ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaLets Try this Again--- ALGERIANS!!
Dear Holyw - thanks for your input!

Waharina,

Thank you so much for your response and sorry for not being more specific in my earlier post blush.gif I was trying to seperate out all of the elements but I realize now that is pretty much impossible!

My fiancé is a legal resident in France with a work visa / carte de sejour (he did change of status from student almost four years ago). He will (ench'allah) renew his French residency in September 2008 (it is one year renewable). He has his military card so there is no problem for him to go/come back from Algeria if needed (I know that's a prob for some folks). He also visited the US in march on a tourist visa and miraculously kicking.gif had no problem getting that visa and coming for a visit - I think because of his job contract in France. I am currently living and working in France (through September and then I'll return to finish my masters degree in the US in December). So I recognize, and am humbly grateful, that our situation is a bit easier than other folks!

It sounds like the K1 is the way to go, the only reason we are looking at other options is because we may want to live in France still for a few years because of work. We want to do the weddings in Algeria and the US so our families can be there and because it would be the most meaningful for us, but even if we do the wedding in the US officially first he doesn't necessarily want to immigrate (ie: become a permanent resident) yet - the reason being that if he has to stay in the US even just for six months to get his greencard he would lose his status in France - which we don't want. So that's the little complication we have wacko.gif

It seems what we may do is bring him to the US either on a tourist or K1 visa, get married officially and then not apply for change of status yet, leave the country and then apply later for his visa/residency once we are ready to move to the US. The only problem with that would be if somehow having "abandoned" the first time without applying for residency would harm his chances later on. (I posted in another forum asking about this so that's why I didn't want to double up by repeating it here before - sorry!) It sounds like the best would be to have our wedding (hopefully in the US if he can get a visa to enter) and then do DCF in Paris a little while down the road when we are ready to move to the US (assuming we would both be living and working here in France)? Option two would be to abandon France (I like this one!) and just do the K1 directly in one shot when we are ready to move to the US in a couple of years. We maybe could still do "wedding celebrations" now ...? or just put off getting married...? What do you think?

On DCF, is the six month residency requirement for him or for me?



I'm so sorry to hear about your trying experience and the terrible journey you've had. I read your other post about the pregnancy complications and it seems to me (if I can offer a bit of unrequested advice) that your hubby needs to skip the transit visa and visit to his mom in Paris (unless there is some life or death reason he needs to see her now) and come straight to you. I'm sure he is also under a lot of stress but it sounds like he just needs to get there ASAP and be there to support you and the baby! I mean, under different circumstances a stop over in Paris would be nice, but now is not the time. In the meantime, you've got to just focus on yours and the baby's health and stay positive smile.gif Try envisioning all of the other pregnant momies all over the world going through the hormonal ups and downs and growing together - you're stronger than you think you are and this, afterall, is something your body is designed to do! Try to "lay down" the visa stress if you can so that it doesn't keep dragging you down and stay confident that he'll be there soon.

Thanks again for your suggestions and I welcome and further thoughts you may have! Hang in there!

Megan
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2008-05-26 08:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaLets Try this Again--- ALGERIANS!!
I have a question on doing a ceremony in Algeria.

I'm US citizen by birth he's Algerian citizen living temporarily in France. We want to do a K1 probably (just got engaged so we're still figuring this out) and officially get married in the US. But we would like to do a traditional Amazigh (Kabyle) ceremony in the village in Algeria so his family could be there etc. Is there any chance we can do this before coming to the US for the "real" wedding (both are real for us but I'm talking legally/officially) if we don't register a wedding in Algeria, don't get "declared man and wife" by anyone but just have the party and henna ceremony would this jeopordize our K1 petition?

Also, just to clarify that I am reading your responses right - the DCF is not longer possible in Algiers? Could we do it in Paris instead? Does that mean that the only option to bring Algerian (fiancé or spouse) is a K1 with wedding in US or a K3 with wedding in Algeria?

Thanks so much and I'm glad to see there are at least a few other Algerian-American coupels on here!!! Vive l'Algerie!
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2008-05-20 05:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaNew forum for sisters with any connection to Algeria
Great - I'll look into the sites and send to my future sisters in law and some friends good.gif ... .thanks for sharing!
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2008-09-10 15:54:00
Middle East and North AfricaDoes anyone else feel this way?
I strongly agree with the various bit of excellent advice above, especially regarding the vital importance of patience, communication and humour. At the begining language and other communication barriers seem less important because you take the time to make sure you understand and are understood, and it can even be kind of a nice challenge or whatever, but once life really picks up and the novelty wears off you can loose that and start missing things or misinterpreting things, and that leads to frustration and conflict - so it is really important to stay "on the same page" as someone said. And you have to take the time to make that happen.

