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| Algiers, Algeria |  Review on November 23, 2014: |
lovelyluminosa
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We are unusual because we have been a couple for 7 years. I know right?!! You gasp, and say how is that possible? I was married before and had to keep my x's health insurance because of some major surgeries. I was legally separated, not divorced. My fiance' and I thought it would take maybe 2 years for me to be done with the hospitals and recoveries. We were wrong. The courts awarded me an extension on the legal separation and 4 surgeries later I am a walking miracle!
As soon as I got my final papers saying I was divorced, June 5, 2014, my fiance'and I agreed to start the K1 visa. With a hope and a prayer that we would begin being together forever and have happily ever after life!
My fiance' is a real man. I don't know about MENA men in general, I can only speak for my MENA man. He is loving, strong, loyal, honest, protective, and takes his obligations and commitments seriously. He knows how to love me.
In the 7 years I have known him, I have visited him in Algeria 2008 twice, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and twice in 2014. In fact I am writing this review from Algeria.
I would have my surgeries, wait the 90 days until my doctors would give me permission to fly and then Hamza would take care of me. I stay with his family each time and we all love each other and get along!
Now this is the kicker. I am 29 years older than my fiance'!!! I have 7 children and my fiance' has never been married. How did this happen? Is it real? Can someone as old as I am have a happy ever after with someone that much younger than me?
Do you know men that are 60 years old but never grow up? Or 30 year old men that have the wisdom of the ages? I am not saying our relationship is without its challenges. I am saying the book, Eat, Pray and Love has nothing over me! In the 6 1/2 years after I met him face to face, I have stayed with him and his family for 3 year accumulative. That is a bona fide relationship!
We thought it might be better to get married in Algeria and then apply for the spousal visa. Number one reason was because of our age difference. But we have a wonderful friend who also fell in love with an Algeria man 25 years younger than her, and they did the K1 visa and were approved in 2013. They live in America now, happily btw. They encouraged us to go for it, so we did!
We worked very hard getting everything perfect! We practiced all the questions the consular could possibly ask us. I decided to come back to Algeria to be with my fiance' during the interview even though it says on all the paper work the Algiers Embassy will not allow the petitioner in to participate. I just thought to myself.."TRY TO KEEP ME OUT!!"
We always grow closer, every day there are moments where my heart swells in love for him. We can have great disagreements but they never are about our relationship and love for each other. I love him more for his patience, persevering, tenacity, and saying trust in God, have faith, we are in love and God knows! We had our tense moments with the K1 journey. I cried in the night with frustration. There was so much stress because the outcome is so important!
Now I want to say I had no problem getting into the US Embassy. Everyone was so respectful and had big smiles on their faces. Our appointment was Nov 20, 2014 at 1:30pm and we were walking out of the Embassy at 3pm, hand in hand with big smiles on our faces! We got our YES!!!
Nothing was stressful. They asked Hamza all the questions:
1. How did you meet your fiancee', when did you meet her and tell me the details. When she heard we met in 2007 she was choking! When did you meet in person? 2008 tell me the details
2. What does she do in America?
3. When did you decide to be a couple?
4. How many children does she have?
5. What are your religions? Muslim Was she always a Muslim or did she convert after she met you. After
6. Why did you wait so long?
7. How many times has she come to visit you in Algeria? 9 times in 7 years
8. Do you have a business together. I see you have a business ATM card with her. no... it was just to be able to get money to him fast if he needed it
9. I see you have tried to go to her in the States multiple times and could not get a tourist visa. She laughed and said, "In this case this is in your favor."
Then she asked me to join my fiance'. She asked me, "Why have you waited so long to apply for the K1 Visa?" and "How would you feel if you could have a life in the States with this man?" I said, with my hands on my heart, "Oh I dream of this every night, it would be a dream come true!"
She said, "I can only imagine! I have already approved your visa! Congratulations!" I jumped up for joy, and threw my arms around my fiance' neck and gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek!! Big smiles all around and I said to the consular, "Kiss your face all over and THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
No questions about our ages. My divorce. Not a problem that we had tried to get him to America to visit and failed. Nothing about what his family thinks of us being married in the States or our age difference!
I believe with all my heart that we did such a good job on the evidence sent to the USCIS that she mostly had her mind made up when we got there!
So now we are waiting for the sealed packet and passport with the visa in it so we can fly home together!
A new life. A new adventure of me loving this man, of him loving this woman.
We said over and over again, have faith and tie up our camels! We laughed instead of cried. We supported each other when things got tense. We were there for each other. My warm hand on his heart, a hug just at the right moment from him. We are truly blessed to have each other! What a miracle! God is GOOD!!
This is a true love story.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #15659