Just Turkish

[Ctrl+alt+delete 0]

Thanks Julia....

Alhamdulillah...Yes, almost done.

Dual Citizenship, no because we didn't file it correctly before N-400 from what I understand. Candemir can apply for Dual Citizenship after his oath if he choose too. Does anyone know what happens now if one has not completed his military duty? Can travel back and forth to Turkey be an issue? Or does one still need the Military clearance from the Embassy here in the states first?

[tanyakaraman 0]

Thanks Julia....

Alhamdulillah...Yes, almost done.

Dual Citizenship, no because we didn't file it correctly before N-400 from what I understand. Candemir can apply for Dual Citizenship after his oath if he choose too. Does anyone know what happens now if one has not completed his military duty? Can travel back and forth to Turkey be an issue? Or does one still need the Military clearance from the Embassy here in the states first?

Congratuations Debra & Candemir!

Once he is a US Citizen, it shouldn't matter about his military duty any more. I'm not sure if that changes if he's a dual citizen tho. I'd imagine it would. He can file at the Turkish Embassy here in the US to delay his military duty so he can travel to Turkey with no problems. Ozzy was able to delay his for 2 years based on his Employment Auth here in the States. Thats just a temporary fix tho until he can apply for citizenship.

I didn't know one was able to keep dual citizenship...interesting!

Well I found out this week that I will be joining the many others in this economic downturn and will be laid off from my job effective this Tuesday. I am sad 'cause I really loved my job & the ppl I work with, but I'm not totally heartbroken. Fortunately, they are giving me a really nice severance package and what will basically amount to a paid 9-month vacation I could sure use a little downtime with the baby coming in September and just the craziness that has been my life for the past couple years trying to work and go to school and take care of my family, etc. There are a lot of things that have fallen thru the cracks and I'll finally have some time to do some catching up, spending more time with my kids, and just relaxing a little!

The downside is, I have to give back my computer (it is a work-owned computer that they gave me so I can work from home sometimes), so I don't know how much internet access I will have for the next few weeks until I can get another one (I am internet addicted so i'm sure I'm going to be going crazy!).

But take care everyone & I will check in and post when I can!

Tanya

Edited May 2, 2009 by tanyakaraman

[awaterlily 0]

Debra, in terms of the military obligation and keeping Turkish citizenship, tell your husband to go to this Turkish government website . Once he has registered on the site he can request advice, information and get forms needed to take care of the aforementioned issues.

That all said, my DH says the military one will need to be addressed first...but, again, your DH can get all the information from the Turkish gov. They know best.

BTW, Congrats to your DH on becoming a citizen! Phew...finally over!

Dual Citizenship, no because we didn't file it correctly before N-400 from what I understand. Candemir can apply for Dual Citizenship after his oath if he choose too. Does anyone know what happens now if one has not completed his military duty? Can travel back and forth to Turkey be an issue? Or does one still need the Military clearance from the Embassy here in the states first?

Tanya - so sorry to hear of your job loss...on the bright side of it all you get to keep attention on that little bean growing inside of your tummy. Enjoy the time off, take a yoga class, spend time with your kids! ;-)

Edited May 3, 2009 by awaterlily

[tanyakaraman 0]

Thanks Awaterlily...and you read my mind about the yoga classes! It's something I've been wanting to do and just haven't had the time.

Just a question for those who've been thru the process of applying for the 10-year GC....is there an affidavit of support with that? I'm just a little worried that I'll need to show an income for something USCIS related in the next few months and (except for my severance pay & unemployment), I won't have one/enough of one.

Thanks

Tanya

[miamiwife 0]

Tanya--

I think you will be okay, because you got married in October 2007, right? So you will have to lift conditions 90 days prior and submit your tax returns. Well you already filed so you will be good. If you are applying next year, then it might be a problem, but since it is almost 2 years now, I would think you will be okay. Sorry to hear about the job--I know what it is like to be uncertain of the future--but it does sound like a blessing in disguise, and what a great severance package!

Sibel

[kennyandhandan 2]

AOS interview today and we were approved

[miamiwife 0]

Congrats Kenny and Handan!

