100% Al Ahly Fan

Living in the Twin Cities, I believe we have the highest amount of Somalis out of all the states. My understanding is those that have come over on government refugee programs receive the DOB 01/01/XX. Why this date was picked, I don't know. I do know that many who don't have appropriate records due to birth records not being recorded or lost in the civil war. I believe they can at least pick the birth year, though, given on the account of what the family can best come up. I know many Hmong people as well have the date of birth of 06/01/XX due to the same issues.

It's less then week it'll be a year since we filed the I-751

I'm happy to share that we FINALLY received a date for our interview on February 5th! I can't wait to get just this over with. I really don't understand why we had to wait so long. We are both middle eastern, share the same religion, and have a child together. I thought we'd be done and have the card in hand in 5-7 months. Silly me, forgetting it's immigration we are dealing with. Sigh...

We will be overloading on "proof" to provide for them, plus I'm bringing our very busy two year old (which I hope makes them want us out of there as soon as possible ).

We decided to wait to file the N-400, until we finish the I-751. Praying the interview will be smooth sailing.

I'm sorry I don't know about the registration of your marraige in Egypt. Like you, I changed my last name to my husbands. I was able to change my American passport but was unable to do so on my Saudi passport. I had to keep my maiden name. As for Egypt ,though, I don't know if it would make a difference but in our marriage certificate (we were married in Egypt) I requested that there be a little comment that I would change my name to my husbands, which they did. Perhaps if you have this written in whenever you are able to register that would allow you to change your name on the Egyptian passport?

I am glad you asked the question about applying for your child's Egyptian citizenship. We, too, want to register our son for his Egyptian birth paper.

When we were in Chicago in September of this year we went to the Egypt Consulate to know what we needed to get our son his birth paper and passport. It would definitely be easier to do it from Egypt and unfortunately, we didn't come prepared because we could have took care of it right there. Thankfully we can do it by mail here in the US.

First they said to request some forms via mail from the Consulate General in Chicago. I think it was two forms required and we'd have to pay $50 to get them mailed to us. They would need those forms filled out, our son's birth paper, a couple passport style pics of our son, our marriage certificate, the passport of my hubs and me, and I think that might have been it. I don't remember though.

Something you may want to ask the consulate, specifically, is if it's the FATHER's Egyptian passport they need (they told us that's what they wanted - almost like they didn't care where the heck I was from). I know laws are different now, so Egyptian mothers can apply for citizenship for their children but just check to make sure you can do that here in the US or if you have to be in Egypt to do.

Please let us know how it goes.

I'm glad to hear you and everyone you know is safe, Sandista. I hope your mother's neighbour will recover easily.

I'm sure it's a mall you frequent often, Sandista, being so close to you?

My supervisor is from that area. She said her youngest brother's school was on lock-down after it happened.

They don't even know what the shooter's motive was at this point.

This such a mad world.

I was born here in the US and my parents moved us to Saudi Arabia when I was 5 years old and we lived there (and the summers in Egypt) until I was 11 years old, at which time we returned to the states.

I can't tell you how much I loved it! I'll be honest though, my mother HATED it and that's with her being an Arab AND speaking the language. For me, being surrounded by family was the best. I had no issues with being in an Arabic school. It helped that there were other "foreign kids" at the school as well though. I'm sure it would have been harder if I was any older moving there. I also think it would have been very boring without many family and friend functions, since Jeddah wasn't as developed back then (in the 80s) as it is now. My poor mother hated how confined she felt living there. I mean she had my aunts, grandmother, and friends she met, that tried to make her feel welcomed but it just wasn't the same as living in Egypt or the US. She truly hated it. She'd cry every summer when we had to leave Egypt, Like her, I always loved our time in Egypt, as well, because it was much more fun (weren't summers always fun as a kid) then living in Saudiya. Overall I liked living overseas and have very good memories of those years.

I considered moving to Egypt, as well, before my husband moved here, but having a child who need special education services put that on the back burner. Thankfully with the unrest there I'm glad that we don't live there now. We may reconsider when my oldest graduates from high school.

