UPDATE on Casa Interview

[msheesha 548]

To those of u who keep asking about our interview & what was asked...here is the link to the original post:

Casa Interview Results

Monica

Do you want any thoughts about potential red flags that they may be thinking, based on re-reading the interview? I could be totally off base, and it could be useless, so let me know if you want thoughts.

[Always+Forever 7]

Do you want any thoughts about potential red flags that they may be thinking, based on re-reading the interview? I could be totally off base, and it could be useless, so let me know if you want thoughts.

Any thoughts are accepted...i know everyone has their own opinions...and i'm open to them I know it helps to have someone not personally involved in the case to give their opinions...no emotions involved

Monica

[msheesha 548]

Any thoughts are accepted...i know everyone has their own opinions...and i'm open to them I know it helps to have someone not personally involved in the case to give their opinions...no emotions involved

Monica

This is totally just a guess, and I could be way off base, but potentially something to consider. They asked about your financial situation and they asked about why you were on a Muslim site. They could be making leaps and bounds of assumptions (or I could be about what they are doing), but the CO could suspect that you are being paid to bring him here. Add to that, as you said, his family has money, etc.

I could be totally wrong. But, it's something that jumped out about their questioning.

If they know nothing about your financial situation, again, they could be making assumptions about your financial situation.

[Staashi 371]

BTW...where does everyone get the information about Morocco being so high in immigration fraud? I know thats what the CO's bark about but I dont get it. Most of the Moroccans I know don't even care to EVER step foot in the states. Is there somewhere I can get this information??

Casablanca is notorious for fraudulent cases, along with Cairo, Manila, Lagos (Nigeria), Moscow and Ghengdou (China). It has been a proven fact that fraud runs rampant in the internet cafes there and that many men are working every angle to meet an unsuspecting USC online. Chat rooms, social media sites, gaming sites, etc, etc are places for what I call greencard predators. The red flags are things that many people have pointed out before but a skinny man with a very obese wife - red flag; major age difference - red flag; divorcee with children - red flag; not able to speak English - red flag. You name any one of these and some of the others that Sachinky posted earlier - deny, deny, deny. Visa denials for the most part are about perception - what did the CO perceive about your fiance/husband - did they feel fraud just emanating from your man's pores? Deny. I know that there are many genuine cases that do come out of Casa - but when you see the fraud run rampant around you how would you handle it?

[Always+Forever 7]

This is totally just a guess, and I could be way off base, but potentially something to consider. They asked about your financial situation and they asked about why you were on a Muslim site. They could be making leaps and bounds of assumptions (or I could be about what they are doing), but the CO could suspect that you are being paid to bring him here. Add to that, as you said, his family has money, etc.

I could be totally wrong. But, it's something that jumped out about their questioning.

If they know nothing about your financial situation, again, they could be making assumptions about your financial situation.

They could be thinking a million things...i'm really hoping my senator's office can find out exactly what. that brings up a question...if they assume i'm being paid off, but its not the case at all....how do u prove to them otherwise???

Monica

P.S. I didn't mean for them to be preseaved as rich...i just meant that they survive on what they have...they aren't desperate like many of the fraud cases.

[Golden Gate 530]

You are right. It is probably a combination of things. What popped out at me was that he proposed to you 8 months after you met online and the first time you met. Then you moved there within the first year. This is a dramatic change for you and your child. Then they told him he could get his visa under other conditions. This suggests to me that the potential is there for him to get the visa, but perhaps you have been hasty and they are going to make you work at it longer and be more patient in order to get it. Thus providing more evidence of stability in the relationship. I was thinking this because on their website, one of their warnings is that you should know the person at least a year before making decisions.

[Always+Forever 7]

You are right. It is probably a combination of things. What popped out at me was that he proposed to you 8 months after you met online and the first time you met. Then you moved there within the first year. This is a dramatic change for you and your child. Then they told him he could get his visa under other conditions. This suggests to me that the potential is there for him to get the visa, but perhaps you have been hasty and they are going to make you work at it longer and be more patient in order to get it. Thus providing more evidence of stability in the relationship. I was thinking this because on their website, one of their warnings is that you should know the person at least a year before making decisions.

Thats what i figured to...they are testing us....and that's fine with us...test away...they can't break us Absence makes the heart grow stronger...I always said if we can make it through ALL of this...we can make it through anything!!!

