Bajih

I think there is one coming up in the Detroit area- I will check!

Sorry can't make the one in Milwaukee!

Okay, so I took the advice of many people on VJ and I called the DOS this morning. Yesterday was the 90th day since his interview and I just wanted to make sure that everything was in order- that there were no surprises.

I guess that it is good news that the lady couldn't tell me anything except that he is "pending". ?? There was nothing else she told me except that there was some letter sent to him. Interesting that she was not able to tell me when the letter was sent or to what address. So this has me concerned because I do not know what letter she is talking about. ?? We did not receive any letter in the mail after the interview. He did go up there a few weeks ago when our case finally showed online, and they said "pending" too- so I guess that is just where we are stuck.

Why can't they tell me what it is they are working on??? It seems like I would be privy to this information since it is MY case. Hmph. She couldn't tell me anything but "pending".

...so, is this "good news" in a way? (ha-you know this process sucks when you are questioning what "good news" is...) I guess just knowing that our case is in the "norm" for Mena is what keeps me positive. So far, norm.....so I guess that is "good" news...(but I am praying for that GREAT news!)

Thanks.

Baj

Thursday already! (of course, it is only 1:35am and I need to get to bed 1st!)

Plan to go to the Ann Arbor Art Fair today. They close down the whole downtown area for art. It is so much fun to go and see all the people...and drool over the art I can't afford. Some good music acts as well.

Have a great day Mena!

Baj

Salaam-

Thank you for the detailed response!! I really appreciate your time! Sorry for taking so long to write back- I will try this today- although I am not quite clear on what a "tag" is... I will play around with it though using your examples.

Thank you again!

Good Tuesday afternoon! Hope all is well! It is another beautiful mild day here and I am loving it!

Angelina- hope you have a better day! I have "been there" with people accusing me of something that was nothing like they stated. Very frustrating. Hang in there.

Sherry- Prays are coming your way!

Enjoy your day!

Thanks for bumping this up Sharifah! I joined not too long ago and it was fun reading a little more about everyone- I read all your posts each day!

I am Lynette. I use the name "Bajih" as a pseudo-name. On my Facebook I do not want my students (middle school age) to find me- so I hide out under my name of Bajih. (basically Hijab in reverse, but Ghassan tells me Baji means grandma in Arabic- depending on dialect...lol!)

Well, I am not a grandma, but I do have two wonderful kids- Kurtis (17) and Madeline (10). We also have one cat (Purdy). We live in Canton, MI. I am a middle school science and drama teacher. I converted to Islam in 1996 after teaching 1 year at our local Islamic school. I am currently on the Board there and am very busy trying to get a library up and running!

I met Ghassan online in May, 2008. We talked daily since day 1 via chat and webcam. My first email to him said "thanks but no thanks" as I wasn't interested in getting to know someone overseas. (I heard those stories you know...) But...once I found out he was a musician, it piqued my interest and we started talking about that and Bam! I was involved with someone overseas! I went to Syria in August to meet him. (yes, my family threw fits- my aunt was SURE I was going to be beaten up or blown up) I had a wonderful time- except for the constant diarreha on day 5 and 6! I had never been out of the country before and I just loved seeing how other people live. Being that he was the most kindest, caring, honest, respectful person I had ever met, we decided to go ahead with our relationship and became engaged. After returning home, I hired an immigration lawyer and we have been going since. Interview last April and currently in AP.

Ghassan is an Iraqi from Baghdad. He fled to Syria 2 years ago. Syria will not allow Iraqi's to earn a living- so he has to depend on his family to send him money each month. He lives in a basement of some "apartment" building that is crumbling. Not very good living conditions at all-I could go on and on about all of this, but I will spare you all the details- I am sure you have your own horror stories of such things. Currently his "temporary residency" is about to run out. At this point, we have NO clue what he will do. Hopefully he will be able to do some bribes (as every other time) as that is how things work over there. If not, we are not sure where he will go. He refuses to go back to Iraq and not too many other places will take Iraqis. We are doing A LOT of praying lately for something to come through...

I plan to call the DOS this week as it marks our 90 days since the interview. We live for that darn "security clearance" site- and for his cell phone to ring...

What a way to live.

All we want is to be together and to live in peace.

Isn't that what we all want? Peace.... why is that one simple word so hard to obtain..?

It sure has been nice getting to know all of you!! I hope to get to know you even better as time goes on- as it looks like the "after arrived" part of the visa is longer!

I just can't wait for the "after arrived" part to arrive!

Lynette

Good Monday Evening!

Very busy day- lots of chores and things- Olivia- interesting post about the cat- Today I took my daughter up to the Humane Society to give them the $25 she collected selling "crafts" at our recent garage sale. I asked them to make up a receipt for her to keep in her scrapbook. We went around and looked at all the homeless pets waiting for adoption. Lots of kitties! She wanted to take them all home. I was remembering how Syria didn't have shelters for its homeless animals and how sad that was...I then come home and read your post!

Enjoy the evening!

It is 3:27pm here and another beautiful day in Michigan- we have been so lucky to have a mild summer so far. Unfortunately, I have to do some work inside today..and I keep thinking I should get outside and do some outdoor work! This nice mild weather will not last...in Michigan, the weather can change hourly! lol.

(that and my mood!)

Enjoy your day-

baj

I think this year I will just dampen all of my clothes on an hourly basis- to keep cool.

