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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

Again, K-3's IF approved don't save much as far as time and cost more as far as money.  What we did (and I know the process has changed a little bit) is we side-loaded our documents at the NVC stage (meaning we sent more proof) and had front-loaded his petition with a lot of evidence, too.  I had another trip booked, we had more conversations.... I was there, in Morocco, for his interview, and was one of very few USC's that was called in to the Consulate to be interviewed, as well.  I'm not sure if it's possible, but if so, add more evidence at the NVC stage.  You said you're planning another trip while the petition is being processed, so that might be a viable option for you.  During the NVC stage, you might be able to stall submission of documents, too, if your next trip has not happened yet (at least, it was once possible).  It sounds like you have a mostly viable and realistic attitude and plan needed.  Best of luck!

01/28/2013 I-130 package sent

01/31/2013 Notice of Action Date After POE
02/01/2013 Received e-mail and text notification of acceptance
11/26/2013 Applied for SS#
02/04/2013 Received hard copy NOA1 (case not found in on-line system) 12/02/2013 ELIS site still states "accepted"
03/12/2013 Transferred to the local office 12/27/2013 received green card
04/10/2013 Case still not found in on-line system
04/15/2013 INFO-PASS appointment

05/01/2013 NOA2 sent petition approved

NVC Stage...of course it has to be complicatedreading.gifrolleyes.gif

05/09/2013 Case received by NVC

05/23/2013 Received case #'s from NVC

05/23/2013 DS-3032 sent from husband's e-mail

06/03/2013 First day I can not access payment portal

06/04/2013 AOS Fee invoiced and payment made

06/04/2013 DS-3032 resent with Supervisor Review

06/05/2013 DS-3032 acceptance e-mail

06/05/2013 AOS Fee shows "PAID"

06/06/2013 AOS package express mailed

06/07/2013 IV bill invoiced and payment made (still waiting on documents from Hubby)

06/08/2013 IV package express mailed

06/25/2013 IV reviewed - Checklist (2 errors, Birth document & date on DS-230)

06/26/2013 Requested supervisor review by e-mail & verbal request for birth document (fingers crossed)

06/27/2013 AOS accepted

06/28/2013 Checklist response sent for corrected DS-230 (I had my husband sign extra's just in-case)

08/02/2013 NVC requested a supervisor review on the checklist item over 20 business day window

08/05/2013 Case Complete!!! kicking.gif

08/27/2013 Interview Assigned

10/30/2013 Interview

11/04/2013 Pick up Passport

11/12/2013 POE @ JFK

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

I am listening to what everyone says but it doesn't seem like it's an absolute certainty that we'll have trouble. Mohammed has talked to several people he knows who are Moroccan and they didn't have any trouble getting a visa to the USA. He has a good friend who married a woman from Kansas, the exact same situation that we have in that they only met once in person for the wedding and she never traveled back to Morocco after the wedding which I am planning to do whenever my work schedule allows, and they didn't have any trouble proving their relationship. The only hold-up with the visa was that he had trouble finding a sponsor and his wife didn't have a house to live in. Once they got a sponsor and his wife rented a house for them the visa was granted and he just moved to Kansas a few months ago. That shouldn't be an issue for us, Mohammed has a relative who is a US Citizen now who has already agreed to be his sponsor if he needs one and I'm going to rent somewhere to live once we get close to the interview stage. I understand that there could be issues along the way but we're trying to stay positive, hope everything goes smoothly, and deal with any problems if they arise instead of focusing on everything negative which could happen. Almost everyone told us that we couldn't get the marriage papers done in such a short amount of time there but we persevered together and accomplished that. We've already been down such a long, at times difficult, and improbable road together but we've gotten this far and whatever direction life leads us in next we will face it together as husband and wife just as we did in the past.

