I'm getting homesick! We want to vist home while K1 visa is pending.

[hayati 0]

Hi all,

I've been in Egypt over a year now and I'm ready to pack up and leave. We were hoping to get this process completed by December so we could be home by Christmas but one thing lead to another and we just filed. We haven't even received the NOA1 yet (though our online back account does show that the personal check was cashed on Friday so I am assuming the NOA1 is to come soon?). My guess is the visa won't be issued to approximately May.

Anyway, I found a SUPER cheap flight home for a week. December 23rd to December 29th... so cheap I can actually afford it on my crappy Egyptian salary! I want him to visit with me... so he can get a taste of the US and also so he can meet the rest of my family. How possible do you think it is to get a B2 visa while a K1 visa is still pending? Does anyone have experience with this?

I know the most important thing is to show that the intent to return and that the trip is temporary. I know that a pending K1 visa will cast some doubt on this. What proof should we include? A vacation request from his job showing the dates of his vacation? A written document from his work showing that he is employed by the company? Bank statement showing sufficient funds? Information from my work also showing my dates to return (since we're travelling together)?

I guess we're going to call for an interview appointment ASAP (yay for things being complicated by Ramadan and shortened work hours) but I do not want to buy my ticket without him (since we want to travel together) and I'm not 100%sure I will travel if he is unable to go. Will look into refundable tickets on this deal in the meantime...

Thoughts?

[Ihavequestions 419]

It is rediculousty difficult for an unmarried, not wealthy, Egyptian male to get a tourist visa to the US. His grandma? Probably. His favorite aunt? Probably. His married brother with three wives and eight children and several good businesses a couple of cars and and a lot of guinea in the bank? Probably. His unmarried brother? Probably not. His unmarried sister? Almost impossible. While I as at the Embassy I heard the denials, left and right, always for the same reason: they couldn't prove solid enough ties to assure their return to Egypt. Statistically the folks who don't have a reason - a very, very good reason, to return to Egypt - overstay their visitor's visa and don't return. Actually, entire families do the same thing and the visitor's visa under the guise of a trip to Disney World was just a means to an end. You can try, of course, but if I were you I wouldn't bank on success because of those who have gone before and wrecked it for those with good intentions.

Here's my question to you. You've been in Egypt long enough to fulfill the residency requirement to file DCF. You clearly have plans to marry in your future. Perhaps you could consider marrying here, in Egypt, then filing DCF. There are many advantages to doing it this way: he would not have to adjust status in order to get approval to work upon arrival in the US, the process is, overall, faster, and there is less of an encumberance to convince the Embassy of a bonafide relationship. Of course none of us can predict the future, but it's entirely possible the entire process could be completed within months, maybe even by Christmas (absent extensive and painful AP and if his military service is not an issue). It's just something to think about.

[hayati 0]

It is rediculousty difficult for an unmarried, not wealthy, Egyptian male to get a tourist visa to the US. His grandma? Probably. His favorite aunt? Probably. His married brother with three wives and eight children and several good businesses a couple of cars and and a lot of guinea in the bank? Probably. His unmarried brother? Probably not. His unmarried sister? Almost impossible. While I as at the Embassy I heard the denials, left and right, always for the same reason: they couldn't prove solid enough ties to assure their return to Egypt. Statistically the folks who don't have a reason - a very, very good reason, to return to Egypt - overstay their visitor's visa and don't return. Actually, entire families do the same thing and the visitor's visa under the guise of a trip to Disney World was just a means to an end. You can try, of course, but if I were you I wouldn't bank on success because of those who have gone before and wrecked it for those with good intentions.

Here's my question to you. You've been in Egypt long enough to fulfill the residency requirement to file DCF. You clearly have plans to marry in your future. Perhaps you could consider marrying here, in Egypt, then filing DCF. There are many advantages to doing it this way: he would not have to adjust status in order to get approval to work upon arrival in the US, the process is, overall, faster, and there is less of an encumberance to convince the Embassy of a bonafide relationship. Of course none of us can predict the future, but it's entirely possible the entire process could be completed within months, maybe even by Christmas (absent extensive and painful AP and if his military service is not an issue). It's just something to think about.

