WHAT AFTER YOUR FIANCE'S ARRIVAL ?

[very nice 0]

Hi VJ's,

its pretty late here in Morocco ,but i still wanted to come do this post here ,we have contacted our Senator and he made actions very quick and he sent an email to my Michelle "Fiancee" telling her that our AP will take another week and he seemed confident that security checks will be cleared in that time frame DOS gave him .So now we are trying to talk about what after my arrival ,first of all its the wedding day and stuff we will get married like every american couple would do there ,but my question is DO WE NEED TO GET MARRIED IN MOSQUE AS WELL if yes why and is it necessary ,and after getting married i think we still have some more work to do with me and adjusting my status etc i would like to hear from people have been thru the same thing ,i also would like to do what would be my ID in states i am thinking first thing would be "passport",its the only thing i can use to get married and eveyrthing ,i also heared tha some people need to do something at airport "immigration" do i have to ask for work permit there and i have heared some one here have been adviced he should ask for his visa's number or something like this i am not sure ,i also have heared that on the plane i am not supposed to have heavy luggage its limited i guess,I have a laptop and mybe a backpack i would like to have with me on the plane and 2 bags ,i am also planning on taking some pistachious lil bags with me and candies is this ok to have with you,so my post is all about what ur so did after arrival and what was the arrangements etc ,thanks in advance .

Ahmed and Michelle .

[Brad and Vika 129]

Hi VJ's,

its pretty late here in Morocco ,but i still wanted to come do this post here ,we have contacted our Senator and he made actions very quick and he sent an email to my Michelle "Fiancee" telling her that our AP will take another week and he seemed confident that security checks will be cleared in that time frame DOS gave him .So now we are trying to talk about what after my arrival ,first of all its the wedding day and stuff we will get married like every american couple would do there ,but my question is DO WE NEED TO GET MARRIED IN MOSQUE AS WELL if yes why and is it necessary ,and after getting married i think we still have some more work to do with me and adjusting my status etc i would like to hear from people have been thru the same thing ,i also would like to do what would be my ID in states i am thinking first thing would be "passport",its the only thing i can use to get married and eveyrthing ,i also heared tha some people need to do something at airport "immigration" do i have to ask for work permit there and i have heared some one here have been adviced he should ask for his visa's number or something like this i am not sure ,i also have heared that on the plane i am not supposed to have heavy luggage its limited i guess,I have a laptop and mybe a backpack i would like to have with me on the plane and 2 bags ,i am also planning on taking some pistachious lil bags with me and candies is this ok to have with you,so my post is all about what ur so did after arrival and what was the arrangements etc ,thanks in advance .

Ahmed and Michelle .

We're a bit behind you in the process, but I wanted to say congratulations.

[very nice 0]

Hi VJ's,

its pretty late here in Morocco ,but i still wanted to come do this post here ,we have contacted our Senator and he made actions very quick and he sent an email to my Michelle "Fiancee" telling her that our AP will take another week and he seemed confident that security checks will be cleared in that time frame DOS gave him .So now we are trying to talk about what after my arrival ,first of all its the wedding day and stuff we will get married like every american couple would do there ,but my question is DO WE NEED TO GET MARRIED IN MOSQUE AS WELL if yes why and is it necessary ,and after getting married i think we still have some more work to do with me and adjusting my status etc i would like to hear from people have been thru the same thing ,i also would like to do what would be my ID in states i am thinking first thing would be "passport",its the only thing i can use to get married and eveyrthing ,i also heared tha some people need to do something at airport "immigration" do i have to ask for work permit there and i have heared some one here have been adviced he should ask for his visa's number or something like this i am not sure ,i also have heared that on the plane i am not supposed to have heavy luggage its limited i guess,I have a laptop and mybe a backpack i would like to have with me on the plane and 2 bags ,i am also planning on taking some pistachious lil bags with me and candies is this ok to have with you,so my post is all about what ur so did after arrival and what was the arrangements etc ,thanks in advance .

Ahmed and Michelle .

We're a bit behind you in the process, but I wanted to say congratulations.

thanks

[Staashi 371]

Hi VJ's,

its pretty late here in Morocco ,but i still wanted to come do this post here ,we have contacted our Senator and he made actions very quick and he sent an email to my Michelle "Fiancee" telling her that our AP will take another week and he seemed confident that security checks will be cleared in that time frame DOS gave him .So now we are trying to talk about what after my arrival ,first of all its the wedding day and stuff we will get married like every american couple would do there ,but my question is DO WE NEED TO GET MARRIED IN MOSQUE AS WELL if yes why and is it necessary ,and after getting married i think we still have some more work to do with me and adjusting my status etc i would like to hear from people have been thru the same thing ,i also would like to do what would be my ID in states i am thinking first thing would be "passport",its the only thing i can use to get married and eveyrthing ,i also heared tha some people need to do something at airport "immigration" do i have to ask for work permit there and i have heared some one here have been adviced he should ask for his visa's number or something like this i am not sure ,i also have heared that on the plane i am not supposed to have heavy luggage its limited i guess,I have a laptop and mybe a backpack i would like to have with me on the plane and 2 bags ,i am also planning on taking some pistachious lil bags with me and candies is this ok to have with you,so my post is all about what ur so did after arrival and what was the arrangements etc ,thanks in advance .

