Casa

[ahlam ladida 0]

Just relax. It sounds as if you are both prepared and have enough evidence. Have him stay calm and answer with confidence. You will be fine.

[morocco4ever 63]

Everyone here knows the scoop well. It is faster than Cairo if your case is standard, but have one little red flag and poof...sent back to CIS. In that case it isn't faster at all! I started this back in December of 2004, so going on 2 years now.

Casa just doesn't want to deal with the red flags, they would rather send it back and put the strain on everyone else so they don't have to deal with it. I heard they complain they are overworked, but come on guys....in the end you spend more time with each case by sending it back!

What are the red flags?

1. A very brief courtship followed by a plunge into matrimony;

2. A marriage ceremony arranged only a short time after petitioner arrives in the beneficiary’s country and they meet for the first time;

3. No common language;

4. Petitioner resides with family members of the beneficiary in the US;

5. Petitioner is employed by or has a business relationship with a relative of beneficiary;

6. Petitioner submits phone records that show he uses a residential phone number that is listed in the name of another person.

7. US divorce followed very quickly by an engagement to foreign beneficiary is often a red flag for consular officers.

8. There is little or no documentary evidence of the relationship prior to the actual engagement.

9. Long gaps of time between the petitioner & beneficiary being together in person.

10. Failure to disclose previous marriages;

11. Failure to disclose previous petitions filed on behalf of other beneficiaries.

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0323-ellis.shtm

ETA: The above are general red flags applicable to all countries. In the MENA, I would add to that large age diffference (female USC older) and USC female divorced.

I would also add a small wedding and/or no family or friends at the wedding. I know, this is a very personal decision, but it is a red flag anyway.

All I can do is say my prayers that Casa will not be bad for my husband. So far, my prayers have been answered in other things. I have read the embassy reviews for Casa and I don't know why some of the co's there have to be so difficult.

Lavon

Lavon, yes it is scary but the least you can do is be very well prepared. Good luck,

Sarah

When you say well prepared, what exactly do you mean?

If you mean prepared with evidence, this is what I sent Hamid (well, I tried to send it via us mail, but they told me there was a hold on a mail going to morocco. and actually something i sent at the beginning of august got returned yesterday, so I scanned everything and emailed it to him): emails from 2004 - present (about 40 pages total, in 10 pt font), a few chats (not much because we use the cam and mic), phone card orders, photocopied journal entries from 2003-2004, plane ticket stub, passport page photocopy, flight itenerary, documents from the Peace Corps and Moroccan government that confirm the dates I lived in Morocco and what it was I did while there, he has a letter too from the Moroccan government that states that I lived with his family, tons of pictures, the ring receipt. I also sent him every financial form imaginable, including the i-485 (or whatever the number is), my tax transcripts from the last three years, bank statements from the last 12 months, letters from employers, documents proving my assests and life insurance. Is there anything else I'm forgetting about?

If you mean prepared to answer questions about our relationship, what kinds of questions should he be prepared to answer? i mean, should he know my sister's date of birth? should he know where I worked 2 years ago and how much I got paid? will it go that in depth? or will they ask simple stuff like "what's her father's name and what does he do for a living?" should he be prepared to tell them about my birthmarks? I have no idea what they would ask him, if it will be personal/private things or general things.

is there anything else I should be prepared for? Thanks!

Liz, generally speaking if you have to "drill" or practice questions with him then there is a problem. If he knows you and your family, he will know how to answer the questions. If he doesn't know you, he won't. Truth is, a few missed questions (i.e. he may not remember your mother's maiden name or somesuch) will not reflect badly if it is obvious that he knows you from a natural connection (i.e. you guys met at your homestay in Morocco) and that the relationship is real, and can answer the other questions. When Casa encounters a robot, answering questions from rote memory, they notice. I say this from lots of experience being in the Consulate and hearing very nervous K-1 applicants try to answer questions.

I say, be natural. Let him depend on his natural knowledge of you and your life.

By the way, I was in PC too. That connection will help you immensely.

My husband gets days of the week and dates confused. He knows them, but the traslation comes out wrong. For instance, he keeps saying we were married on Aug 22, 2004. Nooooo...it was October 22, 2004. Now if he was to say it wrong at the interview I would guarantee it would be bad.

As far as knowing addresses...what???? You know I have no idea what my BIL and SIL addresses are, let alone phone numbers. Why would I have them memorized? I don't even have my own brothers and sisters memorized. Thats what I keep address and phone books for. If you ask me, if someone knows all of this about each others family then it should be a red flag that someone is trying too hard! Okay, I admit, now that I know it was asked I will certainly encourage my husband to memorize it, but doesn't it make you feel that we are forced into making our relationships look calculated?

I will be so glad to get this ####### behind us! GOSHHHHHHH

[Zizi & Zuki 0]

In my humble opinion, from what little I read about you two, you should be okay. But in my situation, if I had it to do over, I would get a good immigration attorney from the beginning. If you have any red flags that you think might trip you up, I would recommend do it now. You need someone (if you have red flags) who can help you preclude any problems.

Casa is not only hell, but I think someone there gets a sordid satisfaction of seeing people suffer.

[sarah and hicham 3]

Yes it is outrageous that they asked my parents address... but why would they ask unless they want him to answer?

zizi&zuki keep us posted I'm rooting for you guys!

Sarah