ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaQuestion for those working with Syrian Relatives
I just thought of something else you might want to consider if you do decide to move to Istanbul... Do you speak Turkish? Maybe you do but your husband doesn't? It is doable, but not easy to get by in Turkey without speaking Turkish unless you're an expert at charades. tongue.gif

We moved to the European side of Istanbul because we assumed more people would speak English on that side. Well, we were wrong. The wealthier, better educated people that are more likely to speak English live on the Asian side of Istanbul. So if you and your husband want to move to Istanbul you might want to consider the Asian side first so you can get by in English more effectively unless you want to live in the tourist section of the European side.

Here are some Turkish forums for you to check out:

Turkey Central

My Merhaba
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-10 06:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestion for those working with Syrian Relatives
I take it you are Turkish-American? Your husband should get residency through you in Turkey, but finding a job in Turkey is not easy due to the high unemployment. I don't know how quick or easy it would be to switch to DCF if you've already started the process. How long since you applied? You might just call a lawyer and see if they will give you the information over the phone. Also write to the American embassy in Ankara to ask. Also, check out the Turkish thread in the European forum. Maybe somebody there has had experience with this.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-08 00:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaQuestion for those working with Syrian Relatives
Sorry, I don't have any words of encouragement. Unfortunately, there's no country you can go to to escape the economic downturn. As someone that's lived in both Europe and Dubai (Now I'm in Turkey.) you aren't any better off in either of those places. The economy of Dubai is in the gutter and even if unemployment weren't as high in Europe as it is stateside it is not that easy for Americans to get work/residency in much of Europe. Just like foreigners wanting to come work in the states, Americans wanting to work in Europe have to prove they can do something a local can't. Do you have some kind of in-demand skill, ie. IT or medical training? Any European employer will have to prove that you have skills they need and that they couldn't find in a local after advertising the vacancy for several months. Secretarial skills won't cut it. Also it would be hard for your husband to get a visa for Europe. You could try Turkey where it's a bit easier to get a visa but the standard of living isn't that high while the unemployment is. You could get a TEFL certificate to teach English. That's probably your best route. Then once you have a job/residency your husband can apply for residency as your husband. Check out where your husband can go without needing a visa to travel and that will help you narrow down a bit the places that are easier for him. Hell, I'm in Turkey only because my husband needs a visa even to go to Mexico! And when we went to northern Cyprus for a visa run they almost denied him. They only let him through because I assured them he was my husband so they decided he wasn't likely to be trying to escape to Europe through Cyprus if he's waiting on a greencard. If you have relatives in the Caucasus that can hook you up as you say then that is probably your best bet.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-19 00:57:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA,How old is your spouse?
QUOTE (EtherealVocalist @ Feb 13 2009, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (sandrila @ Feb 12 2009, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (EtherealVocalist @ Feb 12 2009, 01:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Aymsgirl @ Feb 12 2009, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My hubby is 38 and I am 33.


I am 38 and he's 27 ( the other way around - I do look MUCH younger than my age, I am lucky no wrinkles yet )



comeon...NO WRINKLES??

I would say you are lucky!

I mean everyone says I look way younger than I am and I have 3 kids too. 1 just turned 16 but still I can see the darn crowfeet's and the frown lines

these last 2 years have aged me tremendously


I am 36 and hubby is 27



Sure, here's a picture taken 4 months ago... See, I fast often, i fast weekly and twice a year I do 30 day long water fasts. Fasting is a miracle for your skin... and keeps your body healthy...



30 day fasts! Twice a year! blink.gif huh.gif ohmy.gif wacko.gif No thank you. I'd end up in jail after eating someone's arm in a zombie rage. I think I'd rather back away from the buffet with an extra helping of wrinkles instead. blush.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-13 02:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA,How old is your spouse?
We're both 30. crying.gif I still feel 25 though and refuse to get any older. People still tell me I look like I'm 21. yay!
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-12 13:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaTuesday
QUOTE (Nagishkaw @ Apr 15 2009, 08:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have to agree with Astarte on this one. It is rather sad that he is being disrespectful of your rights as a human being.


