LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR RED FLAGS

[~Jackie~ 30]

[doodlebug 3]

Actually that was always on the DOS site for Egypt and in addition it was on the back of the form I had to fill out in order to get the free to marry form from the US Embassy, so it's not really anything new.

I don't remember how I found this but it needs a bump.

The only red flag I feel we have would be #9.

I think since this topic was formed that the consulates office may have added another red flag which can be found on their site.

Many marriages between Egyptians and Americans are successful. However, the Embassy warns against marriage fraud on the part of the American or the Egyptian. Entering into a marriage contract for the principal purpose of facilitating immigration to the United States for an alien is against U.S. law and can result in serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment for the American citizen and the Egyptian. At the same time, it is not uncommon for Egyptians to enter into marriages with Americans solely for immigration purposes. Relationships developed via correspondence, particularly those begun on the Internet, are particularly susceptible to manipulation. The US government urges Americans who meet Egyptians on the Internet or while touring the country, to take the time necessary to get to know them before considering marriage. Unfortunately, the Embassy sees many cases of abuse against American spouses and often the marriages end in divorce when the Egyptian acquires a green card or citizenship in the U.S. These cases invariably occur when the relationship is based mostly on Internet communication and very little face-to-face interaction.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html

I also read this in another post. This does kinda go along with the #9 I guess...hmmmm...

[doodlebug 3]

Does that have extra butter on it?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Really? Where is the scratching my head icon.

Before I went I don't remember reading it at all on that site. I remember reading about the terrorist attacks and other advisory information but it seemed to me they updated it since then. I don't remember reading it on the paper you mention either and you and I both got married the same day same place. Odd. I must have missed it.

[doodlebug 3]

Really? Where is the scratching my head icon.

Before I went I don't remember reading it at all on that site. I remember reading about the terrorist attacks and other advisory information but it seemed to me they updated it since then. I don't remember reading it on the paper you mention either and you and I both got married the same day same place. Odd. I must have missed it.

I remember reading it before I went the first time in December and I'm kind of glad they posted it. I mean obviously you have to be careful when you meet someone online but it makes you think twice and really listen to your gut. I also remember it when I filled out the paperwork at the Embassy. Maybe it was worded differently? I don't know 'cause that paper was given to the ministry of justice I think. I'll look for it though and see if I still have it.

[~Jackie~ 30]

extra butter with chocolate SnoCaps on it.

J

[ya falaha! 0]

I'm not knocking you, Olivia, or Jodo for posting this in the first place but this paragraph is just plain common sense. I really hope this info isn't surprising to anyone here.

I don't remember how I found this but it needs a bump.

The only red flag I feel we have would be #9.

I think since this topic was formed that the consulates office may have added another red flag which can be found on their site.

Many marriages between Egyptians and Americans are successful. However, the Embassy warns against marriage fraud on the part of the American or the Egyptian. Entering into a marriage contract for the principal purpose of facilitating immigration to the United States for an alien is against U.S. law and can result in serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment for the American citizen and the Egyptian. At the same time, it is not uncommon for Egyptians to enter into marriages with Americans solely for immigration purposes. Relationships developed via correspondence, particularly those begun on the Internet, are particularly susceptible to manipulation. The US government urges Americans who meet Egyptians on the Internet or while touring the country, to take the time necessary to get to know them before considering marriage. Unfortunately, the Embassy sees many cases of abuse against American spouses and often the marriages end in divorce when the Egyptian acquires a green card or citizenship in the U.S. These cases invariably occur when the relationship is based mostly on Internet communication and very little face-to-face interaction.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html

I also read this in another post. This does kinda go along with the #9 I guess...hmmmm...

Edited October 7, 2007 by moody

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Really? Where is the scratching my head icon.

sorry i'm late in providing it

[JODO 2]

I'm not knocking you, Olivia, or Jodo for posting this in the first place but this paragraph is just plain common sense. I really hope this info isn't surprising to anyone here.

I don't remember how I found this but it needs a bump.

The only red flag I feel we have would be #9.

I think since this topic was formed that the consulates office may have added another red flag which can be found on their site.

Many marriages between Egyptians and Americans are successful. However, the Embassy warns against marriage fraud on the part of the American or the Egyptian. Entering into a marriage contract for the principal purpose of facilitating immigration to the United States for an alien is against U.S. law and can result in serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment for the American citizen and the Egyptian. At the same time, it is not uncommon for Egyptians to enter into marriages with Americans solely for immigration purposes. Relationships developed via correspondence, particularly those begun on the Internet, are particularly susceptible to manipulation. The US government urges Americans who meet Egyptians on the Internet or while touring the country, to take the time necessary to get to know them before considering marriage. Unfortunately, the Embassy sees many cases of abuse against American spouses and often the marriages end in divorce when the Egyptian acquires a green card or citizenship in the U.S. These cases invariably occur when the relationship is based mostly on Internet communication and very little face-to-face interaction.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html

I also read this in another post. This does kinda go along with the #9 I guess...hmmmm...

Absolutely. However I posted it with the intention of letting other see that it was actually on the embassy's web page as a caveat emptor, as opposed to on other embassy web pages to illustrate how serious this is a problem in Cairo. This little diddy though is certainly not a shock to me. In fact it is one of the main reasons why my mom traveled with me the first time to meet my then fiancé so I could have an objective person to meet him as well and give me her thoughts. Too, if memory serves me correctly this used to have more alarming wording,but I am sure because of diplomacy DOS added a bunch of qualifiers in there as well.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Although Morocco is considered to be a high fraud country, there's nothing about marriage fraud on its consular information page. Interesting . . .

[doodlebug 3]

Although Morocco is considered to be a high fraud country, there's nothing about marriage fraud on its consular information page. Interesting . . .

