Being Jerked around at US Consulat in Morocco

[casadv 0]

Hi Everyone,

I thought we would be done by now, but it seems like we are getting the run a round by the US Consulate in Casablanca. My fiancee was sent a letter whereupon he had 2 weeks to gather all the info, and go to the interview. It was very difficult to achieve and quite expensive to make things happen in a couple of days. But, he did it and went to the interview, which is a 20 hour round trip on the bus for him. When he got there, he was told that he was missing 2 documents from the file, and that he would have to go get them. Meanwhile, there was nothing indicated on the letter of these 2 documents, and my fiance explained that he would have to travel back to the Sahara, where he lives to do this, and it would be quite a hardship. The woman suggested that he get someone to do it, but the documentation required him to be present. She also said that when he came back with these documents, he would get his VISA.

So, he returned with the documents a week later, another 20 hr. roundtrip with expenses, only to have a man take the docs from him, say thank you, and that "we will call you". He explained what occurred in the last appt. about supposing to get the visa, but the man just said that "this is how we do things here". So now, we have go through him making another trip when they call, and the possiblity of not getting the VISA for this 3rd trip. Can my fiance be helped in any way, as this really is an extreme hardhship for him, and it is quite obvious that the Consulate is completely indifferent to his plight.

Anyone reading this have any ideas, insights as to how we can get this wrapped up. Also, they never asked him for any of the paperwork that I sent him, including the Affidavit of Support.

Thank you all for your time and hope you are all doing well.

Sincerely,

C

[mmarlo 1]

Wow, I'm so sorry. This must be very difficult, and your fiance is so dedicated, it must hurt to see him go through so much. I got angry at the US Embassy in Kenya today because after a 90 minute trip for my fiancee, she got turned away for not having an appointment--an appointment to return her completed packet 3 materials!

Unfortunately, I can't offer any advice, but I'm wondering what exactly they told your fiance. It may be that he is now under administrative review. It happens quite frequently to Moroccan beneficiaries and could be another hardship that you have to overcome. Good luck.

PS Is your fiance a Tuareg?

[casadv 0]

How awful for your fiance! At least she wasn't 10 hours away; she would probably want to kill someone. My fiance is Berber, and speaks 4 languages, Berber, Arabic, French & English. He is a wonderful man, and it is so hard to go through this kind of BS. Can you explain what an administrative reveiw is? Thanks for replying, C

Wow, I'm so sorry. This must be very difficult, and your fiance is so dedicated, it must hurt to see him go through so much. I got angry at the US Embassy in Kenya today because after a 90 minute trip for my fiancee, she got turned away for not having an appointment--an appointment to return her completed packet 3 materials!

Unfortunately, I can't offer any advice, but I'm wondering what exactly they told your fiance. It may be that he is now under administrative review. It happens quite frequently to Moroccan beneficiaries and could be another hardship that you have to overcome. Good luck.

PS Is your fiance a Tuareg?

[Milenka 0]

Hi, my fiance is from Russia so I am really sorry I can't offer any advice. You might want to try posting this question under the regional discussion group, it's called MENA, for middle east and north africa, I think? They should be able to give you the best advice. Good luck, I hope your france gets his visa asap!

Edited March 21, 2007 by Milenka

[Ladylethal 12]

I would advise you check the Morocco thread in the regional forums. They know all about Casablanca.

[mybackpages 0]

Hi Everyone,

I thought we would be done by now, but it seems like we are getting the run a round by the US Consulate in Casablanca. My fiancee was sent a letter whereupon he had 2 weeks to gather all the info, and go to the interview. It was very difficult to achieve and quite expensive to make things happen in a couple of days. But, he did it and went to the interview, which is a 20 hour round trip on the bus for him. When he got there, he was told that he was missing 2 documents from the file, and that he would have to go get them. Meanwhile, there was nothing indicated on the letter of these 2 documents, and my fiance explained that he would have to travel back to the Sahara, where he lives to do this, and it would be quite a hardship. The woman suggested that he get someone to do it, but the documentation required him to be present. She also said that when he came back with these documents, he would get his VISA.

