Ethnic/Religious Fears...

[Amina_KSA 0]

Hello/Salaam...

This may sound stupid to some, but hopefully others will understand our concern.

I am an American (born and raised) and my husband is Egyptian...we currently live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where my husband works. My husband is an Arab Muslim, I am also a Muslim (wear hijab)...

With all of the current problems in the world I have a huge fear that my husband's visa will be denied simply because of his ethnicity and our religion. I know legally they "can't" do that, yet I also know there are many ways that they can find problems and reasons to deny anyones application if they wish to. We are really at their mercy.

Recently when my husband went to renew his visitors visa for our summer vacation the interviewer at the American Embassy asked him many questions that I consider offensive. After seeing that I was wearing a hijab in my passport picture he asked if my husband had "forced" me to be a Muslim and was extremely happy to learn that I had been a Muslim long before I met my husband...he also asked if we met online and made some kind of remark about people meeting online as an "easy ticket to America"...

Although they renewed his visitors visa that experience has left us worried about how we will be viewed while applying for immigration.

It's really a horrible feeling to always have to be on the defensive...constantly being stopped in the airport is one thing, but having our entire future ruined because group guilt is being assigned to innocent people is really an intolerable thought. It always seems that officials are waiting for us to say "no, don't worry...we're not terrorists"...My husband is a gentle, brilliant, amazing human being who would be an asset to any society and it really hurts me to see him treated like a criminal simply because of his race and our religion...*sigh*

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this matter?

Thanks again,

Emily

[bigman 0]

Hello,,

Didnt know really what u want to say, u talking about how muslims treated at US embasies or ur husband have been denied visa or meeting online problem?

i am just curios coz its maybe impoortant for me to know about this steps as i am going to do soon.

thanks so much

alaa

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

With all of the current problems in the world I have a huge fear that my husband's visa will be denied simply because of his ethnicity and our religion. I know legally they "can't" do that, yet I also know there are many ways that they can find problems and reasons to deny anyones application if they wish to. We are really at their mercy.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65096

[AInfante-Saraireh 0]

I don't think you will have a problem. Especially with you living with him there.

[monnik 0]

With all of the current problems in the world I have a huge fear that my husband's visa will be denied simply because of his ethnicity and our religion. I know legally they "can't" do that, yet I also know there are many ways that they can find problems and reasons to deny anyones application if they wish to. We are really at their mercy.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this matter?

Thoughts: Everyone is at the so-called mercy of the Consular Officials, but that's no reason to panic. If you talk with anyone from the ME/NA board, they will testify that many visas have been issued to Muslim men with either Muslim or non-Muslim wives. Also, I personally know of 2 Coptic Christians who were denied visas. (Is that a case of reverse discrimination? I'm not sure, but I don't think so.) But, what that means is that being of a certain religion doesn't help or hurt you. Your case will be searched for RED FLAG issues, and THOSE will be possible reasons for a denial.

Advice: Prepare yourselves and then Go for it!

[Amina_KSA 0]

Thanks for all the advice.

Perhaps I offended some folks, but I'm not really sure how...

I don't believe in "reverse" discrimination, discrimination is discrimination....however I can only speak about our experiences being Muslim.

I don't think it's stupid or unwarranted to have fears about these issues, but I am so glad that there have been so many success stories here, thank you all for sharing the happy information with me.

Insha`Allah we can be on that list one day, and after reading it I'm feeling lucky that we're applying from Riyadh and not from Cairo!!!

Thanks again..Masalaama,

Emily

[doodlebug 3]

Thanks for all the advice.

Perhaps I offended some folks, but I'm not really sure how...

I don't believe in "reverse" discrimination, discrimination is discrimination....however I can only speak about our experiences being Muslim.

I don't think it's stupid or unwarranted to have fears about these issues, but I am so glad that there have been so many success stories here, thank you all for sharing the happy information with me.

Insha`Allah we can be on that list one day, and after reading it I'm feeling lucky that we're applying from Riyadh and not from Cairo!!!

Thanks again..Masalaama,

Emily

Did you get married in Egypt or in Saudi?

[patiently_waiting 0]

I don't think religion would be an issue at all. If it were there would be a lot more people in MENA furious and venting.

[Amina_KSA 0]

Thanks for all the advice.

