Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	K3 processing time with/without K4 for children	I will be filing for a K3 visa for my spouse, and am not sure whether to file for his young children at the same time... His girls are young and we do not anticipate bringing them here for a few years (they live with their mother). Does anyone know if we file for them now (K4), while filing his I-129f, will that slow his processing time? K3 with K4 added takes the same time as K3 alone!! Thanks! That is wonderful news.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-20 16:58:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	K3 processing time with/without K4 for children	I will be filing for a K3 visa for my spouse, and am not sure whether to file for his young children at the same time... His girls are young and we do not anticipate bringing them here for a few years (they live with their mother). Does anyone know if we file for them now (K4), while filing his I-129f, will that slow his processing time?	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-20 16:20:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Opnions? K1, K4, or CR-1?	Thank you for your response Mary. I thought with the CR-1 his travel is restricted for 2 years... which was my biggest concern. It would kill me if something came up with his family and he wasn't granted permission to travel home. Patience and understanding. Yes, I need to work hard on this one. Hard not to get angry with my govt. How often do you get to see your SO? I am sorry to say I have not seen him since returning in January 2005. I have two kids and my oldest has to have surgery every 6 months. He is going to have major surgery again on June 1st. We thought he would of been here by now. But we talk daily on the web one hour and he has bought a cam so we do cam to cam chats. I call him daily at his goodnight time. He calls me daily at my gm time. We limit the time of the calls and then two times a week we have long calls 20 to 40 mins in length. We just take it one day at a time and know in time we will be blessed. Mary Ugh, wow, you have some patience!! Best of luck with your son's next surgery!!!! Your story should help me find more patience!!! I need to get my SO set up with a computer so we can chat more that way. Right now we're using calling cards/cell phone. Would be nice to be able to "see" him though. I will be headed over soon if all goes well. Can I take anything over for you? I'll be in ISB.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-21 10:14:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Opnions? K1, K4, or CR-1?	Danita, I will have to say I would go the CR1 route. It is so hard for a man coming on K1 or K3 from Pakistan and some of them are having hard time AOSing in the states. It does take a little longer but he will have his ss card, his work authorization and travel authorization. It would give him 21 months before he would have to remove or lift conditions. Some K1 and K3 are taking as long as the CR1. Depending on his name, job. education, and travels all take into play on how long it takes to get your husband here in the states. I think if you file the married visa your case is stronger but you are dealing with a T country and they are making it harder for us to bring our loved ones here. I think if you just tell yourself the journey will take some time, keep communications open with your husband and try to not stress of the times you will do fine. There does not seem to be any way to shorten the length of time your separated. And no two timelines coming out of Islamabad are they alike unless your bringing over a woman. Just go and marry him if you desire and get plenty of evidence to submit and pray for patience and understanding while dealing with this journey. Mary Thank you for your response Mary. I thought with the CR-1 his travel is restricted for 2 years... which was my biggest concern. It would kill me if something came up with his family and he wasn't granted permission to travel home. Patience and understanding. Yes, I need to work hard on this one. Hard not to get angry with my govt. How often do you get to see your SO?	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-21 08:56:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Opnions? K1, K4, or CR-1?	Just spent an hour reading more about each of your cases and now I'm all worried... So, I'd love to hear from each of you what you would suggest for my love and I. Should we go the K1 route, K3 route, or straight for the CR-1? Reading all the accounts what Paki men are going through, esp. with American (non-muslim) women are going through is making me sad and worried. If you were to start the process all over again, what would you do, what do you wish you had known? Thanks!!! Opps, that title was supposed to read "Opinions" not "Opnions" and K3 not K4 (better work on my typing and editing skills!!) it depends, are you engaged or married? engaged go with the K1, married K3, is your fiancee in the states already? We are engaged, but I am traveling to meet him soon, with the possibility of marrying there. No, he is not in the U.S. now. We tried to get him a visitors visa, but it was denied...	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-20 22:08:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Opnions? K1, K4, or CR-1?	