Approved in Ankara, visa in hand!!

[Galfeist 0]

Hi everyone!

Edip and I had our interview Sept 24th. I thought I'd share details that took place in Ankara. Our appt. was at 0930, arrived at embassy at 0900 without a wait, went thru security, they took Edip's two pics (even tho we had sent two with pkt 3, glad we had taken extras) so then you sit and wait for your number to show up. We were right by window 6 when blinds opened and a not so friendly-looking CO was behind the counter. We were saying "please not her, please not her" Some other girl was called to interview with her and the CO was drilling this poor girl so hard and telling her she needs to speak English if she wants to go to a country were that is primary language and back and forth they went. I don't even know the outcome because Edip and I started talking to distract ourselves from that interview. Finally our number pops up and sure enough it's Window 6. So we go up together and she asks me if I was the US citizen and I said "yes" and she told me to have a seat for now.

This is conversation as best as I can remember (you are speaking through a microphone and everyone can hear your questions/answers)

"How did you meet Doris?"

'She came on vacation to Istanbul last year.'

"Is that all you remember? You don't remember any details"

'Yes, of course we met at a restaurant and saw each other and liked each other'

"And so you just walked up to her table?"

'Yes'

"Was she alone"

'No, she was with her friend'

"Were you alone?"

'Yes' (I'm thinking to myself, what the hell is he saying, I mean techinically he WAS alone and did come up to our table, but his friend had called him to come join us so it's not like two strangers' eyes meeting across a room like he was making it sound, I know he was just nervous)

Edip goes on to say, 'we spent time together and then she went to America and came back a few months later and stayed for six weeks'

"For you?"

'Yes'

"Where did she stay?" (At this point she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish, and I'm thinking "oh, she actually IS sweet and wants him to be comfortable speaking in Turkish)

Edip ignored her comment and continues in English.

'We rented an apt'

"Who do you live with regularly?"

'My cousin'

"And he was ok with you two staying together?"

'Yes because we love each other'

"Has Doris met your family?" (Again she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish)

'I want to practice my English since I am going to America' he tells her.

We had about ten photos of us traveling around Turkey and some with his family and we had agreed first chance he had to slip those photos in to take up time and avoid more questions. So Edip hands her photos and she starts asking who's who in pics in regards to his family and then she starts speaking Turkish to him and later Edip tells me she is telling him to speak Turkish because "She is going to hear" referring to me. (so much for my theory on her sweetness) She asks him what I do for work and he tells her "hemshire" then she tells him to go sit down and calls me.

She's looking at paperwork and says "Doris, I see your w-2's here but they're blank."

I tell her she needs to look closer, they are 1099's since I am an independent contractor and contract myself out to hospitals and I have the original and recent pay stubs if she needs to see them. She later finds salary that was partially typed onto the line and could be missed if not looked for. She did not care to see original or pay stubs.

Then she starts interviewing me.

"Where did you and Edip meet" ( I think she felt his hesitation and wanted to verify story)

'I was vacationing in Istanbul and we met at a restaurant'

"Were you alone?"

'No, I was with my friend'

"Was he alone?"

'He came alone but we had met his friend' (I know she didn't hear this response at all cuz she cuts me off)

"Doris I have been to Istanbul and I know how the men like to hassle everyone over there, do you just start talking to any strange man that comes up to your table and wants to talk to you?" (uh, huh I wanted to tell her, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM because I am so desperate for attention from men) Instead I say,

'I think I am a good judge of character and know the difference from the every day hassler and a decent person and he looked harmless, come on look at him' and she just nods. (my mouth is so dry at this time and I keep thinking why am I being interviewed?)

"So then you went home?"

'Yes, and then he called me and we kept in touch.'

"He made an international phone call?"

'Yes' (does she really think he is incapable of such)

'I came back to Istanbul for six weeks and studied Turkish

"Did you learn"

'Some'

"Where did you stay?"

'We rented an apt'

"Who does he normally live with?"

'His cousin'

"Have you met his brothers/sisters"

'He only has brothers and I have met only some of them, the ones who live in Istanbul.'

She sees that I was previously married, "Do you still talk to your ex-husband?"

'No'

"Was he a US citizen?" (She probably sees his hispanic last name and had to ask, I'm hispanic myself)

'Yes'

"How does your family feel about this"

'They don't care'

She then calls Edip back to window and she's just looking at her paperwork and without looking at us so matter-of-fact she says, "I'm approving your visa today."

I was so excited/happy I say "Thank you!" maybe over-enthusiastically and she starts laughing and tells us "Congratulations and have a happy marriage" and then tells us to go to the UPS desk in back of the room.

It was such a relief to get it over with.

We received visa this past Monday. I am so happy for us but I still feel sad for those of you out there still waiting. Julia and Sibel, I will keep you in our prayers. I don't know why we didn't get place in AP. Maybe because Edip's never left Turkey. I just thank God we didn't. We've had a wonderful time here in Turkey and will leave for USA later this week. Take care everyone and God bless. Iyi Bayramlar!!

Doris

[aliya 0]

Congratulations and all the best for a wonderful future together

[frali 2]

That was an interesting experience.

Congrats

[sara..... 371]

Hi everyone!

Edip and I had our interview Sept 24th. I thought I'd share details that took place in Ankara. Our appt. was at 0930, arrived at embassy at 0900 without a wait, went thru security, they took Edip's two pics (even tho we had sent two with pkt 3, glad we had taken extras) so then you sit and wait for your number to show up. We were right by window 6 when blinds opened and a not so friendly-looking CO was behind the counter. We were saying "please not her, please not her" Some other girl was called to interview with her and the CO was drilling this poor girl so hard and telling her she needs to speak English if she wants to go to a country were that is primary language and back and forth they went. I don't even know the outcome because Edip and I started talking to distract ourselves from that interview. Finally our number pops up and sure enough it's Window 6. So we go up together and she asks me if I was the US citizen and I said "yes" and she told me to have a seat for now.

This is conversation as best as I can remember (you are speaking through a microphone and everyone can hear your questions/answers)

"How did you meet Doris?"

'She came on vacation to Istanbul last year.'

"Is that all you remember? You don't remember any details"

'Yes, of course we met at a restaurant and saw each other and liked each other'

"And so you just walked up to her table?"

'Yes'

"Was she alone"

'No, she was with her friend'

"Were you alone?"

'Yes' (I'm thinking to myself, what the hell is he saying, I mean techinically he WAS alone and did come up to our table, but his friend had called him to come join us so it's not like two strangers' eyes meeting across a room like he was making it sound, I know he was just nervous)

Edip goes on to say, 'we spent time together and then she went to America and came back a few months later and stayed for six weeks'

"For you?"

'Yes'

"Where did she stay?" (At this point she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish, and I'm thinking "oh, she actually IS sweet and wants him to be comfortable speaking in Turkish)

Edip ignored her comment and continues in English.

'We rented an apt'

"Who do you live with regularly?"

'My cousin'

"And he was ok with you two staying together?"

'Yes because we love each other'

"Has Doris met your family?" (Again she tells him in Turkish to speak Turkish)

'I want to practice my English since I am going to America' he tells her.

We had about ten photos of us traveling around Turkey and some with his family and we had agreed first chance he had to slip those photos in to take up time and avoid more questions. So Edip hands her photos and she starts asking who's who in pics in regards to his family and then she starts speaking Turkish to him and later Edip tells me she is telling him to speak Turkish because "She is going to hear" referring to me. (so much for my theory on her sweetness) She asks him what I do for work and he tells her "hemshire" then she tells him to go sit down and calls me.

She's looking at paperwork and says "Doris, I see your w-2's here but they're blank."

I tell her she needs to look closer, they are 1099's since I am an independent contractor and contract myself out to hospitals and I have the original and recent pay stubs if she needs to see them. She later finds salary that was partially typed onto the line and could be missed if not looked for. She did not care to see original or pay stubs.

Then she starts interviewing me.

"Where did you and Edip meet" ( I think she felt his hesitation and wanted to verify story)

'I was vacationing in Istanbul and we met at a restaurant'

"Were you alone?"

'No, I was with my friend'

"Was he alone?"

'He came alone but we had met his friend' (I know she didn't hear this response at all cuz she cuts me off)

"Doris I have been to Istanbul and I know how the men like to hassle everyone over there, do you just start talking to any strange man that comes up to your table and wants to talk to you?" (uh, huh I wanted to tell her, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM because I am so desperate for attention from men) Instead I say,

'I think I am a good judge of character and know the difference from the every day hassler and a decent person and he looked harmless, come on look at him' and she just nods. (my mouth is so dry at this time and I keep thinking why am I being interviewed?)

"So then you went home?"

'Yes, and then he called me and we kept in touch.'

"He made an international phone call?"

'Yes' (does she really think he is incapable of such)

'I came back to Istanbul for six weeks and studied Turkish

"Did you learn"

'Some'

"Where did you stay?"

'We rented an apt'

"Who does he normally live with?"

'His cousin'

"Have you met his brothers/sisters"

'He only has brothers and I have met only some of them, the ones who live in Istanbul.'

She sees that I was previously married, "Do you still talk to your ex-husband?"

'No'

"Was he a US citizen?" (She probably sees his hispanic last name and had to ask, I'm hispanic myself)

'Yes'

"How does your family feel about this"

'They don't care'

She then calls Edip back to window and she's just looking at her paperwork and without looking at us so matter-of-fact she says, "I'm approving your visa today."

I was so excited/happy I say "Thank you!" maybe over-enthusiastically and she starts laughing and tells us "Congratulations and have a happy marriage" and then tells us to go to the UPS desk in back of the room.

It was such a relief to get it over with.

We received visa this past Monday. I am so happy for us but I still feel sad for those of you out there still waiting. Julia and Sibel, I will keep you in our prayers. I don't know why we didn't get place in AP. Maybe because Edip's never left Turkey. I just thank God we didn't. We've had a wonderful time here in Turkey and will leave for USA later this week. Take care everyone and God bless. Iyi Bayramlar!!

Doris

congratulations :dance: :dance: :dance:

[VivaBaños 2]

Thanks for the report and congratulations!

I can't believe she actually said--"do you speak to every man that walks up to you?"

Have a safe trip back to the US.

[Stuart n Courtney 0]

Congratulations and all the very best to the two of you. I didn't realise at the visa interview at the embassy that they interview both of you. I thought it was only the beneficiary. Is this normal?

Stuart

[TBoneTX 44,671]

Si, man!

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

Congratulations!!!

[esmatsgirl 1]

Doris

Congratulations and best wishes!!!

Deb

[Mina76 0]

That's wonderful news Doris!!!

Again, Congratulations and Best Wishes to you and Edip!

[Alexandra_v 0]

congratulations !!!!!!!!

[happyinlove012408 0]

Congrats.

[Mina76 0]

Congratulations and all the very best to the two of you. I didn't realise at the visa interview at the embassy that they interview both of you. I thought it was only the beneficiary. Is this normal?

Stuart

It may depend on the Embassy.

My husband also had his K-1 interview at the Ankara Embassy in which I also attended. I was also interviewed in the same manner as Doris, yet my husband's interview was 4 yrs ago! Guess if you're there with your fiance they will interview you both.