or because it's Islam they allow themselves to ask something that would normally be considered invasive if not outright rude if they said it about anyone else! If I said, I'm dating a guy from France, would the first question be, " Ohhh, is he CATHOLIC?" or, "I'm dating a Japanese girl", "oh is she BUDDHIST"! never...!!

And of course all of the typical ignorance about camels and pyramids, and people don't get that you can be Muslim and not Arab, or African and not have dark skin... etc.

I also love it when people ask you how "THEY" do things. I've noticed this a lot (and so has my mom!) with the wedding planning. Someone will through out some random reference as if you care! Ah, that reminds me:

At my engagement shower, I was explaining a bit more about Rahim and where he was from in Algeria, etc. and what we were planning for our wedding, and all of a sudden my cousin goes: " Oh! I was at the Islamic centre in Fremont the other weekend for a convention of Malaysian astronauts...[Yes, Malaysian astronauts - NO JOKE! ] and they had this great buffet...but I accidentally started getting food from the men's table - you know THEY don't let men and women eat together, they had separate places." After I recovered from thinking " and WHAT EXACTLY does that have to do with me and Rahim...?" I asked her, " oh really? did they have separate toilets too?!!?! I heard that THEY don't let men and women pee together either!"

We met in France where he had been working/studying for five months when I went there on a research fellowship.

The only person I knew in France was a Palestinian friend and he found a place for me to stay, apartment sitting for a french couple. The first day he brought me to the neighborhood and was showing me around - "here's the bakery, that's the grocery store..." etc. and we walked past this cafe/hotel and I looked in the window and saw this gorgeous smile on this gorgeous guy behind the counter! It was Rahim I couldn't really go in to casually meet him (it was one of those typical male dominated coffee shops!) but one night they had a concert there, and I had a girl friend visiting (I had even told her jokingly, "oh that's where my boyfriend works!" before I'd even met him!) and she encouraged - ok pushed - me into going in and introducing myself, we started talking, he told me he was Brazilian! (he's Algerian) so I started speaking bad Portuguese to him (it was better than my French or his English at that point!) he was so confused - didn't even know what language I was trying to speak! :blush:ha ha ... it was funny and all the guys got a good laugh out of it! Somehow we managed to communicate in both of our third language (French) and introduce ourselves. I started stopping by the cafe on my way to the metro...well then I guess you say the rest is history! I had never met anyone "randomly" like that - I even surprised myself, though he of course likes to try to take credit for our meeting! - and I was starting out one year of travels for my research so I was definitely not looking to fall in love... but it was "written" as they say!

That's the story of how we met!

Great thread here you've started! Definitely made me laugh! I suppose one of the better ways of dealing with home sickness and culture shock is to not try too much to recreate the US in your new home - it will just disappoint you probably and drag out the adjustment. Maybe take some essentials for when you need a treat or a pick-me-up but otherwise try to see the bright side of discover new "equivalent" (or not so equivalent) egyptian parts of life! That being said, I can't help but weigh in!

Fully agree on the taco seasoning and chili powder, peanut butter, and a huge Bisquick package! (Though I've kind of given up on the whole making California style Mexican food in other countries - it usually just ends up being really expensive and kind of disappointing- I have to admit my "soft tacos" made of breadlike tortillas, beans, fresh salsa and cheese WERE a big hit with rahim's family last summer! (see picture)!! and it's something different so people will be usually be excited you cooked it and not as critical as if you try to cook a local tradition!)

One other thing that has sparked a minor addiction-pandemic: those premade packs of Italian salad dressing that have there own carafe? You know the powder packet you just add vinager water and oil ? I never thought they were very special but my fiance is totally addicted and now most of his family and friends have gotten turned on to them as well - I bring at least fifty packets everytime I leave the US!!

I know at least in Algeria there is a lot of worry these days about off-brand products, especially from China. Most of them are of decent quality but for anything intimate or for kids (baby powder, diaper creme, kids toothpaste), it's probably worth bringing from the US just to be safe...On the other hand I would say don't bother taking shampoo or conditioner with you - the quality you'll get there will be fine and comparably priced and it's not worth the extra weight considering you'll be there for quite a long time and run out eventually anyway!

