ya fallaha!

Yeah the names do get butchered...Tareek, Kalid (instead of Khalid), Kalil (instead of Khalil), etc. My son's name is Zayd but ppl are constantly saying Zayed. There's no "e" in his name! Mohamed is always being called Moe-ham-ed.

I don't see middle names as overkill since if there are 5 kids then of course 5 of whatever the dad's name is. My husband is a Mohamed and there are a bunch of those in the family. There are a few Suhanda, too. I would want a somewhat original name or rarely used name in the family to go along with the Mohamed.

There's a vj member whose daughter's name is my fave girl name and if I ever have another child and it's a girl I'd ask if I they mind that I use it. My husband loves the name Yasmeen because of his niece but two Yasmeens are not necessary in the immediate family. I like the name but it's overkill for the family.

Well there is Ishmail and Ismail. Most Arabs are Ismails. I do think most Westerners assume it's Ishmail because of the Bible but if it's written on a paper or verbally told to you as Ismail then there's no excuse for the mistake.

Not difficult, it's pronounced pretty much how it's written. Of course, some dumbasses would say Ishmail instead.

I'm so not sharing my real faves (except Mazin cuz it was a choice). I don't want none of y'all to take it. J/K Anyhoo...middle name would be Mohamed Abderrazek for a boy or a girl at any rate. I'm traditional like that.

Mazin would be my choice. It's actually one of my most fave Arabic names, currently. Not sure about a girl name. I guess out of the two you listed I'd choose Zaynab.

Staashi, the pics of Enzo are so damn cute! What a little doll baby you got there.

You should include copies of both the Arabic and English translated marriage certificates. If you can forge his signature on the I-130, go for it. What kind of new job did he get? If it's nothing that is gov't related or the like I wouldn't worry about changing it. He could've very well changed jobs right after you mailed that stuff in, right? My husband changed jobs during the process but I never said anything to immigration because they didn't check into it. But if you want to go by the book then yeah have him send you new forms. Don't worry about the smoking. My husband smokes like a chimney and it wasn't a problem. Unless he has health problems related to his smoking, I wouldn't worry.

As salam aleikum and greetings

I'm new here.

I guess I should properly address these questions to the forums, but I feel more comfortable here. I have been reading around a bit, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate or not.

I'm getting together our I-130, and I have a couple questions.

1) I have a copy of the English translation of our marriage certificate, is it necessary to include the copy of the original Arabic version?

2) My husband filled out and sent me his G-325 about 3 months ago, and in that time he has switched jobs. I wouldn't think anything of just sending the one he sent me, but it asks for current employer on the I-130. Do you think I should have him send me a new G-325 because of the change? (I'm also getting conflicting information on whether the original signature is actually needed or not. So if it's not, problem solved)

3) I saw today that one of the questions on the medical exam is whether you smoke. Is that a disqualifier? (It would be a good way to pressure him to quit smoking before the exam, lol)

Yep, it's the same. Stamps galore. Are the Jordanian ones on longer sheets of paper with pics attached to the front? Just curious.

My husband got his at the makanat tagneed office. Ok I was mistaken, the damn thing looks so old but apparently he got during our process about 3.5 yrs ago. Not sure when he got the exemption stamp in his passport but that had to have been sometime right before his interview in December '06. He never had a passport before and they kept it at the interview so I'd say he got it sometime between September and December '06.

The cert from the tagneed office will be multi-colored looking with writing on front and back. I dunno if it comes laminated but my husband's cert is laminated. Newer ones may not look this way though. My husband has had his for years due to being exempt and never having to serve in the army.

My husband was also exempt from the military. His form was laminated too, which they did for him. It was a blue half sheet of paper, with writing only on the front. I know Ahmed got his exemption form this year (only because I told him he needs it for immigration purposes) and I don't know where Ahmed got it, but he made it seem like it was a BIG journey in the middle of the dessert to get it.

Aww cute...happy belated birthday to Amirah! The time sure has flown. It seemed like just yesterday she was a teeny infant.

The cert from the tagneed office will be multi-colored looking with writing on front and back. I dunno if it comes laminated but my husband's cert is laminated. Newer ones may not look this way though. My husband has had his for years due to being exempt and never having to serve in the army.

