Returning Petitions to the United States via 221g

[ohiobuck 0]

Hello, sorry I guess I forgot to say my husbands interview was for his K3 interview. I also agree there needs to be more standards and I agree these lottery winners should have a bachalor degree to qualify. But I think they should all know about this before they get their hopes up and spend money. I do think they might know, but my husband didn't check with them on that, he did tell me a couple stories that happened when he was waiting at the consulate for his K3 interview with these lottery interviews.

Like I said earlier as my husband was there waiting for his interview it must've been hell for him to see so many people getting rejected and their upset reactions. And they took him last. So maybe you should warn your husband this could happen and tell him not to worry it is a different case and makes sense since they obviously don't meet the college requirement, but still it will have to be nerve racking. But if your husband expects it maybe he can stay more calm and be more relaxed for his interview and do better.

1st Story) A man was interviewed and was told right away he was denied because he didn't have a degree, he started yelling and complaining that they stole his money and he is a poor man and $700 is a lot of money. Why didn't they tell them all this in the money before he paid the unrefundable money.

2nd Story) A woman who was the Mother of four got the letter saying she won the lottery visa. Her children are like 22 down to 13 I think. Two of the children live and go to school in the US and they must've filled out her paperwork out and they had come home from the US to be with her for the interview and to take her back with them. She was denied because she had lied on her paperwork that she had a bachalor degree and the Consulate proved it was a lie. She and the family was all upset. I am guessing this probably will get her band from getting a visa now. Lying can do that. I know of others that lied they were US Citizens trying to enter the Mexican border and they are band for life from coming to the USA. And there is also the 3 - 10 year band from others for other issues, the cases I know for that are for spouses that stay in the US to long and leave and can't get back in due to this band. So don't worry about these bands for yourself, but remember there are others in much worse cases and kept from their love ones longer. .

In short I tell these stories for us all to see that this is a hard issue for everyone and what your husbands might have to experience when they are sitting and waiting for their interviews. Please warn your love one, and tell them to ignore and only worry about your case. They have they relax and go in and prove they deserve the visa and nothing else can stop them from getting it, even these sad stories.

Also this can give you a clue why Morocco is so slow and not working on the family visa first like I feel like they should. But do they care, no I do not think they do.

Please keep faith and be positive it will all work out.

Paula

I just got an E-mail from Atif............the consualte called him and told him to be there tomorrow at 9am and to bring his passport.......What's this about I wonder????

Mary K.

I'm praying for you that this is some kind of good news and that they just typed the wrong thing on the paper they gave you. Let us know as soon as you know something!

Sharon

[ohiobuck 0]

You are probably right it is equal to a high school degree, but I thought my husband sad a bachular (meaning college degree) like the USA. I knew they called it different than we do in the USA, that is why I asked for my husband to varify it. But maybe I misunderstood him or he misunderstood me when I asked was this a new requirement for a college degree and he said yes. He said it was new and was to keep more people from getting the visa and making the requirements higher. Whatever the case these people are fools for wasting their time to apply for a lottery visa and they don't qualify. And worst these people should've been denied before it got to the interview step at the consulate, when it wasn't on the application they had the education required Because these people are slowing up the Consulate and our cases and keeping us from our love ones.

This is just being handled wrong no matter what the case.

I will check with my husband about the education requirement again, I am sure I am the one that misunderstood but again there might be new requirements and if there is I totally agree and I know a couple Moroccans that also agree for the same reason.

Sorry, I guess I am venting, I am lucky things seem to be going well and my husband should be getting his visa within the next couple days. But I am still pissed about how long it took to get both his interviews. Becasue my husband should've been here with me months ago. It has been 10 1/2 months since I last saw my husband and it took this long for a K3 Visa because of the poor handling at the US Consulate in Morocco. And I don't want anyone else to have to wait like my husband and I had to.