Just spent an hour reading more about each of your cases and now I'm all worried... So, I'd love to hear from each of you what you would suggest for my love and I. Should we go the K1 route, K3 route, or straight for the CR-1? Reading all the accounts what Paki men are going through, esp. with American (non-muslim) women are going through is making me sad and worried. If you were to start the process all over again, what would you do, what do you wish you had known? Thanks!!! Opps, that title was supposed to read "Opinions" not "Opnions" and K3 not K4 (better work on my typing and editing skills!!) Edited by dlg, 20 April 2006 - 09:00 PM.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-20 20:57:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Hi everyone, Ali said his interview went well. They asked him questions and requested that he get a few more documents. I believe he has max. 25 days to return the new docs, then they said 45days to 1 mo. for approval (?). He chose to be interviewed in English and said they were very kind. Here are the questions he was asked: Where did you meet your fiance? How do you know her? How many times has she come to Pakistan? Where is she from in the United States? What she is doing (for work) in the United States? When were you engaged? Where were you engaged? Has she met your family? Do you have some pictures? When did she meet your family? How much time have you spend together? Where is your child living? When you are going to marry? So, he apparently needs to get another police certificate from his village - the one he gave them is not enough because it doesn't have a photo of him on it. He also has to get another divorce certificate from the civil authority in his home village. Not sure why what he presented wasn't sufficient... He said everyone was nice. They took a full set of fingerprints and had him pay his fee. He also said there were several others there, one guy and several women. He didn't know if anyone was approved that day or not. Best of luck to everyone. Hope this helps you getting ready for the interviews...	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2007-03-14 00:18:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Congratulations! Laney is right, you'll be there the same day as my fiance. Yes, you will need the medical at the interview. You can get it now, you don't have to wait till the week before. They suggest not getting it too early, so it doesn't expire before the whole process is over (it's good for 1 year). Are you in ISB area? If so, you and my fiance should get together and practice for the interview. He's been to the embassy a bunch so knows the proceedures too, if you have any questions. PM me and I'll put you two in touch. Thanks everybody and wishing me good luck i keep u post with my interview. There are two things i want to ask that in my interview appointment letter nothing is mentioned about medical just it is written dont bring your x-ray so it seems understood that i do my medical a week before my interview. Secondly i want to ask u about the visa fees. first it is written immigrant visa fees is 380 dollars and plus u had to pay 100 dollars. Moreover it is written k-1 fees is 100 dollars so tell me how much fees i had to pay it is 380 dollars or 100 dollars Pls help me on this as i had to give them exact amount and dont want to be confused about the fees i had to pay Please advice me	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2007-02-25 19:42:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Ali got a call from AMEX yesterday and got his interview date today!!!! March 13th. Yipee!!!! Good luck everyone else waiting. Hopefully our timeline will help you with estimates for your pending interviews...	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2007-01-27 09:58:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	It's been almost 9 months since we filed the I-129F petition and thanks to Allah, my husband finally got the K-3 visa just this morning!!! A million thanks to everyone who has helped answer questions here, especially Shon and Mary. Our case is proof that there is hope for the ladies waiting to be with their spouses. Our last name is incredibly common and it took about 5 full months from the interview date until he finally got the visa. Ironically, I just received my plane ticket to Pakistan in the mail because I was supposed to fly there next week to see him, for the first time in a year. It sure is funny how things work out sometimes. Now he can come here instead, Inshallah. Good luck to everyone who is still waiting to be reunited with their spouses and the best thing to do is keep the faith. CONGRATULATIONS!!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2007-01-26 23:41:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Hi Zaki, Congrajulations u got ur interview date and i m still waiting for my medical and interview date hope i get soon and if your comes in end of april mine surely be then end of May then as i send my packet 3.5 on 18 December. Wish u best of luck for your interview and hope u get your visa soon Hi Faal4anisa, We are still waiting for an interview date as well. Our packet 3.5 arrived back at the embassy on Dec. 8th. The embassy told us earlier this to check back in 3 more weeks. Arghhh!!!! I didn't realize there would be such a delay between submittal and being given a date for the interview. Is this typical for K1's? Let me know when they give you a date. Best of luck.