A few other things I would add that I didn't see posted yet: high quality sunscreen (high SPF if you need it and the non irritating face kind if you need that too); some good and also some crappy/mindless books in English (also helps with the home sickness); nice stationary and envelopes/cards if you write?; film; any electronics you might want around the house (like an MP3, DVD player, etc. if you have room!).

on TOILET PAPER, coincidentally I just saw this article today before reading your posts about missing soft American paper: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009...et-roll-america ha ha!

Best of luck to you !

HOLY ###### WE GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just checked my email and we got the "notice of approval sent" - I can't believe it!!! whooooopeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

For the record I still think the system sucks - but I'm happy for today!

Whoever said they should have a praying smiley face was right - thankful prayers tonight and continued prayers for the rest of you still waiting!!

- Megan

(pardon my french, so to speak!)

Thank you Skparker for the timeline reassurance - that's very helpful! I'll try to relax a bit now

Hi Spikeflip and Ed+Cindy -

No! It's not just the two of you! We're still stuck here too - no news on our case either We're #32 on Igor's list. I've just been checking the USCIS website now and then - it still says they received our file October ...

D

o you think it will help to contact our congresspeople? I mean I'm of the opinion that our whole outdated, unjust, ineffective immigration and asylum system needs to be completely reformed right?! (just waiting on Pres. Obama to have some spare time for this topic!) But if it would help on our cases I would certainly give it a try! My congressmember wrote a letter of support when my fiance came for a tourist visit and he got the visa no problem here in Paris - but our congressmember's staff also told us that post 9/11 personal letters etc. don't make much of a difference... Anyways, we don't have any reason to worry as far as I know, so I'm trying to be patient.

Last year we had scheduled our US wedding for August (reserved the place and everything) but we're feeling like it's becoming a bit of pressure with the timing and still no news on the visa... so we're thinking of postponing - just to deal with the visa (and life in general!) and then plan things and have plenty of time to plan and prep for the big day - without stress! We just don't want the wedding to weigh on us when it should be all about love, fun and excitement. (in fact that's how it was until we felt the months ticking by and felt stuck - not wanting to move forward with plans while not knowing if he'd get the visa, etc.!)

Well, hang in there you two and let us know if you hear anything!

Best wishes,

M&R

spikeyflip, how are you? Have you heard anything?

I am still waiting......

Wow congratulations! That's great news that things have moved so quickly for the two of you. Maybe you could send us a list of the things you've needed to get together?

As for me, I checked our status online and there is nothing new - it still say "On October 20, 2008 your petition was received..." and under status it says "received and pending" Not too worried yet, but it would be nice to have some news early like the rest of you Octobers!

Best wishes to all,

Megan

Thanks for the link! Good luck to you!

I think there is some variation to the FIFO - so don't get nervous...I'm sure the rest of us will be hearing some news soon too! crossing my fingers for everyone...

Congratulations to all of you with approvals! That's great news! I haven't hear anything yet, but seeing all your posts has got me excited!!

By the way...can someone remind me how to access the website to check for touches? Do I need the NOA-1 number? I can't remember how I did it the first time...when I registered? Did I create a log-in name ?

In other related news, it has come to our attention that we might be eligible to do DCF as I am a resident in France (and working here now, since I graduated in December)...it seems like that would be a better/faster option if possible because then my partner wouldn't have to sit around waiting for the change of status/green card, right? We are planning our wedding in California in August, but we could do the civil service here if it helps.... Anyways, we are looking into that option as well now - but still pulling for the fiancé visa in any case...!!!

From what I've read DCF is the fastest processing time, but the American citizen must be a resident in Algeria for 6 months in order to do DCF in Algiers. So it sounds like you have two options: 1) Call USCIS and find out what happened with your first application or 2) start all over with the K3. Your fiance coming to Algeria to get married won't necessarily make it any faster - in fact, since you will have to start over it will actually mean taking longer...because you will have wasted the past 9 months doing the K1.

Hi Nikki and everyone! Nice idea to introduce ourselves.

I am 26, from the central coast of California, I'm in graduate school here...my honey is Algerian, he lives in France at the moment (that's where we met just over four years ago!). I'm working to graduate this December and applying for jobs - so things are all up in the air now...where I find work will determine where we live...but obviously the visa situation will be a factor as well and we don't want to get stuck apart for a long time! Maybe I'll go back to work in France which would simplify things.

