K1 visa denied Cairo

[Nasturtium 500]

we didn't have that Urfi certificate cause we didn't register it and when we rent an apartment they didn't ask us about it so we don't have that Urfi paper anymore. so even if i say yes at te interview i can't even prove it you see....

so i think i have to say nope we never married Urfi

That is your decision to do so.

[Aymsgirl 0]

My suggestion would be do as you have done with the senator or congressman. Provide them with as much information as possible. I would call them, do not write or email them and do this as soon as possible. My husband and I have a child together, he is Egyptian and we did not have an Urfi. We were not asked any questions about if we had an Urfi or not at his interview. We were previously at the US Embassy the year before attempting to get married and were both questioned for hours about our relationship. Maybe that is why we were not asked. Also, our senator was involved from the day I touched ground back in the US regarding our treatment so then again that may not be why we were questioned about this.

I was not able to add my husband to my son's birth certificate until he got here. He had to sign the parental affadavit in front of the clerk at the county vital statistics office. The US will probably not recognize a notarization from a foreign country unless it was notarized in the US Embassy. I was able to give my son his father's name but we named his as most Muslim men name their children with his own name and his father's name, grandfather's name etc.

I wish you the best of luck.

[nunyab 0]

It sounds like you are getting good advice here... not that I even know what you're going through but just understand I am here supporting your cause!!!

Rajaa

[morocco4ever 63]

One thing I saw, but no one has mentioned is that the OP stated that she did not give the baby an Arab name. Of course in the US this shouldn't be an issue, but I know that many Arab men would freak if the babys name wasn't Arabic. I don't believe this should EVER be grounds for a denial, but do any of you wonder if this is one of the reasons? Also, if she was divorced in Dec 06 and married Urfi in Dec 06, then had a baby 9 months later, gave the baby a name that wasn't Arab....do you see my line of thinking? What are your opinions on this thought?

[polarbear 0]

One thing I saw, but no one has mentioned is that the OP stated that she did not give the baby an Arab name. Of course in the US this shouldn't be an issue, but I know that many Arab men would freak if the babys name wasn't Arabic. I don't believe this should EVER be grounds for a denial, but do any of you wonder if this is one of the reasons? Also, if she was divorced in Dec 06 and married Urfi in Dec 06, then had a baby 9 months later, gave the baby a name that wasn't Arab....do you see my line of thinking? What are your opinions on this thought?

yeah, kinda looks bad when you say it like that..... especially since we know they consider our SO's guilty of fraud until proven inoccent (however unoffical that view point may be )

In my mind I know where she's coming from and how most people don't live their lives asking themselves if what they choose to do going to look bad to an imigration officer - but those consulate employees don't seem to be too empathetic, I don't think it's in their job description....

[Nagishkaw 510]

I have some ideas, but wont post them because I do not want to upset the OP. All I know is that Cairo is considered high fraud, and these officers are well trained and have seen it all. Perhaps they uncovered something during their review and investigation. Of course they can use an excuse like the b/c, the baby's name.....but that is flimsy and it is just not grounds for a flat out denial.

Edited August 7, 2008 by Nagishkaw

[lion_lioness 0]

Sorry to hear about what has happened. It seems you have gotten great advice. Be sure though to back-track with your fiance (husband) and make sure you guys didn't miss anything (has he applied for a visa previously? someone in his family? etc). Also, remember the officers, though as tough as it is to hear, are just doing their jobs and sometimes they are not perfect. Whatever you do don't take it personal, stick to the advice here and get started right away.

best to you both,

[morocco4ever 63]

I have some ideas, but wont post them because I do not want to upset the OP. All I know is that Cairo is considered high fraud, and these officers are well trained and have seen it all. Perhaps they uncovered something during their review and investigation. Of course they can use an excuse like the b/c, the baby's name.....but that is flimsy and it is just not grounds for a flat out denial.

Sometimes they jump to conclusions as well. My husband and I are proof of that. Not all that they think is fraud is truly fraud.

[punkmada 0]

I think there is another hidden reason for the denial, and they ain't saying.

Are there any red flags? Age difference, recent divorce, short courtship, etc.??

Yes, he is 21 Im 35 I divorced in December of 2006 but was separated for 4 years prior, and the courtship was almost a year. Ive known him since March 2006 and we were religiously married in December of 2006 since they would not write the affidavit at the embassy and they told us to come back. Well I came back in three times since then the other two times they would not give us the affidavit to marry because at that time in 2007 they were not issuing it. The final time I went there was in March of 2008 and I only stayed two weeks on my spring break but we didnt do the marriage at the embassy because I already submitted paperwork for the k1 visa. But the CO was really bent on us not giving the baby a muslim name or adding his name to the birth certificate, which at the hospital I was told I could not do because he was not my legal husband.

Wait a minute ..do you mean you got married in December of 2007? cause you said you divorced in DEC of 2006 and you got married in DEC of 2006 it doesn't make any sense so i think you meant DEC of 2007 yes???

December 2006 is when my divorce was finalized, but I was separated for 4 years prior. When my divorce was final I went to Egypt and tried to get married legally there and they refused saying I need to follow Islamic law and wait 90 days before the marriage can take place. So he contacted a sheik and did the marriage since I was separated for 4 years prior to getting the divorced finalized.

