CR1 Visa Re-Affirmed by USCIS after 13Months!

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let anyone with a "Returned back to USCIS for further Review" case, that USCIS Re-Affirmed our case after 13 LONG months. This was all possible because of our constant effort to remain very actively involved by bringing attention to our case and by getting my Congresswoman involved.

Our case was returned back to Cairo in mid-May and two Consulate employees contacted my husband letting him know that some docs needed to be updated and sent to them via DHL. Once they received the documents (6/19) they called him back to report on the 21st of this month, at 9am, to sign the DS-230 in front of a Consular Officer. When he attempted to ask them if he was being scheduled for an interview, they would not answer the question and simply told him to report on that day to sign the form. Well, needless to say, my husband went prepapred only with the first evidence we submitted when our case was first filed(pictures, emails, chat logs, phone records) and his passport. He said that as soon as he checked in, within 3minutes, his name was called. A CO Officer and a translator met with him. The CO officer made a comment about how old our case was: (Priority date of August 2009), how he noticed after his denial of the visa during his first interview - my children and I still traveled back to Egypt, acknowledged my interview here in California by 2 Homeland Security agents & their report of their investigation, and reviewed about 20 family pictures of my last trip to Egypt, that included my husband's immediate family, aunts and cousins, along with my children and I. After reviewing the pictures with my husband and asking him a few questions about who the people in the pictures were, my husband said that the CO took his pen and wrote "APPROVED" on the file and informed him his visa will arrive in about 14 days in the mail!!!! That if they needed something else from him or if something was missing from the file, they will inform him or otherwise his visa should arrive in the mail within 14 days. He also told my husband, that after having endured the process for 2 long years and all the work I put into our case, that he should sherish me and take care of me and the children. Told him "mabrook" and the interview was finished at this time. Though my husband did not give me the exact duration of this last minute interview, he sounded as if the entire process was handled pretty quickly.

During the time that the Consulate contacted my husband via phone, I emailed the Consulate twice, letting them know that I was still very much involved in the case and requested that they inform me of their intent with our case. I received one response that was pretty simple, stating that once my husband sent them all the documentation via DHL, the Consulate will move forward in the processing of his visa petition.

Now, I only hope they honor their CO's decision to issue my husband his visa and that it in fact arrives within the 14 days or sooner!...Insha Allah. My husband and I are still pretty much in a state of shock because of the long wait we have endured...As soon as his visa arrives in the mail, I will make my reservations and the kids and I will visit with the family for a few weeks and we'll all return back home with my husband! Alhamdilullah!!!

Anyone that maybe in this part of the process...please hang in there. Keep hope alive, fight the fight and all will end well.

Sincerely,

Lizz&Mohamed

[Lisamarie 79]

Congratulations!!!! You have waited a long time and deserve to be together. Best of luck to both of you in your new lives together:)

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let anyone with a "Returned back to USCIS for further Review" case, that USCIS Re-Affirmed our case after 13 LONG months. This was all possible because of our constant effort to remain very actively involved by bringing attention to our case and by getting my Congresswoman involved.

Our case was returned back to Cairo in mid-May and two Consulate employees contacted my husband letting him know that some docs needed to be updated and sent to them via DHL. Once they received the documents (6/19) they called him back to report on the 21st of this month, at 9am, to sign the DS-230 in front of a Consular Officer. When he attempted to ask them if he was being scheduled for an interview, they would not answer the question and simply told him to report on that day to sign the form. Well, needless to say, my husband went prepapred only with the first evidence we submitted when our case was first filed(pictures, emails, chat logs, phone records) and his passport. He said that as soon as he checked in, within 3minutes, his name was called. A CO Officer and a translator met with him. The CO officer made a comment about how old our case was: (Priority date of August 2009), how he noticed after his denial of the visa during his first interview - my children and I still traveled back to Egypt, acknowledged my interview here in California by 2 Homeland Security agents & their report of their investigation, and reviewed about 20 family pictures of my last trip to Egypt, that included my husband's immediate family, aunts and cousins, along with my children and I. After reviewing the pictures with my husband and asking him a few questions about who the people in the pictures were, my husband said that the CO took his pen and wrote "APPROVED" on the file and informed him his visa will arrive in about 14 days in the mail!!!! That if they needed something else from him or if something was missing from the file, they will inform him or otherwise his visa should arrive in the mail within 14 days. He also told my husband, that after having endured the process for 2 long years and all the work I put into our case, that he should sherish me and take care of me and the children. Told him "mabrook" and the interview was finished at this time. Though my husband did not give me the exact duration of this last minute interview, he sounded as if the entire process was handled pretty quickly.

