Just Turkish

[Gil + Pel 2]

Thanks for the info. I will have to prepare him that I may not be allowed to stand with him the whole time.. he's really worried about questions that have to do with dates, because he has a horrible time remembering dates. Yesterday was his sister's birthday and I had to remind him

For some reason he can never remember my brother's name. He can remember my niece and nephew's names.. but not my brother's For my mom, he just usually calls her "mom" and I think he will stumble on that if he's asked.

We will probably be prepared for tons of hard questions and only end up getting asked a few easy ones. I could deal with that

at the interview the officer asked me how we met, how long I have lived in the states (I had a student visa), when was the last time I saw him and that was it. if u sent enough evidence I don't think they will give you guys a hard time.

they let applicants inside the building one by one(after security check).there is a reception desk type of thing right in front of the interview area.the officer there at the desk will be asking your fiance for his passport, 2 passport type photos, his payment record (fortis bank) and medical exam results.then he/she will ask him if he wants to include any additional evidence for your relationship.(new photos,e-mails,chat logs ...) I am pretty sure you guys will have some additional stuff by then so he can give them to the officer.before he/she lets you in, he/she will ask him in what language he would like to be interviewed and then will give him a number and send you guys into the waiting area ...

[Jenn and Fuat 2]

I don't think I have ever been more thankful for this site than right now. VJ was great with helping with the paperwork, but to actually be able to get information from people who have already been through the Embassy is invaluable. Thank you to everyone who has given me advise.

Pel, your post makes me wonder if I need to rethink how I have our proof of relationship organized.

When I filed the original petition, I sent every piece of evidence we had. I think my packet was about 4 pounds!

When we sent packet # 3 in, we sent samples of additional evidence we had collected since the time of filing the petition. It wasn't much, since we filed in September and sent packet # 3 in November.. but we sent my phone records from September, October and what I had up to that point in November.. 5 samples of emails from September - November, 5 samples of MSN Chat logs ( including screen shots of us talking on the web cam) from September - November, copies of all Skype SMS messages for September - November. We had no new pictures at that time.

** I didn't send every MSN chat log/web cam screen shot from Sept - November because it would have made for a huge packet, so just sent an additional five samples. I DID sent every one of them when I filed the original petition. Phone records.. only sent mine because he has had a horrible time trying to get his from Turkcell and mine show my outgoing calls and his incoming calls.. so I am assuming this will be alright since both of our calls appear on my records.

I have all of our evidence arranged as follows:

one HUGE binder with every MSN chat log/web cam conversation. All of them are together by date. The ones I have already sent them and the ones they don't have.

One large binder with the following:

all of our emails.. together by date. The ones I have already sent and the ones they don't have.

all SMS messages.. by month. The ones I have already sent and the ones they don't have.

All my cell phone bills.. by month. The ones I have already sent and the ones they don't have.

all receipts for packages sent between both of us over the past two years...

copies of all my flight tickets.. there is only one they don't already have ( my trip in December)

copies of the stamps/visas in my passport.. there is only one they don't already have ( december)

Hotel receipts from every trip.. only one they don't already have is the one from December

We have a photo album with all of our pictures. They have everything already except for the photos from December. I have a concern that we do not have enough photos. From all our pictures, we only have 36 photos that show us together.. and about 10 that can prove we were in the same place at the same time.

Most of the time I was taking pictures of the city.. or a picture of him in front of something.. a picture of me in front of something... I don't usually get in my own pictures when I am on a trip somewhere and I have only had one trip since the time we filed. Should I include the pics that might have just him or just me? They don't really prove we were together when the photos were taken, but I really feel I am lacking in photos. Unfortunately, the camera broke on my last trip.. but I did manage to get about 6 pictures with his family before it broke.

Then we have an envelope with miscellaneous stuff. Cards and letters we have sent to each other ( with the envelopes showing addresses). We sent none of this with the petition or packet # 3 and had decided we should just take it to the interview. He didn't want to part with them in case we didn't get them back.

Now.. after all my rambling.. here is my question. If they are going to ask him if he has any NEW evidence to submit should we separate all the new stuff from September to the day of the interview, have that all together in a binder, and just hand them that along with the photos and the envelope with cards and letters.... and then keep all the stuff they already have in another binder and keep it handy just in case?

Do they let you take backpacks or bags into the Consulate? I've tried to organize it so that it is easy to carry in case they won't let us take a bag in. I know you can't take cell phones in .. but what about a back pack?

Sorry about the long message.. just want to make sure we are properly prepared!

[Gil + Pel 2]

whooaaaa ! it seems like you have covered all your bases!

Now.. after all my rambling.. here is my question. If they are going to ask him if he has any NEW evidence to submit should we separate all the new stuff from September to the day of the interview, have that all together in a binder, and just hand them that along with the photos and the envelope with cards and letters.... and then keep all the stuff they already have in another binder and keep it handy just in case?

