Yallah Middle East 2.0

[Together4ever 1]

Anybody want to play Jeopardy? I emailed the Embassy over a week ago to verify they received the papers they asked for and asked for status. The reply I got was: "Dear Madam, your case is pending administrative process. We will advise you when we are finished."

Hmmm. Well, ok. Still don't know if they got the papers or not. "Pending administrative process"... those little scamps! They couldn't have been more vague if they tried, I take my hat off to them. Does this mean (a) its IN administrative processing, or (B) its still sitting on someone's desk to being administrative process?

You know if I had gotten a reply like "it be a gazillion months but we are processing" I would have relaxed a wee bit. BUT....

Anybody want to play Jeopardy? I emailed the Embassy over a week ago to verify they received the papers they asked for and asked for status. The reply I got was: "Dear Madam, your case is pending administrative process. We will advise you when we are finished."

Hmmm. Well, ok. Still don't know if they got the papers or not. "Pending administrative process"... those little scamps! They couldn't have been more vague if they tried, I take my hat off to them. Does this mean (a) its IN administrative processing, or (B) its still sitting on someone's desk to being administrative process?

You know if I had gotten a reply like "it be a gazillion months but we are processing" I would have relaxed a wee bit. BUT....

Obviously the coffee hasn't kicked in yet... I mean "its still sitting on someone's desk to begin..." Blah.

[MaryandMian 1]

My husband has been preparing the packet 4 documents for his interview on May 18th. There are three documents that we are not sure of.

What are the following ....

OF-169

OF-230 1

OF-230 II

Next to all three of them it says : Yes/Document complete/reviewed

But he wants to take everything just in case and we have no idea what they are.

Please if you have the answers let me know. If I can't get an ansewr I will call the embassy ... but I wanted to try here first. Thanks !

LB the forms are the OF-169 is the checklist form to make sure you have all forms for the interview. At our embassy we had to return it with checks next to each question that we had each document and were ready for our interview.

OF-230 1 & 2 is the Actual DS-230 forms. They are the Immigrant Visa Applicantions. We had to fill out part one and part two but could not sign part 2 until the day of the interview with the CO watching the signature after being sworn in to tell the truth on your application.

Hope this helps.

Mary

[cbd2cai 0]

The reply I got was: "Dear Madam, your case is pending administrative process. We will advise you when we are finished."

Same reply I got every time I emailed the consulate to check on our case while we were waiting on the AR/AP/whatever to finish. I quit emailing and started calling DOS . . . at least I got a faster reply of "no updates" that way. Sorry, I know this is the hard part . . . when you feel like you have fallen into a black hole and no one has a rope to throw to you!!!

Take Care, B)

[Together4ever 1]

The reply I got was: "Dear Madam, your case is pending administrative process. We will advise you when we are finished."

Same reply I got every time I emailed the consulate to check on our case while we were waiting on the AR/AP/whatever to finish. I quit emailing and started calling DOS . . . at least I got a faster reply of "no updates" that way. Sorry, I know this is the hard part . . . when you feel like you have fallen into a black hole and no one has a rope to throw to you!!!

Take Care, B)

I'm too stubborn. Because they left door open by not verifying they received the requested papers, I gunned off another reply to them asking them to clarify what they meant. This should be really entertaining to see how much more they can shuffle the words and remain just a vague. I know I'm risking annoying them, but the question about my lease is KIND OF IMPORTANT so I'm going to pester until they answer me, then I'll stop bugging them.

[cbd2cai 0]

The reply I got was: "Dear Madam, your case is pending administrative process. We will advise you when we are finished."

Same reply I got every time I emailed the consulate to check on our case while we were waiting on the AR/AP/whatever to finish. I quit emailing and started calling DOS . . . at least I got a faster reply of "no updates" that way. Sorry, I know this is the hard part . . . when you feel like you have fallen into a black hole and no one has a rope to throw to you!!!

Take Care, B)

Oh, forgot to mention . . . when I got a reply from the consulate that said "at DOS for . . . . " . . . then I started calling DOS. That's all the info I got out of them until we got the visa . . . coz I didn't even bother with them . . . just DOS. I missed my opportunity to harass them once it finished at DOS coz I was in Egypt and didn't know. Now I don't have to deal with them anymore, insha'allah!

[Together4ever 1]

The reply I got was: "Dear Madam, your case is pending administrative process. We will advise you when we are finished."

Same reply I got every time I emailed the consulate to check on our case while we were waiting on the AR/AP/whatever to finish. I quit emailing and started calling DOS . . . at least I got a faster reply of "no updates" that way. Sorry, I know this is the hard part . . . when you feel like you have fallen into a black hole and no one has a rope to throw to you!!!

Take Care, B)

Oh, forgot to mention . . . when I got a reply from the consulate that said "at DOS for . . . . " . . . then I started calling DOS. That's all the info I got out of them until we got the visa . . . coz I didn't even bother with them . . . just DOS. I missed my opportunity to harass them once it finished at DOS coz I was in Egypt and didn't know. Now I don't have to deal with them anymore, insha'allah!

