New Beginnings

Bank accounts can be closed after a certain amount of time being overdrawn. This could and probably will affect your credit score since it was reported to a debt collector. Get the info for the collector and transfer them the money.

Temptations are all around us, whether it's Ramadan or Lent there's always something there trying to pull us off course. I don't think the answer to faith is to create laws trying to prevent these temptations. I would argue at that point that it is not faith holding you back that it is in fact fear of the earthly consequences.

I think faith is having those temptations all around you and remembering why you are doing what you're doing. I think that is when it is truly in your heart.

First I can say at one point I struggled financially and needed to go to the government for help, and I never had to work for what I was given. I know if a person is not presently working they must actively seek work in order to receive any benefits. And if they do make you vonlunteer at a church or something what is wrong with helping others, they are not forcing you to attend church or believe in their doctrine.

As for the Mosque at ground zero, I have heard a lot about that, but honestly I have heard more people supporting it rather than objecting it. Majority of people feel this is America and freedom of religion, and are well aware that Muslims died on that day as well, and the ones who don't understand that are just ignorant.

I am an American Muslim convert and I do support the seperation of religion and state. I'm not Muslim bashing, and as I stated before if a person chooses to fast it should be out of obedience and love for Allah, and if they have a problem seeing someone else eating when they choose not too, then IMO they are not fasting for the right reasons. The argument of "poor me," and "what about me," can be said from both sides. Poor me I can't eat in public because of the law, and poor me I'm fasting and seen someone eating and its not fair. One thing I was taught when I was a Christian, is that when we choose to fast we should not inform everyone we know we are fasting (unless they ask, then you can tell them), or let others know you are suffering because you can't eat. Fasting along with prayer, and others things we do is to bring us closer to Allah, and we should not complain about the hardship we endure during the process, but rather be glad that our actions and obedience is pleasing to Allah, and know that it is much more pleasing to him if we do it with a clean heart and not self pity.

I agree with what you're saying. If fasting is mandated by law it no longer becomes something that you choose to do and once it is not something that is found in your heart then it really is no longer serving the purpose it was intended to serve. I get that if the majority is fasting that it would be the courteous thing to do and not eat in front of them... I don't eat in front of my husband when he's fasting. But this leads me to question several things, is it not haram to smoke and drink? What about those Muslims that smoke and drink in public? Should they receive jail time for that?

If I'm correct here the meaning of Islam is submission. You can't really force submission... it's something that is in your heart or isn't in your heart. I don't think these people are Muslim haters. When you're fasting you really shouldn't be concerned with what anyone else is doing, again that takes away from the whole point of fasting. It is about you and doing this because GOD commanded it. I would hate to be the judge of someone else's religion. By that I mean, I would never want to be responsible for enforcing this law, the fact is that GOD is the only one who can enforce religious laws and that is something we should be thankful for. What a huge task that would be. I'm thankful that I don't ever need to concern myself with whether someone is practicing religion they way that they *should* be.

Ok, so you shouldn't file single because you are in fact married. You will need to get him an ITIN whether you file jointly or separately. No way around it. You won't get approved for an SSN until you get the visa approval... you will need to prove your taxes have been paid and filed prior to that happening. Get started on it now, it will delay the process but it's necessary to do this.

It does need to be notarized from a US Consulate. Have your husband take his passport there and make a copy and get it notarized, I believe it's a $30 fee or close to that.

Being an American muslim, I find this topic very interesting.

I also didn't realize that it is aganst the law in Morocco to break fast in public during Ramadan, I'm kind of shocked about that. So anyone not able to fast for medical reasons, such as anyone who has to take medication, who is diabetic, or women who may be pregnant, or menstrating would be punished by law? What if you're of the minority in Morocco who isn't Muslim? I find this law particularly harsh. I certainly do not compare this to laws around alcohol consumption in the Unites States. Food and drink are sustinance our bodies need to survive, alcohol obviously is not, so that is not a fair comparison IMHO.

I have a friend who grew up in Indonesia, he is not Muslim. However, he did say that while growing up they tried to wait to go out to eat during Ramadan until after maghrib prayers because they received bad treatment by other citizens who were Muslim, he said they didn't like the fact that they had to serve others food when they weren't allowed to partake. I was shocked to hear that as well. Even though fasting is an obligation, I firmly believe that what is in my heart and my true intention is of great importance.

~kiyah~

I haven't had much time to think about this, but I have heard about this. I do know that if you are not Muslim you are not held to this law. So for me, being a Lutheran, if I were to be eating or drinking in public I would have no consequences. This law is directed only towards Muslims.

My husband also brought the 3 years of tax returns but didn't bring any bank statements

Minneapolis, MN!

Oh for crying out loud. Yes there are dumbasses in MENA, yes there are dumbasses everywhere else in the world.

Hanging In There: Yes there are issues in MENA countries, yes there are issues with SOME men from MENA countries. But the same can be said about EVERYWHERE else. I've personally seen several American men who are controlling and abusive towards their wives and who see that abuse as something that they are entitled to do. I've seen WIVES who are controlling and abusive with their husbands because they aren't doing everything their wife wants them to do.

It's so frustrating to sit here and see the back and forth on "well maybe in your circle you see this, but in my circle I see this". What that should tell you is that clearly everyone has different experiences which should then tell you that it happens everywhere.

