one more question

[abbi627 43]

I have another question that is probably a dumb question - but I just want to be sure. I have a certified copy of my birth certificate. The certified copy is dated 2003. Obviously my birth certificate does not change. Is that going to be a problem when I turn it documents to get married in Morocco? I know documents are only good for a certain amount of time but I assume this does not apply to something like a birth certificate. Or do I need to get another certified copy that is dated currently? Thanks so much.

[Happytobe 164]

Hi Abbi! I leave in a few days to get married. To be on the safe side, I got 3 new copies and sent them over for translation. Their birth certificates are only good for 3 months and I did not want some one to try to say that. He is having trouble with the FBI record, so you never know

[bombyjuly 13]

yes abby,i got a fresh BC for my marriage,because the Moroccan authorities requirements,so get one fresh,have a good luck

[abbi627 43]

Thanks! I'm glad I asked this question. I will order new copies of my birth certificate right away. And best of luck to you on your upcoming marriage.

[Happytobe 164]

You're welcome, Abbi! Best of luck to you and yours! You will be staying longer than I am....so enjoy him, the family, the food, and the tea. When do you arrive? Do you want me to post our experiences at some of these places? Let me know. I'd be happy to give you more info as I learn it. Have a great day!

[abbi627 43]

Yes please if it is not too much trouble I would love it if you would post your experiences. I am arriving at the end of January. I have heard it may take around a month to get married. I hope it does not take that long but I am going there knowing it may take a while.

Ah yes, the wonderful food and tea. I do miss that. I miss his family too. The were so wonderful to me. I can't wait to get back.

When are you arriving? How long are you staying? What part of Morocco will you be in? I am close to Sidi Bennour.

Thank you so much. I wish you the very best and I am sure you are so excited. I know I am!

[Happytobe 164]

I will be in Fes and I leave Sunday. I wish I could stay as long as you are, and I am prepared to make those arrangements if necessary. However, my fiance has some family, friends, and friends of family in various parts of the government, so we are hoping to finish everything in a timely manner. "knock-on-wood" I sent my documents over ahead of time for translation and that saved several days time. I was only able to get about 2.5 weeks off of work, so I wanted to get a head-start on everything. That way, too, I knew ahead of time if I needed anything else. The papers are already being written. I will add, that his Adul, who is a family friend, needed a copy of my lease. Only part of the first page was translated, but they wanted "proof" of where I live. His Adul says that everything should be complete for us within 10 days of my arrival and that does not include if we call in a favor at the Family Court level....so, we'll see.

Sidi Bennour.... I have not heard of this city, but I looked it up and saw that it is close to El Jadida. We spent several days there in April. It is a beautiful area. He worked at the Magazan Resort for a while. We may go back for a few days, if the marriage arrangements work out well.

Needless to say, we are sooooooooo excited! Our families are too! Many of my family has set-up Skype so that hopefully we can chat with them. Skype has not been working very well the last few days and I was hoping to take pics of us talking with my family for evidence. Two of his siblings that live out of the country are flying in for the occasion.

I will post while I am there, then. The first couple of days may be the most beneficial to everyone, as there are favors being made with the rest of the papers, including the medical and the police interview. The police papers can sometimes take several days to be ready, but he knows a couple of officers in that division, sooooo......

I'm so excited, I can't sleep! I know you are, as well! God-willing, everything will go smoothly for both of us!

[abbi627 43]

Wow leaving Sunday - that is so close! I am so happy for you. Wish I was leaving Sunday (or today LOL). I will be watching for your posts. And I will be cheering for your marriage to go through as quickly as possible. I am hoping ours will too but I am prepared for it to take a while.

We visited El Jadida on my last visit and I really loved it. But after a couple of days I was ready to get back to his home. His family have a farm and it is so quiet and peaceful there. I truly felt at home and loved it there. Can't wait to get back.

I have to make sure he gets me a complete list of what I need. Because the list I have does not mention a lease. That is my fear - that I will get there and there will be something they ask for that I don't have. I want to be prepared.

Thanks again and good luck!

[Happytobe 164]

Have him ask his Adul, he will be able to let him know what his area requires. I sent more than what was needed, and the lease was something that had been mentioned at one time, so I sent that. I listed in one of your posts everything else that was asked for, but I forgot that at the time. Every area is slightly different, though. I sent my baptismal record, and his Adul said he doesn't need it... but it's there, just in case.

While you were in El Jadida, did you see the birds at the abandoned hotel on the oceanfront? They fascinate me!

I worry, too, that I will get there and be told that I need something else. That's one of the reasons why I sent everything early. That way I had some time to get anything else. I paid attention to what they asked for, and then decided that I had other things that could prove "who" I am and sent those, too. I believe we will both be good.

I plan on finishing the evidence within the first days of arriving home, and getting the packet sent off. I worry more that I won't have the proper papers together for that.... I have all the documents ready. There are just a few spaces that need to be filled in as well as a few signatures, so..... The process makes me more nervous than the wedding! I'm having problems sleeping now, I can't imagine what the next months will hold.

[abbi627 43]

I know what you mean - I am preparing to send our packet in as soon as I get back here too. I am nervous about it too. So much going on during the next few months!

I did not see the birds you were talking about in El Jadida. We were there for a horse exhibition and we walked around the city but I guess I missed that.

Good luck again - I'll be watching for your posts. And when I start going through the process when I get there I will post also about my experiences and maybe I will be able to help someone else.

[Happytobe 164]

There is this plot of land on the oceanfront where these birds live. They tried to cut down the bird population and build a hotel there. Well, the birds came back and took over this piece of land. It's amazing because they will fly short distances outside of the perimeter, but they do not populate outside of it. There are hundreds of thousands of them! The area is gated off now and you can see the remains of the buildings through the trees.

Yes, I hope to be able to help others through my postings, as well. It's a daunting process from start to finish and we need all the help we can get!

Have a great weekend! I'm struggling to get through these last days of work....

[abbi627 43]

I will have to try to see that if I make it back to El Jadida on this trip. Personally I am quite content to just hang around the farm with the family. It is so peaceful there. But I also know we have to do a lot of running around on this trip to get everything needed to get married so there probably won't be a lot of relaxing time on this trip LOL.

You have already helped me so much. I do appreciate it and I hope I can return to favor to others that go through this after me. And really we are just beginning - first the marriage and then the very daunting visa journey.

I know what you mean about work. I have to struggle to keep my mind on work right now. I wish I was leaving NOW!

Good luck and enjoy the trip!

[MIBEN 83]

The Moroccan civil documents for example the birth certificates have expiration dates because every family has a book that registers every birth of a child to a couple

that is the official document the court will issue a 90 day certificate to validate what is in the family book. Although our birth certificates have dates of issuance the documents do not expire. I had my birth certificate accepted that was issued many years ago but if ordering a new one reassures you then that works as well.

I am excited for both you ladies, enjoy your trips, congrats and have some mint tea for me...

[abbi627 43]

Thanks! I will go ahead an order a new birth certificate just to be on the safe side. I am a bit paranoid that I'll get there and they will find something wrong with the papers I brought LOL. Thanks again for the information and the well wishes. I do miss that wonderful mint tea. I miss the family. I miss my fiance SO much. I can't wait to get back there next month!

[Cathi 5,755]

Thanks! I'm glad I asked this question. I will order new copies of my birth certificate right away. And best of luck to you on your upcoming marriage.

Wow I would never have thought a birth certificate has an expiration date...I learn something new every day