Faster spouse visa? Apply in Egypt after 6 months or apply from USA?

[Muh and me 18]

OMG

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Ok, here's the dealio:

Cairo sucks. It sucks big time. It takes a long time. A long long time. Some spousal visas take a long time. Some take a long long time. No rhyme or reason, just the way it is.

Just thank your lucky stars you didn't go through Cairo a few years back. Then you'd be stuck in AP for a year or more. AP is processing after the interview. Everyone goes through AP. For some, it's a few weeks. For some, it's more than a year.

[catknit 144]

Now - for homework - I would highly suggest looking at the fun that is AP. If you think this is frustrating...oh, and going thru Egypt - I'm betting on AP.

Excellent post Milo - furthermore, Dreamscometrue, with a fiance or spouse in Egypt, you're not only looking at AP, but possibly Administrative Review aka AR, which is a whole other nightmare where the DOS does family interviews, questions neighbors, etc - not a pretty sight.

You're in for a very rude awakening if you think there is a fast route with all of this. The USEM in Cairo is probably one of the top 5 highest fraud embassies in the world - right up there with Lagos, Manila, Changdou, and Casablanca. If you have ANY red flags, and I mean ANY, you will be facing an uphill battle in bringing your spouse to the US. Remember, this is a privilege not a right...the USCIS/DOS do not owe you anything other than a timely review of your application, but this operates on their timeframe not yours.

Best of luck, you're going to need it.

You left out my absolute favorite embassy from the list : New Delhi They are happily giving out 221(g)s left and right these days [sorry - I'm bitter]

Dreamscometrue - there is no fast way. There are both hard and fast rules as well as bizarro-but-that-isn't-what's-suppose-to-happen rules that govern this process.

First step would be to decide if you are willing to live overseas for an indefinite period of time - no less than 6 months up to 3+ years....if the answer is a straight out no, then you know DCF is NOT the path for you.

The fact you have another case in the mix - well there will be some explaining to do down the road with a new case and at the interveiw.

Proxy marriage? The infamous Orfi/Orfy thing? Seriously, look at old threads or this one will turn into more of a trainwreck...

Or is he thinking he can "marry" you while you are in the US and he is in Morroco/Egypt??? That will NOT fly.

[caybee 21]

Also, if you interviewed for a spousal or fiancé visa in Casa in March of 2008, that may or may not slow you down in Cairo this year. Just one more factor to throw into the mix when you're estimating the time. Good luck.

He never went to his interview.. decided he could not leave his parents. Inform?

Sorry it didn't work out. Be sure to answer truthfully on any paperwork that asks if you've petitioned a fiancé or spouse before. Your new husband will also need to be prepared to answer any questions about that petition at the interview.

[caybee 21]

Now - for homework - I would highly suggest looking at the fun that is AP. If you think this is frustrating...oh, and going thru Egypt - I'm betting on AP.

Excellent post Milo - furthermore, Dreamscometrue, with a fiance or spouse in Egypt, you're not only looking at AP, but possibly Administrative Review aka AR, which is a whole other nightmare where the DOS does family interviews, questions neighbors, etc - not a pretty sight.

You're in for a very rude awakening if you think there is a fast route with all of this. The USEM in Cairo is probably one of the top 5 highest fraud embassies in the world - right up there with Lagos, Manila, Changdou, and Casablanca. If you have ANY red flags, and I mean ANY, you will be facing an uphill battle in bringing your spouse to the US. Remember, this is a privilege not a right...the USCIS/DOS do not owe you anything other than a timely review of your application, but this operates on their timeframe not yours.

Best of luck, you're going to need it.

You left out my absolute favorite embassy from the list : New Delhi They are happily giving out 221(g)s left and right these days [sorry - I'm bitter]

Dreamscometrue - there is no fast way. There are both hard and fast rules as well as bizarro-but-that-isn't-what's-suppose-to-happen rules that govern this process.

First step would be to decide if you are willing to live overseas for an indefinite period of time - no less than 6 months up to 3+ years....if the answer is a straight out no, then you know DCF is NOT the path for you.

