So Excited!!!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

We bought a house!!!!!!

Our offer was accepted this week on an amazing house!!!!!! It closes in the next month and we'll be moving in as soon as I get there! I'm so excited to finally be making real life plans!!!

It may actually push back my move date to the second or third week of June, but it's worth the wait!!!! My lease expires June 1st here in Toronto... The cost to stay an extra month is the same as taking my son to Disney for a couple of weeks so I may do that...

The house is so amazing, we are both very happy with our find. It was this retired couple selling to go to a retirement home... They just had the kitchen redone etc... It has 4 bathrooms! If anyone knows me, it is needed!!! Haha! It also has an in law suite and sep living area for when my mom visits and stays with us. I'm so happy, cause my mom has lived with me almost my entire life. My dad passed away suddenly years ago and I took her in, this was one of the hardest parts was leaving her... How amazing that she can come stay for a while and not affect our marriage LOL!

The home also falls in two school districts, so I have to decide where to enroll my son. He is done kindergarten here, but in the US he does not meet the Sept 1st cut off, so technically he would have to do K again!!!! They said they would asses him and see if he can be placed in grade 1. I hope so, kindergarten is 2 years here, another year there....3 years would kill the poor kid LOL! I hope he tests out and gets placed in grade 1

Anyways that was my happy news, just wanted to share. I was feeling discouraged for a long time after selling my home last year, and starting to prepare for a move. Nothing felt rooted or permanent, kinda like limbo. This is the first big step... It feels great! It may push the wedding back by a week or so but oh well

That was one of my questions, if it's like 1.5 months before as marry, will that give me enough time for filling out AOS, ssn stuff etc?

Thanks guys!

[JillA 2]

Woohoo congrats!! Sounds so wonderful and nice, you must be thrilled! I love the idea of the extra room for your Mom, that's great.

As for the AOS, that gives you plenty of time, not to worry at all! You'll be fine! Congrats again

[July09Bride 1]

Hey there! Congrats on the house!!! I'm SO excited for you! We will actually have about 3 weeks between when he arrives and the wedding, then, almost a week later, we leave for the honeymoon for two weeks, so we're looking at almost the same thing... 1 1/2 months before filing for AoS. The only reason why we're wating until after the wedding, is because in the county where I live, the pastor/officiant is the only one who can send in the marriage cert. UGH!!! So, we're going to have the pastor make a copy in the office before we go on the honeymoon - just so we can have it!

Anyway, as for you situation, you'll be okay with time. I believe there is either 90 or 120 days between the date of the wedding and when the time runs out to file for AoS, so you're good to go!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Awww, thanks. Yeah, makes me happy about my mom

The other house we were looking at was in Delaware, cause my fiancés practice is in DE...but now we get to stay in PA and I can still drive down the street and shop in DE tax free!

And Jill, you can still give me PA advise

July bride, looks like we will marry end of June and file in July, so we will be at the same stage! We can chew our finger nails together! Well it's not that bad this time around cause now we are with our hunny's and waiting it out together

Edited May 11, 2009 by poprocks

[July09Bride 1]

Awww, thanks. Yeah, makes me happy about my mom

The other house we were looking at was in Delaware, cause my fiancés practice is in DE...but now we get to stay in PA and I can still drive down the street and shop in DE tax free!

And Jill, you can still give me PA advise

July bride, looks like we will marry end of June and file in July, so we will be at the same stage! We can chew our finger nails together! Well it's not that bad this time around cause now we are with our hunny's and waiting it out together

Hey, been there done that and it worked out well before... so here's to Round 2!!!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

YAY!! That's such great news! The house sounds lovely! You should definitely post some pictures when you get settled in! The in law suite thing is great... That's one thing I really worry about. I'm going to be living with my fiances parents for a while until we find a nice place, but we won't be able to buy a house for a while... Single income with a so-so credit rating probably isn't going to get us to much. When I buy a house I want it to be a house I'm going to stay in! But my mom isn't going to be very comfortable on a pull out sofa in a single bedroom apartment...

As for the AOS thing, I really wouldn't worry about it. I'm moving June 13th and I'm not getting married until August 6th... That's like day 55? It doesn't seem like the AOS stuff will take a lot of time or effort... and if you file out of the 90 days there are some complications but its not the end of the world right? I'm sick of being stressed out, I'm just rolling with it! That and you guys are filing before me so I can ask you questions... again

Is is weird that I was just thinking yesterday, "I wonder what Poprocks is up to, I haven't seen her on here in a while..." I'm so happy for you! Take me to disneyworld too?

[JillA 2]

OH just thought of something, at the POE be sure to inform them of your new address! They will update their files, so make sure USCIS is aware of your new US address, if you put your fiancee's old address on the K-1 forms.

[Wis-Can 0]

I am so excited for you both!! It is exciting..Peter bought us a new house about a year ago and now he's doing the renovations. It seems to make the leaving a little easier don't you think?! Enjoy decorating, its the best part.

[sdw 10]

Congrats on the house.

[minnew 4]

Congratulations on the new house!

[R and F 34]

Congrats on the house, and on your wedding plans also.