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2007-01-25 20:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Well it's been a week and the new duplicate packet has still not arrived yet. I can't believe that the Embassy is taking so long.. it's unbeliveable. So many delays and we haven't even got the right packet. I will send a follow up email today to the embassy. Hopefully they respond. I'm sure with the holidays it is taking longer. Best of luck, hopefully it's soon! Let me know if you have any questions once you get it. We should be finding out Ali's interview date any day now...	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2007-01-03 14:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	UPDATE: Ok well I emailed the consulate and they told asked me about the color of the booklet and that it was perhaps the wrong one. I did inquire from my Claudia and she said that it is a whitish booklet with a green border in lemonish yellow color and it saiys Family on it and packet 3.5. Is this the right packet for K1s? Thanks in advance. Are you applying for a K3 or K1 visa? What does the cover letter on the packet say, down near the bottom? I just sent you a PM with more details for K1 visa...	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-12-22 15:04:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Just a quick update on our case... Ali returned our packet 3 to the Embassy today (via AMEX). The guy who accepted his package told him to come back Dec. 22nd (two weeks) to find out his interview date. baby steps... but steps. Took UPS 4 days to get my package to him, would have been a day or so faster but the UPS woman here in the US who made the label typed his street wrong. Lukily they phoned him and he was able to pick the package up before they returned it back to me - yipes! Hope everyone is doing well right now. The holidays can be so tough on those of us separated!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-12-08 10:03:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	PLEASE RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS THANKS Hi faal4anisa, I am not clear whether you are the petitioner or beneficiary... I'll try and give my answers for either way. The birth certificate, marriage and death certificates are for the beneficiary. The only informaition required in packet 3.5 from the petitioner is the I-134 and supporting documents. If you look closely in the directions for the I-134 it states you need to have letters from a bank official showing your account status - total deposits for last year and current balance - and you need to have the I-134 form notarized. I would send all originals to be submitted by your fiance with the other documents. I sent mine via UPS. It took about 4 days to reach my fiance, costing $44USD. In this packet I included copies of everything I submitted in the original I-129f application, plus copies of the I-134 and supporting documents. So, now I have a complete copy of everything submitted, so does my fiance and the embassy now has all the originals. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions. Hope this helps! -Danika	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-12-08 09:53:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Hello everyone, I've been out for a while and not around to read/post. Hope all is well for everyone! Winter is here in a big way. We just had 2' of snow and temps are COLD! -22 F yesterday morning, brrrr!!!! I love winter though... Faal4anisa and ced8 Sorry for not replying to your questions sooner. We are just submitting our packet 3.5 back to the Embassy. It took some time to prepare all the documents we needed. We did not realize that for the K1 visa, you need nearly everything immediately (where as for the K3/CR1 you submit much more once your interview is scheduled). We were not prepared to submit it all quickly, so we've had a bit of a delay... Here is what was asked for in the K1 packet 3.5: Two copies DS-156 One copy DS-230 One copy DS-156K One copy DS-157 Birth certificate (and english translation) Death certificate or Divorce certificate if previously married (and translations) I-134 (Affidavit of Support) from petitioner & supporting documents, including: Copies of petitioner/sponsors fed. tax returns Proof of employment Proof of assets Beneficiaries passport Two passport size photos Police certificates I sent off my certified I-134 and supporting docs to my fiance via UPS last week and it just arrived in ISB. He now has all his police certificates, etc... in hand so will be returning the packet to the embassy in the next few days. I will certainly keep my timeline updated as changes occur. Once he is assigned an interview date, he will schedule his medical exam. Hope this helps! Best of luck to you in your processes.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-12-01 05:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	I was wondering if anyone knew what the average wait times are for getting an interview? My wifes application was just completed on Oct 30 but hasnt left the NVC yet. Im estimating that the Islamabad embassy will get it sometime this month and send her the Packet 3.5 hopefully before Christmas, then they will give her a date right? Thanks It took 3 weeks from NVC assigning a case number till packet 3.5 arrived for my fiance. I am GUESSING it will be about the same for you, but we are a K-1 visa, not CR-1. With the fiance visa, they did not assign an interview yet, but for you they should provide one with the packet 3.5, from what everyone here experienced. Best of luck! As a side, the NVC was very friendly with me and told me exactly when they mailed it to ISL, which was nice to know. On the ISL side, it was harder to get information. I know it took only a few days for the electronic copy to arrive and them to start the processing - much longer for the paper copy to get processed though, esp. with the holidays.