[Merk 0]

Congrats to all the good news!!!!! It is so nice to hear good things comming from so many!!!!

[Ctrl+alt+delete 0]

Thank you for the info Tonya. Yes, great to be almost done! Tomorrow is the big Oath day.

I am so sorry to hear about your job. I hope you can make the best of it and be able to focus on your family and the tiny one to come.

No internet.... what a nightmare.! I hope you get that figured out soon. But I know the feeling, dont know what I would do without it too.

Thanks Julia....

Alhamdulillah...Yes, almost done.

Dual Citizenship, no because we didn't file it correctly before N-400 from what I understand. Candemir can apply for Dual Citizenship after his oath if he choose too. Does anyone know what happens now if one has not completed his military duty? Can travel back and forth to Turkey be an issue? Or does one still need the Military clearance from the Embassy here in the states first?

Congratuations Debra & Candemir!

Once he is a US Citizen, it shouldn't matter about his military duty any more. I'm not sure if that changes if he's a dual citizen tho. I'd imagine it would. He can file at the Turkish Embassy here in the US to delay his military duty so he can travel to Turkey with no problems. Ozzy was able to delay his for 2 years based on his Employment Auth here in the States. Thats just a temporary fix tho until he can apply for citizenship.

I didn't know one was able to keep dual citizenship...interesting!

Well I found out this week that I will be joining the many others in this economic downturn and will be laid off from my job effective this Tuesday. I am sad 'cause I really loved my job & the ppl I work with, but I'm not totally heartbroken. Fortunately, they are giving me a really nice severance package and what will basically amount to a paid 9-month vacation I could sure use a little downtime with the baby coming in September and just the craziness that has been my life for the past couple years trying to work and go to school and take care of my family, etc. There are a lot of things that have fallen thru the cracks and I'll finally have some time to do some catching up, spending more time with my kids, and just relaxing a little!

The downside is, I have to give back my computer (it is a work-owned computer that they gave me so I can work from home sometimes), so I don't know how much internet access I will have for the next few weeks until I can get another one (I am internet addicted so i'm sure I'm going to be going crazy!).

But take care everyone & I will check in and post when I can!

Tanya

Thank you awaterlily for that info.

I will be calling you soon ;-))

Debra, in terms of the military obligation and keeping Turkish citizenship, tell your husband to go to this Turkish government website . Once he has registered on the site he can request advice, information and get forms needed to take care of the aforementioned issues.

That all said, my DH says the military one will need to be addressed first...but, again, your DH can get all the information from the Turkish gov. They know best.

BTW, Congrats to your DH on becoming a citizen! Phew...finally over!

Dual Citizenship, no because we didn't file it correctly before N-400 from what I understand. Candemir can apply for Dual Citizenship after his oath if he choose too. Does anyone know what happens now if one has not completed his military duty? Can travel back and forth to Turkey be an issue? Or does one still need the Military clearance from the Embassy here in the states first?

Tanya - so sorry to hear of your job loss...on the bright side of it all you get to keep attention on that little bean growing inside of your tummy. Enjoy the time off, take a yoga class, spend time with your kids! ;-)

CONGRATULATION

Kenny and Handan!

AOS interview today and we were approved

[awaterlily 0]

WOOT! Congrats.

AOS interview today and we were approved

[wendya 0]

Merhaba Herkes!!

Congratulations to everyone!

Sibel, how are things going?

Tanya, how are you enjoying your time off

Julia, how are things going with you?

Erika, where are you?

Well, Yilmaz and I will be leaving for Hawaii on May 18. We will marry on the beach in Oahu on May 21. Then a couple of days later we will leave for the island of Maui. I just need to book some side trips and then everything will be complete.

We got Yilmaz's SS # and he is waiting for them to send his card in the mail. Hopefully when we return from Hawaii, we will be able to find him a job! I think he is getting bored and I know the extra money would come in handy

Well, in another 1/2 hour I will be done work and we will be going to look for our wedding bands. I have to also have the wedding dress I bought on Tuesday pressed and steamed and ready for travel.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Love and hugs to all,

Wendy and Yilmaz

[miamiwife 0]

Hi Wendy! Well it sounds like you are going to have a fabulous wedding in Hawaii! How exciting! Please post photos or describe all the details, leis, sunsets, wave height--you name it!

