JayandZou

"advanced letter"? That's a new one.

Did you think that maybe this letter might make it harder to process?

You basically questioning their ability to be fair. Before they actually do anything.

I think the letter simply states that the Congressman's office is interested in this case and will want a review? It's not going to say anything about treating him fairly. But I don't know so that's why I'm asking if anyone had done this before.

I certainly don't want to bring "negative attention" to our case. I talked with a friend who used to work in the Embassy in Denmark in the early 1990s. He said when they got a letter from a congressman, they had to respond in 24 hours and give a full explanation about their decision. He is the one that suggested maybe doing an advanced letter so they are ready to give an explanation if they refuse.

Please let me know if anyone has done this... Thanks!

Hi All,

My fiance has his interview in a few weeks. I decided to call my Congressman's office to have them send an "advanced letter" to the Consulate. I guess it says that they are following our case.

Lately, I've heard bad stories coming out of Casablanca with the officers being very rude. I'm hoping this letter will put a little pressure on the officers to treat my fiance fairly and properly.

Has anyone done this before? I want to make sure it's a good idea before I send off this request to my local Congressman.

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Well that changes things. Like I said ours was stamped in 2006 I wasn't aware that the rules had changed. That's too bad that they have...now not only does it take forever to actually get the green card processed your SO will have to sit here for that full year. Sorta makes me wonder why they have a K1 visa at all?

people who enter on a k-1 visa, and then marry. then you adjust status (and file for EAD and AP). people frequently get EAD and AP with in 2 months. the conditional green card takes a but longer (though usually less than a year. maybe 6 months?) but you are authorized to work once you get the EAD.

Thanks for all the clarifications.

Well the stamp given specifically says "TEMPORARY EAD" (at least that's what my husbands says from 2006) sooo....... I get what you're saying but if it blantantly says temporary ead then one would think that's what it is....

Hi All,

Thanks for your comments but it still feels confusing. I wonder if the Consulate in Casablanca would know anything about them. They seem to respond my emails fairly promptly.

Do you know there is an government agency to email or call about this?

Thanks,

Jayme

Hi All,

I noticed that some fiance's seem to get their EAD (temp work permit) when they fly through JFK. What is the procedure for my Moroccan fiance getting this EAD there? Does he need to be working in a specific industry or need any papers for this? I would love him to get it so he can work when he gets here. I live in Los Angeles but maybe I can route him through JFK before flying on to CA.

Please let me know what he needs to do to get this. He has his interview in a few weeks but I'm just trying to think ahead and positively.

Thanks!

MY NAME: Jayme

Where you're from: Los Angeles, CA

SO's name: Zouhir

Where he's from in Morocco: Casablanca/Sidi Kacem

How long he's been here: Never been yet. He has his K1 Visa Interview in Casa on May 13th!

Anything else to add: Met Zouhir randomly at a beautiful hotel in Tangier. He was working there.

Have you been to Morocco? I've been to Morocco 5x since January 2008 and going for my 6th time in 2 weeks to help Zouhir prepare for his interview. His family is wonderful. We've traveled all over from Tetuoan, Tangier, Ifrane, Fez, Casa, El Jadida, Rabat, Marrakech, Oreika, Agadir & Taghazout. I'm learning chwiya Arabia from him and want to take French so I can speak with his family. He speaks English well and we both speak Spanish. I pray he gets his Visa and will be walking on the Santa Monica beach with me sometime in June. Nice to meet all of you!

Hey Jayme we just spent a few days in your area right before the heat wave hit, of course it has followed us over here too

Hey Samira - Yes it was very warm here but I loved it! I'm in Santa Monica by the beach so we get a nice breeze and usually 10 degrees cooler than downtown LA or the Valley.

Also, for cheaper flights to Morocco. I usually fly to Madrid and there are good tickets on American Airlines and Iberia. Then I buy a separate ticket on www.easyjet.com and they have cheap flights from Madrid to all cities in Morocco. I have a round trip ticket from Madrid to Casa in a couple weeks for like $125. So if you can get a flight to Madrid for $600, the ticket will be much cheaper than $1500.

