Stressing over Fiance visa outcome

[AdrianSolorzano 7]

1 minute ago, SorrowL said:

It definitely won’t be easy. But I do wish you the best of luck. If you convince USCIS, you still have to convince the Consulate/Embassy. Collect your evidence, be diligent and don’t skimp on important documents that you can use. Make personal copies for yourself before you send stuff out, that goes for your beneficiary as well. You should definitely stick around these forums especially with the difficulty level of the Embassy. 

Thank you. I will surely stay for further concerns I have and needed advice.

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

what you describe as engagement party is the celebration of marriage done after signing contract of marriage at the clerk's office

exchanging rings,  dates and milk (1st meal of a married couple)

however,  a Muslim woman can not marry a  Nonmuslim man in Morocco ,  so how this will all be perceived is up to the CO at embassy

Age and length of time known are in your favor'

if interviewed by a Moroccan at embassy who knows if they will enforce the Islamic laws

 

[SalishSea 17,834]

5 minutes ago, SorrowL said:

If you convince USCIS, you still have to convince the Consulate/Embassy

Since the parameters for I-129F petitions are so basic, the vast majority are approved.  For a country like Morocco, the consulate approval is a whole different ball game.

Edited January 4, 2020 by Jorgedig

[AdrianSolorzano 7]

Just now, SorrowL said:

That sounds super marriagey. Did you send evidence that you two went to the same US educational institution? That could help make it not look like a first time visit engagement.

Yes, proof of yearbook pages, my highschool diploma, her letter from her host family, a teacher's recommendation signed and her visa that the US sponsored.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

1 minute ago, JeanneAdil said:

what you describe as engagement party is the celebration of marriage done after signing contract of marriage at the clerk's office

exchanging rings,  dates and milk (1st meal of a married couple)

however,  a Muslim woman can not marry a  Nonmuslim man in Morocco ,  so how this will all be perceived is up to the CO at embassy

Age and length of time known are in your favor'

if interviewed by a Moroccan at embassy who knows if they will enforce the Islamic laws

 

It sounds exactly like a traditional wedding.  Wow.

[SalishSea 17,834]

1 minute ago, JeanneAdil said:

if interviewed by a Moroccan at embassy who knows if they will enforce the Islamic laws

Aren't all the interviewing officers in US embassies American?

[Nitas_man 3,100]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

Aren't all the interviewing officers in US embassies American?

Not the one in KSA who we got twice

 

”The guy who comes from the back office” who appears when the need arises to straighten up a fact or two is assuredly American

Edited January 4, 2020 by Nitas_man

[Erin86 39]

53 minutes ago, AdrianSolorzano said:

Hello, I'm new here and I'm not sure if this topic is the correct one under this section so forgive me if I misplaced it. Me and my fiancee have known each other since 2009. We went to the same high school in America. She had a visa given to study from the US Department (sponsored) for a year for the same school I went to. Age wise we are two years apart. We spent most of the year eating together in the cafeteria at school. We liked each other but didn't express it in words. We didn't hang out outside of school because at that time she was more religious so we couldn't show affection in public like taking pictures together and she couldn't have a boyfriend. My fiance had to leave back to her country after her grade was done and we just kept in contact on facebook until 2013. She didn't have internet connection because she wasn't working and was attending school. She messaged me when she could. We both got busy with college and I just decided to shut down my facebook because I wasn't using it but to message her mostly... thinking that she may not really like me even though the signs were obvious that she did like me. Three years later I reopened a facebook account and searched for her. I didn't find her until 3 years later in 2019. I had added more friends from high school and from the recommendations of friends I saw her on the recommendations(suggested friends). My heart skipped and I gasped. I messaged her and we wrote essays to each other(paragraphs) about where we are in life and catching up. Then I told her that I had a crush on her but thought that she liked me too. She did say she did like me a lot but didn't say in words because she was going back to Morocco anyway and at that time she was more religious(no bf) and thought I wouldn't have managed that type of relationship anyway if she could have a bf. Catching up we spoke for four to six hours a day over whatsapp and I then asked her to be my girl... she said yes and we had a moment of tears. Several weeks later I asked her how the marriage process works since I'm agnostic and she comes from a muslim background. I then just popped the question that I want to marry her and don't want to let go again. Again we both shed some tears... we decided to do the fiance visa (because it's suppose to be shorter we thought) and in  the third month of reconnecting I got officially engaged to her in her parents house. We had the traditional engagement with the food exchange (dates and milk) ring exchange and traditional outfits. Then, after spending almost two weeks with her (couldn't do more because of the limiting job vacation days) I went back to the US and filed for the Fiance visa. I did submit all the required paperwork and what is in the gov website detail to detail. I submitted several pictures of the ceremony too. The thing is, after I sent it I googled a question of the ceremony for the visa and this website came up. Other places like reddit suggested it was good evidence but now I have some concerns because it may get mistaken for a wedding? Unfortunately, I have already sent the package... I received the first notice (reciept) tonight. I humbly ask for advice here. I know It's already done but maybe my fiancee can be better prepared for the interview. I forgot to mention that she has a masters in English so she at times even speaks better English than me. We are also both agnostic but on her facebook page she doesn't disclose that since she has many family members(religious muslims) there who are her friends so she doesn't want to be shamed or have drama. We did include pages of other pictures together, chat logs, call logs, receipts, testimonials and signed, love letters from her, my fbi background her police records from when she stayed in the US, and proof that we both went to the same high school like I signed her year book. I need advice. Thank you for your guys time.

Did you write on the photos that this was specifically an engagement party? I know it as a henna party from my background and I've had Arab friends from different cultures who have had very elaborate engagement parties with rings and everything.. so I'm sure officers have seen it before and worst case scenario it can be explained if they request more evidence or ask questions in the interview 🤔

[AdrianSolorzano 7]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

Since the parameters for I-129F petitions are so basic, the vast majority are approved.  For a country like Morocco, the consulate   is a whole different ball game.

Yeah... I need a lot of advice and direction. I feel helpless just waiting.

[SalishSea 17,834]

Just now, Nitas_man said:

Not the one in KSA who we got twice

Oh, wow.  You guys had two interviews?

[AdrianSolorzano 7]

1 minute ago, Nitas_man said:

It sounds exactly like a traditional wedding.  Wow.

Yeah, that is what I am really concerned about.

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

Just now, Nitas_man said:

It sounds exactly like a traditional wedding.  Wow.

especially if they did the henna

 

OP  if denied you will need to marry properly and that means the man must be Muslim if the woman is

so, that is your decision

marriage celebrations in Morocco can be one day or several days

and the woman will wear several different beautiful dresses / Did she?

[AdrianSolorzano 7]

1 minute ago, Erin86 said:

Did you write on the photos that this was specifically an engagement party? I know it as a henna party from my background and I've had Arab friends from different cultures who have had very elaborate engagement parties with rings and everything.. so I'm sure officers have seen it before and worst case scenario it can be explained if they request more evidence or ask questions in the interview 🤔

We did write on the photos explaining the engagement ceremony. For each picture we explained.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

Just now, Jorgedig said:

Oh, wow.  You guys had two interviews?

In KSA?  3.  One in 2011 and two in 2017.  Long story.

”The guy from the back office“ did the initial SB1 review.  

[SalishSea 17,834]

2 minutes ago, AdrianSolorzano said:

Yeah... I need a lot of advice and direction. I feel helpless just waiting.

You have come to the right place.  You will get non-sugarcoated advice and help here at VJ, from folks who have been through it all.  Waiting sucks!  Most of us have been/are there.