Ahmed and Michelle .

Ahmed - congratulations on hopefully having your visa soon.

Before you come to America, the Consulate will give you a huge envelope that will contain all your documents that will establish your relationship with USCIS. You will bring that envelope to the US and present it to Immigration when you enter. Hopefully, at your point of entry (POE), you will be given an I-551 stamp in your passport that allows you work in the US while you wait for your greencard. Sometimes this happens, sometimes not.

Once you arrive, you will have 90 days to marry before the expiration of your I-94. You and Michelle will have to apply for a marriage license and then you will be able to marry in a courthouse. I'm not sure if you can legally marry in a Mosque or if it is only a religious ceremony, but one way or another, you will have to have a valid, legal union performed and that will establish your compliance with the USCIS rule of marrying within the 90-day timeframe. My husband and I married in a courthouse on November 17 and then two months later on January 8, we were married at our church...so, we have two anniversary dates and they are both very special.

Michelle will also take you to get a state-issued identification, which we normally call a drivers license or some type of identification card. In a few months when you all adjust status, you will also be issued your conditional greencard. It will be valid for two years and then you will remove conditions. In regards to the passport, one day, if you so decide, you can become a US Citizen - at that time you will apply for a US passport.

In regards to traveling here...you will be allowed two carry-on items...one can be your laptop and one a backpack. You shouldn't have a problem bringing over pistachios and candies - traditionally, US Customs will not allow anything in that is an animal product or anything that could damage the agricultural system of the USA. From the Customs website: Restricted items include meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, and products made from animal or plant materials. You will also have two suitcases - but be prepared to possibly pay extra if they weigh a lot.

I hope you have a wonderful life here together with Michelle. Be prepared for lots of changes from Morocco, but you all will be able to get by...be patient with each other...learn from each other. May God bless you both abundantly.

My best wishes to you both!

Edited August 5, 2008 by Staashi

[Aymsgirl 0]

About marrying in a mosque, that is up to you. Some mosques have somebody there to marry you Islamically and legally in your state. Ours, they were searching all over the area for somebody and didn't find one, which surprised me. I believe in Ohio most people probably get legally married then worry about the Islamic marriage later.

As far as your passport goes, it is your source of ID. Once you enter the US, you may be eligible for a work stamp (good for 90 days) if you come through JFK. I believe they are the only airport that issues them. Remember to ask them about this if you do fly into JFK as your port of entry. As far as the papers to give to immigration at the port of entry they will be with you. The embassy should send you an envelope that you are not to open. The officer at the port of entry takes this from you and more than likely you will not get anything out of it. If you receive the work stamp, you normally can go to the Driver's License Bureau and get some type of ID there or a start package that has an application for a state ID when you apply for your temporary license.

Once your husband has been here about two weeks you can apply for a social security number. Go to the K1 guide and print out the instructions on what to do after he arrives. This can take another few weeks to get in the mail but he will have a print out that he applied for it. You will need to take a copy of your marriage certificate and his passport with him to the SS office. For your name change on your US ID, you need to apply for the SS name change first. You can do this at the same time as your husband, just bring your ID with you, marriage license and I would bring my birth certificate just in case they ask. They can legally change your name. You will have to go to the license bureau and follow the instructions on name changes for your US passport on www.travel.state.gov. I believe you may have to apply for a new passport.

There is also adjustment of status that you may want to do so that he can travel in and out of the country and have permission to work more than 90 days, this will be a two year green card if you haven't been married longer than two years. All of the instructions are in the guides.

As far as the luggage goes, it is up to the airline. Everybody is different so check their guidelines. I do know that bringing foods and seeds from other countries can be illegal. Maybe somebody can help you out more on this one.

Just remember its little steps at a time. Adjustment is hard and life is so much different here. Eventually I'm sure that things will one day feel more complete. If I can help you in any way just ask. Congratulations!

Tasha

Awwwwwwwww Staashi and I answered at about the same time!!!

[Staashi 371]

Awwwwwwwww Staashi and I answered at about the same time!!!

LOL great minds think alike.