So, he returned with the documents a week later, another 20 hr. roundtrip with expenses, only to have a man take the docs from him, say thank you, and that "we will call you". He explained what occurred in the last appt. about supposing to get the visa, but the man just said that "this is how we do things here". So now, we have go through him making another trip when they call, and the possiblity of not getting the VISA for this 3rd trip. Can my fiance be helped in any way, as this really is an extreme hardhship for him, and it is quite obvious that the Consulate is completely indifferent to his plight.

Anyone reading this have any ideas, insights as to how we can get this wrapped up. Also, they never asked him for any of the paperwork that I sent him, including the Affidavit of Support.

Thank you all for your time and hope you are all doing well.

Sincerely,

C

Everything is quite normal. don't worry. For whatever crazy reason, Casa does not update their instruction list. I would bet they asked for the letter stating he is single and eligible to marry and the court report, yes? MY SO lives more than 24 hours from Casa round trip and though he had both of these documents with him for the interview, one had a blank box rsahter than the word nothing written in it and he had to go home and come back to Casa to replace it.

He may very well get the call to comback tomorrow to get the visa. Did he stay over night in Casa? Or it might take some time while they finish security checks.

Check out the Middle East North Africa forum. There are plenty of us with experience in Morocco there.

[patiently_waiting 0]

Sounds like your experience with Casa is within the norm. I can understand the hardship, but form what you say, it is the same as the do to everyone. However, for your SO, it is more of a hardship. You need to read in the MENA thread. There are plenty of threads there about Casa and you might have had some information in advance that would have helped you. Take a deep breath and try relax. Now that everything has been turned in, you can only wait for that call to come get the visa. The inconvienece (sp) will be worth it in the end.

[~kiyah~ 14]

This is definitely normal for Casa...and it is very unfortunate they do not care how much of a hardship it is for anyone's SO to travel, etc. So, there is no way around that. All he can do is wait for their phone call.

There is something you can do though, you can call the Department of State to check on the status of the application/visa. Maybe...insh'allah the consulate has updated the database with some kind of information.

US Department of State 202-663-1225

To speak to a visa specialist, press 1,1,4,1,0

Good luck to you!

~Kiyah~

[myfellah 0]

I'll just add the same message basically. Unfortunately there isn't really anything you can do to help him with this. They now have all the paperwork required, hopefully, and they will begin the final process. I can only hope your wait is short. Good Luck on the rest of your journey.

Doreen

[kerewin21 2]

As everyone else said, completely par for the course for Casablanca. It's really a hardship for the people who live far from the city. You might try sending them an email telling them the situation, maybe they'll take pity on you. But unfortunately most likely they'll just ignore you

Fortunately the end is in sight, and when you're in the US you deal with a much more standardized procedure for everything.

[meauxna 15]

I'm sorry to report that the extra travel is simply par for the course. We too were an 18 hour (each way) trip from the Embassy, and had to make multiple trips there for our case.

[caybee 21]

I'm sorry your fiance is going through this. As others have said, this is normal for Casa, and no, it is not fair. Sometimes it feels like a test to see if they will break. My fiance was called in for his visa, turned away ("broken machine") and told to come back the next week, turned away again and told to come back the next day. For what it's worth, I emailed Casa a very polite letter, expressed what a difficulty and expense the travel and lodging were becoming for my fiance, and they gave it to him on his third trip there. Hang in there. He should have it very soon, and then he can wave goodbye to that consulate.

[Ta Ta 1]

It took my fiance 4 days to travel through 3 countries to reach the Dakar embassy

only to be turned away empty handed with a we will call you......waiting over 3 month now!

Called DOS and emailed enbassy frequently ......same old blah blah.....we will call you....

[mybackpages 0]

It took my fiance 4 days to travel through 3 countries to reach the Dakar embassy

only to be turned away empty handed with a we will call you......waiting over 3 month now!

Called DOS and emailed enbassy frequently ......same old blah blah.....we will call you....

OH how well I remember that journey and the worrying we all did for you and your fiance! Still no news? We are going to celebrate BIG TIME when you guys finally get that call!

[CountryBoy 0]

this post has been moved from the K-1 discussion group