berber_wife

slangofoil, I looked at your profile and we did study abroad in Cork at the same time! Where did you live? I lived in the apartments opposite St. Fin Barre's. Did you do Early Start? I think I was in the "Northern Ireland" course. Don't really remember though. I was more concerned with traveling (and drinking!) than studying. Still keep in touch with the professor though. I guess he forgave me for being a bad student since I was a good drinking partner.
What was your local drink - Murphy's or Beamish? I was partial to Murphy's.
I was back in 2006 and 2011 but haven't been back since. I miss it. I need to take my husband and show him my old stomping grounds. He's never been to Ireland.
And was the nightclub in question An Brog by any chance? That was where all my drunken make-out sessions happened. None led to true love (obviously) but good times were had by all.
OK, I'll shut up about Cork now.
As to how I met my husband, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland. After my two years of service were up, I decided to take my readjustment allowance (which was supposed to be used for responsible adult things like down payment on a car or first few months rent of a new apartment) and blow it on a six-month trip around Africa and Europe. When I was in Marrakech, I was approached by a tour guide. I was on a tight schedule so I declined. He invited me to get a drink. He had such a nice smile, I agreed. We talked about our mutual love of travel, of Europe (where he had been), of the US (where he had a visa to but hadn't been) and of Moroccan food. I had hated the Southern African food (no flavor) so I was in heaven in Morocco. He offered to teach me to cook tagine. We hung out that weekend (and did cook tagine) but I wanted to go to the seashore. I had just spent two years in a landlocked country and was dying to see the ocean again. So off I went but he called me a few days later and said he was dropping off some tourists there and if he could see me again. We ended up spending a few days then too. Then I went off to Europe and figured it had been a fun time but I'd never see him again.
We kept in touch through FB and skype and he had been planning to visit some friends in Europe in December. I was still in Europe then so we planned to meet up again. That led to us spending a few weeks traveling in Germany and Poland and we liked each other so much that we decided to try the long-distance thing. I was able to squeeze in a trip back to Morocco to meet his family and see his hometown before heading back to the US.
Later that year, he visited on his tourist visa. He was able to stay quite a while and met most of my family and friends. At that point we started talking marriage seriously but I had commitment issues. We had only been together for a little over a year and I had always believed that you should date for some years before marriage. I also didn't have a good enough job to sponsor him yet. So we started talking about me moving to Morocco instead.
But before we could make any plans, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (even though I was only 28)! He hopped the first plane he could to the US. I could go on for pages about how he proved to be the most supportive partner I could hope for in a crisis. At first we were going to get married and do a CR-1 visa, with him staying with me for treatment then waiting out the visa back in Morocco. At the time I had no idea how long and taxing treatment would be. I thought it would be a few months and it's now been a year and I'm not done until July. Then (can you believe this) my mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
So we decided to pursue adjustment of status. We were married in March in a small but lovely backyard wedding and reception. We filed in June and everything went perfectly. He received his green card in early November. My mom and I are both doing well and my husband and I are all the stronger because of this ordeal.

