YESTERDAY MY HONEY SHOULD ARRIVE, but he did not!!!!

[jordanianprincess 0]

I dont get religous marriage not being real. please please explain this. its a hard concept really. why profess your love to god. but call it not real? is it not real because, its not registared? please explain this..

Every couple has a different reason for their visa choices. Our marriage was real in the sense that we committed ourselves in front of God to be husband and wife. But, getting legally married in Egypt was very difficult time wise and parentwise (parents would have basically disowned me if we had done anything legally binding). So, because we couldn't in good concious live together before marriage, we were religiously married, but choice to be legally married in the US to honor my parents.

must be a culture thing.

your parents would have disowned you for your marriage being legal. then you legally married in the US to honor my parents ?

For those of you that don't know.....and if anyone else has informaiton about this from a country besides Jordan, please add to it:

In Jordan, there are no cival marriages. The only marriages are religious. So depending on the country, a religious mariage can be legal.

Although I am not muslim, I think the following practice is pretty much the same in christianity and islam.

Throughout the USA, when a person gets engaged, they simply ask their partner to marry them and give them a ring as a sign of commitment. My engagment ceremony was 1/2 of a wedding ceremony. You have the same wedding rings you wear when you get married and you wear the on your right hands instead of left. There is an entire church service that takes place where you put the rings on each other and vow to be engaged. Its not as simple as giving each other a ring. I have heard in islam, that you sign some kind of contract upon an engagement.

[~kiyah~ 14]

The bottom line is that when someone is going through the kind of pain that goldenheart and her fiance are dealing with now, just be supportive. Plain and simple.

ALHAMDULILLAH!!!

~Kiya~

[diadromous mermaid 36]

We weren't there to be able to say if he was denied any rights. How can you know that he asked for a translator prior to any questioning that ensued? I believe, if memory serves me well from goldenheart's post, her fiancé asked for a translator when he was presented form I860 to sign. That was afterwards, as far as I can see. If there was any impropriety occured, the immigration attorney may be able to enquire and investigate that, but right now we simply do not know from the details shared.

I think, in the interest of not casting a slant on this, it's best that we not begin to play the "prejudice" card.

Based on the events described, I would say he definitly denied rights and so was the USC!!! I am not playing a prejudice card on this at all nor am I putting any kind of slant on it, as a matter of fact, I think you are the one putting the slant on it. You have posted about knowing the visa options, justifying the actions of the POE, etc. This girl obviously came here for support, I"m sure she is aware of the mistake her fiance made, and to wonder of the choice she made over a fiance or marriage visa is pointless now.

When I choose to go the fiance visa route, it was because at the time I made that decision it was the fastest way to go. Well things changed, I did my research, but I can't control the events that happen beyond that.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: (I was not going to say this, but after I saw Jean's comment about not coming back to VJ, I'm gonna speak up)

If this happened to my fiance, I'm not sure I would post anything regarding it on VJ due to the lack of support I have been seeing here lately. There are several people that no longer come to this forum, it has completly died down. There are certain people here that are extremely supportive and I think we all know who they are. There are some people here that just can't be happy for anyone else. The bottom line is that when someone is going through the kind of pain that goldenheart and her fiance are dealing with now, just be supportive. Plain and simple.

First of all, I don't know if you are referring to me, and since I don't like to make assumptions, then I'll ask. Are you suggesting that I have not been supportive?

This is a lesson learnt the hard way fro goldenheart and her beloved, but a reminder to those who are possibly facing a similar process to know what "can" happen. In this regard, it is important to note that in atypical situations, or rather, in cases where there are cultural differences involved (note I did not refer simply to religion) then all issues should be reviewed before making a step. Were this forum simply a place for people to post their experience, for posterity sake, rather than as information to arm or inform others, then I've wasted my membership.

The "prejudice" was first mentioned by you here:

There are many others that do the job with no prejudice whatsoever. POE officers are not above the Embassy.

and earlier, when you stated that the POE seemed intent on rejecting goldenheart's fiancé, as if there were no reason for their reaction.