Also, go to www.bookingbuddy.com to see all the different options. www.vayama.com is also good.

MY NAME: Jayme

Where you're from: Los Angeles, CA

SO's name: Zouhir

Where he's from in Morocco: Casablanca/Sidi Kacem

How long he's been here: Never been yet. He has his K1 Visa Interview in Casa on May 13th!

Anything else to add: Met Zouhir randomly at a beautiful hotel in Tangier. He was working there.

Have you been to Morocco? I've been to Morocco 5x since January 2008 and going for my 6th time in 2 weeks to help Zouhir prepare for his interview. His family is wonderful. We've traveled all over from Tetuoan, Tangier, Ifrane, Fez, Casa, El Jadida, Rabat, Marrakech, Oreika, Agadir & Taghazout. I'm learning chwiya Arabia from him and want to take French so I can speak with his family. He speaks English well and we both speak Spanish. I pray he gets his Visa and will be walking on the Santa Monica beach with me sometime in June. Nice to meet all of you!

I just mailed a package last Friday via USPostal Service, express mail. it cost $38. It's basically a sort of pre-paid envelope. It got there in ONE WEEK! he had it by this Friday. They promise 8 business days.

I recommend you send big envelopes, and not packages, because if customs sees a pacakage, they want to open it and it'll take more time. But an envelope won't be opened. In my three years of living there, every pacakge was opened, and NO envelopes were ever opened.

Good luck!

Wow! $38 and only 1 week! Thanks for the tip. As you know, I decided to fly there myself instead and deliver them in person. I'm glad to know about the envelope trick though.

Yes, i would send the papers to your fiance they did ask for them at my fiance interview so it's better to be safe than sorry.

My fiance will be arriving at JFK this coming saturday morning afternoon.

Congrats Charity! I hope it was a wonderful reunion! Did he get an EAD stamp? I still don't know why some people get the stamp and others don't. Does anyone know the procedure to get the EAD stamp?

Hey Jay, I emailed and got the same reply from the consulate. But I sent Ahmed the forms anyway. Better safe than sorry!

Ahmed is having trouble getting his forms, because of the transport strike in Morocco. I wrote the consulate to ask what the procedure is to reschedule, but they havne't written back yet. It sucks!

I'll email you soon, I'm in San Antonio visiting friends but will email you!!!

Hi Debbie, Venus Fire and Rebecca,

Thanks for all your thoughts on the subject. I got my ticket! I know I won't be able to go into the interview with him since I've read that on VJ but at least we can go early and get his favorite Casa melwi before his 8am interview so he's not hungry. Also, I have a good friend who married a Moroccan Jewish man and they live in Casa so I'm hoping to hang out with her on that day. Since I've been to Morocco 5x, I'm pretty good with knowing my DH and ordering food. My Arabic is chwiya but I feel fine. I did hear that there are many men hanging out by the consulate so I'll keep an eye out. My fiance always tells me not to talk to any men. Bringing cookies sounded like a fabulous idea!

Rebecca - Zouhir got his package on Friday. I think it took a little more than 1 week. He's not in his home town yet so he hasn't opened it but his brother said it's a big package. He's going in a couple days. I hope Ahmed gets it soon. It's odd that they haven't emailed you back about the package or rescheduling. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks all!!

Kamal didn't take them to Casa for the interview, we needed it for the AOS. And when we first filed for the K1.

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking maybe to go there to help him prepare for the interview. I have a free frequent flyer ticket. I know we have a lot of expenses after he gets his Visa but maybe it's worth it to do everything I can to support him in getting it. Seems like a few fiances coming out of Casa lately are not getting their Visas. It would be my 6th trip to see him in 15 months so I'm also guessing that it looks good to the Consulate that I've been there so many time.

Hi to the Moroccans and fiances,

I sent an email to the Casablanca consulate last night to see if they wanted all 3 years of tax returns and I got the below response.

"Thank you for your e-mail. Please note that an affidavit of support and tax returns are not requested for the fiancé visa petitions."

