ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
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
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
QUOTE (morocco4ever @ Oct 23 2009, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Personally I think a suit is overkill. My hubby is asleep right now or I would ask him what the others wore, but I am sure he wore jeans and a nice shirt.

Thanks. That's what I think as well but my husband says that Iranians view it as a big deal and usually wear suits. He actually thinks they won't let him in if he isn't dressed snazzy enough. blush.gif laughing.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-23 06:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
I'm just curious if people dress up for the embassy interview? I'm planning on wearing a skirt, blouse and leggings. I've picked out a button up shirt, navy blue sweater and khaki pants for my husband but he seems to think he should wear a suit and tie like he's going to a job interview.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-23 03:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
Oh, for the love of Bob would someone please answer this woman!? She's starting to talk to herself. Help her FFS. tongue.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-22 14:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
Well, I would think Mr. Wellgroomed would have an easier time going through security/customs than Boris Badenov. I say wax it. But that's just me. tongue.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-23 02:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA CR1/K3/K1 visas PART2
QUOTE (childress_london @ Sep 17 2009, 05:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ohhhh a PART2! star_smile.gif

My husband received his passport with the visa in the mail today! We are so excited! Now I just wish ticket prices would come down as I want to fly to him in Canada on the 26th and come back with him to the U.S. the next day on the 27th. I am still in shock and can't believe he has it!

Hang in there everyone who is still waiting. Your day WILL come!


Congrats!
Hmmm. So it took 7 months for him to get the K3 visa. I wonder if we will get ours that quick doing DCF... Hope so.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-09-16 22:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaMENA men say the darndest things....
To my husband there is no top to the box, lid to the tupperware or cap to the bottle. Everything is a door as in, "Where is the door to this pot so I can make rice?" Then after correcting him for the umpteenth time, I left the refrigerator door open and he informed me that I left the lid to the refrigerator open. wink.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-12 05:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (childress_london @ Apr 12 2009, 08:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Noooo...why is he going to get rid of the unibrow? My hubby has one and I love it. :-)



I like the plucked eyebrow look myself. Whenever I see a guy with a uni-brow I think they look like a cartoon bad guy.

But hey, if they keep the uni-brow then they are half-way to the Boris Badenov look come Halloween. laughing.gif

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-04-12 05:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo we need a co-sponsor?
Thanks a bunch. good.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-20 14:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDo we need a co-sponsor?
Is a co-sponsor really necessary? We will do the DCF from Dubai. I (the American) have been living and working abroad for 4 yrs. now. Do wages earned abroad count toward the proof of ability to support? If not then I guess we will have to have a co-sponsor. But does the co-sponsor have to be in the U.S.? And can his relatives already in the U.S. be our co-sponsor or does it have to be my relatives?
helpsmilie.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-20 13:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage abroad?
Thanks Nutty. It really takes two weeks just to get the paperwork done? I guess we won't get to sightsee outside of Bangkok.

My fiance kind of wants to get married in Istanbul since he thinks the paperwork would be less of a hassle there.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-25 16:19:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage abroad?
Thanks all.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-20 12:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage abroad?
whistling.gif

Ok, I found the answer:

In this circumstance, the U.S. citizen
marries the foreign fiance (either in the
foreign fiance's country, in the US, or in a third country...the location does not
matter as long as it is a legal marriage)
and applies DIRECTLY through the
foreign U.S. consulate for the spousal
visa.

But has anyone married in Thailand? Is it difficult to get the paperwork done on a 2 week vacation?
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-20 06:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMarriage abroad?
My fiance and I live in Dubai but we would like to marry and honeymoon in Thailand.
Marrying in the UAE would be a problem for us as it is a muslim country and there are strange rules and i've always dreamed of marrying someplace exotic like Thailand anyway.

1. Would this be a problem if we want to do Direct Consular Filing from Dubai, UAE where we have residency or do you have to apply from the country in which you marry, ie: (Thailand)? We would be in Thailand on a visit visa when we marry. After about two weeks we would return to Dubai where we live and work.

2. Has anyone else gotten married in a country other than the one in which they have residency?

blink.gif
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-20 06:35:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarriage or wait 4 fiancee visa??
Oh, yeah I forgot. That is true. Maybe Jessie should just visit the UK forum and take a peek at the time-lines of the British people that applied for fiance as opposed to marriage visas to decide which is quicker/better.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-07-11 05:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarriage or wait 4 fiancee visa??
I would get married and do DCF. Since you are from the UK it is possible that DCF might just take you 3-6 months. Also, you would be entering as a immigrant and would receive your Social Security card & Greencard quicker and would be able to start working much sooner.

