biggish data

This is a seperate program especially for the US. I still don't know if it is faster than the spouse visa yet though. The program only started a few months ago. You can read this for more information:

http://www.state.gov...m/rls/97944.htm

I wish you good luck with your application and hope it is processed quickly. The waiting is definitely not easy.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-06 00:47:00

Thanks MK for your response. I am sure you can understand the difficulties. Inshallah things will move fast.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-05 10:45:00

Has your immigration petition been approved? Once mine was approved it also qualified him for processing as a refugee. I got a letter from the department of state about it and an application to apply.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-04 23:06:00

Thanks for the vaccination info. I hope since he doesn't have his vaccination records that he doesn't have to repeat too many of these.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-02 20:12:00

Thanks everyone for your input and the welcome. I really appreciate it. I did call the NVC today and they said he doesn't have to submit a police clearance for Iraq because it is "unavailable". I think that really means it is not reliable so why bother. He has started the clearance for Iraq, but it takes weeks to get back by mail. NVC did say I must submit all the other required paperwork with the visa application. I wish I had known this sooner, but I hadn't seen any info on it until very recently. The visa application is due to arrive any day and I had hoped to send it out right away, but now I am trying to get my husbands documents together (or rather he is) from Jordan.

Does anyone remember what the immunization requirements are? He didn't bring his immunization records with him when he left Iraq and they would be unattainable now.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-01 16:47:00

Hey everyone, I am new to this thread, but I am hoping for any help you all could give me. Right now I am waiting for the visa application and affadavit of support to arrive (paid the fees already). I found information that led me to believe I must send my husbands police clearances, birth certificate, etc in with the visa application. He is Iraqi and a refugee in Jordan now so the police clearance for Iraq is going to take awhile though he did send it off a couple days ago. I am hoping for any advice from someone familiar with preparing their visa for Jordan and anyone that is also Iraqi and knows how that may effect things I haven't foreseen yet.

Also, after I send in the visa application and affadavit of support, does anyone know how long it will take for an embassy interview in Jordan?

Thanks for any help you all can provide.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-01 00:42:00

Safe in the USA

I am so happy for you! Congratulations. I wish the best of luck to both of you.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-04 12:08:00

Friends of our MENA SOs

I worry about that as well for when my husband gets here, but I do have a couple of middle eastern women friends here though that isn't who I really want him hanging out with, lol (most of them are married to American husbands). I am hoping that maybe the mosque will help some inshallah.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-02 21:13:00

i need help

I have a question. Do they do any security checks before they approve an I-130 at USCIS?

Also, I knew a woman who got her K-1 visa through Amman and she recieved her visa 5 days after the interview. It makes me wonder how they can process someone so fast and then take forever on others.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-04 12:28:00

Visa in hand in Algiers

That is really wonderful news. I can imagine your excitement. Congratulations!!!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-07 19:20:00

Hoooo Hoooooooo its here!!!

Congratulations!!!! I am so happy for you.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-09 23:01:00

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can call NVC and enter your USCIS case number. Later when you get your NVC number you can use that. The number for NVC is (603) 334-0700. You can call 24 hours a day for the automated system and they are open until midnight eastern time to talk to a person (no easy thing to do).

Here is a web link with info about NVC for you: http://travel.state..../info_3177.html

Edited by S and S, 10 April 2008 - 07:34 PM.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-10 19:32:00

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is so great!!! Congratulations and good luck with the rest of your journey.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-10 07:26:00

I just lost it with my husband!

Belinda, I will keep you in my prayers. I am so sorry you have to wait this long, but I hope he comes soon so you can see that all this suffering was worth it. You are a wonderful woman to make it this far, never forget that.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-10 21:16:00

I just lost it with my husband!

I hope you are able to get through this hard time. We are all going through similar problems, but that doesn't make your problems feel any less. Sometimes the strength leaves us and we have a hard time finding it. I hope that you can be with your husband soon and that all these troubles pass.

As for me, so far I lost 10 pounds (which I didn't need to lose) and I gained ulcers from all the stress. Somehow, though, I keep making myself go through the motions each day until I can be with my husband again. One thing I've done is write in a journal. It helps to put my thoughts and feelings on paper. I also figure that someday after my husband is here and I am so upset with him for silly things, then I can pull out that journal and remember all I went through to be with him. I am hoping it will help me put things back in perspective.

Take care of yourself, this is the most important thing.

Edited by S and S, 10 April 2008 - 07:22 PM.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-10 19:21:00

A Glimmer of Hope

Wow, that would be so great if you go. I think it is wonderful idea. If I were you and in your position, it would definitely be something I would consider. Let us know what you decide to do.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-13 00:11:00

Please welcome a new MENA member!

