The hoping not to be denied at Casablanca thread

[Lisamarie 79]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I was planning to go back over the fall or winter once we got our NOA2 but that didn't happen and we were working on getting everything for the RFE instead...so now I am planning a trip for late Feb-early March. It's been too long and I'm missing him so much. This process is so difficult. Thank goodness for us that we're both working, and my job is pretty demanding, so it keeps me/us busy throughout the day. My husband has many skills so I'm hoping that he will be able to find a job soon after he arrives. I know he will need some time to adjust once he is here also. But I think starting work as soon as possible is a good idea, as it will help him to feel normalcy in his life and some independence.

Waiting is definitely difficult, but worth it once my husband got here. If you're able to use the time constructively and get things as prepared as possible, that's helpful too.

We both used the time to save money so he was able to buy a car the first or second week he was here, etc - that was incredibly helpful, and led to him feeling a sense of independence. And, the job is the biggest blessing of all.

What did they request in the RFE? Have you been able to go back after your marriage and first visit? Hope the response comes quickly for you!

[Vanessa1 7]

The RFE didn't state why we got it, but that's what the lawyer said. She said that when you go for the first time and get married it raises questions. She said there weren't any red flags in our file but that the information was inadequate. I followed the guides to a "t", and she agreed with that, but it still wasn't enough proof of a real marriage. For example, I had affidavits (several of them) but they weren't detailed enough, had itineraries but no proof of payment for my flight, had my birth certificate but not the pages of my passport, etc. I had over 300 pages of chats that she said weren't any good because they were from MSN, which come from our received files. For the RFE I sent pages of Gmail (Thank God we started talking on there) and screenshots of our account pages. I didn't have enough pictures (27), etc. I think maybe the adjucator didn't see proof of payment for the flights and maybe no passport pages and automatically sent out the RFE. I don't know. The RFE wanted so much information.....I will find a copy of it and post it, because I know some other members that got the same one posted it here.

Wow! You had so much more in your application than we did. In fact, I remember worrying for months after the NOA1 because I didn't read VJ until after I had sent in the I-130. I did consult a lawyer and he had said we didn't need to put too much in and that basically the marriage contract and our affidavits were enough. I really was sweating it until we got the approval. I'm praying you guys get your NOA2 soon!

[Vanessa1 7]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I was planning to go back over the fall or winter once we got our NOA2 but that didn't happen and we were working on getting everything for the RFE instead...so now I am planning a trip for late Feb-early March. It's been too long and I'm missing him so much. This process is so difficult. Thank goodness for us that we're both working, and my job is pretty demanding, so it keeps me/us busy throughout the day. My husband has many skills so I'm hoping that he will be able to find a job soon after he arrives. I know he will need some time to adjust once he is here also. But I think starting work as soon as possible is a good idea, as it will help him to feel normalcy in his life and some independence.

I agree. That was key for my husband and he's been so much happier and settled since he found a job.

[Lisamarie 79]

I thought our packet was loaded with information. I had a year and four months worth of chats, emails, phone records, my itineraries, receipt from consulate with my name on it, insurance card, letters of affidavits, 27 pictures, boarding passes, along with all the required documents. Maybe different adjucators want different information, maybe the adjucator working on my file was having a bad day or having some personal problems at that time, maybe he/she just saw Morocco and sent out the RFE...and maybe things have changed in the past year with USCIS and they're requiring more documentation. I really have no idea. My lawyer said I put together a very organized packet and followed the guides but there was insufficient detailed information.....

I was in shock when I got the RFE. By the time I went to Morocco, we had spent zillions of hours chatting online with mic. We knew everything about each other by the time I got to Morocco. There were no awkward moments, we felt like we had been together forever. There were no surprises, on either side. He was just like he was online, only even better if that's possible. But how do you get someone that's reading about it on paper to understand that? They don't know us or our situation, all they see is a woman that went to Morocco to marry on her first visit. It's very frustrating and disheartening....I really thought he would be here or at least be close to being here by now.

On another note, congratulations to you, and I'm glad that everything went well for you and you are together

Wow! You had so much more in your application than we did. In fact, I remember worrying for months after the NOA1 because I didn't read VJ until after I had sent in the I-130. I did consult a lawyer and he had said we didn't need to put too much in and that basically the marriage contract and our affidavits were enough. I really was sweating it until we got the approval. I'm praying you guys get your NOA2 soon!

