a few ?'s about applying for my egyptian husband

[melanie1127 0]

My husband and I were married in Egypt this September and I am now back in the US (he is still in Egypt of course).

I will be filing for a CR-1 for him.

We have one last thing to do, and that is for him to get a couple of our mutual friends to do the letter for us stating that they know us both and that our marriage is real, etc. My main question is about this....first...this I-130 form states that we need affidavits by 3rd parties..blah blah....now...is a notarized statement considered an affidavit? and how many of these letters do we need? We think two should be sufficient?

Another question...should we send the photos of ourselves, emails, etc with our application, or is that something he will take to the interview with him?

Now here's where things get a little crazy and not sure if it will cause any probems...A few years ago I quit my job, sold my car, gave up my apartment, basically 'quit' my life in the US and I have just been backpacking around the world in 3rd world countries, doing volunteer and help exchange work, etc. (this is how I met him obviously). Anyway, I technically have no home in the US and no job of course right now. I've been coming home for the holidays and staying with my parents between traveling stints. If me not having a home in the US is an issue, I COULD have my dad add my name to his house if absolutely necessary. If you think I'd need to do that, at what point would that need to be done? Like, is that something they will actually verify at the time of the petition or would they check that later if at all??

I will be filing his CR-1 petition next month (after we get those affidavits) and then mid-January I'm going back to Egypt briefly, to get him, and while we wait for the visa, we are going to go live together in SE Asia as I have had enough of Egypt and just can't stand to live there anymore. The petition will have my mother's address (which is also my permanent address in the US). So I suppose between her communicating to me what I get in the mail, and me checking status online, being in Thailand or whatever will be a non-issue.

Now, when we get notified for an interview, this will need to be done in Egypt, correct? And will the interview be just him getting interviewed, or both of us?

Also, I was planning to come back to the US before him so I can get an apartment, job, etc. and then have him come.

Thank you if you've read all this! I'm just wondering if we are going to have any problems....

Edited November 24, 2012 by melanie1127

[hamigirl710 112]

My husband and I were married in Egypt this September and I am now back in the US (he is still in Egypt of course).

I will be filing for a CR-1 for him.

We have one last thing to do, and that is for him to get a couple of our mutual friends to do the letter for us stating that they know us both and that our marriage is real, etc. My main question is about this....first...this I-130 form states that we need affidavits by 3rd parties..blah blah....now...is a notarized statement considered an affidavit? and how many of these letters do we need? We think two should be sufficient?

Another question...should we send the photos of ourselves, emails, etc with our application, or is that something he will take to the interview with him?

Now here's where things get a little crazy and not sure if it will cause any probems...A few years ago I quit my job, sold my car, gave up my apartment, basically 'quit' my life in the US and I have just been backpacking around the world in 3rd world countries, doing volunteer and help exchange work, etc. (this is how I met him obviously). Anyway, I technically have no home in the US and no job of course right now. I've been coming home for the holidays and staying with my parents between traveling stints. If me not having a home in the US is an issue, I COULD have my dad add my name to his house if absolutely necessary. If you think I'd need to do that, at what point would that need to be done? Like, is that something they will actually verify at the time of the petition or would they check that later if at all??

I will be filing his CR-1 petition next month (after we get those affidavits) and then mid-January I'm going back to Egypt briefly, to get him, and while we wait for the visa, we are going to go live together in SE Asia as I have had enough of Egypt and just can't stand to live there anymore. The petition will have my mother's address (which is also my permanent address in the US). So I suppose between her communicating to me what I get in the mail, and me checking status online, being in Thailand or whatever will be a non-issue.

Now, when we get notified for an interview, this will need to be done in Egypt, correct? And will the interview be just him getting interviewed, or both of us?

Also, I was planning to come back to the US before him so I can get an apartment, job, etc. and then have him come.

Thank you if you've read all this! I'm just wondering if we are going to have any problems....

Your parents can co-sponsor him with you if they meet the income guidelines... check out the guides section for CR1 they are very helpful Good Luck!!!

[The Mean Lady 604]

My husband and I were married in Egypt this September and I am now back in the US (he is still in Egypt of course).

I will be filing for a CR-1 for him.

We have one last thing to do, and that is for him to get a couple of our mutual friends to do the letter for us stating that they know us both and that our marriage is real, etc. My main question is about this....first...this I-130 form states that we need affidavits by 3rd parties..blah blah....now...is a notarized statement considered an affidavit? and how many of these letters do we need? We think two should be sufficient?

Another question...should we send the photos of ourselves, emails, etc with our application, or is that something he will take to the interview with him?

