Where does some go from here?

[aicha 0]

The border between Morocco and Algeria is closed and you will not be allowed to enter into Algeria. But it's nto necessary to go that far. A few dirhams will get you a bus from Kenitra to Melilla which is controlled by Spain. The train from Kenitra to Nador is only about 6 stops away. A taxi will take you from Nador to Melilla for about $1-2 dollars.

Thank you so much for this information - I was not aware of this city and giving me the money prices also helped a great deal - we will check into it. Thank you again!!!

Just so everyone knows - I have not given up and packed my bags yet - we are also contacting Rabat - the Ministry of Interior - like I said we had applied and done the interview for a residence permit not just an extension of stay, so I will be contacting them to find out how to fix what this man did. I am willing to do anything that it takes to fix this and stay here - the last thing I want to do is leave - I just want to do it legal and keep to our ethics - I do not feel anything is wrong in that.

[Michaela_Hassan 1]

Good luck to you! Going to Melilla sounds like a great idea and very inexpensive. I see your point about not aiding the corruption, but if you're going to be living in Morocco your life might be alot more difficult. To ensure to be together with my husband I would do as all Moroccans do. It's part of life there, just consider it tipping.

Michaela

[Henia 11]

Esalaamu Aleikum Rahmat Allah dearest Aicha!

I pray this finds you in the highest form of faith, understanding and sisterhood. I can only imagine what you are going throu dearest sister.

I myself, have jumped the hurdles of bureaucratic BS and red tape in my husband's country. And I myself, still waiting for Algerian residency...thanks to John Walsh and the new CO here. I keep thinking if I could have only filed last year, when several others had filed DCF and gotten approvals within a month. And I hit my head against the wall, cos I know the conidtion of my dh (if we were in the US) would be solved by now. He would be walking...getting meds that he needs.

But no... Allah destined us for us something else. WHat I cannot say... but I do say BarakuAllah fik my sister. I sa your petition and signed. I comend your efforts and pray Allah ease your suffering and trails.

I do wonder sister, since I see you are filing k3 you are legally married... how can the Morrocan goverment deny you residency? ALgeria is not Morroco, true, but I do not understand how a country can deny residency when it based on marriage? Enchallah I will try to look into and enchallah maybe find you some light in the tunnel. INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAHI RAJI'UN Be strong my sister and remember Allah only gives what He can take away. You are in my duúa!

Shukran bezaf for all of your comments - they really meant a lot! My faith has always been my stronghold in life and i can only do my best to try and seek and understand god's plans for me and my husband - and I will do my best to do what he is asking of our life in this struggle. I am so sorry for your struggles also and I can see that your faith is also very high with Allah and that is wonderful - you too keep fighting for what you know he wants from you. What is wrong with your husband, if I may ask? I will say lots of prayers for you also - I feel I am always praying now and Allah must have an open ear with my name on it.

I only understand how corrupt things are here - I have seen so much and anytime you give these people money - they will jump though hoops for what you want. the police here are shocked by what this man did to us and we will continue to fight the powers that be, but until then we need to follow the laws. you also will continue to be in my duùa!

Esalaams

Speaking of money, greed and bureaucratic BS...when my husband and I were applying for our marriage premit here in Algeria... the officer at the local city hall/police station after knowing I had ties to the US... first question asked was: Are you rich? ... then came the sly speech about helping him with 7000DA (which is only about $100, but still) and buying him a PC. Ye whatever! I feel it here daily, when I go out shopping people are kind to me cos I am foreigner, thinking someday somehow I will doing them favours. But as far as the bureacracy...unless you shovel over some liquide cash you will waiting and waiting until Judgement Day.

I know I am country away, but I will PM you my information...so (enchallah I pray you do not) but if you do help...enchallah my family and I are here to help. I pray things get resolved. I know it hard enough being a foreigner, but when you get stuck with obastacles of extreme not much fun! Allah Ma'3ki sister!