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-11-10 09:18:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Did Ali get a cover sheet/letter with his packet that listed all of the docs he needed (DS-230, DS-156, etc)? Have him scan that to you from the local net cafe. If the interview date is missing, definitely email the embassy asap - pakivinfo@state.gov - dont forget to use your ISL2006# in your subject line. (calling the Embassy is such an waste of time. If you get a human, they tend to ignore (eternal hold) or hang up on you ) All in all! this is great news! Hopefully he'll have an interview before year end. Does he have his passport? Also - Omid and Cindishah both did K-1's, they probably have move knowledge on how the embassy in ISL handles the paperwork/interview date. Thanks Laney So, here is what his letter says... (just the pertinent things) Enclosed is a "packet 3.5" of forms and instructions. In order to qualify for an immigrant visa interview, please complete and sign the attached documents and submit them to our office via an approved courier service. We will review your documents within two to three weeks of receipt. If they are complete, we will schedule your interview. If your documents are incomplete, we will return them to you along with a memo explaining their deficiencies. ... Please follow these instructions, and the instructions contained in the attached forms, carefully. If your documents are incomplete, it will delay the scheduling of your interview. If you have any questions, blah, blah, blah ...(call us) Note: Please DO NOT schedule your medical exam unless you have been given an interview date. You should take your medical exam as close to your interview date as possible. ... Here is a synopsis of what they provided on the list of what to include: 1) Two DS-156 forms 2) One DS-230 3) One DS156K 4) One DS157 5) Birth Cert. & translation 6) Death Cert. of previous spouse & translation (if applicable) 7) Divorce Cert. if previously married & divorced & translation (if applicable) 8) I-134 from me 9) My tax returns 10) My employment proof 11) Proof of my assets 12) Passport 13) Medical Examination Report 14) Photographs 15) Police certificate With the confusion over what was needed now, vs. later at the interview (eg: medical), I suggested he call them. He spoke twice to the same guy, who told him we did NOT need the I-134 and related information	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-11-08 15:16:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	I-134 is submitted at the embassy too at the time of the interview, not before! I dont quite understand why do you have to go to the embassy. If you go they will turn you away! Dont make a trip for no reason. Did they give you an interview date? Just take everything there.. He's planning on going home immediately to get the police cert. from there - not to the embassy... he's just been phoning the embassy. So is there anything he needs to submit PRIOR to being given an interview date??? They sent him his packet, but did not mention a date for an interview. I thought he needed to return a few items from the packet IMMEDIATELY, then he'd get a date for an interview. By the interview, he would need the complete packet of information with the police certs and medical, etc... or so I thought. Am I confused? (obviously I am )	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-11-08 09:29:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Hi gang, Need your help here. Ali is trying to understand what he needs to give the embassy right now (to get an interview date) and what he needs to give them before his interview... I suggested he call them and ask if he didn't understand in the letter they sent in his packet (3). The guy he spoke to said 1) we didn't need to submit an I-134 2) he needed police certificates right now From what I understand from this forum and the guides we most CERTAINLY need the I-134 (affidavit of support) and that he doesn't need the police certificates till the interview. If anyone can answer ASAP that would be great. He's getting ready to travel quickly to his village to get the police certificate. It's an expensive trip and difficult time for him to go if he doesn't really need to. Thanks in advance for your insights!!!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-11-08 01:36:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Wait, revise my question a bit - I found some good information in other forums... Has anyone from ISB had problems getting an AP approval? How long do they generally take? Can Ali apply for AP before he enters the US on his K1? Thanks for your insights!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-10-04 10:00:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	How long does it take to get an Advanced Parole approval and what is involved with applying/getting an approval to travel outside the US when on a K1 visa?? I'm trying to figure out plans for travel, etc... Thanks for your help!!