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| Morocco |  Review on April 1, 2015: |
logicbloke
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I'll tell here my experience being interviewed at the Casablanca US Consulate in March 2015.
Security:
Having been there before for a J1, I knew that I needed to first talk to the guy who has the metal detector across the street before he OKs me to cross. Ideally you should come about 10-15 minutes before your interview date, not long before that. Being a bushy bearded guy, I had no issues whatsoever. Just comply with whatever security protocol they have and just be yourself and show them that you are not a threat to them. Everything will be alright.
1st call to the window:
They first call you to pay the visa fee. You can either pay in dirhams or dollars. They'll give you a receipt that you need to give to the other consulate officer.
2nd call to the window:
Moroccan guy asks for the documents and makes the following 2 remarks:
- Translator isn't sworn.
- Taxes that my fiancee FedExed to me are not right
For the translator she was indeed sworn but it wasn't visible on the papers nor on the stamp she made on individual papers, rather on the envelope containing them. So if the mention "sworn" isn't mentioned make sure you tell your translator to stamp at least one stamp on the paper showing that he or she is sworn.
For the taxes I have seen people say on this forum that W2s are what is needed with the affidavit of support. But if you read the affidavit of support's instructions PDF you'll see that what they need is a 1040 (copy of last filing) along with some other documents depending on your fiance/e and what she works and whether she owns a business or is an employee.
So the Moroccan consulate worker was right. Nonetheless my documents were accepted.
Interview:
You'll be taken to a window that is basically built as a room. They would do this for marriage-related visas for extra privacy and make you comfortable answering all the sketchy questions, if any.
Questions were mostly about my fiancee, how I met her, when we finally physically met, future plans about kids. The officer would ask you several questions. You might in some cases have more than 2 people interviewing you.
If your story is genuine and you're just telling them how it all went by, the interview will be done before you know it.
Officer had skeptic air all along doubting my answers, but finally gave me a receipt and told me that I could come pick up my visa the following Wednesday. Interview was on a Friday.
Visa Pickup:
2 years before my K1 interview, I was applying for a J1 and on pick up day I came at around 3:25pm and was able to go through security and pick up my passport in less than 10min. The visa is available from the booth outside.
This time, I came in at around 4pm on a Wednesday and they were closed. So I had to go back to my hometown (5 hour ride) and come back on another day. They basically have a 30min window to pick up your stuff if there aren't many people around.
When I came back the 2nd time on Monday to pick it up, I was there at 3pm and there were already a dozen people there waiting. By 3:30pm we were all let in and I was only able to get my visa at around 4:30pm. Other people were still waiting.
My best advice is to come at the time they tell you and not make immediate travel plans afterwards. You might or might not catch that train or bus.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #16517