Fans in my classroom circulate the hot air and the district will not pay for air conditioning

to be placed in our school. Interesting how the other schools have it and our own office

has it as well. Hmm.

I hope to have some iftaar parties at my house- and hope to get to some as well! I always

look forward to that!

ALHAMDULLILAH! WELCOME TO ISLAM!!

Baj

Ah- I always come in late! Boring day- eye hurt, felt sleepy. Watched some show about famous women dating younger men...aka: cougars. LOL.

Nothing much going on.

Enjoy your weekend.

Baj

Wonderful news! Keep us posted on your progress!

In terms of Ramadan food- I find that it is so hard for me to wake up earlier than my normal work get-up time to eat- so I am always racing to stuff something down! I hope to plan better this year and have sahoor ready to go insha'Allah. As for iftar, I always have a bottle of Coke on hand during Ramadan- I never buy it but during Ramadan... I also get a box of those big Mejool dates but I only eat 1 or 2 a day and always have leftovers.. My daughter and I usually prepare a little iftar snack consisting of whatever we have around the house- we put it on a special plate.

I converted in 1996 back when Ramadan was in early March I believe. The days are getting longer and it is getting harder. I work in a very old building with no air conditioning and am fully hijabed up.. so it gets very hot. I remember last year I was just so wiped out after coming home that I just came home, threw off my clothes and laid on the bed and slept until iftar. Sooo tired! Any ideas as to how to get through these loooonnnggg days?

You may need to seek advice of a lawyer- as I believe he needs to be in Syria to get that. He can also check the Syrian Embassy in the UK to ask them what he would need to do (any shortcuts or loopholes?) .

Good luck.

I am sorry you are going through this. I have been there and done that and I know how very painful it can be. Just know

that you are okay and you will get through this- and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Do what is best for YOU.

My advice: Get a good immigration lawyer. They will help you through this. They know the system and the loopholes and such. My lawyer put together our entire package- and we met just like you. Not sure why you were not approved- (your officer having a bad day? or mine a good one?) It makes no sense. I HIGHLY recommend getting the advice of a lawyer. This is much too precious to just grasp at straws for.

My 2 cents.

Good Luck. I know it sucks, but hang in there and be proactive!

Baj

I agree ATK- why do the interview if security isn't approved? I must admit- I fell for that. Got too excited that we had an interview- Thought that everything was cleared and ready to go and then BAM. No word. It was really hard and now I do not get my hopes up like that anymore. I believe I will see the day he is approved, but I do not speculate when that will be. It is very hard.

What I don't understand is why the USCIS doesn't put a security check starting right away- as soon as they approve it. ?? When does a file go into AP anyway? (USCIS approva? NOA? Interview? who knows?) I really do not know how to gauge how long it has been as I do not know when he was put into AP. Guess I will make that DOS call this week!

B

Good Morning Mena!

I am sitting here at a campground in west Michigan! Beautiful Day!

Enjoy!!

Baj

I am REALLY new at this- so please forgive my ignorance-

DOS = Department of State. US Government site here in the US

This is just the phone number listed on their website? I call in with our number and ask for an update? I get to speak with a live person?

Will they be able to tell me "when" we went into AP? We were never notified- I am just assuming we are since our interview was back in April, 2009.

Thank you!

Baj

Thanks- I am sorry I didn't explain my question better. I do not know how to take the coding from the site and put it onto my signature line here at Visa Journey. Each time I do it ends up just showing the actual link- and not the timeline I made. It is very frustrating.

Does anyone know if there is a place on VJ that explains how to do this? I am sorry I am so technology-challenged!

Thanks!

Baj

Happy Monday! Another beautiful not-so-hot day here in Michigan! I am trying to squeeze every last piece of enjoyment out of these days as I know it will be hot and humid really soon!!

Amysaid (sorry, don't know your name)- I am with you as well. I converted to Islam 12 years ago and I find that I miss the things I use to do- I think the one biggie for me is swimming. I used to give myself permission to swim at my grandma's house on the lake as that was pretty private, but she just sold that house last week.. I know there are those new "Islamic swimwear" sites, but I just do not think I could pull that off. I would rather sit on the beach with my clothes! So I feel your pain....and trying to think of ways to get back in the water...

Olivia- I feel your dilemma as well- being in a Muslim country; married to a Muslim man- but not being Muslim yourself. You have to constantly juggle that line-while staying true to yourself. That must be hard.

Well, I am off with the kids tomorrow to go tent camping- right on a lake! (ha!) Plan to do some hiking and kayaking! The campground has internet access so I will be able to get on- mostly to be able to speak with Ghassan at night...but I will check in here too.

Have a great week!

Baj

Hello!

Please direct me to where I can learn how to add "Ticker Factory" or other things like that to my signature.. I see so many people with things added and I am feeling a bit left out! I have tried a variety of things- but it always shows the actual code...and then I have to go back and delete it again.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Baj

Beautiful Sunday- was a perfect day for a cook-out...at someone elses house too! (the best!)

Have a good evening!

Welcome back!! Can't escape the heat, huh? Did you have air in Cairo? Is it less humid there?

Too bad about the luggage. Hopefully the airline is on that and you will have it back soon! I have never had that experience..

B)

Baj

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Take some time this weekend to do something for yourself!

Enjoy!!!!!

Wonderful News! Subhan'Allah! Enjoy...

Baj