Paula

I think there is a little confusion about the requirement for the lottery visa. The requirement is a high school diploma, which in Morocco is called the Baccalaureate. Here that is a Bachelor's degree, so unless you've had it explained to you, it is natural to assume it is a college education. It took quite a while for Abdel to make me understand that.

This is not a new requirement there, or one that isn't published with the application. It was right there on the website where you had to go to apply. If people were stupid enough to waste their money to apply, knowing they didn't meet that requirement, then that is stupid people wasting the consulate's time, not the consulate wasting people's money.

[jennieh 0]

You are probably right it is equal to a high school degree, but I thought my husband sad a bachular (meaning college degree) like the USA. I knew they called it different than we do in the USA, that is why I asked for my husband to varify it. But maybe I misunderstood him or he misunderstood me when I asked was this a new requirement for a college degree and he said yes. He said it was new and was to keep more people from getting the visa and making the requirements higher. Whatever the case these people are fools for wasting their time to apply for a lottery visa and they don't qualify. And worst these people should've been denied before it got to the interview step at the consulate, when it wasn't on the application they had the education required Because these people are slowing up the Consulate and our cases and keeping us from our love ones.

This is just being handled wrong no matter what the case.

I will check with my husband about the education requirement again, I am sure I am the one that misunderstood but again there might be new requirements and if there is I totally agree and I know a couple Moroccans that also agree for the same reason.

Sorry, I guess I am venting, I am lucky things seem to be going well and my husband should be getting his visa within the next couple days. But I am still pissed about how long it took to get both his interviews. Becasue my husband should've been here with me months ago. It has been 10 1/2 months since I last saw my husband and it took this long for a K3 Visa because of the poor handling at the US Consulate in Morocco. And I don't want anyone else to have to wait like my husband and I had to.

Paula

I think there is a little confusion about the requirement for the lottery visa. The requirement is a high school diploma, which in Morocco is called the Baccalaureate. Here that is a Bachelor's degree, so unless you've had it explained to you, it is natural to assume it is a college education. It took quite a while for Abdel to make me understand that.

This is not a new requirement there, or one that isn't published with the application. It was right there on the website where you had to go to apply. If people were stupid enough to waste their money to apply, knowing they didn't meet that requirement, then that is stupid people wasting the consulate's time, not the consulate wasting people's money.

wow ohio buck thanks for all your replies. I know you have been away from your husband a long time but by the time I get to see mine it will be about two years since i seen him last. Today he was having a panic attack and asked me to move there just cause he cant handle waiting for the interview date. I dont like waiting either but we did all of this im not going to give up waiting for a date. Im not worried about his education he has been a teacher for I think 11 years and he went and studied English for two years before going to school to teach. He had one bad travel visa experience before but I think he knows how things are done there.

Im just not sure now, do I go in April or for the interview? If it takes longer to get his date and its in summer my job will fire me if I miss we have alot of critical days. And he has time off in April and not in the summer. And I feel its important Im at the interview but I dont see how it can help alot but I feel I need to be there. I might not want my job but I have to take it atleast until he passes this stupid interview. Were doing CR-1 and have been waiting almost two months for a interview date. And it seems as if yet again this month no date is there. I just need to see my husband to know he is a live person not just a person on messenger i talk too. Its been way to long since I seen him and I dont know how I do its so hard!

[kerewin21 2]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

[jennieh 0]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

What can I say Morocco has their prorities up their somethings! I dont care what they are doing family needs to be a priority not a when we get there we get there!

Edited March 10, 2006 by jennieh

[~kiyah~ 14]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

What can I say Morocco has their prorities up their somethings! I dont care what they are doing family needs to be a priority not a when we get there we get there!

My thoughts exactly...did you know that in Canada family-based visas take the highest priority? This is exactly the way it should be.

~Kiya~

[jennieh 0]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

What can I say Morocco has their prorities up their somethings! I dont care what they are doing family needs to be a priority not a when we get there we get there!