good.gif

Also, he might be promising to live the American way now but things could change when he arrives. It's more likely that the shock of how much more liberal the states are and how much more independent the women are might make him even more jealous and controlling. I could never live like that. I view it as a type of abuse.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-15 00:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaNetflix suggestion for MENA peeps
'The Kite Runner'... but you should read the book first. Then read the other book, 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' which was even better and more heartbreaking than 'Kite Runner.' A while back CNN had some documentaries on the 3 major 'religions' hosted by Christiane Amanpour. For a bit of variety watch Bill Maher's 'Religulous.'
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-02-05 17:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaAmerican Journalist Stands Trial in Iran
QUOTE (Far2Long @ Apr 15 2009, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This does not make me feel very good when I am going to AUC to learn about reporting in the MENA region. sad.gif



Be careful. At least being American will save this particular woman from the fate that an Iranian would suffer. Iran has been criticized for increasingly executing bloggers that are critical of the regime. Not so long ago there was a blogger that my husband would often read that was arrested and executed. All the guy blogged about was poverty in southern Iran. He wasn't even necessarily criticizing the regime. And a few years ago there was a Canadian journalist with dual Iranian citizenship that was arrested on trumped up charges that died while in prison from apparently being beaten.

Canadian Photojournalist dies in Iranian prison.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-15 04:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaArabic Movies - Why do they yell so much???
QUOTE (Pattu Rani @ Mar 27 2009, 03:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Nobody though can top the Chinese(incl. Taiwanese) for loudness - sorry.... whistling.gif

I used to live with a Taiwanese woman and every time she would talk with her mother you'd think it was WWIII - one time after an especially heated exchange I asked what was the matter and she said 'oh nothing, she was just telling me about a sale she went to'.... laughing.gif

I live in a largely Chinese neighborhood and she was most definitely not an exception to the rule.



Yeah, Chinese people can sound really shrill like fingernails down a chalkboard. But the overzealous hand gestures loud Arabs use make them all the scarier looking.

Sometimes it's fun to sit at a cafe and people-watch and make up your own dialogue when you don't understand the language people are speaking. When I first moved to Germany everyone was plotting to take over the world. Then I learned the language and realized they were just grumbling about not having enough cash for another beer.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-27 12:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaArabic Movies - Why do they yell so much???
People in the ME are just loud, as are Americans. Europeans won't hesitate to point out how obnoxiously loud they find Americans.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-27 01:00:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA women question for you.
A potty training your husband thread. Wow. jest.gif I think I'll just buy my husband some wet wipes for starters. Whenever we get a place of our own I suppose we can discuss bidet options. I'm not looking forward to the floor always being wet and dirty though. He's messy enough leaving the counter top around the sink soaked.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-05-29 12:34:00
Middle East and North AfricaIran Election
QUOTE (humpkinpumpkin @ Jun 24 2009, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My husband firmly believes that Iran will somehow be involved with the end of the world.



laughing.gif That probably just goes back to the Persian v. Arab dislike for one another.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-06-24 14:17:00
Middle East and North AfricaIran Election
QUOTE (scandal @ Jun 22 2009, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Finally, you (chemaatah) brought Israel into this discussion. What does Israel have to do with Iranian domestic politics? Absolutely nothing.
Suppose Israel did not exist (something I'm sure you would be overjoyed to see happen).
Do you suppose that Iranians would not be concerned with their desire for freedom? With their stagnant economy? With the political corruption and cronyism of their regime? This has absolutely nothing to do with Israel.



Your assessment is spot on, Scandal. To trivial, unthinking minds everything from pimples in their teen years to failing a college entrance exam can be traced back to Israel. It really is getting old at this point. And Israel has absolutely nothing to do with whats going on in Iran. Islamists and their crimes against humanity however, have everything to do with the turmoil in Iran going all the way back to their conquest of the Persian empire. The people of Iran got rid of the Shah because they wanted more freedom and instead they got a corrupt, murderous regime that is guilty of oppressing the people to a greater degree and killing more people than the Shah ever did. The people's misery and discontent has been growing for the past 30 years just waiting for the necessary stimulus to boil over into the streets. The candidates in the election were irrelevant. The people are jaded and have no faith in revolutions anymore. What they had hoped for were to elect progressively more liberal leaders that would gradually introduce more reforms and freedoms until one day they finally end up with a secular state. The election fraud dashed those hopes and proved once and for all that the backwards, power-mad Islamists would never release their grip on power and would only continue introducing more restrictions on the people. So the people's frustration with the entire institution of the Islamic regime and a desire for a secular government that they could never before dare to express finally spilled over into the streets. Hopefully, the people will get their wish and the Islamists will be charged and held accountable for their crimes.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-06-22 03:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaHas anyone....
I believe you have to be married to do DCF. If you are already living in Cairo it makes more sense to do DCF. Getting married and then having 2 separate receptions is a good option. We've married and will have a reception in Iran for his family as soon as the political situation simmers down a little there and we will have a reception for my family when we arrive stateside. The thing that is best about DCF is that your husband will enter the US as an immigrant and will be able to seek work immediately. If you go the fiance visa route then you will have 90 days to get married, then you will have to adjust status. That way it could be 3 months or more before he is legally allowed to work which could be a big financial strain for you. That's something to consider.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-07-18 09:42:00
Middle East and North Africaadvice and help
Definitely seek the counsel of both a therapist and a lawyer.