I thought that was strange too but even stranger I thought Nigeria was supposed to be the highest fraud country and there's nothing in there about internet meetings either. There's a lot of other things on there but none specifically warning about marrying people you met on the internet.

[end of atmosphere 0]

I thought I'd bring the issue over here so as to separate it from the language thread, which was related to a specific issue. So, as Chiquita posted there, Ellis sees the red flags as:

1. A very brief courtship followed by a plunge into matrimony;

2. A marriage ceremony arranged only a short time after petitioner arrives in the beneficiary’s country and they meet for the first time;

3. No common language;

4. Petitioner resides with family members of the beneficiary in the US;

5. Petitioner is employed by or has a business relationship with a relative of beneficiary;

6. Petitioner submits phone records that show he uses a residential phone number that is listed in the name of another person.

7. US divorce followed very quickly by an engagement to foreign beneficiary is often a red flag for consular officers.

8. There is little or no documentary evidence of the relationship prior to the actual engagement.

9. Long gaps of time between the petitioner & beneficiary being together in person.

10. Failure to disclose previous marriages;

11. Failure to disclose previous petitions filed on behalf of other beneficiaries.

Do you have any of these red flags?

If you've already been past the interview stage, did you have any of these? Were they addressed at the interview? How did you prepare yourselves to address them? What advice would you give to others with the same red flags preparing for their interviews?

ETA: I don't think this list is comprehensive for some of the MENA consulates. What would you add?

But what if the large gaps in being together are directly related to the visa issue?

I am married to an Iranian. It took a lot of effort for me to get a three month tourist visa to Iran. When we went to register our marriage at the police station they wanted me to give up my US passport. So I had to leave.

My husband can't get a visa to come to the US while he waits for his immigrant visa.

This forces us to be seperate, however, we have taken time away from work just so we could meet in a third party country to maintain our relationship. Can you imagine how hard it is to get time off every couple of months from work and the money it costs?

[polarbear 0]

But what if the large gaps in being together are directly related to the visa issue?

I am married to an Iranian. It took a lot of effort for me to get a three month tourist visa to Iran. When we went to register our marriage at the police station they wanted me to give up my US passport. So I had to leave.

My husband can't get a visa to come to the US while he waits for his immigrant visa.

This forces us to be seperate, however, we have taken time away from work just so we could meet in a third party country to maintain our relationship. Can you imagine how hard it is to get time off every couple of months from work and the money it costs?

I agree... I think just about everyone who has a steady job and dependant on that income has large gaps in being together while going through the visa process.

My SO and I met while living in a 3rd part country, then had to seperate due to visa issues and then be further seperated by this application process. That's my only red flag! And I hate to think that would be the reason we were stuck in AP for months I don't know yet since we still don't have an interview, but it's making me antzy

[hitchoo 0]

Salam all

reading your posts guys makes me nervous, when my wife came here we both never thought we will end up married after 5 days together , we know eachother since one year we used to chat online miss eachother respect one another we felt the feeling of love and that we said I LOVE YOU i used to have my wife in my mind cant take her picture off my head even when i work that was new i dont blame myself as shes very gorgeous but we both never talked about marriage we both were aware all of this stil is not enough to start such serious relation with its commitments

now i wana state soem point im egyptian thats true i usually find hard times to find a good work with good salary many times i wanted to work out egypt but sure not in usa but that was not a problem for me as im 26 i thought im still young lol and i still live with my parents (lol its common here )but i was happy dont have problems only by myself.

when my wife came to me and the first moment we saw one another face in person it was there i mean LOVE cant forget when she jumped geting her arms around my neck in middle of shertaon hotel in alex people did not like it there but we were whatever we wont waste that moment for people.

now i want to each couple should be aware that life is full of surprises, but you dont knwo the future, if you dont trust your husband and want that marriage 100% and got married to him then if anything happened dont blame noone but yourself. so any discussions after marriage is useless and that you married him too for reason and you want somethings from him either.

i will live with my wife anywhere usa or egypt when such ideas wont come up as we love and respect eachother at the moment for any spouse who suspect his other partener i advice him/her to get divorce as soon as possible dont say it was not about this , no , i could say some wives come and say my hubby wants to stay in his own country , or my hubby never talked about the visa process , if you are truely trust your hubby you wont mention this to prove to people that you are real couple even you are old lady and hes young or vice versa. be happy people and leave future to Allah

salam

[Caladan 19]

But what if the large gaps in being together are directly related to the visa issue?

I am married to an Iranian. It took a lot of effort for me to get a three month tourist visa to Iran. When we went to register our marriage at the police station they wanted me to give up my US passport. So I had to leave.

My husband can't get a visa to come to the US while he waits for his immigrant visa.

This forces us to be seperate, however, we have taken time away from work just so we could meet in a third party country to maintain our relationship. Can you imagine how hard it is to get time off every couple of months from work and the money it costs?

I agree... I think just about everyone who has a steady job and dependant on that income has large gaps in being together while going through the visa process.

My SO and I met while living in a 3rd part country, then had to seperate due to visa issues and then be further seperated by this application process. That's my only red flag! And I hate to think that would be the reason we were stuck in AP for months I don't know yet since we still don't have an interview, but it's making me antzy

I'm just speculating, but I think that they know that couples that are separated by hundreds or thousands of miles can't meet up every month. And they approve people who have met once in person. So I'm guessing the case they have in mind is where someone claims to be a couple but whose last meeting was almost two years ago.

I wonder if the State department warning for Egypt has more to do with higher amounts of tourism to Egypt (since the site is aimed at Americans travelling abroad.) And it might bear repeating that a red flag is not a reason for denial. It's a characteristic that has been found, in the consular officer's experience, to be common among cases which are fraudulent. It's the whole picture that matters.