When you enter on a fiance visa then you have to get married within 90 days and afterwards apply to adjust status and it would take longer before you would be able to start working. It can sometimes cause a strain on a relationship when one person is unemployed and being supported by the other for some months.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-07-11 04:44:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresNovember Visa Interviews
Good luck. Be sure to update us after the interview and let us know how it went and what questions they asked.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-10-29 06:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWife got her visa... Can she work when she comes over now?
QUOTE (Malrothien @ Nov 9 2009, 07:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
CR1 = Less than two years of marriage, requires removal of conditions, 2 year green card



Am I correct in assuming that one removes conditions 2 years after arriving stateside? How does one go about removing conditions? Do they send you something when the greencard is about to expire or do we have to keep track and make an appt. at the local USCIS office?
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-11-09 04:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat do you prepare for before the interview?
You might take copies of all the documents you sent them just in case they lost something. You might not need it but I always think it is better to be prepared.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-11-14 03:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresProving Domicile if we don't live in America
Yes they mean the USC when they say the sponsor needs to prove domicile. I'm doing DCF and I sent a copy of a bank statement from a US bank that I have used since I was 17, an explanation that I have always used my parents mailing address as my permanent address during the time I've lived abroad, a letter from my parents stating that we will be staying with them upon our return and a copy of my GRE test results showing intent to apply for Grad Schools in the US. They basically need an address to be able to mail the greencard to. Including moving quotes, etc. would be good to add as well.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-11-21 07:40:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCost of medical exam in Ankara, Turkey!
My husband had his medical done at the American Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey and it cost 306 Turkish lira. That is about $200. We are doing DCF for the CR1 visa so we had to pay $355 when we sent in the I130 packet and an additional $400 at the Interview in Ankara.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2010-01-21 07:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my fiancee stay outside of the US during the K1 process ?
You must have a US address to file an I-130 or I-129F.

Your best bet would have been to marry before you left Dubai and file for a CR1 visa via Direct Consular filing. Coming back to the US, interrupted your Dubai residency so that option is dead. Since you're here now, I'd just get the petition filed for the I-129F and then you can go back to Dubai for the balance of the process as long as somebody will receive and forward your mail.

Again, you still have the public charge concerns to deal with, either with assets or co-sponsor.
[/quote]

I will use my parents address as my US address as they've lived the same place since I was a kid. And I will get a relative in the states to be a co-sponsor, probly an uncle.

I really want to return to Dubai to be with my fiance. We just can't bare to be apart. If it means we spend longer in Dubai I guess we have to do that and I will go back to working in Dubai.

Are you sure I can't just classify this as a visit home and have the 6 months I was in Dubai count?
sad.gif

Direct Consular Filing seems to be faster than either the Fiance or Spousal Visa so that's what we want to do.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-18 14:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my fiancee stay outside of the US during the K1 process ?
She can come and stay if your country will let her but will need to deal with the public charge concerns in some way, either assets or co-sponsor. Using co-sponsors successfully is less likely in some countries. Please fill in your timeline and profile so we can answer more effectively.
[/quote]


Thanks. I was living in Dubai with my fiance for 6 months. I came back to the states thinking I had to to file for the fiance visa. Now we still don't know which is best: Me staying here and applying for the fiance visa. Or me going back to Dubai so we can get married and file for the Spousal visa and stay together while we wait. Which is best. We want to be together but we don't want this to drag out for a year or more.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-18 13:41:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresCan my fiancee stay outside of the US during the K1 process ?
Let me explain our situation. We aren't married yet. We were living together in Dubai. I'm American, he's originally from Iran though he's currently in Dubai.

2 1/2 months ago I returned to the U.S. We haven't decided which is best: Should I stay in the US and apply for a K1-Fiance visa for him or should I return to Dubai and marry him and apply for the K3-Spouse Visa? Which is better/faster?
Both say that I have to be in the US and he has to be in the country where he has residency while we wait? Why is that?

Can't I go back to Dubai and work and save money while we wait for his visa to be approved? It is very hard for us to be apart. Not to mention it's a financial strain on the two of us. He has to struggle to pay rent on his own without me there working and helping out and i've come to the states where unemployment is high and I can't find work so I just stay with my parents. It would be so much better if I could return to Dubai so we can be together and I can work and save money.

Also, how will I prove that I can support my Fiance when i'm unemployed and he's going broke due to how expensive Dubai is?
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-08-18 07:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAm i allowed to go to the USA to visit my husband??
QUOTE
I think some consulates/countries do discourage any visiting during an immigrant visa application which is why some people here are convinced it's not possible.