Just curious if anyone else is planning their wedding already? I saw K1researcher said May? When we started this whole thing we thought “hey! Us international couples shouldn't be stuck with a tiny civil wedding service at the courthouse! (unless of course that's what you prefer) just because of the bureaucratic nightmare we have to go through to be together...!” So we started planning our wedding… I worried we had jumped the gun, but I hope (pray) we will have enough time to get his visa before our scheduled date of August 15, 2009! We went ahead and reserved the date because the beautiful place we are planning to have our eco-friendly, interfaith, intercultural, multilingual (lol!) shin-dig fills up fast and his family can travel most easily in August... Then we plan to have a second ceremony in Algeria in 2010 - if everything goes well and we're not completely broke by then!

It's a bit hard to get excited about the wedding planning when you're still not 100% sure that the groom will be here! I suppose we could always skype him in for the vows!!!!

Ok, I'm procrastinating to avoid my studies... sorry for the long ramble there! Gotta run!

Megan

Hello October Filers...

no NOA1 for us yet... It's been 2 weeks now

Our timeline moved up as well so maybe CSC is going faster! So why do not they send the NOA1 to our lawyer

Courage courage laure.f! I'm sure you'll hear something soon.

As for me, I finally mailed it today! I received the package from my fiance this afternoon with the final signed papers and new passport photo - put it all together and... mailed it finally (via certified mail). Yeah! All fingers crossed ...

Any other Algerians on this board pending I 130 Cases for their Algerian spouses? If you've already been approved and theyre with you how many months in total did it take for your spouse to step foot in USA?

If you just simply got approved by a letter through mail How many months total did that take??

FEEL FREE TO BE DETAILED

slt on est laaaaaaaaaaaaa

Thanks! That is reassuring that I am not the only over thinker! I think we have a good balance now, with six photos, various passport stamps/visas, and a set of boarding passes...

My poor fiance is like running around Paris freaking out trying to redo the 325A and retake his photo - it seems something always goes wrong at the last minute...well it adds a little spice at least The problem was we found a gap in his employment history when he was a student, so had to change it and wrote in:

none- student, science and technology at X University, Paris France occupation: none (and the dates)

I know that is not an employment per se but it explains the gap in his jobs - is that ok?

Beans -

That is so F#$% up! What a country we live in...they ask someone to sacrifice for your country and then don't provide adequate support for them afterwards, and to add insult to injury, they could count that against you for marrying the person you love!?! What BS. I hope that won't be a problem for you two. If it ends up being an issue you might consider contacting some of the veterans support groups in the US (VFW or Iraq Veterans Against the War... there are lots of groups) to see if other folks have faced this challenge? Just an idea...But I'd say for now don't stress about it, as long as you have the co-sponsor support with sufficient income etc.

Esalaams!

But Algerians couple, still better for you then other unfortunate couples going throu Casa and Cairo! Donnot get worried ... old and new Consul still speedier and friendly then other MENA consulates!

Hello again!

Thanks for the input... we're moving ahead with the fiance visa / K1!

As I mentioned my fiance is still a legal resident in France and will (enshallah) get that renewed in November. We were going to file in Paris, since that is where he lives, but we could also do Algiers - either one is fine for us (just a bit of added travel) - so I was wondering if there are any suggestions +/- for doing Paris consulate as opposed to the Algiers consulate in terms of the amount of time it will take for him to get a visa? I can't seem to find a comparison in the timelines page, just looking at the very few Algerian K1s.

Thanks!

Hi hi! Thanks for starting this.

Greetings and welcome to you all!

I have been stressing over the packet all weekend, waited for a copy of my fiance's residence card (he lives in France) and all his signed papers and... I think we're ready to mail it Monday! Yikes! The forms seem straight forward enough, I think I just over-think it! anyone else a bit OCD on this type of thing? Perhaps its just the vision of having a wedding next summer with no groom that's haunting me!

I think it all looks fine and I've checked everything about five times (and made my parents check it too!) I'm actually worried now that I've "over done" the evidence - we have basically been living together off and on for the past three years... so we have lots of "proof" of meeting. I included six photos of us together (including one of the proposal/engagement) and copies of boarding passes for this past august when we flew together to Algeria for an engagement party / meeting the family... and copies of all of my entry/exit stamps to/from France...and market them with little post-its (referenced in the supplement one page explanation of how we met)... so it's kind of a fat packet now!... is there such a thing as "over doing it"?! I don't want them to think we're trying to hard? I consulted with a lawyer and she said you really only need to provide the minimum - like two photos...

Also, did you mail it "registered" or "certified" mail...?

Any how, I'll be sending it Monday - so please send all your good vibes! and good luck to everyone.