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
Timeline
Posted

Let us know how things go.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, Happytobe said:

Again, K-3's IF approved don't save much as far as time and cost more as far as money.  What we did (and I know the process has changed a little bit) is we side-loaded our documents at the NVC stage (meaning we sent more proof) and had front-loaded his petition with a lot of evidence, too.  I had another trip booked, we had more conversations.... I was there, in Morocco, for his interview, and was one of very few USC's that was called in to the Consulate to be interviewed, as well.  I'm not sure if it's possible, but if so, add more evidence at the NVC stage.  You said you're planning another trip while the petition is being processed, so that might be a viable option for you.  During the NVC stage, you might be able to stall submission of documents, too, if your next trip has not happened yet (at least, it was once possible).  It sounds like you have a mostly viable and realistic attitude and plan needed.  Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice! I am going to try my hardest to be there for the interview, I hope I get called in but even if I don't I can offer moral support to my husband before it happens :) Do you have any suggestions on what kind of things to use as evidence? We're planning to include my boarding passes to Morocco and the train tickets from our travel there, a copy of the affidavit I got from the consulate, lots of photos from my stay there with Mohammed and his family, lots of wedding photos, a sampling of emails and texts between us over the last two and a half years, especially any ones discussing our relationship/engagement/wedding, emails which I sent to some friends and colleagues talking about the wedding after I came home, wedding congratulation cards if we get any, e-cards which we sent to each other over the last two years, a letter which Mohammed sent to me with my engagement ring when we got engaged, the receipt and customs form from the post office (if I can find it - I'm kicking myself for not storing it somewhere safe now) for some gifts which I sent to Mohammed and his family last year and the receipt for some gifts which I'm planning to send to him soon, some emails and skype log between us since the wedding, a printout from my IRA retirement account listing my spouse Mohammed XXXXXX as my beneficiary. Is there anything that I'm forgetting that could be useful? And also, would there be any value in getting an affidavit from my sister about our marriage being "bona-fide"?

Edited by Ban Hammer
removed full name of spouse
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted
32 minutes ago, alygirl92 said:

Mohammed has a relative who is a US Citizen now who has already agreed to be his sponsor if he needs one 

I would avoid using his relative as a sponsor if possible. You don't want to risk the consulate thinking that this is a situation in which a relative already residing in the US is trying to bring over other family members. Sure, it's technically an acceptable way of sponsorship as far as USCIS is concerned, but in my opinion it's a little risky.

If you are going through the visa process and will be interviewing in Casablanca, Morocco, join us over at the

US-Morocco Visa Discussion Facebook Group! :) 

 

K1 Visa Process                                                                                                   

Spoiler

 

December 19, 2016: NOA1 receive date 

May 5, 2017: NOA2 hardcopy (still listed as 'received' online...)

May 23, 2017: NVC case number assigned

July 10, 2017: Interview
July 14, 2017: Visa in hand
July 27, 2017: POE at ORD

August 5, 2017: Married!

 

 

 

AOS Process    

Spoiler

 

AOS Process  

September 8, 2017 : Mailed AOS Packet

September 16, 2017 : NOA1 text/emails (receive date Sept. 12)

October 2, 2017 : Biometrics Appointment

October 13, 2017 : RFIE letter received in mail (they want an English translated Birth Certificate, which we included in the original petition...)

January 24, 2018: EAD/AP Combo Card in hand

August 9, 2018: AOS Interview (Approved)

August 9, 2018: "Card in Production"

August 16, 2018: Green card in hand

 

 

May 2020: ROC!

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted
Just now, RJandHamid said:

I would avoid using his relative as a sponsor if possible. You don't want to risk the consulate thinking that this is a situation in which a relative already residing in the US is trying to bring over other family members. Sure, it's technically an acceptable way of sponsorship as far as USCIS is concerned, but in my opinion it's a little risky.

Does it help that he's not a direct relative? Mohammed calls him his cousin but he's actually the son of Mohammed's great aunt. If I can find a better job I can do the sponsorship myself but otherwise it would be nice to have that as an option.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

For security, please remove his last name from your above post....

 

As for chats.... we sent a sampling of things, not just marriage speak.  Most of our communications were video (when it worked) but, I sent our first few days of conversations from Facebook, random ones throughout the years, the Skype logs showing how much and how long we spoke everyday... some people will say "everyday conversations about everyday things don't mean much," others will say "the lovey-dovey marriage conversations don't mean much," others will say "USCIS doesn't care about conversations," some will say "it's pertinent."  

 

The above poster made the statement about his USC relative, and it's very valid. If you can't show support on your own, try to find one of your friends or family that can help. 

 

Everybody's journey is different.  Having been on here for years.... I've seen Consulates ask for "everyday" conversations for one person, but the next didn't send much and was approved. Put yourself in an Immigration Officers shoes, take your feelings out, and remember that your trying to convince a complete stranger, who's looking for fraud, that you're legitimate. 