Just curious...you mentioned "both your children," yes? If this is right, were you planning on leaving one behind? If so I think it's a terrible idea. I could never leave one of my children. It's either all of us or none of us.

Glad to hear you're planning the K-1 route considering the condition Egypt is in right now. Otherwise, in my opinion I think it would be a great experience for you and your child(ren).

BTW, Morsi was elected by 25% of Egyptians, which isn't a majority by any stretch of the word. His election results were a whopping 2% higher than the next guy, who happened to be Mubarak's last Prime Minister. They were choosing between the lesser of two evils, knowing the result was going to be evil. For those who weren't convinced, kilos of meat, refrigerators, and air conditioners helped sway their opinion.

Exactly!

Be careful of snakes on planes headed to Egypt-

http://m.gawker.com/...flight-in-egypt

Snakes on the plane!! Who would have thought it would become a REAL event!

So after waiting 11 months. Two inquiries from our senator. We get a letter in mail yesterday saying that they will be sending us an interview date. Seriously?

Ugh! I so hate this. They asked us to bring ALL the same documents we mailed to them to begin with for the I-751. I'm hoping within a few weeks we'll have an interview date. I was thinking about bringing our child. Any thoughts?

Anyhow, I'll let you all know how it goes once we have our interview date.

Bloody stink! He's back?!?

Judging by other posters on the boards I think you can still file your N-400 if they took the card. You've got a copy you can submit etc, with a copy of the extension letter still?

We never received the original NOA1, so no extension letter was received. My husband's passport is stamped with the I-551, perhaps they'll accept a copy of that as the proof needed to file the N-400?

Hello all.

Just wanted to give everyone an update.

We contacted out senator once after the six months mark of waiting for the Cali USCIS to approve our case. At which time our senator's office, received an email saying we had to wait 45 days.

So we waited and last week we contacted our senator again for help and we got another email from them with the reply from the USCIS stating our case has still not be adjudicated, pending background checks and we should have a response within 180 days (quick math - 6 MORE months)!!!!

I am so frustrated. We are eligible to file for the N-400 in December, I'm concerned because we never got the original NOA1. My husband had to go and get his passport stamped for the I-551, at which time they took his 2yr Conditional Residence Card and cut it in half. I'm guessing we probably won't be able to file until after he get's his 10yr, when ever that maybe.

Anyhow, wishing every one left from CSC and all the folks at Vermont a speedy arrival of your cards.

Really? Find them and send them to me.

The young lady who tested, with a Chemical Engineering degree and a calculator, couldn't do it, and her university graduation party was that evening.

FYI, it is not my opinion and my opinion alone that Egypt's educational system is horrendous. Education reform is one of the conditions the government has to consent to in order to get that IMF money, which is part of a deal that requires Egypt to acquire other, matching funds.

And they're balking.

I would guess many Americans (college educated), too, can't do basic high school math. Just saying.

Yes, his stupid idea is leading to serious repercussions on a lot of innocent people (beginning with the Americans killed in Libya.) Somehow, though, I think that may have been the intention.

Clearly; Sept 11, 2012, two attacks on American Embassies and lives lost at one.

I don't believe for one moment this guy didn't know what he was doing. Especially now, knowing he's Egyptian, he knows that poor/uneducated people usually feel that they have nothing but God. They don't care about their own lives let alone someone elses. It's very sad.

Reading this that film was also produced fruadulently (to what degree, I think that will come out as well) to the actors and whoever else, clearly, this coward knew what he was doing.

May God give strength and guidence for the families that have lost loved ones, they people that have yet to be affected by this, but also for the ones who have greated this mess..

I don't think your mom is anything like this guy.

Thank you and other then the Egyptian Coptic Christian, yes she is nothing like this guy. In fact, mom married a Muslim and raised her kids that way even after our father passed.

I know some Egyptian Christians that have wondered about how Egypt will be now with the Brotherhood in office.

I only question what will happen now in the Middle East since the protests were because of an "American film" and now knowing it's a Christian, an Arab Christian, well obviously it's concerning for the many Christians living in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and other countries in the MIddle East.