[a1angied 0]

Stay strong and hold on to your beliefs because you are the one who has to lives with the choices you make. I don't really know how things work in that country and I havenot had to personally endure this stuff. I know when I follow my ethics, values and principals I can live with myself better and I have the faith and trust in God to provide the path which He would have me follow.

I know at times ecspecially now that if i could pay to get my husband here right now I would beg, borrower or still to do it. I don't have the option so oh well i have to wait out the AP. My mom was jsut given a few months to live and I want more then anything for m y husband to met her before she passes as she really wants to met him, i ahve to hold to my beliefs that if God wants them to be abel to met that He will provide a way for it to happen. That is why He won't allow options for me to beg, borrower or steal to get him here. We are never quite sure of why things happen they way the do only that it is of God's amking or it simply wouldn't be, as I believe nothing happens in the world by mistake. The heartache is real as is the pain and I can only pray that it will soon be over and you will see what needed to be learned by this lesson in life that you are experiencing. I know that i am learning that the love and support that i have encountered through this process is so great, and teh best part is not having to do this alone. God has joined many into our lives that are of all different races, creeds, religions and we are joining as a tight knit group.

I will help you in your fight with the system in anyway I can.

[chiquita 0]

oh gosh this is so difficult.

you are getting the wrong info regarding your I-130. it will be the petition USCIS wil review and use to issue you the NOIR. the NOIR will be sent where? you will have 30 days to respond to it or your I-130 will be revoked. will you still be in Morocco when the NOIR arrives?

as to the residency in Morocco. this is what their website says>>>>

Residence permit

Americans and other foreign nationals interested in residing in Morocco for more than three months have to report their intention to stay in Morocco to the nearest police station of their place of residence within two weeks of their entrance. To apply for a resident card, non-Moroccan nationals have to provide supporting documents of their place as well as reason of residence (e.g.: job contract, employment verification, proof of investment, proof of registration for students, marriage certificate for people married to Moroccan nationals). When first issued, residency cards are valid for one year, renewable every year. Processing time takes approximately 3 to 6 months.

did you report your intention with in the first 2 weeks there?

as to the corruption. they do not consider asking for money as wrong. it is a way of life. you do for me i do for you. your husband must know this. we call it corruption they call it life. (is it right? not by our standards.) but this is how this culture lives and it is expected if you want something you will pay for it. plain and simple. there is no way you will be able to change this. going higher up the chain of command usally doesnt help either because they do the same thing and they will say there must have been a misunderstanding or whatever. its a battle you cannot win. what is the saying, when in spain do as spain does or something to that effect.

just give the money to renew your stay. even if you do go to spain i am sure you will still have to pay someone else for it so why bother unless you just want to take the trip?

one question, did you apply for a tourist or residency permit?

i wish you the best. this is such an emotional time for you. i so understand. please dont get angry for what i have told you.

chi

[Jenn! 918]

just give the money to renew your stay. even if you do go to spain i am sure you will still have to pay someone else for it so why bother unless you just want to take the trip?

Could you explain that? Why would she have to pay someone to exit and reenter in order to get a passport stamp?

[chiquita 0]

just give the money to renew your stay. even if you do go to spain i am sure you will still have to pay someone else for it so why bother unless you just want to take the trip?

Could you explain that? Why would she have to pay someone to exit and reenter in order to get a passport stamp?

ops, i was meaning that she will still have to pay to get a residency permit.

chi

[Jenn! 918]

just give the money to renew your stay. even if you do go to spain i am sure you will still have to pay someone else for it so why bother unless you just want to take the trip?

Could you explain that? Why would she have to pay someone to exit and reenter in order to get a passport stamp?

ops, i was meaning that she will still have to pay to get a residency permit.

chi

Oh ok, thanks. Yeah you're right, it would just be delaying it for a bit.

[aicha 0]

Good luck to you! Going to Melilla sounds like a great idea and very inexpensive. I see your point about not aiding the corruption, but if you're going to be living in Morocco your life might be alot more difficult. To ensure to be together with my husband I would do as all Moroccans do. It's part of life there, just consider it tipping.