YES YES YES!!it wouldn't hurt to carry the old ones with you.in case they want them,you can hand them right away... I did not give them anything I sent with package 3.pictures,e-mails ... they were all from after we filed petition.I was lucky that I saw him twice after we applied for the visa so I had more pictures to give along with chat logs and e-mails.

Do they let you take backpacks or bags into the Consulate? I've tried to organize it so that it is easy to carry in case they won't let us take a bag in. I know you can't take cell phones in .. but what about a back pack?

I am not sure about backpacks exactly...but if you have a big purse that's fine my file was not as thick as yours so I put it in a medium size bag and carried it.

Sorry about the long message.. just want to make sure we are properly prepared!

I think you have good amount of proof jen. when the officer asked me when was the last time I saw my back then fiance, I said ''2 days ago'' and she was like " why didn't he come with you ? " since you will go to the interview with him, you will be the biggest proof of your bona fide relationship!

I don't know if you will have time but you might try to take some pics before you guys go to the interview

[Jenn and Fuat 2]

I think you have good amount of proof jen. when the officer asked me when was the last time I saw my back then fiance, I said ''2 days ago'' and she was like " why didn't he come with you ? " since you will go to the interview with him, you will be the biggest proof of your bona fide relationship!

I don't know if you will have time but you might try to take some pics before you guys go to the interview

OK.. I am going to reorganize everything and separate the stuff they already have then. It will give me something to do this afternoon, since I am snowed in and won't be leaving the house this afternoon:)

We will have 4 days together, before the interview, so we could take pictures. I usually just take my camera card to Walmart and print them out on one of those instant machines. Any idea where I might find something like this in Istanbul or Ankara? What would be the easiest way to get them printed quickly there?

I also have every picture labeled with the month/year and where we were. I wouldn't be able to label the new ones, unless I made up labels ahead of time and just made sure we took pictures that matched the labels

Definitely do-able if there is an easy way for me to get the pictures printed quickly. I'll ask Fuat about this, but if you know a place please let me know!

Thanks for the info.

[Gil + Pel 2]

OK.. I am going to reorganize everything and separate the stuff they already have then. It will give me something to do this afternoon, since I am snowed in and won't be leaving the house this afternoon:)

We will have 4 days together, before the interview, so we could take pictures. I usually just take my camera card to Walmart and print them out on one of those instant machines. Any idea where I might find something like this in Istanbul or Ankara? What would be the easiest way to get them printed quickly there?

I also have every picture labeled with the month/year and where we were. I wouldn't be able to label the new ones, unless I made up labels ahead of time and just made sure we took pictures that matched the labels

Definitely do-able if there is an easy way for me to get the pictures printed quickly. I'll ask Fuat about this, but if you know a place please let me know!

Thanks for the info.

there is one place I know that you can go to to print out pictures.I went there before I sent my package 3 and it took me like 15 min to get the pics.it is in ' besiktas'.(in istanbul)the name of the place is "NECDET OZALIT" I will write how to get there in turkish so you can have fuat read this.:)I am pretty sure he will easily find it.u can either burn a cd or put the pics on a flash drive.I don't know if u can just take your camera there but you can always call and ask.

" besiktas'ta eski tansas'in oldugu yerin arka tarafinda.hatta orda otobus duraklari var.otobus duraklarinin arkasinda kalan cadde ustunde hemen.NECDET OZALIT.259 87 11 - 259 07 06 - 227 92 02 telefon numaralari da bunlar."

[Jenn and Fuat 2]

there is one place I know that you can go to to print out pictures.I went there before I sent my package 3 and it took me like 15 min to get the pics.it is in ' besiktas'.(in istanbul)the name of the place is "NECDET OZALIT" I will write how to get there in turkish so you can have fuat read this.:)I am pretty sure he will easily find it.u can either burn a cd or put the pics on a flash drive.I don't know if u can just take your camera there but you can always call and ask.

" besiktas'ta eski tansas'in oldugu yerin arka tarafinda.hatta orda otobus duraklari var.otobus duraklarinin arkasinda kalan cadde ustunde hemen.NECDET OZALIT.259 87 11 - 259 07 06 - 227 92 02 telefon numaralari da bunlar."

Thanks I will have to have him check to see if they are open on Sundays. I get there on a Friday, but we will leave on Sunday afternoon to go to Ankara. He's never been there, so we are going to go two days before our interview. It's kind of funny that I am going to get to show around him HIS capital

I will have to try to take as many pics as we can, by Sunday morning, and then print them. I have a friend in Ankara who may be able to tell me where to get more printed there.

16 days.. I can't believe it's actually getting close!

[Gil + Pel 2]

Thanks I will have to have him check to see if they are open on Sundays. I get there on a Friday, but we will leave on Sunday afternoon to go to Ankara. He's never been there, so we are going to go two days before our interview. It's kind of funny that I am going to get to show around him HIS capital

I will have to try to take as many pics as we can, by Sunday morning, and then print them. I have a friend in Ankara who may be able to tell me where to get more printed there.

