Abuse of power in the American Consulate in Casablanca

By Michelle Foutouhi

My husband and I met on skype per email I have, spring of 2006. We did talk off and on in 2005, but no documentation. I have always been interested in the Maghrib, so we had lots to talk about. Eventually we discovered we had the same value system and interests. However, our age span is huge and at the risk of making a fool of ourselves, we kept it "friendly". I had been in Morocco in 2006 for a month, and planned an extended stay again in 2007 and we agreed to meet. When we did we knew it was romance, not friends but we were still reticent. So before I left in 2007, we met once more and truly it was love.

I called him daily when I returned to the USA and we talked on skype as well. Over the course of a few months we decided I'd go to Morocco in 2008 with the intent of meeting his family and getting married if all went well. It went famously. The judge actually refused us a marriage certificate and I had to go to him and "talk some sense" to him. In the end, obviously, he granted us marriage.

My husband arrived at the Casa Consulate on Jan 7 on time. Greeted by a lovely Moroccan woman who made him comfortable. He noticed a sign that said to make note of interviewer's name. He was called into her office. Incredibly, she did not greet him. I mean she did not even say "hello" "Are you Mr. .......?",
"good morning" nothing, nada! He stood there without her offering him a seat.
He looked for an ID. She had nothing on her with her name or position. He continued to stand. The FIRST words out of her mouth was a barage of questions. He sat down. He answered every question accurately and honestly. He said she was searching for a question that maybe he could not answer. So she asked when my ex and I were married. How ridiculous! Who would mention that to another husband? Hate to say it, but I don't even remember. His english is impeccable but he was tired from the trip all night and his uncle was dying in Rabat (he died next day actually) and he got the words "weeks", "days" and "months" confused and she very condescendingly said to him "well what is it, days weeks or months?". Those were the only "hiccups" in the interview.

She looked at a few photos. Then said said "you're doing this for papers, the marriage is not real". She NEVER looked at his meticulous file that he spent hours preparing. How do you say it is a fraud when you have not reviewed the supporting evidence?

1. I have reported her to every federal agency and congressman and senators for using a tactic called depersonalization. If the government did not train her in this, then this woman is a mentally ill individual who should not be representing the United States of America in that post.

2. She failed to EVER identify herself and even mail I just got from the consulate telling me our file was sent back to USCIS, they never answered my response for a name.

3. She failed to review available evidence to come to a just conclusion.

4. She used age discrimination in her conclusion. Since there is not a blemish on my husband's record and there shouldn't be on mine and she had no evidence to
deny us, she didn't review our file he brought, by default she used our wide age span to deny us. How could two people this far apart be in a real marriage?

My husband and I are non-conformist types. A bit philosophical. Age is not an issue with us. We are very happy together. I would like for any Moroccan who has encountered an unjust situation in Casablanca to join me in a group complaint against that consulate. Secondly, I would appreciate any advice.

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meroutre : Hi Michelle,

<<<< You can probably review with your husband what went wrong ,correct it and file another application.it will be also a good move if you spend sometimes with him in Morocco more than 6 months . I hope you understand me when i say they have to see proofs that it is a real legit marriage .It might take a lot longer than you think but if you are willing to fight you will eventually get the message across.Best of luck.

yassamin : Hi there i think the reason she refused his visa to US...she want him for herself...look, you need to complain to your representative of your state...then you need to write to the state department...it works.

mike1172 : I am sorry to hear that ur husband was refused visa to come to join you to usa, but try to apply again , dont worry about the workers in the consulate sometimes theu abuse the power because they are in morocco and they have diplomat statue, u have to work on this 3 questions u and ur husband when and how and where did you met? try to write to the american ambassador in morocco a letter with certified copy , if he does not answer u try to use the same letter as a copy and send it to hillary clinton , have some other people to help you for a petition, family , friends that you are in love with your husband and want him to be with you , you have a job in usa and you will not be able to live with him in morocco, iam sure things will work for you. good luck also contact a lawyer that will help

walmaghreb : it happened to my sister in law but she is tough as hell. she screamed at the interviewer lady and requested to see the consul etc, but she got her visa eventually. those people at the consulate in Casa blanca are so prejudice and think that every Moroccan is just getting married for green card blah blah. my brother is 12 years older than my sister in law and both are Moroccans there are from the same neighborhood and we knew her since she was born but still they have to provide stupid pictures of engagement etc. you can write a complaint to the consul and the human right org in Morocco and here in the US. Best of luck

yanik : The best thing you could have done being with him at the consulate for his appoint because it really works than your husband could have avoided all those stupid questions asked by her i have been throw the same shit.