Now here's where things get a little crazy and not sure if it will cause any probems...A few years ago I quit my job, sold my car, gave up my apartment, basically 'quit' my life in the US and I have just been backpacking around the world in 3rd world countries, doing volunteer and help exchange work, etc. (this is how I met him obviously). Anyway, I technically have no home in the US and no job of course right now. I've been coming home for the holidays and staying with my parents between traveling stints. If me not having a home in the US is an issue, I COULD have my dad add my name to his house if absolutely necessary. If you think I'd need to do that, at what point would that need to be done? Like, is that something they will actually verify at the time of the petition or would they check that later if at all??

I will be filing his CR-1 petition next month (after we get those affidavits) and then mid-January I'm going back to Egypt briefly, to get him, and while we wait for the visa, we are going to go live together in SE Asia as I have had enough of Egypt and just can't stand to live there anymore. The petition will have my mother's address (which is also my permanent address in the US). So I suppose between her communicating to me what I get in the mail, and me checking status online, being in Thailand or whatever will be a non-issue.

Now, when we get notified for an interview, this will need to be done in Egypt, correct? And will the interview be just him getting interviewed, or both of us?

Also, I was planning to come back to the US before him so I can get an apartment, job, etc. and then have him come.

Thank you if you've read all this! I'm just wondering if we are going to have any problems....

I haven't technically "lived" at my parents house in quite a while. I've been mostly staying in Canada with my husband, but all of my government and important mail is sent to my parents so for all intensive purposes, I consider my parent's house to be my home and I have plenty of mail and my license to prove it.

When I originally asked about affidavits, people here told me that they did not need to be notarized.

I don't have any experience other than the advice given to me as I didn't even supply them in my packet.

You should definitely include any proof of your relationship that you can such as pictures (typically a couple pictures per page printed off of a computer is fine). Emails and conversations are great too.

His interview is in Egypt or his local embassy, whichever that is as I guess some countries don't have an embassy but I'm pretty sure yours does.

[hamigirl710 112]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

This guide will help you!!!

[together4evr 360]

Do not add yourself to your dads home...unless dad feels your husband deserves half of his house.

All you need is someone to co-sponsor your husband. They have to make enough money. Unless you have enough in savings to sponsor him alone

The letters from friends do not need to be notorized. Just need their names, SSN or egyptian ID numbers

The embassy problem...you will send the I-130 when he lives in Egypt but you will live in Thailand together. What address will you use on the I-130?

If they send the interview to Egypt and you want it in Thailand then you can ask them to change it but it will mean a longer wait for interview.

Front load your petition when you send in the I-130. Send all the evidence you can. Egypt is a hard embassy. Alot of men get AP after the interview and that can take 2 weeks or 1 year.

If you have any red flags then address them early on. Like

age difference

religious difference

if you have kids

if you were married before

if he was married before

Parents approval

Pics with his family

Webcam pics with your family

Many other things that I cannot think of right now

Congrats on your marriage and good luck

[melanie1127 0]

Do not add yourself to your dads home...unless dad feels your husband deserves half of his house.

.............................

If you have any red flags then address them early on. Like

age difference

religious difference

if you have kids

if you were married before

if he was married before

Parents approval

Pics with his family

Webcam pics with your family

Many other things that I cannot think of right now

As far as a home, they don't care if I don't OWN or PAY for the home, or if my name is on it, just so long as I have a place I CALL home?

As far as "addressing things early on" like our age and religious differences, what does that mean? Like do I need to write them a letter that says he and I are comfortable with our age difference and our religious differences???????

Edited November 24, 2012 by melanie1127

[NY_BX 397]

As far as a home, they don't care if I don't OWN or PAY for the home, or if my name is on it, just so long as I have a place I CALL home?

As far as "addressing things early on" like our age and religious differences, what does that mean? Like do I need to write them a letter that says he and I are comfortable with our age difference and our religious differences???????

No.

You need to address those red flags for his interview. Did you marry him in your first visit?

All of these red flags are there for a reason: these are the most common traits of a foreigner scamming an American into a sham marriage for immigration purposes. The most common is age difference, meaning, the female USC is outside of child bearing age. These do NOT trigger denials by themselves. Again, these issues raise red flags. Just address them.

[pushbrk 13,068]

I haven't technically "lived" at my parents house in quite a while. I've been mostly staying in Canada with my husband, but all of my government and important mail is sent to my parents so for all intensive purposes, I consider my parent's house to be my home and I have plenty of mail and my license to prove it.

When I originally asked about affidavits, people here told me that they did not need to be notarized.

I don't have any experience other than the advice given to me as I didn't even supply them in my packet.