And I have to say, if there is a man and woman who are divorced and the man tries to take their child out of America without permission that would definitely not be ok. It wouldn't even be ok if they were married. It's not a MENA only law that prohibits parents from taking children without permission. I know a couple who was divorced with 3 kids, the man and woman lived in different states and the kids were being abused by their mom. He heard about it and went and picked the kids up and was taking them to his house so they could be safe. He just crossed state lines and was put in jail for almost a year for kidnapping his own kids from their abusive mother.

Wow... I wonder what conclusion I should draw from that story... Let me think... In my cirlce I've only heard of that happening from 1 person and he was American and so was his ex-wife... I guess I should say that the rate of women who abuse their kids is higher in America and I should also believe that the American government isn't protecting children. Or should I believe that this instance is sadly only one of hundreds or thousands that occur every minute around the entire world?

Yes, background checks take time.

Yeah, I have to say the "shouldn't she comply with my demands" part made my skin crawl. I don't know you from Adam but you might want to figure out some things about yourself. Any guy that believes that his fiance or wife should comply with his demands makes me a little nervous.

Your marrying a person not training a dog. Time to take a step back.

@Carol and Bruno: that was the general plan back when I opened this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/252648-federal-poverty-guidelines/. However, it was seriously advised against as putting three times her annual income into her account would raise a red flag with USCIS. Even if that assertion would be wrong, it would be pointless to move the money into her account now as the money needs be "seasoned", i.e. it needs to have been in the same account for at least 6 months before it can be used towards the I-134. In that regard the long delay towards NOA2 is a blessing as the money did not get into my U.S. bank account until March. Given that everyone says to stick with the K-1 we should probably do just that. We will investigate the CR-1 option though. Someone here pointed out that we should be able to use my personal assets towards the K-1, given that it is all in the U.S. (I've owned the house for 3 years now). It's unfortunate that this is such a grey area. It would make sense, to me at least, to allow the petitioner and the beneficiary to prove that their combined income would ensure that neither of them are at risk of becoming a burden to the State. Bureaucracy should not stand in the way of the heart.

Yes it should when taxpayers could wind up having to pay for your heart. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I don't think it's a good idea when someone can barely support themselves to then bring another person who will be dependent on their income for at least a few months. I hope everyone here who needs a co-sponsor is able to find one willing to help out. But I don't want my tax dollars to become the co-sponsor for people who weren't financially able to support themselves.

It's no different than what is happening here. Many people meet on online dating websites or even by networking on facebook or what have you. Not sure why this is "story worthy". The internet has become more accessible to people and therefore these channels have opened up to them.

Sounds pretty standard to me.

My understanding is that it can be a bit complicated for foreigners to start businesses there but if you have your husband who is still a citizen lead the campaign it might go a little easier for you. There is a lot to take into consideration so I would suggest first looking into what the US requirements will be such as the tax implications.

I've seen a few books at the library on starting a business in a foreign country so you might want to do a quick search for some of those.

The question is, if you can barely support yourself right now, how do you expect to be able to support someone else?

Sorry to hear about this Amy, but I'm glad that he's doing better!

Keep me posted!

no, the people that were taking care of these children behaved irresponsibly, thought they could flout the law just because they wanted to, and now these children get to suffer FURTHER because of their own bloody arrogance. it seems extremely hypocritical to come into someone else's country and thumb your nose at their laws, regardless of whether you think those laws are just or not when said actions cause the very people they are purporting to want to help further upheaval in their already miserable lives. typically in the past, it's taken a lot of effort to get yr ####### thrown out of the country for this offense.

and don't let it go unsaid just how much those thrown out stand to benefit from this incident. notoriously, incidents like this generate sizable upticks in donations. it can be a big moneymaker. some of these groups really thrive on this kind of thing, getting everyone back home in their churches frothing at the mouth over perceived persecutions under every rock.

I agree. These people were aware of the laws and decided not to follow them. If people did that in America we would throw them out too.

I emailed the consulate in Casablanca and this is what they replied:

Dear Madam,

All official Moroccan documents need to be translated by a sworn translator.

Regards,

IV Unit

On our paperwork from the NVC about what to bring to the interview it stated that all documents need to either be in english or the native language of the country.

That's not the correct answer. The information needs to be either in english or the native language of the country. So if it's in arabic it's ok.

You'll need to do an address change at the POE for your husband and you will also need to do an address change for your I864. I know you're father was the co-sponsor but I believe you'll still need to do one as well.

hello everyone

my question is for anyone who had to do a second interview. does it help your case if the petitioner is present at the second interview? I am debating the pros and cons of this.

thanks

It would never hurt your case for them to be present. I would say if the first interview was a little rocky and there may have been some problems you would definitely want them to be there.

What about letters, affidavits, pics of her with your family?

I would contact the moroccan embassy in New York for assistance with your rights as a parent. You may not be able to take your child with you but you certainly do have rights as the father of the child. Contact them, they might be able to help you.

Iberia has some good prices too. I have flown with them every time I've been to Morocco

To me viewing porn is just as bad as cheating..... If a husband truly loves you he doesn't have the need to look at others not even if the wife is out of the country.

To Op. Truly sorry for your situation. Follow your heart and find out if you can forgive him, if so, then you really do need to talk to him because I assume you don't want this to happen again. If you can't forgive him, well.... you know what comes next.

Good luck to you and let your heart speak for you.

100% agree. Neither is normal and neither is ok.

Ok, I know this is completely ridiculous but I feel like I need to ask the question anyway. My husband and I are travelling back to Morocco in May and we have a quick layover (4 hours on the way there and 2 hours on the way back) in Madrid. Do we need to do anything special for him? He has had his greencard since like July and he has a Moroccan passport.

Thanks everyone!