UPDATE on Casa Interview

[Carrie1978 2]

As for quickness Monica-we were engaged after a week (ok had I said that before it happened I would have lmao) of talking online and phone-married the first time I visited. For Muslims (speaking from my small group of people that I know), marriage isn't something that you draw out and date for a long time etc. So I don't see that as being a red flag.

I know this has to be so hard on you and your daughter and Im sorry you have to be seperated again

[Always+Forever 7]

I know our case isn't fraud, so that's all that matters to me...eventually the embassy will see the same thing...I think most of the ppl here r trying to express what the CO might thinking, not what they are actually thinking about our case...i may be wrong about what the others r thinking though (hope not ) All i know is that we r both strong & ready to do whatever is needed to get our family back together. You can kick us down, but we will get right back up, dust ourselves off & keep on goin

Monica

[Mithra 1,185]

The various consulates know the social/cultural norms of both the foreign country and the US. Americans, generally, do not get engaged/married quickly. As far as Muslims go, my sister and brother in laws are Muslim yet they had relatively long engagements before getting married. By relatively long I mean at least a year up to three years. And while some Muslims do get engaged and married fairly quickly, the families usually know each other for a long time. There is usually an investigation of sorts involved. This newer phenomenon of internet courtship is not a "normal" thing. This could be part of the reason why the various consulates scrutinize those types of relationships.

As for quickness Monica-we were engaged after a week (ok had I said that before it happened I would have lmao) of talking online and phone-married the first time I visited. For Muslims (speaking from my small group of people that I know), marriage isn't something that you draw out and date for a long time etc. So I don't see that as being a red flag.

I know this has to be so hard on you and your daughter and Im sorry you have to be seperated again

[sachinky 465]

The various consulates know the social/cultural norms of both the foreign country and the US. Americans, generally, do not get engaged/married quickly. As far as Muslims go, my sister and brother in laws are Muslim yet they had relatively long engagements before getting married. By relatively long I mean at least a year up to three years. And while some Muslims do get engaged and married fairly quickly, the families usually know each other for a long time. There is usually an investigation of sorts involved. This newer phenomenon of internet courtship is not a "normal" thing. This could be part of the reason why the various consulates scrutinize those types of relationships.

100% agreed.

Edited June 15, 2010 by sachinky

[Always+Forever 7]

Not sure if any of u have seen this article....i found it VERY interesting.

Denials of IV at Consulates & DHS petition revocations

Monica

Edited June 16, 2010 by HichaMonica

[Always+Forever 7]

ok...new info...Hicham asked why he was denied...CO said because he called me his lasting love to early in the conversations we gave them...i only had available starting beginning of May...i lost the first couple mths of us talking when my computer died...ugg

Monica

[msheesha 548]

So, that was a red flag for them.

I wonder why he wouldn't have told you that before. It would have saved you a bunch of time guessing!

Did you ask him how he answered the CO saying he could get a visa through other options?

[Crossed_fingers 128]

ok...new info...Hicham asked why he was denied...CO said because he called me his lasting love to early in the conversations we gave them...i only had available starting beginning of May...i lost the first couple mths of us talking when my computer died...ugg

Monica

If you don't mind me asking, how long after you started chatting did the "I love you" talk start? Just trying to get an idea what the CO considered to be too soon.

[KittyPollitt 284]

ok...new info...Hicham asked why he was denied...CO said because he called me his lasting love to early in the conversations we gave them...i only had available starting beginning of May...i lost the first couple mths of us talking when my computer died...ugg

Monica

I know I sound crazy when I ask this, but your bringing it up makes me think of how my fiance and I first started talking.. Indeed it was me who professed love to him very early in our conversations, and I pretty much stalked him online until we got serious. I wonder if they'd still consider this early flirtation a red flag, even though I was the clear aggressor in our first conversations. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry because I've been here in Morocco for four months and we have a child together, but at the same time, everyone thought Monica's case was cut and dry too, and I'm seriously screwed without my kid's dad to help me raise her.. any input is desperately needed..

Sorry to hijack your thread, Monica, you just got me thinking..