16 days.. I can't believe it's actually getting close!

yeah!it is getting pretty close!good luck Jenn!!!

I wish we did not have to do apply for anything else after receiving K1 visa... there is more stuff to do after marriage more paperwork, more waiting, more stress... oh well.. at least I am with my baby now!

[Melinda&Necmi 0]

Good luck tomorrow Tayna!! I know you will do well!!

[camistanbul 0]

We will have 4 days together, before the interview, so we could take pictures. I usually just take my camera card to Walmart and print them out on one of those instant machines. Any idea where I might find something like this in Istanbul or Ankara? What would be the easiest way to get them printed quickly there?

It won't be hard to find a place like this. There are photo shops all over the place, in malls, on the street-- most do the typical 1-hour processing so just bring your camera and/or a USB stick or CD with your photos and they can turn it around really quickly. Very very easy to find.

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Yea there are photo shops on every street! Good luck with everything Jenn! Gil&Pel: I know! This is only the beginning of the mound of paperwork one must get through to get the 10 year GC and/or citizenship!

[BayanAltun 0]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted. Ramazan came here in June and things have been going well, with the expected bumps along the way. We've applied for AOS and are still waiting. Anyway, here is our latest issue:

His passport expires in March. We sent it to the Turkish consulate in Chicago for renewal. The problem is his military deferrment expired in October. The consulate general told my husband that he must provide the Employment Authorization (of which we are still waiting to receive) and that he must start working, but they'll give my husband 6 more months to get a job. If he is here in the U.S legally, why does it matter that he has a job in order to renew his passport??? He came on a spouse visa, not a work visa. He is legally living here and is adjusting status (we provided the USCIS AOS and EAD recipts), so why must he show that he is working in order to defer military again?! So, if he gets is EAD, but can't find employment until after 7 months (you never know with the job situations here right now), they'll flat out refuse to renew his passport?!

Yes, we are kicking ourselves for not renewing BEFORE he came.....

Anyone ever have to deal with one of the Turkish consulates here in the States?

Deanna

[Jenn and Fuat 2]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I've posted. Ramazan came here in June and things have been going well, with the expected bumps along the way. We've applied for AOS and are still waiting. Anyway, here is our latest issue:

His passport expires in March. We sent it to the Turkish consulate in Chicago for renewal. The problem is his military deferrment expired in October. The consulate general told my husband that he must provide the Employment Authorization (of which we are still waiting to receive) and that he must start working, but they'll give my husband 6 more months to get a job. If he is here in the U.S legally, why does it matter that he has a job in order to renew his passport??? He came on a spouse visa, not a work visa. He is legally living here and is adjusting status (we provided the USCIS AOS and EAD recipts), so why must he show that he is working in order to defer military again?! So, if he gets is EAD, but can't find employment until after 7 months (you never know with the job situations here right now), they'll flat out refuse to renew his passport?!

Yes, we are kicking ourselves for not renewing BEFORE he came.....

Anyone ever have to deal with one of the Turkish consulates here in the States?

Deanna

I've dealt with the embassy in Washington DC, but not for something like this. It was about the work visa for one of my summer employees...They were not very friendly, but the employee was in jail at the time and they did not think our company was doing enough to help this person. Not much we can do when no bail bondsman will agree to take the case... anyway, you could try to contact the Embassy. They were easy to reach, though my experience with them was not that great.

This just doesn't sound right? Hoping someone will chime in with some information.

[BayanAltun 0]

I've dealt with the embassy in Washington DC, but not for something like this. It was about the work visa for one of my summer employees...They were not very friendly, but the employee was in jail at the time and they did not think our company was doing enough to help this person. Not much we can do when no bail bondsman will agree to take the case... anyway, you could try to contact the Embassy. They were easy to reach, though my experience with them was not that great.

This just doesn't sound right? Hoping someone will chime in with some information.

Well, after posting this, I found out I misunderstood my husband's email! He was trying to tell me that they will extend it for 6 months while we wait for his EAD. That is not how my husband said it (still dealing with language barrier at times!). Whatever the case, talking to the Consulate is much like talking to Immigration: talking to a brick wall....which is also eerily similar to talking to my husband at times.... On a bright note, I did just see online that his EAD card has been ordered...time to get a job!!!

[awaterlily 0]

Please welcome the newest addition to our family - a furry little four-legged blue eyed pure breed Turk...

Edited February 12, 2010 by awaterlily

[nicole&efe 0]

I was wondering if any of you know if there is any way to renew a Turkish passport without having to physically go to the office. If you could ask your Turkish counterparts this, I would really appreciate it!

If our NOA2 came before Efe got out of the army, I was going to send in packet 3 myself. I'm confident that I can get all the paperwork signed/filled out but getting the passport renewed is going to be a roadblock. I'm really bummed about this.