ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaAddressing possible red flags in i-130 -- EGYPT
I was pregnant my entire last year of nursing school, four months after my husband arrived and we married. It was...interesting to say the least. It certainly helped make things crazy that first year. Wouldn't advise it anyways.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-17 01:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaAddressing possible red flags in i-130 -- EGYPT
That's all well and good, but that consulate is going to chew you up and spit you out in all likelihood. But maybe not.

Edited by Kathryn41, 16 February 2013 - 11:46 PM.
edited to remove inappropriate image

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-16 22:59:00
Middle East and North AfricaAddressing possible red flags in i-130 -- EGYPT
i'd like to hear more about this photo clock, and how i can go about getting in on that awesomeness.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-16 13:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaHelp help help please
Congratulations! Your hard work and preparation paid off. I completely agree about "front loading" Casablanca with lots of evidence before the interview. It's a thing there.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-22 22:47:00
Middle East and North AfricaDo we need a sticky for newbies?

That was one of the Top 10 Most Outrageous MENA Messes of All Time ! The consulates have access to the beneficiary's official marriage and divorce records in the foreign country, so it was absolutely moronic of that guy to try to fudge on that - they could instantly see it didn't match what was on record.

I have wondered what happened to that petitioner. Her whole case was full of humongous screaming red flags from the beginning, and it just kept getting worse and worse. After hearing many additional appalling details in PM (this was way before the interview when all was revealed !) I tried to tactfully tell her that things weren't adding up and none of the guy's stories made sense, but she just got defensive and angry. She eventually stormed out of VJ in a huff, posting once of those memorable Dramatic Forum Farewells, flaming just about everyone for having any doubts about the guy's sincerity. Last I heard, she was trying to orchestrate a move for both of them to some 3rd country... somehow, I doubt that happened.

Anyway, this is an all-too common reaction when a love-struck newbie arrives in the MENA forum, gushes out a story which is blaring all the classic markers of fraud, and the MENA regulars point out that it don't smell right.

There was Expats spillover too where even more sordid details were revealed, for what purpose I do not know :(
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-22 18:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaDo we need a sticky for newbies?

Kristen - na, I don't think so.

Instead, how about a viewable sticky for cell phone users?

I mention that, as all FAQ-related stuff can be found in the advanced search tool here, and folk using a cell phone browser see a different 'landscape' of VJ, where the advanced search tool just isn't viewable.

On my handphone, all I do for an advanced search is just tap the little "full screen version" hyperlink that's on the bottom of every vj page when viewed from previously mentioned handphone. It admittedly sucks, and is hard to see, but doable.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-22 18:17:00
Middle East and North AfricaDo we need a sticky for newbies?
As a not newbie I've seen crazy women asking for advice on how to steal their MENA husband's child away from their custodial mother in Egypt, a woman find out her husband is actually married to another woman besides herself, whose nieces and nephews were actually his own spawn and somehow this is the consular officer's fault, and mother/daughter US citizens hook up with MENA brothers. So pardon my cynicism, because that's just the tip of the iceberg.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-20 02:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaDo we need a sticky for newbies?
Part of it's differing senses of humor too.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-19 13:18:00
Middle East and North AfricaWould love some MENA advice for my K-1 post
It sounds like you got a lot of really sound advice there. I guess you could send him with some kind of affidavit at the interview detailing your typo, but even that is probably way overkill. Did you include any 2006 evidence despite accidentally typing 2007?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-26 13:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaWeather in Morocco in the spring
Well it depends where you'll be. Ouarzazate is probably going to be warmer than Casablanca, etc. I've been to Casablanca in March and May, and it was mid 60s in March, low 70s in May. Laayoune was a lot warmer both times, like in the 80s. Maybe google average temps in the places you'll be, in what months?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-20 19:00:00
Middle East and North AfricaSome advice
Seconding the driving school, OMG, yes.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-14 23:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaSome advice
is he being too hard on himself? even without the enormous ####### you guys went through with the consulate and everything, it's hard to get used to being married, living together, and living in a brand new, very different place. does he fully admit this to himself, and view his current position in the proper context? is he viewing where he should be, after having arrived here only nine months ago, with completely unrealistic and self-defeating expectations? that would depress anyone. there are big societal things, big family things, and smaller personal issues all at play here, all combining to make him miserable. some of those things are completely and totally out of his control, and despairing over them won't get him anywhere. they just are. but plenty of other things he can control, and actively work towards achieving changes he wants. those achievements are helpful in gaining acceptance, and living at peace with the things he can't change or eliminate.

Edited by sandinista!, 13 February 2013 - 09:14 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-13 21:13:00
Middle East and North AfricaAnyone had a home visit by Homeland security?
One was Sussemadel I think, after her husband had arrived? They came at like 6 am?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-12 13:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaAnyone had a home visit by Homeland security?

Redonkulous I tell ya :hehe:

Sarcasm will get you everywhere when dealing with the ignorant.

