dimanuni

For sure do the train. You might want to check on whether you'll be travelling during holidays. If you are, I would get a first class ticket (not more than $20 more than the 2d class) so that you have a reserved seat, a specific seat. There are 6 to a cabin in first class, and 8 to a cabin in 2d. It's fun to ride in 2d class, you'll meet more people, but during the holidays, they don't limit how many tickets they sell and people are standing in the hallways and sitting more than 8 to a cabin. Definitely worth first class to have a more relaxed trip.

Although the good part is that you'll be getting on the train in Fes at the terminus (generally) so that there should be plenty of seats when you get on.

Have a great time!

We ran into the same thing out of Omaha last November. My husband flew a few weeks before me, Omaha to NY to Casa. Delta then RAM. When he flew, I argued I had checked online and it was 2 bags. She let him fly with two. For my flight, I printed out the Delta page which clearly says "Europe 1 bag" and "africa or all other (i can't remember which) 2 bags". You only get the list of countries if you click on Europe. Now why would I click on Europe? Delta doesn't just get to readjust the continents because they wish to. I was totally prepared to argue that there is no way I could have known they considered Morocco Europe. But she let it go anyway.

Unfortunately, on the way back, we flew Air France through Paris so i figured I'd just pay. Not to mention, arguing with Moroccans at Mohammed V airport at 5 am is the last thing I want to do, not to mention guaranteed to be ineffective.

So my advice is to print up the Delta page and then ask them why in the world would you click on Europe? There is NO WAY they can argue that you should have. We all took geography in Jr. Hi!

My husband and I just went back to Morocco in November and here's what we took:

- bought nice fleeces and timex watches (from jc penney, if you get coupons, you can easily get nice watches for about $25) for the adult brothers. I've learned to shop for fleeces and things throughout the year so I can get them cheaper

-for the ladies, my 18 year sister in law coveted my cloth vera bradley purse, it's like a small messenger bag. (reminding me not to ever take anything of my own over there that I want to keep!). I also brought a bunch of little soaps and sample shampoos, lotions, toothpastes, which went over like gangbusters (to my surprise). We also too hersheys kisses and little gift bags and gave more extended family (aunt's family, for example) a little gift bag of candy and samples.

- i got my MIL Sofft brand mules from TJ Max. She LOVED THEM. she started wearing them in the kitchen, everywhere, because they were more comfortable than her regular shoes or slippers. Women there always where slip on shoes, (whether they wear heels or not depends on the person, but in my hubby's home town, most of the streets are a mixture of rocks and dirt, so a slight wedge is the best bet).

- i also usually get those little ghiradelli chocolates that come in the foil bags. they have them at target for about $3. you can't buy too many of these. people will be so flattered if you bring them one when you eat at their house. and since each chocolate is individually wrapped, everyone in the family can have one piece and feel like they have something special because it's so prettily wrapped.

The biggest issue will be how much you can carry and how much you can get through customs. my husband and i split up everything so he was carrying male stuff and me womens.

GOOD LUCK and have fun!

bsahuraha! we got the same notice yesterday! hooray!

we got our notice yesterday via text and email that his greencard has been ordered for production. plus they're sending him a welcome to the US letter! Hooray!!

So I think the Jan 15-20 people are getting cleared up!!

congrats! we're still waiting! arrgggh

Hi, wow, congratulations everyone!!

Our case was transferred back to Omaha on June 18th. For those of you who had yours transferred last week and just got notice of Green Card Production ordered, did you call for a Service Request AFTER it was transferred? I had figured I'd wait a week and see what happens, but now I'm thinking we should call?

Thanks and anyways hooray for all of you!

Oh, that's very interesting news. Our case was transferred to CSC on January 19, then nothing until today where there's a notification that it's been transferred to the local USCIS office. Hopefully it's a standard thing where if the file's been sitting at CSC for 6 months, they ship it back for processing? So much for a transfer to CSC meaning quick processing.

How do you request a 'service request'? What does that mean? I wonder if we should ask for one?

Let us know what happens to you guys, please!