Michaela

I have tipped a lot - people who do their job - this man has been rude and inconsiderate to me and my hsuband since the beginning - he told us flat out that "Americans make it hard for everyone else, so we are going to make it hard for you" - I do not think it is just about the money - I think he is just trying to prove something.

My husband and I are both very aware of what it is like here, of course, but it does not mean we need to compromise our ethics and we won't. We will take other actions to fix this - the advice has been great - thank you.

[aicha 0]

Esalaamu Aleikum Rahmat Allah dearest Aicha!

I pray this finds you in the highest form of faith, understanding and sisterhood. I can only imagine what you are going throu dearest sister.

I myself, have jumped the hurdles of bureaucratic BS and red tape in my husband's country. And I myself, still waiting for Algerian residency...thanks to John Walsh and the new CO here. I keep thinking if I could have only filed last year, when several others had filed DCF and gotten approvals within a month. And I hit my head against the wall, cos I know the conidtion of my dh (if we were in the US) would be solved by now. He would be walking...getting meds that he needs.

But no... Allah destined us for us something else. WHat I cannot say... but I do say BarakuAllah fik my sister. I sa your petition and signed. I comend your efforts and pray Allah ease your suffering and trails.

I do wonder sister, since I see you are filing k3 you are legally married... how can the Morrocan goverment deny you residency? ALgeria is not Morroco, true, but I do not understand how a country can deny residency when it based on marriage? Enchallah I will try to look into and enchallah maybe find you some light in the tunnel. INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAHI RAJI'UN Be strong my sister and remember Allah only gives what He can take away. You are in my duúa!

Shukran bezaf for all of your comments - they really meant a lot! My faith has always been my stronghold in life and i can only do my best to try and seek and understand god's plans for me and my husband - and I will do my best to do what he is asking of our life in this struggle. I am so sorry for your struggles also and I can see that your faith is also very high with Allah and that is wonderful - you too keep fighting for what you know he wants from you. What is wrong with your husband, if I may ask? I will say lots of prayers for you also - I feel I am always praying now and Allah must have an open ear with my name on it.

I only understand how corrupt things are here - I have seen so much and anytime you give these people money - they will jump though hoops for what you want. the police here are shocked by what this man did to us and we will continue to fight the powers that be, but until then we need to follow the laws. you also will continue to be in my duùa!

Esalaams

Speaking of money, greed and bureaucratic BS...when my husband and I were applying for our marriage premit here in Algeria... the officer at the local city hall/police station after knowing I had ties to the US... first question asked was: Are you rich? ... then came the sly speech about helping him with 7000DA (which is only about $100, but still) and buying him a PC. Ye whatever! I feel it here daily, when I go out shopping people are kind to me cos I am foreigner, thinking someday somehow I will doing them favours. But as far as the bureacracy...unless you shovel over some liquide cash you will waiting and waiting until Judgement Day.

I know I am country away, but I will PM you my information...so (enchallah I pray you do not) but if you do help...enchallah my family and I are here to help. I pray things get resolved. I know it hard enough being a foreigner, but when you get stuck with obastacles of extreme not much fun! Allah Ma'3ki sister!

I know exactly what you mean - but here in Kenitra - when they see foreigner's, especially Americans - the prices on everything get jacked up, even if I am not buying anything - if I am out with our sister or our mom, they try to charge them more money. Tahnk you Henia - your support is great - I will look for your pm.

[aicha 0]

Stay strong and hold on to your beliefs because you are the one who has to lives with the choices you make. I don't really know how things work in that country and I havenot had to personally endure this stuff. I know when I follow my ethics, values and principals I can live with myself better and I have the faith and trust in God to provide the path which He would have me follow.

