sending money from Morocco to US

[Talat 0]

Hi all Moroccan members,

My wife is becoming citizen on 18th Nov. Her father is on a visit visa and is staying with us. She wants to file I-130 & i-864 concurrent applications for him. To pay for the fees, her mother (from Morocco) needs to send money (equivalent to $1500) to my wife in US. Anyone can suggest the best way to do this. Thanks.

[Peace.... 281]

Hi all Moroccan members,

My wife is becoming citizen on 18th Nov. Her father is on a visit visa and is staying with us. She wants to file I-130 & i-864 concurrent applications for him. To pay for the fees, her mother (from Morocco) needs to send money (equivalent to $1500) to my wife in US. Anyone can suggest the best way to do this. Thanks.

She has to covert her Durhams (MAD) at the bank into American dollars then do a transfer like Western Union, at this point she is gonna lose money due to the conversion rate when she has to convert in US dollars, but it's the safe route.

Edited November 16, 2010 by foreverwaiting

[KittyPollitt 284]

She has to covert her Durhams (MAD) at the bank into American dollars then do a transfer like Western Union, at this point she is gonna lose money due to the conversion rate when she has to convert in US dollars, but it's the safe route.

This would be true, but Moroccan banks will not convert money to US dollars unless the person requesting to do so is a US citizen, or already holds a US visa (in that case, only if it is in the airport.) You will also find that Western Unions and Money Gram in Morocco will only allow you to receive money. With very few exceptions, money cannot be sent out of Morocco. It is against Moroccan law. The only exception I know of is if one has a child who is a student abroad, then bank transfers of very strictly controlled amounts are allowed out. Trust me. I lived there and ran into this issue when I wanted my mother to buy our return tickets online. We looked into every avenue, and it's just not possible to get money out of Morocco. Sorry, OP.

[Karonya and Adel 8]

she could do it in Ceuta if she has a visa to get through

[caybee 21]

she could do it in Ceuta if she has a visa to get through

The problem is that a Moroccan can't take or send Moroccan dirhams out of the country, period, and Moroccans can't convert MAD to another currency except under certain circumstances. I left some USD with my husband on my last trip before he got his visa so he would have spending money on his trip over, and he didn't have any hassle carrying that out, but he couldn't bring MAD, and he couldn't have converted MAD to USD himself, legally.

If they have an American or European friend whom they trust who is currently in Morocco, perhaps they could ask that person to exchange the currency and send it (or carry it out and then send it). Or if that person has a bank account they use from inside or outside of Morocco, they could do a transfer. My understanding is that Moroccans usually move money out of the country through family members or friends of other nationalities.

[Karonya and Adel 8]

The problem is that a Moroccan can't take or send Moroccan dirhams out of the country, period, and Moroccans can't convert MAD to another currency except under certain circumstances. I left some USD with my husband on my last trip before he got his visa so he would have spending money on his trip over, and he didn't have any hassle carrying that out, but he couldn't bring MAD, and he couldn't have converted MAD to USD himself, legally.

If they have an American or European friend whom they trust who is currently in Morocco, perhaps they could ask that person to exchange the currency and send it (or carry it out and then send it). Or if that person has a bank account they use from inside or outside of Morocco, they could do a transfer. My understanding is that Moroccans usually move money out of the country through family members or friends of other nationalities.

Ceuta is controlled by Spain. Thats why she can do it there. I received money from my ex-husband when he was still in Morocco and he did it from there.

[Peace.... 281]

I was speaking with my fiance in Casablanca today, when his brother was moving to the States, they both went to a local bank there in Casablanca and they asked for his passport and they had no problems converting the MAD into US dollars. Anyway, that is all they did and it was successful.

[KittyPollitt 284]

Ceuta is controlled by Spain. Thats why she can do it there. I received money from my ex-husband when he was still in Morocco and he did it from there.

If she's not from the north of Morocco, she's not getting in to Ceuta..

[MrsAmera 41]

It's not illegal for Moroccans to change dirhams to dollars - it's illegal to send money out of Morocco. You "Might" be able to send USD or Euros to the US but def. not dirham. As others have said it's very difficult to send money out of Morocco.

[Yass 0]

If she's not from the north of Morocco, she's not getting in to Ceuta..

I'm sorry brother but this is not true, I was born and raised in Casablanca and I have been to melilla/Ceuta several times with my family

. As a matter of fact,we don't hold residency in the north part of Morocco. To get in you only need to show your Moroccan passport.

To convert Moroccan Dirham to any other currency, it's a piece of cake, and it can be done without going to the bank. Hello the Bazarr in old medina in Casablanca. Those people out there will convert any currency for you, they can even send money for you out of the country. There is a different secure approach to send money out of Morocco but I don't feel comfortable discussing it in a public forum.

Good luck.

[KittyPollitt 284]

I'm sorry brother but this is not true, I was born and raised in Casablanca and I have been to melilla/Ceuta several times with my family

. As a matter of fact,we don't hold residency in the north part of Morocco. To get in you only need to show your Moroccan passport.

To convert Moroccan Dirham to any other currency, it's a piece of cake, and it can be done without going to the bank. Hello the Bazarr in old medina in Casablanca. Those people out there will convert any currency for you, they can even send money for you out of the country. There is a different secure approach to send money out of Morocco but I don't feel comfortable discussing it in a public forum.

Good luck.

I'm not a brother...

I said that because I actually spoke to the guards at the border of Ceuta. My husband is from Casablanca. They would not let him in, even though our daughter and I (American citizens) were with him. They told us that unless you're from the north, you can't enter without a visa. This was just in May. I don't know when you went last or what your circumstances were. And I wouldn't tell people to go asking around about money matters in the old medina if they don't know who they're looking for.. That's just me..

Edited November 20, 2010 by squeaky580

[Princess In Love 0]

Hi all Moroccan members,

My wife is becoming citizen on 18th Nov. Her father is on a visit visa and is staying with us. She wants to file I-130 & i-864 concurrent applications for him. To pay for the fees, her mother (from Morocco) needs to send money (equivalent to $1500) to my wife in US. Anyone can suggest the best way to do this. Thanks.

$ 1500 is not a lot of money , you can give it to here and she can pay you back later, save yourself the hassle