Great - I'll look into the sites and send to my future sisters in law and some friends ... .thanks for sharing!

Dear Holyw - thanks for your input!

Waharina,

Thank you so much for your response and sorry for not being more specific in my earlier post I was trying to seperate out all of the elements but I realize now that is pretty much impossible!

My fiancé is a legal resident in France with a work visa / carte de sejour (he did change of status from student almost four years ago). He will (ench'allah) renew his French residency in September 2008 (it is one year renewable). He has his military card so there is no problem for him to go/come back from Algeria if needed (I know that's a prob for some folks). He also visited the US in march on a tourist visa and miraculously had no problem getting that visa and coming for a visit - I think because of his job contract in France. I am currently living and working in France (through September and then I'll return to finish my masters degree in the US in December). So I recognize, and am humbly grateful, that our situation is a bit easier than other folks!

It sounds like the K1 is the way to go, the only reason we are looking at other options is because we may want to live in France still for a few years because of work. We want to do the weddings in Algeria and the US so our families can be there and because it would be the most meaningful for us, but even if we do the wedding in the US officially first he doesn't necessarily want to immigrate (ie: become a permanent resident) yet - the reason being that if he has to stay in the US even just for six months to get his greencard he would lose his status in France - which we don't want. So that's the little complication we have

It seems what we may do is bring him to the US either on a tourist or K1 visa, get married officially and then not apply for change of status yet, leave the country and then apply later for his visa/residency once we are ready to move to the US. The only problem with that would be if somehow having "abandoned" the first time without applying for residency would harm his chances later on. (I posted in another forum asking about this so that's why I didn't want to double up by repeating it here before - sorry!) It sounds like the best would be to have our wedding (hopefully in the US if he can get a visa to enter) and then do DCF in Paris a little while down the road when we are ready to move to the US (assuming we would both be living and working here in France)? Option two would be to abandon France (I like this one!) and just do the K1 directly in one shot when we are ready to move to the US in a couple of years. We maybe could still do "wedding celebrations" now ...? or just put off getting married...? What do you think?

On DCF, is the six month residency requirement for him or for me?

I'm so sorry to hear about your trying experience and the terrible journey you've had. I read your other post about the pregnancy complications and it seems to me (if I can offer a bit of unrequested advice) that your hubby needs to skip the transit visa and visit to his mom in Paris (unless there is some life or death reason he needs to see her now) and come straight to you. I'm sure he is also under a lot of stress but it sounds like he just needs to get there ASAP and be there to support you and the baby! I mean, under different circumstances a stop over in Paris would be nice, but now is not the time. In the meantime, you've got to just focus on yours and the baby's health and stay positive Try envisioning all of the other pregnant momies all over the world going through the hormonal ups and downs and growing together - you're stronger than you think you are and this, afterall, is something your body is designed to do! Try to "lay down" the visa stress if you can so that it doesn't keep dragging you down and stay confident that he'll be there soon.

Thanks again for your suggestions and I welcome and further thoughts you may have! Hang in there!

Megan

Thanks so much! That's helpful. I was mainly just worried that it would be viewed as 'dishonest' to enter with the intent to marry on a tourist visa - but if he doesn't have the intent to immigrate, it sounds like he would still be considered a non-immigrant and the tourist visa would be ok in that case.

Thank you all for your input!

Ok - good to know! Thank you. He got a tourist visa to come visit in March and that was no problem, so hopefully he could get one again next year without too much hastle!

I have a question on doing a ceremony in Algeria.

I'm US citizen by birth he's Algerian citizen living temporarily in France. We want to do a K1 probably (just got engaged so we're still figuring this out) and officially get married in the US. But we would like to do a traditional Amazigh (Kabyle) ceremony in the village in Algeria so his family could be there etc. Is there any chance we can do this before coming to the US for the "real" wedding (both are real for us but I'm talking legally/officially) if we don't register a wedding in Algeria, don't get "declared man and wife" by anyone but just have the party and henna ceremony would this jeopordize our K1 petition?

Also, just to clarify that I am reading your responses right - the DCF is not longer possible in Algiers? Could we do it in Paris instead? Does that mean that the only option to bring Algerian (fiancé or spouse) is a K1 with wedding in US or a K3 with wedding in Algeria?

Thanks so much and I'm glad to see there are at least a few other Algerian-American coupels on here!!! Vive l'Algerie!