January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

It'll be a squeeze but I've lived in much worse places. I managed to stay for nearly an entire year in a 6' by 6' (about 1.8 x 1.8 m!) room that had a bed with a holey mattress and peeling wallpaper...

That must have been horrible!!!

I just thought of something when I read the following...

I don't know who in his family would make enough.

Keep in mind that if, for example, you need to get to 20k and Bryan makes 15k, you only need somehow to be able to get an extra 5k somewhere... this might make it a bit easier in finding the cosponsor as you do not need to have a cosponsor who can cough up the whole thing

Also, I think people worry too much about the support thingies.. I think the interview as a whole, and all submitted papers, are equally important.

I just looked at packet 3, and they say: "Evidence of support: your petitioning relative in the United States must complete Form I-134 on your behalf and provide supporting evidence proving that you and members of your family who immigrate to the US are not likely to become public charges in the United States. Form I-134 can be downloaded from www.uscis.gov"

So I guess we should be fine.

[sunnybear 0]

Ooh a Jan 18th filer just got approval and updated today! COME ON CSC puh-leaseeeeeee I am begging you to approve Gareth and I this WEEK!

I talked to Gareth today though and we decided worse case scenario if we do not hear anything by winter time I shall go there for a week or two in December since my daughters Dad will be here to care for her and I will have enough vacation time saved up as well. So that is a tiny glimmer of hope but gosh hope we do not have to go that route as I much rather would just have him arriving before then!!!!

[lazulineiris 0]

Alex has an apartment!

It is the size of a shoebox BUT it's probably the cheapest we'll ever find in the Bay Area ($775 per month, including all utilities), has a separate kitchen, and brand new kitchen/bathroom appliances!

He took photos: http://images.flyingstove.com/gallery/236/

Congratulations to you both! San Jose is like San Francisco in that they're both quite expensive. :/ You said that you have an 1 - 1½ hour walk to/from the store -- Do you know if San Jose has the MUNI transportation system that San Francisco has? If not, I'm sure there's some sort of public transportation you could utilize to make the trip a lot easier for you - Imagine trying to lug around milk and fruit and other heavy items for an hour. I think I'd just about die, anyway, haha.

Ooh a Jan 18th filer just got approval and updated today! COME ON CSC puh-leaseeeeeee I am begging you to approve Gareth and I this WEEK!

I have my fingers crossed for you, sunnybear. I hope so much that this week will be yours.

[IAMX 3,055]

Congratulations to you both! San Jose is like San Francisco in that they're both quite expensive. :/ You said that you have an 1 - 1½ hour walk to/from the store -- Do you know if San Jose has the MUNI transportation system that San Francisco has? If not, I'm sure there's some sort of public transportation you could utilize to make the trip a lot easier for you - Imagine trying to lug around milk and fruit and other heavy items for an hour. I think I'd just about die, anyway, haha.

San Jose has VTA buses, light rail, Caltrain, plenty of transportation. Personally I haven't had any issue driving around the city either.

I'm more of a fan of Santa Clara, myself, though. And it is indeed expensive.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Woo more Bay Area people!

Alex has a car so I won't be too worried about lugging around groceries - if I did need to shop for something and he was at work I'm sure it'd be small enough to pack into a backpack. There is some good public transportation in San Jose, just not around where we'd be living! I like walking, though, so honestly I'm not too worried (although you can bet I'll be staying out of the midday sun when it's spring/summer - I learned my lesson after nearly suffering from heatstroke the first day I was there!), and once I get my license I'll be able to share the car with Alex when needed.

It's a pity that the Bay Area in general is so expensive - I've walked/spent time in San Jose, San Francisco, Fremont and a couple of the other cities in the area and I think it's a great place to live; I'm really looking forward to moving there! Plus most of Alex's family is scattered around the Bay Area so wherever we will be we shan't be too far from relatives.

sunny - you shall definitely hear something by winter time! I declare it so!

Cecile - yes, it was horrible! Never again...

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Good morning everyone

So apparently Bryan's parents will be co-sponsors if needed. I just sent them a long email explaining everything and telling them what documents they have to gather (Bryan called them, they said they were ok, and then he asked me to explain everything to them). I doubt we'll have everything on time for the interview, but worst case scenario, I will send them the co-sponsors documents as soon as I get them, so it will only delay things by a few weeks.

Today I have a feeling that we will be fine without a co-sponsor. But we'd better be prepared in case my feeling is wrong.

Where did Blake go?

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Cool of your fiance's parents

And I agree, it is best to be prepared for everything ^^

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Hmm.. last thursday I've sent the checklist back to the consulate with tracking stuffies so I can track it online to see when they sign for it... it got bounced on friday because of the fourth of July, nobody working there then, and it should have been tried again the day after (or after the weekend anyways) but it's wednesday now and still nothing... called the postal services but they couldn't help me much either as they don't know more than what I see on my screen online, if I want to know more, I have to file a request (for which they now send the papers) but this might take 4-5 weeks until they find out what happened to the checklist :S

I tried calling the consulate this morning but with little luck.. after trying continuesly for 30 minutes I gave up and left my name, number and other information while explaining the situation in their voicemail, asking for them to call me back which I hope they do quickly... I kinda hope it arrived after all or if theres something else I can send to them (as it is just the checklist, they got everything else from me already).

Blergh.. everything was going nicely and now this happens

[dbears 1]

Good morning everyone

So apparently Bryan's parents will be co-sponsors if needed. I just sent them a long email explaining everything and telling them what documents they have to gather (Bryan called them, they said they were ok, and then he asked me to explain everything to them). I doubt we'll have everything on time for the interview, but worst case scenario, I will send them the co-sponsors documents as soon as I get them, so it will only delay things by a few weeks.

