Netherlands

[MarkTexas 3]

September 27th 2006

Mark’s Medical LOG Amsterdam

Amsterdam is from my place about a 75-Mile drive, on a Sunday morning (with sticking to the driving speed-limits!) easily driven within 1 and 3 quarter hour!

Just to give you all an impression in the “time-schedule” here’s my “time-line” of traveling up and down there;

•04:00AM Rise, Shine_n_Shower

•04:30AM Getting in my car and drive off,

•05:00AM to 08:45AM It took me FOUR HOURS and 15 MINUTES due traffic jams to get to the Medical Place!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

•08:50AM to 08:55AM Looking for a parking spot $2.50/ 2Euro’s per 10 minutes!!!

•08:55AM to 09:00AM Walking too the Medical Center

•09:00AM to 09:05AM Signing in and start waiting,….

•09:05AM to 09:25AM Waiting some more,……..

•09:30AM to 09:45AM X-ray being taken, cost $63.37/ €50,- Euro’s

•09:45AM to 10:00AM Walking to the Doc’s office! (walking because finding a parking space at THAT hour in Amsterdam is virtually impossible, so it’s better to leave the car where it was!)

•10:00AM to !0:30AM Signing in, fill in some more papers and pee in a cup!

•10:30AM to 10:45AM Having blood taken by the Doc and Medical exam and pay $196.44/ €155,- Euro’s

•10:50AM to 11:10AM Walking back to my car fast, because parking ticket was 20 minutes past “payed for” time!

•11:10AM to 12:45PM Traveling/driving back home!

•12:45PM Back home.

As YOU can see taking full DAY off work is VERY recommendable!!!!

With the “blood taking” I notched something weird though, as I’m unfortunately a DVT patient, I KNOW as no other HOW a blood taking procedure is done!

I never SAW him taking a NEW needle, so I ask about it!

With a bit of a surprised face, he stumbled and answered “ofcourse I did”,…….yet after he took MY blood, he NEVER DISPOSED the needle he used on me,….but instead REPLACED the “protection” cap?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

What The F#@$%*&@*%$CK?!?!?!?!?!?

So once again,…I said shouldn’t you dispose that “just-used” needle?

The Doc reacted a bit ticked and said that he will do that when I’m out of the office and before he receives the next person!

I don’t KNOW about you guys,…….but THAT’S a VERY WEIRD “blood-taking-procedure”!!!!

Blood has been taken from me 1000'S of times by the hospitals checking my blood EVERY MONTH, the past years,.....but I NEVER SEEN A PROCEDURE LIKE THIS BEFORE!!!

I’ve been looking around in his “office” but I couldn’t find a “needle-disposal-bucket” anywhere!!!!

And to be honest,………..I DON’T TRUST THAT DOCTOR ONE LITTLE BIT!!!!

Soooo I hope I don’t hear anything from that Doc ( for the doc's sake), like “they found something”, or that MY hospital finds "something"………..cuz I highly suspect that DOC for USING the same needle over and over again,…which might of transferred something,….if they “find something”!!!!

Because I KNOW for a fact (right because I’m a DVT patient-which means I’m on regular blood control) that MY blood is as clean as clean can get!

So if “they” find something,….I’m going to KILL that DOCTOR!!!!!!!

Just a quick update...

We got our NOA1 or the K-1 Visa this past weekend. It's not much but it's something at least. I'm a little worried at the timing of things.

Harry is coming here from December 17-January 4th,

To Arazia,

I’m NOT an expert, but I don’t think it’s very smart for your Dutch partner to travel too the USA while a K1 procedure is running!

I mean,…..he might HAVE to turn around at the airport right because of the K1 procedure running!!!

Or did I misunderstand / miss-read something?!?!?!?!?

To everyone else;

Good to see/read everything is going "smooth" with everyone!!!

Keep posting on how things are going!!!

Regards Mark.

[MarkTexas 3]

The Doctor I’m talking about up there ^^^^ is; "Dr. M. Schulte in Amsterdam!!!"

Edited September 30, 2006 by MarkTexas

[Em&Ed 0]

Hi Mark en Michele!.....Wow about that needle thing. Did you have a young guy or an older guy as the doctor? As far as I can remember the doc took out a new needle out of some sort of package in my case. The doctor who did my medical was the older guy. Do hope everything will be ok for you!

Hi Rhonda and Wilmot!....Good luck with the interview tomorrow!!!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed for you guys!

Hi Arazia!.....As long as Harry takes some evidence (employee letter, lease contract of his house) with him that he will return to Holland after his visit you guys should be alright. Ed and me never took that chance simply because we didn't want to jeopardize anything, but I have read many stories on here of people who did visit while their K1 was pending and who had no problems.

As for me, I am glad this AOS and EAD paperwork will be out of the door this week. Hopefully everything will be ok and the decision making in that whole procedure won't be super long but I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Take care all!

[tmma 467]

GOOD LUCK TOMORROW, RHONDA AND WILMOT

Hey everyone-just a flying "hi" here-it's late.

Hope all goes well with AOS, Em!

Azaria-yes, make sure he has proof of "ties" in Holland; to prove he will be returning after his holiday here-we did the same as Em, and never took a chance, but on the K-1 Forum there are countless people that have with no problem

Have a great day, all

Michele

[wileastmot 0]

Just a quick update. . .the interview went fine!!!!! He will be coming home on Saturday. Sorry I haven't been able to write much in past few days.. . .I was too worried. But that is all done now. I will give more detials later.