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-10-04 09:37:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Oh my!!!!!!!!!! Our K1 has been approved (NOA2)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Sept. 26th. I haven't gotten the mail yet, as I'm not yet home. Just found out checking our status. (How come I didn't get an e-mail notification? I have that option turned on...??) I've been out guiding for a week and unable to check... and all that has happened this week. Ali posted his first posts. He's so sweet and thank you for responding to him Mary and Laney. I haven't gotten to speak with him really yet. I will later today with our good news. Right now I'm off to the hospital, my uncle has had a massive stroke and is dying. So much happening right now. My heart is heavy and happy at the same time. wow... I'll try and catch up on all that has happened while I was gone once things settle down with my family. We are very close so this is really hard. Send you thoughts this way if you're so inclined. Is it possible to be this sad and happy at the same time???? Hope all is well with everyone here. Sorry for my long absence - life has been incredibly crazy... -Danika	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-10-02 08:54:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Best of luck tomorrow Hafiz!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-31 10:28:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	I'm sure the answers to my questions are here somewhere, but I am not finding them easily... My NOA1 was issued July 21st. Since then, the only activity on my application was a "touch" on 8/7. Is there a way to find out what is happening at this stage - beyond the USCIS case status page? Am I right thinking my case has been transfered to CA if the receipt # is WAC06.....? What has been standard processing time for CA these days? Shukriya, -d	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-21 12:50:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	salams all Alhamdulilah - my fiance got here with no problems, very easy POE - asked some very basic questions like where are you going to live, what are you going to do, where does your fiance live and that was about it... I waited outside of customs for almost an hour though b/c they lost his luggage!! Got it three days later thankfully... quick question - were they supposed to keep the brown envelope at immigration? Thanks again everyone for all the support - off to getting married and AOS'ing insha'Allah! CONGRATULATIONS OMID!!! Happy reunioning! -d	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-10 17:25:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Hi everyone I know none of you know me, but I have been regulary reading your posts this past year for help on my family's visa case. This is the first time I am posting and the reason is quite simple. Their is a fraudulant person among us. If you people really think the member named "Javed" is really Shonnie's husband javed you are delerious. That is just Shonnie in disguise under a new member name. For the past year, even longer shonnie is the only one that was talking about her husbands case, we never once heard even a whisper from her husband. Now all of a sudden when Shonnie gets kicked out of VJ, for whatever reason, two days later we hear from the husband shes been talking about for over a year. Gimme a break. I have feeling Shonnie got kicked out of here for a good reason, and this VJ forum should make sure she stays out along with any aliases she may have. And I am sure "Javed" will reply to me very soon trying to prove "he" is really Javed and not shonnie, but before he does all I have to say is im not buying it so stop wasting your time. Shonnie and everyone else on this forum I am sorry if i have offended anyone of you, but rules are rules, and they are there for a reason. Though i have no solied proof that "javed" is really shonnie, I am sure if VJ administrators trace which computer "Javed" is logging in from, and they can do this, they will find that is of the computer shonnie logged in from for the past year. Im sorry i could not keep my mouth shut about this and let this farce go on, but this forum has been really helpful to me this past year and I hope it stays that way, by making sure the rules are followed and the infamous liars are kept out . Peace John I can understand your concern for possible dishonesty, but it really doesn't matter! If it is indeed Shonnie, she has been a good asset to our forum and a great support to many of us. If it is indeed Javed - even better! We'll have both now. I appreciate you voicing your concern and hope you will free to join us. Let us know your story and engage us in conversation and really take advantage of the support of this group. You say you have been gaining great insights from this group - I have as well and am happy your journey is easier as a result. Please keep posting. Maybe you'll have insights that can help us as well. I am very disturbed by the anger and ill feelings that were thrown about prior to the former thread closing - Shonnie was acting out of protection for a group she has found very supportive of her and she has contributed a great deal to. She may indeed have gone too far in her responses - I am not absolving her from that. But, as with everything in the world right now, I feel we must have understanding and compassion - rather than skepticism and hatred. I welcome you (even though I'm pretty new) and say WHOEVER it is posting doesn't matter - IF they contribute in a positive and supportive manner to those of us who rely on this site for some sanity amidst our struggles. Thanks for your ear and your concern. Welcome to our thread. Thanks!!! he called me from dubai a bit earlier... he should be boarding towards London in a couple of hours insha'Allah!! Yipee! I am so happy for you Omid! I will be eager to hear he's arrived, but will understand of course if we don't hear from you for a bit... I hope his entry is easy and stress free. I can only imagine now the excitement you are feeling. thinking of you!