Oh sure! RUB IT IN A LITTLE HARD why dontcha! (Remember... Karma sucks). Hahahaha.

[tmma 467]

Thank you everyone for your responses. They made me cry. It isnt that i am unwilling to accept his family and their way of life. I just need my own time too. I am totally dependent on him here, i have no family or friends here besides him. When we go for visits for holidays and things i am always ready to go, and when family comes to visit if i am feeling well i make an effort to go out and see them at least for 20 mins or so, then i excuse myself and go back to what i was doing.........sometimes it just gets very overwhelming because we are still living with his sister, we have been here over 3mths already, he isnt really excited to find a job so without that he doesnt want to spend the money he has in the bank to get an apartment for the two of us, or to even get a car....so we are stuck here, far away from cabs or buses, and have to depend on her when we want to do things, and lemme tell you she isnt the easiest person to get along with...................................the whole time we have been here we have only gone and did something special for just the two of us twice, once on valentines day and once when we just sat at the City mall for 5hrs hangin out together..............id love to do things special with him...He has lived in the US for 4 almost 5yrs, he knows the living there, and he actually enjoys that living, but on the same end he has to be with his family and that is alright, i understand and accept that, but seriously he is 36yrs old and needs to learn how to make a decision for himself......................................i am sorry if i always come off like i am whinning, i did choose this for myself and if i am unhappy it is no ones fault but my own, so i do apologize for bothering anyone.......thank you for your support tho.

I hope everyone is well..

Lost in love~congrats on finally getting a case number. i hope things move quicker then expected for you. i checked with her again on our petition and she said it hasnt been reviewed yet, could be next week could be 4mths from now.......who knws. we are still looking at all possiblities for Canada right now, and looks like we might be getting somewhere slowly but surely.

I cant wait til my visit with my family. 5mths 3wks and 5days away.

hang on in there

Kindest regards

Michele

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Hey Jess, living in another country can be really really tough, especially when it's with the inlaws. You don't need to apologize at all. Marrying someone from another country is TOUGH and we all need that opportunity to have a shoulder to cry on, figuratively.

I think you mentioned earlier that your arabic isn't the best. Maybe you can arrange for arabic/english exchange lessons with someone at a local university. You help them with english, they help you with arabic. If anything, it would give you something to do that would get you away from home for awhile.

[Dixie_Peach 1]

I think you mentioned earlier that your arabic isn't the best. Maybe you can arrange for arabic/english exchange lessons with someone at a local university. You help them with english, they help you with arabic. If anything, it would give you something to do that would get you away from home for awhile.

wonderful idea! jess, i don't always post a lot here on the ME forum... but, i do read it every day... i'll be praying for ya... i know it is frustrating...

*hugs*

Lynne

[Together4ever 1]

Thank you everyone for your responses. They made me cry. It isnt that i am unwilling to accept his family and their way of life. I just need my own time too. I am totally dependent on him here, i have no family or friends here besides him. When we go for visits for holidays and things i am always ready to go, and when family comes to visit if i am feeling well i make an effort to go out and see them at least for 20 mins or so, then i excuse myself and go back to what i was doing.........sometimes it just gets very overwhelming because we are still living with his sister, we have been here over 3mths already, he isnt really excited to find a job so without that he doesnt want to spend the money he has in the bank to get an apartment for the two of us, or to even get a car....so we are stuck here, far away from cabs or buses, and have to depend on her when we want to do things, and lemme tell you she isnt the easiest person to get along with...................................the whole time we have been here we have only gone and did something special for just the two of us twice, once on valentines day and once when we just sat at the City mall for 5hrs hangin out together..............id love to do things special with him...He has lived in the US for 4 almost 5yrs, he knows the living there, and he actually enjoys that living, but on the same end he has to be with his family and that is alright, i understand and accept that, but seriously he is 36yrs old and needs to learn how to make a decision for himself......................................i am sorry if i always come off like i am whinning, i did choose this for myself and if i am unhappy it is no ones fault but my own, so i do apologize for bothering anyone.......thank you for your support tho.

I hope everyone is well..

Lost in love~congrats on finally getting a case number. i hope things move quicker then expected for you. i checked with her again on our petition and she said it hasnt been reviewed yet, could be next week could be 4mths from now.......who knws. we are still looking at all possiblities for Canada right now, and looks like we might be getting somewhere slowly but surely.

I cant wait til my visit with my family. 5mths 3wks and 5days away.

Gee, I hate to see you apologizing, but I do understand you rfeelings. The BIGGEST thing that helped me over these hurdles was changing what I was letting myself focus on. I'm trying very hard to do this during this stupid WAITING too when I start to feel bonkers... (well ok with the exception of the weekend when I had a mega meltdown at everyone's expense. I now walk around with a bag over my head as penance). Remember the lovely things if you can, but first flush the cruddies out by sneaking off for a good cry!

