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| Morocco | Review on July 16, 2011: | kristen_maroc

Rating: | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Hey, all. Sorry if I am missing something; we haven't talked about the interview in a few days and it's a bit muddled still. I (fiancee, petitioner, USC) am writing the review based on what my fiance told me.
We arrived in Casa at 7:30 and were there in line by 7:45 for his 9:00 am appointment. There were already two lines across the street and they started letting people in from both lines in groups of five at about 8:00 am. He was called up at 8:15 and they made me leave. I spent a few hours at Beverly Ice and a few at Americana, just waiting. Longest 5 hours and 15 minutes of my life, and I wasn't the one who was interviewing!!
The procedure was standard and I don't want to re-hash what everyone else has already written about payment, etc.
When they collected the papers, we had organized everything in an accordion file but only gave what they asked for-- what was on the list and nothing else. They didn't ask for co-sponsors on the I-134 (even though I was super borderline and had my parents' forms, bank statements, property deeds, etc. waiting), never mentioned the I-864. I guess I still recommend that you take it since others have said that Casa sometimes requires it. I just still don't understand how they can require it when it isn't on the list, or how they could hold that against you when they don't inform you about it!!
They also didn't ask for any of the evidence that we painstakingly collected and organized. Nothing. We front-loaded the I-129 petition with a few things, but nothing much: a few months of skype call logs, a few emails, a few facebook messages, a few photos (including some of me with his family on l'Eid Kbir).
As others have mentioned, you go up to a window for the interview and talk to the consular officer through glass. There is also a phone that you can use for more private questions, though everyone who was waiting could hear at least the visa applicant's answers to interview questions.
We had heard of people who had a hard time or were treated condescendingly by the first CO who takes papers and asks about interview language, but my fiance described the interaction as "normal." Neutral.
Questions asked by the first officer:
- Do you speak English?
- What is your fiancee's name?
- How long have you been together?
- Why didn't you get married in Morocco?
More waiting, of course.
The second interviewer (blonde lady everyone talks about):
She made him swear that he was about to tell the truth first; then she conducted the interview in an informal way. My fiance described her as "sweet" and said that she kept "awwing" about how he proposed, how we met, etc. He also said it was really more of a conversation and that they laughed together at a few things. She put him at ease, and treated him respectfully.
Questions (out of order; structured more like a guided conversation):
- How did you meet?
- Have you ever been outside of Morocco?
- Did you ask her parents' permission to marry?
- Have you talked to her family? Have you met them?
- What does your family think of you marrying an American?
- What are your plans in the US for work?
- What has she (fiancee) been doing in Morocco for the last four years?
- What were you doing in Italy? What are you studying?
- How will you finish your studies in the States?
- Where is your fiancee now? (Answer: She is out at Cafe Americana probably freaking out because she is so nervous and it's been a few hours)
And... at the end, she immediately told him congratulations; we are approved and can pick up the visa in two days.
Two days later, no problem; visa in hand.
All in all, it was as smooth as anyone could ask for or hope for. Now onto POE and AOS. Ha. Should be a fun adventure; another part of the journey!
Fast facts about our situation:
-We are the same age (late 20s)
-He has a student visa/residency for an EU country and has had it for two years (and has visited other Shengan countries)
-We met in person through a mutual friend in Morocco(on taco night, no less!)
-His parents are supportive
-My parents are as supportive as they can be of someone who they have never met
- I am not Muslim; he is (but they didn't ask about religion)
- We have been physically together for 6 of the 17 months we've been together and long-distance for 11 months
- I have lived in Morocco for 4.5 years
- He is fluent in English (and other languages) and I speak French and passable Darija.
- We have spent time together in Morocco, Spain, and Italy.
Anyway, best of luck to you all; hope this was of some help to people. I still smile when I think about him walking into the cafe with the huge smile on his face, and I keep looking at the picture he sent me of his visa in his passport, wondering if it is real.
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