01/28/2013 I-130 package sent

01/31/2013 Notice of Action Date After POE
02/01/2013 Received e-mail and text notification of acceptance
11/26/2013 Applied for SS#
02/04/2013 Received hard copy NOA1 (case not found in on-line system) 12/02/2013 ELIS site still states "accepted"
03/12/2013 Transferred to the local office 12/27/2013 received green card
04/10/2013 Case still not found in on-line system
04/15/2013 INFO-PASS appointment

05/01/2013 NOA2 sent petition approved

NVC Stage...of course it has to be complicatedreading.gifrolleyes.gif

05/09/2013 Case received by NVC

05/23/2013 Received case #'s from NVC

05/23/2013 DS-3032 sent from husband's e-mail

06/03/2013 First day I can not access payment portal

06/04/2013 AOS Fee invoiced and payment made

06/04/2013 DS-3032 resent with Supervisor Review

06/05/2013 DS-3032 acceptance e-mail

06/05/2013 AOS Fee shows "PAID"

06/06/2013 AOS package express mailed

06/07/2013 IV bill invoiced and payment made (still waiting on documents from Hubby)

06/08/2013 IV package express mailed

06/25/2013 IV reviewed - Checklist (2 errors, Birth document & date on DS-230)

06/26/2013 Requested supervisor review by e-mail & verbal request for birth document (fingers crossed)

06/27/2013 AOS accepted

06/28/2013 Checklist response sent for corrected DS-230 (I had my husband sign extra's just in-case)

08/02/2013 NVC requested a supervisor review on the checklist item over 20 business day window

08/05/2013 Case Complete!!! kicking.gif

08/27/2013 Interview Assigned

10/30/2013 Interview

11/04/2013 Pick up Passport

11/12/2013 POE @ JFK

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted
5 minutes ago, alygirl92 said:

Does it help that he's not a direct relative? Mohammed calls him his cousin but he's actually the son of Mohammed's great aunt. If I can find a better job I can do the sponsorship myself but otherwise it would be nice to have that as an option.

To be honest, I'm not sure. If it were me, I would do everything I could to not use any kind person related to him as a sponsor. Like @Happytobementioned above, the only requirement for the sponsor (other than income requirement) is that they are a USC, so it can be your family, friend, neighbor, colleague, ect. 

If you are going through the visa process and will be interviewing in Casablanca, Morocco, join us over at the

US-Morocco Visa Discussion Facebook Group! :) 

 

K1 Visa Process                                                                                                   

Spoiler

 

December 19, 2016: NOA1 receive date 

May 5, 2017: NOA2 hardcopy (still listed as 'received' online...)

May 23, 2017: NVC case number assigned

July 10, 2017: Interview
July 14, 2017: Visa in hand
July 27, 2017: POE at ORD

August 5, 2017: Married!

 

 

 

AOS Process    

Spoiler

 

AOS Process  

September 8, 2017 : Mailed AOS Packet

September 16, 2017 : NOA1 text/emails (receive date Sept. 12)

October 2, 2017 : Biometrics Appointment

October 13, 2017 : RFIE letter received in mail (they want an English translated Birth Certificate, which we included in the original petition...)

January 24, 2018: EAD/AP Combo Card in hand

August 9, 2018: AOS Interview (Approved)

August 9, 2018: "Card in Production"

August 16, 2018: Green card in hand

 

 

May 2020: ROC!

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted
3 minutes ago, Happytobe said:

For security, please remove his last name from your above post....

 

As for chats.... we sent a sampling of things, not just marriage speak.  Most of our communications were video (when it worked) but, I sent our first few days of conversations from Facebook, random ones throughout the years, the Skype logs showing how much and how long we spoke everyday... some people will say "everyday conversations about everyday things don't mean much," others will say "the lovey-dovey marriage conversations don't mean much," others will say "USCIS doesn't care about conversations," some will say "it's pertinent."  

 

The above poster made the statement about his USC relative, and it's very valid. If you can't show support on your own, try to find one of your friends or family that can help. 

 

Everybody's journey is different.  Having been on here for years.... I've seen Consulates ask for "everyday" conversations for one person, but the next didn't send much and was approved. Put yourself in an Immigration Officers shoes, take your feelings out, and remember that your trying to convince a complete stranger, who's looking for fraud, that you're legitimate. 