I know at times ecspecially now that if i could pay to get my husband here right now I would beg, borrower or still to do it. I don't have the option so oh well i have to wait out the AP. My mom was jsut given a few months to live and I want more then anything for m y husband to met her before she passes as she really wants to met him, i ahve to hold to my beliefs that if God wants them to be abel to met that He will provide a way for it to happen. That is why He won't allow options for me to beg, borrower or steal to get him here. We are never quite sure of why things happen they way the do only that it is of God's amking or it simply wouldn't be, as I believe nothing happens in the world by mistake. The heartache is real as is the pain and I can only pray that it will soon be over and you will see what needed to be learned by this lesson in life that you are experiencing. I know that i am learning that the love and support that i have encountered through this process is so great, and teh best part is not having to do this alone. God has joined many into our lives that are of all different races, creeds, religions and we are joining as a tight knit group.

I will help you in your fight with the system in anyway I can.

I have learned a great deal through this experience - as I have through all other experiences in my life, my background has never been easy, but I continue to endure. I feel very much taht there are many reasons for all that is happening and my hsuband and I are discussing those various reasons. Through this we are trying to make a decision that will be right for our future and still be able to live with the choices we are making. As my husband says - it is the "maktoub" - God's written plan - I believe this very much - sometimes we just feel the pain so great that we feel as though we will fall forever and never stop. We know there is a light to the end of this and our life will take on an enormous beauty because of all we have endured to get there - that we hold close to our souls and that keeps our love strong.

Thank you for the offer of help on the sytem - will talk to you later.

[aicha 0]

oh gosh this is so difficult.

you are getting the wrong info regarding your I-130. it will be the petition USCIS wil review and use to issue you the NOIR. the NOIR will be sent where? you will have 30 days to respond to it or your I-130 will be revoked. will you still be in Morocco when the NOIR arrives?

Chi, I think you are talking about my other post on this one, so I will go there to reply on your comment about the petition status.

as to the residency in Morocco. this is what their website says>>>>

Residence permit

Americans and other foreign nationals interested in residing in Morocco for more than three months have to report their intention to stay in Morocco to the nearest police station of their place of residence within two weeks of their entrance. To apply for a resident card, non-Moroccan nationals have to provide supporting documents of their place as well as reason of residence (e.g.: job contract, employment verification, proof of investment, proof of registration for students, marriage certificate for people married to Moroccan nationals). When first issued, residency cards are valid for one year, renewable every year. Processing time takes approximately 3 to 6 months.

did you report your intention with in the first 2 weeks there?

Yes - we did exactly this - I wrote to the US CO here to get all of the information and we followed each and every step for their process here for a residence permit. So I am aware of all of this information - we researched before starting. I took in all of the supporting documents - even my husbands family signed papers to sponsor me with my husband - I went through the interview and everything - we were applying for the residence permit - the man processed as only a tourist extension. He said there was no reason for me to stay here - if I wanted to I could come back.

as to the corruption. they do not consider asking for money as wrong. it is a way of life. you do for me i do for you. your husband must know this. we call it corruption they call it life. (is it right? not by our standards.) but this is how this culture lives and it is expected if you want something you will pay for it. plain and simple. there is no way you will be able to change this. going higher up the chain of command usally doesnt help either because they do the same thing and they will say there must have been a misunderstanding or whatever. its a battle you cannot win. what is the saying, when in spain do as spain does or something to that effect.

just give the money to renew your stay. even if you do go to spain i am sure you will still have to pay someone else for it so why bother unless you just want to take the trip?

one question, did you apply for a tourist or residency permit? Residency Permit

i wish you the best. this is such an emotional time for you. i so understand. please dont get angry for what i have told you.

