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Originally posted by Noorah101
Hi All,

I can't believe it!!! Sadegh's K1 visa was approved today!! It was an amazing experience, one I'll never ever forget!

We're staying at a hotel in Ankara called Ozilhan Otel. It's a beautiful hotel within walking distance of the American Embassy. Special discount rate for Iranians is $40.00 a night, well worth it.

We arrived at 10:45 for our 11:00 interview, found the right place and sat down. They were running behind schedule, and as we waited we noticed several Iranians also waiting. One got called up to the window but didn't speak English and the Farsi translator was not in today. So I ended up translating for about 5 people ahead of us in line, which was very cool. The ConOff kept telling me to come and work here. LOL I said let me get my fiance home first then I'll think about working overseas!

Our turn came and since they didn't have a Farsi translator, I was translating for Sadegh. But then the ConOff realized he could speak fluent Turkish so she called over another lady to conduct the interview in Turkish. They started all over from the swearing in. The ConOff was an extremely nice, friendly woman who smiled a lot and carried on pleasant conversation on the side as she worked.

The court record ended up working out just fine! They looked it over, and it says no convictions. She asked why we had checked "yes" to the arrest question and we explained we were being on the safe side, but as it seems, Sadegh was not really arrested or never went on record as such. The ConOff double checked with the Turkish translator, and she confirmed that this is the right document and if nothing shows up on it, then there is nothing wrong. So she crossed out all the things I had written about the arrest and marked NO. YAAAAY!!!

She asked for all the pictures we have together from over the 7 years, which we turned over to her. When I turned over the one picture I have from 7 years ago when we first met, both the ConOff and the translator exclaimed how young we looked and what a cute couple we made, and how much we've matured since then.....I said, you mean how much we've gained weight since then....LOL I tell you, the atmosphere was more like a friendly get together rather than a nerve wracking interview!

She asked for phone bills from the past 6 months, which I turned over. She flipped through them, randomly reading pages here and there. She asked if he ever calls me and I explained he uses a control card which does not keep a record of calls, and since it's outrageously expensive to call from Turkey, he just gives me a signal and I call him right back. She smiled and nodded and agreed that calling from Turkey was too expensive.

They asked how we met, how often we've met and why we haven't married yet since we've known each other so long, and Sadegh explained all that in Turkish. The ConOff asked me about my first husband, that he passed away. I said yes, true. She asked about my second marriage, which ended in divorce. I said yes, true. She asked if I went through the immigration process with either of them. I explained my first husband and I were both students and we adjusted his status way back in 1979 in America. The second one was a Canadian citizen and we never did any adjustments of anything. She commented about them both being Iranian and said now she sees why I'm so involved in the culture and can speak Farsi so well. It was very conversational, I didn't feel like we were being scrutinized at all. I told her I waited a LOOOONG time to find another Mr. Right!! She laughed and said I'm lucky, a lot of people never find it even once!

They also asked Sadegh what he does for a living, what he plans to do in America, and he responded accordingly.

She had him sign one of the forms, collected the medical, the bank receipt, and 3 immigration photos. She then handed us a card and said "Take this to the UPS desk in the corner here and they will arrange to have his visa sent to him here in Turkey at an address you provide". Then she smiled and wished us happiness and good luck in America! She asked if I have set a wedding date, and I told her I couldn't because I didn't know when he'd be getting the visa. But I have picked out a place for the reception and have bought my wedding dress. She said "well, now you can go home and set the date, too!" Wow!!

Soooooooooo we are the happiest couple in the world right now!!! He'll probably receive his visa via UPS by next Wednesday or so, and we will make a reservation for the flight home TOGETHER for a day or so after that!!! I still can't believe it, I don't think the reality of it has quite sunk in! But my eyes have been misty all day so I know it's true :) Finally, all the plans we have discussed for our future can actually come true and will become reality!!

Thank you everyone for all your advice, friendship and help in making this day happen for us. My advice for future interviewees is to be calm, cool, collected, well prepared, and confident. Be outgoing and friendly, keep smiling, and hang in there. It DOES happen!!!

See you around!!!!
Rene and Sadegh <------ who gets to celebrate hýs birthday March 10th in America this year!!! whoo hooooooooooo!!!

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