I'm not defending the POE agent at all, I'm quoting that regulations prohibit them from permitting an entrant to the USA who is married and holding a fiancé visa.

In so far as this statement is concerned:

If the embassy and the DOS have determined that the relationship is valid and have completed all the backround checks, then the person should not be interrogatted at the POE. That is what all those months of waiting are for. He made a simple mistake, I'm sure he was nervous as any of our fiances could have been. Regardless of what Islam says about getting married or engaged or if she filed for a K-1 or K-3 or CR1 why should that matter. They went through the appropriate channels.

A visa is valid for a particular period of time. After visa issuance, technically, there is nothing that could prohibit an alien from marrying his or her intended spouse in his or her country and entering the country on the fiancé visa, EXCEPT that regulations prohibit it. Yes, indeed, this OP did follow protocol, but that doesn't mean that there aren't others that might do such a thing. After all, there is ample time between visa issuance and entry that would permit an alien, who was so motivated to do something like that. Does that mean that even though the alien followed the prescribed procedure with the Embassy, that the matter should be left alone? Or that the POE has no right to do his or her job?

I think you are making more of this than need be.

Edited June 1, 2006 by diadromous mermaid

[jordanianprincess 0]

We weren't there to be able to say if he was denied any rights. How can you know that he asked for a translator prior to any questioning that ensued? I believe, if memory serves me well from goldenheart's post, her fiancé asked for a translator when he was presented form I860 to sign. That was afterwards, as far as I can see. If there was any impropriety occured, the immigration attorney may be able to enquire and investigate that, but right now we simply do not know from the details shared.

I think, in the interest of not casting a slant on this, it's best that we not begin to play the "prejudice" card.

Based on the events described, I would say he definitly denied rights and so was the USC!!! I am not playing a prejudice card on this at all nor am I putting any kind of slant on it, as a matter of fact, I think you are the one putting the slant on it. You have posted about knowing the visa options, justifying the actions of the POE, etc. This girl obviously came here for support, I"m sure she is aware of the mistake her fiance made, and to wonder of the choice she made over a fiance or marriage visa is pointless now.

When I choose to go the fiance visa route, it was because at the time I made that decision it was the fastest way to go. Well things changed, I did my research, but I can't control the events that happen beyond that.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: (I was not going to say this, but after I saw Jean's comment about not coming back to VJ, I'm gonna speak up)

If this happened to my fiance, I'm not sure I would post anything regarding it on VJ due to the lack of support I have been seeing here lately. There are several people that no longer come to this forum, it has completly died down. There are certain people here that are extremely supportive and I think we all know who they are. There are some people here that just can't be happy for anyone else. The bottom line is that when someone is going through the kind of pain that goldenheart and her fiance are dealing with now, just be supportive. Plain and simple.

First of all, I don't know if you are referring to me, and since I don't like to make assumptions, then I'll ask. Are you suggesting that I have not been supportive?

This is a lesson learnt the hard way fro goldenheart and her beloved, but a reminder to those who are possibly facing a similar process to know what "can" happen. In this regard, it is important to note that in atypical situations, or rather, in cases where there are cultural differences involved (note I did not refer simply to religion) then all issues should be reviewed before making a step. Were this forum simply a place for people to post their experience, for posterity sake, rather than as information to arm or inform others, then I've wasted my membership.

The "prejudice" was first mentioned by you here:

There are many others that do the job with no prejudice whatsoever. POE officers are not above the Embassy.

and earlier, when you stated that the POE seemed intent on rejecting goldenheart's fiancé, as if there were no reason for their reaction.

I'm not defending the POE agent at all, I'm quoting that regulations prohibit them from permitting an entrant to the USA who is married and holding a fiancé visa.