I am still waiting. I will be heading to Turkey this summer to see the husband, I just need to try to find a plane ticket and a place for my kitty.

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Hello everyone!

Finally I have time and energy to write about our consulate experience and give you an update too

I am so happy to hear about all the wonderful news everytime I come here! I know Sibel is probably thinking "not for me!" but you know your day is coming soon (and God knows you are sick of hearing that...I'm sorry Sibel....we are praying for you

OK so I will give you all a much belated synopsis of the whole consulate experience (if anyone even cares anymore! lol)

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Ok....sigh.... so it was snowing a little in Ankara and it was colddddddddd .....

I had my loveley cough as we waitied among the 40ish or so horde of people who were being called by name from some list the guard had. I was the only American and I was starting to lose my patience after 30 min waiting and it was 15 minutes until our appointment-if they had not let me in I would have probably caused a scene as we were far from our hotel and I was sick and freezing So finally the guard asks Hamit is he here for a tourist visa..no...student visa....no....workers visa...no...immigrant visa...no...finally he kinda laughs when Hamit tells him and takes his passport along with mine and doesn't call us for like 15 more min...grrrrrrr then finally we are in no questions asked!

Inside, it was packed and people were standing. There are like 7 windows just like at Social Security or DMV with a digital sign showing which letter/number combo is currently being called along with the same sound kinda like a doorbell that you hear at the DMV. You can hear everyone being questioned only it was difficult to hear over the crowded room of talking people-some were standing-this probably due to the cancellations because of Obama.

Anyhow, we waited near an hour and Hamit got more and more nervous and I kept trying to joke. I seen Wendy's Yilmaz, but didn't say hello because I was now nervous too lo

We could see that "Chinese-American chick" that another Turkey VJ member talked about somewhere here on VJ and yes she was a b*tch I will agree and prayed we didn't get her. I could hear snippets of people being grilled for worker, student, K-2 visas. One K-2 Turkish husband was put in AP along with him needing to prove his wife (the USC) who is living in Iraq is indeed living in the US for 6 months out of the year. Everyone being questioned was grilled at length for sure-Come prepared! I can tell you if you are a legit couple and have nothing to hide and have all our paperwork, are honest-you WILL get the visa. Just point out any weak spots and explain them away beforehand and have your proof to back everything up (my weak areas were my income the previous year and the fact that we didn't have a common language at first) anyway we were called up and the woman we got was at window 6 and she was American, white and maybe in her late 40's or 50's and tried to be poker-faced, but I could see they try to do a lot of acting such as when she seen me she asked "and you are???" which in my relationship timeline/synopsis letter included in the packet I mailed to them ( I think sending your "proof of relationship" to them beforehand as opposed to briniging it at the interview gives them a chance to become familiar with your case and therefore they cut to the point quicker during the intervirew) and in emails to the consulate I stated I would be there...so to me it was silly...but after I told her she smiled and said to have a seat and if she had any questions she would call me up. I tried to listen, but it was difficult

Also, they seem to ask stupid questions they already know the answers to perhaps to see if you lie. For example, they asked me: "so you have never been married?" "you have no children?" both of which are a yes...silly....they asked me how do we speak followed quickly with who types for Hamit (when we chatted online)???!!! I was confused by this...lol

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Ok so my story got cut off.....grrrrrrrrrrr...nice so I will keep it short as I wrote a book already...lol

So we get called up and I am told to have a seat and I could hear her questioning Hamit in English (he asked for Turkish, but she said it's ok no problem if your English is weak, I just want to see how you do) He did well and she sometimes used Turkish if he didn't understand, but he did well overall and she called me up 10 minutes later and asked me how we communicated if he didn't know English at first and how we communicated now....she asked for my 2008 tax documents and gave us a slip and told us to go to the UPS table....she seemed genuinely happy for us and was fair , but business like most of the time...but never mean...they do get to the weak areas and will ask you pointed questions so be prepared!!!...ok enough for now...Hamit is waiting for us to get outta the house and after half my post disappeared.......well

I hope to let you all a lil more another day!

Hope all is well out there!

Erika