hurriya

Actually no, there is no website for NVC

I see that you have filed the I-130 as well as the I-129F.

and probably are pursuing the I130. For that you will have to continue calling NVC at 603-334-0700 and you can check the AVR as well as talk to a live operator to find out if your case is complete

What is "AVR"?

Yep! Still waiting, too! At one time it looked like the CSC January transfers were all getting processed and approved, but there seems to be a standstill now. It's just over two months since transfer now and not another touch.

Got a crown in Rabat in March 2008 and it came out in July 2008 when I bit into a piece of barbecued chicken on July 4th! For the record, it was a pretty tender piece of chicken!

I had the blessing of living in Morocco with my husband and son when we first married. It was a tough row to hoe, but we made it work.

My husband was unsure of himself as a father figure and allowed my son to get by with some things that I wouldn't have at times when they were home alone together. My son,of course, took advantage of my husband's lack of discipline and attempted to rebel. He tried also to play the two of us against each other and even pulled the "you're-not-my-dad" card. This ensued for about 2-3 months until we both had to finally sit down with him and both lay down ground rules and expectations. Once our daughter was born, they kind of formed a truce, or sorts and began to work together alot better. Before we returned to the states, they began having "father-son" outtings where they hung out together and did "man things". My son began to really look forwad to it and i think it helped him to better "feel out" my husband and find his place within our new family.

Big congrats!

Waaaaaaaah! Still no RFE, "no touches", no nothing. I know I am going to drive myself crazy checking everyday! I try to be upbeat, as it has only been a little over a month since transfer to CSC, but as I see all the others getting approval it brings me down. I even dreamed about it the other night. Only in the dream we were through all the way to the interview and he got the visa, but told me he was told "We'll call you" and sent home. He proceeded to call my sister, buy a ticket and come to states and have her pick him up and take him to her home. When we began our regular chat on Saturday afternoon, I complained that he had no webcam and he said he'd go to a different cyber cafe and to wait for him. I agreed, as this has been done before many times. Only instead, he then had my sister to drive him to my home and surprise me! I woke up full of good spirits and smiles. I pray this dream will come true soon.

I get all of that, but the question is still WHY ARE PEOPLE APPLYING FOR BOTH!

I keep seeing all of these posts comparing the two as well as persons asking which others have done and which they suggest. But I cannot, for the life of me, understand why one would complete and file BOTH. I see timelines stating dates when they have sumitted each separately. Is there a particular reason, other than the competitive game of "which gets done first?" Are these people loaded with cash and enjoy playing gambling games or what?

Someone enlighten me, please?

Hey, Jackie, I know you don't really know me as I don't post here much, but I'm digging that sofa bed so I had to ask. Where did you find it? It's a loveseat, right? I need something like that for my son's bedroom, but they're more than I want to pay at IKEA.

for sure, grab the febreeze

I found the perfect couch! When its time for your slumber party, we can just flip it open!

jJ

Me, too! I was transferred Jan 14th, touched 20th and 21st. Seems like they are working out there. I hadn't checked my email today, so, who knows!

I'm Joan I'm a College Admissions Counselor.

This may have already been addressed by someone, I don't get to check in everyday and there are SO many pages of previous posts that I didn't take the time to go back through to check. Nevertheless, it is EXTREMELY important to warn your SO (especially if it is a man) that he is NEVER to exit the vehicle when stopped by a police officer unless/until instructed to do so. While we were living in Rabat I regularly witnessed many men, my husband included, immediately jump out of the car and storm back to the police officer when we were stopped. He would flail his arms aggressively while arguing/shouting with the police over whatever infraction we were stopped for (usually running a red light or stop sign) There, the usually unarmed police officer, would hear him out and/or argue his own stance, but it was always a lenghty process with alot of hystrionics.

I won't know if the idea has truly seeped in until he is here, but I repeatedly told him even then and regularly tell him now that he will be shot if this happens here.

I'm a "stand alone" K3 filer and my case was transferred to CSC as of Jan.14 In fact, I got another separate email on Saturday (yeah, that's what I thought, ON SATURDAY) that said my case is now pending. I thought it was pending all along when no decision has been made.

Looks like Taza is well represented, LOL! It's my hubby's hometown, too!