In so far as this statement is concerned:

If the embassy and the DOS have determined that the relationship is valid and have completed all the backround checks, then the person should not be interrogatted at the POE. That is what all those months of waiting are for. He made a simple mistake, I'm sure he was nervous as any of our fiances could have been. Regardless of what Islam says about getting married or engaged or if she filed for a K-1 or K-3 or CR1 why should that matter. They went through the appropriate channels.

A visa is valid for a particular period of time. After visa issuance, technically, there is nothing that could prohibit an alien from marrying his or her intended spouse in his or her country and entering the country on the fiancé visa, EXCEPT that regulations that prohibit. Yes, indeed, this OP did follow protocol, but that doesn't mean that there aren't others that might do such a thing. After all, there is ample time between visa issuance and entry that would permit an alien, who was so motivated to do something like that. Does that mean that even though the alien followed the prescribed procedure with the Embassy, that the matter should be left alone? Or that the POE has no right to do his or her job?

I think you are making more of this than need be.

First of all, if I was directing my post at you, I would not have said "On another note" I did that precisly to come between my reponse to your orignial statement and to say something that has been on my mind latley.

Posts like this are precisily the reason of why I have been staying away lately. Is there somthing particularly wrong with me saying that there are POE officers that do the job with no prejudice? That does not mean I am playing the prejudice card at all, it simply means that there are many POE officers that abuse their power. I see it all the time in my line of work.

Given the fact that most people who get their visas travel almost immediatly, I don't think they should be questioned again. There are limits to everything. The POE does have the right to do their job, they don't have the right to abuse their power. AGAIN, based on the story that was posted, if that is the way it happened, there was an abuse of power. I was not there, and you were not there too, my comments are based of the story that was posted.

I don't think that everyone in VJ comes here to have an example made out them. There are places I go to in this forum to get information, the ME forum has been quite differemt as most girls here have connected on a personal level and we offer support to each other.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

I'm not making an example out of goldenheart, and for your information, she and I corresponded in private message as soon as she first posted the situation. I know that I offered her as much help and information and compassion as anyone could, and it was in my first PM to her that I asked if her fiancé could ahve possibly and mistakenly referred to her as his wife. This was more than a day before she received the documents that confirmed what happened. Was I clairvoyant? No. But I know the pitfalls.

While I don't wish to make this the subject matter of this thread, I'll simply remind you of your attempt to make it appear that I was placing a slant on this situation. Not true of course.

I am not playing a prejudice card on this at all nor am I putting any kind of slant on it, as a matter of fact, I think you are the one putting the slant on it. You have posted about knowing the visa options, justifying the actions of the POE, etc. This girl obviously came here for support, I"m sure she is aware of the mistake her fiance made, and to wonder of the choice she made over a fiance or marriage visa is pointless now.

I believe goldenheart came here to ask what she should do. She received a lot of input on that question and a lot of support and compassion from everyone.

The POE agent in this case, did his job, unfortunately for goldenheart. The immigration officers, supervisors etc then took over and began to perform theirs. Until we know exactly what went on and in what order, we can't know if there was anything done that was inappropriate. As someone said, and it might have been you (can't scroll through the thread to pick it up at this time) this is a stressful process and people are inclined when under stress to voice their opinion rather forcefully. We don't know if that may have been the case when things started to unravel at the POE, do we? We simply do not know right now.

the ME forum has been quite differemt as most girls here have connected on a personal level and we offer support to each other

Well, I don't often enter the ME forum, so perhaps that's true, but there's a whole heck of a lot of support throughout this entire news group, and behind the scenes.

If this post is the reason you don't wish to participate on VJ, that's really a shame. As I've often been aware, some people like to see things that simply don't exist.

[Bosco 1]

POE officers are not above the Embassy. If the embassy and the DOS have determined that the relationship is valid and have completed all the backround checks, then the person should not be interrogatted at the POE.

I read this on another website:

" A visa as described by the U.S. Department of State is an endorsement made in a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed to a country's port of entry".