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-02 13:39:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	WEll here goes, my K3 got approved alhamdulillah Yipee! Congratulations!! You too ae4ever. gotta love it when there's good news going around. and fast approvals!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-01 11:00:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Hi all, With the absence of Shon, I decided I would start another OFF TOPIC thread for us. I like having the two - not sure if the rest of you do too, but here's the new one if you do ... http://www.visajourn...showtopic=24601	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-01 09:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Wow - the things you miss when you're not on VJ for a few days. Yipes! Congratulations OMID!! Best wishes in the coming weeks. Mary, give my congratulations to Ishteaq please! Whew... sounds like an dull way to spend your day with the 'puter problems! Hope you were able to get it o.k. yesterday or today. Hafiz, I'm around occasionally. Have too much work to be here often. American female, bringing a Northerner (or trying) to the US. We'll share lives here and there if we can make it all happen. Met in Paki, this spring... Congratulations PSoft!! I've been checking out Urdu poetry on your suggestions - thanks. So happy our crew is kind and respectful of each other. Best luck this week to everyone!!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-08-01 08:39:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	ALHAMDULILAH!!!!! I don't know if I'm dreaming, but if I am I don't want to wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He called me at 4 am this morning to tell me he had his visa in his hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alhamdulilah!!! He was there most of the day but very simple - told the first Paki guy the info they had requested, waited an hour and a half and then an older american male consular asked him if he'd ever worked for the Taliban in any way, and he said "No way", and then the Paki lady translating said Congratulations - you're visa's approved... wait here and we'll get your visa for you - and another hour or so later, he left w/ visa and brown envelope in hand!!!!!!!!! 15 months since we filed and 199 days of AR/AP - but it's all done now!!!!!!!!!!! Alhamdulilah!!! We're hoping to have him here in a week or two insha'Allah - I'm still in utter shock and disbelief - at a minimum I thought they would give it to him a day later - OMG!!!! For all of you waiting, there is light at the end of the tunnel insha'Allah!!! Thank you all soooo much for all the support and well wishes - I would have never survived this w/o all you fellow VJers!!!! WOW! CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so happy to hear things worked out so smoothly!!! I hope he has a safe journey back home. And can come here SOON. I'll keep you both in my thoughts. YIPEE!	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-07-25 14:07:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	"the only thing that scares me is my government.... I was there when the US bombed a village on the border of Afgan. and Paki, killing a bunch of innocent people..." that's the kind of stuff that concerns me about my fiance traveling back and forth to the embassy UNDERSTANDABLY!!!! I'm sorry for all the stress you're feeling right now Omid. It makes my stomach turn just to think about it for you... When you get through this all, it will seem so far away - I hope.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-07-20 18:41:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussion	Calling everyone going thru Islamabad Embassy, version 2.0	Javed cant understand nothing I say in Urdu. I dont have a paki accent. so it sounds like garbage to him Shon try - me pagal hu. apko dil bohut khopsurat hai! it always makes Ali laugh. we have a fun mix of Urdu and English - some of it would be nonesense to others, but it makes us smile and laugh. our own little Urdlish... (like Spanglish?) Dankia where have you been? I just saw one post from you in here? Have you been out on trips? Do not be a stranger. Hi Mary, I've been guiding a ton, which is good. But it gives me just short bits of time to check in. Ali is off on an expedition in the mountains, which is hard for me but GREAT for him. I miss him so much. He misses me too - he's called a few times from a satellite phone which is such a treat! It will be a while before I talk to him next - and I hope it is from the summit of the peak. I can't wait just to be able to e-mail and talk with him like before. Let alone see him again at some point.... It's good we're both so busy. How is everything with your family??? I FINALLY got everything I needed together, with his stuff too, and got it in the mail. Arrived in Nebraska last week, so we're "officially" in the process now. Yipes! Holding