DCF is something I have def. considered and sometimes I wonder whether or not I regret not going that route. The K1 visa has already been filed. The check has been cashed though we haven't received the NOA1 in the mail, yet. My guess is that, despite the fact that voiding the K1 that we just recently filed would result in a loss of 400+ dollars, getting married now and going the DCF route with a K1 pending might complicate the process?

Anyway, the reason we chose NOT to go that route is that I read somewhere that in order to file DCF (and maybe I misunderstood what I read or was misinformed) is that you must have resided with each other for 6 months before you can file (or I guess you could still file without this requirement but it makes it significantly harder). I figured... if we got married, live together for 6 months, then file... by the time the process is complete it would be in a comparable time frame of the K1 visa. Besides, I don't want a ceremony here for numerous reasons (that might make them question whether or not the marriage is legitimate) and his parents aren't thrilled at all with the idea of him moving to the US... so in order to avoid them making things difficult (i.e. not telling them/worrying them until visa is in hand but they do suspect), we decided the K1 route... which also has its advantages in comparison with the DCF route. I guess it was a matter of weighing the pros and cons of each and going for what was best for our situation... which means waiting foreveeeerrr for the dumb visa. Grr.

Military requirements hopefully will not be an issue... since he's the only son.

I really just wonder if anyone has had any success with getting a B1 with a K1 (or K3/ any immigrant visa) petition pending. In my head, I am so sure that our case is so legitimate, etc., etc., that there should be no problems... but I'm sure everyone with a legitimate case thinks the same thing and comes out unhappy with the result. I think he wants to apply for the visa regardless... I think... so we'll see what happens but I really hope it doesn't end up in waste of $131 or the loss of a really great deal on airfare (nonrefundable so we're not booking until we know about the visa).

[Ayman and Yasmina 0]

Hi...People in my dads family had really bad luck with visitors visa..Have yet to see one approved..They have gotten really strict cause of the sour apples...

Hey can you pm the site or how you found a good deal on plane tickets..Im looking to go home and tickets are mad money...I would greatly appreciate it...Thank you.

[hayati 0]

So we have an interview for the tourist visa. We're going to chance it and insha'allah it will be well worth it! The lady was really nice when we made the interview. Online it says that the average wait for an interview is 15 working days... we got one in 10 days TOTAL! September 3rd. :S We'll see how it goes.

As for booking plane tickets.... you have to be flexible and really do an extensive search online. I play around with dates and get lucky sometimes with random dates. Of course weekday flights will be cheaper than flights on the weekend.

My favorite site so far is www.bookingbuddy.com because you input your departure date and city and your return information (you know, the standard stuff) and they will search about 12 different sites for you. This time I found a really nice deal on orbitz but in the past I've had good luck with statravel.com, vayama.com, and kayak.com. Just play around.... but start out with bookingbuddy first because it will check the main sites (like orbitz, priceline, travelocity, student universe, kayak, vayama, cheapair, cheapoair, cheaptickets, etc.). Google "cheap international airfare" and you're bound to find similar search engines... but I really think the key is being flexible with the dates. It made a world of difference for me... we're talking about 400 dollars difference and a ticket that will cost me HALF of what it cost each time I have traveled to and from Egypt (which has been a few times). Hope this helps and let me know if I can help at all. I get REALLY bored at work on a daily basis...

[Ayman and Yasmina 0]

Thanks so so much for the sites and the pm!! I was up all night searching!! Some not to bad I found one with taxes for 531!! I cant wait for that visa to get here!!

[Ayman and Yasmina 0]

So far Ive found some for 521 dollars with tax!!!! Im still gonna check the travel agents as my brother said they are cheaper!! I will let you know what I find!! Im going to Tampa~