"A visa does not entitle a holder to enter the U.S,; it only permits the visa-holder to travel to a U.S. border or point of entry, at which point an officer of Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) has the sole authority to permit entrance into the country".

and of a similar nature from another

A visa doesn’t permit entry to the U.S., however. A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you’re eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Edited June 1, 2006 by rhouni

[sarah and hicham 3]

POE officers are not above the Embassy. If the embassy and the DOS have determined that the relationship is valid and have completed all the backround checks, then the person should not be interrogatted at the POE.

I read this on another website:

" A visa as described by the U.S. Department of State is an endorsement made in a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed to a country's port of entry".

"A visa does not entitle a holder to enter the U.S,; it only permits the visa-holder to travel to a U.S. border or point of entry, at which point an officer of Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) has the sole authority to permit entrance into the country".

and of a similar nature from another

A visa doesn’t permit entry to the U.S., however. A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you’re eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

I'm just curious to know which website this is? Is it a government website or just a random one that you found when doing a search? I'm just curious if you could give me the link I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Bosco 1]

POE officers are not above the Embassy. If the embassy and the DOS have determined that the relationship is valid and have completed all the backround checks, then the person should not be interrogatted at the POE.

I read this on another website:

" A visa as described by the U.S. Department of State is an endorsement made in a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed to a country's port of entry".

"A visa does not entitle a holder to enter the U.S,; it only permits the visa-holder to travel to a U.S. border or point of entry, at which point an officer of Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) has the sole authority to permit entrance into the country".

and of a similar nature from another

A visa doesn’t permit entry to the U.S., however. A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you’re eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

I'm just curious to know which website this is? Is it a government website or just a random one that you found when doing a search? I'm just curious if you could give me the link I would appreciate it. Thanks!

The first was on another immigration site. The second from a government site. http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/whatis/

I didn't know about this. I thought a visa was entry into the country, and the INS officer could only override it if there was something obviously wrong (you had drugs on you, etc.).

Rebecca

[diadromous mermaid 36]

POE officers are not above the Embassy. If the embassy and the DOS have determined that the relationship is valid and have completed all the backround checks, then the person should not be interrogatted at the POE.

I read this on another website:

" A visa as described by the U.S. Department of State is an endorsement made in a passport by the proper authorities denoting that it has been examined and that the bearer may proceed to a country's port of entry".

"A visa does not entitle a holder to enter the U.S,; it only permits the visa-holder to travel to a U.S. border or point of entry, at which point an officer of Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) has the sole authority to permit entrance into the country".

and of a similar nature from another

A visa doesn’t permit entry to the U.S., however. A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you’re eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

I'm just curious to know which website this is? Is it a government website or just a random one that you found when doing a search? I'm just curious if you could give me the link I would appreciate it. Thanks!

The first was on another immigration site. The second from a government site. http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/whatis/

I didn't know about this. I thought a visa was entry into the country, and the INS officer could only override it if there was something obviously wrong (you had drugs on you, etc.).

Rebecca

Entering the USA, as a visitor, visa bearer, as in a fiancé etc, or a legal permanent resident is up to the discretion of the POE (Homeland Security) agents. Even with an AP or a re-entry permit even a permanent resident may encounter difficulties at the POE, should an agent see fit.

Edited June 1, 2006 by diadromous mermaid

[goldenheart 0]

Oh man, this is probably going to get me in so much trouble. I really feel for Goldie here but I don't think you can have it both ways - you can't have your cake and eat it to when it comes to seperation of church and state and that's what this boils down to IMHO. When someone files for the waiver saying they can't meet because of religious reasons they are asking the gov't to consider religion as a factor. BUT when they want to come into the country after having a religious ceremony they want the gov't to say it doesn't count as a legal ceremony as it's a seperation of church and state when in fact in the country where it took place it IS considered legal. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean or awful I can just see where the government stands on the argument of your poor confused fiance saying 'wife'.

I'm really sorry this happened. Good luck getting it resolved ASAP!