Hello Henia,

I am actually sort of in the same situation as you. Although, I am already back in the US and came in July after living 2 1/2 years in Morocco. To give a little backstory, I hadn't planned to come back, per se. We had discussed the possibility and pretty much concluded that the timing wasn't right and that we would wait until our daughter was 5 years old and ready to enter kindergarten (she was 1 year when I came) and my son was ready for high school (he is in 6th grade). But I came, with the children, to visit my family as we hadn't been back since we left. While here, however, I learned of a interesting job that would be a great opportunity for me and a friend pulled some strings and got me an interview. I was offered the job and I discussed it with my husband who encouraged me to accept it. We decided that it would be a slightly easier transition for us to go ahead and do it this way because I'd have a job and can get established (with help from my family) then apply for him to join us.

I've since been able to get transportation, rent and furnish a house and apply for the visa in the course of 6 months. But I have to tell you, it is HARD. Because I am the only working person in the home, the responsibility of paying for everything falls on me. The cost of everyday necessities seems to be exhorbitant, because I am only able to pay for exactly what we need, no extras. Childcare costs are through the roof! I was lucky to find a woman to care for our daughter in her home because the good daycare centers want $200/week! Put that with the cost of providing extra diapers for them plus at home and childcare alone would eat nearly half my paycheck! Luckily, gas prices have declined since I first got here, and I live and work within 20 miles of each other. Food prices are pretty random, too, I have noticed that some items seem to be ridiculously priced considering the volume that you get, while others can be found dirt cheap! Amazingly, some things are cheaper than they were in Morocco, but there I made less income yet we were still able to make it.

In some ways, I am glad to be back and am very lucky/blessed to have the job I have and to have transitioned so well. But, if I had to do it again I don't think I would. Even though it would have been harder to come together because none of my family has enough income to have sponsored our whole family, I would rather have waited to do so. It is predicted that the economic situation will worsen over the coming months and that more and more companies will have to lay off employees, so if you do decide to come be sure that you have a good support system in place and solid plans for how to make do while trying to re-establish.

Insha'allah it will all be a memory soon i am happy that you are still able to prove your case. Happy Anniversary!!! today is 6 months for us.... and i miss him so much too.

Wow! This is such a coincidence because it was 2 years ago for me and my hubby! We had the big walima the weekend thereafter, but like you, we signed our final papers with the adoul on the 9th.

Congrats, to you as well.

Let's celebrate our new President and hope that we can all get together as one nation and help support the change we need!

YES WE CAN!!!

he's the president elect, not the president. he'll be the president on 20 jan 09.

Hoping to delay the inevitable Charles?

Sharing the wealth, wow am I torn on that issue. I was a single mom for several years. I was neither lazy, nor did I open my legs to hords of men. I was married to a jerk that refused to help me to support my kids. Then to top it off I had a medical problem that forced me to change careers go back to school while working full time, and raising 4 kids myself. Tough situation, trust me. I was in quite a slump with no assistance for a long time. I pulled myself out of it, but I would have been so grateful for any assistance I could have found until I could get on my feet. Would anyone have begrudged me if I did receive assistance now that I am in a much better financial situation and a responsible taxpayer?

On the other hand I have seen people that abuse the system. So for them it is not fair for the rest that are truly in need. I don't particularly want my hard earned money to go to those people, that's for sure!

I don't know all of the policies that Obama has in place to "share the wealth", but I do hope it is spent wisely in weeding out those in real need in comparison to those that abuse it.

Whether you voted for McCain or Obama, it makes no difference now. I was very impressed with McCain's speech. This is the most I have ever been impressed with him since the entire campaign began. I hope that we can all take to heart his words of support for our president elect.

I agree, his (McCain's) concession seemed to be so genuine and heartfelt and really made me not only impressed with him but also feel as though he has been misunderstood often during this campaign. It also causes me to think/believe that perhaps his statements and actions many times during the campaign were the prepared statements of his capaign and advisors and not his true thoughts and feelings. I believe that if we have been allowed to know the "real" Mc Cain, we wouldn't be celebrating the election of Mr. Obama.

Hope I am not overstepping boundaries by adding to this thread, as I was not listed as one for whom information or updates was requested. Nevertheless, it has been a while sine I posted, so an update is more or less due.

