hala_amira

ummmm in rabat?? did u go to Majestic or la comedie , i think they might do this kinda of birthday cakes...like dora's cakes or spongebob...they might do it

Thanks will try those two places...right after I wrote my post a neighbor of ours mentioned the Majestic also. I will go there on monday I will check it out, along with the other one you mentioned La Comedie. I heard they are nearby each other. I am not the most experienced At baking, but I could have bought a box of betty crocker and some frosting along with the decor. Next time, I will bring some boxes of mac n, chesse lol

Hello VJ;

I am in Rabat and will be here for my daughters 8th birthday. I was

wondering if any of you have found a bakery that does american style birthday cakes?

We have tried Agdal and everything is the traditional French pasterries cakes, which I think are better than the american type cakes. I just want to surprize her with one. I know that some will say why I am trying to do this; but I just want to see if I can get one or not. I did see one place in Marrakech that did have the ones you pick froma book of different cartoon characters and they actually were not that expensive. Now in Rabat and cant find any like that. Any ideas would be great or any recommendations. Also note my spelling sorry on the arabic keyboard

I have seen some people on VJ argue about if you still have to "prove" that your marriage is valid during the filing for citizenship, even if the greencard was obtained through marriage. I can't remember the thread but it was back in the summer. I know that you need to submit your last 3years of taxes. I guess it could be questioned as to why you decided not to file a joint return together. And not only that but you listed yourself as "single" on your return, so not only is it filed separately but you listed yourself as single, not even listed "married but separated?" Is it because your tax guy didn't have you wife's SSN to file?

I agree that you need to rebuild evidence that the marriage is still valid since your tax returns will show the time of separation in the marriage.

How stupid! Funny that Tunisia and Algeria are in Europe but Libya(their neighbor) is not.

I know!! Also I don't get how The Terms and Conditions part says that the purpose of this chart is solely intended for awarding skymiles. NOTHING about the chart being used to define "europe" for baggage. I saw that chart on the Delta website under the baggage rules when you hit the word "Europe" that chart pops up!!! But the terms and conditions for the chart says thats not what that charts purpose is for? But only for awarding miles!!!?? That is misleading!!

I don't live that close to JFK- I took a bus to New York, or I'd take a train. Cheaper than flying, less hassle.. I do hope that RAM follows through with flying into Dulles.. It will make the flights bus/train accessible to a lot more people on the East Coast

Ha! I was such in a hurry to post that I didn't bother to read the rest of the thread!!

I always book directly with Royal Air Maroc and have never had this problem. They allow 2 checked bags, a carry on, and a personal bag. I'd never book a RAM flight through Delta for this reason.

Hey Squeaky, did you fly with another airline first to get to the location of the Royal air Maroc flight? Or are you lucky that you don't have to transfer in the U.S.!! I looked at booking with RAM but wouldn't make sense for what I would have to pay for another ticket to get to jfk or canada. I hate my options!!!

This is why I hate flying, nothing is ever clear and can change without notice. Also you'll get someone from an airline tell you one thing and then another person from the same airline will tell you that "Well that person was wrong!!!" Sorry too bad....

Yeah also liked how Delta doesn't list all surrounding neighbors by Morocco as being "Europe". Now Delta is making up its own personal E.U.

HELLO,

I thought this would be the right place to post this thread NORTH AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST about flying to MOROCCO which is in North AFRICA! I will be flying Delta to JFK and Royal Air Maroc from JFK to Casa. The ticket is the same booked with Delta,so I know that my bags will be checked all the way through going to Morocco. I have heard that Delta considers Morocco as "Europe" and not Africa so the 2 free checked bags for international flights does not apply but only 1!! I looked at some travel websites discussing of this issue with Delta and actually argue about it when they check their bags in saying Morocco is in Africa not Europe and that the 2 checked bags free should apply. Anyone with a recent experience is this true? I thought I would try Visa Journey for advice since so many of you have traveled between the U.S. and Morocco multiply times AND recently.

Thanks Team.

