K-1 for Yemeni fiance - repost to MENA

[Rae Anne 44]

Hey everyone - Couldn't figure out how to move this post myself so I am reposting it in this section.

So my fiance is from Yemen. We met when he was working for the UN in DR Congo last year (I was working on a public health project). We didn't really get serious about each other until after we parted ways in October. He was going through a fairly acrimonious divorce and also has a solid career he wasn't ready to give up (he's in the Yemeni military - Navy). But absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? So when we met up in Beirut last month for vacation, we truly understood how much we love and need each other and he proposed. Got the ring and all!!

He will need to retire from his position obviously in order to move here and marry me, but I don't want him to give up his only real income source from his home country if our odds don't look good for approval. Are former foreign service (military) members denied a K-1 for their previous careers? He wasn't in intelligence or anything, just a Naval officer. And he is a contract employee for the UN so he's already been thoroughly vetted in terms of background. The retirement process from the Navy is a bit lengthy (mostly because they need unit command, ministry, and presidential approval), so if we file too soon is it possible they will deny him at the Embassy interview for not being discharged fully? According to the defense ministry, they would not bar him from leaving the country if the paperwork is still processing. And could he really be denied just for his nationality as some other posts on here have inferred? It should count in his favor that he's an open minded enough guy to marry me because I'm not a Muslim and he doesn't expect me to convert.

And I read last year that the Sanaa embassy suspended some of its visa operations because of the civil conflict issues. Anyone know if this has resolved? He was able to get a B2 visa interview several months ago because he wanted to come visit me and my parents here but unfortunately he was denied because *according to them* he couldn't prove adequate ties to his home country. Even though he has a stable job he can't just up and leave, property, children from a previous marriage (he's divorced now), plenty of money in his bank accounts. But it seems they denied everyone that day in Sanaa so he wasn't the only one.

Anyway, we have a boatload of evidence of our evolving, on-going relationship. Date stamped photos, passport stamps, phone bills, emails and chat logs - this I'm not too worried about. I know there are no 100% guarantees. I just want to know a little bit more about what lies in front of us before we make that leap.

Many thanks,

Rae

[msheesha 548]

Welcome to VJ.

I don't know the answers to your questions, sorry.

If nobody comes along to answer your questions, maybe check the Yemen portal, and see if you can find people who have been in similar situations. Good Luck.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

1.) Are former foreign service (military) members denied a K-1 for their previous careers?

2.) The retirement process from the Navy is a bit lengthy (mostly because they need unit command, ministry, and presidential approval), so if we file too soon is it possible they will deny him at the Embassy interview for not being discharged fully?

3.) And could he really be denied just for his nationality as some other posts on here have inferred?

4.) And I read last year that the Sanaa embassy suspended some of its visa operations because of the civil conflict issues. Anyone know if this has resolved?

Welcome to VJ MENA Rae! We don't see too many Yemen petitioners come though. I've numbered your questions that I will try to answer to the best of my ability.

1.) No they are not typically denied for a former foreign service (military) career. We have several career military members from Egypt that have been successful petitioning here. That's not including the mandatory duty soldiers that have also been successful.

2.) No unless you request them to hold your petition for a length of time until discharge. My husbands military duty came up during our visa process and we had to delay it at the Embassy level for 16 months. So it is possible to be in a holding pattern until they are released. However, Egyptian Military won't allow most of them the "free to travel paper" while in active duty. This doesn't seem to be a problem in your case so as long as he is free to travel according to the defense department I think you'll be alright. Though I have read on here there is a six month travel period on the visa that will expire counting from the day it's issued if it is not used. This was for Jordan though so Yemen may be different.

3.) It would depend on the country. While Yemen is known to have issues with "global terrorist" currently making their home there I do have some Yemen friends in several communities in the States that have successfully petitioned and come to the United States recently and I've seen a few Yemen petitioners come through VJ and be successful. Is Yemen considered an allie of the US, specifically the military? I believe that they have partnered with the West to fight terrorist in their own countries including the dropping of bombs. There are a few other things I've read they've done military wise too in partnership that didn't look very good to surrounding countries, but better to not mention the details.

4.) It appears from their website the Sana'a Embassy is taking I-130 petitions again since April 13, 2012. You can also always email them or call them and ask questions. Once you get to the Embassy level you'll become good friends with them by frequently contacting them for updates on your status, especially if you're put into routine AP/AR.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[Rae Anne 44]

Welcome to VJ MENA Rae! We don't see too many Yemen petitioners come though. I've numbered your questions that I will try to answer to the best of my ability.

1.) No they are not typically denied for a former foreign service (military) career. We have several career military members from Egypt that have been successful petitioning here. That's not including the mandatory duty soldiers that have also been successful.

2.) No unless you request them to hold your petition for a length of time until discharge. My husbands military duty came up during our visa process and we had to delay it at the Embassy level for 16 months. So it is possible to be in a holding pattern until they are released. However, Egyptian Military won't allow most of them the "free to travel paper" while in active duty. This doesn't seem to be a problem in your case so as long as he is free to travel according to the defense department I think you'll be alright. Though I have read on here there is a six month travel period on the visa that will expire counting from the day it's issued if it is not used. This was for Jordan though so Yemen may be different.

3.) It would depend on the country. While Yemen is known to have issues with "global terrorist" currently making their home there I do have some Yemen friends in several communities in the States that have successfully petitioned and come to the United States recently and I've seen a few Yemen petitioners come through VJ and be successful. Is Yemen considered an allie of the US, specifically the military? I believe that they have partnered with the West to fight terrorist in their own countries including the dropping of bombs. There are a few other things I've read they've done military wise too in partnership that didn't look very good to surrounding countries, but better to not mention the details.

4.) It appears from their website the Sana'a Embassy is taking I-130 petitions again since April 13, 2012. You can also always email them or call them and ask questions. Once you get to the Embassy level you'll become good friends with them by frequently contacting them for updates on your status, especially if you're put into routine AP/AR.

Thank you so much for your response!! This has helped out a lot! Did you apply for a fiance or spouse visa? Yes the Yemeni government and military apparatus are very strong US allies, even after Ali Abdullah Saleh was deposed last year. Perhaps at their own peril as they are now busy extinguishing a militant insurgency. Of course he's a staff officer and hasn't seen much action aside from riding a desk! I'm thinking we should err on the side of caution and make sure he's fully retired before we proceed. Just hoping in the meantime we can find a way to see each other. Was your husband in the midst of retirement or resignation when you filed the paperwork? Is that why you got delayed? My man could resign, but he put 12 years of his life into the service and we both feel he deserves his pension. Anyway, it really sucked that he couldn't get the tourist visa to visit though because he really wants my parents' pre-approval. (Yep, he's a keeper.) The consular officer did however compliment him on his English

Glad to know I'm not the first Yemen petitioner on VJ. I hope I can find them and hear their stories.

Many, many many thanks!!

[Rae Anne 44]

Okay reading your profile answered some of my personal questions again, many thanks!