The hoping not to be denied at Casablanca thread

[Always+Forever 7]

Glad to hear all is going well Monica!

Is your husband willing to volunteer until he is able to work?

That would be great for his resume & would get him out of the house some!

I've suggested it, but we will see. He prefers something that actually helps towards the household, but Inshallah he will have the EAD soon.

Monica

[Silverberry1331 25]

I am jumping on this thread

My husband's interview is out of Casablanca on 11/22/11. We are extremely excited (and I am so nervous). About us: I met Faisal online but it was through a mutual friend of ours. He was chatting online with our friend, Hicham (who is Faisal's brother's best friend), and we were introduced. It took many months to get the ball rolling. First, facebook friends with random posts...then facebook chats...then MSN chats...then chats everyday...then friendship developed into romantic feelings. I met Faisal in April 2010 and we married in January 2011 on my first visit. The wedding was a huge Moroccan affair with lots of people, dresses, and food.

I am 34 and he is 31. He works as a guidance counselor and as a private tutor on the side, and I am getting my PhD in Sociology. I have met all his family and we get along very well (including my mother in law AND my grandmother in law). Faisal chats with my father on Skype and was kind enough to ask my parents for their permission before marrying me (even though he didn't have to).

I have been married before, no kids. Faisal has not been married before and hasn't traveled outside the country yet. We are different religions however, we agreed in advance that our children would be raised Muslim. I believe in the God of Abraham and the Abrahamic religions but I am more like a cultural Christian (meaning, I can't say I am a proper Christian since I do not believe it is the only route to God). Since he practices his religion more closely than I do, I didn't mind making this compromise at all. We agreed that the children would know that I am a different religion and that we would be celebrating the holidays but they don't have to participate in the religious ceremony. Faisal is interested to see what Christian mass is like and is looking forward to attending church with me if he gets his Visa in time for Christmas.

My I-130 petition contained alittle evidence but not so much because I wasn't on VJ yet and didn't know about front-loading. Thanks to the VJ community I knew to front load the visa application with tons of chat records, phone bills, photos, three personal testimonies from my parents and stepmother, and paperwork to show he is the beneficiary on my bank account. I sent more evidence over for his interview, including more photos, chats, phone bills, and mail that he has had come to the house.

Faisal is working on reviewing our application to be ready for any bizarro questions that could come his way but, he feels calm about the interview. He believes that our love and the truth will shine through the CO and that we sent in and prepared everything in advance as best as we could. I, on the other hand, am nervous . I have seen what Casa has done to alot of couples on this board and although I don't know every situation in great detail, many of these relationships appear to be based on real love.

So, I know none of here are gods or fortune-tellers but do you think that based on some of what I said that I am right to worry? I don't have any red flags as I see them but, in the interest of being realistic...do you think that any of the following could cause problems:

1) I am a different religion

2) I am older by three years

3) I was married before

4) We married on our first physical meeting

Sorry that this is long.... Just having a crisis that won't end until the interview is over. Thanks

Edited November 2, 2011 by Silverberry1331

[Silverberry1331 25]

I am jumping on this thread

I nearly forgot to mention my visits!....

Regarding my time spent in Morocco, I spent 3 weeks the first time when we were married and this summer, I went over there to live with him and his family from May til August. I sent evidence of this to the Consulate as well.

Edited November 2, 2011 by Silverberry1331

[Staashi 371]

I nearly forgot to mention my visits!....

Regarding my time spent in Morocco, I spent 3 weeks the first time when we were married this summer, I went over there to live with him and his family from May til August. I sent evidence of this to the Consulate as well.

Seems like you're in good shape. Your red flags are few, if any - the only one being that you got married on your first visit. Your age is similar, no kids, your families approved of this and you seem similar in education/profession.

Good luck and God bless!

[msheesha 548]

I agree with above. The only red flag seems to be the marrying on first trip. Make sure he is able to clearly explain why youbdecided to do this. Within the last year on so someone in Casa was approved even with 10+ age difference & marriage on first visit. From what I remember he was able to explain why that made sense in their lives & he was approved.

The thing about Casa is to prepare, prepare, prepare.