Regards,

Immigration Visa Unit, Casablanca, Morocco

Can a few people who have been through the Casa consulate interview process confirm that they don't need the financials? I'm just about to send a package to my fiance but I'm thinking I should send them anyway. I thought every consulate checks for the financials of the sponsor.

Thanks!

Jayme

If your tax transcripts show over the poverty level, you should not need the statements - but since you are self-employed, I would include them.

I would not add them up - they can figure that out themselves.

You will also need your tax transcripts (current tax year, but might as well get 3 years worth)

Yes - everything is "duplicate" for evidence for the I-134

Do I need my tax transcripts for this I134? It says only a tax return. I just finished my return so can't I just send my fiance a copy of that? I'm sending in my 2008 taxes tomorrow so I can't imagine they'll have a transcript anytime soon.

As for the last 3 years, do I need them for now or for the AOS interview?

You do not need transcripts. Just simple copies of your tax returns. Both with the I-134 and later with the I-864 for the AOS interview is my understanding. It is easy to run off copies of your last 3 years tax returns.

(tax transcripts are copies of your tax returns)

IF you supply just copies of your tax returns, you will also need to supply the corresponding copies of W-2's/1099's, (supporting evidence).

So if you get the tax transcripts, they include all supporting evidence.

So it's easier, IMO, to get the transcripts, it's easy and takes less than 15 mins from the IRS to fax them direct to you.

Thanks. I didn't realize they could fax them. I actually sent an email to Casablanca consulate last night to see if they wanted all 3 years of tax returns and I got the below response.

"Thank you for your e-mail. Please note that an affidavit of support and tax returns are not requested for the fiancé visa petitions."

Regards,

Immigration Visa Unit, Casablanca, Morocco

Isn't that wierd? Perhaps I'll post on the MENA board to get confirmation that they didn't need any financials. Any Morocco people out there that can confirm this?

If your tax transcripts show over the poverty level, you should not need the statements - but since you are self-employed, I would include them.

I would not add them up - they can figure that out themselves.

You will also need your tax transcripts (current tax year, but might as well get 3 years worth)

Yes - everything is "duplicate" for evidence for the I-134

Do I need my tax transcripts for this I134? It says only a tax return. I just finished my return so can't I just send my fiance a copy of that? I'm sending in my 2008 taxes tomorrow so I can't imagine they'll have a transcript anytime soon.

As for the last 3 years, do I need them for now or for the AOS interview?

Hey all.. I have a couple quick questions as I'm sending my fiance my financial forms this week. I am self-employed and well over the 125% of poverty level. I got a letter from my bank (BofA) with my present balance and how long I've been banking etc. However they don't state how much $$ has been deposited in the last year.

1) Do I need to xerox all my bank statements and add my deposits up myself? Or.. do I even need the bank letter if my tax return is over the 125%?

2) It says "in duplicate" on the instructions for the I-134. Do I need to include 2 copies of my tax returns and the bank letter?

3) My fiance is from Morocco. I wonder if I need to send tax returns from 2006 and 2007 as well? Does anyone know about the Casablanca consulate with regards to how many years of returns they need?

Thanks so much!

Jayme

For a K-1, you only need the I-134, and if you use the new form, you do not need it notarized.

The I-864 is for when you attempt to AOS.

Hey all.. Quick question as I'm sending my fiance my financial forms this week too. I am self-employed and over the 125% of poverty level. I got a letter from my bank with my present balance and how long I've been banking etc. However they don't state how much $$ has been deposited in the last year.

1) Do I need to xerox all my bank statements and add my deposits up myself? Or.. do I even need the bank letter if my tax return is over the 125%?

2) It says "in duplicate" on the instructions for the 134. Do I need to include 2 copies of my tax returns and the bank letter?

Thanks so much!

Jayme

I would go the scanning route and have him print them off there if you can. It's just so much easier that way. USPS takes on average about 3 weeks to be delivered. Also, fedex can *get* the package there in 2 business days but they cannot gaurantee that the package is delivered in 2-3 business days because once it enters customs it's out of their hands.. so it could be a big expense for not much time savings. If you can just have him print it that would be best in my humble opinion

Thanks Laura and Berber Mama. I actually have to snail mail some papers that I must sign (the I 134 and tax returns) so he won't be able to print everything there. I guess not matter what, I'm stuck with Fex Ex for $150. Crazy....another $500 and I could go myself!

