CAIRO EMBASSY DENIED CR1 VISA TO MY HUSBAND

[mystic 11]

Hello VJ family members-

It's been awhile since my last post but I have been a bit depressed behind the U.S. Embassy in Cairo's decision to deny my husband's CR1 visa.

On the interview day - my husband said everyone's interview took about 15minutes, where as his lasted for 1hour. Let me begin by saying that my husband's English though limited is well enough for he and I to communicate. On the interview day obviously he was a bit nervous due to his language problem but felt comfortable enough because he knows our marriage and paperwork is legitimate. While the woman began her questions, my husband mentioned he felt her upset and somewhat mad, making him feel quite intimidated during the process. He stated that even though she was speaking to him, what he felt was "fast" in her speech...he understood every question and answered it correctly until he got to a question about a short stay I had in a different state from where I now live. (May I add, I did not go into great detail with my husband about this 8month short stay in Ohio because quite honestly it was a horrible time for me). Anyway, he answered this question wrong & as soon as he did, the woman stops the interview and tells him that he will not be getting a visa because in her opinion she feels our marriage is not a legitimate marriage and that she will be returning back our paperwork to the U.S. for the USCIS office to conduct further investigation. She gave him a document and instructed him to mail that to me for my information and dismissed him just like that.

My husband immediately calls me to tell me how the entire process went and was confused about the denial because he took all the documents requested. He had numerous cell phone bills to show our "daily" communication and some emails though I did not print all of them because I felt it was so much (over a year and a half worth of daily chat & email messages), personal drawings my children made for him, and proof of packages we've sent to each other, pictures of my stay in Egypt (with his family)...all this didn't matter to her. I must add on important factor: MY HUSBAND & I HAVE A 15 YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE. I'M OLDER THAN HE.) But my husband is more mature, more a man than my children's father, who just happens to be older than me. I don't look 40 but in my early thirties...Age does not matter to us and both our families are so supportive of our marriage/union. My children talk to my husband weekly via cam-chat and by telephone. He is more a father to my children than their own biological father. I can go on and on about how true our marriage is.

Bottom line, I've contacted both my State Senator's office and my local Congresswoman and have asked their assistance in this matter. My local Congresswoman's office informed me that because I have contacted my State Senator and have requested their assistance, the Congresswoman office cannot intervene. I must chose one office to run the investigation/inquiry into our case. I have also called USCIS regarding the document the Embassy gave my husband and all they told me is that once the paperwork reaches their office, they will make the final decision and notify me. This scared me. I asked her, if before their office makes ANY KIND OF FINAL DECISION, will they allow my children and I to be interviewed so that they can see & hear from our mouth the legitimacy of my marriage. My children have bonded with my husband for over 1.5 years. They turn to him more than their biological father. He is the one they turn to and he has been there via cam and telephone for the ups and downs. He is a wonderful husband and step-father. USCIS could not guarantee me that I would be called. All she said was for me to wait for them to contact me.

Has anyone else had the same problem happen? Please help us. We need advice on how we should proceed. I am not going to give up the fight! Does anyone know if our case is pretty much done? Should we pretty much consider that his visa will never be granted? Do we throw in the towel per say???

HELP!

Thanking you in advance,

Lizz&Mohamed

Very sorry to hear this as well. Did she actually tell him sorry no and it was being returned? Who did he have as an interviewing officer?

Unfortunately im not sure you can do anything at all about this situation. If you have any evidence that did not get sent you can contact the embassy and ask for a reconsideration... its worth a try. I read somewhere that if you get a denial and feel that there is evidence that was not presented at the interview that you can ask them to reconsider but that it doesnt guarantee that they will do so..

Our interview he was not told it was being sent back, but that it needed further review and should take about 2 weeks,, well.. still nothing.

I have gotten the senator here involved now as of this week as i am going to stay with my husband for 2 months to help with the pain of being apart and told the senator all and that i would like to bring him home with me.