The fact you have another case in the mix - well there will be some explaining to do down the road with a new case and at the interveiw.

Proxy marriage? The infamous Orfi/Orfy thing? Seriously, look at old threads or this one will turn into more of a trainwreck...

Or is he thinking he can "marry" you while you are in the US and he is in Morroco/Egypt??? That will NOT fly.

Or is a proxy marriage where they don't have to be present in the same place when the marriage takes place -- someone stands in for one of them? Just having a flashback to an old "Happy Days" episode...

eta: Yeah, what you wrote in the highlighted part.

Edited March 24, 2009 by caybee

[morocco4ever 63]

He keeps talking about proxy marriage and that that is the fastest. What do u know about this?

It won't even make it past the USCIS. They require that you have met your fiance in person within the past 2 years.

[catknit 144]

Caybee - I totally remember that episode too! Someone was stationed in Greenland??? They had the proxy wedding in the family's living room.... I feel old.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Our process lasted a year and we didn't do DCF. Really no such thing as a short cut when it comes to Cairo.

Oh and take this advice...don't listen to ppl who know someone who knows someone whose cousin went through immigration.

Altho we would love to give you a timeline it unfortunately doesn't work like that. There are no fast or furious answers to applying in Egypt or in the states!

If you want to live in Egypt then I suggest going for the DCF. Our process lasted a year and we did a DCF.

This process is neither easy nor fast.

Good luck!

What's a DCF?

DCF-direct consular filing <---google that or do a search here on vj

AP- administrative processing <---google that or do a search her on vj

processing times for k3,cr1 or k1 <---google that or do a search here on vj

uscis processing times <---google that or use the tabs on the top of your screen here on vj

[caybee 21]

Caybee - I totally remember that episode too! Someone was stationed in Greenland??? They had the proxy wedding in the family's living room.... I feel old.

That's it. Richie married Lori Beth by proxy -- I think the Fonz stood in for Richie. Ack, I didn't even look that up.

[dreamscometrue 0]

Caybee - I totally remember that episode too! Someone was stationed in Greenland??? They had the proxy wedding in the family's living room.... I feel old.

That's it. Richie married Lori Beth by proxy -- I think the Fonz stood in for Richie. Ack, I didn't even look that up.

Well everybody he's talked to in Egypt, even and attorney says proxy marriage is the fastest and best way.

[catknit 144]

That's it! Wow - flood of random Happy Days thoughts - they used a phone too - maybe to exchange vows?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Yoda says: potential, this thread has, yesssss

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Caybee - I totally remember that episode too! Someone was stationed in Greenland??? They had the proxy wedding in the family's living room.... I feel old.

That's it. Richie married Lori Beth by proxy -- I think the Fonz stood in for Richie. Ack, I didn't even look that up.

Well everybody he's talked to in Egypt, even and attorney says proxy marriage is the fastest and best way.

email the consulate and see if they will recognize a proxy marriage for visa applications.

[sara535 15]

Caybee - I totally remember that episode too! Someone was stationed in Greenland??? They had the proxy wedding in the family's living room.... I feel old.

That's it. Richie married Lori Beth by proxy -- I think the Fonz stood in for Richie. Ack, I didn't even look that up.

Well everybody he's talked to in Egypt, even and attorney says proxy marriage is the fastest and best way.

well, thats the problem. "everyone" always says things that arent true- its back to the whole "well, I have a cousin who knows this guy who blah blah blah..." There are a lot of armchair experts on US immigration in egypt ( and elsewhere for that matter) but the fact of the matter is, you are looking at a website with literally thousands and thousands of people who file these visas and I dont know of even one that has successfully gotten around the requirement to meet face to face in the last 2 years, let alone a proxy marriage...

[caybee 21]

Caybee - I totally remember that episode too! Someone was stationed in Greenland??? They had the proxy wedding in the family's living room.... I feel old.

That's it. Richie married Lori Beth by proxy -- I think the Fonz stood in for Richie. Ack, I didn't even look that up.

Well everybody he's talked to in Egypt, even and attorney says proxy marriage is the fastest and best way.

Have you met in person yet? If not, as M4E said, Your petition won't make it past USCIS.