Fair enough, thanks for point that out wink.gif

QUOTE (Princess In Love @ Jan 12 2009, 08:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
thankyou all for your replies....i think i'd better wait , i don't want to ask for a visa and get denied and have problems later for the cr-1 interview

I think that's your best bet. Get your hubby over to you...! Good luck with everything.
DeeBeeMale02009-01-12 09:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAm i allowed to go to the USA to visit my husband??
My apologies, I meant your husband, not fiance wink.gif
DeeBeeMale02009-01-12 06:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAm i allowed to go to the USA to visit my husband??
QUOTE (Princess In Love @ Jan 12 2009, 05:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
the repliers are really confusing unsure.gif still didn't get a clear answer

Sorry, the simple answer is no, you cannot visit your fiance while your application is pending. Be it justified or not, visiting the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa while an immigrant visa is pending is not allowed. Doing so would force the immigration officer to assume you are going to say "screw it" and stay there.

Separation is the worst part of the application process, but we've all been through it (or are going through it). Convince your fiance to visit you instead smile.gif
DeeBeeMale02009-01-12 06:50:00
CanadaOT question
I'd suggest a male cat as they are more sociable than female cats. Otherwise, for apartment living a small dog is best. If you don't like small dogs like miniature Poodles then go for a bulldog. You can train dogs to go on newspaper laid on the kitchen or bathroom floor when inside.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-10-24 06:36:00
CanadaHas any one on the forum taken the GRE?
I just took the GRE 3 months ago and found it rather difficult. I'd recommend getting the newest Study Guide. I used the one put out by the Princeton Review since everyone told me it was the best. Different schools expect different scores but you'll want to make at least 1000. The test is computer adaptive and time based so you don't really get enough time to read the questions and answer. The first 10 questions count more than the last 10 in each section so you want to focus on accuracy early on in each test section and then worry about selecting b or c when you start running out of time towards the end. You get your basic score automatically at the end of the test but you will have to wait to receive your essay test scores as they are graded at a later time. Your GRE Score is just one aspect schools look at. They will also take into account your Undergrad GPA, any study abroad experiences, other languages you know and/or membership in various organizations, etc.


Link to GRE Information...
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-10-29 09:44:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
I guess that was the wrong term to use. I certainly wasn't thinking socialist in the USSR sense. I was thinking more along the lines of the Social democracy/Welfare state that Norway has. But I don't think Canada is quite the cradle to the grave welfare state to the extreme extent that Norway is.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-16 09:54:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
CODE
The medical bills are eating us alive with 5 kids.


Wow, 5 kids. You'd definitely be better off in a socialist country with 5 kids. Myself, I don't want any children and Hoom says that's fine with him. So that's one less responsibility/expense to worry about. It doesn't look like we would be able to immigrate to Canada based on the points system so for better or worse we will have to make it in America. At least it will be better for us than Dubai. Then in the future, who knows...maybe we'll retire early to Mexico where it's cheaper and we can live on the beach to relax after a stressful work-life.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-16 06:14:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
Thanks for the advice everyone. I doubt we would go to Canada. I want to get my Masters in Library Science and be a University Librarian when we make it to the states. That would be a position where I'd get decent vacation, pay and benefits so I suppose things will work out ok. It's just been hard on me to adjust to the Dubai lifestyle after being in Germany and Norway since Dubai is even more stressful than the states. I'm sure Hoom will find IT work in the states somewhere. Regardless of where we go we'll be paid better, work fewer hours and have more government benefits than we do here. Not paying taxes isn't all it's made out to be.

QUOTE (Reba @ Nov 14 2008, 08:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Labour Laws in the 2 countries vary greatly. In the US the laws side more with the corporations than the workers IMO, in Canada its a bit the other way around (unless of course you're in a unioned occupation, then its basically the same either side of the border.) I'm hoping things with regards to work culture will improve more.

Salaries for the grunts IMO are generally a bit higher in Canada than in the US, but then cost of living is a bit higher in Canada too. It's the same in Europe for lower positions being better paying.

Culturally, Canada is more open minded (generally speaking of course, there are small minded bigots everywhere, including Canada) and liberal than the US. Canada is multi-cultural, where you're encouraged to keep your native culture, whereas the US is a melting pot, and you are encourage to assmiliate to the US way of things. Again, sounds like northern Europe only they expect you to go home at some point which is why there's no push to assimilate there. I'm actually from the deep south so I find even the northern US to be more open and light years ahead of the south so that's why i'm looking to move to the northwestern US.