The discussion with the latest details is in here:

http://www.visajourn...cairo-benghazi/

Thanks for the link.

An Egyptian Coptic Christian, just like my mom. Huh! Wonder what will happen now with the relations between Christians and Muslims in Egypt once they get wind of this. Sigh....

Bassely? For real? My mother's name is Bassily. Is the guy Egyptian?

Arabic is alright, I guess. I prefer French or Spanish, personally.

I, too, heard about this on the WCCO radio yesterday. I thought they said it was the largest gathering of Oath ceramoy ever in the nation.

A big congrats to your hubby and you! Very exciting!!!

no return to vj is ever complete without someone harping on the returnee about something trivial, and not really any of their business.

Amen to that!

Sqeaks, sounds like you are UBER busy but obviously making it work. How's Noodle? You haven't posted much about her lately on FB. I have two boys so I have to live vicariously through others who have daughters :-P

Glad you were able to make Islam work in your life. Many folks struggle even after converting, if not raised in the religion.

Hope you get your car back soon and glad to hear your doing okay. My hubby is a driver too. Ya think it's worth getting the Prius? We've been going back and forth on that.

Got some info on our case. Looks like it's under review with an officer

We should get a notice of action within the next 45 days. So by the third week of September I can check again if we haven't received a anything. I just pray that the notice of action isn't a RFE, whenever they get around to our case.

I wonder if we are one of the "special ones" that'll be filing for the N-400 before we get the 10 year card. Ugh, so frustrating!

Good morning all and T.G.I.F!!!

So we called the USCIS and they informed us that we are still within the normal processing time since California is just now processing Jan 15 (they received ours on the 20th of Jan).

I told them that it's been 6 months and they said that they it's by THEIR working days, not by the actual months. So, basically, we are still within the normal processing time. I asked if we had a RFE and they said no, everything looked good we just have to wait. Ugh! They told us to call back in 10 days if we haven't heard anything by then.

I wanted to yell at the guy, saying 'but you guys are working on FEBRUARY already, so we are for sure out of the processing time!!!!' I didn't, of course, but man I am perturbed.

So.....do we wait the 10 days to call again or call the senator? Any input is appreciated. Thank!

Good morning and happy hump day First I'd like to say a BIG congrats to everyone who has received their 10yr card

Secondly, I have a some questions and was hoping to get folks input on this.

So it's officially been over 6 months and we haven't heard anything about by husband's card.

My husband asked if we should call our Senator about this?I told him we should start by calling the USCIS and see if there is any news or possibly put a service request in.

We called USCIS in June, they told us there was no RFE and that we might have to wait 3-6 more months before it was issued. I asked why so long and she said it's standard processing.

We are very anxious to get some information. Even if we got a RFE at least I'd know they were working on it, but alas...nothing.

Should we just hold tight? Call USCIS? Put a Service Request in? Call our Senator?

Any information would be helpful. Thanks so much!

Ramadan, yay!

I

This was supposed to be a LOL

Ramadan, yay!

I love knowing that there are millions of other people doing the same exact thing at the same time, even the sometime Muslims, step up and fast for Ramadan.

What I usually do to prepare for Ramadan is eat less a few weeks before. I've been told to fast a couple days a week a few weeks before, but I haven't done that in a few years.

I know last was very difficult and this year with the sunrise at 5:30am and sunset at 9pm, it'll be another tough year. Personally, I think the weather is the hardest part of fasting for me. In Minneapolis, the temp lately has been in the 90-100's and the humidity is on overload. I don't mind the heat so much, but the moistness is icky.

Thankfully, I live and work in a very diverse place. So many people are familiar with Ramadan although if someone asks why I'm not eating, I tell them it's Ramadan which usually leads to the "not even water?" and the "why don't you cover?" conversation.

I think the best way to prepare would be fast if you can before, read Quran now (if you don't already) and most importantly pray (which I feel is the least I can do for God since I feel so blessed).

This is the daily thread or monthly thread? Hmm...confused, which for me doesn't take much with lack of sleep and being sick.