[Golden Gate 530]

ok...new info...Hicham asked why he was denied...CO said because he called me his lasting love to early in the conversations we gave them...i only had available starting beginning of May...i lost the first couple mths of us talking when my computer died...ugg

Monica

Wow. These Co's need classes on psychology. They are fiddling around with peoples' lives. They should be more qualified. Don't they know that relationships usually begin with infatuation - a heightened sense of bliss, that often results in exclamations of love? What else propels intimate relationships forward? I don't care about suspicions of fraud. To me, this is drawing at straws. They need to be more educated on human behavior if they are going to make distinctions between fraudulent and legitimate relationships. I am tired of the excuse that they can't tell the difference between fraudulent and genuine people. I think if they were more qualified, they could make more informed decisions. These people aren't just postal clerks, processing mail.

At least you found out the reason!

[msheesha 548]

I know I sound crazy when I ask this, but your bringing it up makes me think of how my fiance and I first started talking.. Indeed it was me who professed love to him very early in our conversations, and I pretty much stalked him online until we got serious. I wonder if they'd still consider this early flirtation a red flag, even though I was the clear aggressor in our first conversations. Everyone keeps telling me not to worry because I've been here in Morocco for four months and we have a child together, but at the same time, everyone thought Monica's case was cut and dry too, and I'm seriously screwed without my kid's dad to help me raise her.. any input is desperately needed..

Sorry to hijack your thread, Monica, you just got me thinking..

This warning about romance fraud is posted on their website. people going thru casa should be aware of it and be able to address it convincingly in the interview. i dont think it means an automatic denial, but the consulate considers it, otherwise they wouldn't put it as a warning on their website.

http://casablanca.usconsulate.gov/marriage_requirements.html

[Golden Gate 530]

This warning about romance fraud is posted on their website. people going thru casa should be aware of it and be able to address it convincingly in the interview. i dont think it means an automatic denial, but the consulate considers it, otherwise they wouldn't put it as a warning on their website.

http://casablanca.us...quirements.html

Yes. You are right!

[msheesha 548]

Wow. These Co's need classes on psychology. They are fiddling around with peoples' lives. They should be more qualified. Don't they know that relationships usually begin with infatuation - a heightened sense of bliss, that often results in exclamations of love? What else propels intimate relationships forward? I don't care about suspicions of fraud. To me, this is drawing at straws. They need to be more educated on human behavior if they are going to make distinctions between fraudulent and legitimate relationships. I am tired of the excuse that they can't tell the difference between fraudulent and genuine people. I think if they were more qualified, they could make more informed decisions. These people aren't just postal clerks, processing mail.

At least you found out the reason!

There's two sides to every coin though. I'm sure the CO's think some American women need classes in Moroccan culture and time observing the men in internet cafes trolling the internet for American women. I'm sure they see it ad nauseum.

And, then there's cases like someone else who recently posted on this forum - visited a guy once in Morocco, got engaged, filed for a K1, it was denied and less than a year later thinking about visa for a guy in another country. At the time of the denial, I'm sure there was outrage about the denial. Now less than a year later, can we say the CO was wrong? It's not a job I envy.

Edited June 16, 2010 by msheesha

[Golden Gate 530]

There's two sides to every coin though. I'm sure the CO's think some American women need classes in Moroccan culture and time observing the men in internet cafes trolling the internet for American women. I'm sure they see it ad nauseum.

And, then there's cases like someone else who recently posted on this forum - visited a guy once in Morocco, got engaged, filed for a K1, it was denied and less than a year later thinking about visa for a guy in another country. At the time of the denial, I'm sure there was outrage about the denial. Now less than a year later, can we say the CO was wrong? It's not a job I envy.

I see your point. However, I still think that such a job should require more qualifications. I wouldn't want that job either, but I wouldn't take a job I didn't feel qualified for. Definately, haste makes waste, on either side of the coin.

[sachinky 465]

The COs ARE trained in psychology in order to any detect signs of insincerity during the interview via body language, eye movement, and speech patterns, etc.