Another key to success for intercultural couples is to believe in your relationship and be positive about it and, like everyone has said, be smart but don't get bogged down by horror stories. I remember at the outset of our relationship, his friends were warning him that I must work for the CIA and my friends were warning me that he must be Al-Qaeda!! laughing.gif That was five years ago nad now we can laugh about those things because we know each other and trust one another... (plus it will make a good story for the kids some day!! good.gif )

The last advice I would give to you is: don't loose yourself. Don't forget who you are or where you come from. You are part of a cultural group that has value - not in an ethnocentric way or anything, but just in a human way, that's how we all work! It is easy in an intercultural relationship to loose that base - I think espeically for the partner living abroad or if you are both in a third country. Sometimes we don't realize what we are compromising or "forgetting" until we see we have become a different person! Sometimes that's good but not always. So even while you are being flexible and learning to compromise to make things work, it is also important for both of you to know what parts of yourself you will NOT compromise on and stick to those values of yourself that. Those are the things that made him love you in the first palce so don't let them get left by the way side.

I believe diversity is a challenge but if you are both strong and sure of yourselves and who you are as individuals, the different cultural and life backgrounds should contribute to the relationship's richness.

Edited by kenneme, 23 July 2009 - 11:32 AM.

kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-07-23 11:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarry in US then apply later for IR1/CR1?
Thanks so much! That's helpful. I was mainly just worried that it would be viewed as 'dishonest' to enter with the intent to marry on a tourist visa - but if he doesn't have the intent to immigrate, it sounds like he would still be considered a non-immigrant and the tourist visa would be ok in that case.

Thank you all for your input!

Ok - good to know! Thank you. He got a tourist visa to come visit in March and that was no problem, so hopefully he could get one again next year without too much hastle!
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2008-05-26 06:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresmarry in US then apply later for IR1/CR1?
Greetings friends!

I am new to this site but excited already by all of the information and support in this diverse community! Thanks in advance for your help.

I am US citizen (by birth) my fiancé (we just got engaged in March 2008) is Algerian. We live together in France. I am finishing a Master's degree this December and then will be looking for work either in the US or in France, where I find a job will largely determine where we will be living for the next couple of years. My fiancé has a work permit / residency permit in France that has to be renewed every year and doesn't want to loose that. He has to be present and working in France so as not to give up his status here. He has visited the US once before on a tourist visa.

Here's my question: We would like to get married in the US in August 2009, but not yet move to the US - meaning he would just come for the wedding and then come back to France. Is it possible? Can we then apply for the DCF or spouse visa, say, a year or two later when we decide to move to the US? How can he enter the US for just the wedding? If he enters the country on a fiancé K1 visa, get's married but then does not apply for residency at that time, and leaves before his 90 days are up, would it limit his chances to apply for residency later on?

Any help is most appreciated!! Thank you so much / Saheid!
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2008-05-20 04:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresstop K-1 and apply for tourist visa instead?
Thanks for your input everyone and for the practical advice.

We have decided to go ahead and move to the US this August as soon as the K1 is approved for travel! It's not ideal financially but sounds like the safest option.





Thank you very much Yu and Dan for this complete explanation and for your heads up on the POE risks. (also for clarifying K3...good to know!)

kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-06-22 06:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresstop K-1 and apply for tourist visa instead?
Greetings,

Looking for some more help on our situation. wacko.gif

We are waiting for our K-1 interview here in Paris (where we both live/work currently). We are planning to go to the US 1 August to get married if fiancé has the visa in time. We did K-1 because that was the best option at the time. However, my job offered me an extension to stay through the end of the year.

So, the most logical thing would be for him to come to the US for the wedding in August on a regular tourist visitors visa B1/B2 and return to France. Eventually when we decide to move to the US for good - ie probably early next year - we would do DCF or K3 spouse visa....Does this sound like the best thing to do?

and what do we do now?! I don't want to cancel the K1 until we're sure the other option would work.Should we make an apointment for the tourist visa and explain it to them at the interview that we plan to marry and then return to France? Or should we wait until we get the interview date for the K1 and explain it to them then (but then it might be too late to apply for a tourist visa if they say he can't get the K1?).... Or just go through with the K1 as normal but not apply for change of status?

Help appreciated!!! Thanks...
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-06-11 08:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswill now live in France - what do we say in K1 interview?
Thanks for your input everyone and for the practical advice.

We're going to move to the US as soon as the K1 is approved for travel. It's not ideal financially but sounds like the safest option.


kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-06-22 06:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswill now live in France - what do we say in K1 interview?
Thank you Nik + Heather for outlining some of the potential risks - you're right that there are many potential pitfalls, including the possiiblity of him being stuck in the US without me!

Thank you for your support.

QUOTE (Nik+Heather @ May 5 2009, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I would still discourage you from using the visa in any way other than intended (to enter the US to stay and AOS).

I wonder if it would be a VJ first if the beneficiary was all alone in the US doing paper work while the Petitioner was in another country! What if your fiance stayed in the States after the August wedding to adjust status while you went back to France to finish out your contract, and then he went back over to France once the Advance Parole came through? You'd need someone to watch your US mail and also need to know how long he can be out of the country on AP....but...Is this idea TOO "creative"?

You may have made deposits, but it is my experience that many vendors will allow you to change the date and not loose your deposits, especially as we are still more than 90 days out. I would still strongly encourage you to spend some time considering moving your K1 plans to January instead of August.