Edited by DieNörglerin, 25 May 2009 - 10:57 AM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-05-25 10:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaFrance to ban Burqas/Niqab in Public?
QUOTE (UmmSqueakster @ Jun 23 2009, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What goes around comes around.

That's karma.

It will come back to bite them in the behind.

Payback is a b*tch.

France imposed their culture upon muslim countries, often ruthlessley. I can't help but thinking that muslims practicing their culture in France is cosmic payback.



What an enlightened viewpoint not to mention a gross misunderstanding of karma. I'm assuming you are white. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming that if you were gang-raped by a bunch of black guys you wouldn't get upset and would feel you deserved it because black people were once held as slaves by white people, no? And what, if anything, do you think Kurdish people or Armenian and Assyrian Christians, etc. should do to Arabs out of revenge? Should they be given a free pass to oppress, discriminate against and even kill Arabs or Turks? Should Iran be told to go ahead with it's nuclear program and allowed to exact revenge against the descendants of the Arabs that brought down the Persian empire and occupied their lands? Should fellow muslims from Asian countries like Pakistan that are held as virtual slaves in the Gulf countries be allowed to turn around and enslave Arab muslims? What exactly are you willing to condone and for how many generations should the punishment last?
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-06-23 08:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaIn-law probs
Ouch. You're in a pickle. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking the UAE is just a playground for the rich. Well, it is that on the surface but it is also much like Saudi behind the scenes. Especially for Emirati women. They even have secret police that are there to enforce segregation of the sexes for Emiratis. I don't see the authorities in the UAE ever going against an Emirati family for the sake of a non-Emirati guy. I don't think you will be able to settle this in the UAE. You should contact some kind of women's/human rights organization as well as an immigration lawyer and explain that her family is trying to keep her from being married to who she wants. Explain to USCIS that the family is trying to kidnap her back and that she did nothing wrong and ask their advice about what to do. Maybe she could file for asylum. At the very least you will need an immigration lawyer. Good luck. Hope you can sort it out.

And yes, US customs does thoroughly search luggage for more cash than is allowed. A person is only allowed to bring in $10,000 undeclared. Any more than that has to be declared and like I said they check the luggage. When I flew home to the US for a visit they asked if I had more than $10,000 in cash on me and I said no. They still took me to a back room and opened and searched every inch of every suitcase and bag I had with me looking for cash specifically and any other banned item as well. And there is nothing about me that even looks remotely suspicious either.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-13 23:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaIn-law probs
When I lived in Dubai it seemed like most things could be solved with paying a fine. But I don't know about theft charges, bogus or not. Could you provide some more details. Is she Emirati? Where are the two of you living now, etc.?
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-13 11:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaEMAIL TO EMBASSY
"no tax note" ? Hmmmm. You might call them to ask what they mean by no tax note. Did you fill out an I-864 and include all of your tax return info. or were you exempt from paying taxes and failed to write a note explaining that?

Edited by DieNörglerin, 13 July 2009 - 02:30 AM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-07-13 02:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaSex and the City - in Morocco!
QUOTE (M_n_M @ Sep 17 2009, 03:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
! So I'm wondering why when guys are like that it's so weird here...lol. (even to me sometimes)

~M



I guess it's because straight guys will often fantasize about lesbians but the only people that fantasize about gays are gay guys themselves. I don't know. Just a theory.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-16 22:33:00
Middle East and North AfricaSex and the City - in Morocco!
QUOTE (M_n_M @ Sep 16 2009, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
. I didn't have any issues in dubai holding my hubby's hand or walking close. Then again maybe I was oblivious. But the culture there confuses me... they allow everything, but just in its designated place, yet if you do one of those things out of place you're in the biggest trouble.

