CASABLANCA

[Jenn! 918]

You need to address the religion issue, you know who this is.

what does that mean?

chi

she thinks because we are of different religion that it will cause a problem at the interview. but again, i've met people here who are of different religion from their spouse and had no problems...

on the language note:

thank god my emails are in french, proving i speak french, because my fiance is not fluent in english and i recommended he do his interview in french.

oh ok

i dont think religion is a problem.

now the speaking French is great!!

best wishes!

chi

Well, that is one of the reasons that she feels their petition was returned since the CO questioned him extensively about it.

I can't really say one way or the other.

[limah 1]

You need to address the religion issue, you know who this is.

what does that mean?

chi

she thinks because we are of different religion that it will cause a problem at the interview. but again, i've met people here who are of different religion from their spouse and had no problems...

on the language note:

thank god my emails are in french, proving i speak french, because my fiance is not fluent in english and i recommended he do his interview in french.

oh ok

i dont think religion is a problem.

now the speaking French is great!!

best wishes!

chi

My husband and I are both Muslim. We still had problems. Go figure...........

Limah

[sereia 0]

yah i really don't think that has anything to do with it. if its true that they make up their minds before the interview, how would they know what religion i am anyway?

i think they used it as an excuse to give them problems...but there were more underlying problems there.......

anyway, if my fiance is asked about our religion,and only IF, i've suggested he say "we're both not religious". short and sweet and can't really lead into anything else. what do you all think?

[Nasturtium 500]

I've heard of them wanting more detailed explanations. But you know? it's so not their business. Anyway! Our wedding contract lists ours religions and of course his IDs all say his, but that doesn't account for say, conversion or anything. Not that I'm converting!

[sereia 0]

yeh i can't imagine they could guess what religion i am from my last name or what i look like. no one ever has been able to up to this point in my life.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

(But you know? it's so not their business. Anyway!) and isnt that the way most of the information is, they tend to make it their business as if they are the ones agreeing to the choices

[ya falaha! 0]

I'm really doubting that religion is considered a red flag. Muslim men are allowed to marry Christians and Jews.

[Caladan 19]

It shouldn't be a problem, but it *has* been cited as a reason before. I'm not trying to scare you, but it so *can* be their business if they think that it is, just like it's their business what my finances are or what his job is or how many times we've met and what we did. It's a high-fraud consulate that doesn't have its act entirely together, and if a mixed-religion marriage is correlated with a high incidence of fraud, it will be a flag.

It probably won't be an issue. But it might be good to have some answer prepared in case it does come up, and some way to back that up.

[mybackpages 0]

i think they used it as an excuse to give them problems...but there were more underlying problems there.......

I think this says a lot about the process. I think many people are simply not aware of underlying problems- it seems normal to them, but the outside, objective eye can see so much more.

[sereia 0]

i have no idea what i can say or how i can back it up other than say we're both not religious. how can we possibly back that up? lol

[mybackpages 0]

i have no idea what i can say or how i can back it up other than say we're both not religious. how can we possibly back that up? lol

Stop worrying and go shopping with your mom!

[sereia 0]

really i'm not worrying..although it probably appears as such. i'm just bored a LOT lately and have nothing else to post about than nitpick my case apart. i really believe *knocks on wood* we'll come out fine on may 2nd!

my mama doesn't arrive until tonight

[Nasturtium 500]

(But you know? it's so not their business. Anyway!) and isnt that the way most of the information is, they tend to make it their business as if they are the ones agreeing to the choices

Exactly!

Moody-- it's allowed but I think it's one of those "well, we can't find anything else ot make trouble about but we don't really like this, let's ask about this.. " kinds of things. Just like anything else When we went ot get married, I remember Ammar saying over and over "Christian!" and he made them tear up 2 contracts and then we had to go through some kind of heated little argument which ended with his high-voiced, "meh" sound and the man shrugging his shoulders, then he just made the statement again: Christian. He told me that the big deal was they were trying to make me Muslim, saying it was easier for immigration. We had a lot of stuff like that happen when we went to go get married, but some good stuff too. Mostly, people were trying to make it diffivult until they figured out it wasn't for immigration Apparantly, at the hospital where we did our blood tests to get married, they make people wait 2 weeks for results unless they think you're genuine then it's only 10 minutes We knew some former nurses and doctors there who vouched for us!

[sarah and hicham 3]

bumpity bump bump

[Philomena 0]

Salaam Everyone:

We are expecting our packet w/interview date within the next 2 weeks. I have a question regarding the USC being present during the interview. I have heard conflicting information in terms of whether or not the USC is allowed inside during the interview at Casa, and the role the USC can play in the entire process. My fiance and his mother swear by Allah that my presence there for the interview will be a positive asset and facilitate the process. They think I will have some sort of USC clout. I, however, have some doubts about that scenario, since I don't think I will be allowed inside anyway. Will my being there in person substantiate the fact that we are in a bona fide relationship and show my support? Perhaps if I am there, then I would be able to take a more proactive role in the event of some unforseen issues. In this case, I would think that being here in the states would be better, so I can have more of a direct communication with the Senators/Congressmen, etc. So before requesting a leave from work and spending a hefty chunk of cheese for peak season airfare (for what would be the 4th trip to Morocco in the past 7 months), I'd savor some words of wisdom from other couples who've gone through Casa. It would also be great to know if any USC's who went to their spouse's or fiance's interview got a chance to ask questions/make a status inquiry in person, after the interview.

Skukron,

iysha