APRIL '08 Vermont K-1 Filers

[Susita 175]

Sorry if I am in a hurry (getting ready for work), but I had to share the great news with you... WE'VE FINALLY BEEN APPROVED!!!!! :dance:

I want to thank you all for putting up with me, and wish ALL THE BEST to everyone.. those still waiting, and those who will be soon facing interviews. More later!

OMG! See? We told ya! Congratulations Raffaela!

[Susita 175]

Hi Suzy,

I totally feel your pain. It is really hard "convincing," everyone that this is the best thing for me, and that he isn't just after a "green" card (I live close to where you - I'm in Stamford, CT <where the "green card" issue occurs all too often>). All of my family and friends are pretty honest with me, not that I necessarily appreciate that all the time, and not only do they tell me to be careful because of you never know of his hidden agendas but they also think it would be soo much easier if I just married a local person, who knew everyone, had a job here, spoke the language, etc (which I had a bf for 8 yrs before I met him). It would be of course, but I'm not in love with anyone else. Which I bet you feel the same way. I do have to admit - one thing that I often do do, which I know is terrible, is when people are saying negative things to me, sometimes some of them stick in my head and I call him and ask him these ridiculous questions... Do you ever feel like it's you and him against everyone? Hahah, not saying that everyone is against me either, but I do think that everyone is just worried and trying to look out for me, which I bet is the same for you. And I don't know about you, but Felipe hasn't been able to visit so no one knows him, and all they see is a man who I met in November on vacation now trying to come to America. Where I know, just like you, he would prefer me to move to Chile (he's asked several times).

You just have to know that when everyone meets him they will love him.. And it's hard for everyone to make judgements when they don't know him.. Once he gets here and if then everyone is still rude to him, I would agree to put some distance between you and them, but until then I think everyone is just trying to look out for you.

I totally understand you. It's not really my mom's family who does that judgemental kind of thing, and they're the people I really care about, so I guess it doesn't matter. My dad's family just is really judgemental and they always have been. So this is no surprise to me.

I guess the difference is that, in my case, I've been dating him for a while and my mom knows, I've been down to Peru twice, talk to him on the phone CONSTANTLY, so she knows its real etc etc. I told my mom that I just can't take it anymore, I don't like only seeing my boyfriend 2X a year and also that we need to move on to the next step in our relationship. She's cool with it, which is great.

[HighwayStar 0]

I just want to thank all of you again for your support, and apologise for being whiny and negative on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, I tend to get anxious when faced with things I can't control, as such a situation often brings back bad memories of past occurrences. Now, however, the wait for the interview will feel like a breeze, and this morning everything around me looked and felt different... I know I'll have just about 1,000's of things to do before I leave, but now I feel I can face them with a much lighter heart.

To all those still waiting (S&D in particular): I will be thinking about you, and hoping and wishing with all my heart that everything will turn out all right for you as it did for us. May the rest of your journey be smooth, and your life be filled with love, laughter and joy!

To Suzy, INCT and all those who are experiencing problems with their families, I'll tell you just one thing... I know of many people whose SO's married them for financial or social gain - and both parties were Italian. It happens everywhere - marrying someone of 'your own kind' is no guarantee against being used. In our case, I am the one who is better off financially... Should I think that Michael is marrying me because of that, and giving me a GC in exchange? For too many people it is far too easy to simplify something as complex as life.

[KimandRuss 0]

Regarding the RFE... yes, you would think the government would want to fix that..and the issue regarding not enough spaces in the biographical forms...but noooooo, why reduce frustrations and workload???? That would just make too much sense.

Brian, I really feel for you. In all my time here i've never heard of this happening to anyone else. I do hope that, at the very least, someone with some compassion gets hold of your file and pushes it back through very quickly for you.

Oh Suzy, that's a tough one! I come from an extremely close family who actually all still live in the area. I think I even mentioned that I actually own the house that they all grew up in on the street named after them. Many of them also built houses on this street and still live here too. We call it the Amico Compound. Because I've known Russell for 10 years, my family already knew of him as our dear friend before we began our relationship. When my marriage fell apart it wasn't a big surprise to anyone that Russ and I hooked up. After he came to spend a year with us it was just as though he'd always been here and now my friends and family are looking forward to him coming home almost as much as I am. Ultimately, my family trusts in my judgement. All that matters to them is my happiness. That's how it should be.

So, here's my two cents for what it's worth..only because I know it would matter to me too... invite them and kill them with kindness. Let them see with their own eyes how much love there is between the two of you. If, after that, they still have comments to make (which it sounds as though they will)...they obviously are upset for different reasons and have their own demons to face. Then it's just about pity for them... and never you mind. I'm so glad that was your RFE... it bothers me that they wont fix this!