~M



Oh, holding hands is ok. Even the men hold hands. I remember thinking the Pakistani men walking closely hand in hand would be viewed as being gay if they did that in the west. blush.gif But when you come from a country where you aren't allowed to get close to women then you get close to men. I laughed when my husband's cousin was talking about going home for a visit to Iran and one of his friends kept trying to hold his hand while they walked. It kind of embarrassed him and he was like dude, quit holding my hand like a girl. biggrin.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-16 00:10:00
Middle East and North AfricaSex and the City - in Morocco!
QUOTE (Nawal @ Sep 15 2009, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
After reading this...I remembered that story about the British "couple" that got caught on the beach having sex....Uggh...


Yeah, I heard conflicting reports about that when I was in Dubai. The other story is that the couple weren't having sex they were just drunk and snogging. Now being drunk or kissing in public are both illegal but they compounded that offense by going so far as yelling expletives at the arresting officer to boot. Either way, they were as dumb as the sand they were making out on. I did feel just a twinge of sorrow for the girl though after hearing how much worse the women's prison in Dubai is than the men's and I'm sure the men's prison isn't all that nice to begin with. I can say though that I don't miss being afraid to so much as hug my husband in public. I'm so glad Turkey is so much more relaxed than that.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-15 11:16:00
Middle East and North AfricaSex and the City - in Morocco!
QUOTE (Nawal @ Sep 12 2009, 01:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's shocking to me about Dubai...of all places I'd think they'd say yes first!



Doesn't surprise me at all. Even kissing your wife is considered racy and punishable by a pretty hefty fine in Dubai.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-12 00:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaREALLY NEED U
QUOTE (sendbad @ Oct 10 2009, 01:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
1- ABOUT Police clearance certificates : I LIVE HERE IN KUWAIT SINCE ABOUT 4 YEARS AND BEFOR I WAS IN IRAQ DID I NEED TO BRING AN Police clearance certificates FROM IRAQ TOO OR THE ONLY FROM KUWAIT .???

2- ABOUT THE Military record : I DONT HAVE THIS ONE AND I DIDNT GO TO MILITARY IN MY WHOLE LIFE SO WHAT CAN I DO HERE IS IT IMPORTENT OR NOT ???


About Police certificates:
QUOTE
POLICE CERTIFICATE REQUIRED FOR APPLICANTS 16 YEARS AND OLDER: Applicants are required to submit a police certificate from the country of the applicant’s nationality and current residence. Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the applicant has resided for at least one year after the age 16. Regardless of the length of residence, a police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason. Police certificates from Iran are not required. Please see the following pages for more information.
COURT AND PRISON RECORDS: Persons convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each court record and any prison record, even if the beneficiary has been pardoned or granted amnesty.
POLICE CERTIFICATE Police certificates are required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older. Generally, you must apply for these certificates directly from police authorities in the district in which you reside. You must submit a police certificate from the country in which you currently live (if you have lived there for more than six months). If you lived in a different country for more than 12 months after the age of 16, you must also submit a police certificate from that country. If you was arrested or convicted of a crime in a country, regardless of your age at the time the crime took place, or how long you resided in that country, you must submit a police certificate from that country. The police certificate must cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area, and state what the appropriate police authorities records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case in which there is a record. Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain police certificates covering their residence in the U.S.
Police certificates are not required from any country on the following list:
AFGHANISTAN BANGLADESH BULGARIA CAMBODIA CHAD EQUATORIAL GUINEA HAITI
IRAN IRAQ LIBYA MEXICO MONGOLIA NIKARAGUA SIERRA LEONE
SOMALIA SUDAN TAJIKISTAN TOGO TONGA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Police certificates from these countries are available only to persons physically present in the country who apply in person:
ALBANIA BARBADOS ECUADOR ERITREA ETHIOPIA
GUATEMALA INDIA JORDAN KUWAIT MOZAMBIQUE
NAMIBIA PARAGUAY RWANDA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES YEMEN