You should definitely include any proof of your relationship that you can such as pictures (typically a couple pictures per page printed off of a computer is fine). Emails and conversations are great too.

His interview is in Egypt or his local embassy, whichever that is as I guess some countries don't have an embassy but I'm pretty sure yours does.

Egypt is not Canada, so "what YOU did" is not really relevant for bringing somebody from Egypt.

Whether the country has an Embassy is not the relevant issue. The country needs an Immigrant Visa Unit, which may or may not be housed at an Embassy. Many are at Consulates. Canada is an example. Egypt has an IV unit at the Embassy in Cairo. Read and learn. When you don't know, you don't know and don't "help".

[queenofthenile 2]

Your packet should have the required forms and the proof of a bona fide marriage - photos, e-mails, phone records, proof of combined assets..rental agreements for where you lived together.. anything to prove a REAL relationship and cohabitation as marriaged couple G-Rated of course! You need to send all that you can think of and copy when you send the application. So if you plan on sending it soon.. you need to compile all of that now.. You have a complicated situation as you do not plan to reside in Egypt or the U.S. which will only complicate things for you and your husband. The application does ask for the address of where you intend to reside with your husband - you will need to decide what address you want to use for the form etc... as well as your current address (which seems like it will change and you will need to file a change of address)... quite complicated...

MY OPINION - which doesn't matter for much... either move back to the U.S. or stay in Egypt.. makes things less complicated for you guys... that is unless he has a great job offer in Asia to make the extra work worth the hassle.. I do not know your financial info (obviously if you have not been working and are not working now just backpacking across the world..we can assume that you are financially stable or at least you were) At this stage you do not have to provide financial information... but at every stage you need to consider what will be needed at the next stage.. You need to be sure that you are prepared with the financial documents you will need to be able to complete the Affadavit of Support.. showing that you or you and your co-sponsors can support your husband.. If you do decide to move to Asia, think about the next steps of this process and if you have the needed documents and how you will get what is needed to complete the next steps... You mom/dad may be supportive of this and willing to help.. get documents.. forward the mail to you.. please just think about all of that before you decide... This process is long, alot of paperwork.. etc.. and you do not want anything to delay the process such as waiting on documents to be sent for here to there, and your application put on hold with change of address.. etc...

Regarding the red flags - YES you want to address ANY of the major concerns... if there is a HUGE age difference.. that will be a red flag.. but that is not really something you can explain to them.. other than to provide more proof of a REAL relationship...a child together.. photos with his family.. letters from his family.. photos with your family.. letters from your family...

If there is a religous difference... - you can address this within your story and info about how you met and came to decide to get married.. how that religion was discussed and how it is a non issue, and that you have discussed how you will raise your children in a mixed religious home.. etc...how his family accepts you.. your family accepts him...

[Darnell 8,479]

1. As far as a home, they don't care if I don't OWN or PAY for the home, or if my name is on it, just so long as I have a place I CALL home?

2. As far as "addressing things early on" like our age and religious differences, what does that mean? Like do I need to write them a letter that says he and I are comfortable with our age difference and our religious differences???????

1. this is an issue for a very small section of the I-864, submitted with the visa application at NVC. People who have dropped out or live abroad or are college students abroad wind up getting a co-sponser to cover the $$ lack. Also, by interview day, you must be able to prove up either a. USA Domicile or b. re-establishing USA domicile by interview day. Don't worry about this for I-130 submittal, but note it'll be an issue that you must resolve by interview day.

2. each thing, is a red flag. is best (IMO) to submit a letter of attestation on each thing, submitted with the I-130.

[pushbrk 13,068]

1. this is an issue for a very small section of the I-864, submitted with the visa application at NVC. People who have dropped out or live abroad or are college students abroad wind up getting a co-sponser to cover the $ lack. Also, by interview day, you must be able to prove up either a. USA Domicile or b. re-establishing USA domicile by interview day. Don't worry about this for I-130 submittal, but note it'll be an issue that you must resolve by interview day.

2. each thing, is a red flag. is best (IMO) to submit a letter of attestation on each thing, submitted with the I-130.

I missed question 2, from Melanie. The answer is no, you don't simply explain that you are comfortable with your age and religious differences. First, you need to understand how those differences are likely to be viewed by a Consular Officer who is considering the totality of circumstances including how they relate to the local customs. I suggest you do some reading on the subject in the applicable regional forum and get well prepared to address these issues in a letter you'll include with the petition.

If you prefer to discuss these issue in this thread, fine. Please provide more details, such as the actual ages for each of you and any details of other red flags. First understand that from this region a significantly older bride, who is of a different religion is a red flag. The bigger the age difference the bigger the flag. If you are past child bearing age and it's the younger Muslim man's first marriage, multiply the impact.