Hi everyone! This is the first time I've posted in this forum. Happy to see many people from Morocco since my Moroccan fiance is going to be interviewing for our K-1 on May 13th! We just got our date yesterday after I emailed the consulate. So... now we are preparing and I have a few questions.

1) I have a big package with emails, chats, skype, tax return, I134 etc and I was wondering if anyone has figured out a good way to ship it to Morocco without spending a fortune. I looked at USPS, DHL, and Fedex. It's going to be a heavy package. I think the US Postal Service is the cheapest but I want to make sure it gets there. A few months ago, I had to send him something and I did it "registered mail" and it was a disaster because it becomes a Government thing and not postal so it took forever and the USPS couldn't even track it. (How odd when that was the reason I sent it registerd). Any suggestions would be helpful!

2) For all our pictures for the interview. Do I need to write the date and place for every pic? I was going to send him a thin album with 4 pics from each trip (5 trips to Morocco in 1 year!) and then just have him bring a ton of other pics that he has. Does he need to write the date/place for every single one? There are a lot of pics!

3) This may sound goofy but what is MENA? I don't know the term.

I might have more questions a long the way but this is it for now. Thanks so much and wishing everyone a happy day!

Jayme

The tracking by reference doesn't have anything to do with your case number -- as mentioned, it only has to to do with the date.

Sometimes it doesn't go out on exactly that date, so check other references, and other ship dates +/- one day...

EXP 30MAR 2009A

EXP 31MAR 2009A

EXP 01APR 2009A

Do you get the idea? Also, this is one of the topics that can actually successfully be searched!! Find info in the link here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=127513

THANKS so much! I got it and was freaked out because it said "Recipient Refused Delivery?" They say they tried to deliver at 4:39pm on Friday April 3rd. I called DHL and they said maybe they were closed or the recipient needs to call DHL in Morocco to give them more information to deliver it successfully. That is so bizarre.. I'm praying it was just closed. I can't believe the NVC wouldn't address it to the right department or person since they do this all the time. Anyway, I emailed the Consulate and gave them all the info and asked them to please confirm with me when our package is delivered. I pray it doesn't get lost somewhere.

Thanks for your good thoughts on this one!

The NVC checks different databases is my understanding....some people get hooked, others don't...

Also, the letter from the NVC arrived today saying it was received and sent on to London. Not much later than it was received...and right on the day that I had predicted that I would hear from them. Darn impatience!

How did you do the DHL tracking? You asked for them for the DHL tracking number?

Hopefully the package is in Vancouver today or tomorrow, and my GF gets package 3 next week. Fingers crossed.

Go to DHL.com, pick United States of America, Track by reference number, NVC told us it left for Vancouver on March 30, 2009 so to find out all the shipments from NVC for that date put EXP 30 MAR 2009A. There was a shipment to Vancouver that date that weighed around 4 lbs!! I hope that was ours!!

I'm also trying to look on DHL.com but it won't work. What reference number did you use exactly? The INS number or the new CASE number? I tried both and they didn't work. Underneath I put the date that NVC said it went out and it doesn't work.

Please help! Thanks!

So Laura, have you confirmed that NVC has your case by talking to them directly? Has it already been forwarded on?

NVC does not have my case yet, unfortunately. It seems to be taking around 1 1/2 to 2 weeks for them to get cases lately, so I am going to hold off calling until next Monday. But yes, you have to talk to them directly. When you call NVC, press 1 for english and then 5 for an operator and just wait.

Has anyone heard that their case is at NVC yet? Just wondering what dates have gotten there already!

ETA: Oh! I just saw your NOA2 is 3/18....you should try calling and see if it is there yet...let us know! I know that some 3/17 NOA2s have gotten to NVC, so yours could be there..

I also am waiting for my letter from NVC and just called them at (603) 334-0700, talked to an operator and our case is not there yet. My NOA 2 was 3/19 so I'm not sure why it's not there. I pray it's not lost in the mail. Some people have their NVC within 2 days and mine is already 12 and it's still not there.