Have you read the Casa consulate reviews on vj? There's often a lot of info in those reviews about the questions asked. Another thing re: your case - he should be prepared to fully answer questions about your first marriage & divorce. I seem to remember that being highlighted in Casa on some cases. The when's, why's, of the marriage & divorce, etc.

Good luck!

[Crossed_fingers 128]

Based on what I've read on VJ and other forums, it looks to me like you two are in pretty good shape. Good luck! One thing I was a little confused about: you mentioned that you didn't front-load your initial petition, but you did send a bunch of evidence later in the process, but before the interview? At what point in the process did you send the supplemental evidence? I'm just asking because I'm curious how you did it, not because your answer changes my guess that you have a solid chance!

[Crossed_fingers 128]

Also, how is his English? You didn't list it as a potential red flag and you did say he chats with your dad, so I'm assuming it's good, but I'm just throwing that out there as something that I've seen be a positive or a negative in other people's cases, depending on the level of proficiency (or lack thereof).

[Silverberry1331 25]

Have you read the Casa consulate reviews on vj? There's often a lot of info in those reviews about the questions asked. Another thing re: your case - he should be prepared to fully answer questions about your first marriage & divorce. I seem to remember that being highlighted in Casa on some cases. The when's, why's, of the marriage & divorce, etc.

Good luck!

Thank you for this information. Yes, we have been reading up. I will make sure that he will be fully prepared to answer questions about my divorce. He knows my ex-husband's name and some of the circumstance around our divorce but I will quiz him on details. Also, we will discuss how to phrase why we were married on our first visit. We know why we did it but we will discuss how he can articulate that properly without stumbling around or saying something vague like "we love each other."

[b]"One thing I was a little confused about: you mentioned that you didn't front-load your initial petition, but you did send a bunch of evidence later in the process, but before the interview? At what point in the process did you send the supplemental evidence? I'm just asking because I'm curious how you did it, not because your answer changes my guess that you have a solid chance!"[/b]

Don't know how to multi-quote Yes, I sent it in before the interview. I sent it when he filled out the Visa Application itself. So, we sent some stuff in with my original petition (I-130) then, realized we should have sent everything in, so when we paid the Visa Processing fee and sent in his application to the NVC, we front load a ton of stuff. Now, I sent him more stuff to take to the interview---I know that there is a chance they might not look at what is new to the interview but, I wanted to provide some new evidence to show a continuing relationship. Sorry that I was unclear.

Also, how is his English? You didn't list it as a potential red flag and you did say he chats with your dad, so I'm assuming it's good, but I'm just throwing that out there as something that I've seen be a positive or a negative in other people's cases, depending on the level of proficiency (or lack thereof).

Faisal's English is very good to excellent. That is not to say he is flawless but the mistakes that he makes are more funny than a hinderance to our communication. He speaks better than he spells. I also am learning Fus'ha which is the Modern Standard Arabic.. Although this is not the Moroccan dialect, it is enough for me to communicate with his family and he helps me with this (however, we don't converse in it unless it is for my practice). Overall, on a scale of 1-10 (ten being academic/professional english)...I would say he is about a 7.25

Thanks to everyone who has been chiming it. It is a big help. I am holding my breath for another three weeks.

[tany1157 161]

Update. Tomorrow is 6 months USCIS has had our returned case. They just told our congressman it will be another 45 days. This past month has been so very hard for hubby and I, we are sitting on the edge of our seats. Hope everyone else is doing well!

[msheesha 548]

Hi Tany,

So sorry there's another delay! Hang in there!!!!

[tany1157 161]

Just put in a second service request. They told my congressman we need to wait another 90 days, and if we don't hear anything in those 90 days, I can contact them again. Um, I am beyond frustrated at this point. On a lighter note, I leave for Morocco in 30 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone else is doing well!

[msheesha 548]

Hi Tany,

So sorry again that you're having to go through this and it's taking soooo long! Does your congressman have any ideas about how to advocate for you for a better response from them?

Have a great time in Morocco!!

[Miss smarty pants 84]

Tany,

I dont know where your energy comes from. Its amazing how you persevere. I wish you all the best that you are united soon.

[tany1157 161]

USCIS response to Dec. 12 service request....please wait 120 days. #######

[mounir412 101]

really very interesting thread

i wish you hear a good news very soon tany1157