Perhaps I offended some folks, but I'm not really sure how...

I don't believe in "reverse" discrimination, discrimination is discrimination....however I can only speak about our experiences being Muslim.

I don't think it's stupid or unwarranted to have fears about these issues, but I am so glad that there have been so many success stories here, thank you all for sharing the happy information with me.

Insha`Allah we can be on that list one day, and after reading it I'm feeling lucky that we're applying from Riyadh and not from Cairo!!!

Thanks again..Masalaama,

Emily

Did you get married in Egypt or in Saudi?

We got married in Egypt...had the marriage approved by the US Embassy, had the marriage certificate authenticated and the English translation authenticated by the US Embassy, the whole nine yards. After our marriage I moved to Saudi because this is where my husband has been working/living for several years.

[Amina_KSA 0]

I don't think religion would be an issue at all. If it were there would be a lot more people in MENA furious and venting.

Yea, this forum is lovely...

It has actually been my non-Muslim, American family members who are most worried about this issue, and thus they have put the fear into me and my husband. But God willing it will all go smoothly...I'm sure like all of your husbands, my husband would be an asset to any society.

[sereia 0]

I don't think religion would be an issue at all. If it were there would be a lot more people in MENA furious and venting.

Yea, this forum is lovely...

It has actually been my non-Muslim, American family members who are most worried about this issue, and thus they have put the fear into me and my husband. But God willing it will all go smoothly...I'm sure like all of your husbands, my husband would be an asset to any society.

i totally understand that! my family has said things like that as well. some of my family couldn't believe they'd really give a visa that easily to an arab. that is why vj is a great place to ease your fears. if the consulate didn't close, my fiance COULD have gotten his visa in 2-1/2 MONTHS! (k-1 though)

[doodlebug 3]

Thanks for all the advice.

Perhaps I offended some folks, but I'm not really sure how...

I don't believe in "reverse" discrimination, discrimination is discrimination....however I can only speak about our experiences being Muslim.

I don't think it's stupid or unwarranted to have fears about these issues, but I am so glad that there have been so many success stories here, thank you all for sharing the happy information with me.

Insha`Allah we can be on that list one day, and after reading it I'm feeling lucky that we're applying from Riyadh and not from Cairo!!!

Thanks again..Masalaama,

Emily

Did you get married in Egypt or in Saudi?

We got married in Egypt...had the marriage approved by the US Embassy, had the marriage certificate authenticated and the English translation authenticated by the US Embassy, the whole nine yards. After our marriage I moved to Saudi because this is where my husband has been working/living for several years.

Ok so the reason I ask is that I was almost 100% sure that you have to file for a marriage visa in the country where you got married..... Did you get it confirmed that you will be able to file in Saudi?

[Amina_KSA 0]

Thanks for all the advice.

Perhaps I offended some folks, but I'm not really sure how...

I don't believe in "reverse" discrimination, discrimination is discrimination....however I can only speak about our experiences being Muslim.

I don't think it's stupid or unwarranted to have fears about these issues, but I am so glad that there have been so many success stories here, thank you all for sharing the happy information with me.

Insha`Allah we can be on that list one day, and after reading it I'm feeling lucky that we're applying from Riyadh and not from Cairo!!!

Thanks again..Masalaama,

Emily

Did you get married in Egypt or in Saudi?

We got married in Egypt...had the marriage approved by the US Embassy, had the marriage certificate authenticated and the English translation authenticated by the US Embassy, the whole nine yards. After our marriage I moved to Saudi because this is where my husband has been working/living for several years.

Ok so the reason I ask is that I was almost 100% sure that you have to file for a marriage visa in the country where you got married..... Did you get it confirmed that you will be able to file in Saudi?

I'm almost positive that we can file for a DCF in the country of residence, not the country of marriage. I believe there is another member on this board (Rome something..I forgot his name, sorry..) who filed directly at the US Embassy in Saudi although he was not married in Saudi and is not a Saudi.

Edited May 13, 2007 by Amina_KSA

[Henia 11]

Esalaamu Aleikum

All I have to say is make duúa, think of the worst and be prepared... Bonne chance...may Allah make it easy for you sister!

[doodlebug 3]

Oh that's great then! I wouldn't wish Cairo on ANYONE!!!