The operator said it normally takes 2-4 weeks and up to 90 days. Oh my gosh. I pray they will get it soon. I might call them everyday. The line is constantly busy so you need to use redial non-stop. Good luck to all...

has anyone RECENTLY had it get there in 2 days? I mean, since all those approvals happened so fast? Since that, it seems that the petitions get to NVC much slower. I was told the same thing when I called NVC. However, they have always said that I believe, and it clearly was not true. If I were you, I'd start calling at night, so you are allowing the full time that day for the petition to get there. Don't worry too much, I am sure it'll be there soon!

Hi Everyone.. well, glad we are all in this together. When I said earlier that it seemed that many people got their NVC letters very quickly, it's because when I've STUDIED people's timelines, it looks like their NVC letter "recieved and then sent" seem very close to the NOA 2 date.

But now I'm wondering if they actually got the letter much later but then fill in the timeline with the appropriate dates (which when you look on the letter are much earlier?) For instance, I got my NOA2 on March 24th but it was dated March 19th so my timeline says March 19th. So, I'm wondering if the people who fill in their timelines are entering those NVC dates that they see on thier form, but actually they received the letter in the mail much later? Does anyone follow me?

I saw that one person didn't even get their NVC until after Package 3 was sent. I was under the impression that we need a NVC number BEFORE it goes to the consulate.

And SteveandShannon, did you call the NVC and they still said they had no record of your account after you had gotten the letter?

Thanks!

Jayme

So Laura, have you confirmed that NVC has your case by talking to them directly? Has it already been forwarded on?

NVC does not have my case yet, unfortunately. It seems to be taking around 1 1/2 to 2 weeks for them to get cases lately, so I am going to hold off calling until next Monday. But yes, you have to talk to them directly. When you call NVC, press 1 for english and then 5 for an operator and just wait.

Has anyone heard that their case is at NVC yet? Just wondering what dates have gotten there already!

ETA: Oh! I just saw your NOA2 is 3/18....you should try calling and see if it is there yet...let us know! I know that some 3/17 NOA2s have gotten to NVC, so yours could be there..

I also am waiting for my letter from NVC and just called them at (603) 334-0700, talked to an operator and our case is not there yet. My NOA 2 was 3/19 so I'm not sure why it's not there. I pray it's not lost in the mail. Some people have their NVC within 2 days and mine is already 12 and it's still not there.

The operator said it normally takes 2-4 weeks and up to 90 days. Oh my gosh. I pray they will get it soon. I might call them everyday. The line is constantly busy so you need to use redial non-stop. Good luck to all...

I'm so very excited for all of you. Congrats Its got me all hyped up and excited to see so many of you getting your approvals so quickly. It was like an explosion all in one day. I'm sure you will get notice from NVC soon Heather!

I also got my NOA 2 approval yesterday in the mail! I posted it but I don't see it in the thread. Jan 14 NOA1 and March 19 NOA 2! This is awesome that they are moving so fast! Congrats to all!

OMG!!! So much for sleeping today!!! Just got home from work!!! Fiance just called me to tell me that the petition was approved!! As he was reading off the approval notice I thought he was joking!!! Arrived in the mail today with an approval date of 3/19!!!! Now I can definitely start planning a fall wedding!!! Woo hoo!!

I can't wait to see him on Wednesday!!! Now I can help him get stuff ready for Packet 3!! All of a sudden I can't remember what that all entails!!! Just so excited!!!

OMG Me TOO!!!!! I just went out to my mail and we got our NOA 2 too! 3/19/09 with no website or email notification! Wow... I had a feeling today and when I saw others getting approved, I felt that ours would happen soon too. Good luck to all!!!!

Dont worry guys you are soon to be approved ! i got my approval letter in the mail and was shocked n happy, no changes in my online status or no email , so check your mail!

Wow, Congrats to you! My NOA 1 was received on Jan 12 too. The website last updated mine on Jan 15th and nothing since then. I hope you are the first and we are all following in your footsteps!