Monica

[Golden Gate 530]

Thats what i figured to...they are testing us....and that's fine with us...test away...they can't break us Absence makes the heart grow stronger...I always said if we can make it through ALL of this...we can make it through anything!!!

Monica

Yes. Believe me. I feel for your situation. It is very similar to mine in several ways. I have to keep repeating to myself 'patience is a virtue.'

[Crossed_fingers 128]

Casablanca is notorious for fraudulent cases, along with Cairo, Manila, Lagos (Nigeria), Moscow and Ghengdou (China). It has been a proven fact that fraud runs rampant in the internet cafes there and that many men are working every angle to meet an unsuspecting USC online. Chat rooms, social media sites, gaming sites, etc, etc are places for what I call greencard predators.

Staashi, I agree with you, but I am curious about whether we have any actual statistics on the fraud coming out of Morocco. Reading this site, for instance, I think it's obvious that it exists, but I also know of some marriages that are still going strong after getting the green card. I don't know what the percentages are and I'm not trying to minimize what the women who were defrauded have gone through. But I wonder just how widespread it is, when there seem to be more than a handful, at least, of Moroccan men who meet their American wives on the internet and then come to live with them here but who have legitimate intentions. In fairness, I don't know much else about the successful couples. I think many of them had some age difference, although perhaps generally on the lower end of what Casa sees, but I don't know about the skinny man - obese woman, English fluency, etc.

I do think that you're right, I'm only asking this and directing at you because you said it's a proven pact that fraud is running rampant there and I'm interested in statistics or evidence about this. I'm not quite sure I'd describe the chance of divorce after the Moroccan arrives as rampant........although that could just mean that Casa weeded out much of the bad. (Even if they sometimes weed out the good along with the bad.)

[Crossed_fingers 128]

Monica, I'm glad that your senator is giving you some action and I'm glad that you're being proactive about this hurdle. I had 3 thoughts about possible red flags. Please know that I am just offering these as things to think about for fighting the denial. I could be totally wrong about them and I do NOT mean I don't believe your relationship. And I thought overall you had a strong case, to the point that when I heard your denial my heart sank and I thought, "Wow, if they denied, we don't stand a chance!" But here are 3 things that I think it wouldn't hurt to address. 1. The relative quickness between the time you met online and when you got engaged and filed. 2. That he has a brother in the United States already. I've read in other stories that having a relative in the U.S. can actually work against you, as it would give a potential motive for wanting to be here. Has the brother already naturalized? If the brother HAS naturalized but is not petitioning for any family to come over, maybe that would be worth pointing out? But if he has not naturalized yet and the family would have to wait for him to be able to sponsor, or especially if the brother is in the process of petitioning for their parents, then you might have to fight the perception that Hicham is just trying to get to the U.S. to reunite with his family the fastest way possible. 3. That you met on a Muslim site even though you weren't Muslim. It might make it look like Hicham changed his standards because you were American, like he was at first looking for a Muslim but when he found out you were American he didn't care that you didn't share his religion.

Again, please please please don't be offended. I'm not at all saying that I think any of this IS what Hicham was thinking. I am just trying to be as hyper-critical as I can to help you come up with responses to the worst that the CO might conclude.

Good luck, and I'm praying for you!

[Miss smarty pants 84]

Staashi, I agree with you, but I am curious about whether we have any actual statistics on the fraud coming out of Morocco. Reading this site, for instance, I think it's obvious that it exists, but I also know of some marriages that are still going strong after getting the green card. I don't know what the percentages are and I'm not trying to minimize what the women who were defrauded have gone through. But I wonder just how widespread it is, when there seem to be more than a handful, at least, of Moroccan men who meet their American wives on the internet and then come to live with them here but who have legitimate intentions. In fairness, I don't know much else about the successful couples. I think many of them had some age difference, although perhaps generally on the lower end of what Casa sees, but I don't know about the skinny man - obese woman, English fluency, etc.

I do think that you're right, I'm only asking this and directing at you because you said it's a proven pact that fraud is running rampant there and I'm interested in statistics or evidence about this. I'm not quite sure I'd describe the chance of divorce after the Moroccan arrives as rampant........although that could just mean that Casa weeded out much of the bad. (Even if they sometimes weed out the good along with the bad.)