My thoughts exactly...did you know that in Canada family-based visas take the highest priority? This is exactly the way it should be.

~Kiya~

Exactly I know all visas need to be handled with care and stuff. But a family based visa needs to their top proiority not last. I was told we get hardly any interview spots a month unlike others. How come? Why are we treated like #######?

[landp 0]

I think there is a little confusion about the requirement for the lottery visa. The requirement is a high school diploma, which in Morocco is called the Baccalaureate. Here that is a Bachelor's degree, so unless you've had it explained to you, it is natural to assume it is a college education. It took quite a while for Abdel to make me understand that.

This is not a new requirement there, or one that isn't published with the application. It was right there on the website where you had to go to apply. If people were stupid enough to waste their money to apply, knowing they didn't meet that requirement, then that is stupid people wasting the consulate's time, not the consulate wasting people's money.

Actually, I thought the Baccalaurate is equivalent to the HS diploma. The bachelor's is equivalent to their university study. It's the same in europe too. confusing....

[~kiyah~ 14]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

What can I say Morocco has their prorities up their somethings! I dont care what they are doing family needs to be a priority not a when we get there we get there!

My thoughts exactly...did you know that in Canada family-based visas take the highest priority? This is exactly the way it should be.

~Kiya~

Exactly I know all visas need to be handled with care and stuff. But a family based visa needs to their top proiority not last. I was told we get hardly any interview spots a month unlike others. How come? Why are we treated like #######?

This brings to my memory the ILW chat with Lawyers. I attended this last Tuesday and asked a question...got an interesting answer:

kiyah

My approved K1 petition was returned to the United States. What I want to know is what will make consular officers follow guidelines when interviewing applicants? What does one have to go through to show the Department of Homeland Security/State Department that a consulate needs to be following guidelines instead of re-adjudicating "approved" petitions? I feel like my rights as a US citizen are being overlooked completely.

ilwspeaker

If you have a particular complaint, there are channels you can go through at the state department. This is something that you might bring to the attention of either an attorney to put on the liaison agenda with the Department of State or possibly go through the American Immigration Lawyers Association and media people. If the story is good enough, they might just adverte it, along with radio stations. I just wrote an article through my newsletter about keeping engaged people apart. It's a joke that U.S. politicians "talk" about family values but don't behave like they have a clue what that means.

Her stating that it is a joke that politicians talk about family values but do not behave like they have a clue what it means is sooooo very true. It's like they are saying only what we want to hear to get appointed...sure there are some really great politicians in this country, but I believe they are way out numbered by the other side of the spectrum.

~Kiya~

[jennieh 0]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

What can I say Morocco has their prorities up their somethings! I dont care what they are doing family needs to be a priority not a when we get there we get there!

My thoughts exactly...did you know that in Canada family-based visas take the highest priority? This is exactly the way it should be.

~Kiya~

Exactly I know all visas need to be handled with care and stuff. But a family based visa needs to their top proiority not last. I was told we get hardly any interview spots a month unlike others. How come? Why are we treated like #######?

This brings to my memory the ILW chat with Lawyers. I attended this last Tuesday and asked a question...got an interesting answer:

kiyah

My approved K1 petition was returned to the United States. What I want to know is what will make consular officers follow guidelines when interviewing applicants? What does one have to go through to show the Department of Homeland Security/State Department that a consulate needs to be following guidelines instead of re-adjudicating "approved" petitions? I feel like my rights as a US citizen are being overlooked completely.

ilwspeaker

If you have a particular complaint, there are channels you can go through at the state department. This is something that you might bring to the attention of either an attorney to put on the liaison agenda with the Department of State or possibly go through the American Immigration Lawyers Association and media people. If the story is good enough, they might just adverte it, along with radio stations. I just wrote an article through my newsletter about keeping engaged people apart. It's a joke that U.S. politicians "talk" about family values but don't behave like they have a clue what that means.

