Travel Ban Support Group

[Melani 4]

7 minutes ago, JessM28 said:

Hi All,

   Update on the In-it campaign: A group went on Friday to speak with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's legislative assistant. He said that the videos that have been made so far for the in-it campaign are super useful and will be used in congress hearings dealing with the ban. We are currently at 73 videos- and our goal is 100- we are so close!! The video should be less than 2 minutes (just over 1 minute is ideal). You can do it in anonymous mode where your video image will be distorted. It would be really great to get some more stories from other nations impacted by the travel ban (we have mostly Iranian). Please feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions or want more details. 

 

Remember- things don't change if we don't make our voices heard! 

 

https://in-it.com/travelban

 

Thanks!

 

-Jess 

Thank you so much Jess, It's really important that people with their real stories cooperate in this campaign as you mentioned "things won't change if we don't make our voices to be heard in Congress"

[salhasl 113]

2 hours ago, Ehsan1366 said:

@salhasl Are the numbers for Jan 2019 for Iranian IR1 Visa available? My wife interview was on Feb 2018. I am a US citizen. She is from iran. We are waiting for her application. Its been on AP since the interview.

Jan arent. Dec are.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html

[Muhammad&Mansory 117]

On 2/11/2019 at 5:06 AM, JessM28 said:

Hi All,

   Update on the In-it campaign: A group went on Friday to speak with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's legislative assistant. He said that the videos that have been made so far for the in-it campaign are super useful and will be used in congress hearings dealing with the ban. We are currently at 73 videos- and our goal is 100- we are so close!! The video should be less than 2 minutes (just over 1 minute is ideal). You can do it in anonymous mode where your video image will be distorted. It would be really great to get some more stories from other nations impacted by the travel ban (we have mostly Iranian). Please feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions or want more details. 

 

Remember- things don't change if we don't make our voices heard! 

 

https://in-it.com/travelban

 

Thanks!

 

-Jess 

Thank you for the update. I just uploaded my video yesterday. 

 

This process is getting more and more ridiculous! It's very draining  

 

 

[JessM28 62]

21 minutes ago, Muhammadsheikhale said:

Thank you for the update. I just uploaded my video yesterday. 

 

This process is getting more and more ridiculous! It's very draining  

 

 

Thank you so much for speaking up and making your voice heard by making a video!! We are currently at 82 videos!! So close to our goal of 100. 

 

I hope that these videos and the many other efforts of others will help us all to bring our loved ones to the U.S.A. 

 

Thanks again!

 

-Jess 

[JessM28 62]

 Please listen to this podcast and the story of my visa journey to try to get my husband to the US with the travel ban in place. 

 

Please listen and then please act by:
1. Learn more about the many other people impacted by the ban: https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan
2. If you are impacted by the ban please also consider making a short video and sharing your story: https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan
3. Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress and ask for clarification of how the ban really works/ waiver process, that they grant immediate family exemptions and call for the State Department to be held accountable with clearer reporting of the process and impact of the ban

4. Share the podcast so that others will understand how the travel ban is impacting couples and families. 

 

Check out Episode 17 of the They Tried to Bury Us podcast (and then all the other episodes) at:
- Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tamer-kattan/id1439757073?mt=2
-Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/spreaker-19/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tamer-kattan
-Player FM: https://player.fm/series/2476956
-Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/they-tried-to-bury-us
-Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tam-745621

 

Thanks! 

 

Jessica Breitschwerdt Monfared

[JennaL 151]

45 minutes ago, JessM28 said:

 Please listen to this podcast and the story of my visa journey to try to get my husband to the US with the travel ban in place. 

 

Please listen and then please act by:
1. Learn more about the many other people impacted by the ban: https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan
2. If you are impacted by the ban please also consider making a short video and sharing your story: https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan
3. Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress and ask for clarification of how the ban really works/ waiver process, that they grant immediate family exemptions and call for the State Department to be held accountable with clearer reporting of the process and impact of the ban

4. Share the podcast so that others will understand how the travel ban is impacting couples and families. 

 

Check out Episode 17 of the They Tried to Bury Us podcast (and then all the other episodes) at:
- Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tamer-kattan/id1439757073?mt=2
-Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/spreaker-19/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tamer-kattan
-Player FM: https://player.fm/series/2476956
-Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/they-tried-to-bury-us
-Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tam-745621

 

Thanks! 