Edited November 25, 2012 by pushbrk

[melanie1127 0]

I missed question 2, from Melanie. The answer is no, you don't simply explain that you are comfortable with your age and religious differences. First, you need to understand how those differences are likely to be viewed by a Consular Officer who is considering the totality of circumstances including how they relate to the local customs. I suggest you do some reading on the subject in the applicable regional forum and get well prepared to address these issues in a letter you'll include with the petition.

If you prefer to discuss these issue in this thread, fine. Please provide more details, such as the actual ages for each of you and any details of other red flags. First understand that from this region a significantly older bride, who is of a different religion is a red flag. The bigger the age difference the bigger the flag. If you are past child bearing age and it's the younger Muslim man's first marriage, multiply the impact.

I am going to be 32 this month (NOT outside of childbearing age at all) and he is 24. We have a 7.5 year age difference. When we met, he thought I was younger than him (most people guess my age around 22) and I thought he was older. LOL. When we found out each other's actual ages, we didn't care. That's all there is to it. But I can see how some people would see it as odd.

As for our religious differences - he is Muslim and I am Christian - which is permitted under Islamic law. So I don't see how that's an issue if it's not an issue to us. Both our families are okay with it too.

We actually don't plan on having children - thus rendering the age difference and religious differences null. Is this going to be a valid point during the interview or do they not like to hear that a couple doesn't want children?? Will they see THAT as a red flag??

[pushbrk 13,068]

I am going to be 32 this month (NOT outside of childbearing age at all) and he is 24. We have a 7.5 year age difference. When we met, he thought I was younger than him (most people guess my age around 22) and I thought he was older. LOL. When we found out each other's actual ages, we didn't care. That's all there is to it. But I can see how some people would see it as odd.

As for our religious differences - he is Muslim and I am Christian - which is permitted under Islamic law. So I don't see how that's an issue if it's not an issue to us. Both our families are okay with it too.

We actually don't plan on having children - thus rendering the age difference and religious differences null. Is this going to be a valid point during the interview or do they not like to hear that a couple doesn't want children?? Will they see THAT as a red flag??

Again, they are going to look at the totality of circumstances and make a judgment call as to whether the relationship is bona fide. The most important evidence of relationship is the time you spend together in person. If you have quite a bit of that, it tends to trump the negatives. How much total time will you have spent together in person by the time of the interview?

[kristen_maroc 126]

If you are worried about red flags-- and if you are petitioning an Egyptian man, you should be because its a tricky region!-- my suggestion is to also post this to the MENA forum with a bit of information about your relationship: how did you meet, how long have you been together, do your families know and approve, age difference, etc., and see what people recommend. It could be the difference between y'all getting approved or not.

[kristen_maroc 126]

Also...

Unfortunately, in MENA, fraud is so common that you really need to go out of your way to prove the authenticity of your relationship. Because usually it is the MENA national scamming the US citizen, it's a bit important that you are convinced, but you really need to be able to prove that he is committed. It's a bit easier with a CR1 than a K1, but still, the following information is good to use to "front-load" your petition, which means sending information with your initial petition:

- If you met online or had a period of long-distance: phone cards/records, chats, emails, etc.-- things that show the depth of your relationship and seriousness of it.

- If you lived together in Egypt, paperwork showing mingling of finances, joint ownership of property, traveling together (ticket stubs, hotel receipts, etc.), plane tickets, etc.

- Photos from your wedding or engagement party: this shows that it is an authentic enough marriage that his family/friends were involved and approve.

- Photos of you together in different places, over the time of your relationship.

- Correspondance between you and his family or him and your family-- again, this shows that it's something "serious" and that families approve.

Be careful about lying-- I think Egypt is a place that they do house visits occasionally (!), so if you say one thing about his parents or family, and they come and visit and ask his family questions and hear another, you might be denied.

I know it sounds harsh. It is harsh. I think Egypt might be easier than Morocco, but in any case, there are so many scammers that it has tainted the consulates' view of relationships, and it's an uphill battle to prove legitimate cases. Go in with your eyes open, and if you don't have enough evidence now, it might make sense to wait until you've been married longer or can show proof of living together-- in SE Asia, maybe? Did you live together before you got married?

The following answers will help us help you:

- How did you meet? Was it online?

- How long after you met did it become romantic?

- How long was it before you got married or engaged?

- How do you and his parents get along? Him and your parents?

- You mentioned religion isn't an issue-- that's great; can he articulate this at an interview?

- How is his English? What language do you usually communicate in?

Good luck.