Good luck!

Hi, Magys, please keep us posted. Our case was transferred to CSC in January, then nothing until today where there's a notification that it's been transferred to the local USCIS office. Hopefully it's a standard thing where if the file's been sitting at CSC for 5 months, they ship it back for processing? Let us know what happens to you, please!

Good luck!

Usually it means you're good on the consulate level. But they have to send it to the US just for background purposes. It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to three months. We got ours in two months. They don't recommend you call until 90 days. I told myself I'd call after 60 days and then he got the call on the 60th day. So I think you should just sit back and not worry until a copule of months pass. I have friends in the foreign service and they say the consulates have nothing to do with this step. So just wait!!

Good luck!

Hi, we tried to walk in in Omaha also. They don't allow walkins. You can go after your date, and it shouldn't be a problem. We got an info pass appt before the date, in order to try to get in early, but when we were there, they told us to come in after our scheduled date. they couldn't take us before. so to be most safe, you could do that. or just go by, and try and talk to them before. that way they'll know you know about your date, so it's not like you're just skipping it or forgot about it.

is it you or your husband who is getting biometrics? If it's you, just go alone. It's pretty easy. They're very nice at the Omaha INS. You can look to my previous posts to find out what I said about the biometrics (it was in January) as I don't remember everything right now. Or I probably typed it in reviews of the Omaha office.

Good luck!

Similar delay here. Case transferred on 1/19, no touches since it arrived in CSC on 1/27.

We're exactly the same as you Tygrys. We did a change of address Sunday night. and got a text this morning saying the case had been updated. When we logged in, all three cases were touched April 14, but the information did not change on status. Still just says sent to CSC on January 19. I'm hoping when they look at the case to update the address (we moved), they'll say "Hey, we've not looked at this for three months!"

Good luck!

Hi, I'm looking for opinions:

We're closing on our new house April 9, will leave our apartment April 16. We filed for AOS in December, received EAD and AP late February. Case was transferred to CSC January 19, but hasn't been touched since January 27.

Should we do change of address now? Or wait until we've officially closed on the house and it's our real address? I'd hate for the Green Card to appear at either location before or after we've moved. We do have one week when we'll be at both addresses.

Maybe I'm making a mountain of a molehill. I guess the question is, how quickly does USCIS process the change of address?

So what do you guys think?

Thanks, Rebecca

I'd listen to berber mama!

My husband says that the doctors are all within a 30 minute walk of the consulate, which is nearer to Casa Port. So that's my guess. Good luck!

Ours was transferred on 1/19, last touch 1/27 as well. I guess it is sitting together with yours in the same forgotten box and collecting dust.

Wow, we do have similar timelines, although we did get the AP and EAD end of February. I'm glad (misery loves company) that we're not the only ones in that forgotten box. Keep me posted if you receive anything. Best of luck to all of you!

I thought you were going from Casa to Rabat. I'm not sure! Can't you call the doctor and ask which stop is better, Casa Voyageurs or Casa port??

Hi all, congrats to all of you who finally received your Green Cards. I'm getting so frustrated. We filed the AOS in early December, did biometrics mid January and our file was sent to CSC also on January 19. We received the AP and EAD, but our I 485 case hasn't been touched since January 27. What gives?? I see others receive their Green Cards when they filed later, received RFEs, or had interviews! (Not that I begrudge you!) It's like CSC forgot about our file or something!

Did anyone else have a similar experience? Does the CSC ever ask for an interview after two months of sitting on the application? Am I right that we'll just have to sit and wait and hope something happens soon??

Anyhoot, just wanted to moan a bit. Good luck to everyone else, and congrats again to those of you with your green cards!

Cheers,

Rebecca and Ahmed

You should definitely try to walk in before your date. SOme offices allow it. My office, Omaha, did not allow it, but they told us we could come in AFTER our date and they would do it. It's worth trying, so that you don't have to delay the biometrics. Otherwise, you may have to wait another month or so.