 

Jessica Breitschwerdt Monfared

I encourage everyone here to take a listen, and also share the above on your social media.

 

Also, please consider uploading a quick video to the in-it site regarding your specific situation.

 

If everyone puts their voices together, we can help make a way to get our loved ones here to the US  

[Muhammad&Mansory 117]

6 hours ago, JessM28 said:

 Please listen to this podcast and the story of my visa journey to try to get my husband to the US with the travel ban in place. 

 

Please listen and then please act by:
1. Learn more about the many other people impacted by the ban: https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan
2. If you are impacted by the ban please also consider making a short video and sharing your story: https://app.in-it.com/missions/StopTheBan
3. Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress and ask for clarification of how the ban really works/ waiver process, that they grant immediate family exemptions and call for the State Department to be held accountable with clearer reporting of the process and impact of the ban

4. Share the podcast so that others will understand how the travel ban is impacting couples and families. 

 

Check out Episode 17 of the They Tried to Bury Us podcast (and then all the other episodes) at:
- Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tamer-kattan/id1439757073?mt=2
-Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/spreaker-19/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tamer-kattan
-Player FM: https://player.fm/series/2476956
-Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/they-tried-to-bury-us
-Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/they-tried-to-bury-us-with-tam-745621

 

Thanks! 

 

Jessica Breitschwerdt Monfared

Hello Jessica, 

 

Thank you for all he work you do. I will definitely listen to the podcast. 

I just came to a realization that even though Venezuela is also on the list of banned countries, the number of visas issued to Venezuelians is HUGE in comparison to the other 5 Muslim countries. I am wondering if it is possible to she light on this issue. The result of these statistics is that the 2% waivers issued to the banned countries are mostly for Venezuellan citizens and the other five countries are probably getting 0.1 percent! 

 

This is very important to focus on when arguing the waiver and how it is a sham! if you go to this link: 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html?fbclid=IwAR2dksYhObBL51Hs4kWlUTJgSKiF2ey6lbYQfUvSCFOu8N8Z6lBwuP4Ydds 

, you will see that every month the number of the visas issued to Venezuella is more that 2000% higher than the ones issued to Syrians, Iranians, Somalis, or Yemenis! 

 

Thank you

[JessM28 62]

12 hours ago, Muhammadsheikhale said:

Hello Jessica, 

 

Thank you for all he work you do. I will definitely listen to the podcast. 

I just came to a realization that even though Venezuela is also on the list of banned countries, the number of visas issued to Venezuelians is HUGE in comparison to the other 5 Muslim countries. I am wondering if it is possible to she light on this issue. The result of these statistics is that the 2% waivers issued to the banned countries are mostly for Venezuellan citizens and the other five countries are probably getting 0.1 percent! 

 

This is very important to focus on when arguing the waiver and how it is a sham! if you go to this link: 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html?fbclid=IwAR2dksYhObBL51Hs4kWlUTJgSKiF2ey6lbYQfUvSCFOu8N8Z6lBwuP4Ydds 

, you will see that every month the number of the visas issued to Venezuella is more that 2000% higher than the ones issued to Syrians, Iranians, Somalis, or Yemenis! 

 

Thank you

Thank you for listening to the podcast- I hope you will share it with others and encourage others to share their stories too. 

 

I think the reason the numbers are so different is that the ban is applied differently to Venezuela: 

The restrictions on Venezuelans apply only to a narrow category of government officials deemed responsible for failing to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security in identifying visa seekers who are security risks. 

Source: .https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/world/americas/trump-travel-ban-effects.html

 

I think it will be harder to find people from Venezuela to share their travel ban stories since it is only impacting government officials- but we are always looking for others to share their stories and get the message out. We are currently at 86 videos on the in-it movement. We have lots of stories dealing with Iranians (which is great)- but we would love to hear from some of the other groups that are impacted too. 

 

-Jess 

 

[M-A-F 0]

Hi all

Has anyone received an email from the embassy they were interviewed at, requesting an updated proof of relationship from the time of the interview to present? A few weeks ago, we got an email from the embassy my fiance was interviewed at, which was about 2.5 years ago, with DS-5535 form. We filled it out and emailed it back, and then a day or two later they replied asking for an updated proof of our relationship. I was just wondering if anyone else has received a similar email and what could this mean? This is the fist time the embassy has contacted us since my fiance's interview. 

 

Thank you

[Muhammad&Mansory 117]

11 hours ago, JessM28 said:

Thank you for listening to the podcast- I hope you will share it with others and encourage others to share their stories too. 

 

I think the reason the numbers are so different is that the ban is applied differently to Venezuela: 

The restrictions on Venezuelans apply only to a narrow category of government officials deemed responsible for failing to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security in identifying visa seekers who are security risks. 

Source: .https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/world/americas/trump-travel-ban-effects.html

 

I think it will be harder to find people from Venezuela to share their travel ban stories since it is only impacting government officials- but we are always looking for others to share their stories and get the message out. We are currently at 86 videos on the in-it movement. We have lots of stories dealing with Iranians (which is great)- but we would love to hear from some of the other groups that are impacted too. 

 

-Jess 

 

That is so true; I do not know how this part went over my head. I remember reading the whole proclamation and that part was mentioned in this piece of junk

[Muhammad&Mansory 117]

Hello guys, 

 

Has anyone considered applying for ITIN to their spouse to file taxes? My wife's income is 0 and I will be owing A LOT of money if I file separately without including her  

 

I just sent an application for ITIN last week hoping to get one for my wife. 

 

Any experience to share?

 

Thanks 

[Tiger66 0]

@M-A-F Which Embassy did do your interview? They gave the DS-5535 form to most of people who have been qualified for a waiver. After sending the form, embassy changed the status from rejected to AP. It is a good news that they are looking at your case, however as for iranians, many applicants are stuck in the AP status, for me its a year now since I am in AP status. Our interview was in Feb 2018 in Abudhabi, we sent the DS-5535 a week after and we have been in AP since. 

The good news is that they are looking at your case. Which embassy is it? AbuDhabi or Ankara?

 

17 hours ago, M-A-F said:

Hi all

Has anyone received an email from the embassy they were interviewed at, requesting an updated proof of relationship from the time of the interview to present? A few weeks ago, we got an email from the embassy my fiance was interviewed at, which was about 2.5 years ago, with DS-5535 form. We filled it out and emailed it back, and then a day or two later they replied asking for an updated proof of our relationship. I was just wondering if anyone else has received a similar email and what could this mean? This is the fist time the embassy has contacted us since my fiance's interview. 

 

Thank you

2

 

[Adam82 14]

On 2/21/2019 at 10:12 PM, Muhammadsheikhale said:

Hello guys, 

 

Has anyone considered applying for ITIN to their spouse to file taxes? My wife's income is 0 and I will be owing A LOT of money if I file separately without including her  

 

I just sent an application for ITIN last week hoping to get one for my wife. 

 

Any experience to share?

 

Thanks 

Hi Mohammad, 

I'm a CPA accountant and tax consultant.. if you are going to apply for ITIN for your wife then you will have to file the w-7 first then send your 1040 after you get the ITIN card. 
the process might take up to four months. 
Best of luck.  

[Ameen2019 8]

I will need a waiver for my Syrian wife . Any advice?

[NJ515 73]

6 hours ago, Ameen2019 said:

I will need a waiver for my Syrian wife . Any advice?

@Ameen2019, which country will your wife interview at?  There might be specific embassy info we can give you that might be useful.

 

From what I can tell, every spouse who goes for the interview is considered for a waiver now. I suggest get to the interview as soon as possible in order to begin the Administrative Processing to get a waiver.