help please

[adam1 1]

I went to Morocco last December to visit my family, then I decided to get married while I was there. I asked my family if they know any girl that want to get married, so they arrange me a date with a girl from my family (by the way she is not my cousin) but she is my seventh cousin. we have the same last name so she doesn't need to change hers make it easy for me,lol. when I left Morocco In 2001 I was 22 and she was 14 y old, but when I mate her after 7 years she looked totally different (grow fast) may be I got old too. Anyways we got married within a week 12-29-2008 the weeding party was postpone In till summer when I come back with enough vacation time plus she was busy with the exams for her bachelors degree. my problem is we got married but we didn't live together, no honey moon, I didn't even kiss her, we only took two pictures together, and we went out one time to buy her a ring with the presence of my two sister because my wife was too shay to go out with me, she told me don't embarrass me with my family.woooow. the point of my story is I was planning to do the weeding and the honey moon in the summer 2009, that way we would have enough evidence for the interview thinking the I-130 will take at least 1 year. I applied for I-130 on 02/2009 and I got approved 24 days latter. now I don't know what to do to get enough evidence if they ask for any, the only thing I have is the phone record from Verizon, we talk for hours every day! I don't know if that's enough or should I go to Morocco very soon (before the interview) and do the wedding and take pictures. I don't know if the consula will understand my circumstances.

Please help me out

[maggieNomar 0]

Do you have proof of your trip there such as the tickets? Has the interview been scheduled yet? I'd plan to at least go back ahead of the interview. I think that the I130's take more time to get to consulate after approval here, so that should buy you some time to gather more evidence. If you don't have phone records I'd be emailing with her or using chat and saving the chat logs so you have some proof of communication.

[Dakine 26]

Do you have evidence of having a loving bonafide marriage? Doesn't look that way. You should start piling up evidence of such. Life insurance, joint accounts ETC.

[MsMariah 0]

I think culturally they should understand the circumstances of your marriage. you HAVE to get proof of your phone calls....and tell the truth that you were waiting to have the formal ceremony until things were perfect, good luck.

[adam1 1]

thanks to everybody for the input, I talk to her everyday for at least two hours and I have prove of that. she is the primary beneficiary in my life insurance, we have two credit card joint accounts we don't chat that much because its not practical for her and if we do we just talk on MSN. Can I use members of my family to witness the ongoing relationship? am not bragging about my self do they take in consideration if a person is college graduated have a good job with the government, the house paid for, two cars paid for..... some body with all this won't get married for money nor risk everything he worked hard for for some pocket change. is this make sense to the consula!!!!

I wish I can just be my self with this whole thing and do what I want without having to explain my personal life, restrict my freedom that I believe and the constitution of US stands for.

Does the consula have a right to deny a case if some stupid evidence like chatting logs that anybody can type and print are not available? if yes does a US citizen or a tax payer have a right to fight back?

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

The Consular has a right to deny any case they feel like it, whether it makes sense to us or not. Its highly likely that they deny cases based on what they see as fraud OR lack of evidence. Its not a Right that a US citizen brings a spouse over, its a Priviledge. Gather as much evidence of your relationship as you can. Know each other well and make sure you have pictures together. If they ask her a question and she doesnt know or says something different from you, that wont be good for you both.

[adam1 1]

The Consular has a right to deny any case they feel like it, whether it makes sense to us or not. Its highly likely that they deny cases based on what they see as fraud OR lack of evidence. Its not a Right that a US citizen brings a spouse over, its a Priviledge. Gather as much evidence of your relationship as you can. Know each other well and make sure you have pictures together. If they ask her a question and she doesnt know or says something different from you, that wont be good for you both.

You right I think I just need to go with the flow and do what everybody does. If can't change the rules i have to go by theim.

thanks for the advise.

[CnT4ever 1]

My understanding is that many people from Muslim/Mid East countries (and India) have arranged marriages. The fact that you are both Moroccan and have this culture in common will weigh more than if a non-ME American had this type of marriage to a Moroccan. Does that make sense? I think you will be fine. Whatever proof you have, present it. Also, I think it won't hurt to point out your good job and all things that will make the CO understand that you don't need to file a fake marriage for any special benefit. Good luck and let us know how it pans out.

[Old Dominion 26]

All things considered, it would be beneficial for you to make another visit. Photographs showing affection will help your case. Affidavits from her family attesting to the relationship (witnessed, but not notarized) will also help. Good luck!!!

[Meriem_DZ 37]

My understanding is that many people from Muslim/Mid East countries (and India) have arranged marriages. The fact that you are both Moroccan and have this culture in common will weigh more than if a non-ME American had this type of marriage to a Moroccan. Does that make sense? I think you will be fine. Whatever proof you have, present it. Also, I think it won't hurt to point out your good job and all things that will make the CO understand that you don't need to file a fake marriage for any special benefit. Good luck and let us know how it pans out.

That is exactly what I was thinking with both being Moroccan with the same culture and religion. The US Embassy is well aware of the customs of the people of Morocco. I don't think you will have any problems.