Sorry, I tried to edit the post but there's no edit button to click to do that. We'll probably send a variety of different conversations then. Our strategy is that we have no idea what they will want or be looking for so we're trying to send everything possible to start with to prevent a request for further information later.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted
2 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

To be honest, I'm not sure. If it were me, I would do everything I could to not use any kind person related to him as a sponsor. Like @Happytobementioned above, the only requirement for the sponsor (other than income requirement) is that they are a USC, so it can be your family, friend, neighbor, colleague, ect. 

They can also be an LPR, if memory serves me (it might not though).

 

The thing with the relative @alygirl92 is regardless of how distant the relative is that there are groups of men (and women) in Morocco (and other countries) that work out schemes to get to the US. I'm not saying that's the case with your husband, BUT from the immigration officers standpoint, how does that look?  Morocco is a higher fraud country, so, even though it's hard, put the skeptical eyes of the Officer on. 

01/28/2013 I-130 package sent

01/31/2013 Notice of Action Date After POE
02/01/2013 Received e-mail and text notification of acceptance
11/26/2013 Applied for SS#
02/04/2013 Received hard copy NOA1 (case not found in on-line system) 12/02/2013 ELIS site still states "accepted"
03/12/2013 Transferred to the local office 12/27/2013 received green card
04/10/2013 Case still not found in on-line system
04/15/2013 INFO-PASS appointment

05/01/2013 NOA2 sent petition approved

NVC Stage...of course it has to be complicatedreading.gifrolleyes.gif

05/09/2013 Case received by NVC

05/23/2013 Received case #'s from NVC

05/23/2013 DS-3032 sent from husband's e-mail

06/03/2013 First day I can not access payment portal

06/04/2013 AOS Fee invoiced and payment made

06/04/2013 DS-3032 resent with Supervisor Review

06/05/2013 DS-3032 acceptance e-mail

06/05/2013 AOS Fee shows "PAID"

06/06/2013 AOS package express mailed

06/07/2013 IV bill invoiced and payment made (still waiting on documents from Hubby)

06/08/2013 IV package express mailed

06/25/2013 IV reviewed - Checklist (2 errors, Birth document & date on DS-230)

06/26/2013 Requested supervisor review by e-mail & verbal request for birth document (fingers crossed)

06/27/2013 AOS accepted

06/28/2013 Checklist response sent for corrected DS-230 (I had my husband sign extra's just in-case)

08/02/2013 NVC requested a supervisor review on the checklist item over 20 business day window

08/05/2013 Case Complete!!! kicking.gif

08/27/2013 Interview Assigned

10/30/2013 Interview

11/04/2013 Pick up Passport

11/12/2013 POE @ JFK

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

P.S. how many days did your marriage take? Ours was only about 10(?) days, and we, too, were told we didn't have enough time. I think the shortest I've seen in here was 9 days, the longest was 2 months 😮😳

 

(sorry for the off-topic question)

01/28/2013 I-130 package sent

01/31/2013 Notice of Action Date After POE
02/01/2013 Received e-mail and text notification of acceptance
11/26/2013 Applied for SS#
02/04/2013 Received hard copy NOA1 (case not found in on-line system) 12/02/2013 ELIS site still states "accepted"
03/12/2013 Transferred to the local office 12/27/2013 received green card
04/10/2013 Case still not found in on-line system
04/15/2013 INFO-PASS appointment

05/01/2013 NOA2 sent petition approved

NVC Stage...of course it has to be complicatedreading.gifrolleyes.gif

05/09/2013 Case received by NVC

05/23/2013 Received case #'s from NVC

05/23/2013 DS-3032 sent from husband's e-mail

06/03/2013 First day I can not access payment portal

06/04/2013 AOS Fee invoiced and payment made

06/04/2013 DS-3032 resent with Supervisor Review

06/05/2013 DS-3032 acceptance e-mail

06/05/2013 AOS Fee shows "PAID"

06/06/2013 AOS package express mailed

06/07/2013 IV bill invoiced and payment made (still waiting on documents from Hubby)

06/08/2013 IV package express mailed

06/25/2013 IV reviewed - Checklist (2 errors, Birth document & date on DS-230)

06/26/2013 Requested supervisor review by e-mail & verbal request for birth document (fingers crossed)