I really wish you luck on fighting this. I have seen that cairo there seem to be no rules or reason.. i have seen some on here say approved and wait 3 or 4 months to get visa, i have seen some say administrative processing and get it in a few weeks, i have seen some wait forever. I have also seen recently one that was approved and received visa in a matter of days.... so approved, not approved it really seems to mean nothing as to when you will get your visa.

Call anyone you can think of for assistance and in your case, maybe consult with an immigration lawyer, just as a consultation and see what they think. Some offer free consults. You also have the right to email the embassy and ask the specific reason they are sending it back.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

I am writing as my story is almost the same. I am older than my finance. At his interview the CO was rude. He could not tell her where I went to college but my sons could not answer that either. My dad was in the Air force so I have lived in many states and gone to school from California to Long Island New York. There is no way I can tell anyone (not even closest people to me) about my entire life. We are upset because he was asked HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY FEEL ABOUT THIS MARRIAGE? and he tells her my family likes her. She called him a liar and would not give visa. He had photos of me and family because I spent the month of June with them.

And the congressman and senator should join forces and help you. You should be able to ask eve4ryone you can think of for help.

Want to raise some Hell with me? Maybe together we can convince someone that they discriminate with us because we are women. Old men of 70 and 80 are able to marry Russian girls of 20 and 30. Check out the marriages in Florida. Is happening a lot.

[Ban Hammer 13,283]

op might want to read this pinned thread in the mena forum:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3896

[illnevergetthis 5]

op might want to read this pinned thread in the mena forum:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3896

Start on page 10 or 11...before that it is about getting the thread pinned.

You also have the right to email the embassy and ask the specific reason they are sending it back.

From my experience, the embassy does not respond to reasons they are sending the file back via email...but, that was the embassy in Jordan.

[And_Sam 44]

Liz, I am so sorry this has happened to your husband. The best bet is for you to keep on fighting for your husband's visa, even if this means you get a 2nd interview and you going to Cairo for the interview. It is better if they see you both together to see how you actually interact with each other.

I too, am older than my husband. I don't know if it is because he looks older or perhaps I look younger? (I wish!) But I do know it helped immensely that I was there with him. In fact, the questions were aimed at me and not my husband. The CO actually laughed because by the time he got to talk to my husband, my husband froze up and couldn't understand him in english so the CO had talked to him in Arabic.

One person had told me in the past, they cannot keep your husband from getting a visa, only delay it to see if he is fraudulent and gives up and moves on to another woman or sticks it out to be with the one he loves.

I wish you two the best and hopefully they will see that your relationship is true.

~Andrea

[tenderheartusa79 14]

Hello VJ family members-

It's been awhile since my last post but I have been a bit depressed behind the U.S. Embassy in Cairo's decision to deny my husband's CR1 visa.

On the interview day - my husband said everyone's interview took about 15minutes, where as his lasted for 1hour. Let me begin by saying that my husband's English though limited is well enough for he and I to communicate. On the interview day obviously he was a bit nervous due to his language problem but felt comfortable enough because he knows our marriage and paperwork is legitimate. While the woman began her questions, my husband mentioned he felt her upset and somewhat mad, making him feel quite intimidated during the process. He stated that even though she was speaking to him, what he felt was "fast" in her speech...he understood every question and answered it correctly until he got to a question about a short stay I had in a different state from where I now live. (May I add, I did not go into great detail with my husband about this 8month short stay in Ohio because quite honestly it was a horrible time for me). Anyway, he answered this question wrong & as soon as he did, the woman stops the interview and tells him that he will not be getting a visa because in her opinion she feels our marriage is not a legitimate marriage and that she will be returning back our paperwork to the U.S. for the USCIS office to conduct further investigation. She gave him a document and instructed him to mail that to me for my information and dismissed him just like that.

