Has anyone done this before?

[palilover 1]

And then bring him back home again.

Yes, I am a bit like my husband. I get an idea in my head and I want to do all I can to see if it works. It has served us well in th epast but let's hope we can get through the immigration process with that mentality. Actually ...

In the past 2 weeks he has gotten increasingly frustrated. He wants to come back and be with me and of course I want more than anything for him to do that. (he's my husband, DUH:) He knows absolutely nothing about our immigrationprocess no matter how I explain it to him. It is a brick wall and I just get frustrated with him even though it's not his fault because he's not in the middle of it and we have a langauge barrier over the phone. Even with him beside me, it was hard to get through to him. He had the ballz to say to me a week ago that I did not miss him as much as he missed me because I was not calling immigration everyday to see about him coing here. he still to this very day (despite my already calling USCIS checking on this procedure AND having the lawyer explain this to us prior to him leaving) that he wants to come back on his visitor's visa while the I130 is pending. USCIS has pretty much told me that is a no no due to border patrol and quite frankly, I don't want to get his hopes up and have him spend money to come hre and get turned away at the border only to be sent back home. So I've todl him wait til I visit him in maybe 2-3 months inshalalh.

His frustration with waiting is getting worse and it is making me crazy. I already have my moments. I don't need his help. He knows that I am under a lot of stress with immigration and personal issues (which he does not know near the full extend because once again, langauge barrier over the phone, it will only get him MORE upset and cause him to worry aabout me more than what he arleady does) but to have him getting anxious is just making everything worse. Because when he gets upste then I get upset. (yes, as I said, we re alike in many ways and we are a team in everything we do and our only disaster of us being apart is immigration)....

Anyways....to my point....

Over the past 3 days I have been seriously contemplating going to Palestine to be with him until his visa comes and then bring him back to America. I have done a bit of research and the only thing I'm coming remotely close to that is DCF. Now two catches with that. I've already filled out the I130 here on US soil. Plus the fact.....I have been on the embassy websites of both Jerusalem and Amman. Jerusalem requires us to do it the way we are doing now....me file now here and him stay there. Amman, on the other hand, would require me to live with him in palestine for a year BEFORE we start to file the papers.

It appears that DCF would be faster BUT me having to go there for a year BEFORE I can file the I130 in Amman is not faster considreing I've already filed a I130 here. But the plus side to that is I'd be with him and both of us just want to be together. He does not care if it is in Palestine or US.

Now what my issues are in doing such a thing are as follows.

1. I've already filed the I130 here so would I have to cancel it or could they transfer it to Amman?

As far as me just going to be with him without doing DCF....meaning we keep everything in USCIS and then going to NVC (the CR1 route we are on now)......obviously in order to go to Palistine to be with him til an I130 clears ovr here and he gets his interview.....I have to show that I have a job and can sponsor him. but if i go there, I have to leave my job. So with both of us coming back into the country, it does not appear that it would be logical that immigration would allow me to do such a thing?

Has anyone ahd success at being with theri husbands prior to them coming here and bringng them back? I'm considering calling the Amman embassy tomorrow just to se what they say. I really don't nkow how much more waiting he can take over there and I am afraid that he will just keep getting more frustrated with everything. Plus I really feel he needs out of there because on three occassions I have heard unpleasant background noise while speaking to him on the phone.....on 2 occassions gun fights and the other day I heard them bombing in his area. I don't like that my husband has to live like that. The US government may not consider my husband a US citizen so he is worthless to them:( But he's my husband and I want to make sure he is safe and I know he is not safe there living like that. (nor is he happy either).

Thanks and jezakkhalalh khair for any advice.

[mybackpages 0]

I can't advice how to change course from the visa persepctive, but these accusations (is that too harsh a word?) that you are not doing enough to make the process work is something i have seen more than I would like to see in MENA.

Part of the problem is that in these countries there are so many "cyber guys" cruising the internet looking for a wife and with that come all sorts of rumours about the process. I always think of the game telephone we played as kids...and how distored information becomes and yet people are sooo sure they have the correct info. If your husband has friends who are "cyber guys" or know "cyber guys" or know other people who have gone through the process, he maybe getting information from them that is driving his thinking.

I would also add, though I might be making assumptions here based on what you wrote, that if you have language.comminication problems, then maybe going to his home and spending some time before bringing him here would be a good idea. with all the things we have seen in VJ esp lately- you know communication is going to be essential in getting throught the post visa in hand immigration and adjustment phase. It also will help for the interview as lacking a common langage is a HUGE red flag.

[monnik 0]

We had the same conversation exactly! And it wasn't because of the distance. I was here with him. It was because I was not freaking out and emailing the embassy every day. I would say that the reason for his urgency was because every day his family (here and in America) and friends were asking him when he was gonna get the visa.

It's kind of like when a woman is pregnant and keeps getting the "when are you gonna have that baby?" question. It can grate on their nerves. Plus, if he is seeing other people around him that get their visas quickly, he can get nervous.

Just try and be patient. Let him know that you can only move one small step at a time.

[Lance27 19]

Just wanted to add a couple of things to your post...

1. You cannot file DCF since you already have a petition pending. Besides you would not have been able to file DCF unless you were a resident of Palestine.

2. You could get a Co-sponsor for the affidavid of support if you do decide to go to Palestine to wait out the process.

[Henia 11]

Yes. It has been done. And in most cases, it does not give off a red flag. But as stated above you must file DCF after you move there... and you cannot have a petition already pending. And the rules of residency do apply. Nowadays with the new DCF laws DCF is not always the way to go. Sorry! Varies case by case and country by country. buuut one plus is that you have moooore proof of the relation.

But personally, I do not walk in your shoes. But you do not know your SO I would not go live there with him.

And logically yes, you need to fulfill the area of the AOS and having a stable life for you both after he arrives. So for many leaving in the SO's country is just not possible for this reason.

Edited August 12, 2007 by Henia

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Last time I checked, it was pretty much impossible for spouses of Palestinians to file DCF through the Jerusalem Consulate (which administers the West Bank.) It is very difficult for a foreigner to establish the required "residency" in the West Bank. In all save a few exceptions, Israel will *only* issue U.S. and European spouses of Palestinians a 3-month visitor's visa. Extensions are kind of difficult to come by, although they are sometimes granted. So what this means is -- you are not considered a "resident," but rather a "visitor." If you want to stay longer than 3 months, usually your only choice is to leave the country (cross the border into Jordan for instance) and then come back to request a new 3-month visitor's visa. Some spouses are being denied entry, as well as some Palestinians who are now U.S. citizens.

But do contact Jerusalem and ask for the latest info. They may have some advice that can help you.

Once NVC has finished with your case and sent it to Jerusalem, you can request that it be transferred to Amman for processing. Actually your husband will be required to go in person to the consulate in Amman to sign the paperwork for this. But I am not sure what this will do to your timeline. Amman has some long waits for interviews.

I do not know of anyone who has been able to get expedited service because of the ongoing situation in the West Bank, or even in Gaza (where the situation has usually been far worse.) I am sorry to seem blase about it, but nightly gunfire and explosions are "life as usual" there -- most people there hardly even react to it any more (unless it's very close.) I know that it must upset you terribly as you are not used to it, and it must make you frantic with worry But please remember that millions of Palestinians are living with this every single day. And not one of them can get any help. It makes no matter to the U.S. government if they are spouses or even children of U.S. citizens -- they are told to wait in line just like everyone else.

Please remember that your husband's city is not as dangerous as some others -- it's not like he's in Gaza, or even Jenin or Qalqilya or Hebron. Insha'allah he will be ok.

The good news is: Jerusalem moves fairly quickly, once they get your case. And long ARs are quite unusual. Once your husband gets his interview, if the CO is satisfied that everything is in order, he should have his visa within a week.

But even if you can't file DCF, DO consider going and visiting him, though. I wouldn't suggest quitting your job, though, and not only because of the sponsor requirements -- although that's a very BIG issue. With immigration fees and travel costs and just the added expense of a spouse until he gets established here, you will need a steady income more than ever.

MBP -- Palestine is a bit different than some of the other ME/NA countries with the rampant "trolling for visas" phenomenon. In fact it's rather difficult to get American or European women to agree to come to the West Bank for a first meeting with an online beau -- I mean just imagine "hey baby, wanna come to a war zone ?" It's an entirely different cup of tea than going "on holiday" to... say... Egypt or Morocco or Jordan. Most people I know who are married to Palestinians met in person -- either while their spouse was working/studying in the U.S. or Europe, or while the U.S. citizen was in Palestine for some other purpose.

There are certainly Palestinians who have gotten visas to the U.S., but most of these are work- or study-based. And yes, there is a lot of visa misinformation going around, but this is just about standard for any country.

Anyway Palilover sorry for all the stress you're having. Hang in there, and please DO consider making a trip to see your hubby. You need to see where he comes from -- you will understand so much better after you're there. And it will help ease the immigration stresses a LOT for both of you.

-MK

[me_4_musa 1]

I lived with my fiancé in Palestine and we filed for the K1 process when I was there. I would of loved to have stayed longer until he could come here but I had to come back to the states to get a job since I had been out of work for almost a year and as we all know the petitioner needs to show proof of employment. If you want to reside with him and you have already begun the paperwork it’s not a problem. You just need to make sure you have a co-sponsor for the affidavit of support application. If I were you I would stick to the I130, I would imagine that it makes the process much smoother and easier with what you have already submitted.

Also notice my timeline. It only took about 5 ½ months for my fiancé to receive his interview date from the day we began the visa process. So I’m guessing your fiancé should receive his interview date sometime hopefully in mid November/December. It could always take longer but you can visit in the meantime. Other consulate/embassies don’t give out interview dates until sometimes 8, 9, 10 months after they have received all the paperwork!

Another thing, your husband has an advantage since you mentioned before that it was easy for your fiancé to get to Jerusalem from Nablus, I also remember you mentioned your fiancé needed to reapply for some paperwork that expires each month to get to Jerusalem, so again it will be easy for him to get to the consulate and he shouldn’t have a problem when he receives his interview date. Unlike my fiancé (who has had his interview rescheduled 4 times since he can’t enter Jerusalem and should of been here back in May:cry: ) and the majority of other Palestinians that try to get to Jerusalem and get denied entry - your husband is lucky he has access.

Your husband just wants to be with you here or in Palestine, what does your husband say about you moving there? I’m a bit confused. I remember you mentioned not to long ago that he said he was worried and nervous about the situation there and you all would have problems with people if you were to go there? I think you mentioned ‘militants’ because you were American and he had said it wasn’t smart for you to go there that you would could get ‘shot’ and that he would have problems too and he wanted to wait out the visa process than risk both of your lives? Still a bit puzzled by that. When I visited and lived in Palestine never once did I fear for my life or felt danger. Never was I ever targeted because I’m American or have heard of any American females that have been ‘shot’ or harmed in anyway by Palestinians. Most people that are living there don’t want to return. We get spoiled by Palestinians generosity and hospitality! I really think you should go and visit your husband.

A bombing in Nablus the other day? Me and my fiancé must of missed that.

Either way I wish you the best of luck in whatever the two of you decide to do. I still think you should go visit your husband.

Hang in there!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Also notice my timeline. It only took about 5 ½ months for my fiancé to receive his interview date from the day we began the visa process. So I’m guessing your fiancé should receive his interview date sometime hopefully in mid November/December. It could always take longer but you can visit in the meantime. Other consulate/embassies don’t give out interview dates until sometimes 8, 9, 10 months after they have received all the paperwork!

Salam Falasteeneeya !

Pali doesn't have her NOA #2 yet -- they just filed in June. Not sure how long the service centers are taking these days, but I don't think they're moving all that fast. Then with the CR-1 it takes an additional 3 months or so at NVC (as they're doing all the affidavit of support etc. then, not later like with the K visas.) So if she sticks with the CR-1, she can expect an interview about 5 months *after* her case arrives at NVC (that's barring any RFEs or other hitches.) However if she goes with the K-3, she can expect a much faster trip through NVC -- could save at least 2 months or maybe a little more off the timeframe.

Praying for you guys for this Tuesday....

-MK

[me_4_musa 1]

Also notice my timeline. It only took about 5 ½ months for my fiancé to receive his interview date from the day we began the visa process. So I’m guessing your fiancé should receive his interview date sometime hopefully in mid November/December. It could always take longer but you can visit in the meantime. Other consulate/embassies don’t give out interview dates until sometimes 8, 9, 10 months after they have received all the paperwork!

Salam Falasteeneeya !

Pali doesn't have her NOA #2 yet -- they just filed in June. Not sure how long the service centers are taking these days, but I don't think they're moving all that fast. Then with the CR-1 it takes an additional 3 months or so at NVC (as they're doing all the affidavit of support etc. then, not later like with the K visas.) So if she sticks with the CR-1, she can expect an interview about 5 months *after* her case arrives at NVC (that's barring any RFEs or other hitches.) However if she goes with the K-3, she can expect a much faster trip through NVC -- could save at least 2 months or maybe a little more off the timeframe.

Praying for you guys for this Tuesday....

-MK

Your right your right. I don't know where I got that she had her NOA2 already. I wasn't looking closely at her timeline.

I understand her stress and frustration!

Thanks for the well wishes.

[palilover 1]

Thanks everyone for your supoprt and advice. I think moving there is not so smart just becuse of the AOS thing when he gets back. What good is it for both of us to be looking for work, especially since even though the jobmarket isnot bad in Boston, it is still taking time for me to find work. I've already had a stretch of unemployment here, don't want another one esp when I need my job themsot.

Me 4 Musa--> my husband doe snot live directly in Neblus. I cannot spell his city but I don't want to give his city name (it's a small village rather) so I just say Neblus because it is close enough. (security reasons, you never kow who reads this board...yeah call ME paranoid, lol)

As for visiting/living there.....he is not opposed to me visiting anymore although at this stage he is still sticking with meeting in Ramallah. Yes, it is puzzling for me too though that if I ask him if I can live there, he got no problem with it. I think, ok I know because I know how absent minded my husband is under stress, that he is just making his mind go crazy and he says one thing one minute and another thing the next minute just out of stress and frustration.

I personally think that the reason for this new rash of outburst from him is because he saw his brother in law (Us citizen) visit Palestine and go back home to USA easily and leave him behind. Because when his bo in law left, his comment to me was "See, look at him. He has his papers so he can come and go when ever he wants. But me, I do not have my papers so I am stuck."

Yes, habibi. You are stuck. And I don't like it anymore than you do:( :( :(

[Ban Hammer 13,486]

(security reasons, you never kow who reads this board...yeah call ME paranoid, lol)

always a good idea to be paranoid and not post too much info about yourself on the internet.

[Henia 11]

I guess that is why they have PM option on here. Hmmmmm...

[peezey 0]

I really confused by this man. He has lived his life in a war zone. Why is it he can't wait a few more months without freaking out like this and making senseless accusations about whether or not you miss him? This freaking out thing sounds eerily familiar to someone else's man who continued to do the flipping out once he got here and now they are in a very bad spot. He is an adult. He isn't a child, he isn't stupid. If his BIL has a green card, he must know how the process works. The BIL didn't magically leave Palestine one day. Your husband must know this. Language barrier or not, his tantrums are totally unfair to you. Considering he lives in a place where people are turned away constantly at check points when all they want is to see a doctor or have a baby or have their visa interview, his frustration at some relatively minor US bureaucratic time to process an immigration application makes no sense.

[LaL 418]

just a correction ~ regardless if you already have an application pending you can cancel that petition and proceed with DCF (that is if Jerusalem allows for such). I believe Kelly did a similar thing in Amman (ie: K1 filed, cancelled and filed DCF in Jordan).