Hope that helps. Send an email to the embassy you are filing with to verify everything. About the military service, isn't there somewhere on your paperwork where you check whether or not you served in the military? If so, and you didn't serve then check no or type up a letter stating that you didn't serve.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-10 00:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaEasy way to make bread or pita bread?
If you're making yeast bread there is no way to get around waiting for it to rise. You might make big batches of it on the weekend in the morning and then run errands while it rises. Otherwise, it is better to just buy it. I've been making lots of bread at home lately from pizza dough to Hamish bread to fry bread with varying levels of success. The fry bread is the only thing that always turns out right. My Hamish bread and pizza dough are rather fickle though. Apparently, if you look at the dough funny or your husband happens to fart while it is rising it just won't come out right.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-15 23:47:00
Middle East and North Africairanian birthcertificate
Does he have any relatives left in Iran that could obtain a copy for him? Perhaps the Iranian embassy in Belgium could help...
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-20 01:24:00
Middle East and North AfricaIranian Applicants
My husband said he doesn't want to go to the police dept to get the police record the next time we go to Iran because he has quite a list of infractions from when he was a teenager into his 20s. He's been arrested once or twice for having long hair, wearing jeans, wearing a big belt, being in a park, having a goatee without a mustache and to top it all off he once bought a girl he didn't know an ice cream cone while he was standing in line at an amusement park kiosk.
Gasp. ohmy.gif He's a ruthless criminal I tell ya. huh.gif rolleyes.gif jest.gif

No wonder they don't insist on Iranians providing a police cert. Everyone has a record of Islamic dress code violations. Meanwhile, they just let the drug smugglers go after collecting a bribe. I tried to tell him it might make the visa process go faster but he worries they would try to prevent him from leaving Iran.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-05-25 05:25:00
Middle East and North AfricaIranian Applicants
I really don't see them hassling your husband for not having a current police report from Iran when he hasn't been back since he got it. Especially when he'll be submitting one for Canada.

On another note, I find that the service you get at Iranian embassies varies from country to country. The opening hours and the service one gets at Iranian consulates/embassies in the west are quite good. But when we went to the Iranian consulate in Istanbul my husband felt a little bit like he was being interrogated by spies for the regime in Iran. Not to mention the opening hours are limited to a few hours in the morning and then they're off drinking tea and chit-chatting for the rest of the day. Damn, I want a job where I can do that. tongue.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-10 06:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaIranian Applicants
Thanks MnM. good.gif I will definitely make sure mine gets the police certificate.


Childress: Maybe it's ok since he hasn't been back since he moved to Canada and Iranians don't technically need the police cert. anyway. Perhaps he could get one for Canada to add to the paperwork as well.


Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-07 10:27:00
Middle East and North AfricaIranian Applicants
Well, anything is possible. But from what I've heard all Iranians go through AP. It doesn't really matter what your individual case is. Most Iranian immigrants are educated as well but it still takes time anyway. But it usually is a bit quicker for them than for many others from other ME countries.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-03-18 14:54:00
Middle East and North AfricaDoes the CO put you on AP BEFORE the interview?
QUOTE (Y's_habibitk @ Dec 17 2009, 08:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I dont think the CO randomly decides when they see you walk through the door, but I can def see them opening the case file and seeing that there wasnt some certain check done and they know before talking to you that youre in for a name check no matter what.
that just makes more logical sense to me, but then again we are talking about the gov so it cant be too logical tongue.gif