slangofoil, I looked at your profile and we did study abroad in Cork at the same time! Where did you live? I lived in the apartments opposite St. Fin Barre's. Did you do Early Start? I think I was in the "Northern Ireland" course. Don't really remember though. I was more concerned with traveling (and drinking!) than studying. Still keep in touch with the professor though. I guess he forgave me for being a bad student since I was a good drinking partner.
What was your local drink - Murphy's or Beamish? I was partial to Murphy's.
I was back in 2006 and 2011 but haven't been back since. I miss it. I need to take my husband and show him my old stomping grounds. He's never been to Ireland.
And was the nightclub in question An Brog by any chance? That was where all my drunken make-out sessions happened. None led to true love (obviously) but good times were had by all.
OK, I'll shut up about Cork now.
As to how I met my husband, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland. After my two years of service were up, I decided to take my readjustment allowance (which was supposed to be used for responsible adult things like down payment on a car or first few months rent of a new apartment) and blow it on a six-month trip around Africa and Europe. When I was in Marrakech, I was approached by a tour guide. I was on a tight schedule so I declined. He invited me to get a drink. He had such a nice smile, I agreed. We talked about our mutual love of travel, of Europe (where he had been), of the US (where he had a visa to but hadn't been) and of Moroccan food. I had hated the Southern African food (no flavor) so I was in heaven in Morocco. He offered to teach me to cook tagine. We hung out that weekend (and did cook tagine) but I wanted to go to the seashore. I had just spent two years in a landlocked country and was dying to see the ocean again. So off I went but he called me a few days later and said he was dropping off some tourists there and if he could see me again. We ended up spending a few days then too. Then I went off to Europe and figured it had been a fun time but I'd never see him again.
We kept in touch through FB and skype and he had been planning to visit some friends in Europe in December. I was still in Europe then so we planned to meet up again. That led to us spending a few weeks traveling in Germany and Poland and we liked each other so much that we decided to try the long-distance thing. I was able to squeeze in a trip back to Morocco to meet his family and see his hometown before heading back to the US.
Later that year, he visited on his tourist visa. He was able to stay quite a while and met most of my family and friends. At that point we started talking marriage seriously but I had commitment issues. We had only been together for a little over a year and I had always believed that you should date for some years before marriage. I also didn't have a good enough job to sponsor him yet. So we started talking about me moving to Morocco instead.
But before we could make any plans, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (even though I was only 28)! He hopped the first plane he could to the US. I could go on for pages about how he proved to be the most supportive partner I could hope for in a crisis. At first we were going to get married and do a CR-1 visa, with him staying with me for treatment then waiting out the visa back in Morocco. At the time I had no idea how long and taxing treatment would be. I thought it would be a few months and it's now been a year and I'm not done until July. Then (can you believe this) my mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
So we decided to pursue adjustment of status. We were married in March in a small but lovely backyard wedding and reception. We filed in June and everything went perfectly. He received his green card in early November. My mom and I are both doing well and my husband and I are all the stronger because of this ordeal.

First off, mimo, the house is beautiful! I love the huge porch.
Well, where I left off on my cancer battle was Younes arriving in the US on his B visa to support me. I was originally against getting married and doing AOS - thought we'd do a CR-1 instead - but things changed. First off, I found out that my treatment schedule would put my surgery right when his allotted stay was ending. Then, three week after mine was diagnosed, my mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a big shock as we hadn't had much prior family history. Anyway, as we wanted my mom to be able to fully concentrate on her own recovery and not have to worry about looking after me, we decided that he would stay and we would do AOS.
We were married in March in a small ceremony on the beach and had a reception at my parent's house (we have been living with them since my diagnosis, me having moved from NYC where I was living before). A lot of my family few in and we had a few friends and family friends attend. We hope to host a big reception in Morocco after my health situation is better so we can celebrate with his family too.
AOS ended up going really quickly...filed in June, interview last week, green card in hand as of two days ago! With all that's happened this year it was a relief to have something go right!
My treatments have gone well. I had five months of chemo before surgery to shrink the cancer. That made a lumpectomy possible but I still opted for a mastectomy as I didn't want to take any chances. The chemo killed most of the cancer but not all of it so I also had six weeks of radiation. Now I am continuing to take a drug that targets my type of cancer called targeted therapy. I am in a clinical trial so I will take it every three weeks until July. It's an infusion but not really harsh like chemo. My cancer is also driven by estrogen so I will begin shots to temporarily shut down my ovaries and a pill to help further starve my body of estrogen. I haven't had reconstruction yet but plan to do it after all my treatment is complete.
My mom is doing well too. Her cancer was caught early by a routine mammogram so she had a lumpectomy, radiation and is now taking hormone medication.
Younes and I are planning to move back to NYC after the new year. I can pick up working part time for my old company and we think there will be companies there where Younes' vast language skills would be needed. Through all of this he has been my rock and my greatest support. This whole miserable situation has really solidified our relationship and that's the one good thing that has come out of it.