06/27/2013 AOS accepted

06/28/2013 Checklist response sent for corrected DS-230 (I had my husband sign extra's just in-case)

08/02/2013 NVC requested a supervisor review on the checklist item over 20 business day window

08/05/2013 Case Complete!!! kicking.gif

08/27/2013 Interview Assigned

10/30/2013 Interview

11/04/2013 Pick up Passport

11/12/2013 POE @ JFK

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted

I get where both of you are coming from, and we'll do our hardest to avoid that situation. Best case scenario I can do it on my own, otherwise maybe I can find a friend or relative who could help. My sister would do it for us but the company she was working at is closing down so she's going to be out of a job. We'll see where things stand when we get to that point, right now we're still waiting to file the paperwork.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted
5 minutes ago, alygirl92 said:

I get where both of you are coming from, and we'll do our hardest to avoid that situation. Best case scenario I can do it on my own, otherwise maybe I can find a friend or relative who could help. My sister would do it for us but the company she was working at is closing down so she's going to be out of a job. We'll see where things stand when we get to that point, right now we're still waiting to file the paperwork.

A lot can change between now and when you have to file the financials with NVC.... so, don't sweat it yet.  

01/28/2013 I-130 package sent

01/31/2013 Notice of Action Date After POE
02/01/2013 Received e-mail and text notification of acceptance
11/26/2013 Applied for SS#
02/04/2013 Received hard copy NOA1 (case not found in on-line system) 12/02/2013 ELIS site still states "accepted"
03/12/2013 Transferred to the local office 12/27/2013 received green card
04/10/2013 Case still not found in on-line system
04/15/2013 INFO-PASS appointment

05/01/2013 NOA2 sent petition approved

NVC Stage...of course it has to be complicatedreading.gifrolleyes.gif

05/09/2013 Case received by NVC

05/23/2013 Received case #'s from NVC

05/23/2013 DS-3032 sent from husband's e-mail

06/03/2013 First day I can not access payment portal

06/04/2013 AOS Fee invoiced and payment made

06/04/2013 DS-3032 resent with Supervisor Review

06/05/2013 DS-3032 acceptance e-mail

06/05/2013 AOS Fee shows "PAID"

06/06/2013 AOS package express mailed

06/07/2013 IV bill invoiced and payment made (still waiting on documents from Hubby)

06/08/2013 IV package express mailed

06/25/2013 IV reviewed - Checklist (2 errors, Birth document & date on DS-230)

06/26/2013 Requested supervisor review by e-mail & verbal request for birth document (fingers crossed)

06/27/2013 AOS accepted

06/28/2013 Checklist response sent for corrected DS-230 (I had my husband sign extra's just in-case)

08/02/2013 NVC requested a supervisor review on the checklist item over 20 business day window

08/05/2013 Case Complete!!! kicking.gif

08/27/2013 Interview Assigned

10/30/2013 Interview

11/04/2013 Pick up Passport

11/12/2013 POE @ JFK

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
Timeline
Posted (edited)
13 minutes ago, Happytobe said:

P.S. how many days did your marriage take? Ours was only about 10(?) days, and we, too, were told we didn't have enough time. I think the shortest I've seen in here was 9 days, the longest was 2 months 😮😳

 

(sorry for the off-topic question)

Ours was ten business days exactly. There was a holiday on Monday two weeks in a row so we couldn't do anything on Monday either week. I was so nervous but we worked at it really hard and had a lot of help from my father-in-law to get the papers. I think the longest thing was actually the police report. We had to drop off the envelope on Wednesday, come back for the interview on Thursday, and come back to get the report on Friday. By the time they released the report it was too late to do anything else but my husband ran the papers over to the judges office and left them there. Then Monday was a holiday so my husband went back to the judge on Tuesday (our wedding day) while I was preparing for the wedding and got the papers and took them to the Imam's, then first thing on Wednesday morning after our wedding we had to go back to the Imam's, back to the judge for something else, back to the Imam's and then it was finally time to sign the papers! I've never been so happy in my life! We still had a whole day after that before I had to leave at least, Mohammed's friend said his wife signed the papers in the morning before she flew out.

 

Also, thanks for the reassurance! I need to focus on one step at a time not get worried about the hamster wheel of things which will need to be dealt with later :)

Edited by alygirl92
 
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