My husband immediately calls me to tell me how the entire process went and was confused about the denial because he took all the documents requested. He had numerous cell phone bills to show our "daily" communication and some emails though I did not print all of them because I felt it was so much (over a year and a half worth of daily chat & email messages), personal drawings my children made for him, and proof of packages we've sent to each other, pictures of my stay in Egypt (with his family)...all this didn't matter to her. I must add on important factor: MY HUSBAND & I HAVE A 15 YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE. I'M OLDER THAN HE.) But my husband is more mature, more a man than my children's father, who just happens to be older than me. I don't look 40 but in my early thirties...Age does not matter to us and both our families are so supportive of our marriage/union. My children talk to my husband weekly via cam-chat and by telephone. He is more a father to my children than their own biological father. I can go on and on about how true our marriage is.

Bottom line, I've contacted both my State Senator's office and my local Congresswoman and have asked their assistance in this matter. My local Congresswoman's office informed me that because I have contacted my State Senator and have requested their assistance, the Congresswoman office cannot intervene. I must chose one office to run the investigation/inquiry into our case. I have also called USCIS regarding the document the Embassy gave my husband and all they told me is that once the paperwork reaches their office, they will make the final decision and notify me. This scared me. I asked her, if before their office makes ANY KIND OF FINAL DECISION, will they allow my children and I to be interviewed so that they can see & hear from our mouth the legitimacy of my marriage. My children have bonded with my husband for over 1.5 years. They turn to him more than their biological father. He is the one they turn to and he has been there via cam and telephone for the ups and downs. He is a wonderful husband and step-father. USCIS could not guarantee me that I would be called. All she said was for me to wait for them to contact me.

Has anyone else had the same problem happen? Please help us. We need advice on how we should proceed. I am not going to give up the fight! Does anyone know if our case is pretty much done? Should we pretty much consider that his visa will never be granted? Do we throw in the towel per say???

HELP!

Thanking you in advance,

Lizz&Mohamed

I'm so sorry to hear about that .I really don't understand what the heck the USA embassy in Cairo is doing to us ?!

They denied your husband cause he just answered one question wrong ? This is really ridiculous .They should know that man was nervous and he might answer one of thier questions wrong .c'mon give him a chance .

Well talking about the age gap i really don't know if its a red flag or not .I have been a member on site since almost 3 years .I have seen so so many people have age gap ''10,15,20,25..'' years different and they got their visas without any problems after a few days .Now the USA embassy thinking about it as a red flag !!!!!

All what you can do now is try to stop the paperwork of leaving Cairo to USA .Try to Email them or try to call them .contacting your senator or your congressman its very good and i really hope that they will help you .

Good luck and my best wishes for you .

Mohamed

[Nagishkaw 510]

They denied your husband cause he just answered one question wrong ?

I doubt that. I think there is more to this than the OP either knows and isn't telling or just flat out doesn't know. The interview was stopped and he was told he was denied. There was something wrong with the case and it sure isn't the age gap or that he was nervous and blew one question, IMHO.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Nagishkaw

[Old Dominion 26]

Thank you for your response...but I feel I will not be able to stop the paperwork from leaving Cairo. I've read that the paperwork sometimes takes months before it reaches the USCIS office...Should I perhaps go with a K3 visa that I had initially filed for. I originally filed for a K3 and later switched it to a CR1??? Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Lizz&Mohamed

The K-3 has been discontinued and is not an option. Yes, it will take months for the USCIS to follow up on this case, but it will give you an honest chance to appeal the consulate's decision if there is compelling information to present. The consular officer's recommendation cannot be appealed within the U.S. Department of State; it is final. The age difference was not the reason for denial, but it was a clue that there may be fraud involved and the officer thought she found it when he didn't have much information about that time you spent in Ohio. This suggested that he didn't know you all that well.

[Old Dominion 26]

Start on page 10 or 11...before that it is about getting the thread pinned.

From my experience, the embassy does not respond to reasons they are sending the file back via email...but, that was the embassy in Jordan.

There is no way to prevent the file from being returned to the Department of State, and thence to USCIS. It can't be done.