As of two weeks ago, I have been living in Morocco for one year. Our daugther was born on July 8 and she is healthy, beautiful and a joyful addition to our family. I will return to work on October 1 and as my husband works evening hours, he will care for her during the day while I will care for her during the evening. Our 10 yr old son will return to school med-September and he is enjoying having a younger sister as he was an only for so long.

I will return to the states in December with the children to visit my family as they have only seen the baby in pictures and on the webcam. We are undecided (so far) as to whether or not we will apply again for a visa to the US. I love my job and our way of life here and have no pressing desire to return other than to visit. For now, life is good!

Hello and thanks to those who inquired of my whereabouts. I read your PM's and e-mails some time ago, but failed to respond the same day. Then I was away from the job for three weeks with a herniated and degenerated disc in my neck and thus unable to access a PC as we do not have one at home.

I am returning to work on Monday, however, and everything is ok now. Tonight, I am in a cyber cafe to chat with my family briefly, but as usual, they are late to sign on, so I thought I'd take the time to pop in with a message.

All is well on our end, I am fast nearing the end of my sixth month of pregnancy and we just learned that we are expecting a girl! We are both very excited about this and to know that she is developing on track with no expected difficulties. Also, though probably NOT a good thing, I have just began to pick up weight. For the first three to four months I was continuously losing weight and for now, I am still wearing the clothes that I came here with. (For a couple of months, they were too big, and now they are beginning to fit again as they did before I arrived!)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm still alive, well and once again periodically perusing the forum to keep up with things. Congrats to the many who have recently received visas and have arrived (or are en-rout to) the US. As for us, a return to the states is not in the cards in the near future, and that's exactly the way I like it.

Hello, all!

It has been some time since I have posted. I periodically still check the posts, but many of the people that I am/was familiar with in this forum have disappeared. That in mind, I have remained in the shadows to just read and learn as I don't know many of the people here now and I doubt any of you know me. Yet, I felt compelled to chime in on this one. I hope you don't mind.

I have been in Morocco since August of 2006 and have been working since November. We learned that I was pregnant just after Ramadan. So I am now nearing the end of my fourth month. This is not my first pregnancy, but I think my age is contributing to a very difficult time. I also have had problems with fibroid cysts for years which I was told could take blood from the baby, so we needed to get past 3 months to insure a "viable" pregnancy.

I did not have "morning sickenss", I had all day sickness. The smell of everything exacerbated this sickness it seems 10 fold. I had lost a good deal of weight after arriving and fasting during Ramadan, but I continued to lose once pregnant. I have no idea how much in all, but at my last appointment with the ob/gyn she told me that I have not gained any since the last visit. I, too, am perpetually tired and the late night visits to the toilet are taking its toll on my sleeping which then show on my face the next day. Which in turn doesn' help the fact that my job is to teach English via video teleconferencing and I sometimes have classes scheduled at 8.00 am! Some days my students have asked if I am ok. All my students and co-workers now know of my pregnancy and are very supportive, however, so I am surrounded by helpful surrogate family.

My expected delivery date is July 11 and my husband, of course, is very excited. And deeshla, we live in Rabat, so please give me the name of the ob/gyn that you are speaking of. I can't believe that I can't remember the name of mine right now (forgetfulness, another side effect of pregnancy, I guess!) I want to know if this may be the same one. She came highly recommended and is always solidly booked with appointments.

A little different for me as I made the move to be with him. Although, I must say I feel that the adjustment has only been difficult because we are living with his family right now. There is SO much truth to the saying "Too many cooks spoil the broth".

I'm sure many of you are aware of the 'sons are kings' ideology from which many of our men derived. Well, I do cater to him to an extent but not because it is expected or in order to put him on a pedestal. I just like to show him appreciation and affection, but it seems to his family I don't cater to him enough. He doesn't complain and says he is glad that I am independent and that I am not a woman whose whole life revolves around her husband. But OH the family is hot under the collar when I don't bend to his every whim! It amazes me sometimes the looks and under breath comments that I hear from mom and sisters regarding my "lack of concern for him" by the way, I am still playing the dumb American so they are unaware how much Arabic I understand. When I talk to my husband about it later he is livid. But I had similar results with my late husband's mother, too. It seemed I could never quite do things up to her standard. Needless to say, we are counting the days until the end of Ramadan when we will go to Rabat to find an apartment.