I see lots of risks against you in trying to get married in August:
- May not be granted visitor visa.
- May not be admitted (even with visitor visa)
- Will have to go through the process of filing again
--- Extra money (How does this compare to money down already?)
--- Extra time & effort
--- Waivers?
--- Other unknowns you'll have to research and should be informed about before you make this decision.

Do you feel confident that you can mitigate all of these to have your perfect August wedding? I hope so....

Also, have you considered simply declining your contract extension? Something's got to give here.

I understand completely the desire to have an all inclusive wedding - the ceremony and the legal bit and all the family around all in one day. We are doing that, and will probably be separated an extra 3 months in order to do as we like. I'm not sure why moving from August to January is going to prevent that...

We don't have all the details like you do, so my previous suggestion still seems like the best path from what you've shared. When circumstances change, so must you revisit previously made decisions and reconsider from the beginning.

Wishing you the best, I hope that whatever you do in the end, it works out!


kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-05-06 02:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswill now live in France - what do we say in K1 interview?
QUOTE (pushbrk @ May 5 2009, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
There is no penalty for entering the US using a K1 visa, marrying and then leaving before the 90 day I-94 expires. You then follow the appropriate spouse visa route when ready. People change plans. Nobody here is going to counsel you on just what lie to tell a Consular officer so that you can have your cake and eat it too.


Thank you for this concrete feedback. Rest assured we are not trying to be deceptive in how we use the visa (that's why I'm asking the question!). In fact it was because we were trying to "dot all the i's and cross all the t's" that we decided to go the K1 route in the first place (rather than trying for a tourist visa with the intent of getting married). As you said, life plans change, and I'm sure some of you can understand that. We are not naive about the high stakes and potential challenges we face - just asking for some honest advice. I'm thankful we have made it this far and I do recognise that we are fortunate to be together during this phase.

kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-05-06 02:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswill now live in France - what do we say in K1 interview?
Thank you Paris Heart, that's very helpful! I think you understand my situation...It's true that they may begin to question if we make too many changes.

My other thought was that you are not "required" to get married if you enter on a K1 as long as you leave the country, right? so I don't think they can force us or penalize us in anyways for legally doing the K1 entry and the wedding and then deciding not to do change of status...?

[quote name='Paris Heart' date='May 5 2009, 12:11 PM' post='2902231']

kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-05-05 11:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswill now live in France - what do we say in K1 interview?

Thank you both for your input.

Yes, I know I know - we're not supposed to make definitive plans until visa is in hand, mad.gif but we want to have a "real" wedding not just settle for some court house thing because he's not a US citizen sad.gif Looking back now I wouldn't have put down the deposit for our wedding in August and would have waited until it was confirmed to do so, but this let us reserve a date that works better for the families and now it's done and we can't change it so, what would you recommend with keeping the August wedding date?
kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-05-05 11:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedureswill now live in France - what do we say in K1 interview?
Greetings! Hope someone can help.

Our situation: We applied for K1 fiance visa in October 2008 (CA Center / Embassy: Paris, France) while I (US citizen fiancee) was still in grad school in the US, thinking that would be the best legally and leave us the most options open. Thankfully I got a work contract in France for January 2009 through May 2009. We are planning our wedding in California August 15 2009 and had planned to return to the US in June/July with him on the fiance visa. We just sent in the "ready for interview" papers to the embassy kicking.gif and are praying everything comes through in time. I have a cosponsor (my mom) in the US. BUT, my work just offered to extend my contract here through December, which means we wouldn't be able to stay in the US after the wedding to do change of status, get his green card, etc. I guess we would instead have to do DCF (we would qualify) later on when we decide to move to the US?

The problem is that my fiance needs a visa to come to the US for the August wedding (he's an Algerian citizen so he can't come without a visa). Our question is what to say in his interview? Do we explain everything and tell them that we will not be pursuing his residency yet, but will be getting married? (It seems inevitable this will come up because my employer is in France!). Or, do we say I plan to get a new job in the US after the wedding? Or do we switch and instead try to get him a tourist visa (while still being honest that he's definitely getting married)? Or go ahead and do the legal wedding here in France and try for DCF between now and the wedding?

Any help much appreciated. blink.gif

Megan

kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-05-05 10:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresabandoning K-1, going for B2 (crazy we know!)
Congratulations for getting your B2! I think CO's in most situations will understand that life changes happen, and as long as you are clear and have good supporting evidence showing why things have changed and what you know intend to do, it can be done! You seem frank and responsible, so I'm sure this was noted at the interview.

I don't think you're out of your mind for switching to a B2 when your circumstance changed, after all, he was no longer intending to reside in the US after the wedding, which is the point of the K1. We had a similar situation and ended up going for K1 but it meant making difficult choices about jobs, where we would live, etc. and given how lengthy and stressful that process was we kind of wished we had gone for the B2 instead to bring him to the states for the wedding and go back abroad afterwards...but, that's life, and hopefully things work out ok with our K1!

Best of luck to you both.

kennemeFemaleAlgeria2009-07-23 05:01:00