I've gotten ####### in years past about Sandinista! too. But I named myself after The Clash album and not the Central American revolutionaries.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-11 20:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaAnyone had a home visit by Homeland security?
Whatevs- all the big time terrorist groups are openly on VJ, posting under said terrorist group names totally nonchalantly...
Good grief. If one wishes to be the big, bad VJ tough talker, it would probably help to have a goddam clue first.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-11 10:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaEGYPT Marriage/Divorce
I've no idea, but I bet there will be someone along shortly to answer. Props though for wanting to learn about this before getting married, so you're fully aware what you're doing. Many people don't bother. I hope you never have to use the information, but it's smart to be as well informed as possible.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-14 01:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaEgypt warns giving women some rights could destroy society
When will silly, backwards and feeble brained brown people just accept the fact that (usually)white, American, supposed liberals have it all figured out and know what's best for everyone on the planet? Their way or the highway oldahmed, their way or the highway.
Anything else means, zomg Saudi Arabia and Iran, duuuhhh.

Edited by sandinista!, 19 March 2013 - 12:22 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-19 12:21:00
Middle East and North AfricaProxy Weddings valid for K1?

For an American that sounds pretty strange but for Yemeni families, as I'm sure you know, it's perfectly normal and acceptable. The OP is Yemeni as is the fiance/husband to be. The only thing I'm confused about is this talk of a K1 when clearly the OP is talking about marriage.

Kind of OT but my oldest son is approaching the age where his dad is talking to him about marriage (he's almost 17). He has informed his father that he is not interested in marrying a girl from Yemen, in fact he is not interested in marrying an Arab girl at all. His father is none too pleased. Personally, I think it's WAY too early to be talking marriage at this point anyways. In fact, it bothers me to be honest but I do understand that it's pretty normal, culturally speaking.

I am having a hard enough time reconciling that that sweet little baby faced boy of yours is almost 17, much less that he would be even remotely close to even talking about marriage, lol! :)

Edited by sandinista!, 25 March 2013 - 06:36 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-25 18:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaPlanning Ahead to Marry Algerian Man
yeah, the issue isn't about bolding, italics, or even fonts!
you came on here and told people in interfaith marriages that basically if their husband hasn't expected or believed that they'll become muslims too, then said muslim husbands don't "truly practice[s] Islam values and traditions".
what you said was totally generalized, (edited to remove inappropriate comment)

Edited by Kathryn41, 29 March 2013 - 08:05 AM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-28 14:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaPlanning Ahead to Marry Algerian Man
T-minus zero until Kat shows up and out Algerias everyone.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-27 17:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow can I divorce a man married in Morocco, but I am USA
Anything to do with unresolved mahr and other issues pertaining to the Moroccan marriage contract would probably have to be dealt with in Morocco though I imagine. (if any of these things are relevant to the OP) Also would definitely have to resolve things in Morocco if you wanted to remarry a Moroccan in the future.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-29 21:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaApproval in Casablanca
Cheers, that's wonderful news! I'm so happy for you guys.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-17 20:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarrant issued for "Egypt's Jon Stewart
Court drops lawsuit against 'Egypt's Jon Stewart'

(Photo: Amr Nabil, AP)
CAIRO (AP) ? A Cairo court turned down on Saturday a suit filed by a Muslim Brotherhood lawyer demanding that a popular Egyptian satirist's TV show be banned for allegedly insulting the president and excessive sexual innuendo.

Judge Hassouna Tawfiq said that the lawsuit against Bassem Youssef's "El-Bernameg," or "The Program," was dropped because the plaintiff did not have an interest in the case.

Youssef ? known as Egypt's Jon Stewart ? frequently satirizes President Mohammed Morsi. Morsi hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's best-organized political force.

Chief Brotherhood lawyer Abdel-Moneim Maqsoud told The Associated Press that plaintiff Mahmoud Abul-Enein brought forth the case on his own, without involving the Islamist group.

There have been multiple complaints filed in courts and to state prosecutors by Islamist lawyers against Youssef and other public figures for their political or religious opinions.

Opposition groups and activists say such lawsuits against public figures are part of a wider campaign to intimidate critics in deeply polarized Egypt.

Youssef was interrogated this week in a separate case for allegedly insulting Islam and the country's leader, questioning that drew criticism from Washington and rights advocates.

The president's office said it was not involved in the investigation, and that it recognizes the "importance of freedom of expression."

Brotherhood lawyer Mahmoud Abul-Enein filed the suit demanding the suspension of the license of the private satellite TV channel, the Capital Broadcasting Center, which broadcasts the show. He claimed Youssef's program "corrupted morals" and violated "religious principles."

Undeterred by the charges against him, Youssef was back on the air Friday poking new fun at the international publicity he received after lampooning the Egyptian president.

"Not everything has to be about the president. This isn't fear. I am not pulling back," he said on the show.

Youssef then said sarcastically that after his visit to the attorney general, he had decided not to talk on the show about Morsi ? just the attorney general. The television audience erupted in applause and laughter.

Then Youssef spent a good part of his show ridiculing both the attorney general and the president.

Responding to a member of Morsi's Brotherhood party who said in a news clip that Youssef only focuses on the Islamist group and the president, he joked: "They are not two things. They are one."

It was a way of mocking the president's insistence that his policy decisions are made independent of the Brotherhood.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.usatoday....tewart/2058527/

So it's all over? Probably not.

Edited by sandinista!, 06 April 2013 - 11:51 AM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-06 11:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarrant issued for "Egypt's Jon Stewart
Actually, "the talk" was in reference to the commenters after I posted, which up until now, did not include you.
And as long as I see people who ought to know better write ridiculous, condescending Arab or MENA generalizations that are completely bonkers, I see fit to comment on the absurdity. This is not exclusive to you by any means Olivia, but you sure provide a lot of fodder. Being the "mysterious white western wife, delivering the raw news" and all.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-31 18:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarrant issued for "Egypt's Jon Stewart
There's probably some MENA people that need to have the "concept of sarcasm talk" with their "western" SO.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-31 14:53:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarrant issued for "Egypt's Jon Stewart
Yeah, no. It's well documented in the annals of neuroscience that Arabs need white peoples in western countries to explain their own comedians and satirists to them.

Thanks for the shared Zach de la Rocha chuckle though-did he still have those ratty dreads then?
Shelley quotes are always good too. Since this is an Egyptian related thread, someone should probably post Ozymandias in full.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-31 12:25:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarrant issued for "Egypt's Jon Stewart
I don't know the first thing about him, though it would probably take me nanoseconds to get what he's all about, what with my amazing western mastery of understanding satire, but I do appreciate that the man showed up to the high court today sporting a giant hat. Satirically. I'm sure it was way over the heads of all the Egyptians gathered there though, this funny, satirical hat...
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-31 04:34:00
Middle East and North AfricaWarrant issued for "Egypt's Jon Stewart
Oh those Arabs with their silly pride and satire incomprehension. Thank God for westerners willing to explain an Egyptian comedian/satirist to the bulk of his intended audience, lost as they were without westerners and their mad satire comprehension skills.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-03-31 04:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaNew thread for April
That sounds lovely, happy building!
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-04 22:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaNew thread for April
i hid a package of sea salt caramels from ayah, after the last eid, and i still can't remember where i put them.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-03 19:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaNew thread for April

I been reading online about her sickness and why she eats so much chocolate. I can't understand a word they say to be honest. She just says just enjoy this time jalal . She gonna shoot me tonight, I thought I be nice and buy her m&m's and hide five bags in toaster oven, I forgot, turned on oven to heat bread, melted everything.

i wept, reading this. you may have earned yourself a ban from the kitchen with this one!
(i've tried to hide a box of donuts from my kids once, by putting it in the oven, and then forgot and heated the oven up :( )
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-03 18:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaNew thread for April
Wow, congratulations! X3!
Have you filed for AOS and/or an EAD yet?
Have you read this thread yet?
http://www.visajourn...without-an-ead/
If not, you should :)
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-03 16:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaAlgerian Members
Mehdali--the important question is what language do you and your fiancé speak to each other in, communicate by letter, or email or messaging in?
If it's English you guys communicate in, your fiancé is going to have a tough time proving you guys have a legitimate relationship if he decides to have his interview in French and can't or won't have the interview in English. But say you guys have always fluently spoke French when communicating with each other- in that case, no one at the consulate cares if your fiancé can speak English or not then. I have never heard of French speaking couples denied for their exclusive French speaking, ever. English fluency helps in lots of things here, after having moved to the US, but is not a universal requirement.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-17 09:15:00
Middle East and North AfricaA US Citizen in CASABLANCA consulate :(
I had to wait 10 extra minutes longer than the lady quoted me to pick up my Thai food tonight. The horror, the outrage! Life is full of annoying waits, it's true.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-12 21:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaA US Citizen in CASABLANCA consulate :(

It is there in middle of her first post

So it is. And yet, my total reading fail still remains less ridiculous than a rant about a MENA AP that's been 10 days(!).
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-12 09:22:00
Middle East and North AfricaA US Citizen in CASABLANCA consulate :(
Duh WOM, why didn't you know some rude person at the consulate told her to go back to the states and go to school? And don't try and use the fact that it was NEVER MENTIONED BEFORE IN THE FIRST PLACE as some kind of lame excuse...
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-04-12 08:40:00
Middle East and North AfricaMy MIL died
I am so terribly sorry for your family's loss, and the increased stress, and guilt, and other conflicted feelings that are exacerbated in situations where one lives so far away from the majority of their family. I hope and pray your family finds some comfort, peace, and solace.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-06-02 22:06:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
Resident card, you should be good to go to Morocco.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-11 01:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
that is hands down one of the best compliments i've ever gotten! thank you!
strangely enough, i was totally at this weird and sad and emotional place too when i took it, and my hand me down, ancient iphone was somehow able to capture it. awesome.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-09 19:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
February in Portlandia

Posted Image
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-07 16:58:00