I hope your AP is swift and good luck Zahra


In some of the states I've lived in, the highway patrol have quotas they have to fill for tickets issued. So they just hang around by the roadside stopping people for speeding and issuing tickets til their quota is filled for the day and then they head off to the donut shop or something. Meanwhile, somebody speeds past the donut shop going 40 miles over the limit but they don't lift a finger because they've filled their quotas already. So I was wondering if the consulates are told they have to put a certain number of people on AP. unsure.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-17 11:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaVisa - 221 - Blue slip
It sounds like both Abu Dhabi, UAE & Ankara, Turkey are both handing out AP left and right. Our interview was on Dec. 15th as well but in Ankara and the CO had no problem with our documentation, didn't have a problem with the Affidavit of Support, didn't doubt our relationship. He just handed us the blue slip, our pics & my husband's passport back and said just check the website every Friday. He didn't give us any reason other than saying there was some additional processing necessary. It can't be a name check because my husband has a very rare name and is the only entry that comes up if you google him. There were a lot of Iranians ahead of us that all got AP, a few got an RFE and a few got denied. I think, due to the economy, the consulates are just putting more people on AP even if there is no problem with their packet. I don't know how soon after an interview is kosher to contact a congressman. Maybe others will say how long they waited before they started calling.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-17 00:03:00
Middle East and North AfricaAP lengths
To all those that contacted their congressman after being put on AP...How long did you wait before contacting them? Do you think it makes the Consulate mad when you get your congressman involved? I'm worried they would delay our case even longer or am I being paranoid? unsure.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-21 01:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaSo is there any real rhyme or reason to AP?
QUOTE (spectheintro @ Dec 18 2009, 09:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My senator's been involved for a while now, so in the event of AR I'm not waiting at all--I will call that day and see if my case worker can get any traction while I am still in the UAE. The Senator's writing me a letter of introduction and I hope that helps, but I just don't know. It bothers me that I can't cover these bases--I would have gladly gone to each govt. agency and initiated the name checks myself if I knew that would help. I completely respect the US's desire to keep itself safe, and don't think that looking into my wife's background is unreasonable. I do think it's unreasonable to not better coordinate it so that this process is quick and transparent. There's no reason to not have an ETA; this is all computerized now.


The intro letter from your senator was a good idea. Let us know if it helped.
I agree about needing an ETA. We have to give our landlord a months notice or risk losing part or all of our deposit which amounts to two months rent and would more than cover one of our plane tickets home. But since they won't give an ETA, notice is impossible.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-18 04:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaSo is there any real rhyme or reason to AP?
QUOTE (Elham @ Dec 17 2009, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I believe they make up their minds before the interview!



I do too. It says on the Ankara embassy website that most Iranian applicants will have to go through some additional AP. I suspect that maybe they are told to put a certain percentage on AP. So maybe they just randomly assign AP til they fill their quota.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-17 09:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaSo is there any real rhyme or reason to AP?
I think they have a dart board in back with case numbers on it and when they throw the dart and miss they decide to put you on AP. dry.gif

Seriously, maybe the consular staff are being instructed to dole out AP more often due to the economy. I don't know. Our interview resulted in AP in Ankara and I suppose we should be happy because all of the Iranians ahead of us got AP and some got an RFE or a denial. They just told us there was some additional processing necessary. My husband has a rare name so it isn't name check, the CO didn't have any problems with our paperwork or co-sponsor and didn't doubt our relationship. There are no red flags in our relationship. We are the same age and educational level. We have both lived together for a little over 2 years and will have been married for a year the day after christmas. I even included a letter from my parents saying they are aware of our relationship and that we will be staying with them initially. Still we got AP.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-17 00:15:00
Middle East and North AfricaTanya and Mohamed no more!
QUOTE (Shal @ Dec 11 2009, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I haven't read all of this but lordy it's sickening hearing u repeat "my daughter is arab....my daughter is moroccan." I'm american with 2 kids from the same dad who is algerian. They know it, EVERYONE knows it. But THEY are .....gasp.....american!!!!! and proud of it. For the love of god. what is ur point in always bringing this up???? if ur kids weree born here ther are americans!!!!!


good.gif Many people have been wondering the same thing.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-12-11 02:23:00
Middle East and North Africahave to complain
Personally, I think the OP is in the wrong for sticking her nose in other people's business. Nobody likes a busybody.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2010-05-02 08:13:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
Did anyone get family members to write a letter stating that they are aware of their relationship and can't wait for the happy couple to be together in the US? I was wondering if it would help to take such a letter to the interview or if it would look silly. If it will help I'll do it, but if it will just make me look like an overgrown child with a field-trip permission slip from mommy then I'd rather not. blush.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-27 00:08:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
QUOTE (morocco4ever @ Oct 23 2009, 05:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Remind him that the employees there he is trying to impress are American's, not Iranians. tongue.gif

This reminds me of the first time I flew out to meet my husband. He wore a suit to the airport. He was so nervous when he met me it was way funny. We get a good laugh about it now.


Yeah, me personally, I would wear jeans and a polo shirt. Over the summer when I went to the consulate to get some papers, I wore cargo shorts and a t-shirt and he thought I was crazy to go in dressed like that. blush.gif My dad said he is mailing my husband a navy blue polo shirt with a little American flag on it so I'm thinking I might have him wear that with the khaki pants in case I get a chance to mention to the CO that it was a gift from my dad.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-23 10:47:00