When Interviewing at Casablanca

[honeyblonde 0]

Wow!!! Thanks to all for the excellent advice and insight. And thank you for adding us to the cheerleading thread I feel so warm and welcomed!

Last night I stayed up till 1:30am reading the entire 19 page thread to the 221g cases being sent back to the states and this morning while driving to work, I got the idea to also include as part of our "evidence of relationship", refrence letters from my friends and family each stating thier relationship to me..how long they've known me and a few supporting facts as to why they know and feel our relationship is valid and true. Almost all of my friends and family memebers have actually spoken with Farid by web cam or on the telephone when he calls at work. I remember reading someone (sorry I haven't remembered the member's name) stating that they did this after thier application was sent back to the states. So I'm thinking that by adding this it can be yet another proof of the relationship. Along with the photos, the phone bills, the video, the emails, the messenger logs, the love letters by snail mail, ect.

Has anyone tried this before? Do you think it is a good idea for him to get reference letters as well from his friends and family and of coarse have them translated? Is it worth the effort on both parts?

I erred on the side of "too much evidence" and I'm certainly not regretting it one bit. Abdel was here in 4 months and 3 weeks from the day I filed (I think. My memory is getting fuzzy now that it's behind us.)

[iceyspots 0]

Do they pat you down at the embassy? If I was going through morocco I'd wire tap myself and ask for names, nothing like that kinda evidence!

[sitasera 0]

Hello everyone,

I have not been active at all on VJ for awhile. But decided to just come check in. It looks like a lot of folks have posted good advice and replies to this thread. I just wanted to reiterate what others have said and share our experience - I'm not sure why it seem like many people are getting this 221g coming out of Casablanca. It seems strange, and perhaps the Embassy has a reason for doing this. When my husband went thru his K-1 interview there (granted this was in April 2004 - so a lot could have changed there since then), it was very simple and easy. Maybe he didn't get this woman that all of you are talking about - in fact I think it was a man who intereviewed him. But in my mind the reason why he had no issues is because our case was clear, not complicated, well documented etc...For those of you who might have more complicated situations (for whatever the reason), the more documentation the better obviously. And for your guys, they just need to go into the interview with a clear head and calmly. It is so hard to predict what they are going to ask you. My husband's interview was less than 10 minutes. They asked him basic questions - how he and met, confirm that we are getting married within the 90 days, and what he is planning on doing when he gets to the US for work. It seems like we were really lucky compared to the vast majority of you, who seem to be having to go thru this 221g thingy. I'm not sure why...it is strange.

Anyway - I wish all of you luck.

Sita

[moroccogirlny 100]

This is such a great group of people, very helpful and encouraging

[pureEvil 0]

i haven't been here for a while, but i DO know this woman you are talking about. my husband had the displeasure of being "interviewed" by her. i use quotes when saying interviewed because she basically asked the same question over and over again: "why don't you speak english?"

someone mentioned a translator before...... good luck with that. there seems to be a LACK of translators there. when a moroccan woman (a secretary or something; NOT an "official") finally stepped in to translate, the conversation was very one-sided. this "helpful" woman did NOT translate what my husband was saying/asking. she only translated the questions Kim asked. he thinks that the translator even condensed some of his answers.

as for evidence..... being prepoared is the best solution. but also be aware that in our experience NOTHING was looked at. my husband had folders of pictures, telephone calls, email, letters, etc etc etc.......... NOTHING was looked at at all! when my husband told the translator that he wanted to show her the evidence, the "translator" took it upon herself to answer , "she (kim) didn't ask for that...."

good news........... he was approved!! however, he left the consulate NOT understanding what the outcome was. the whole process was very frustrating , not to mention belittleing. all she had to do was look at my job info in the paperwork.... or read .... read just about anything that was in her folder. my job is a french teacher, AND i work for a french company..... put 1 and one together and it's obvious that we communicate in french. she prefered to ask him (again, again, again) WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY he didn't speak english if his fiancee was american.

in short........... GOOD LUCK. be prepared, but if something goes wrong, don't feel as if you've done something wrong. i know these words aren't very comforting, but it will happen.... you will be together.... even if it just takes a bit longer.

chin up!!!!!!!!!!! we're all here for you..... we've either been-there-done-that, or we're in the same situation.

[~kiyah~ 14]

Going through Casablanca is a tough one, especially if you get the woman we did. Yes, every single case and its details are very different. However...more often than not this woman is returning petitions for further review. There are very few who actually get through her with a visa the first time around.

Your husband/fiance will not know the name of the officer in Casablanca, they do not devulge this information. If he happens to take note of the bade ID...good for him. My fiance never saw an ID number. We only knew who interviewed my fiance because of the way she signed the 221g...even that is not consistent (e.g. Kim; Kimberly) and there is never a last name given.

This CO is not looking at the additional "ongoing" evidence of the relationship. My fiance had a ton of our emails, letters, phone bills and she only wanted to see more photos which were provided. He tried to give her ALL the evidence but she refused to look at it. It is nearly the same with all the return cases I am familiar with.

It would seem to me if she has any question whatsoever regarding the relationship, beneficiary or petitioner the petition/application is returned to the US for review no further questions asked...and she is giving no reason to the beneficiary or stating the actual reason on the 221g. She only notifies them of the petition/application return via the 221g and that is it.

My only advice is to insist on her taking all your evidence...insist it proves your relationship is true and valid. Stay confident, remember it is the burden of the beneficiary to prove the relationship, not just the original petition and evidence submitted with it. Definitely watch her wording and the speed at which she is talking, she does have a thick french accent also watch the changing of wording and asking the same question worded differently, she will definitely try to confuse the beneficiary.

As for a translator...I would not be telling my fiance/husband to ask for one unless you communicate (documented) in the language being translated to the consular officer. This is a huge red flag to them and they will use it to return a petition. Even then this is a sketchy process with Casa. I know many people who have used a translator for arabic not just with Kim, but other COs at Casa, and they were sure that not all of the information was passed on correctly. Remember as much as possible about the interview...it is not likely the beneficiary will even be able to "take notes" on all the back and forth.

If given a 221g for for evidence, photos, anything and a request to return to the consulate...make a copy of that 221g paper asking for the evidence and keep it. When they return to the consulate with that evidence that paper will be taken from them and not returned.

I wish you much luck with the interview.

~Kiya~

Edited May 26, 2006 by Kiya

[MrsAmera 41]

I think that the advice given has been excellent (as always!) I would like to let you know that it is not definete you will recieve the 221g (odds are good but you might not) My fiance did NOT recieve this, he went and got his visa the following day. Also another woman and her husband were there for a K3 visa the same day and he got his visa the following day as well. I know it's best to be prepared but I just wanted to let you know that he could very well get it easily. Also, if he can speak English, I think it's truly the best, it shows them he is very serious about coming to and living in the US where we speak English (especially with all this immigrant mumbo jumbo in the US right now). Just wanted to hopefully make a little spark of possibility for you!

Amera

oh and ps. - WELCOME!

[tatedaoudi 0]

I agree with everyone..its so hard to tell. just make sure that you have tons of evidence. My husband had an interview of 10 minutes with a really kind man. They really ended up talking about BBKing more than us and it was an easy experience. I had also been living in Morocco for 2 years with my fiance while I was working there so our evidence wasnt as typical...we had years of my records being there. Just be confident, and calm.

Good Luck,

Sarah