Welcome to VJ and I am here for you too. I know exactly what you mean about family not being very accepting of my marriage choice or my choice of religion either. I think my family is thinking I have lost it because I speak so proudly of my husband and who he is. I don't care if he is from Iraq because the important thing is who is he as a person. His family did not accept me at first, but after meeting me we get along so I am hoping when he comes here my family will see how great he is and accept him easier.

I pray the same for you and good luck in your visa journey.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-09 07:40:00

The United States is concerned

I totally agree with what you said KyanWan. Personally I can't stand all these conspiracy theories that aren't backed by hard evidence. I also think we really do have it good here compared to many places. It is nice that we can complain until our heart is content without fear. It is nice to know you can have the chance at a good life here if your willing to work for it. So many other people in other places cannot claim that.

You changed your response on me, anyway, I will leave it at this. Check out this book "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy". It looks like a big book, but it really has a lot of great information in it.

Edited by S and S, 14 April 2008 - 01:43 AM.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-14 01:41:00

The United States is concerned

Oddly enough, Israel got their big increase in US AID right after the 1967 war. Odd since the United States lost a ship in that war, the USS Liberty, and it wasn't the Egyptians that were shooting at it. There are some politics I will never understand.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-13 13:09:00

The United States is concerned

If the US wants to do something, than the US government can threaten to take away foreign aid. Here is a quote on the figures of US aid that Egypt recieves:

"Aid is central to Washington's relationship with Cairo. The US has provided Egypt with $1.3 billion a year in military aid since 1979, and an average of $815 million a year in economic assistance. All told, Egypt has received over $50 billion in US largesse since 1975."

Here is the source:
http://www.csmonitor...07s01-wome.html

This is just an article, but you can find the same thing on an official government website. I am just too lazy to look. Egypt actually recieves the second largest amount of US aid, only Israel recieves more (I don't count Iraq because that is an entirely different matter).

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-12 23:54:00

We got married

I wish you both the best. Taking him to see all the new things must be exciting for you. Sorry about your friend, that must be frustrating. I hope you have no more problems like that in the future.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-10 07:41:00

QUOTE (bridget @ Apr 15 2008, 10:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My cat has been under my youngest daughter's bed ever since my husband arrived. She only ventures out to eat and poop unless the kids are home and then she sticks with them. Hopefully she'll find her way to him soon.

Oh, the poor thing, I hope she will get used to him soon!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-15 19:14:00

How do you go about keeping doves? That sounds like it could be a nice thing to try.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-14 23:43:00

I have seen lots of people with dogs that love them so much and truly enjoy the dogs being around. I cannot blame people for being happy with their dogs when I enjoy having cats. Everyone has their preference. Also, I was raised with cats and not dogs so my tendency is to not want a dog though I though of getting one at one time just for extra protection. If I had gotten one, it would have been kept outside as I find it is a lot more work to keep a dog inside. I used to let my cats outside since that meant I had less to clean up of their mess, but it is impossible to restrain a cat outside and I felt horrible when I lost a cat to being ran over (hit and run) on the street. A dog can be restrained (usually, lol), but we all know cats go where they want. Now I keep my current cat inside which is safer for her and keeps her cleaner.

I only mention the site above because I had never found anything saying it was okay to keep dogs. If I see good evidence than I am likely to change my mind about if it is good to keep one. Though my husband jokes he will get a dog just to take out my cat, so maybe it is better I don't see this evidence!!!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-14 01:28:00

QUOTE (ta me go hiontach @ Apr 13 2008, 09:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

the seven sleepers from surah al kahf had a dog with them. the dog's mentioned explicitly in verses 18 and 22. the dog was asleep the entire time they were, and not serving in any capacity as a watch dog or hunting dog. if that were the only allowed purpose for the animal, then he'd be pretty out of place in those verses. nevertheless, there he is.

Here is what I found on keeping dogs according to Islam though it is not my business what people keep in their homes:

http://www.islam-qa....&...am and dogs

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-14 00:22:00

I am really loving that so many of us were over in the middle east feading the poor stray cats. I swear there were a million of them and many looked malnurished, though a few didn't. I never saw dogs at all in the big cities, but cats were everywhere.

Oh, and about petsmart, that is one of the first places I want to take my husband just to shock him, lol.

Edited by S and S, 13 April 2008 - 01:05 PM.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-13 13:04:00

I am not suprised about the dogs. I couldn't find anything good about dogs when I searched Islamic material for it. The only thing it said was that dogs should only be kept around for guard or work purposes, outside that is (so if that could help anyone).