Good luck and thanks for your service!

also, depending on when she got here, you and she may have to make an election that she be treated as a resident alien for the entire tax year 2009. if she was here more than 183 days, i think you may not have to. It's all in Publication 519 on the IRS website. You'll have to file by mail, though, because you have to send in signed documents, which means longer for any refund. Also, I believe there's a special address for people sending in the W7, to Houston or something. It's on the IRS website too. Look under international filers or something like that. It should be on a tab on the website.

Sorry I can't be more specific! Good luck and congratulations! and bless you for taking care of your dad!

Hi, when I was in Morocco and had some passport photos taken at the local photo place (this was in a small town near Marrakech in 2008), the guys took the photo with a digital camera and then played around with them on their computer before printing them. I believe your in-laws could find such a place (if it existed in Ait OUrir in 2008, I have to believe it's more prevalent now!) and ask the guy to put the photo on a disk or a flash drive so they can go to the cyber and email it to you. Even little po-dunk towns in Morocco have cybers nowadays. They'll just have to grab the closest neighbor-boy to do it for them, if they're too old to figure it out for themselves!

I hope this works! Good luck!

Maybe he's getting his visa now?? Although they should have realized they already had his passport! Good luck!

Hi guys,,,

Azzeddine got the "call" today... but its was not the call we thinking we would get... They called this morning and told him to return next WEDNESDAY, well he asked them if would be ok to come on Monday cos he will be in Casa for some business. They told him that would be fine, he then tried to ask if he will recieve his visa and the guy did not know "DUHHHHHHH"y he did not know... the guy just said "maybe it is for your second interview?"

So Azzeddine just accepted his response , then after a hour of my unsettled worries , he said "honey do u want me to call them back" well of course LOLOL

so he got different guy!! Azz asked what he should bring to the appointment and the guys said bring your passport DUHHHHHHH again,,,, they took his passport last week........... and the guy said OHHHHHHHH then just come with nothing.. So he asked what is the appointment for and the guy" maybe the second interview"

So now what do I think of this all this....

email from them said Administrative Processing ....

i am soooooooo confused...... i thought if they take the passport it mean visa however i know they can do what they want...

ANY THOUGHTS?

Thanks Nich-Nick!! I called the IRS as well (who knew you could call them at 9 pm at night?) and they confirmed it. That was before I knew you were the tax guru (from other threads)

Thanks again!

Q. Who cannot take the credit?

A. If any of the following describe you, you cannot take the credit, even if you buy a new home:

• Your income exceeds the phase-out range.
  
• You buy your home from a close relative. This includes your spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild.
  
• You do not use the home as your principal residence.
  
• You are a nonresident alien.
  

BUT he will be a resident alien for tax purposes for the entire year of 2009 if you send in the statement signed by both of you. So I'm thinking that fourth bullet item does not apply to your husband as far as the IRS dealings. So I think you are eligible.

hi everybody,

It is rachid from Morocco.I am waiting for my interview to be scheduled by nvc.I submitted all necessary documents( son or daughter of american citizen over 21) and my case was complete on february 3,2010.i want to know how much time i have to wait to get my interview letter.ur help will be appreciated.thanks

You have a different kind of visa than we had, we had a K-1. I think we had notice of Ahmed's interview within 3 weeks of the case being complete. good luck!

Don't want to hijack the thread, but my husband and I are closing on a house April 9. Problem is, he doesn't have his green card yet. He arrived on K-1 visa Oct 1, 2009, we mailed in AOS docs in Dec. His file was sent to CSC January 19 (which I understand means faster processing...I hope), we received an email last week that they've ordered production of his EAD, and we received AP. But no Green Card yet.

I'm wondering, can we claim the full $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit? Neither of us has owned before and we meet the income limitations. But he won't have met the substantial presence test by April 9, and no one can say if he'll have the green card in time.

Any ideas? The loan will be in my name anyway, he'd just be on title. But I'm wondering whether it'd be better to remove him from the title, or whether I can take the $8000 anyway because we'll be filing joint for 2009, electing him to be treated as a US resident for tax purposes. He hasn't made any money anyway.

Thanks for any input!

Rebecca