During the time that the Consulate contacted my husband via phone, I emailed the Consulate twice, letting them know that I was still very much involved in the case and requested that they inform me of their intent with our case. I received one response that was pretty simple, stating that once my husband sent them all the documentation via DHL, the Consulate will move forward in the processing of his visa petition.

Now, I only hope they honor their CO's decision to issue my husband his visa and that it in fact arrives within the 14 days or sooner!...Insha Allah. My husband and I are still pretty much in a state of shock because of the long wait we have endured...As soon as his visa arrives in the mail, I will make my reservations and the kids and I will visit with the family for a few weeks and we'll all return back home with my husband! Alhamdilullah!!!

Anyone that maybe in this part of the process...please hang in there. Keep hope alive, fight the fight and all will end well.

Sincerely,

Lizz&Mohamed

[Darnell 8,478]

Whew ! About time !

Has it been over 2 years? Maybe get IR-1 visa, yes?

*** moving to ' IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports ' forum ***

Edited June 22, 2011 by Darnell

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Thank you sooo much Lisa Marie for your nice comment.

It means a lot.

Lizz&Mohamed

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Hi Darnell!!!

Yes - 2 years of marriage will be in July 14, 2009. Our Immigration Journey began in August 2009. We filed for the CR1 Visa.

Lizz&Mohamed

[Mrs O. 29]

So if the visa is issued before July 14 you will get CR1, but if your POE is AFTER July 14, you can point it out to the officer at POE that the marriage is now over 2 years and then he'll get the 10yr green card instead of the conditional 2yr card.

Congratulations!!!

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

So if the visa is issued before July 14 you will get CR1, but if your POE is AFTER July 14, you can point it out to the officer at POE that the marriage is now over 2 years and then he'll get the 10yr green card instead of the conditional 2yr card.

Congratulations!!!

Thanks for the info Mrs. O!!!

I have been keeping that in mind...and our return date back to the states will be July 30th. I didn't know that I could mention it to the officer at the POE. Can they change the visa at this point or is it something I have to follow-up with USCIS after our return?

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Lizz&Mohamed

[sofaraway 2]

hELLO LIz! Mabrook to you and your husband!! u both deserve to be together...my flight to US will be on june 30th also..egypt air from kuwait....

[AYMAN_RINA 92]

Congrats 2 YEARS long time but I know For Love It's Worth It And much more.We are so happy for you and your husband ...And the children Best wishes for your life together

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

hELLO LIz! Mabrook to you and your husband!! u both deserve to be together...my flight to US will be on june 30th also..egypt air from kuwait....

Shokran faraway!

Mabroook to you as well. Our flight back will be in JULY 30th, Insha Allah...So, it is our hope Mohamed will have his first Ramadan in America starting the next day.

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Congrats 2 YEARS long time but I know For Love It's Worth It And much more.We are so happy for you and your husband ...And the children Best wishes for your life together

Thank you - Ayman_Rina, for your nice comment! My kids were so excited this morning after I shared the news with them. They are anxiously awaiting for us to travel back to Egypt, spend some time by the Red Sea with our extended family and friends and to finally bring Mohamed home with us. =)

Lizz&Mohamed

[AYMAN_RINA 92]

I fly back to usa in July also But of course sad without my husband but we are happy you and your husband finally together after so long time <3

[jameugiekaxavilon 25]

Congratulations!!

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

I fly back to usa in July also But of course sad without my husband but we are happy you and your husband finally together after so long time <3

I know how difficult it must be for you...hang in there. I know it's a lot easier said than done but all good things come to those who wait. While this was such an emotional and stressful ordeal, I have no regrets and am glad we stuck it out. I know that the Consulate is only doing their job when they deny a visa due to the validity of a marriage and/or relationship, but I just wish they would be learn to be a bit more understanding and be open to receive more supporting evidence, or opened to rescheduling a 2nd interview before they kick cases back to the U.S... It was not only an emotional ordeal for me but my children as well. My children bonded with my husband right away and to be made to wait 2years for the visa...well, lets just say that it was an ordel that I wanted to spare my children. Keeping families apart for this length of time is just cruel and inconsiderate. They truly tested our marriage that's for sure but I am proud to say we showed them!!!

I can't wait to see my habibi, my hayati, my albi!!!

Lizz&Mohamed

Congratulations!!

Thank you for your comment. Best of luck to you...

[calibob 73]

Congrats on your fortune!! It was well earned....

Bob