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Aww, thanks guys

It really was kinda last minute. We were gonna rent for a bit and keep looking, but we couldn't pass this up! It also has a huge heated sun porch so we can sit out all year long we really lucked out cause the couple is willing to move asap... And the in law suite has a sep kitchen. The only thing it needs is painting, this woman had a thing for green and were talking 'Scope mouthwash' green LOL! It also has a lot of land, so my little guy can play the kitchen is amazing, my dream kitchen for entertaining. They must have been a party couple, cause they also have a wet bar and wine fridge in the living room! Lol'!

'wis-can wow how exciting that Pete is renovating and so handy. You must be excited!

Huggles, I know what you mean about just starting out....eventually you'll settle in to a home and start your own life. We've all been there, living with parents to get started. It's smart to help save money

Jill, I never thought of that! So I give them the new address and they update it on the system? Thanks for letting me know. Then when I start filing AOS or SSN, I can use the new address?

The home will just be in my fiancés name, but if we have utilities and bank accounts in both names, that should be good proof to start building no?

Will they need proof at POE for the new address? Or I can just tell them?

I feel like I have a million things to remember when I get there!

[July09Bride 1]

I WISH we were buying a house together. You all are so lucky to have someplace you can "build" together with your significant others. Originally, that was the original plan... to buy a place together here in Michigan. But, unfortunately, the economy the way it is in Michigan, no one is buying and the area where I am, the value has dropped over 50%. *sigh* So, we're staying put. Eventhough we'd be able to find something AMAZING for a terrific price, we'd have to sell my place first. That's not going to happen anytime soon. I guess we'll have to wait for five years, until we move back to Arizona. God only knows what we'll have to deal with at that point in our lives! Kid(s)? Citizenship? Me finding a new job 1600 miles away... good grief. The economy and job outlook HAS to be better by then!!

Edited May 11, 2009 by July09Bride

[JillA 2]

Aww, thanks guys

It really was kinda last minute. We were gonna rent for a bit and keep looking, but we couldn't pass this up! It also has a huge heated sun porch so we can sit out all year long we really lucked out cause the couple is willing to move asap... And the in law suite has a sep kitchen. The only thing it needs is painting, this woman had a thing for green and were talking 'Scope mouthwash' green LOL! It also has a lot of land, so my little guy can play the kitchen is amazing, my dream kitchen for entertaining. They must have been a party couple, cause they also have a wet bar and wine fridge in the living room! Lol'!

'wis-can wow how exciting that Pete is renovating and so handy. You must be excited!

Huggles, I know what you mean about just starting out....eventually you'll settle in to a home and start your own life. We've all been there, living with parents to get started. It's smart to help save money

Jill, I never thought of that! So I give them the new address and they update it on the system? Thanks for letting me know. Then when I start filing AOS or SSN, I can use the new address?

The home will just be in my fiancés name, but if we have utilities and bank accounts in both names, that should be good proof to start building no?

Will they need proof at POE for the new address? Or I can just tell them?

I feel like I have a million things to remember when I get there!

Yes! At the POE, the guy actually opened my package and got me to confirm the US address where I will be residing, it was the same as my forms so I just confirmed it. In your case, you update him with the new address. Maybe just have it written down to give to him or something. You don't need proof, they'll take your word for it! Alot of people do that, change the address I mean so not to worry. Yes then when you file for AOS/SSN put your NEW address on the forms, as that is where you'll be receiving any notices from USCIS!! Biometrics appt, EAD, AP, etc!!

I think that as long as your name is on the utilities, joint bank accounts, that's a good start.... Hopefully you won't get called for an interview and won't need that proof anyway!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

I WISH we were buying a house together. You all are so lucky to have someplace you can "build" together with your significant others. Originally, that was the original plan... to buy a place together here in Michigan. But, unfortunately, the economy the way it is in Michigan, no one is buying and the area where I am, the value has dropped over 50%. *sigh* So, we're staying put. Eventhough we'd be able to find something AMAZING for a terrific price, we'd have to sell my place first. That's not going to happen anytime soon. I guess we'll have to wait for five years, until we move back to Arizona. God only knows what we'll have to deal with at that point in our lives! Kid(s)? Citizenship? Me finding a new job 1600 miles away... good grief. The economy and job outlook HAS to be better by then!!

So true. Dr. Phil did a segment on Michigan and the economy. He said it was really bad cause of the auto industry. I think it's wise to do what is smart financially. In the long run, you'll be better for it.

We had no choice, cause my fiancé lived in a 1 bedroom condo. That was not gonna cut it for us and a 5 year old! Lol'! He got lucky, he placed an add on Craigs List and rented out his place on a two year lease! He would have taken a hit if he sold it now too.

I got lucky last year when I decided to sell my house. Everyone was telling me to wait until closer to the move. I sold before prices dropped. All my old neighbours are now selling for almost $100k less than what I did. So what if I had to rent for a year, I don't regret it.

We decided to spring for the house now and for go a big wedding or honeymoon. I guess in this economy, everyone has to make sacrifices. We'll just have to honeymoon next year