Her stating that it is a joke that politicians talk about family values but do not behave like they have a clue what it means is sooooo very true. It's like they are saying only what we want to hear to get appointed...sure there are some really great politicians in this country, but I believe they are way out numbered by the other side of the spectrum.

~Kiya~

Kiya you do good work maybe we should send you over there to teach them the right ways to get things done!

[chiquita 0]

I think the Baccalaureate requirement is *relatively* new, even if it's not brand new. My husband's cousin's wife came here on the lottery 4 years ago and she doesn't have her Bacc, nor do many of the people he knows here from Morocco who came on the DV program.

I don't know if it's true, but Majid said they made that change in the requirements after many people had already applied. I do feel for them, even though Liz is right that it's incumbent upon them to check on the required qualifications before applying. $700 is a lot of money.

I agree with ohiobuck, I don't know why they are wasting their time interviewing people whom they know ahead of time don't qualify based on not having their Bacc... no wonder they're so behind on the family-based interviews!

I don't know if I would feel this way if it didn't impact me personally, but I really think that the family-based visas should have some priority over the lottery visas.

I also agree that you should warn your SO before their interview that there will be LOTS of disappointed DV applicants there. Majid said on his day there were 20 DV interviews, and only 1 of them got the visa, the rest were denied for not having their Bacc...

What can I say Morocco has their prorities up their somethings! I dont care what they are doing family needs to be a priority not a when we get there we get there!

My thoughts exactly...did you know that in Canada family-based visas take the highest priority? This is exactly the way it should be.

~Kiya~

Exactly I know all visas need to be handled with care and stuff. But a family based visa needs to their top proiority not last. I was told we get hardly any interview spots a month unlike others. How come? Why are we treated like #######?

This brings to my memory the ILW chat with Lawyers. I attended this last Tuesday and asked a question...got an interesting answer:

kiyah

My approved K1 petition was returned to the United States. What I want to know is what will make consular officers follow guidelines when interviewing applicants? What does one have to go through to show the Department of Homeland Security/State Department that a consulate needs to be following guidelines instead of re-adjudicating "approved" petitions? I feel like my rights as a US citizen are being overlooked completely.

ilwspeaker

If you have a particular complaint, there are channels you can go through at the state department. This is something that you might bring to the attention of either an attorney to put on the liaison agenda with the Department of State or possibly go through the American Immigration Lawyers Association and media people. If the story is good enough, they might just adverte it, along with radio stations. I just wrote an article through my newsletter about keeping engaged people apart. It's a joke that U.S. politicians "talk" about family values but don't behave like they have a clue what that means.

Her stating that it is a joke that politicians talk about family values but do not behave like they have a clue what it means is sooooo very true. It's like they are saying only what we want to hear to get appointed...sure there are some really great politicians in this country, but I believe they are way out numbered by the other side of the spectrum.

~Kiya~

Kiya,

How do we go about doing that? >>>

(If you have a particular complaint, there are channels you can go through at the state department. This is something that you might bring to the attention of either an attorney to put on the liaison agenda with the Department of State or possibly go through the American Immigration Lawyers Association and media people. If the story is good enough, they might just adverte it, along with radio stations.)

I wonder who and how "they" decide if the story is good enough???? Aren't we all good enough? It seems to me your question was not really answered but another subject all togther was brought up.

I wrote to President Bush right after we were denied in March 05 who kindly replied and forwarded my concerns to the Department of State who by the way took 6 months to write back and tell me what I already knew! They did not answer one question that I had asked. I wrote back to the DOS immediately (October 05) and have not yet received a reply. I wonder if I will get another response in 6 months? April will be 6 months since I wrote back to DOS.

Lol... truely I am finding out more and more that our government is just to big. The letter that I received and responded to was from Dale Rumberger (for Julie Furuta-Toy, Director of Public and Diplomatic Liaison Visa services). I guess she didn't have time to answer me herself. The best that he could tell me was what I already knew, the validity of the relationship was in question and for further questions or inquires I could contact BCIS! Passing the buck.