Never send originals. Send a copy.

Not so much ###### talking. It's more discussing things freely shared in public. It's a public site, anyone can read and/or post over there.

Just because I am nosey and haven't been around much

which "site" are the peeps referring to?

Whose sh!t talking now? Lemme at em

(((Tam)))

I didn't know you were adopted, Tam. I was, too.

Good Morning Peeps Today is the day my adopted father passed away from cancer 11 yrs ago. I still miss my dad and it seems like yesterday he was around.

I hope everyone gets well soon and has a great day today. Happy early Anniversary Jeanne and Wael!

Ask him if it's the exemption certificate. Do you know which office he got that cert. from?

Also, regarding military exemption, your husband should also have a stamp in his passport stating he is exempt from the military. If not, he should get it. This is according to my husband.

That's the document my husband has. He is an only boy and therefore, exempt from military duty. He got it from the tagneed office. Husband also described it like your husband did. We were confused about the ministry of war thing since my husband never heard of it, only knew that certificates came from the tagneed office. I'm glad he could help at least a little bit.

Ok so I asked my husband and he never heard of anyone going to the ministry of war for a military cert. He actually doesn't know what the name of the office is in English but he said to have your husband contact the local "tagneed" office in Egypt. He said the best bet would be to have your husband ask someone from Egypt who has been in the military about this. I wonder if this is something new? The husband nor I was aware that more than military cert was available. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Oh def., I could probably spend a few days in the two cities I mentioned and still not see everything. I spent most of my time in Kafr Dawr but there's nothing really to see there, lol. Unless you like farm animals, dirt roads, various little shops, simple churches and mosques and people watching.

Oh gosh, yes! There's tons to see other than pyramids, actually the pyramids aren't even the best part. I've only been to Alex and Cairo as far as bigger cities go but there's Luxor, Sharm el Sheik, Aswan, Sinai, Marsa Matruh, etc. I prefer Alex to Cairo but Cairo obviously has more to see. Cairo has the pyramids in Giza, Egypt museum, military museum, Sala'adin's citadel, Khan el Khalili (awesome bazaar), various mosques that are gorgeous inside and out, various other monuments, etc. Alex has the other citadel of Qaitbey, abu al Abbas al Muris mosque (gorgeous!), Alexandria museum, various beaches on the Meditteranean (sp), the Corniche, Montaza Palace gardens, Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Graeco Roman museum, etc.

I saw that on the news last night as we were trying on my daughter's Cleopatra costume.

i was wondering...is there anything else good to see in Egypt besides the pyramids??

I will ask my husband for you. I have his military cert at home but it's in Arabic. I can read it but it takes me a long time.

That's cool, he's right, Christmas is a happy time! What did you tell him about Halloween?

Astarte hubby doesn't seem to have anything "against" Halloween just doesn't seem to get it. He is fine with us celebrating Christmas and Easter. I told him that my holidays are as important to me as Ramadan is to him. He said he thinks Christmas is a very happy time.

I'm sorry it's been somewhat stressful for you but that's to be expected, hon. Hang in there, it'll get better.

About Halloween, my husband handed out candy to the kids that came into his work his first Halloween here and thought it was fun. My husband just looks at it as yet another "American" holiday that's kinda silly and unimportant. Is he against the concept of Halloween or he just doesn't understand? About scary/horror movies, my husband doesn't really watch them unless you count suspense as "scary". He has watched a couple but he doesn't feel they have much of a story to hold his interest. I don't watch horror flicks myself.

Sorry I don't have any advice other than explain that Halloween is mostly a kid holiday. Kids dress up and beg for candy, it's not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Does your family celebrate Christmas and Easter? How does your husband feel about celebrating those holidays? I'm assuming your husband is Muslim, correct?

Hey guys wanted to check in. Hubby will have been here 2 weeks on Wednesday. I am happy to have him here but I can't lie and say it hasn't been stressful. I am anxious for the days when life will be "normal" again. Anyway, wanted to ask you if anyone knows what's up with MENA guys not understanding Halloween or scary movies?? My hubby just can't seem to understand the whole concept. Any thoughts or ideas?