Em glad to hear you ahve sent AOS.

Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts. Have a great day.

Rhonda

[Arazia 0]

I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for the concern.

Since the Netherlands is part of the VWP, it's generally a lot easier for visits then it might be with some other countries. During the last visit to the United States, he was only aske two questions, the purpose of his visit and how long he was staying.

As far as I've been told, border agents have no information as to K-1 applications, or any other applications for that matter. He plans on bringing evidence of his return ticket as well as his school schedule which shows his classes after the Christmas holiday.

What is confusing me is everyone saying 'we didn't want to jeopardize anything'. How can a visit jeopardize the process? Even if he gets turned back (which is highly unlikely) how would that cause any problems whatsoever?

A very confused...

Arazia

[Em&Ed 0]

Rhonda and Wilmot.....Congratulations on getting the visa!!!!! (doesn't it feel like a weight has lifted from your shoulders now????? )

Arazia.....Just like there are people who had absolutely no problems visiting the USA while having their k1 pending, there are also people who did have problems. We just didn't want to take a chance that's all.

[tmma 467]

Just a quick update. . .the interview went fine!!!!! He will be coming home on Saturday. Sorry I haven't been able to write much in past few days.. . .I was too worried. But that is all done now. I will give more detials later.

Em glad to hear you ahve sent AOS.

Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts. Have a great day.

Rhonda

CONGRATULATIONS RHONDA AND WILMOT!!!!!!!

That's great news...I am so happy for you both! He is arriving on Saturday?

You must be so excited!

Have a wonderful reunion

Michele

Rhonda and Wilmot.....Congratulations on getting the visa!!!!! (doesn't it feel like a weight has lifted from your shoulders now????? )

Arazia.....Just like there are people who had absolutely no problems visiting the USA while having their k1 pending, there are also people who did have problems. We just didn't want to take a chance that's all.

Yes....Em , you said it better than I could have Loads have done it and had no problems, however if you do a search on this site, there are stories of some people whom have had difficulties at immigration. Wether that has been because of the countries they have been from or not-I do not know-but like Em&Ed, Mark and I did not want the possible hassle. Chances are it will be fine -just make sure he has the documentation ( stuff that shows he will be returning) with him at immigration at the POE for his vacation , you know-just in case.

Em...How's it going with the house-hunting?

As for us-we are getting very excited------ it's 5 days now

Best wishes everyone-check back in when you can!

[wileastmot 0]

Hi! How is everyone doing? I have calmed back down, so I can write a quick update. I'm glad to hear that we are all moving forward. Michelle and Mark I know you wil be fine. Only a few days left!!!!

We are waiting for the passport and visa to arrive. I'm going to freak out if it does not come on Friday. I really don't want to change our ticket. . .. so I'm really praying and hoping. Plus I feel that I can't wait one more day to see Wilmot.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good weekend. Can't wait to hear your results on Tuesday.

Rhonda

[Em&Ed 0]

Mark and Michele .....Good luck with the interview on Tuesday!!!!! I will keep my fingers crossed for you guys!

Rhonda and Wilmot .....I hope the passport with the visa in it arrived on time and that the 2 of you are happily together by the time you read this!

We have appointments to look at 4 houses next week. There's one I really like, there is one Ed really likes, there's one we both really like and there's one that's a fixer upper, a handyman's dream (lol) but cheap and in a very good neighbourhood, so we got to check that one out too.

Take care all!

[tmma 467]

Mark and Michele .....Good luck with the interview on Tuesday!!!!! I will keep my fingers crossed for you guys!

Rhonda and Wilmot .....I hope the passport with the visa in it arrived on time and that the 2 of you are happily together by the time you read this!

We have appointments to look at 4 houses next week. There's one I really like, there is one Ed really likes, there's one we both really like and there's one that's a fixer upper, a handyman's dream (lol) but cheap and in a very good neighbourhood, so we got to check that one out too.

Take care all!

Thanks Em,

His interview is 130pm today(local- he is in there RIGHT NOW)!!! I am sat staring at the phone. I am sure it will all be OK-I'll update when Mark calls!

Edited October 10, 2006 by tmma

[tmma 467]

HE GOT IT!!!

Details later

[Em&Ed 0]

Congratulations Mark & Michele!!!!!

I am curious what Mark's and Wilmot's experience at the Consulate was like.

I am sure glad that things have turned out ok for all you guys. I do hope we will be able to stay in touch throughout the whole AOS experience as well. Let's keep this Netherlands thread alive !

[Arazia 0]

Congratulations!

I'm hoping to hear about your experiences, everyone's experiences soon.

[wileastmot 0]

I'm so happy you recieved the visa. I had responded last night, but I think my internet connection was down.

Wilmot did not arrive on Saturday, he didn't get the VISA from the embasy until yesterday. He arrived today at 4 pm. Needless to say I'm very happy. We are also very happy because his POE was Chicago and he was given the temporary work permit. Which is really great news.

Em can't wait to hear what house you guys end up choosing.

I don't have a lot to tell about his interview. He keeps telling me it was very easy. For sure they asked him how we meet, and why he wants to marry me. I can't really get any other questions out of him. But as he tells me more this week, I will post more info for you Arazia.

Em I too hope that we can all keep each other posted as we move trhough AOS. I really need to start researching this area. I don't know anything, but I didn't know anything about K-1 before March.

Take care everyone.

Rhonda