I did send off another letter to the DOS but I think it got lost in cyber space. I will never give up on this injustice to all of us who have been discriminated against! Even when my husband gets here. I am hoping you feel the same.

chiquita

I think there is a little confusion about the requirement for the lottery visa. The requirement is a high school diploma, which in Morocco is called the Baccalaureate. Here that is a Bachelor's degree, so unless you've had it explained to you, it is natural to assume it is a college education. It took quite a while for Abdel to make me understand that.

This is not a new requirement there, or one that isn't published with the application. It was right there on the website where you had to go to apply. If people were stupid enough to waste their money to apply, knowing they didn't meet that requirement, then that is stupid people wasting the consulate's time, not the consulate wasting people's money.

Actually, I thought the Baccalaurate is equivalent to the HS diploma. The bachelor's is equivalent to their university study. It's the same in europe too. confusing....

Prena,

You are correct. There are 2 requirements to the lottery visa. One being a resident in the country that allows you to apply for it and having a high school education or it's equivalent (12 years of education). That info is posted on the website.

[babybunny 2]

uffff...

I dont know much about the visa lottory because, pakistan is not allow to enter it. I do have a friend in the USA on the visa lottory. he is a rocket scientist. he wants to shift gears and is working on becoming a Dr of something.

psst. I am trying to get him to help me on my next science class..lol

[chiquita 0]

Some phone numbers>>>

Bureau of Consular Affairs

OFFICE OF DIPLOMATIC AND PUBLIC LIAISON

Director Julie Furuta-Toy 202-663-3579

Public Inquiries Division Chief Karla Gentile 202-663-3623

Diplomatic Liaison Division Chief Dale Rumbarger 202-663-3211

Visa and Information Microlog 202-663-1225

Visa Priority Data Microlog 202-663-1541

Congressional Inquiries 202-663-1516

[honeyblonde 0]

Prena, I was trying to say that the bac was the equivalent of our high school diploma, not sure how I confused you. What I meant after that was that here when we say baccalaureate, we are referring to our bachelor's, so it is hard for us to make the transition to using that term for a high school diploma.

I discussed the diversity lottery visa issue with Abdel. He said that most people there who apply for the diversity visa don't speak English, so they get someone to translate and fill out the application for them. He knows this because he reads English really well, so he was one person that was asked quite frequently. He said that even though the translator would tell the person that the bac was a requirement, as clearly stated on the application, most people would shrug it off and say to just fill in the application, maybe the consulate wouldn't care.

The applications clearly stated the requirement, it's not the consulate's fault that people thought they would ignore the requirement. I'm not trying to defend the consulate, just explain that maybe they're a little ticked off right now, and majorly overworked. I know if I was working there right now I'd be starting to get pretty frustrated at people ignoring what is clearly stated and wasting my time.

I stay weeks behind at my job, so I frequently get calls from people wanting me to move their stuff to the top of the pile. It isn't easy to deal with being behind, but corporate America, including our government offices, seems to think that if you can't do the work of 3 people you are incompetent. I personally ask the priority of things when they hit my desk and try to stick to that order whenever possible, but I can tell you it isn't easy. I can imagine that the workload at the consulate is much worse than mine, so it must be even more impossible for them.

I don't say all this to justify their actions. I know many lives are on hold because of their problems. I just think that if we approach them when we deal with them with an attitude of acknowledgment of how things probably are, it can really help to get a positive response from them. I deal with the government daily, and from what I've seen that approach gets a lot better results than screaming about my rights. Sortof the old saying: "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". I know some of you have tried the sweet route and gotten nowhere, and I really feel bad for you for that.

Edited March 10, 2006 by honeyblonde

[~kiyah~ 14]

Chiquita: I emailed that attorney to find out what 'channels' she is talking about. I am waiting on a response from her. I will definitely share it.

~Kiya~