I have no reason to get angry at you Chi - people have really got the wrong idea about me through this battle - I am really an easy going person. As for the corruption issue - I will stand by my beliefs, as will my husband - we both are very aware of the system here, but we do not have to aid it - if we have to go other methods to do things right, then that is what we will do. And I stood on the belief I can never win the battle - then why I am I even here - I know what battle you are speaking of, but in my philosophy - all of life is a battle and I will fight each and every one I come faced with, but I will do it with my ethics in tact and believe that if people believe in somethng enough - it can be changed - if we all go through life thinking that these battles can not be changed - then what good are any of us in this world?. And I have went up the chain of command here and won each and every time - I believe there is good in this country - I have seen it many times. Sadly for one good - there is ten bad, but I seekl to find the one good and will go through the ten to get to that one. I hope you understand - thank you so much for all of your help and advice - you are a good person!

chi

[chiquita 0]

oh gosh this is so difficult.

you are getting the wrong info regarding your I-130. it will be the petition USCIS wil review and use to issue you the NOIR. the NOIR will be sent where? you will have 30 days to respond to it or your I-130 will be revoked. will you still be in Morocco when the NOIR arrives?

Chi, I think you are talking about my other post on this one, so I will go there to reply on your comment about the petition status.

i could not find your reply

as to the residency in Morocco. this is what their website says>>>>

Residence permit

Americans and other foreign nationals interested in residing in Morocco for more than three months have to report their intention to stay in Morocco to the nearest police station of their place of residence within two weeks of their entrance. To apply for a resident card, non-Moroccan nationals have to provide supporting documents of their place as well as reason of residence (e.g.: job contract, employment verification, proof of investment, proof of registration for students, marriage certificate for people married to Moroccan nationals). When first issued, residency cards are valid for one year, renewable every year. Processing time takes approximately 3 to 6 months.

did you report your intention with in the first 2 weeks there?

Yes - we did exactly this - I wrote to the US CO here to get all of the information and we followed each and every step for their process here for a residence permit. So I am aware of all of this information - we researched before starting. I took in all of the supporting documents - even my husbands family signed papers to sponsor me with my husband - I went through the interview and everything - we were applying for the residence permit - the man processed as only a tourist extension. He said there was no reason for me to stay here - if I wanted to I could come back.

are you going back?

as to the corruption. they do not consider asking for money as wrong. it is a way of life. you do for me i do for you. your husband must know this. we call it corruption they call it life. (is it right? not by our standards.) but this is how this culture lives and it is expected if you want something you will pay for it. plain and simple. there is no way you will be able to change this. going higher up the chain of command usally doesnt help either because they do the same thing and they will say there must have been a misunderstanding or whatever. its a battle you cannot win. what is the saying, when in spain do as spain does or something to that effect.

just give the money to renew your stay. even if you do go to spain i am sure you will still have to pay someone else for it so why bother unless you just want to take the trip?

one question, did you apply for a tourist or residency permit? Residency Permit

i wish you the best. this is such an emotional time for you. i so understand. please dont get angry for what i have told you.

I have no reason to get angry at you Chi - people have really got the wrong idea about me through this battle - I am really an easy going person. As for the corruption issue - I will stand by my beliefs, as will my husband - we both are very aware of the system here, but we do not have to aid it - if we have to go other methods to do things right, then that is what we will do. And I stood on the belief I can never win the battle - then why I am I even here - I know what battle you are speaking of, but in my philosophy - all of life is a battle and I will fight each and every one I come faced with, but I will do it with my ethics in tact and believe that if people believe in somethng enough - it can be changed - if we all go through life thinking that these battles can not be changed - then what good are any of us in this world?. And I have went up the chain of command here and won each and every time - I believe there is good in this country - I have seen it many times. Sadly for one good - there is ten bad, but I seekl to find the one good and will go through the ten to get to that one. I hope you understand - thank you so much for all of your help and advice - you are a good person!

chi

i have no wrong idea about you at all. i understand all you are going through. i am just not sure how you will be able to accomplish what you want.

how will you do battle with USCIS for your husband living in Morocco? have you changed your address with them? USCIS are notorious for blunders in this area (among other things as well).

