alygirl92

@Josie333 and @Happytobe Thanks so much for your help and advice! Sometimes it's so hard to find an answer to a question I have it helps so much to have advice from someone who has experienced the same thing!

I looked through the guide four times and found no answer to the question... It doesn't mention any documentation needed from the spouse at all, is there anyone who has personal experience with the situation who can tell me what docs they included from their spouse. I know some people have sent birth certificates, some people say you need a police clearance, etc... Since we don't want it returned for being incomplete or held up because additional documents were requested it would put my mind at peace to know exactly what is needed.

Quick question regarding the paperwork: Does my husband need to get a police report/clearance in morocco and have it translated or is that something which isn't needed?

13 minutes ago, Happytobe said:

P.S. how many days did your marriage take? Ours was only about 10(?) days, and we, too, were told we didn't have enough time. I think the shortest I've seen in here was 9 days, the longest was 2 months 😮😳

 

(sorry for the off-topic question)

Ours was ten business days exactly. There was a holiday on Monday two weeks in a row so we couldn't do anything on Monday either week. I was so nervous but we worked at it really hard and had a lot of help from my father-in-law to get the papers. I think the longest thing was actually the police report. We had to drop off the envelope on Wednesday, come back for the interview on Thursday, and come back to get the report on Friday. By the time they released the report it was too late to do anything else but my husband ran the papers over to the judges office and left them there. Then Monday was a holiday so my husband went back to the judge on Tuesday (our wedding day) while I was preparing for the wedding and got the papers and took them to the Imam's, then first thing on Wednesday morning after our wedding we had to go back to the Imam's, back to the judge for something else, back to the Imam's and then it was finally time to sign the papers! I've never been so happy in my life! We still had a whole day after that before I had to leave at least, Mohammed's friend said his wife signed the papers in the morning before she flew out.

Also, thanks for the reassurance! I need to focus on one step at a time not get worried about the hamster wheel of things which will need to be dealt with later

I get where both of you are coming from, and we'll do our hardest to avoid that situation. Best case scenario I can do it on my own, otherwise maybe I can find a friend or relative who could help. My sister would do it for us but the company she was working at is closing down so she's going to be out of a job. We'll see where things stand when we get to that point, right now we're still waiting to file the paperwork.

3 minutes ago, Happytobe said:

For security, please remove his last name from your above post....

 

As for chats.... we sent a sampling of things, not just marriage speak.  Most of our communications were video (when it worked) but, I sent our first few days of conversations from Facebook, random ones throughout the years, the Skype logs showing how much and how long we spoke everyday... some people will say "everyday conversations about everyday things don't mean much," others will say "the lovey-dovey marriage conversations don't mean much," others will say "USCIS doesn't care about conversations," some will say "it's pertinent."  

 

The above poster made the statement about his USC relative, and it's very valid. If you can't show support on your own, try to find one of your friends or family that can help. 

 

Everybody's journey is different.  Having been on here for years.... I've seen Consulates ask for "everyday" conversations for one person, but the next didn't send much and was approved. Put yourself in an Immigration Officers shoes, take your feelings out, and remember that your trying to convince a complete stranger, who's looking for fraud, that you're legitimate. 

Sorry, I tried to edit the post but there's no edit button to click to do that. We'll probably send a variety of different conversations then. Our strategy is that we have no idea what they will want or be looking for so we're trying to send everything possible to start with to prevent a request for further information later.

Just now, RJandHamid said:

I would avoid using his relative as a sponsor if possible. You don't want to risk the consulate thinking that this is a situation in which a relative already residing in the US is trying to bring over other family members. Sure, it's technically an acceptable way of sponsorship as far as USCIS is concerned, but in my opinion it's a little risky.

Does it help that he's not a direct relative? Mohammed calls him his cousin but he's actually the son of Mohammed's great aunt. If I can find a better job I can do the sponsorship myself but otherwise it would be nice to have that as an option.