I guess I should post, the more the better. My Moroccan husband and I just had our 10 year anniversary from when we started dating/met last month. We will have our 5 year marriage anniversary next month. We have a 7 year old daughter and have been through a lot together. We had and still have family issues regarding our relationship which made us even stronger over the years. We again had our differences culturally that others have mentioned, but again you work at it. My husband just got his US citizenship this past August, and he is not filing for divorce yet! I guess I pass!lol We will be going to visit his family in Morocco for the first time together. I believe that this journey to Morocco will bring out a side of my husband that he has not yet been able to share with me in our 10 years together! It will be a new beginging in our marriage!! My husband still amazes me as we still grow in learning about each other.I think no matter how long you have been married,you can always learn something new from your spouse!

WOW! I missed the rest of this thread for awhile! I did read it all~!!! I actually like when things go off topic WHY NOT!LOL

I do agree that bringing gifts back for famalies is expected with most MENA countries...and I agree that many Moroccans can be all about the gifts and maybe some are not!!!!...BUT I BET there is always someone usually the younger ones in the family who are all about the "gifts"!!

It sounds like the social classes in Morocco makes a difference in everyones gift giving "experience". I would say that I have experienced from both sides.

My husband actaully was trying to explain to me that sometimes Moroccans be it family or friends will enjoy getting a gift or small favors, and if you keep giving...they will contiue to ask for more...but than again maybe not everyone is like that.My husband and I will be staying in some hotels while we are there and with one of his sisters. His parents passed before he came to the U.S., so I know tradtionally in MOST MENA countires bringing money back to the PARENTS is essential...I know being Lebanese, that is what was always done for my grandmother even if she didn't need it. It was also done discreetly, just queitly handed THE $ to her by me from my dad. She didn't NEED it as my dad and his brothers paid for all her fianiances being more than just well off. If I had someone visitng her they would say that she was not materialistic and humble....nobody would know that the exchanged happened. I think as time goes on with relationships with your new MENA families, you will see the need or the want of maybe not your in-laws/moroccan family, but your spouse to express the need to give back to his family financially or with "gifts"....that is if the in-laws/family are just to "humble" and don't ask or say they don't want anything. Luckily, my husband is the only son out of 7 sisters that are all married "well" in Morcoccan standards if you know what i mean and one is here married....so no need to give money as a gift!!!! LOL. But I do see that what Squeaky was saying about her sister-in-laws fighting over things...My husbands best friend who is Morocccan and lives her in the U.S. has to send money and gifts back for his sisters who nevered married and now are in their 40s. I think he will never marry because he has to worry about them and/or there would be too much drama with the wife if he did!!!

AND one more last thing.....on the gifts luckily I work for a major cosmetics brand....I have bottles of Chanel,Dior, estee Lauder brand new.. and TONS of MAKEUP. I just wasn't sure if I could bring that many pieces of fragrance to morocco....how abot 15 bottles plus the makeup...is it o.k. too bring that much or do they think I am going to try to sell it?

I had fun with the thread....love that it went off topic about the different social classes and the opinions on Moroccans behaviors based on material things!!!! since I majored in sociology!

Good question I am in the same boat! I was just going to renew mine for the same reason. Would save me alittle just for mine, since would be applying for my husbands U.S. passport and our daughters all at once! Fees just went up this past July, so now it is $110+shipping for a renewal. Would be nice if I could still travel on mine just once more! Are you going to use yours with the maiden name?

My hubbys nephews are into the same things teenagers here are into so I buy from american eagle areopotsle (sp) hollister.... Shoes, jeans, tees.... As for his sisters.... They like secret deodrant.... crest toothpaste.. mouthwash, advil, cold medicine, dial bar soap (the clear one)as far as snacks his family are not big on eating premade stuff... They make everything... LOL For the little ones I take undies socks and board games that dont require you to speak english.... candyland, memory I also take movies

hope I was helpful

Again thank you for the ideas! Sounds like American brands even in health/beauty products are popular to bring! I will forsure bring a few extra bottles of secret deodrant! Since it says "Made in the U.S.A. on it! lol! Even our Crest toothpaste, huh! Simple but same goes for when Moroccan visitors come here and give simple gifts of things like the moroccan tea,soap,etc...!!

Take Hershey kisses and minis.. a huge Costco sized bag.. they're great because you can give them to kids a few at a time, and they LOVE them. Can't get them there. Take something for your mother in law like Shake n Bake, or a box of Hamburger Helper, chili spice mix (I used that while I was there, they told me that chili is "rich people food") and let them marvel over the laziness of us Americans Also, Doritos are impossible to find there, Chex Mix, maybe a box of sweet American cereal. I'm trying to think of easy to pack foods (also thinking of things I couldn't find when I lived there). As for clothes, they love Diesel jeans, I know that, and Pumas.. anything with a logo on it. When I went the first time, I got my mother in law several bottles of Victoria's Secret body wash in many scents. She used them so sparingly, she still had some when I returned a year later. I also took my husband's cousins a dual voltage flat iron and a plug adapter.. they loved that.. Have fun!

Sarah

Thanks this is exactly the advice and ideas that I was looking for! It is simple things like that! Love the ideas on the minis and hershey kisses and thank you for the update in the "latest" popular brands! I am going to bring small bags of Doritos! Funny that you mentioned Doritos, becasue when we had a mother and her 14 year son stay with us from Morocco that is what he always wanted from the grocery store!! When we have international vistors stay or visit us I am always excited to find out things that they like here that they can't get at home or never used before. Again vice versa when overseas to another country to take back simple items like that back here!!!

Hello MENA community,

I would love any suggestions about any "American" brands or products that are now popular or well liked in Morocco for gifts to be given to relatives while visiting there. Is there any latest "American" brand trend that everyone wants? Also what "snacks" or items that are popular in morocco and are sort of "expensive" there but not here? We had some friends from Morocco visit and said they loved "OREO" cookies in Morocco? I know for clothing that GUESS, RALPH LAUREN, and LEVIS are popular brands of choice in a MENA country that I have been to before. So, I guess the ideas are for clothes/goods for children, women, men, and teenagers?

Ideas anyone...or advice on what I should bring that is always good to pack when going to Morocco and if you didn't pack it why you regretted that you didn't!

I am going with my husband and our child in April-May for about a month starting in Rabat..My first time going to Morocco and my husband has not been back since 1999!!!!

Thanks for any feed back!

My husband had his interview today for citizenship.

He got letter a standard letter and there are check marks in front of lines that pertain.

X You will be given another opportunity to be tested on your ability

(ability for what)

X USCIS will send you a written decision about your application

X a decision can not yet be made

The test was not checked but he saw the the interviewer write 6/6 he got all questions right.

Darlene,

Even though your husband answered all six questions right, did he not pass the writing part of the interview? That could be the reason for the "X" next to .."given another opportunity to be tested....."???

That "X" next to that would be my main concern as to it sounds like a retake? or to come back?

The "X" next to "USCIS will send you a wrtten decision about your application"

and the "X" next to "decision can not yet be made" was what my husband got. The officer said he needed another officer to go over his application to approve it. We ended up with the Oath letter 4 weeks later. I guess that was the letter for "USCIS will send you a written decision about your application". From what I have read about our local office in St.Paul they don't approve always right on the spot. Did your husband ask the officer at the end if anything else was needed or when he would expect his oath letter? My husband was worried when he didn't get approved on the spot and asked the officer if he should be concerned or can he expect an oath letter still. The officer reassured him that it was fine, even though he got "X decision can not yet be made".

I hope this helps Darlene!!!! Be patient! I know I wasn't....

Congrats for your husband! It will be an exciting day!

A little advice for the big day...just for FUN, when they say the names of all the the countries of those becoming a citizen the judge lets everyone stand up and cheer for their country when mentioned. This was probably one of the best parts of the ceremony with everyone cheering/whistling for their country very LOUDLY. Of course some of the loudest cheers/groups were Somalia and Mexico. So I planned ahead when my husband had his oath in St.Paul back in August. I heard about the routine of mentioning the countries. I had myself, his friend and our daughter surprise my husband when they mentioned Morocco with "new years" noise makers. It was the best ever!!!! The whole crowd laughed and the speaker had to pause from laughing. No other country/group did something like it. I think my husband and only one other person where from Morocco out of 700, so the cheers for Morocco NEEDED to stand out! My husband liked the extra attention. So bring a whistle or a Moroccan flag or something when they mention Morocco. I had people sitting next to us who mentioned that they wished they had the idea.

Make it SPECIAL!!!

BEST WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Congrats sundeep! Finally!!!

my Husband obtained a visitors visa when he first came to the U.S. from Morocco. He was 28 at the time and said the only reason they gave him one was based on assets, property and money he had in his bank accounts from family inheritance. In my husbands case it sometimes depends a lot on the income/background/business of a family with some sort of wealth in social class.

I also have relatives from my family that are from lebanon and say same goes with how vistor visas are given there.

Best of Luck!

Or less than seven weeks, really great for the St. Paul office that does not have the policy of same day oaths, is not in St. Paul, your certificate will say, Bloomington, MN where the office is actually located in, and in 2008, was taking close to a year between the interview and oath ceremony. They wanted to accumulate a huge crowd first.

Unless you were at the end of the line to get a much earlier date, if at the beginning, would have to wait almost a year, Minneapolis newspapers criticized this. And so did my Wisconsin senator, setting up an in the Bloomington office an oath ceremony for just a handful of Wisconsin residents. Seems like for the odd 80 some field offices, each has different policies.

We were bounced to Milwaukee for biometrics and "St. Paul" for interviews, have to say that lady we had for the AOS was very nice, can't say the same for the IO at the N-400 interview, she misplaced my wife's application. But everyone was very nice at the oath ceremony.

Where will your oath ceremony be held?

The oath will be at Bethel University which I believe is on the border of St. Paul. I think it is going to be the BIG 100+ oath ceremonies based on the location. I was actually hoping that he would have gotten a later date in august for the one at Landmark Center in St. Paul. It is a beautiful historic building downtown that was the head state court house/FBI headquarters in the early 1920s-1930s. Famous gangsters trials were there such as Alvin carpis and john dillingers girlfriend. Love , love the building actually wanted to have wedding reception there!! almost mentioned to husband saying, "maybe you could write and say you want the oath at the end of august instead!" That way it would be at Landmark center! LOL J/K

Again thanks everyone for the congrats!!!

YOUR NEXT SUNDEEP....WILL BE HOPING YOURS COMES SOON....MAYBE YOU WILL GET YOUR OATH AUG. 26TH AT LANDMARK CENTER!!!!!!

RECEIVED OATH LETTER Yesterday!!! Oath Date scheduled for August, 4th!!! My husband's interview was on the 15th of June.

For anyone reading this post and who will have their n-400 interview and gets a "decesion cannot yet be made" instead of "congratulations you've been recommended for approval"...doesn't always mean a bad thing!!

My husband and I think there wasn't approval right away based on

A) The officer really had to go over his whole file like he said.

B) The officer wasn't a high enough ranking officer and needed his supervisor's approval.

Or

C)Normal routine sometimes at St. Paul DO

Thanks everyone, and Good Luck to others in the same situation!!!

I think the oath dates for august are the big group ones. I don't think it only refers to those in other areas of MN, other than the twin cities.I think the chart says Fergus falls/duluth, but some of the places listed for the oath are places for the 200+ groups. The dates are the 4th of aug. in st. paul at bethel University and one for aug. 26th at landmark center in st. paul. I wish my husband would be able to do landmark center in st. paul. Beautiful historic building would be nice.

Oh, and The IO was nice he greeted me and my daughter after my husbands interview. I think his name on the top of the paper was like "Xiong" something like that. Lets see who gets Oath letter first....

[quote name='sundeep' date='06 July 2010 - 10:13 AM' timestamp='1278432790' post='404730

Have not heard anything in 1+ month.

Patiently awaiting.

Are you going to call or write to the IO at 90 days?

The man that interviewed my husband was either HMong or Vietnamese and around 45 years old.

I have found a few people on VJ who had their interview in Minneapolis-St. Paul within the last couple of months who are still waiting for oath letter and or a decesion.

Again, looking at the Oath date schedule there were only a few dates for the whole summer. I think many of the judges go on vacation for summer. Than come september multiple dates are added.

At the end of the interview, he said that he will need more time to review the file before he can make any decision. He also mentioned that this is the busy time so not to be worried if I don't hear anything from him before 120 days. "It will probably be 3 months before I can start reviewing your file" he stated looking at my face. I assured that I was not in any hurry so he can take his sweet time. He then mentioned, if he need any further documents he will send a request by mail otherwise the oath letter will be sent in 90 to 120 days. Gave me a piece of paper stating that I passed the required tests and also checked the option where it says: No decision could be made at this time(something like that).

My husband's N-400 interview was almost exactly like yours in st.paul-minneapolis! The only thing I I noticed different was your offier mentioned that this is a busy time of year and not to expect to hear from them before 120 days!!! I like how it was said notthing BEFORE 120 DAYS..but I bet they take their sweet time up until 120 days and then they will send some sort of letter, or else you can start to sue! Again, I think its how St. Paul DO operates or maybe newbies for officers?? lol.

Hope you hear something soon..I let you know if my husband hears anything.

FYI: cHeck out Mn state website for naturalization ceremony dates..some were cancelled for August...I don't think thats good=Less Oath letters sent out for July!~!!

To answer your question it can take 120+ days for a decision to be made. On the 90th day you can request to have a service request put in to find out the status of your case. That can take another 30-45 days to find out your status. I am currently in your situation right now, and still waiting for my oath to be scheduled. Best of luck.

Lissa04 Your N-400 experience has been through alot! I better shut up and wait for the 90th day before worrying about it. But than again background check NIGHTMARE!... Did the IO mention at the interview that your background check wasn't finished yet? Or did the IO say it was complete and still gave the paper with "decision cannot yet.."? My husband was the second scenerio.

I hope you get that damn oath letter soon!! Oh, and hello from Minnesota to a Canadian neighbor..

Thanks, again Team ~Hala

Thanks everyone for all the responses.

NickD there is a location at the top of the paper that does have an"x" marked next to "you passed the History/English" Etc. About half way down is where the officer will mark either "congrats recommended for approval" or what my husband got "decision cannot yet be made". Thanks for the info on friends experience. Liked comment about delaying process to make $$ lol

JustBob I could just say spouse I guess. lol I guess I like saying "we" since the whole process feels like a "we". My spouse was a 3yr permenant resident as of Jan. 2010. He could have filed at the time of removing conditions,but did that alone over a year ago. I have read posts of others not getting conditions removed before the citizenship interview. Didn't want that. So waited a year and filed mid-march.

SC&TF Thanks for the 30 day reminder

Katyrn41 I hope what you said is what my husband's situation might be. My husband did say that he and another officer were going to go over his file. So maybe the other officer was higher ranking?

My husband's only other comment was that the office of the officer who did this interview was not as "nice" as the office of the Officer who did the AOS interview. (ie: smaller,no name on desk,generic lol) I was in the AOS interview and that officer did have a decent office for a federal employee!! Higher ranking officers get the best offices!!! I would think. LOL

I'll post when My "spouse" gets any info..

Thanks Team Journey!!! ~Hala

I was wondering if people who had the same result after their N-400 interview would let me know how long it took till for approval or what happend.

I should mention some detail if it helps..

Our 1st experience with USCIS for I-485/I-130/ssn all went smoothly easy everything only taking 2mo. from the time we filed to the interview!!!(nov.06-jan 4th 07) Really that fast. PR card approved day of interview with stamp , lawyer was present and filed it. Also I should mention that his conditions on his PR card were already removed for over a year so he already has his 10yr GC(for about 1 1/2 yrs). Which the removal of condtions only took 2mos. to process.

So we filed March 17th and the interview was June 15th. The only items that were requested at the interview were (other than passport/PR card/id)was the last 3yrs of our tax transcripts that we had not included in the origianl filing of the N-400. The interview was basic he went over the application and my husband said he really didn't focus on any particular subject like my husbands unemployment from last year or his previous marriage. None of it was questioned by the officer. So he passed the history test and English test and the officer said congrats everything looks good I am just going to go over your file. Than he said you will here from us if I need anything from you. My husband than was handed a piece of paper that said

X passed the history test and English test

XYour appilcation has not yet been approved. A decision can not yet be made. USCIS will contact you..

Any ideas when this decision will be made? I have read some bad stories of how long people wait..is this true? He was so lucky with all other filings?