my breath a little to see what comes up for us. Omid, good luck! I am sorry to hear of the confusion and hassles! I wish someone outside the process understood what a strain it puts on us to have these little "snaffoos". It's hard enough as it is being away from our loved ones. Thought you guys might enjoy this story... I was in Walgreens getting photos and started chatting with a woman in line with me. She asked about my mehndi I had on my feet (I've been doing it for fun and to keep my spirits up thinking of Paki) and I told her I had it done in Pakistan originally. She looked surprised and asked why I was there. I gave her a brief answer and she looked shocked and said "Aren't you scared when your there?" I said, "of what?". Then answered more softly - no, the people there are wonderful, caring and loving just like us... then replied - "the only thing that scares me is my government.... I was there when the US bombed a village on the border of Afgan. and Paki, killing a bunch of innocent people..." Anyway. She was intrigued about Pakistan and maybe her eyes opened a bit to the world outside here - maybe...	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-07-20 16:47:00
Middle East and North Africa	Patience with your S/O	Wow, I am glad to see I'm not alone on this. My husband would be thrilled if I wore the Hijab and Djalaba. I did notice the looks I would get there, and at first he didn't notice. I thought to myelf...Hell no, I'm not going to bring it up, but he finally noticed. OMG he was mad. But after so many stares we just started to laugh about it. Okay girls, now I am curious what your SO's say about swimsuits. Well I told my husband that I have a nice modest swimsuit. Two piece, but it is a tank top and boy shorts. I showed him and the webcam and he said "no way". lol Then he sent me a link of "appropriate" swimsuits....check it out... http://www.pamspauld...micswimsuit.jpg This will be interesting to say the least. I have many more stories, but at the moment this one just seems the funniest. I wasn't going to comment on this post until I got to this one.... I like this swimsuit and plan on buying one like it sometime before (or shortly after) the pool opens at my apartment complex. Maybe you don't like it but for those of us who observe the Islamic dress code on a daily basis in public, this type of swimsuit is perfect! If you ladies like to wear bikinis or whatever else in public that is your business but please don't make fun of the ones who are trying to be modest. Thanks Not making fun at all...to each his own and I respect your reasons and anyone else who can wear this. I simply can't handle the heat. If you like it...then O.K., I have to admit, I had a great laugh at the photo. Not because I want to ridicule the women or make fun of them, but entirely because of my own thoughts as I was opening the photo... Was not at all what I thought I would see as I clicked away. Once again reminded me to expect some surprises along the road to really getting to know each other and our cultural differences. Thus far some have made me laugh, and some have made us both cry. In all, it is so wonderful to feel honest and genuine love where I never expected I would find it. Thank all of you for your honesty and sharing!! It is really helping me through some of my cautions and stresses and my love and I embark on this journey together! Thank you and best wishes to you all.	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-04-20 15:20:00
Middle East and North Africa	My Skarchan	Can anyone tell I'm blushing?? He's so sweet, but can anyone of you help him figure out how to post in the ISB off-topic thread? I can't seem to - nor get him to understand that he should PM me this sweet nuggets... sigh For those interested, here's the scoop on the song. Hindi Song Title: Aashiq Banaya Aapne Hindi Movie/Album Name: AASHIQ BANAYA AAPNE Singer(s): HIMESH RESHAMMIYA, SHREYA GHOSHAL Hindi Lyrics: o o... aashiq banaya aapne aapne aapne you made me a lover tere bin suni suni hain baahein without you my arms are empty teri bin pyaasi pyaasi nigaahein without you my eyes are thirsty tere bin bin asar meri aahein without you my sighs go unnoticed tere bin without you tere bin lamha lamha sataye without you every moment troubles me tere bin bekarari jalaaye and my restelessness burns me tere bin chain mujhko naa aaye without you there's no peace of mind tere bin without you meri nigaahon mein tera chehra rawaa hain your image is always in my eyes gehre hain armaan jaane jaan paagal samaa hai my intense desires make the whole atmosphere crazy apni daayre se toh main chutne lagi hoon i'm losing my space tere baazuon mein aake tootne lagi hu and entering your arms tere bin jeena nahi hain gawara without you living seems fruitless tere bin dil ka nahi hain gujara and myheart doesn't want to go on tere bin kaun apna sahaara who will be my support if you're not there? aashiq banaya aapne aapne aapne bechainiyon ka faaslon ka silsila hai dardejigar ka yeh sabab hamko mila hain this is a time of distances and restless hearts betaabiyon ne hamko chur kar diya hai p*** aane pe majboor kar diya hain restlessness has destoyed me and made me want to be close to you tere bin raat kat ti nahi hain without you the nights don't pass tere bin pyas mit ti nahi hain and the thirst is never quenched tere bin duri ghat ti nahi hai and the distances don't lessen aashiq banaya aapne aapne aapne	dlg	Not Telling	Pakistan	2006-10-15 20:46:00