3 hours ago, Happytobe said:

Again, K-3's IF approved don't save much as far as time and cost more as far as money.  What we did (and I know the process has changed a little bit) is we side-loaded our documents at the NVC stage (meaning we sent more proof) and had front-loaded his petition with a lot of evidence, too.  I had another trip booked, we had more conversations.... I was there, in Morocco, for his interview, and was one of very few USC's that was called in to the Consulate to be interviewed, as well.  I'm not sure if it's possible, but if so, add more evidence at the NVC stage.  You said you're planning another trip while the petition is being processed, so that might be a viable option for you.  During the NVC stage, you might be able to stall submission of documents, too, if your next trip has not happened yet (at least, it was once possible).  It sounds like you have a mostly viable and realistic attitude and plan needed.  Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice! I am going to try my hardest to be there for the interview, I hope I get called in but even if I don't I can offer moral support to my husband before it happens Do you have any suggestions on what kind of things to use as evidence? We're planning to include my boarding passes to Morocco and the train tickets from our travel there, a copy of the affidavit I got from the consulate, lots of photos from my stay there with Mohammed and his family, lots of wedding photos, a sampling of emails and texts between us over the last two and a half years, especially any ones discussing our relationship/engagement/wedding, emails which I sent to some friends and colleagues talking about the wedding after I came home, wedding congratulation cards if we get any, e-cards which we sent to each other over the last two years, a letter which Mohammed sent to me with my engagement ring when we got engaged, the receipt and customs form from the post office (if I can find it - I'm kicking myself for not storing it somewhere safe now) for some gifts which I sent to Mohammed and his family last year and the receipt for some gifts which I'm planning to send to him soon, some emails and skype log between us since the wedding, a printout from my IRA retirement account listing my spouse Mohammed XXXXXX as my beneficiary. Is there anything that I'm forgetting that could be useful? And also, would there be any value in getting an affidavit from my sister about our marriage being "bona-fide"?

I am listening to what everyone says but it doesn't seem like it's an absolute certainty that we'll have trouble. Mohammed has talked to several people he knows who are Moroccan and they didn't have any trouble getting a visa to the USA. He has a good friend who married a woman from Kansas, the exact same situation that we have in that they only met once in person for the wedding and she never traveled back to Morocco after the wedding which I am planning to do whenever my work schedule allows, and they didn't have any trouble proving their relationship. The only hold-up with the visa was that he had trouble finding a sponsor and his wife didn't have a house to live in. Once they got a sponsor and his wife rented a house for them the visa was granted and he just moved to Kansas a few months ago. That shouldn't be an issue for us, Mohammed has a relative who is a US Citizen now who has already agreed to be his sponsor if he needs one and I'm going to rent somewhere to live once we get close to the interview stage. I understand that there could be issues along the way but we're trying to stay positive, hope everything goes smoothly, and deal with any problems if they arise instead of focusing on everything negative which could happen. Almost everyone told us that we couldn't get the marriage papers done in such a short amount of time there but we persevered together and accomplished that. We've already been down such a long, at times difficult, and improbable road together but we've gotten this far and whatever direction life leads us in next we will face it together as husband and wife just as we did in the past.

Just now, Boiler said:

Quickest option would be for you to move.

I told my husband that I will give the visa process a year and if we haven't made any progress by then I'm moving to Morocco. Right now I'm trying to stay in the usa so I can work and earn money for the whole process.

1 minute ago, EandH0904 said:

If you only went to Morocco one time and got married the first time, try to front load as much as possible. To be honest, they won't care about an illness in your family or any other reason why you did not have more in person time together. Casablanca is a difficult embassy. After we were denied a K1 (well it was returned to US, so not denied but not approved) we purposely have waited until we have more visits/face time to get married and file CR1 because of the issue with CR1s not getting approved with little face time together. The K1/CR1 group on Facebook out of Morocco has MANY in AP for 6 months - 1 year + after a CR1 interview where they got married the first time. We did not want to get the AP nightmare a second time. 

 

It doesnt matter if you have been talking for 2 years online or 12 years online - what matters the most it seems is the amount of time you are together. You may want to consider delaying your application for 4-6 months until you can visit him at least one more time. Either way, definitely front load as much as you can for one visit and try to be there for his interview. It is hard financially (and emotionally!) for all of us going through it, but delaying an application for 4-6 months until you have another visit is IMO MUCH better than waiting in AP if they don't believe the validity of your relationship. 

 

I know you were here asking about K3 and I don't have information to offer you on that, just to say that you need to be cautious and prepare well after getting married a first time. It's so difficult to have your wait prolonged because you were impatient from the beginning. 

Thanks for the advice! I don't think we can wait though, I'm going crazy waiting until we have the paperwork that we need to file. Hopefully I can get in a few more visits to Morocco between the time of our filing and the interview date at the consulate so we can have some more proof to bring to the consulate for the interview.

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You see a handful a year and the time difference anyway is minimal.

 

You spent the last 2 years or so in Morocco?

No, I've been in the USA the whole time. This month was my first trip to Morocco. When I said together I meant we were in a relationship not that we were living together.