Joey

Joey, your post did not get you in trouble and I understand your point 100% , however, I was placed in a very bad situation at the time. Because I really wanted to visit my fiance, however, my morales would not allow me to visit a man without him confessing to a religious leader that he loves me and he wish to marry me. That way, if we decided to sleep together during my visit in Germany, I felt that GOD would not consider me as a fornicator. I'm not trying to belittle the people that sleep together prior to marriage, but I always try to do the right things and I do believe in my faith. Furthermore, when I had the religious ceremony It was not an easy fix for me to run downtown and register the marriage, because my fiance was not present during the ceremony, we did everything over the telephone between four witnesses. If I decided to run to city hall and tell them to register my ceremony....what proof did I have?? What documents I could present to them. The islamic leader at that time did not give me any documents???? Also, I am a new muslim and this is my first islamic engagement. So this entire situation is a learning process for me.

Is this addressed in the guides/visa faqs at the top of the page? I know my husband and I were religiously married in Egypt prior to doing the K-1, but after the advice from the forum here, we were quite careful to only refer to ourselves as fiances (since we were in the legal sense).

I think that is the issue here. It's not that it's not permitted to have the non-legal ceremony, but referring to your fiancee as your wife is a big no-no.

I agree..

I dont know why the k-1 provisions dont allow for non married husbands and wifes to be fiancee.

that sounded stupid. proble why its not a provison.

I dont get religous marriage not being real. please please explain this. its a hard concept really. why profess your love to god. but call it not real? is it not real because, its not registared? please explain this..

I never thought my islamic ceremony was not a "real marriage" however when I read the requirements for a K3 visa, they wanted me to provide a marriage certificate or license. I did not have either because my fiance was not in the country and could not get a visa to come to this country. How could I get a marriage license without his signature. I swear by Allah my intentions was only to save me from the hell-fire and not to destroy mines and my fiance's lives.

[babybunny 2]

Oh man, this is probably going to get me in so much trouble. I really feel for Goldie here but I don't think you can have it both ways - you can't have your cake and eat it to when it comes to seperation of church and state and that's what this boils down to IMHO. When someone files for the waiver saying they can't meet because of religious reasons they are asking the gov't to consider religion as a factor. BUT when they want to come into the country after having a religious ceremony they want the gov't to say it doesn't count as a legal ceremony as it's a seperation of church and state when in fact in the country where it took place it IS considered legal. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean or awful I can just see where the government stands on the argument of your poor confused fiance saying 'wife'.

I'm really sorry this happened. Good luck getting it resolved ASAP!

Joey

Joey, your post did not get you in trouble and I understand your point 100% , however, I was placed in a very bad situation at the time. Because I really wanted to visit my fiance, however, my morales would not allow me to visit a man without him confessing to a religious leader that he loves me and he wish to marry me. That way, if we decided to sleep together during my visit in Germany, I felt that GOD would not consider me as a fornicator. I'm not trying to belittle the people that sleep together prior to marriage, but I always try to do the right things and I do believe in my faith. Furthermore, when I had the religious ceremony It was not an easy fix for me to run downtown and register the marriage, because my fiance was not present during the ceremony, we did everything over the telephone between four witnesses. If I decided to run to city hall and tell them to register my ceremony....what proof did I have?? What documents I could present to them. The islamic leader at that time did not give me any documents???? Also, I am a new muslim and this is my first islamic engagement. So this entire situation is a learning process for me.

Is this addressed in the guides/visa faqs at the top of the page? I know my husband and I were religiously married in Egypt prior to doing the K-1, but after the advice from the forum here, we were quite careful to only refer to ourselves as fiances (since we were in the legal sense).

I think that is the issue here. It's not that it's not permitted to have the non-legal ceremony, but referring to your fiancee as your wife is a big no-no.

I agree..

I dont know why the k-1 provisions dont allow for non married husbands and wifes to be fiancee.

that sounded stupid. proble why its not a provison.

I dont get religous marriage not being real. please please explain this. its a hard concept really. why profess your love to god. but call it not real? is it not real because, its not registared? please explain this..