First off, mimo, the house is beautiful! I love the huge porch.
Well, where I left off on my cancer battle was Younes arriving in the US on his B visa to support me. I was originally against getting married and doing AOS - thought we'd do a CR-1 instead - but things changed. First off, I found out that my treatment schedule would put my surgery right when his allotted stay was ending. Then, three week after mine was diagnosed, my mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a big shock as we hadn't had much prior family history. Anyway, as we wanted my mom to be able to fully concentrate on her own recovery and not have to worry about looking after me, we decided that he would stay and we would do AOS.
We were married in March in a small ceremony on the beach and had a reception at my parent's house (we have been living with them since my diagnosis, me having moved from NYC where I was living before). A lot of my family few in and we had a few friends and family friends attend. We hope to host a big reception in Morocco after my health situation is better so we can celebrate with his family too.
AOS ended up going really quickly...filed in June, interview last week, green card in hand as of two days ago! With all that's happened this year it was a relief to have something go right!
My treatments have gone well. I had five months of chemo before surgery to shrink the cancer. That made a lumpectomy possible but I still opted for a mastectomy as I didn't want to take any chances. The chemo killed most of the cancer but not all of it so I also had six weeks of radiation. Now I am continuing to take a drug that targets my type of cancer called targeted therapy. I am in a clinical trial so I will take it every three weeks until July. It's an infusion but not really harsh like chemo. My cancer is also driven by estrogen so I will begin shots to temporarily shut down my ovaries and a pill to help further starve my body of estrogen. I haven't had reconstruction yet but plan to do it after all my treatment is complete.
My mom is doing well too. Her cancer was caught early by a routine mammogram so she had a lumpectomy, radiation and is now taking hormone medication.
Younes and I are planning to move back to NYC after the new year. I can pick up working part time for my old company and we think there will be companies there where Younes' vast language skills would be needed. Through all of this he has been my rock and my greatest support. This whole miserable situation has really solidified our relationship and that's the one good thing that has come out of it.

Ramadan kareem. My husband arrived exactly one month ago today and we're working out all the adjustments for his first Ramadan away from his Egyptian family. So far, we're actually enjoying it a lot even though I'm not Muslim.

Ramadan Mubarak!
For all the Muslims that are observing Ramadan for the first or second time here in America, how does it compare to observing it in your home country? Better, worse, the same?
May Allah accept your fasting and have mercy on us all. AMINE

السلام عليكم
ورمضان كريم على الجميع
إن شاء الله

Happy Ramadan

Great!!!! Like me my husband just got here on June 23 it's his first Ramadan here,I wish u the best in your chemo and surgery,never give up,have faith,I'm a cancer survivor tha happened 10 years ago and I'm alive I didn't need surgery,no chemo,just a touch of god ,so if u believe u will see the
God's glory

Happy Ramadan to you too and good luck with your surgery ,,,.

My husband has adjusted nicely to the US, but Ramadan has been much different for him. We have a mosque about 25 minutes from our house, and we try to make it there every Friday. I was in Egypt for Ramadan last year, and I can tell it is very different from being in the US. Here, my husband doesn't hear the call to prayer coming through the loudspeakers, and we just use our cell phones to help us determine when to have Iftar. I am not Muslim, but I am fasting with my husband. The hours here are longer than they are in Egypt, but the time difference has not been that big of a deal. He keeps mentioning that it will be very different when Ramadan is over and the three day feast occurs. I'd like to find a group of people who will be celebrating the feast, but I don't really know where to go for that.
This is the first time in his life that he has been out of Egypt's borders for Ramadan, and I imagine he has a bit of longing to share with his friends and family of like faith. I can understand his unstated longing. Last year, when I was in Egypt, it was amazing to go to the mall and watch everyone get their food at the food court just as the fasting was concluded. It brought a sense of unity, and I loved that feeling. I wish there was that same experience for him here.

This is my first Ramadan with Younes. I will not be fasting since I just finished chemo and have major surgery coming up so I need to keep up my strength. But I am still excited to share this occasion with him.

This is my first Ramadan with Younes. I will not be fasting since I just finished chemo and have major surgery coming up so I need to keep up my strength. But I am still excited to share this occasion with him.

Since taxes are filed jointly, you cannot show separate income. You have to put the income that is on the IRS tax transcripts. Whoever makes the higher income fills the I-864 and the other one I-864A. You will need 3 years of IRS transcripts and documents showing current income.
No proof required for same household...joint sponsors can be anybody, no need to prove relationship.