Meriem

[childress_london 3]

As everyone has said here, along with affidavits from family members, I think you would have enough evidence (phone calls, joint accounts, some pictures etc). And do make sure she knows everything about you so that she can answer even the most trivial questions at the interview. However, having said that, I have one reservation. From what you have said, I am assuming the marriage was not consumated. If this is true, this could raise a red flag at the interview, if it somehow comes up. Strange, but true, in the U.S. a marriage is not considered valid until it is consummated. How this is proved is beyond me, so just make sure she doesn't slip up and say anything to the interviewer that would lead him/her to question this.

[CnT4ever 1]

As everyone has said here, along with affidavits from family members, I think you would have enough evidence (phone calls, joint accounts, some pictures etc). And do make sure she knows everything about you so that she can answer even the most trivial questions at the interview. However, having said that, I have one reservation. From what you have said, I am assuming the marriage was not consumated. If this is true, this could raise a red flag at the interview, if it somehow comes up. Strange, but true, in the U.S. a marriage is not considered valid until it is consummated. How this is proved is beyond me, so just make sure she doesn't slip up and say anything to the interviewer that would lead him/her to question this.

Wow! Good point. Perhaps Abdel, you can ask someone that may have been in a similar situation?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I went to Morocco last December to visit my family, then I decided to get married while I was there. I asked my family if they know any girl that want to get married, so they arrange me a date with a girl from my family (by the way she is not my cousin) but she is my seventh cousin. we have the same last name so she doesn't need to change hers make it easy for me,lol. when I left Morocco In 2001 I was 22 and she was 14 y old, but when I mate her after 7 years she looked totally different (grow fast) may be I got old too. Anyways we got married within a week 12-29-2008 the weeding party was postpone In till summer when I come back with enough vacation time plus she was busy with the exams for her bachelors degree. my problem is we got married but we didn't live together, no honey moon, I didn't even kiss her, we only took two pictures together, and we went out one time to buy her a ring with the presence of my two sister because my wife was too shay to go out with me, she told me don't embarrass me with my family.woooow. the point of my story is I was planning to do the weeding and the honey moon in the summer 2009, that way we would have enough evidence for the interview thinking the I-130 will take at least 1 year. I applied for I-130 on 02/2009 and I got approved 24 days latter. now I don't know what to do to get enough evidence if they ask for any, the only thing I have is the phone record from Verizon, we talk for hours every day! I don't know if that's enough or should I go to Morocco very soon (before the interview) and do the wedding and take pictures. I don't know if the consula will understand my circumstances.

Please help me out

I wouldn't worry so much. You are both from Morocco, and that's a big advantage. Our I-130 was also approved quickly, but we took a year to get thru the NVC (our doing, not theirs). You dont want to do that, but I would recommend that you take some time to return to Morocco to see her again before you finish your file at the NVC. Go to have fun! The weight of fancy weddings and honeymoons in the consulate's decision-making is highly debatable. Life happens; things don't always happen in order, as expected, but that doesn't have to mean trouble. I hope our story will give you encouragement:

My husband is Moroccan, my family is Palestinian, but settled in Morocco in the 1930s. I spent much of my life there and have a home there. We met on a Muslim marriage site, communicated over the phone, internet and by mail for several years before I went to see him for the first time in February 2005. Ten days later, after hiring a lawyer to deal with a stubborn, contentious judge, we hurried from the closed courthouse to marry before strangers in jeans and sweaters in the adoul's office at 7:30 pm; no wedding, no wedding photos, no rings. We had milk and dates at his family's home, consumated the marriage, then, I left Morocco the next morning because of contractual obligations. That was it. We had no honeymoon until a year later. I also returned for a short visit in 2008, a month before his interview.

We had spent less than two months together in real life by the time he had his interview in 2008. He brought about a dozen photos we took with family and friends, and while traveling, a sample of IM chats, letters, emails and phone bills from the years we spent apart, my tickets, hotel receipts, our marriage deed, and financial info. The two folders weren't more than two inches thick. To our surprise, his interview lasted less than 10 minutes. They asked very few questions, didn't look at any of the evidence, then gave him his visa the next day. And, it is usually easier for a woman to get a visa than a man.

I can't tell you exactly why our evidence wasn't of interest to them. It was beautifully complied lol. I think our compatible backgrounds - both Arab, both Muslim, common culture and languages - helped more. I also think not rushing through the process helped us create the impression that we were cool, calm and confident in our relationship. By all means, go back and spend time with your wife, but think more about having fun and enjoying your time together, whether you have a (stressful) wedding or not. We still haven't had a wedding , but we did have a honeymoon, and that was a lot less stressful than a wedding. Play up your compatibility and common background. From our experience, I think the quality of your relationship is more important than the quantity of your evidence.

I will be happy to help you, if you have any questions.

[adam1 1]

Thanks to all of you for the advises I feel better now. I would like to hear from a Moroccan petitioner or applicant with a similar experience to mine, what I mean by that is arranged marriage? thanks

[dimanuni 1]

You said she was getting her bachelor's degree. I think that will help also. The consulate will like to see that she's educated and can be productive over here in the US. Her being in school will go a long way to explaining why you've not seen each other a lot.

Good luck! I'm happy for you guys!