I never thought my islamic ceremony was not a "real marriage" however when I read the requirements for a K3 visa, they wanted me to provide a marriage certificate or license. I did not have either because my fiance was not in the country and could not get a visa to come to this country. How could I get a marriage license without his signature. I swear by Allah my intentions was only to save me from the hell-fire and not to destroy mines and my fiance's lives.

what you are talking about is marry by proxy its not valid for immigration. however, the MOment

you met and consumated the marriage it was binding. at that point your next step was to get it legalized- registared according to the laws. for grins and giggles- it might be food for thought to see if Proxy marriages is valid in your state.

Edited June 2, 2006 by shonjaved

[goldenheart 0]

I dont get religous marriage not being real. please please explain this. its a hard concept really. why profess your love to god. but call it not real? is it not real because, its not registared? please explain this..

Every couple has a different reason for their visa choices. Our marriage was real in the sense that we committed ourselves in front of God to be husband and wife. But, getting legally married in Egypt was very difficult time wise and parentwise (parents would have basically disowned me if we had done anything legally binding). So, because we couldn't in good concious live together before marriage, we were religiously married, but choice to be legally married in the US to honor my parents.

We thought the same thing. As many times as I travelled to Germany, I did not know how to go about marrying him legally their. I did read the German websites and the process seemed to be difficult. My fiance swore to the CBP to tell the whole truth and nothing but

the truth. Because he is a religious man he did not want to lie about our islamic ceremony. Therefore, covering that fact would have been a big lie on his part. Eventhough telling the truth caused us grief and pain. I do not think less of my husband. I love him more today then I did yesterday.

[goldenheart 0]

Thank you all for your inputs and support in my visa tragedy. The bottom line is, my fiance and I never intended to commit fraud as the deportation documents stated. We only thought that the K1 visa was the right path to take at the time, had we know otherwise we would have surely chosen the right path.

Also, when we were questioned at the interview in Frankfurt the CO asked us if we were muslims and if we did the islamic marriage and I told him the truth, because at that time we were wearing our engagement rings. He started telling us about a young lady(USC) that came for an interview the day prior that had to do the same thing to travel and visit her fiance. He said that he was familiar with the process.

I assumed if I disclosed this islamic ceremony to the CO, as well as , on my petition to the Nebraska Service Center, It would have been ok for the CBP. as well.

If you all remember correctly, My petition was previously denied because I had not met my fiance face-to-face within two years. Therefore, after I visited him in Germany I answer question 18 correctly, by stating I had a religous ceremony with the local imam. I did not hide anything, because I honestly thought I was following all the rules.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Thank you all for your inputs and support in my visa tragedy. The bottom line is, my fiance and I never intended to commit fraud as the deportation documents stated. We only thought that the K1 visa was the right path to take at the time, had we know otherwise we would have surely chosen the right path.

Also, when we were questioned at the interview in Frankfurt the CO asked us if we were muslims and if we did the islamic marriage and I told him the truth, because at that time we were wearing our engagement rings. He started telling us about a young lady(USC) that came for an interview the day prior that had to do the same thing to travel and visit her fiance. He said that he was familiar with the process.

I assumed if I disclosed this islamic ceremony to the CO, as well as , on my petition to the Nebraska Service Center, It would have been ok for the CBP. as well.

If you all remember correctly, My petition was previously denied because I had not met my fiance face-to-face within two years. Therefore, after I visited him in Germany I answer question 18 correctly, by stating I had a religous ceremony with the local imam. I did not hide anything, because I honestly thought I was following all the rules.

Goldenheart, please don't reproach yourself, as I said earlier. It's just an unfortunate circumstance. Now, how did all go with the immigration attorney? Does he have a grasp of the case yet?

[Joey559 1]

I think the points being brought up are definitley bigger than this one case and they're more than I can sort out in my head. I'm only going to say my heart aches for you Goldenheart, I hope this gets resolved very soon and that you and your fiance/husband/hey-that-one-guy-I-know...whatever title you put on him for whatever reason gets here soon. Take care of yourself.