@ the Norman Rockwell reference. We actually had a N.R. calendar in our home every year growing up. Up until my 20's we probably fit into that mold.

crs... the example forms (link above) really explain it best.

Damian.. wth is 'er indoors'????? @ your comment to Raff.. a month less than yours! Up until a couple of weeks ago if you weren't approved at Vermont by this time it was cause for concern. CSC has always sucked. Don't get me wrong, i'm soooo delighted that they are equalling out with processing times but it is a little disheartning to see CSC'ers with my filing date being approved now...mostly because I dont think it's a case that they sped up..more that VSC just slowed way down.

Raff.. sweetheart, you made my day!!!! Congratulations!!! I couldn't be happier for you and Michael. I'm with you... S&D's turn next!!!

milo.. I see you lurking. Still keeping our fingers crossed for our approvals this week. I just know we're in the same lazy adjuticator's box! As I lay in bed sick last night talking to Russell he said there was an approval and I said "it's not milo is it?". Yeah.. we're getting desperate over here.

I want to apologize for not being so upbeat yesterday. I was sooooo very sick for a couple of days...so much so that I could not keep anything down and could barely lift my head. I work for myself and i'm very busy lately.. I have a couple new clients that I could do nothing for... then Russell having his cell phone stolen...grrrr ya know? So after almost constant sleep since then I seem to be on the mend (knock on wood)... mentally and physically.

Never did we think it would take 4 months to get through this part. I know, as well as anyone, how unfair the process is and it really is just our luck that we get stuck in the slow box but we were really hoping for a break since we had to wait 3 years to file in the first place. Well..apparently, we're once again taking the long road around and we're just going to need to find a way to deal with that the best we can. Stressing ourselves out even more isn't going to do us any good.

Besides... how can I feel too badly when there are still March filers waiting!??! We've probably got that same slow @ss adjuticator!!!!

[GauraD 0]

Congratulations on all the new approvals!!!!!!! Highwaystar- keep your chin up now!!

Im waiting on my packet and feeling a bit scared of the mountain of paperwork/medical/interview stuff to come!!

I think that if I mentally give it time and dont rush it then I can get through it all just like we got through getting the petition approved.....it will probably only be October-November by the time everything is done and Ive trained someone else for my job/found a new flatmate for my room and all that Jazz but at least we will be together for Xmas and I will have escaped London before the horrible horrible winter comes back!!!!!

I want to go to Hawaii for x mas It can be our 'honeymoon' lol, even though we aren't doing a 'proper' wedding when I first get there, just signing the paperwork to get the AOS going!!

There are soooooooooo many nerve wracking parts to this all, even when you have the visa in hand you have the going through customs bit etc to make you nice and nervous but in a few months this will all pretty much be over and we can look back at this and laugh....right?

Kim and Russ- I went through all the posts i missed when traveling once I got back and was disappointed to see you STILL not approved! Cant imagine how you're feeling! I'll pray for you- really! (I liked your weight loss website- great tips! I've just lost 5kgs which I didnt feel was much until I imagined carrying that in a shopping bag around the place!! Am only eating zero calorie foods (like cauliflower and apples people- its not NO food!) for the next two weeks to be as trim as possible for the beach!!

[HighwayStar 0]

As you mentioned cauliflower, I must remember to post a wonderful Neapolitan recipe for a cauliflower salad they make for Xmas. It is very low-calorie (unless you drench it in oil, which I never do), and utterly delicious. I use a lot of vegetables for my cooking, as in the Italian tradition, and it doesn't take much to make tasty dishes out of them.

[enchantedtikiman 0]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

JUST GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!! WOW I AM DANCIN'

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On August 7, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Edited August 7, 2008 by desenchantee

[KimandRuss 0]

congratulations!

[enchantedtikiman 0]

Kim, you are next

[KimandRuss 0]

from your lips......

[brian87 0]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

JUST GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!! WOW I AM DANCIN'

Way to GOOOOOOO!!!! I am so happy for you. But what I am most proud about is the fact that you did not give in to Jerry's conspiracy theory that your file was destined to fall into a USCIS black hole because of your previous filing.

Thanks for staying positive and not giving in to the dark side!!!!!!!!!!

Brian

[Steph25 0]

WOOOOOOOOOOOO IAM SO HAPPY FOR THE BOTH OF YOU. CONGRATS

[GrahamandMegan 1]

Not wanting to rain on the party of those still waiting. Kim and Suzy in particular. We got our medical date for Tuesday after talking to the nicest lady ever at the Washington Visa Office. Just keeping you all up to date.

Congrats on the new approvals too!!!!!

[KimandRuss 0]

Graham.. no worries over here. I'm very happy for you guys! Glad it's moving along.

[Crazy & Mad 0]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

JUST GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!! WOW I AM DANCIN'

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On August 7, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

congratulations on ur approval..! ..woohoo...