Are you sure you know of no other reason why he was denied??? Major religious (cultural) differences, among other things, can raise eyebrows; has he ever been gainfully employed; how quickly did you marry after meeting online?? All that and a bag of chips...

Edited February 27, 2010 by Old Dominion

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

From what I have read, the K-3 is not an option any longer, it is now obsolete.

I will stay on the CR1 path...I am keeping in touch with my State Senator's office and Congresswoman as well. I will not give up. I have also ready that with the FOIA = freedom of information act, I can contact the DOS and request that they share the notes the IO wrote on our file. In the meantime, I have decided to visit my husband in April during our Spring Break and take my children so that they can all meet in person for the first time. It is my hope that of course this re-enforces the already made bond between them and us but that it too may help us prove to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo or the USCIS that this is a legitimate marriage inside and out.

Thank you all for your responses. I still hope to hear from any other couples that may share our story. Please anyone out there that can offer us any help/suggestions...we are here to listen.

Sincerely,

Lizz&Mohamed

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

I will stay on the CR1 path...I am keeping in touch with my State Senator's office and Congresswoman as well. I will not give up. I have also ready that with the FOIA = freedom of information act, I can contact the DOS and request that they share the notes the IO wrote on our file. In the meantime, I have decided to visit my husband in April during our Spring Break and take my children so that they can all meet in person for the first time. It is my hope that of course this re-enforces the already made bond between them and us but that it too may help us prove to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo or the USCIS that this is a legitimate marriage inside and out.

Thank you all for your responses. I still hope to hear from any other couples that may share our story. Please anyone out there that can offer us any help/suggestions...we are here to listen.

Sincerely,

Lizz&Mohamed

Old Dominion -

To answer your question, I don't know exactly obviously the exact reason of denial. All my husband said, is that when he answered the Ohio question wrong, the interviewer pulled out his passport and ended the interview. Could he have answered previous questions wrong? Possibility but I will not know until someone tells me the exact reason.

He has a clear criminal background, has a bachelor of arts and is a small business owner. Never married and in my opinion not a strict/extremist Muslim. Yes, he is from the City of Al-Menia, which I hear is considered a conservative Muslim city. Not as liberal as Cairo but I don't feel he or his family to be hard core Muslims....

Maybe the Cairo Embassy sees so many older women married to younger Egyptians that maybe clearly fraudgelant that they looked at our marriage with the same eyes. We met 6/2008 and married 7/2009. I love this man dearly and cannot see my life without him and he too feels the same way. He so much so, that he has promised (which I don't agree) that he will remain married to me forever, even if his visa get permanently denied.

My children were so looking forward to him being in our home soon. They were so excited to be getting a father...it broke my heart to have to tell them he would not be joining us anytime soon.

Lizz&Mohamed

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Liz, I am so sorry this has happened to your husband. The best bet is for you to keep on fighting for your husband's visa, even if this means you get a 2nd interview and you going to Cairo for the interview. It is better if they see you both together to see how you actually interact with each other.

I too, am older than my husband. I don't know if it is because he looks older or perhaps I look younger? (I wish!) But I do know it helped immensely that I was there with him. In fact, the questions were aimed at me and not my husband. The CO actually laughed because by the time he got to talk to my husband, my husband froze up and couldn't understand him in english so the CO had talked to him in Arabic.

One person had told me in the past, they cannot keep your husband from getting a visa, only delay it to see if he is fraudulent and gives up and moves on to another woman or sticks it out to be with the one he loves.

I wish you two the best and hopefully they will see that your relationship is true.

~Andrea

Andrea thank you so much for your kind words of support. I need them. I cried last night with my husband. We are both heart broken behind this decision. I dont know if I will be able to stop the paperwork from leaving Cairo because most of the posts ive ready say otherwise. I am planning trip this April to be with my husband. I am taking my children as well so that they can all finally meet in person. It is my hope that first, this helps strengthen our bond even further and gives us all the strength we will need to face the USCIS united and strong. Second, I hope with them seeing how in under a year I've returned to spend sometime with my husband and children they can see that our marriage is one built with the most sincerely love and respect. "Inshallah" all will end in our favor.