For some reason I am having a far more difficult time with Ramadan here than I did in the states. Go figure. In the states, I rose before sunrise, had a light but nutritiously filling breakfast and went about my day. (ie. work) I never really thought much about it or became hungry until late afternoon, yet still I was okay. Finally after maghreb, I'd prepare a full meal for dinner and perhaps have a small dessert or fruit about 8 or 9 and tat was it. And I was perfectly okay with it.

But here, not only is my husband's family forcing me to stay up into the wee hours of the morning but to eat then as well. Not just a little snack, either, I'm talking fish, peas, bread, potatoes, dates, etc! When I am finally allowed to go to bed, I'm so stuffed I can't sleep! And the diarrhea has struck, too!

More than anything, I am worried about dehydration. When it is time to break the fast, I crave water so much that I really don't want food right away, but of course they won't let me have water unless I have eaten. It's enough to make one insane.

Thus far, I am still jobless. I did have an interview in Rabat a week ago, however, and I really do pray that it comes to fruition. As much as I love my in-laws, I know you ladies will understand when I say we REALLY need to live in our own home.

This, unfortunately, is also forming a bone of contention for us. I can't seem to get my husband to understand that there are some "conveniences" as he calls them are really "necessities" when it comes to finding a place of our own. Now, I'm no Miss Priss, mind you. I grew up a country girl in a really small town and I was a Girl Scout as well as an Army Reservist. I'm no stranger to roughing it. But do I want to "rough it" in my everyday lmife when I really don't have to? Heck no! I we can afford it, and it's available, I say "hook me up!" What's your take?

All in all, I am still SO glad I came. My teaching materials finally arrived so I have been home schooling my son for now. He has ben learning bits and pieces of Arabic and French from his friends. I guess if I don't get the job, I'll keep teaching at home while he learnes the language and perhaps he will be ready to enroll in school next spring or fall.

By the way, anyone have any ties/connections with schools in Rabat or Casa? I am a certified English, French and Reading teacher with ten years experience in the state of TX. I have been sending resume's and calling on my own (for nearly a year now, to be exact, even before I got here), but with no luck. I really do believe that without an introduction or recommendation, it's pretty much pointless.

Nevertheless, I pray that all is well for everyone. I will check back in in a coupe days.

It's also technically not illegal in this country so no one is violating any laws here. It is perfectly legal in the US for a man and a woman to live together and not have a marriage license. The only law that says we have to have a marriage license is the immigration law and that doesn't apply until after the non-USC's arrival in the US.

Personally, I don't like the idea of registering a marriage in western countries because it places restrictions on women that Allah did not place. An example of this would be that she must wait for at least a year to get her divorce. That's one year that she must remain unmarried with no husband to support or care for her. How is that any different from those men in the past suspending women in marriage... so they're neither married nor single? Not to mention that it is very expensive to get the courts to do anything for you regarding civil matters like this. The same services should be made available to everyone even if they don't have money to hire lawyers and such. Sadly though, and I speak from experience, if you don't have a lot of money, you are left in the cold with no rights.

Now I'm REALLY confused. Are we now following the laws of the land again? I'm pretty sure I read something to the effect that "as Muslims we are only to be governed by the laws of Allah" I know I'm no mathematical whiz, but something is not adding up.

It is always so amazing to me the types and levels of interaction that I observe when I come here. I have been in Morocco almost a month now, and though I do not get to read daily, it's almost like a telenovela. I may miss a few days, and the characters may change (or not) but I can always bet on the plot to be pretty near the same and I can pick up. But the sad part is, though so much of my life is diferent now (ie. my day to day activities, standard of living, etc) this forum is my only mainstay.

I must say that I am more happy now that I made the choice to join my husband here, for my life is SO much simpler and more peaceful. My family can't just pop by whenever they choose, I'm debt-free and yet want for nothing, so much of the stresses of my previous life in the US seem only a memory and I like it that way. But more than anything, I want (really need) the support and camaraderie that I once had here. I'm not sure if I ever pushed anyone's buttons here, I sincerely hope not. Like shon, just_waiting and others I really want the sharing, encouragement and "girl time" back.

How odd? This post is strangely quiet. I wonder why there isn't a barrage of responses. Makes you query what people really think of this guy and his actions.