[Always+Forever 7]

Case has finally left NVC & on the way to Casa...woohoo...should hear about an interview in a month or so Inshallah!!

Monica

[Lisamarie 79]

Congratulations to you!!!

Case has finally left NVC & on the way to Casa...woohoo...should hear about an interview in a month or so Inshallah!!

Monica

[Lisamarie 79]

I just looked at your timeline....that's fantastic news! I have read about files that got sent back that just sit in limbo for an indefinite amount of time. I'm really happy for you and insha'allah the interview will go well:))

Case has finally left NVC & on the way to Casa...woohoo...should hear about an interview in a month or so Inshallah!!

Monica

[msheesha 548]

Case has finally left NVC & on the way to Casa...woohoo...should hear about an interview in a month or so Inshallah!!

Monica

Great news Monica!

[bahisgirl 11]

Case has finally left NVC & on the way to Casa...woohoo...should hear about an interview in a month or so Inshallah!!

Monica

Congratulations!!! That is great news to start the new year...Best of Luck

Jackie

[Lisamarie 79]

Well I say that but then I'm checking the USCIS site twice a day even though I know it's going to take 2-4 months for a decision (hopefully closer to 2!) I told myself I was only going to check once a week, but that's impossible..... It's in my thoughts all day...even when I'm slammed at work. The uncertainty and the waiting in this process are so unbelievably difficult..."sigh" Everyone here knows what I am talking about .... If we can get passed this first step at least I will feel like we are moving forward and he is closer to being with me....Anyway, I wish the best of luck for everyone here and hope 2011 will bring us all together with our loved ones...

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I was planning to go back over the fall or winter once we got our NOA2 but that didn't happen and we were working on getting everything for the RFE instead...so now I am planning a trip for late Feb-early March. It's been too long and I'm missing him so much. This process is so difficult. Thank goodness for us that we're both working, and my job is pretty demanding, so it keeps me/us busy throughout the day. My husband has many skills so I'm hoping that he will be able to find a job soon after he arrives. I know he will need some time to adjust once he is here also. But I think starting work as soon as possible is a good idea, as it will help him to feel normalcy in his life and some independence.

[Always+Forever 7]

Thanks everybody & Lisa, our case was messed up, which I think helped us get through.

Monica

[Vanessa1 7]

Thanks everybody & Lisa, our case was messed up, which I think helped us get through.

Monica

Hey Monica I see that your case left NVC for Casablanca. That's great!!

[Lisamarie 79]

Just curious, what did you send with your petition? We filed about 8 months after you. Front-loaded our petition, so I thought. I'm just wondering what other people sent in theirs, to find out what I might have been lacking.

Wow! You had so much more in your application than we did. In fact, I remember worrying for months after the NOA1 because I didn't read VJ until after I had sent in the I-130. I did consult a lawyer and he had said we didn't need to put too much in and that basically the marriage contract and our affidavits were enough. I really was sweating it until we got the approval. I'm praying you guys get your NOA2 soon!

[msheesha 548]

we hardly sent in anything.

Pictures, plane ticket stubs, etc.

Both times (we were originally denied k1).

I'd been there several time before 1st petition,

and 4 or 5 before our marriage and 8 or 9 before

spousal visa interview. We had no red flags to speak of -

he's a little older than me and financially we are pretty much on

same footing.

Don't know if red flags are connected to what is needed i.e. "frontloading".

But, we definitely didn't frontload, and we had no problems getting through uscis.

Some people on here have suggested that frontloading can be problematic b/c they go through

more, get more involved, get more information to ask questions about, etc.

did you say what exactly the rfe requested?

what specifically did they want?

[Vanessa1 7]

Just curious, what did you send with your petition? We filed about 8 months after you. Front-loaded our petition, so I thought. I'm just wondering what other people sent in theirs, to find out what I might have been lacking.

I basically followed the instructions associated with the I-130 and included examples of what I had that was in there, which wasn't much. Included with the forms, fee, and required pictures, I sent a copy of our marriage contract in Arabic and the original, certified English translation, an original birth certificate for both of us, including a translation for his, and two affidavits. I had a lawyer that I was able to consult with who looked over the paperwork and said I didn't need to send anything else in with the petition so I didn't. I remember reading about "front-loading" after I had already sent in the petition and was worried because I hadn't done it but it wasn't a problem. We were approved in less than the 5 months and had no problems.