Hello as you probably know my husband and I are collecting the documentation needed to apply for a CR-1 visa. We have been together for two and a half years already although due to an illness in my family I was only able to travel to Morocco and get married there this month. We are understandably more than ready to start our life together as soon as possible. My question is, has anyone had any success with the K-3 visa in recent years and does anyone think it's a viable option for getting him here more quickly? I know a lot of people say it's obsolete but I'm exploring all options for the fasted route forward possible.

Thanks! Would things like emails and text messages from the past two years plus pictures of our wedding and pictures of us together be good?

Hello again! I just returned from Morocco where my husband and I got married. We're eager to start filing for his spouse visa now that we've completed the marriage process so we can be together as soon as possible. What we're looking for is any kind of advice on paperwork or other things which we need to include while we're filing, tips to help us have the best chance of being accepted, any advice on ways to expedite the process, any help you can offer at all would be wonderful.

Thanks!

Thanks! That did reassure me a lot! Neither me or my fiance have any experience with this kind of thing so this is a little overwhelming for both of us. I have never been married but I am getting a certified letter of no marriage to prove that.

Thanks for the help! I have an appointment for notarial services booked for Tuesday morning, the day after my flight comes in. I just want to confirm that I should be able to get the Affidavit of Nationality at my notarial appointment? I'm sorry to keep asking, I just have this phobia that they're going to refuse to give me the affidavit during my notarial meeting and it will be too late to make another appointment lol Thanks again

I just need an appointment to get a Affidavit of Nationality and Eligibility to Marry and a notarized copy of my passport. I have been to the us embassy website many times but they don't really explain whether I just need one appointment to get both documents or whether I need separate appointments and whether they need an appointment for my fiance as well to get the marriage document. The site offers two options, passport and us citizen services or notarial services. Do I need an appointment for both or just one of those services? And do I need to list my fiance as a non applicant accompanying me to the appointment? Thanks!

Hello everyone! I'm going to be flying into Casablanca on Aug. 7th next month to spend time with my fiance and prepare the paperwork for our wedding. I would like to get an appointment at the Consul in Casa for as soon after my arrival as possible to obtain the necessary paperwork. I have two questions about the appointment....

1. My flight is due to arrive at about 2:30 PM Casa time. Is this cutting it too close to try for an appointment for the same day? If necessary we can stay overnight with some of my fiance's relatives in Sale and come back to Casa the next day. I don't know how close the Consul is the the airport, how likely the flight is to arrive on time, or how long it will take to get through customs, navigate the traffic, etc... so if anyone has any experience with this it'd be a huge help!

2. What kind of appointment do I need exactly? I know I can do it online but if someone could provide me with a link or detailed instructions for booking the appointment I would appreciate it. Also, do I only need an appointment for myself, do I need to book a separate appointment for each of us, or will we go into one appointment together? I can't seem to find any definitive answer for that online so if anyone has been through the process and know for sure let me know!

Thanks!

Thanks! My head is spinning reading through all the requirements! It's such a long and confusing sounding process...

Hello I will be traveling to Morocco this summer/fall to marry my fiance. The problem is that my fiance is having trouble getting any time off from his job. He lives in Sidi Slimane and he said we will need to go to Rabat or Casablanca to get the papers for our marriage. A friend of his told him it will take 2 weeks to get the papers and we'll have to stay in Rabat or Casablanca until we get them.

My questions are:

1. Is it true that we'll need to stay in Rabat for two weeks to get the marriage papers or is it possible we could just go there and file the paperwork, return to Sidi Slimane, and come back later to collect the papers?

2. Is there any way to speed up the process so we wouldn't have to remain there for two weeks?

Because his boss won't give him any time off work it's going to be really hard for us to move to Rabat or Casablanca for two whole weeks.

Thanks everyone! I will let him know about the different options! You are all a huge help!

Hi, everyone! I just had a small question about how to send something from Morocco to the USA. My boyfriend bought me a piece of jewelry as a gift for my birthday but when he took it to the post office to mail it to me the postal worker said they can't ship valuable items, e.g. jewelry made with precious metals, gemstones, etc... I was wondering if there is any way that he can ship the gift via post office (or Amana - I'm not sure what that is, some other kind of postal service?) or if there is any other international shipping service he can send it by to get it here to the USA?

Thanks! And have a great day everyone!

Thanks for the info! It's a lot of help!

We're still looking into different options so we haven't really made any final choices about anything. Just taking things one day at a time mostly!