[MaryandMian 1]

I think you mentioned earlier that your arabic isn't the best. Maybe you can arrange for arabic/english exchange lessons with someone at a local university. You help them with english, they help you with arabic. If anything, it would give you something to do that would get you away from home for awhile.

wonderful idea! jess, i don't always post a lot here on the ME forum... but, i do read it every day... i'll be praying for ya... i know it is frustrating...

*hugs*

Lynne

Rahma that is a great idea.

[LebaneseMama 1]

I wanted to share with you guys ....

Since we got the interview date things have been soooo crazy. With getting the house ready, planning the second wedding, and getting ready for the interview. Anyways I could never relate when you guys said that sometimes it seems like it's all business talk on the phone, well now I can. It's like all we talk about is visa this, visa that, wedding this, wedding that, house this, house that, paperwork this, paperwork that, etc. Yes, we do TALK but it's not like it was before. We have no option the stuff that's going on right now is crucial to our future.

Well ..... today I get home from work and I check my e-mail. There is a love letter sitting right there from Ali . I wanted so bad to give him a big kiss. He wrote how much he loves me and misses me, how he thinks about me every second in his life, how he cannt wait until he sees me, how he is counting down the days until we are reunited, how he dreams about our future together and etc. Keeping in mind that he and I hardly ever send e-mails

I am sooo lucky al hamdullah. I cannot wait till it's time for me to wake him up so he can see how much I appreciate it.

[kerewin21 2]

We are reunited, married, and it does feel good.

I am getting a little frustrated with the SSA. I was told my husband could not get a social security number until he gets his EAD. This is preventing him from opening a bank account and being added to my health insurance. I went to 3 clinics to get a vaccination supplement, and the people there acted like they had no clue what we needed. I showed them the print out of civil surgeons form the immigration website and they were still clueless. One nurse asked me, "What is he- Mexican?" They were trying to give him a full physical examination!!! I told them he didn't have to have that. Thank goodness- since he's not covered on my medical insurance yet.

Who has been in this place before? What were the first things you did to get your husband established in this country?

Amy, have you heard anything from the embassy yet? I know you are disappointed that you are still waiting for your baby to come home to you. How are you holding up?

Lamaestra, it's good to hear from you! Congrats on your recent marriage. You look beautiful in the pictures.

Your husband *can* get a social security card, check out this link to find out how:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...custom&page=ssn

It gives you links to policy pages to print out so you can bring them in in case they give you a hard time. I wouldn't mention that you're already married, because in some peoples' minds that nullifies the K-1. But just make sure you apply for the SSN at least 2 weeks before the I-94 (the paper they stapled into his passport) expires.

I had a lot of trouble getting the vaccination supplement done too, I called at least 10 civil surgeons before I found one who would do it. I hope you live in an area where you have a fair amount of choice of civil surgeons; if you do, I would call around to get the best price and to try to find someone willing to do it without the full medical.

It's very frustrating, you just have to take it step by step right now.

Jess: I totally sympathize with you, I don't think you're whining. Trying to learn arabic is a good suggestion of how to use your time, and it will also get you more involved in family life there. And make sure you've been clear with him how you feel about this, he may just be clueless.

[jordanianprincess 0]

I wanted to share with you guys ....

Since we got the interview date things have been soooo crazy. With getting the house ready, planning the second wedding, and getting ready for the interview. Anyways I could never relate when you guys said that sometimes it seems like it's all business talk on the phone, well now I can. It's like all we talk about is visa this, visa that, wedding this, wedding that, house this, house that, paperwork this, paperwork that, etc. Yes, we do TALK but it's not like it was before. We have no option the stuff that's going on right now is crucial to our future.

Well ..... today I get home from work and I check my e-mail. There is a love letter sitting right there from Ali . I wanted so bad to give him a big kiss. He wrote how much he loves me and misses me, how he thinks about me every second in his life, how he cannt wait until he sees me, how he is counting down the days until we are reunited, how he dreams about our future together and etc. Keeping in mind that he and I hardly ever send e-mails

I am sooo lucky al hamdullah. I cannot wait till it's time for me to wake him up so he can see how much I appreciate it.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww LB, thats soooo sweet. I also get excited when he sends me emails, which also does not happen alot. LOL, even when he does, they are about 2 sentences. He would rather pick up the phone and call, but I love the emails. I'm so happy things are moving along so nicely. I'm gonna be on VJ on the 18th sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the interview results!!! I put it on my calendar. You are much nicer than me, I never wait until he wakes up. He calls me his alarm clock because I call him at all hours of the day and night.

[cbd2cai 0]

I wanted to share with you guys ....

Well ..... today I get home from work and I check my e-mail. There is a love letter sitting right there from Ali . I wanted so bad to give him a big kiss. He wrote how much he loves me and misses me, how he thinks about me every second in his life, how he cannt wait until he sees me, how he is counting down the days until we are reunited, how he dreams about our future together and etc. Keeping in mind that he and I hardly ever send e-mails

I am sooo lucky al hamdullah. I cannot wait till it's time for me to wake him up so he can see how much I appreciate it.

Sweet!!! Yes, you are very lucky, LB!!