I know of two successful Moroccan-American marriages. Although these are probably both red flags for me. My fiancee's brother has been married to his American wife for 8 years. And his sister has been married to an American for 3 years. His sister is one of my best friends and they both (the brother and sister) live in my city. But they are both happy and it wasn't intended by them for me to ever actually meet my fiancee. It was me that actually pursued it because I knew he was single and thought he was so cute. LOL. I am 100% sure that my fiancee really loves me. I am just not sure exactly how to convince the Consulate of this. None of his family has any money. But I have a great job here.

[Always+Forever 7]

Have your fiance write up a detailed review of ALL the questions he was asked.

How did he respond to them? confidently and honestly

Did he mess up on any dates? Did he stumble on facts? no to both

Did he know your personal history? a resounding YES..we talk ALOT

Does he speak English? English teacher

Do you have a large age gap? he's 5 yrs older

Did you have a short online courtship? we didn't get past friendship for about 3-4 mths

How quickly did he propose? he didn't propose till my 1st visit...i know many propose before meeting

How many trips did you make? 2...1st for 2 wks...2nd 3 mths

Does he have family in the US? one sibling

Cultural/social/religious differences? of course...he's moroccan, i'm american...lol i'm undecided on religion at this point

Financial/education/social status of the beneficiary? he has no problems here

Large disparity in physical appearance? i don't think it should matter, but i know it might to them

Somewhere in there lies the clue to his denial.

[Miss smarty pants 84]

Thats what i figured to...they are testing us....and that's fine with us...test away...they can't break us Absence makes the heart grow stronger...I always said if we can make it through ALL of this...we can make it through anything!!!

Monica

I really hope it works out for you. You already were there for a long time. Have you considered moving there with him? Maybe get married there and do a DCF?

[Always+Forever 7]

Monica, I'm glad that your senator is giving you some action and I'm glad that you're being proactive about this hurdle. I had 3 thoughts about possible red flags. Please know that I am just offering these as things to think about for fighting the denial. I could be totally wrong about them and I do NOT mean I don't believe your relationship. And I thought overall you had a strong case, to the point that when I heard your denial my heart sank and I thought, "Wow, if they denied, we don't stand a chance!" But here are 3 things that I think it wouldn't hurt to address. 1. The relative quickness between the time you met online and when you got engaged and filed. 2. That he has a brother in the United States already. I've read in other stories that having a relative in the U.S. can actually work against you, as it would give a potential motive for wanting to be here. Has the brother already naturalized? If the brother HAS naturalized but is not petitioning for any family to come over, maybe that would be worth pointing out? But if he has not naturalized yet and the family would have to wait for him to be able to sponsor, or especially if the brother is in the process of petitioning for their parents, then you might have to fight the perception that Hicham is just trying to get to the U.S. to reunite with his family the fastest way possible. 3. That you met on a Muslim site even though you weren't Muslim. It might make it look like Hicham changed his standards because you were American, like he was at first looking for a Muslim but when he found out you were American he didn't care that you didn't share his religion.

Again, please please please don't be offended. I'm not at all saying that I think any of this IS what Hicham was thinking. I am just trying to be as hyper-critical as I can to help you come up with responses to the worst that the CO might conclude.

Good luck, and I'm praying for you!

No worries...as i told msheesha...all opinions r accepted...cuz it can open my eyes to things i may not see And as far as him wanting to be with his family...Hicham has other ways of getting to the US, he doesn't need me to do so. As for quickness...I have seen many much quicker than mine (a friend of mine even) that were easily approved. And as for the Muslim site...he answered that the same way i would have (even though we had never discussed it...lol) a friend told me about the site & said it was a good one. But i know that was one of their issues too.

Monica

I really hope it works out for you. You already were there for a long time. Have you considered moving there with him? Maybe get married there and do a DCF?

have thought about it, but that would still bring up the issue of financial status, and i don't have a good co-sponsor to use, so notreally an option right now. Unless I can somehow find a job i can do from there & get paid up the wazzo...

[Carrie1978 2]

Red flags seem to be different for each CO. Ours CO was more concerned about the fact that he was helping to raise my kids; she also had issues that I was in the army-things we both thought would be great proof for our relationship and finances.

Im sure without a doubt that fraud is all over-but somebody show me the actual statistics for Morocco. I think we are taking a little information and running with it IMO. Like a rumor that took off like wild fire.