Today I have a feeling that we will be fine without a co-sponsor. But we'd better be prepared in case my feeling is wrong.

Where did Blake go?

KWEL! I'm sure you will be ok as long as bryan has enough proof of "current sustained income"... his parent co-sponsoring will at least give additional cushion to your application.

Hmm.. last thursday I've sent the checklist back to the consulate with tracking stuffies so I can track it online to see when they sign for it... it got bounced on friday because of the fourth of July, nobody working there then, and it should have been tried again the day after (or after the weekend anyways) but it's wednesday now and still nothing... called the postal services but they couldn't help me much either as they don't know more than what I see on my screen online, if I want to know more, I have to file a request (for which they now send the papers) but this might take 4-5 weeks until they find out what happened to the checklist :S

I tried calling the consulate this morning but with little luck.. after trying continuesly for 30 minutes I gave up and left my name, number and other information while explaining the situation in their voicemail, asking for them to call me back which I hope they do quickly... I kinda hope it arrived after all or if theres something else I can send to them (as it is just the checklist, they got everything else from me already).

Blergh.. everything was going nicely and now this happens

hope you would hear something from the postal office soon or better yet, from consulate there. everything will soon get back on track, just keep the faith.

[sunnybear 0]

Come on CSC I am not seeing even close to enough action happening haha.......sigh

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Hmm.. last thursday I've sent the checklist back to the consulate with tracking stuffies so I can track it online to see when they sign for it... it got bounced on friday because of the fourth of July, nobody working there then, and it should have been tried again the day after (or after the weekend anyways) but it's wednesday now and still nothing... called the postal services but they couldn't help me much either as they don't know more than what I see on my screen online, if I want to know more, I have to file a request (for which they now send the papers) but this might take 4-5 weeks until they find out what happened to the checklist :S

I tried calling the consulate this morning but with little luck.. after trying continuesly for 30 minutes I gave up and left my name, number and other information while explaining the situation in their voicemail, asking for them to call me back which I hope they do quickly... I kinda hope it arrived after all or if theres something else I can send to them (as it is just the checklist, they got everything else from me already).

Blergh.. everything was going nicely and now this happens

It has only been a week, I think you should wait a little longer before to start stressing about it. Maybe the tracking system of the postal services doesn't work as good as they say, or maybe the person who take care of the mail at the embassy took a week off. I am sure you will hear from them very soon

Come on CSC I am not seeing even close to enough action happening haha.......sigh

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

It has only been a week, I think you should wait a little longer before to start stressing about it. Maybe the tracking system of the postal services doesn't work as good as they say, or maybe the person who take care of the mail at the embassy took a week off. I am sure you will hear from them very soon

Nah, the Dutch postal service works pretty well with those things. It is normal to have next day delivery, only rarely you have another day in between (it's a small country hehe). The person at the customer service said it as well, if the site says it isn't delivered, then it is most likely not delivered.. it would be weird if it was delivered and not being scanned she said also... I send it out with special tracking options, it is more expensive than regular stuff but at least you know for sure if it is delivered or not.

And lol, I doubt they don't have a different person working at the consulate who can't take the mail in. Nah, something is obviously wrong.. the customer service person of the postal company has send me a form which I have to fill in so they can start an investigation, I will do that as soon as I have it.

In the meantime I hope the consulate will call me back so I can maybe send a new letter, statement or something in which I declare that I have everything ready. They already have the other forms so luckly it is not like I need to fill all those forms bakc in again.. it's just my signature on the checklist

Come on CSC I am not seeing even close to enough action happening haha.......sigh

I hope you hear something before the end of the week

Edited July 9, 2008 by JeroenAndMichelle

[sunnybear 0]

Thanks guys it is excruciating let me tell you!!!!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

lol.. cécile, you are right.. I am a stresser lol xD

I just got home and found packet 4 in the mail with my appointment for the interview (have to call for medical tomorrow morning)... lol, even the customer service said they couldnt have had it but still they seem to have got the mail with my checklist

Again all that stressing for nothing... when am I going to learn :S

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Poor sunny, I bet!

Good morning everyone

So apparently Bryan's parents will be co-sponsors if needed. I just sent them a long email explaining everything and telling them what documents they have to gather (Bryan called them, they said they were ok, and then he asked me to explain everything to them). I doubt we'll have everything on time for the interview, but worst case scenario, I will send them the co-sponsors documents as soon as I get them, so it will only delay things by a few weeks.

Today I have a feeling that we will be fine without a co-sponsor. But we'd better be prepared in case my feeling is wrong.

Where did Blake go?

HOPEFULLY he's just busy with work again and/or organising things for Olga's arrival.

That was good of his parents! And I bet that even if the documents were required it wouldn't delay it even that long...sometimes embassies will accept faxes of documents, too.

I believe I've mentioned my accident-prone sister here before; the one who is always losing things/having things stolen/getting into scrapes that are never entirely her fault. Anyway, latest story (I can't ring up my parents without hearing of yet another escapade) is that the other night my mother received a phonecall. My sister had been to a concert in Belgium and was able to get a lift back to Tunbridge Wells but had no money to get back to my parents' (100 miles away); could my mother drive out and meet her? The reason she had no money? She'd snapped her credit card. How had she snapped it? By sitting on it.

lol.. cécile, you are right.. I am a stresser lol xD

I just got home and found packet 4 in the mail with my appointment for the interview (have to call for medical tomorrow morning)... lol, even the customer service said they couldnt have had it but still they seem to have got the mail with my checklist

Again all that stressing for nothing... when am I going to learn :S

Hurrah!

Now I just hope that my Packet 4 arrives!