[punkmada 0]

I have some ideas, but wont post them because I do not want to upset the OP. All I know is that Cairo is considered high fraud, and these officers are well trained and have seen it all. Perhaps they uncovered something during their review and investigation. Of course they can use an excuse like the b/c, the baby's name.....but that is flimsy and it is just not grounds for a flat out denial.

Sometimes they jump to conclusions as well. My husband and I are proof of that. Not all that they think is fraud is truly fraud.

Well, I will not be offended to hear what you have to say, I want to know why they did this. It seems really crazy but we love each other and he has even said come to Egypt and live and for me that is not an option until I finish my graduate studies here. Not unless I just blow my schooling off and I really do not want to do that.

[punkmada 0]

One thing I saw, but no one has mentioned is that the OP stated that she did not give the baby an Arab name. Of course in the US this shouldn't be an issue, but I know that many Arab men would freak if the babys name wasn't Arabic. I don't believe this should EVER be grounds for a denial, but do any of you wonder if this is one of the reasons? Also, if she was divorced in Dec 06 and married Urfi in Dec 06, then had a baby 9 months later, gave the baby a name that wasn't Arab....do you see my line of thinking? What are your opinions on this thought?

yeah, kinda looks bad when you say it like that..... especially since we know they consider our SO's guilty of fraud until proven inoccent (however unoffical that view point may be )

In my mind I know where she's coming from and how most people don't live their lives asking themselves if what they choose to do going to look bad to an imigration officer - but those consulate employees don't seem to be too empathetic, I don't think it's in their job description....

Yes, and he was not too happy about that and we had long discussions concerning the name, that's why we chose Eli/Ali and all of his family calls the baby Ali and my family calls him Eli. I am Jewish and the child is Jewish from a Jewish mother, and even the CO said that he knew what Jewish Law stated since he worked in Jerusalem. Even if I converted to Islam, I would still be bound by Torah and obligated to follow Torah and any child who comes from me is the same as me, according to Jewish Law. I know that alot of Christian American women do marry Muslims from Egypt and never encounter something like me because of the child's name being a Christian name. I honestly feel that we are being discriminated against for my religion. But, I believe that our case draws alot of red flags, Im older, Im divorced, I have children, and the baby did not take on a muslim name, although his father does not only come from a muslim background but christian too. I truly believe that the consular thought that he was lying about the baby because he only judged it from a muslim Egyptian standpoint. Of course people should realize that there were MANY jews who converted to Christianity and Islam in Egypt and practiced Judaism in secret due to the problems with Israel in 1948. The consulars should take every aspect into play when they are making decisions as such. Many people will never admit in public that they are from Jewish descent for fear of discrimination after 1948 in Egypt. I'm just hoping and praying that God will answer our prayers and help us to overcome this horrible situation that we are in.

[punkmada 0]

My suggestion would be do as you have done with the senator or congressman. Provide them with as much information as possible. I would call them, do not write or email them and do this as soon as possible. My husband and I have a child together, he is Egyptian and we did not have an Urfi. We were not asked any questions about if we had an Urfi or not at his interview. We were previously at the US Embassy the year before attempting to get married and were both questioned for hours about our relationship. Maybe that is why we were not asked. Also, our senator was involved from the day I touched ground back in the US regarding our treatment so then again that may not be why we were questioned about this.

I was not able to add my husband to my son's birth certificate until he got here. He had to sign the parental affadavit in front of the clerk at the county vital statistics office. The US will probably not recognize a notarization from a foreign country unless it was notarized in the US Embassy. I was able to give my son his father's name but we named his as most Muslim men name their children with his own name and his father's name, grandfather's name etc.

I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks again!!!

[punkmada 0]

Sorry to hear about what has happened. It seems you have gotten great advice. Be sure though to back-track with your fiance (husband) and make sure you guys didn't miss anything (has he applied for a visa previously? someone in his family? etc). Also, remember the officers, though as tough as it is to hear, are just doing their jobs and sometimes they are not perfect. Whatever you do don't take it personal, stick to the advice here and get started right away.

best to you both,

He applied for a visitor's visa in february 2007 and was refused. I am thinking this on top of all the other red flags probably pushed them not to issue the visa for him. At the time when he did the visitor's visa we were not sure what type of visa to file. So, I am sure this may be it. I have talked to a few others and they feel that this was the original problem to start. If anyone has any type of thoughts on this please reply. Thanks

[Nasturtium 500]

Even if I converted to Islam, I would still be bound by Torah and obligated to follow Torah and any child who comes from me is the same as me, according to Jewish Law.

Actually, if you converted to Islam it would negate anything in Torah. Islam claims to recognize Torah and "Injeel" (but not Tanakh), but also says they are corrupted and therefore doesn't follow them. He is likely Sunni, right? So he would follow the Qu'ran and ahadeeth as rules, which are somewhat similar at times, but often just an antiparallel (for example, you have no pork in common but Muslims can and do sacrifice camels and eat them as well, which is forbidden by name in Torah, or their end times prophecies which are also a perfect antiparallel).

ETA: not that this should matter in your case at all-- I think it sounds like a flimsy excuse as well.

Edited August 8, 2008 by julianna

[Nasturtium 500]

He applied for a visitor's visa in february 2007 and was refused. I am thinking this on top of all the other red flags probably pushed them not to issue the visa for him. At the time when he did the visitor's visa we were not sure what type of visa to file. So, I am sure this may be it. I have talked to a few others and they feel that this was the original problem to start. If anyone has any type of thoughts on this please reply. Thanks

It is true, this can sometimes cause problems.