I have seen a few AOS's from Morocco. Because your husband was able to get a tourist visa in the first place, he has passed a certain gauntlet regarding fraud, if that makes sense. He proved at one point that he had a good enough life at home and reasons to return that he could be issued a tourist visa. Therefore he showed that he was not just doing whatever it takes to get to the US, and that he was not a criminal or otherwise inadmissible to the US.
Without knowing more, I can't know if a lawyer is a good idea or not, but I don't think just being from Morocco warrants a lawyer. If you were to fail your first interview, then I suppose you could get a lawyer at that point. Good luck.
Edit: And despite what this board thinks, AOSing based on marriage to a USC is far from the main reason for tourist visa denial back home. This is a marriage-based board, so people see it and it gets them mad, but the real culprit is just mass amounts of people plain overstaying and living/working illegally in the US.

Ah understood. Thank you Harpa. I have read a ton of your posts over the past few days and I just want to say I really appreciate the time you take helping everyone out!

Thanks goodpoint, good luck to you.

I would AOS as you need the support of him right now... I don't see any issues. Besides, the burden of proof is on the government to prove you entered with the intent to immigrate and AOS cannot be denied solely because of intent. Given your situation I don't foresee an issues.. Good luck and get well.

This is correct.
The question is what would change in your circumstances that would cause you to need to change the plans on entry? Both an illness and a new job sound like good reasons.

I was under the impression that you could AoS from a B Visa for any reason as long as you didnt enter the country with the INTENT to stay? Is that not accurate? I am selfishly asking because I am filing a AoS from a B2 for my wife who came to the US with me on vacation but we are simply staying because we got surprised with a great job offer. Are they going to send her out of the country to file forms (our worst nightmare)?

Very sorry to hear about your situation. I don't see a problem with AOS'ing. I think Harpa is more knowledgeable than I am but I would bet you fall into some type of hardship category. I don't think he entered the US with intent to immigrate so you should be OK.

You can AOS. Best of luck to you.

I do sympathize with you because long-distance is REALLY HARD, especially when you don't see an ending. Younes and I struggled in our relationship last fall - nothing to do with unfaithfulness but there were jealousy issues and we both wondered if we were making the right decision in being together, if our different backgrounds were just too much. As it turned out, my diagnosis centered us and made us realize that our relationship was worth sticking with and now we are married. It would've been nice to come to that conclusion in a less...potentially life-threatening way, though.
You are only human and your mistakes are understandable. It sounds you have found peace in the outcome, even though I'm sure it's very painful and I wish you nothing but the best for the future.

Recent events in my life have made me realize that sometimes you have to trade in caution for happiness. I wish you two a long and happy life together!

Well yeah, I certainly agree with that, especially your last sentence. Which is why I always encourage people to take things slow and really get to know their partner. But I feel like sometimes there's an implication from the veterans that being in a MENA relationship is so inherently risky that there is nothing you can do to negate the risk. That the taking it slow, getting to know him, spending lots of time together, talking about expectations mean nothing because after all, MENA men are the best actors EVAH and can go on scamming for years and years without showing a single sign that he's anything but the world's most perfect partner. Or he'll become a completely different person once he gets over here/becomes a father/turns 40/whatever and he'll no longer bear any resemblance to the man you actually married.
I don't think that's what's happening in this thread, FTR. I've found this thread INCREDIBLY helpful, despite the random spurts of bickering. But if you're already proceeding with caution, keeping your eyes open, being smart about it...eventually you do have to let go of some of your fears and the words of the naysayers, or risk losing a good relationship.

Three pieces of good news--Younes made it with no problems and can stay until July. We are NOT going to AOS because I made a promise to God that if he could be with me, we would not abuse his visa. We're leaning towards getting married within the next few months and then filing CR-1. Hopefully by the time he has to go back to Morocco I will have gotten through the worst of treatment and be well on my way to recovery.
The other good news is my scans showed not evidence of metastasis. The doctors were quite confident there would not be, but it's a relief to hear. Also, my cancer is receptive to hormone therapy--including a just approved new drug my oncologist seems jazzed about.
The bad news is that it has spread to my lymph nodes. This is a very aggressive cancer and it's scary to think that it's progressed so far when I just found the lump a little over two months ago.
I just had genetic counseling today. With my unusually young age, it's recommended that I get tested for the BRCA gene (the gene Angelina Jolie has). My family history doesn't point to me having it, but there's some questions--like prostate cancer occurring in middle age. If I have the gene, it increases my risk of a second breast cancer and ovarian cancer by huge numbers so that's scary.
Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers.