Starting K1 Visa for Moroccan Fiance

[AJ17 2]

We don't have anyone with doubts now - since we have met in person and they spoke to him in video several times. They scrutinize any male in my life so I wasn't surprised at the scrutiny of him. What I was surprised about was their acceptance! He doesn't fit the box my parents expected for me but they accepted him. His father also gave his blessing this week after learning about our plans. Previously, he didn't know and my fiance's mother told him. She said he was so happy about it.

I did come across that fraud warning early on. None of those things happened and after meeting in person and meeting his best friends and his family, I know he is exactly as he appeared online as he is in person. We just feel like we shouldn't waste time since life's longevity is not a given.

We will work on the proofs and getting ourselves the best package to send to them.

Thank you so much for your help!!! I will definitely keep a timeline here for progress. You are an angel!!!

[AJ17 2]

So my fiance is filling out the G-325 form and not everything fits in one line for each item. Should he use up two or print out the form and fill it by hand?

Edited January 14, 2016 by AJ17

[sparkles_ 456]

Are you converting just so you're marriage will be recognized, or are you converting because you actually believe Islam to be the truth? It's never good to lie about this just to get married...,it can come back to haunt you later on in interviews and if someone does some extra investigation on your file.

That being said, if you're becoming a real muslima, you should think to also include a letter from your imam at the masjid you attend saying you have been in new Muslim class or Islam 101 class for those interested. That way it doesn't look so much like you got a shahada paper just to get married in Morocco.

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

I plan to convert in March when I visit again. This is because he wants to make sure our marriage will be recognized in Morocco too.

The first was in December for 2 weeks and in March, I will be there for 2 weeks.

I cannot visit again after March because of work deadlines. They will last on and off for the next few months - during which I also have to attend a conference away.

We have video logs that show we have been talking every day - and text logs from whatsapp and line.

Truth is he doesn't mind if I move to Morocco since work-wise it is easier for him, but my parents only have two children so we decided we should be in the USA so we can take care of my parents. His parents have his 8 other siblings to lean on.

I am also 10 years older than he is and we would like to get this started so we can try starting our family sooner than later.

What a horrible reason to take Shahadah.

[Boiler 45,549]

What a horrible reason to take Shahadah.

Is it needd, I thought it was OK if only the male was Muslim, but not the other way around?

[sparkles_ 456]

It is ok, but it's a lot of hoop jumping if both aren't Muslim. Muslim men can marry non Muslim women.

As a Muslim I agree. Awful reason, not only do you have to take shahada in Morocco but you have to do it at the huge mosque and pick a new name and get a certificate. It shouldn't but just to make your marriage process easier.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

I'm not saying your relationship isn't legit. You just have to be very careful. How long have you known him? To me (my personal observation) of course his family and friends will appear elated by your presence. They stand to benefit from his new immigration status as well. So I don't even take that into consideration "oh his friends and family love me it must be real". It takes serious time to get to know someone. It's so easy to be wonderful for 2 weeks. I'm wonderful for 2 weeks!! Getting to know the real person takes time. So FaceTime is very important. I've visited my fiancé 5x.

So with that if you are confident be prepared to overcome the cultural differences....religion, age race, etc. it helps that you are still of childbearing age. Take pics with his family and friends. Show correspondence through chat, phone logs, skype logs. Show documentation of visits ...passport stamps, boarding passes, receipts, etc. Being Buddhist converting to Muslim after meeting him will be up for scrutiny so be prepared to demonstrate your intention and dedication. Being apart for awhile after your March visit is a given. Be prepared for possible AP. I suggest you read up in the waivers and AP forum. I'm not saying it will happen but I prefer to look ahead and be prepared for all possible outcomes.

Good Luck!

[kyrachos 11]

For all we know, her fiance is Muslim in name only (I know plenty of them...same as any religion) and doesn't care one way or another what his fiancee's religious convictions are. Unless I missed it, nowhere did she state that he is a devout Muslim, so give her a break. The point is that to get their marriage recognized in his country, they have to jump through some hoops and it seems like they're willing to do that. Should people genuinely believe the religion they are converting to? Yes, I 100% agree, but given that Morocco won't recognize their marriage unless it's Muslim man + Muslim/Christian/Jewish woman, they don't exactly have a choice in the bureaucracy. Blame the government, not two people who apparently aren't devout enough to care about religious restrictions (that's between them and any deity/lack of that they believe in).

Not denying that they could be grilled about it at the interview or that it doesn't raise red flags; just pointing out that not every "Muslim" from a Muslim-majority country cares about following the religion to a T.

Good luck, AJ17!

[LionessDeon 2,060]

For all we know, her fiance is Muslim in name only (I know plenty of them...same as any religion) and doesn't care one way or another what his fiancee's religious convictions are. Unless I missed it, nowhere did she state that he is a devout Muslim, so give her a break. The point is that to get their marriage recognized in his country, they have to jump through some hoops and it seems like they're willing to do that. Should people genuinely believe the religion they are converting to? Yes, I 100% agree, but given that Morocco won't recognize their marriage unless it's Muslim man + Muslim/Christian/Jewish woman, they don't exactly have a choice in the bureaucracy. Blame the government, not two people who apparently aren't devout enough to care about religious restrictions (that's between them and any deity/lack of that they believe in).

Not denying that they could be grilled about it at the interview or that it doesn't raise red flags; just pointing out that not every "Muslim" from a Muslim-majority country cares about following the religion to a T.

Good luck, AJ17!

What matters is what the IO at the embassy thinks...not any of us or the couple. It doesn't matter how devout they may or may not be. It's the embassy they have to convince .... Not us.

[kyrachos 11]

What matters is what the IO at the embassy thinks...not any of us or the couple. It doesn't matter how devout they may or may not be. It's the embassy they have to convince .... Not us.

Of course. I'm referring to the comments rebuking her for not wanting to convert because of a true religious conviction. Most of us are jumping through one ridiculous bureaucratic hoop or another in order to be with our loved ones. Note that I mentioned that it could cause issues at the interview, but beyond that, it's nobody's business but AJ17's and her fiance's. If they're comfortable with it and can convince the CO, that's all that matters. Her "horrible reason" to convert is tied to horrible bureaucracy...that's all I'm saying.

[Boiler 45,549]

SHe could just say she is Christian, problem solved.

[sparkles_ 456]

Agree. She should say she is Christian, and then it is as simple as getting that statement on your single status letter usually from the embassy.

Why hoop jump and have to give a statement in a big mosque, have it legally documented that you now have a second alias in another country, etc

[kyrachos 11]

Perhaps related to inheritance laws (or other requirements she's already researched)? Muslims can't inherit from non-Muslims and vice versa. I'm not familiar with Moroccan laws, but I know several women married to Muslim Egyptian men who converted (with a shahada/ceremony, Islamic classes, what-have-you) on paper so that they and their husbands can inherit from each other. If the wife was Christian-on-paper, they'd have to specify certain segments of their assets/property to each other and it would have to adhere to certain requirements (like the husband's Muslim family must inherit a specific, larger portion). It doesn't matter in the US, but in Egypt, it certainly does, and I imagine other Muslim-majority countries have similar laws. I'm not familiar with all of the Sharia rules as my husband and I aren't Muslim, but it's certainly something to think about and go through the hoops for their future financial security.

[sparkles_ 456]

Morocco doesn't run on sharia. They have the mudawanna, the family court.

[kyrachos 11]

Neither does Egypt, but family law is based in Sharia for Muslims..personal status laws are different for minority religions (I believe it's the same for both countries?). A quick google search led me to this:

"There can be no inheritance between spouses if one spouse is a Muslim and the other is a non-Muslim (or whomsoever the Shariah prohibits relationships with.)"

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Middle-East/Morocco/Inheritance

"Laws that forbid a non-Muslim Moroccan wife from inheriting from her Muslim husband remain in place."
http://www.unicef.org/gender/files/Morroco-Gender-Eqaulity-Profile-2011.pdf

Maybe there's a secular law that circumvents this that I didn't catch in my search...but if I was in OP's shoes and was planning to convert to a different religion for legal purposes, my choice would be what would give me the greatest legal status even if it was annoying or inconvenient (I am glad I'm not in that situation, though). Not sure what her reasons are for choosing Islam over Christianity if it's not sincere conviction, but it's definitely something to consider...never know what will happen in 10-50 years or where life will take ya (maybe they will retire in Morocco? who knows) or how the in-laws will behave over any inheritance later in life. Best to take the most secured route if you have to make the conversion anyway, right? Anyway, I'll leave it at that since it has little to do with obtaining a visa.