how much experience does your senator have with immigration and USCIS issues, especially returned cases? mine told me to continue processing our approved I-130 saying it would get send to Casa and we would get a visa with that petition. right in the middle of processing it was sent back to CSC for further review. senator was wrong. senator's liason said she learned something new. (gulp, at my expense) in the 2 years i have been learning it has been my experience no represenative knows this process. which i would expect to be the case since this is not their area of work. as a matter of fact each service center seems to have their own way of handling returned cases.

my point is that you cannot always go by what senators/congressman tell you since they dont know much either. in your case, i find it reasonable that your approved I-130 is in storage. it is awaiting the K3 return and expiration then they USCIS will pull it for review, send you the NOIR and go from there.

staying with your husband is a wonderful thing. how i wish i could have stayed with mine. but i would have lost my job, our home and the abilty to fight the denial. there would have been no place for us to come home to when we did overturn the denial.

i understand your desire for right and wrong. but to do battle with a culture that has existed for centuries by yourself is certainly applauable and admiral. if aiding the sysyem (corruption) there would have helped us i would certainly have done it! as i stated, this is life there. we payed many hands just to get married in Morocco. it was that or no marriage.

however would not your energies be better directed at the USCIS since this will be the next step in the process?

your battle at the moment is not with the corruption issue there but with the DOS and USCIS since these are the American govermental agencies who have the power to issue a visa for your husband. how will doing battle with the Moroccan way of of life change anything for you? this is what i dont understand. is your plan perhaps to remain in Morocco with your husband or is your plan to one day come to the states with him? if the latter is true why waste your time and most of all your energy on what Morocco does? certainly that issue can wait until you have cleared up the visa problem.

i am just an outsider reading and these are my thoughts. being that i also have been through this very same process i know how easy it is to get sidetracked. my suggestion is to keep focused on what you have the power to do and leave the rest behind. keep your focus on establishing a valid marriage.

living in Morocco is not necessarily proof that you have a valid marriage. keep that in mind. one of the best proofs is letters from those who will verify they know you as a couple. you will want to gather as many of these as you can for the NOIR.

my best wishes and prayers for a quick resolution to your case.

chi

Edited May 14, 2007 by chiquita

[chiquita 0]

Good luck to you! Going to Melilla sounds like a great idea and very inexpensive. I see your point about not aiding the corruption, but if you're going to be living in Morocco your life might be alot more difficult. To ensure to be together with my husband I would do as all Moroccans do. It's part of life there, just consider it tipping.

Michaela

I have tipped a lot - people who do their job - this man has been rude and inconsiderate to me and my hsuband since the beginning - he told us flat out that "Americans make it hard for everyone else, so we are going to make it hard for you" - I do not think it is just about the money - I think he is just trying to prove something.

My husband and I are both very aware of what it is like here, of course, but it does not mean we need to compromise our ethics and we won't. We will take other actions to fix this - the advice has been great - thank you.

so the issue is with this one person. can you see another person? this is at the police station that this is happening?

you certainly dont have to compromise your ethics but you will not be able to change a way of life that has exsisted for centuries over night. might that wait until you have overcome the visa denial? i think that is formost on all of our minds and concerns for you.

my husband's cousin is a police officer. he lives on a very small salary, it is just so sad. they dont even have a proper bathroom in their home yet they adopted a homeless little girl bringing the number of children they have to 3. he works and lives in a small city north of Rabat, i think it is called Sale. i see him as a pious honest man yet i wonder if he takes what we call bribes? if he did i would think he would live better than he does. perhaps he does not.

chi

[mybackpages 0]

My two cents: the King doesn't want to make anything better over there, only what's needed for him. I'm sure he's richer than you and he doesn't do anything to change the country, even though, he could!

So, if you're in a poor corrupt country... trying to beat the system.... good luck there!

I am not the biggest fan of the king, but he doesn't rule in a vaccum. He does want change for Morocco but until Morocco no longer has to pour money into Western Sarhara, ordinary Moroccans will continue to see no health care, poorly funded social welfare programs and little economic improvement. The King also has to deal with powers that do not want to see change. So its not all dropped soley at the foot the king