billal : sorry tp hear your story,when i went for my interview in 2006,we were sitting in a room watching and listening to all the intervies in front of us,what took my attention i saw a young girl,in age of 30,she looks like a boy,i guess she has some mixed race with Asian just to describe if she was the same person you talked about,she was interviwing a guy and in the same time she was laughing at him,she was denying most who was interview by her,she looked no professional.i was praying not to have my interview to avoid her,and i was interviewd with an old guy,he was so very gentle and positive,he didnt give me any hard time,he was so nice everyone who was interviwed by him.if you go the website www.visajourney.com you may find other victimes of that little consulate.i wiosh you good luck/.

maroky : The us Embassy in morocco and people work with customer are out of control, the think that they going give you a visa to haven, they are so jealouse of your life style and what you doing for yourself for a better life.
i been into this back in the time, in the 1987 they dont care at all and most of them not doing there job
my advice to you is to be strong and take your time till you get what you looking for , i will never ever in this life time do any business or ask for anything when its come to the state department out side the usa.
God bless your heart and good luck

barrettesimard : Michelle please contact me pinkhiem1@yahoo.com

bridgetb : MICHELLE,

IT WAS A BLESSING TO FIND YOUR ARTICLE. MY FIANCE JUST HAD HIS INTERVIEW THIS WEEK 2/7/2011. HE WAS NEVER GRETED, THE CONSOLATE WAS NOT WARING ANY ID., SHE DID NOT OFFER HIM TO SIT, SHE WAS RUDE TO HIM AND SHORT IN HER ALLOWING HIMTO ANSWER QUESTIONS. SHE WOULD ASK A QUESTION AND THEN STOP HIM INTHE MIDDLE OF HIM ANSWERING. WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING US FROM THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING. SHE DID NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THAT. SHE PALYED THE DIVORCE CARD WITH HIM AS SHE DOES OTHERS. NO ONE SHOULD BRING UP PAST RELATIONSHIPS IN NEW RELATIONS EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY EXISTED AND HOW OR WHY THEY ENDED. BUT THE DETAILS ARE NOT NEEDED. HE ANSWERED ALL THE UESTIONS GREAT. SHE DID NOT LOOK AT HIS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE BEYOND A PAGE OF EMAILS. SHE CAME INTO THE INTERVIEW WITH HER MIND MADE UP. SHE ASSUMED SINCE HE DID NOT KNOW ME ENOUGH SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THE MAN I WAS MARRIED TO 19 YEARS AGO. SHE DID NOT GIVE HIM ANY DOCUMENTS AS REQUIRED TO SHOW WHY HE WAS DENIED A VISA. MY LAWYER TOLD US THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A PAPER STATING WHY HE WAS DENIED. SHE ONLY GAVE HIM BACK HIS PASSPORT AND TOLD HIM TO LEAVE. hOW COLD AND BIAS OF THESE PEOPLE WHO MISS REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT.MY LAWYER HAS REQUESTED ALOT FROM THAT OFFICE AND AN APPEAL. I WILL PRESS TO GET IT ALL FOR FREE.

zine34 : Hello,
Let your husband file another application for a visa- I know it's frustrating and money consuming- but hopefully he'll get better luck and have a different interviewer. If not just answer her questions and if she refuses your visa then ask to talk to the consul. I think I know that lady since everybody hates her. Good luck.

Yous123loveme : Michelle can you contact me at a_imperial2005@yahoo.com look like we have same situation.thanks

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