I found lots of positive things about cats in Islam that you can use against your spouses. If anyone wants to read the quotes let me know, I kept them saved just in case after my husband gets here and if he doesn't want the cat around. Then I can prove that she is even considered "clean" in Islam. He still threatens that she should not sleep on the bed, but everyone knows that convincing cats of that is no walk in the park.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-13 12:52:00

Actually, my husband insisted my cat be tested for any diseases and wanted her vaccinated so taking her to the vet didn't upset him. I don't think he liked that I got her fixed, but after I described how many cats are euthanized every year and that it isn't fair to bring more into the world so that others will never get a home, he let it go and let me get her fixed. The cat food thing is weird to him, but I explained it is much healthier. I do give treats of human food once in a great while.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-12 23:59:00

That is so great about your husband. I hope I can get mine to at least like my cat. His whole family has started asking about her, they even want to see her on the camera. I gave her an arabic name so they find that amusing.

As for my husband, I think he is just jealous that my cat gets to be with me. It drove him crazy that I was feeding the stray cats when I came to see him. He couldn't get rid of them after I left, lol.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-12 23:45:00

I am just curious, but do any of you have pets and you had to convince your spouse that it is okay to keep them in the house? I had to go look for fatwas to convince my husband it was Islamically permissable to keep a cat in the house, but thank God I proved it to him. Though he is still unsure about the idea, he has come around a lot since the beginning. I convinced him I could not survive the lonliness if I didn't at least have a pet for this long wait until he comes. Really, having a pet does help a lot, at least for me. Not sure why, but many middle eastern people do not like to let their pets live in the house, though some will have pets. My husband was shocked by all the amenities we have for pets. He joked that our pets have it better than the Iraqis do.

Just wondering what everyone else's opinion is.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-12 23:31:00

tomorrow and maktoob(destiny in arabic)

"amnio done.............waiting for results.......im having a boy according to the ultrasound.............im tired"

I think I caught this at the bottom of your last post. Inshallah the results come back that everything is fine. Take care of yourself, my prayers and thoughts are with you.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-15 19:44:00

tomorrow and maktoob(destiny in arabic)

If I were you, I would tell him he can do what he wants if he pays for his own tickets and hotel. In muslim culture it is the duty of the man to support his wife, not the other way around. He knows this and I feel like he is taking advantage of you. It is fine to pay a ticket if he is short on money and he will fly directly here. It is another thing to demand this much of you.

Please, take care of yourself and the baby. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I will keep you in my prayers.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-14 16:44:00

Hamdouallah!! :) We have an interview date

Mabrook!!!! That is such great news. I am sure you are both excited. Inshallah the interview will go great and you will be together soon.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-15 19:42:00

Keep us in your prayers!

I hope the very best for you and that he gets his visa soon and can be with you inshallah. I will keep you in my prayers. You deserve this after so much patience from having to wait so long.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-15 19:08:00

Looking for Airfares originating abroad?

I will keep this in mind. Thanks for posting!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-18 17:56:00

Earthquake in the mid-west

I rarely write in the other forums so it didn't occur to me to include any other group. Of course anyone else is welcome to comment.

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-19 23:29:00

Earthquake in the mid-west

QUOTE (mogdog @ Apr 18 2008, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Apr 18 2008, 07:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (Carol and Bruno @ Apr 18 2008, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE (S and S @ Apr 18 2008, 06:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Did any of you other MENA members get woken up by the earthquake this morning? I didn't think we got them here, but I guess I was proved wrong. It really bothered my husband when I told him. As if he doesn't already worry about the tornadoes. It wasn't a big one, but this was my first one even though I lived in California for a couple years.

Yes. I live in Indiana and was woken up at 5:37 this morning. I had no idea what was occurring even though I had experienced an earthquake in California. It just never occurred to me that it WAS an earthquake here in Indiana.

Anyhow, it was definitely the topic of the morning at work.

I talked with my friend today and he said his bedroom closet door handle was moving and it woke him up. He thought someone was in the closet (he lives alone) so he stared at the door for a few and decided to open it. Before he actually touched the handle, he said he thought about movies at the cinema in which the audience is shouting NO, DON'T OPEN IT!!! so he grabbed something to defend himself. He opened the door, but no one was there. He said he laughed so hard at himself. I couldn't help but to chuckle too.

Though I live 350 miles from where the earthquake occurred, we over here still felt it and it gave us something to laugh about today as we all shared our reactions to it.

I thought my bed was possesed at first, lol. Glad I didn't do what your friend did with the door though.

I'm glad I was not the only one who thought my bed was possesed! The first thing I thought about was The Exorcist movie.

That was actually one of my thoughts too!

S and S

Female

Iraq

2008-04-18 19:37:00