I will point out that if your relative decides to immigrate to Quebec, and later sponsor her family to immigrate there as well, they will be expected to be fluent in French. If they're not, AFAIK, they will not be accepted by Quebec immigration. Any other province in Canada however doesn't care what language you speak, as long as you have a working knowledge of English and/or French. Immgiration laws to Quebec are different than the rest of the country, as are language laws.


My fiance's sister is already completely fluent in French and is studying in Paris on full scholarship. Before she even left Iran she translated an entire book from French into Farsi. She just doesn't want to stay in Paris due to the expense and she thinks the lifestyle is better in Canada. They also already have an uncle in Canada. Their father and brother don't speak French though so I guess they would run into problems.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-15 01:41:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
That's true I guess. Hopefully my fiance and I will get enough vacation time to visit his family no matter where they end up. We just have to move where ever the IT jobs are which probly means the Northwestern US.

Edited by Hoomsfuturewife, 14 November 2008 - 01:07 PM.

Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-14 13:03:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
I don't know about CT, but I've heard of Massachusetts referred to as Taxachusetts. tongue.gif

Would you guys say your standard of living has gone down since you don't get back as much from the taxes you pay in the states?

Don't get me wrong, compared to Dubai the US looks great. I'll never complain about the taxes I have to pay again because I see what I get back from it, even in the states. I think one problem in the US is we have too many people. The larger the population the harder it is to care for everyone like a couple with 8 kids instead of just 2. Norway has an easy time since they have a pretty homogeneous population of less than 5 million and are sitting on a payload of oil. I just prefer a safer, more laid back work to live lifestyle. Of course you can have that in small cities in the US, you just have to take whatever job is available and deal with the religious nutters.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-14 12:24:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
For now are plans are just to go to the states in 1 yr. Hopefully things will improve in the economy. We're living in Dubai right now actually. I must say the financial crisis is pretty global at this point. Europe is in recession and it's begun to affect the UAE as well. My fiance's sister is currently working on her Master's in French in Paris. Once she graduates she plans on trying to immigrate to Quebec. If she's able to do that then she will bring their father and younger brother over if possible. My fiance is a Web Developer so that is something that's in demand even now in the US and Northern Europe. It just seems like the quality of life is better in northern Europe and Canada from what I hear. I'm not sure my fiance could handle the cold but I dealt with it in Norway for 2 yrs. so I know what to expect. Do you really pay the same amount in taxes in the states as you did in Canada? It doesn't seem worth it since you don't get as much back for your taxes in the states. I wish things would change in the states with regards to health coverage and vacation time. To be honest you work considerably more in Dubai and there are no social services but at least you can get 28 days vacation.

I'm sure we'll probly just end up in Colorado or Seattle, WA but I just want to get an idea of what the difference is in salary, quality of life, etc. in case Canada becomes a valid option later on.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-14 12:02:00
CanadaLiving and working in Canada...
I'm getting worried about the economy in the states and wondering if it's ever going to turn around. So I thought I might think about a move to Canada later on if the US continues it's downward spiral since that's where my fiance's family will immigrate to later on.

I've been to Alberta on vacation and I realize that Canada is more socialist but I thought some Canuck's could give more insight on what the worklife is like. Do Canucks live to work like Americans or are there more worker's rights there? I've lived in Germany and Norway so would you say it compares to their system? I realize that Canucks will take the piss out of me for being American but I want my husband to have a nice life since he's had a bit of a hard time in the ME.

What would you consider to be the pros and cons of life in Canada? I realize the weather would be a minus as that was Norway's drawback too.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-14 09:18:00
CanadaA Canadian/US baby
Congrats on the Canuckican. It usually only takes 2-4 weeks for Americans to get a passport.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2008-11-18 07:24:00
CanadaIf You Could Choose to Live in Any State, Which Would You Choose???
In order of preference:

1. Colorado
2. Montana
3. Wyoming
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-08-22 04:24:00
CanadaBridezilla Update...(I think I'm OK posting this here...)
Any new Bridezilla sightings? blush.gif unsure.gif



Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-11-08 11:46:00
CanadaOff Topic Part Trois
QUOTE (Malrothien @ Nov 25 2009, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My MIL was a politician in Canada and there are major issues with chauvinism and ignorance towards women here in BC. There are very few female politicians, too.


Thanks for the reply. I thought Canada might be more progressive. I'm happy to at least be married to a man that is very liberal, progressive and sympathetic towards feminists since it always angered him to see how his mother, sister and female friends were treated in Iran. Being with my husband will make it easier but I just don't know how I'm going to cope with the south at this point in my life after having lived in Germany and Norway.
Der BücherwurmFemaleIran2009-11-25 01:24:00