Sincerely,

Lizz&MOhamed

I'm so sorry to hear about that .I really don't understand what the heck the USA embassy in Cairo is doing to us ?!

They denied your husband cause he just answered one question wrong ? This is really ridiculous .They should know that man was nervous and he might answer one of thier questions wrong .c'mon give him a chance .

Well talking about the age gap i really don't know if its a red flag or not .I have been a member on site since almost 3 years .I have seen so so many people have age gap ''10,15,20,25..'' years different and they got their visas without any problems after a few days .Now the USA embassy thinking about it as a red flag !!!!!

All what you can do now is try to stop the paperwork of leaving Cairo to USA .Try to Email them or try to call them .contacting your senator or your congressman its very good and i really hope that they will help you .

Good luck and my best wishes for you .

Mohamed

Shokran kater awe ya Mohamed for your nice words. Inshallah, all will be in our favor.

Lizz&Mohamed

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

I am writing as my story is almost the same. I am older than my finance. At his interview the CO was rude. He could not tell her where I went to college but my sons could not answer that either. My dad was in the Air force so I have lived in many states and gone to school from California to Long Island New York. There is no way I can tell anyone (not even closest people to me) about my entire life. We are upset because he was asked HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY FEEL ABOUT THIS MARRIAGE? and he tells her my family likes her. She called him a liar and would not give visa. He had photos of me and family because I spent the month of June with them.

And the congressman and senator should join forces and help you. You should be able to ask eve4ryone you can think of for help.

Want to raise some Hell with me? Maybe together we can convince someone that they discriminate with us because we are women. Old men of 70 and 80 are able to marry Russian girls of 20 and 30. Check out the marriages in Florida. Is happening a lot.

Thank you Enrique. Good luck with the rest of your journey. It is very frustrating to be in this place right now but even now I remain hopeful. I keep telling myself this only means it will take us a little longer that is all. =)

[Lizz&Mohamed 2]

Very sorry to hear this as well. Did she actually tell him sorry no and it was being returned? Who did he have as an interviewing officer?

Unfortunately im not sure you can do anything at all about this situation. If you have any evidence that did not get sent you can contact the embassy and ask for a reconsideration... its worth a try. I read somewhere that if you get a denial and feel that there is evidence that was not presented at the interview that you can ask them to reconsider but that it doesnt guarantee that they will do so..

Our interview he was not told it was being sent back, but that it needed further review and should take about 2 weeks,, well.. still nothing.

I have gotten the senator here involved now as of this week as i am going to stay with my husband for 2 months to help with the pain of being apart and told the senator all and that i would like to bring him home with me.

I really wish you luck on fighting this. I have seen that cairo there seem to be no rules or reason.. i have seen some on here say approved and wait 3 or 4 months to get visa, i have seen some say administrative processing and get it in a few weeks, i have seen some wait forever. I have also seen recently one that was approved and received visa in a matter of days.... so approved, not approved it really seems to mean nothing as to when you will get your visa.

Call anyone you can think of for assistance and in your case, maybe consult with an immigration lawyer, just as a consultation and see what they think. Some offer free consults. You also have the right to email the embassy and ask the specific reason they are sending it back.

Can anyone here give me the Cairo Embassy telephone number that I can call, where a live person can talk to me and give me answers??? please. thank you.

[tenderheartusa79 14]

Can anyone here give me the Cairo Embassy telephone number that I can call, where a live person can talk to me and give me answers??? please. thank you.

The phone number is : 20-2-27972200

You can call them from Sunday to Thursday From 1 PM till 3 PM Egypt time'' Friday and Saturday they are off cause its their weekend '' .They will not take any calls on the last Tuesday of the month ''Cause they go to the American center in Alexandria ''

Good luck and my best wishes for ya .